Lanark County Media Release - November 23, 2022

Here are the highlights from the Lanark County Council meeting held Nov. 23, 2022.

Council Submits Delegation Requests for ROMA: Council passed a motion approving to submit requests for delegations with various ministries at the Rural Ontario Municipal Association conference taking place in January.

Clerk Jasmin Ralph outlined the requests in a report to council, including:

• Ministry of Long-Term care: Request relates to a number of challenges for long-term care homes in Lanark County and across Ontario, including freezing of the case mix index 2023, hiring and retention of staff, and issues related to nursing employment agencies.
• Ministry of Health: Requesting imposition of cross-border ambulance billing requirements. Ambulances currently respond to cross-border calls as required by provincial legislation, but not all municipalities are willing to enter into an agreement to fund calls that take place in their municipality.
• Ministry of Transportation: Requesting support for and/or provincial coordination of the school bus stop arm camera program due to extensive technical requirements and cross-border coordination in rural areas.
• Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services/Attorney General: Requesting that the province adopt recommendations from the Renfrew inquest related to intimate partner violence.

The submission is due Nov. 28 with confirmation about approval to come prior to the conference. For more information, contact Jasmin Ralph, Clerk, at 1-888-9-LANARK, ext. 1502.

County to Enter Agreement for Planning Consulting Services: Council has authorized the CAO to enter into an agreement with JLR Richards to provide planning services.

County Planner Julie Stewart explained the department’s senior planner position was posted for three weeks, but has not yet been filled. The human resources department has recommended posting the position as an open competition with no deadline for the submission of applications, but there will be a significant workload that will be difficult to address when the current employee departs. The consulting service can address the immediate issue for a short-term period until the position is filled.

Stewart explained the usual bid process can be waived when, due to abnormal market conditions, the goods or services are in short supply. “Currently there is a high demand for employees across several fields, and the planning field is no exception to this. As we have not been successful in obtaining a candidate for the position at this time, we have considered other options to ensure the current and anticipated workload can be managed.”

JL Richards (JLR) has provided planning services to several municipalities in the county. “As JLR is a local firm, the staff are familiar with the planning documents and planning processes within the county,” Stewart said, adding a benefit is they can be on-boarded immediately. The costs, she said, are comparable, and the full-time senior planner costs have been included in the draft 2023 budget. During the budget process, council will consider whether resources are adequate for the workload.

For more information, contact Julie Stewart, Planner, at 1-888-9-LANARK, ext. 1520.

Upcoming Meetings: County Council, Wednesday, Dec. 7, 5 p.m.; Community Services, Dec. 7 (following County Council); Corporate Services, Dec. 7 (following Community Services). County Council, Wednesday, Dec. 14 5 p.m.; Public Works, Dec. 14 (following County Council); Economic Development, Dec. 14 (following Public Works). Watch for details about public access to meetings on agendas and through online notifications. For more information, contact 1-888-9-LANARK, ext. 1502. Like "LanarkCounty1" on Facebook and follow "@LanarkCounty1" on Twitter!