Bancroft Town Council Meeting

A busy day for the new council for the Town of Bancroft, as they struggled to get up to speed, settle on committee structures and appoint new staff. With the assistance of town staff, the Mayor, Bernice Jenkins, along with Deputy-Mayor Paul Jenkins and incumbent councillor Charles Mullet, aided new councillors Bill Kilpatrick, Mary Kavanagh, Barry and Tracy McGibbon, in settling into the council routine. The new councillors asked many questions as they delved into council matters.
There were some staff appointments announced at Bancroft Council on Tuesday. Lianne Sauter is now the Deputy-Clerk, Robin Tait is the Planning Coordinator, Ed Hoover and Bill Brinklow have been selected as Deputy-Fire Chiefs for Bancroft, and Craig Davidson will take over as Treasurer/Consultant, on a part time basis. Current Treasurer Eileen Carr will be retiring. Also retiring early next year will be Don Taylor.
A presentation to council was made by Sarah Krieger, the Education Coordinator for the local Alzheimer Association. Sarah presented some stark information about dementia and then requested that the town recognize January as Alzheimer Awareness Month. The council readily passed the recommendation.
The BBIA (Bancroft Business Improvement Area) requested $3,000 from the town to cover the costs of securing the entertainers for the Wheels, Water and Wings 2015 event. The BBIA needed to pay now because provincial legislation prevents a BIA from carrying a debt from one year to another. There will be a few changes to the Wheels, Water and Wings event for next year. The Midway will not be returning as council felt it was too expensive for many families. There will be a Paddle Challenge coming and the Knights of Columbus have a special event planned as well. In addition to outside musical entertainers, local bands will also be hired to perform.
There were some 10 committee reports presented to council, and they were largely received for information. The Chief Administrative Officer, Hazel Lambe, also presented a report and it contained a number of items for council to act upon. The first was to sign a letter acknowledging receipt of the Auditor’s report. Then there were a number of grants dealt with including application for a Celebrate Canada Program grant. The CAO’s report recommended that a committee of other municipalities and organizations be struck to gage interest in Canada Day Festivities in Ban croft for 2015. Funding by grant will also be sought for surface treatment of Quarry-Bronson Road as well as water and sewer infrastructure works and a grant from Age Friendly Community Planning.
Council was urged by CAO Lambe and the in-coming Treasurer, Craig Davidson, to find a permanent solution to the unfunded capital, at the most favourable terms to the town. A debenture was one suggestion offered.
Council defeated a motion to oppose Canada Post’s elimination of home delivery.
You are advised that council did vote to close the Town office from noon on December 24th until 8:30 a.m. on January 5, 2015 for the Christmas holidays. Staff who do not have enough banked time to take all that time off, may work, but the office will be closed. There will be a telephone answering service available throughout the season.