Tag: planning

WHEN THE HOUSE FALLS DOWN

By God, they’re going to do something about the municipal garage, they’re just not quite sure what.  And they’re going to spend money on the place, but they’re not quite sure how much.  The place will exist in one form or another, just in what form, and for how long?

All of this formed the core of a discussion involving the long-dilapidated municipal garage, a structure in the midst of its slow, methodical march towards collapse and oblivion, hopefully with no town staff inside when it falls down around them.

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HR ISSUE RESOLVED

If I’m not mistaken, there appears to be some sort of resolution to the HR Liaison issue that’s proven to be a difficult piece of policy-making for Renfrew Town Council.

It appears that Council is willing to move forward with the idea of an elected councillor being involved in the Stage 3 grievance protocol, meaning that when an employee grievance reaches that stage, a councillor will be present representing the town.  In fact, it appears that Council as a whole actually put forward the idea of three councillors possibly being present as part of this process, which may well be a little bit of overkill, but if it’s staff accountability we’re trying to ensure here, then we’ll certainly get more of our money’s worth.  What may elude a single councillor could not possibly get by three of them.

For the record, Stage 1 of the grievance process involves an employee attempting to reconcile the issue at hand with their immediate supervisor.  Stage 2 involves filing a grievance and having the discussion over the issue elevated to include the Director of the department involved, along with the immediate supervisor.  At Stage 2 there’s likely to be union representation in support of the employee  involved.  It’s Stage 3 where Council got hung up on who represents the town.

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RENFREW TOWN COUNCIL MEETING 10/12/24: SCOUTING REPORT

A lot of times you get what you pay for, and then sometimes you just don’t.

Some scouting report this is going to be, what with no high human drama to report on, no scandalous utterances, no gotcha moments, no fisticuffs like we see in some legislative gatherings.

Just business.  Present/discuss/vote/table/next.  Like I said, just business.

Coulda just stayed at home and watched some hoops on the tube.

Still, though, I’m glad I didn’t.

It’s not like I know everything about everything, and showing up to a Renfrew Town Council is an education of sorts, something I mean earnestly.  Democracy is a complex beast, and one of those things that seems to be viewed from a lot of different perspectives.  Braving freezing rain, like everyone else present did, is something one has to consider doing if one wants to truly understand, not just the issues and policies, but the mechanics and procedures of local democracy at work.

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RENFREW TOWN COUNCIL MEETING: SCOUTING REPORT

I said it before and I’ll say it again.

Attending a local council meeting can be a marathon of eye-glazing procedural this-and-that, and it can be a real challenge to whatever you drink for coffee, as no level of caffeine can fully protect you from the head-nodding minutiae these affairs can showcase. That said, there is absolutely no substitute for attending in person.

And then being present with your attention.

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THE LIGHTS AT MA-TE-WAY

THE LIGHTS AT MA-TE-WAY: JP2G ENGINEERING STUDY

SEGMENT 1: 

The Committee of the Whole will look at a proposal by engineering and planning consultants JP2G to provide a detailed site investigation and prepare a report with recommendations and cost estimates to replace existing lighting at the Ma-Te-Way complex, and delay any work until 2025. 

ACTING-DIRECTOR ECKFORD

Council directed staff in a September meeting to investigate the underground power lines and boxes that provided power for lighting for three ball fields, Tye, Seeley, and Rusheleau.  Local electricians attended Ma-Te-Way as part of this inspection, and tested the lines, concluding that the majority of those lines were in need of repair or replacement.

The department recommends having JP2G totally re-design how electricity and lighting can be better provided, efficiently and cost-effectively, for users of the various facilities contained within the park.

One of the local electricians provided some possible solutions and provided estimates for those solutions, ranging from $121,000 to $171,000 before HST.  In light of these figures, it was felt that it would be a reasonable move to hire JP2G to do the proposed investigation leading to a redesIgn for a shade under $4000, and that this would be a good first step.

That JP2G project would be undertaken four weeks upon the awarding of the contract, but would conclude too late in the season for any action to be taken on its recommendations this year.  That pushes any actual work into the 2025 season.  That would mean that “some field usage” would be impacted in the spring.  A facility usage report showed that field usage from May 1, 2024 to September 30, 2024 saw only 87.5 hours of usage after 8 PM.  The department would recommend a “phased-in” approach to any work, with work being done on Tye first, followed by Rusheleau, followed by Seeley, and then the toboggan hill last.  If this were to be the case, a solar-based lighting system would need to be implemented to provide light for the toboggan hill until spring 2025.

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PART 2: THE APPENDICES

KEY TERMS

APPENDIX:  A document attached to a larger document or publication that contains material-in-depth in support of the broader document.  Additional information related to the topic.  (plural / appendices)

CHANGE ORDER:  A change in the terms of a contract that has already started to be implemented.  Changes contained in an order may impact the scope of the project, the cost of the project, or both.  In short, something came up that was unforeseen after the contract work started that made the terms of the contract untenable for one or both of the parties involved.  A change order will reflect the new reality of the project, and the new cost.

MOBILIZATION:  The gathering of the people and materials necessary to begin and complete a task.  Ideally with a construction project, mobilization occurs once, at the beginning.  Projects extending over two calendar years require additional mobilization, one at the beginning in Year 1, and another to start again in Year 2.  Mobilization of human and material resources costs money.  The need to duplicate it costs even more money.

KEY PEOPLE:  Andrea Bishop

Ms. Bishop is listed on the town’s website as the Manager of Engineering and Asset Management.  Yet the others present at the meeting refer to her as Acting Director, but no indication of Acting Director of what.  It may be the she has taken on the position of Eric Withers, who I believe no longer serves with the town.  If that’s the case, Ms. Bishop would be the Acting-Director of Development, Environment and Infrastructure / Deputy CAO, which admittedly, is a pretty impressive title.  I just wouldn’t want to have to stitch it onto a staff hoody because I’d likely need both sides, front and back. Or two hoodies.

I’m not sure entirely what her title may be, but I do hope to get it right so that the title accurately reflects the position held by Ms. Bishop.  So apologies in advance if I get it wrong. 

APPENDICES A TO D:  Active construction projects in the Town of Renfrew

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