Wellington County council has agreed to lower the speed limit near Maryborough Public School in Moorefield.
On Oct. 27, council approved a recommendation from the roads committee to lower the speed limit on Wellington Road 10 in the vicinity of the school from 50 to 40 kilometres per hour.
In a staff report, county engineer Gordon Ough noted the roads department also received a request for additional sidewalks along Wellington Road 10 (McGivern Street) stretching further out of town.
“The request for a sidewalk extension will be passed along to the township (Mapleton), as the township would be responsible for the building and maintenance of the sidewalk,” Ough explained in the report.
The plan to lower the speed limit on Wellington Road 10 will be circulated to the township for comment and support, prior to erection of the necessary signs.
Safety zones
Community Safety Zones aren’t a one-size-fits-all solution for pedestrian safety, says Wellington County Engineer Gord Ough.
“There continues to be talk in the community of implementing Community Safety Zones (CSZ) as a way of making certain sections of roads, often in the downtown area, seemingly safer for pedestrians, children and local drivers,” states Ough in a staff report reviewed by Wellington County council on Oct. 27.
Ough pointed out that in September of 2014 the roads committee and council took the position that unless the area proposed to become a CSZ has already been deemed “a proven and persistent problem area by the OPP,” any traffic calming measures are only effective temporarily, while heightened police presence is in effect.
“One of staff’s concerns of having Community Safety Zone signs up, and not having them enforced continually, or at least very consistently, is that it may lead to a dangerous comfort level for slower local traffic and for pedestrians crossing the street,” the report states. “Often it is safer to be wary, rather than too comfortable.”
Council approved a roads committee recommendation that requests implementation of CSZs be passed on to the OPP for periodic monitoring of the area in question and that in the absence of the area being considered “a proven and persistent problem area with regards to speeding,” the request for the designation and signage not be acted on.
Transportation proposal
Wellington County’s social services committee is considering a request for funding for a transportation services proposal through East Wellington Community Services (EWCS).
Since 2007, the county has supported a funding agreement with the Community Resource Centre (CRC) in Fergus to provide a rural transportation program for north and Centre Wellington, which have a combined population of approximately 61,000, explained social services administrator Eddie Alton in a staff report to the committee on Oct. 12.
This program provides transportation for low-income individuals for medical appointments, Ontario Works/Ontario Disability Support Program appointments, employment interviews and similar appointments. The county, with 100 per cent municipal dollars, provides approximately $190,000 to the program.
Alton said EWCS has submitted a proposal requesting funding of $114,550 (100% municipal dollars) in order to provide transportation for Ontario Works/Ontario Disability Support Program requirements, employment interviews, court services/requirements, food assistance/banks, doctor and medical appointments, housing appointments as well as employment and specialized counselling services. The program would serve approximately 23,000 residents of Erin and Guelph-Eramosa.
The request was referred to the special services manager for Ontario Works for follow-up with EWCS and CRC to see if there is a possibility of sharing staff required and to ensure consistency of service. A recommendation on funding is anticipated at the committee’s November meeting.
Lease extension
Wellington County has approved extension of a lease with the Town of Minto for the space located at the Clifford Library.
Library staff recommended in a report that the lease, which expired in October, be extended to the end of 2016 and then renewed for an additional five years (Jan. 1, 2017 to Dec. 31, 2021) at the existing terms and conditions with a revised lease rate of $30,000 per year (the previous rate was $25,000 per year), with the option to renew for an additional five years upon successful negotiations.
County council approved a recommendation from staff and the information, heritage and seniors committee to authorize the warden and clerk to sign the necessary documents.
Business retention
Requests for 2016 Business Retention and Expansion (BRE) municipal funding for Wellington North and Erin have been approved by Wellington County.
Council approved the recommendations from the administration, finance and human resources committee for the funding requests at the Oct. 27 meeting.
Wellington North requested $25,000 to cover 60 per cent of costs of community improvement and business recruitment programs. The community improvement project will involve a review of the current Wellington North community improvement program and investigate new funding and potential boundary extensions. The business recruitment project will partner with the Renew Northern Wellington Arts and Business Association, local chambers of commerce and BIA to establish a business recruitment program.
The Town of Erin requested $25,000 to cover 100% of costs for the economic development officer to carry out the Erin Action Plan.
Non-union pay hike
Non-unionized employees of the County of Wellington will receive a 2% “economic adjustment,” effective Jan. 1.
At its Oct. 27 meeting county council approved a recommendation from the administration, finance and human resources committee to implement the increase.
2017 is the fourth straight year non-union staff have received a 2% increase under the terms of a compensation grid targeting the 65th percentile of the competitive pay market for county management/non-union positions.
