Councillor McCann Meeting Report (February 15, 2022)
Town of Parry Sound Committee of Adjustment Meeting
On Wednesday, February 2, 2022, at 6:00 PM I sat in on the Town of Parry Sound Committee of Adjustment Meeting, regarding a minor variance request at 66 Isabella Street.
Town of Parry Sound Water Front Advisory Committee Inaugural Meeting
On Monday afternoon at 5:15, February 7, 2022, I attended the inaugural meeting of the Town of Parry Sound Water Front Advisory Committee. Daniel Glenney was voted as Chair and Bob Corrigan will serve as Vice Chair. There were introductions and a review of the Terms of Reference. There will be a focus on environmental stewardship and the concept of a people gathering place. The committee will attempt to provide feasible and actionable input and advice on municipal programs and services. The committee will meet quarterly. Dave Thompson, Director of Development & Protective Services & Fire Chief, gave an overview of the waterfront concept plan. Waterfront Concept Plans (1999 and 2006) were done by outside third parties with public consultation. It was felt by staff that it will be necessary for a reassessment and update of the plan. Discussion also focused on town owned properties along the waterfront and the privately owned properties, including 7 Bay Street and the Imperial Oil property. April McNamara gave a presentation of the Fitness Trail grant application. The town has received a $187,500 contribution from FedNor via the Canada Community Revitalization Fund. The town has budgeted $62,500 for an overall cost of $250,000 for this project. This project must be completed by October 31, 2022.
Town of Parry Sound Council Budget Meeting
On Tuesday evening, February 8, 2022, I participated in the Town of Parry Sound Council Special Meeting dealing with the 2022 Capital Budget.
Parry Sound Public Library Board Meeting
The Parry Sound Public Library Board Meeting was held Wednesday morning, February 9, 2022. I was not in attendance at this meeting. Highlights of the meeting centred on a sustainable plan for our building. Our CEO, Rita Orr, has tendered her resignation, retiring June 30, 2022. As our Board Chair, Tom Lundy wrote in a press release, "On behalf of all PSPL Board members, we are extremely sorry to see Rita leave. She has done everything asked of her and more. Fundraising and Covid Protocols & Policies come immediately to my mind. Rita will leave some very big shoes to fill. Please join me in wishing Rita a happy and healthy retirement." Further to this, we would be remiss in not highlighting her achievements including earning two Parry Sound Muskoka IMPACT Awards under her leadership, a 2018 IMPACT Award for Public Innovation for our Surfin’ Seniors Program and a 2019 IMPACT Award for Public Innovation for use of social media as a marketing platform. Rita also earned an Ontario Library Services 2018 Award of Excellence in Technology and Innovation. She updated the over-all PSPL inventory process & database, and modernized the library's overall collection with bestsellers and trending titles. It is because of Rita we have been able to label the Parry Sound Public Library as "the little library that could" and in doing so caught the recognition and admiration of other municipal libraries in the province. The board has struck a committee to search for a new CEO.
West Parry Sound Community Support Services Fund Raiser
The West Parry Sound Community Support Services Fund Raiser is picking up the reins on the container redeemable deposit fund raiser with our first phase at the MacFarlane Transfer Station. New blue bins and signage mark where you can drop off refundable liqour and wine bottles, plastics, wine skins, beer cans and tetra boxes containing spirits. The West Parry Sound Community support Services provides the West District with a number of much needed and valuable services including Meals on Wheels, Transportation, Friendly Visiting, Seniors at large provisioning, senior safekeeping and more. Thank you to Mike Kearns and Vinni Bonazza and staff at the transfer station for making this happen. In Phase Two the public will see new blue bins and signage at Sobeys. A big thank you goes out to Jim MacGregor and Sobeys in Parry Sound for their ongoing support. The Friends of Belvedere have retired having raised about $90,000 over the last 10 years and we acknowledge their work and extend our appreciation.
