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Mono Council appoints new councillor, discusses supportive housing

October 29, 2021   ·   0 Comments

By Peter Richardson

Mono’s newest councillor, Melinda Davie, was sworn in Tuesday (Oct. 26), during a regular Council meeting. Melinda had been appointed the week prior in a special meeting of Council, called specifically for the purpose of reviewing applicants for the position and choosing a councillor from amongst them.

Following the swearing in, Council added a new item to their list of unfinished business, calling for a by-law to be drawn up to concern itself with the number of Tractor trailers appearing on Mono properties that are being used for storage. A number of these are also being used as billboards for various local companies. Two of which, located on Airport Road north of 15 Sideroad and Highway 10 north of Cemetery Road, prompted a new bylaw request.

Council next looked at filling two Board of Management vacancies created by the resignation of previous Mayor, Laura Ryan. After some discussion, it was decided that Melinda Davie would fill both vacancies, one on the Rosemont Fire Board and the other on the Centre Dufferin Recreation Complex in Shelburne. Melinda will also become the Council representative for the RAC in Mono, with Deputy Mayor Fred Nix stepping down to facilitate the appointment.

There was much discussion about the Island Lake Drinking Water Inspection Report, with several councillors expressing their disappointment with the findings of the report. Councillor Ralph Manktelow asked the director of Public Works Mike Dunmore the purpose of a barrel of chemical, sodium silicate, found in the pump house without secondary containment to protect it from spillage. Mike replied that this was a softening agent used to remove iron from the water prior to distribution. It is flushed from the distribution flow prior to the water entering the residential supply. Councillor Mankelow then asked where the water was chlorinated and was told it was chlorinated during the initial pumping from the wells.

In all, the report highlighted a number of troubling questions which would hopefully be rectified by the operator of the system in compliance with Ministry recommendations.

Council then moved on to discuss the request made to Orangeville Council to amend their bylaw and Official Plan, to allow Services and Housing In the Province (SHIP) to turn the existing Motel at 236 First Street into a supportive housing facility for homeless men.

Although this is an Orangeville matter, the surrounding residents are all in Mono and many had written letters expressing legitimate concerns about the project. None of the concerns were of a “not in my back yard” nature, but were honest concerns expressed by the residents. Councillors felt that Mono’s position on this matter should be brought to the attention of Orangeville Council, at the next public meeting on the project.

Deputy Mayor Fred Nix said he had discussed the plan with Orangeville Councillor Lisa Post and felt 99 per cent certain from that discussion that a second public meeting would be called. It was suggested that residents should be told to make their concerns known at that time. It was also noted that turning the proposed units into permanent housing, would mitigate some if not most of the concerns expressed.

No public concerns had been expressed at the first Public Meeting presumably because  the affected residents were residents of Mono and so brought their concerns to Council rather than to Orangeville.

The regular council meeting next heard reports of staff and council before moving into a lengthy “in camera” session before adjourning. Clerk, Fred Simpson informed council that the ROMA Conference would again be virtual for 2021 and that requests for delegations had to be made by Nov. 15 of this year.

Treasurer, Les Halucha noted that this year’s budget preparations were going smoothly but that the current rate of inflation in Ontario was over 4.4%, but the average over the year has been 2.4% These numbers are what Les will use to formulate his budget, but are not necessarily what Council may decide to use in the actual final decision. Residents should note however, that in order for finances not to fall behind, taxes must increase by the rate of inflation at a minimum.

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