TETC
Minutes of meeting Tuesday February 3, 2009
Kinsmen Centre, Bauline
Line
Present: Shirley Thorne,
Madeleine Florent, Sylvia Warkentin,
Minutes from previous
meeting: not yet available
Meeting times
It became apparent tonight
that the
Madeleine, Helen and Ralph
reported on a meeting between the Provincial Department of Highways environmental
officers and the contractors and sub-contactors who will be clearing the
The expectation is that the highest environmental
standards will be met especially with regard to waterways. We will put a note
in the newsletter asking people to keep an eye on the situation and report
problems to Dawn at the Town Hall. Ralph suggested we ask Ken Hannaford to give
a public presentation in
If there is money the plan
is to buy heather for the garden. There was discussion about finding a suitable
place for a bench so people can enjoy both the garden and the view.
Ralph reported that the
provincial department of municipalities has turned down the request to allow
Western Island Pond buffer zone be included in the building lots for phase 6 at
Forest Landing. The developer has to go back to the drawing board. Ralph
congratulated Madeleine and Geoff for spearheading a lot of work to bring this
about and thus hopefully protecting the wetland.
Access to Information
Madeleine is frustrated
about having to go through ‘Access to Information’ in order to get copies of
letters etc from the town. It takes about 3 weeks. Ralph suggested that he be
asked first since he has a copy of most letters.
Meeting with Mayor Bob Codner.
Helen had an impromptu
meeting with the mayor a few weeks ago. He asked that members of TETC look
through the document which guides council’s decisions on the town and make
recommendations regarding environmental topics. Ralph has since given Helen the
relevant sections of this document. Helen has looked it over and finds the
content to be unclear. In many places it suggests sensible environmental
safeguards, but then adds a clause that allows Council to override this. She
feels that recommendations need to be made to tighten up the environmental
clauses in the document, but it needs to be done by someone who knows what they
are doing. It was suggested that Derek Staubitzer may
be able to do this. Helen will contact him.
SAM meeting
This year it will be in the
Dominion Hill
Geoff has talked to tourism
heritage and other local people about the proposed rezoning at Dominion Hill
(in the conservation zone by the coast). There is concern over spoiling the
view, the trail and possible nepotism. Geoff intends to meet with MHA Kevin
Parsons on this issue. Madeleine feels the issue has the potential to be divisive.
Ralph is trying to move along the process at council so that a public hearing
will happen soon. Council says it has been waiting for a response form ECTA.
(Helen going to check that ECTA realize this) Members of TETC have met with the
heritage committee and ECTA to make a plan of action. A committee seems to be
being formed to fight this rezoning and public interest is building.
Budget and recycling
Helen will find out about
it. Meanwhile Evergreen has given TETC $1,100 for the recyclables. Madeleine
would like help with sorting the recyclables which are sorted at her home until
taken to Evergreen. The school is no longer involved in this initiative because
TETC has no staff person to co-ordinate it.
Newsletter.
Helen has been working on a
winter newsletter. It’s almost ready for a final edit and then needs to go to
Dawn, Bob and Ralph before printing.
Hikes
Sylvia reported on the hikes
which are being fairly well attended by TETC members. Sunday’s geocache hike
was postponed to next Sunday. She now has a standing order for the hikes to go
on the town sign and the town website.
Ross will lead a hike to
Moon Pond Ridge in March. There will be interpretive hikes included in the
schedule this year.
Movie Night
It was decided that a
regular night should be chosen – third Tuesday of each month. Next one will be
“who killed the electric car” at Melanie’s home at
Gardening Course
Ross offered to do two
evening workshops in March. He wants all proceeds to go to TETC. He will have a
max of 25 people per course and will deal with registration. The dates are
Thursday March 5 and Thursday March 12. He will send Helen details for the newsletter.
Trail Guide
The Trail guide still needs
some editing before it can be sent for approval. Since new trails get cut by
landowners, old trails get built on or redirected or grow over, a clause needs
to be added that they can’t be guaranteed. Once the draft copy is ready it will
be presented to council and then, with their approval, printed and sold as a
set of maps. Helen and Sylvia will try to walk the proposed trail loops and
edit, but all hands are asked to walk trails, especially those that are
unfamiliar to the walker, so the map gets a thorough testing.
Helen is keen to start a
group interested in some sort of community vegetable garden. Ross has some experience
and there was discussion over the various models for doing this such as renting
out plots, a club renting land, or sharing plots that already exist. Ralph
suggests talking to Tina since she also wants to do this.
The meeting ended at 10 pm