Kingsville council delays decision on empty seat

Kingsville council must soon decide if there will be a byelection or an appointment after declaring the seat held by Coun. Sandra McIntyre vacant.

McIntyre, in her second term on council, resigned Aug. 14 due to personal reasons, said Mayor Nelson Santos.

“She just said it’s time to take care of family at this time in her life,” he said.

The Municipal Act requires the town fill the vacancy because it occurred more than 90 days before a regular election.

But before that can happen, councillors must determine whether to appoint a new member or hold a byelection.

Jennifer Astrologo, director of corporate services, said a byelection would cost what a regular election costs because council members are elected at-large throughout the community.

Astrologo estimated that the cost would be a minimum of $55,000. It would cost about $1,500 to use the appointment method.

If council decides to go the appointment route, a decision would have to be made whether to seek out the person who received the sixth-most votes in the last municipal election, which according to records was John Driedger, and find out if he is still eligible and willing to serve or to put out a call for applications for the position.

Santos said council will make a decision at the next regular meeting on Sept. 11.

Councillors also heard from residents Monday asking for the elimination of duck blinds in waters off Kingsville’s shoreline and restrictions on hunting on the waterfront adjacent to residential areas.

“It’s déjà vu,” Santos said. “We kind of hear about the hunting and the blind issues also every season, especially when the duck blinds are being erected so close to shore.

“People always question that. A lot of the newcomers as well aren’t used to seeing a duck blind and question what that is in the water.”

The mayor said residents expressed concern about the safety of residents on shore, the risk to boaters from abandoned duck blinds and the nuisance of loud gunfire in the early morning hours.

There were several hunters at the meeting but because they weren’t registered as delegations, they weren’t allowed to speak.

Santos said the issue will be revisited at a September meeting.

“Our jurisdiction is very minimal,” Santos said. “All we can do is lobby for having hunting in appropriate areas for the safety of the community.”

Hunting season begins in September.

Hunters are required under Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry guidelines to remove all of the duck blinds at the end of the season.

Residents in the Mettawas Lane subdivision should soon see the completion of sidewalks, curb repair and road resurfacing after council agreed to extend the developer’s deadline.

Santos said council heard from the developer’s lawyer on Monday that they’ve been working to get contractors on-site to finish the project.

He said a protracted legal dispute tied up the developer — known as 1147160 Ontario Limited — for the last three or four years and they couldn’t proceed with the work.

“So they lost a number of years (and) that’s why they weren’t able to put in a final coat of asphalt,” Santos said. “Now they have to replace the curbs because of (deterioration).”

The town recently received a $11,130 cheque for sidewalk installation.

The developer was given a 40day extension. Santos said it’s expected the work will be done by the end of September.

We kind of hear about the hunting and the blind issues also every season, especially when the duck blinds are being erected so close to shore.