Tag Archives: Westport

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COVID-19 Update – March 19, 2020

Good evening everyone.  A couple of updates from today’s meetings.  During today’s emergency legislative session at Queen’s Park, the Provincial Government introduced legislation to assist municipal governments and local boards during the COVID-19 emergency. This legislation received unanimous consent in the Legislature.

Municipal governments need the ability to ensure councils, council committees and municipal boards can meet virtually to make key decisions without needing to meet physically- given societal necessity for social distancing and isolation.

The Municipal Act, 2001 has been amended to provide that, during municipal or provincial emergencies, members of councils, local boards and committees who participate electronically in open and closed may be counted for the purposes of quorum.

Given the importance of this legislation, we amended our Procedural By-Law at tonight’s Council meeting in order to implement the changes immediately.   In order to participate in tonight’s meeting, all members of Council had to attend.  This amendment will allow members of Council to fully participate in municipal government during the course of COVID-19 remotely if that is their preference.

The Clerk and Mayor will continue to be in Council Chambers – in person, not virtually – and the chambers will be open to the public – albeit limiting the number of spectators.,  No doubt there will be some bugs to work out, but this is a very positive decision by the provincial government.

The second issue to report is we have made the decision to close Town Hall to walk-ins and ask the public to call and make an appointment.  Staff will have other information on the village web site tomorrow.  We had hoped to keep the doors open for the duration of the virus, however we have found that the reasons people are coming into Town Hall can be handled in other ways – ie dropping payments into the drop box, paying on-line, purchasing garbage tags in retail stores.  This decision increases the safety of our staff.  call Town Hall @613-273-2191.

Please maintain physical space between you and others, wash wash wash your hands, stay home if you can and help others who are having challenges self-isolating.

Call anytime – 273-9195

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Ready for some good news? Spring is here and 2 public works projects underway!

Bedford St bore holesYou might have seen some different trucks in the village today.  The first group of vehicles belong to the crew doing bore holes on Bedford St to take samples of the road bed.  Yup …. one of the first early steps required before the reconstruction of Bedford St.

The second group of vehicles belong to a sewer camera crew.  The Village had to wait for the spring water levels to rise to install cameras in the sewers.  These are expected  to help identify where the illegal sump pumps are operating.  The contractor was busy today doing the installations.  For the 98% of you who comply with the sump pump by-law, we want to thank you and let you know that we are still working hard to resolve the issue.  More about this in the next few weeks.

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UPDATE ON COVID-19 – March 17,2020

Dear Westport Residents and Business Owners.

Currently, there have been no reported cases of COVID-19 in the Village and an Emergency has not been declared.  However, there have been 3 cases reported in Kingston.

Prior to today (March 17), we had already made some changes, including closing Town Hall at 1:30 each day, closing the Community Centre, Library, suspending meetings of committees of council and other boards.  

The Village’s Emergency Control Group (ECG) met March 17th 2020 and opened the Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) to incorporate proactive measures to limit the spread of the virus within the Village and to protect our residents, businesses, visitors and staff.  The EOC will remain open and the ECG will meet weekly or as required to ensure the the continuity of services is maintained.

On the agenda for the ECG meeting were many of the items that the Premier announced this morning.  As a result of Premier Ford’s declaring a state of emergency, the following establishments in Westport are legally required to close immediately:

  • All facilities providing indoor recreational programs;

  • All public libraries

  • All bars and restaurants, except to the extent that such facilities provide takeout food and delivery;

I want to recognize the many organizations and businesses who prior to Premier Ford’s announcement had already made the decision to cancel events and food/bar service for the next several weeks to limit the spread of the virus and to help maintain social distancing.  These organizations include the Cove Country Inn, Tangled Gardens and the Lost Penny Pub, churches – Knox Presbyterian, Westport United and St Paul’s Anglican, Lions Club, Branch 542 Royal Canadian Legion, the Westport Brewery, Steve’s Restaurant, Cottage Coffee, the Westport Arts Council cancelled all choir rehearsals, performances and festivals and of course, Terry Bryan, decided against hosting our beloved St Paddy’s Day parade.  Good business decisions and very important for the health of community members. 

The Westport Village Pharmacy and Kudrinko’s, under the strong leadership of Tracey Phillips and Neil & Martha Kudrinko, have strategies in place to ensure people receive their supplies – whether shopping in person or remotely.  Well done you three!

Pastor Paul Millar has stepped up and taken on the role of volunteer coordinator.  If you are interested in helping others during the pandemic, pls contact Paul at westportpastor@gmail.com and if you need some assistance you can email westportcare@gmail.com. Thank you Paul.

Seniors citizens and people with pre-existing health conditions are more vulnerable to COVID-19.  Please find a senior to “buddy” up with to prevent them from feeling isolated during this time.  A phone call can go a long way to provide support and inquire of anything they need.  If they don’t have access to the internet, pls keep them informed about the virus and what we are doing working together to slow it down.

Village Staff tell me that Rideau St Lawrence monthly bills are going into the mail this week, however payment is not due until first week of April.  You can register for e-billing at www.rslu.ca.

The declaration of an emergency by Premier Ford should highlight how important your personal actions are in the coming days.  Stay home if you can and limit your interactions with other people.  Social distancing will protect people’s health, their family  and neighbours.  Every opportunity to avoid interaction helps to control the virus and flatten the curve.  We need to look out for each other.  My behaviour affects your health and your behaviour affects mine.  Keep our Village safe and healthy and we will come out the end of the pandemic a stronger community.

Please call if you have suggestions or concerns – 613-273-9195.

Mayor Robin Jones and Council

Village of Westport

  

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COVID-19 UPDATE

As you would expect, I have had many meetings and teleconferences this past week with Village and UCLG Staff, members of council, Mayors, Dr Paula Stewart – the Medical Officer of Health for Leeds, Grenville & Lanark, MPPs and other service providers to our municipality.  With the quickly evolving information about COVID-19, it is important to communicate with others who are also putting together strategies to slow down the spread of the virus and keep people healthy.  

Currently, there have been no reported cases of COVID-19 in the Village and an Emergency has not been declared.

Today, some changes occurred at Town Hall that I want to brief you on.  We employ two staff in the office, other than the CAO.  One of our staff has had to self-isolate for fourteen days having just returned from a vacation outside of Canada.  Our casual employee is not available to fill all of the shifts for the next ten days.  Beginning Wednesday and until March 30, Town Hall will be open weekdays from 8:30 to 1:30 p.m.  We apologize if this creates any challenges.

The Community Centre (arena) was shut down on Sunday for the rest of the ice season.  Discussions are underway for closing the Library,  suspending Committees of Council meetings and other strategies to limit people gathering and/or ensuring that adequate social distancing can occur.

Each municipality is required to have an Emergency Control Group (ECG) as part of its Emergency Management Plan.   The ECG is meeting tomorrow (Tuesday) morning and I will have further information for you tomorrow. You can call or email me anytime if you have questions or concerns.  613-273-9195   rjones@villageofwestport.ca

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March 20 BREAKFAST WITH THE MAYOR – CANCELLED.

The rapid developments concerning the COVID-19 pandemic and the need to take all reasonable measures to help contain the spread of the virus have led us to take the decision to cancel the March breakfast.  

 “Everyone needs to do their part to flatten the curve,”  is the phrase used by health officials across the country, urging people to do what they can to slow the spread of disease and thus lower the burden on the health-care system.

You can still “have your say” regarding the Village Strategic Plan.  The survey will remain on our web site home page for another couple of weeks.

Please take care of yourselves and stay tuned to the best sources of information about CVOID-19 – the provincial government and federal government websites.  There you will find information on how best to protect yourself and others, travel advisories and facts about the virus.

We all have our own part to play in protecting ourselves, or colleagues, and our friends and families