Tag Archives: Mayor of Westport

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Update on Westport’s Waste Water Treatment Plant

I am aware that some members of the public noted an odour coming from the waste water treatment plant yesterday and last night I followed up with the Manager of Infrastructure.  The processing of effluent occurred yesterday due to the ideal weather conditions.  Looking ahead for the next 14 days, there may only be one or two nights when the temperature dips low enough to process.  That will remove the odour as processing won’t occur with the warmer weather.

The plans for the new waste water treatment plant are on schedule, with the expectation that it will be completed by mid-summer.  The Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change will issue a permit for the new plant, which will NOT include the operation of Snowfluent.

Like all of you, members of Council are looking forward to the date later this year when the waste water treatment plant is decommissioned.

Please call if you have any questions or concerns.  273-9195

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Do you have your 72 hr Emergency Survival Kit?

EMERGENCY SURVIVAL KIT

Emergencies and disasters can happen at any time and can leave families finding themselves having to evacuate their homes. This past Tuesday, there was a real possibility that the repairs to the water pipe on Concession St would not be completed before our water tower was drained, losing pressure.  That would have required a mandatory 48 hour boil water order from the United Counties of Leeds, Grenville and Lanark Medical Officer of Health.  I encourage everyone to be proactive and take the proper steps before an emergency occurs to help prepare for such an event. A crucial step in preparing for an emergency is having/owning an emergency survival kit.  I have attached the information on the Emergency Survival Kit from the Ontario Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services – Office of the Fire Marshall/Emergency Management.

Emergencies can disrupt household utilities such as electricity, gas, and water for extended periods of time. Families should have enough supplies to remain self sufficient for up to 72 hours during or after an emergency event, a sample list of recommended items are highlighted below.

Emergency Survival Kit Items

  • Non-perishable food (canned goods, granola bars etc.)
  • Manual can opener
  • Bottled water (4 litres per person, per day)
  • Flashlight and spare batteries
  • Radio or crank radio (to listen to news bulletins)
  • First-aid kit
  • Candles, matches/lighter
  • Extra car keys and cash (including coins/cards for telephone)
  • Important papers (identification, insurance information)
  • Clothing and footwear (one change of clothes per person)
  • Blankets or sleeping bags (one blanket or sleeping bag per person)
  • Toilet paper and other personal supplies such as shampoo, hairbrush, tooth brush and toothpaste, soap and a towel and face cloth (one for each person)
  • Medication
  • Backpack/duffel bag (or something else to carry the emergency survival kit in, in case you have to evacuate)
  • Whistle (to attract attention, if needed)
  • Playing Cards
  • Be sure to check the contents of your emergency survival kit at least twice a year to ensure the freshness of your food and water.
  • Ensure that all members of your household know where your emergency survival kit is located within your home.

Additional Information

It is very important to customize your emergency survival kit to ensure that everyone in your family has all the essentials to be comfortable for up to 72 hours after an emergency.

If you or someone in your household has a disability or special need, please take a look at the Emergency Preparedness Guide for People with Disabilities/Special Needs at www.ontario.ca/beprepared for additional information on what to include in your emergency survival kit and family plan.

Ensure the needs of all members of your household are met when preparing your emergency survival kit. If you have babies or toddlers be sure to have sufficient diapers, bottled milk, formula/food, along with crayons and paper in your kit. These items will be important if you had to evacuate your home on short notice.

If you have pets at home, be sure to include them in your family emergency plan. Build a pet emergency survival kit and keep it with your family kit. For more information on how to prepare pets for emergencies please visit our website at www.ontario.ca/beprepared

For more information contact:

Emergency Management Ontario

Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services

1-866-517-0571

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Staff Changes tomorrow at Town Hall

I would like to officially welcome Mr Paul Snider, who begins his new role as our CAO/Clerk tomorrow, January 23, 2017.  Paul has many years experience working in municipal offices, the most recent as the Clerk in Loyalist Township.  And of course, Paul has deep roots in the Village.

I also want to congratulate Ms Anne Marie Koiner, who has been employed as our Deputy Treasurer/Deputy Clerk and will be appointed Treasurer/Deputy Clerk tomorrow at the Council meeting.  She brought her previous municipal experience to the village in 2015 and has worked diligently to ensure the treasury and its reports are up to date and accurate.

Please drop by Town Hall when you have a moment and extend a Westport “Home Town Pride” welcome to Paul and congratulations to Anne Marie.

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Closing out 2016 and looking forward to 2017

There were many challenges/opportunities and lots of changes at Town Hall in 2016.  Here are just a few of them.

The disappointment in February when we learned that we had been refused the Ontario Community Infrastructure 2 Grant (OCIF) to finish the work on the new waste water plant was deeply felt by us all.  After taking a few deep breaths and writing letters expressing our concerns to the Premier and other Ministers, we took stock of our application and used this as an opportunity to prepare a stronger one for 2017.  We submitted the OCIF 3 grant application in November and hope to hear a positive response in late January/early February.

Our first Engineer, Mr Leslie Whiteman, decided to leave our team for a new opportunity.   We miss seeing him, his wife and beautiful children in the Village.  This created the opportunity for the Village to begin its relationship with Mr Max Christie, who has been our Manager of Infrastructure since May.  Max brings with him a wealth of water/waste water experience and a common sense approach to infrastructure related issues.

In November, we faced a challenge regarding incidents that occurred before this Council was elected.   On November 30th, I attended court when the matters in relation to charges laid against the Village in 2014 by the Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change were dealt with – a plea of guilty on one charge, all other charges withdrawn and a $10,000 fine.  Council used this as an opportunity to contract our water/waste water operations with Ontario Clean Water Agency.  With the court case just behind us and with a full understanding of the amount of regulatory compliance required for both the water and waste water systems, Council made this decision. The short term contract duration of six months will permit Council to undertake a thorough review of service delivery options before embarking on a long term operations commitment.  We wish Mr. David Wallond, who worked for the Village as the water/waste water operator since January 2014, the best in the future.

And finally, our Clerk, Mr Scott Bryce, has retired!  His last day was December 23, although you will see him in Town Hall over the next several weeks helping us out on a couple of matters.   Thank you Scott.  The best in retirement to you and Linda.

One of those matters that Scott will be helping us with will be to provide orientation and transition to our new CAO/Clerk.  Council is pleased to welcome Mr Paul Snider.  He brings with him years of municipal experience, currently working in Loyalist Township as their Clerk.  We are extremely proud that Paul has decided to join the Westport Team. Welcome home.  Paul and his wife, Heather, will be attending the Levee on New Year’s day.  Drop by and say hello.

So, that is a wrap for 2016. We know that there will be new challenges in 2017, however be assured that Council will continue to make decisions in the best interests of you and the Village.

On behalf of myself, Councillors Brady, Huth, Parliament and Schwinghamer and the staff from the Village, we wish you and your families a Happy New Year and a safe and prosperous 2017!

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Court Case Against Village Concluded today in Brockville Court

In 2015, the Village and Clerk were each charged in 2015 with 2 counts in relation to the operation of the waste water treatment plant in the winter season of 2013/2014.  Today, the Village pled guilty to one charge, failing to properly operate and maintain the sewage treatment plant.  All other charges against the Village and Clerk were withdrawn.

Condition 6.1 of the ECA (certificate that authorizes use of waste water treatment plant) requires the Village to ensure that the sewage treatment plant and related equipment is properly operated and maintained, which is defined to include effective performance, adequate operator staffing and training.

Part of the evidence, agreed to by both the Crown Prosecutor and Village,  read at court was, “The Village did not produce enough snowfluent in the 2013/14 season, demonstrating a lack of effective performance of the system.  After the former operator was terminated, the Town hired another operator in early 2014. No back up operator was hired.  The new operator had a pre-planned vacation prior to being hired and was therefore not available for two weeks in February, prime snowfluent generation season, and as a result, no snowfluent was produced during that period.”

Mayor and Council felt that it was in the best interest of the Village to accept the option to plead to this one charge and turn the page on that part of our history.  The fine is $10,000 and the Village has 12 months to pay.  The fine would have been substantially more if the Prosecutor hadn’t taken into consideration that the Village is replacing the aging system in 2017.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the Councillor of your choice or me at 613-273-9195.