By Cecilia Nasmith
The annual Port Hope and District Chamber of Commerce Mayor's Breakfast was held virtually this year, with no fellowship or hot breakfast at the Railside Restaurant.
Everyone commented on the sad contrast forced by the pandemic, including Mayor Bob Sanderson.
The area does continue to have very low numbers, but that should not invite complacency.
“We are very strong in our messaging – stay home, follow the rules. Those are the things we need to do.”
Still, he predicted, “It's going to continue through all this year, I am fairly confident of that.”
But as the situation shifts and evolves, the mayor urges everyone to take the initiative to keep up to date, and the municipality is proud of its website and communications.
Municipal staff remain fully engaged in service delivery in spite of working from home, he said.
“Programs shut down, where necessary, and adjustments were made. The Jack Burger Sports Complex is closed, but the Caroline Street rink is open.”
The outdoor skating facility is the only municipal amenity currently open, and is accessible on a reservation-only basis with strict protocols including capacity limit.
The Port Hope Public Library offers contactless curbside pick-up, and the transit service operates on its usual schedule but with capacity limits and enhanced cleaning.
Parking enforcement may not be as stringent as usual, Sanderson added, as there are other priorities these days. But work on those priorities has forged ahead, such as the Waterfront Riverwalk Working Group. This group aims to maximize the potential of the beautiful Ganaraska River that flows north to south through the municipality.
“It has been identified by the public as being a major asset that is underutilized,” Sanderson said.
“This is a fairly high priority for the municipality and it will be a long-term plan.”
The municipality is in the process of implementing the Water and Wastewater Rate Study they just completed, and asset-management software is helping track municipal assets to aid in long-term planning and budgeting.
“And all the lots in the industrial park are sold, and that has been a fairly significant impact from a tax perspective.”
Plans for the Ruth Clarke Centre – to move it to space in front of the Town Park Recreation Centre, where it will be rebuilt - are not moving fast enough, Sanderson declared, because the Federal government is not getting back to him on its share of the project. He continues to enquire and write letters to progressively higher levels of government, and expects to be writing the prime minister soon.
“It probably won't do any good, but it makes me feel better. And I hope it makes you feel better that we are not just sitting and waiting,” he said.
“We all know the Ruth Clarke Centre, as it currently is, is very deficient – just not suitable.”
On the other hand, Sanderson was delighted to report the active involvement of the provincial government on this project.
The Leisure Services Master Plan is nearing completion, and the municipality has introduced My Port Hope, a new public-engagement platform where you can join the conversation and share ideas and feedback.
One request frequently received is to find a way to stop people from coming to the municipality in light of the continuing pandemic.
“That's not the mandate of the municipality. We cannot stop people from coming and going. But we do ask that people respect the health requirements. If we all behave ourselves, we will lighten up a bit, hopefully on the 10th (Feb. 10).”
In that connection, Sanderson acknowledged the big draw of the Ganaraska River for anglers, especially at salmon time. He has seen the crowds and the excitement, and that's just not safe right now.
“We are in active discussions with Jim McCormack, our Director of Parks and Recreation, to approach the ministry and try to get the ministry to restrict fishing.”
Closing the fishing season last year – and closing the beach – was a difficult decision but a correct one.
The signs popping up on people's lawns saying Save The Woodlot refer to a continuing interest in saving a woodlot slated for removal as part of the Mason Homes Phase 5 subdivision plan. This matter is currently before the Local Planning Appeal Tribunal.
Sanderson listed some highlights out of the 2021 capital and operating budgets that advance the municipality's strategic goals and objectives, including a new playground at Wladyka Park, $1.3-million (pending approval of those Federal funds) towards the development of a new seniors' centre, increased trail paving, affordable-housing considerations, a municipal-service delivery review, and $1.2-million dedicated to additional items of community interest – rural road resurfacing, design work on the Rose Glen Road reconstruction, enhanced municipal communications, implementing pedestrian crosswalks on Peter and Ontario streets, and increased tree planting throughout the community.
Updates to the Film Policy are being worked on, with Northumberland County represented at the table – along with two year-round residents who are employed in the film industry.
One challenge is the slower pace of the bureaucracy required for such things as street closing versus the rapidly shifting needs of the film crew.
“Filming in Canada is really booming, so we feel there's a good opportunity. But we also feel we need to review the film policy to work with that business,” Sanderson said.
He is pleased with the new Rave Mobile alert system the municipality has introduced.
“We would like to make sure everybody has access to and signs up for it – I have done it, and it's very simple.”
There was some good news in 2020, including the announcement that Port Hope ranks well in the 2019 Crime Severity Index recently released by the Canadian Centre for Justice and Community Safety Statistics. This refers to a measure of police-reported crime that reflects the relative seriousness of individual offences, and Port Hope ranked 269th out of the 321 communities and tracks changes in crime severity. Port Hope ranked 269th out of 321 communities – the ranking system being the #1 community had the worst crime severity and the #321 community had the best rating.
Questions from chamber members provided more news from the municipality, including Angela Grogan's enquiry about the lack of an equity-and-diversity policy.
It did come up during the strategic planning process, the mayor said, and it is on their radar.
“It's kind of lip service now to some degree, but we are working on it. It's a point of discussions at the corporate level, absolutely.”
Lisa Smith, whose business is relatively new to Port Hope, asked when she might expect Uber Eats. There's already a Northumberland Eats, Sanderson told her, along with a lot of potential for other future services that will unfold as the need becomes apparent.
“I see this sort of stuff becoming another business model within our municipalities, giving other people the opportunity to grow businesses,” he said.
“We have seen some businesses thrive as they create a business that was not possible before.”
Darlene Robertson asked about any possible plans for Pineridge Mall at the corner of Queen and Robertson streets, formerly Lakelands Place, formerly the ValuMart. The plan is to develop a plan, the mayor replied.
He outlined some possible concepts for using the site to consolidate some of the municipal services that are scattered in four different locations as a possibility.
Plans are also being developed for the old file factory, which has a new owner. Following discussions with this person, Sanderson said, “It's a huge undertaking, but the new owner is very keen on developing and not tearing down.”
Several members asked about expanded broadband services, including Rhonda Cook. Her Primitive Design business is located north of town, and her unreliable service makes it impossible to do business on-line. Even processing debit and credit cards by computer is often a tedious and frustrating process.
The family across the street from her has a son who cannot do his school work, she added.
The many internet merchants who are springing up promise service they can't deliver, she continued.
“It's like somebody getting hold of your wallet and taking what they want out of it.”
This issue is being actively pursued at Northumberland Council, the mayor said.
“County council and staff have taken a very active lead. We are not waiting for the province, we are not waiting for Federal, we are not waiting for Eastern Ontario Wardens' Caucus funding. We are taking it under our own auspices and moving ahead,” Sanderson said.
“It's no longer an option. It's like electricity. You have to have it.”
Chamber Chief Executive Officer Brenda Whitehead added some positive details, such as the classification of this service as an essential need.
“We are ahead of other regions, because we have already done the majority of the work – locating where the fibres are and where there's nothing going on and where there's gray areas,” Whitehead listed.
“We can actually apply for the funding and start to implement changes faster than other communities.”
Mayor Sanderson closed with an appeal on behalf of the municipality's annual Civic Awards, nominations for which are still open.
“We have a tough time getting them, so I am asking you to be active if you feel somebody should be recognized,” he urged.
“We call them the unsung heroes, so let's sing a little bit and recognize them.”
