Media Release: August 8, 2018 Council Meeting Summary
For Immediate Release: August 9, 2018
The following items were discussed at the regular monthly meeting of the Stratford Town Council.
Georgetown Road Sidewalk Construction
Earthform Landscaping were awarded the construction contract for the Georgetown Road Sidewalk, Bike Lane and Storm Sewer project. The total cost to the project is $337,961.54 (HST included). Work will begin on the project as soon as possible.
Fullerton's Creek Conservation Park Trails and Viewing Platform Named
The Town of Stratford's Fullerton's Creek Conservation Park is regularly used for recreational walking, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. It presently has a trail system including three trails and a viewing platform overlooking Fullerton's Creek. In recognition of the MacCallum family who sold, and donated a portion of, the land the park exists on, the three trails and viewing platform were named in honor of the family's history. Hellfire Jack Loop, Earl's Fields Loop, MacCallum Loop and Duncan's Lookout will provide the MacCallum family with a lasting presence in this park.
History of the names:
Hellfire Jack Loop: Duncan MacCallum acquired the land from his brother who was left the land by ‘Hellfire' Jack Stewart.
Earl's Fields Loop: 40 acres of the land was casually known and referred to by the MacCallum family as "Earl's Field" after Earl Ballum.
MacCallum Loop: This trail system will recognize the family and former land owners for years to come.
Duncan's Lookout: The viewing platform will be named Duncan's Lookout after Duncan MacCallum.
The MacCallum family has been consulted in the naming process and an event will be planned in the future to officially open the above named trails and platform with their new names.
Pan American Properties Inc. Front and Rear Yard Variance Approved
An application from Pan American Properties Inc. was approved allowing a development on parcel number 327973, located on lot 18-1 along the extension of Michael Thomas Way for the purpose of building a 79-unit, 5 storey apartment building, to receive a front and rear yard variance. The variance will allow for a parking lot on the front of the building rather than at the rear due to the orientation of the property on the waterfront.
Pan American Properties Inc. Height Exemption Approved
After revising the building design components at Council's request, an application from Pan American Properties Inc. was approved allowing the development to proceed with a maximum height exemption of 57' 8". The development is on parcel number 327973, located on lot 18-1 along the extension of Michael Thomas Way for the purpose of building a 79-unit, 5 storey apartment building. The approval is subject to a number of conditions including that the design and construction be in accordance with conceptual drawings submitted to the Town of Stratford. The approved variance will allow the roof structure to have a variety of heights which will add to the overall design of the building.
Power Holdings Inc. Lot Size Variance Approved
An application from Power Holdings Inc. was approved allowing the two lots located at 22 and 26 Barkley Avenue to be resized which will allow for a single family home to be built on one and a two-unit semi-detached property on the other.
CARI Board Member Appointed
As the Town of Stratford is partner in the Capital Area Recreation Inc. (CARI) and due to the recent retirement of Joanne Weir from the Town of Stratford staff, Council approved the appointment of Kim O'Connell, Director of Finance and Technology, to represent the Town on the board effective immediately.
Smoke Free Bylaw
Council approved second reading and adoption of the Smoke Free Bylaw which changes the existing policy, in effect in the Town of Stratford since 2007, into a bylaw. The bylaw was developed through the creation of a sub-committee of the Town's Sustainability Committee and was made up of representatives from the Chief Public Health Office, Council for a Smoke Free PEI, residents, business owners, residential property owners, and Town of Stratford. The purpose of the change is to reflect the Town's continuing commitment to residents health and wellness. The ban will continue to be enforced through education however the bylaw will allow for charges to be laid if necessary. A full media release from July as well as a copy of the bylaw are available at www.townofstratford.ca.
Election Bylaw
A requirement under the new Municipal Government Act (MGA) is the creation of an Election Bylaw. The majority of the provisions for the conduct of municipal elections are now contained within the act however municipalities have discretion to set their own rules around items including advance polling, alternative voting methods and campaign spending and donation limits. The Election Bylaw was drafted in partnership with Charlottetown, Summerside, Cornwall and Elections PEI, who administers the elections in the four large municipalities, to establish the discretionary rules and procedures for municipal elections in the Town of Stratford.
The changes from the minimum requirements in the Act and regulations for the Election Bylaw include:
- Establishing three dual wards
- Establishing the membership and terms of reference for a municipal Electoral Boundaries Commission
- Establishing the process to create a list of electors, versus an enumeration process
- Establishing spending limits for election campaigns
- Establishing campaign contribution rules and disclosure requirements
- Increasing the number of persons required to sign a nomination from 5 to 10 persons and waiving any fee for nomination
- Establishing six advance polling days
- Establishing mobile poll for Andrews of Stratford
- Enabling and establishing rules for mail in ballots
- Establishing a class of senior employees who cannot participate in any municipal election activity
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For more information please contact:
Robert Hughes, CAO
Phone: (902) 569-1995
Email: [email protected]
Printable Version: Media Release -Stratford Town Council Meeting Summary (August 9, 2018)