By Cecilia Nasmith
At its January meeting, the Public Works Standing Committee of Northumberland County council recommended two items be brought forward for broader discussion – and possibly referred to the provincial government.
The items, coming before the committee in the form of correspondence, concern recycling of certain agricultural and recreational materials and implementing photo radar.
The latter discussion was spurred by correspondence from former OPP officer Joe Watson, a Campbellford resident who retired in 1993 – a time when the OPP staff numbered 24, a once-monthly traffic court was held in the Municipality of Trent Hills and there was a Community Policing organization with all officers living in Trent Hills.
None of those conditions apply today, he said, and motorists seem to be driving faster than ever. Watson sees photo radar as a big help in stopping speeding and collisions.
The idea has been under review by county staff for two years, Manager of Project Engineering Denise Marshall said, and a draft report is being prepared. But there are many moving pieces.
For example, municipalities must make agreements with the central processing centre in Toronto, where tickets are issued and processed, as well as with the Ministry of Transportation in regards to license plates.
Meanwhile, COVID-19 has challenged the processing centre with issues of resources and staffing if they want to accommodate additional municipalities.
Locally, Marshall added, county staff resources will be required to manage the program not only from a photo radar perspective but from a Provincial Offences perspective (since residents issued a ticket have the right to dispute it).
Chief Administrative Officer Jennifer Moore expanded on that aspect, saying that there are significant costs to start up the system and to keep it going.
Back when Provincial Offences Courts were downloaded to municipalities from the province, Moore recalled, “it was promised it would be a bit of a money maker for us. In fact, it is not.”
Even now, she said, there are significant administrative costs resulting from that right to challenge a ticket. While photo radar might be a significant deterrent, she said, there's a very real risk that costs will exceed any revenue recovered.
Warden Bob Crate still wanted to support photo radar, saying he found the deterrent value more important than the cost.
“I think, going forward, I would like to go to the province so they know we have a problem and we are looking for solutions.
“Right now, the problem is, you can only use it in Community Safety Zones. For many of us, it means we can't use it on our major streets unless there's a school or a reason to have a Community Safety Zone.”
Port Hope Mayor Bob Sanderson added his support.
“Having to restrict it to safety zones only does not solve our problems. Having all our municipalities have the option to participate wherever they feel there is a problem is what I would like to see as an outcome.”
Deputy Mayor Mandy Martin agreed that the current system does not catch – and therefore penalize – nearly enough speeders.
“This system is far more effective than the willy-nilly court system we have now,” Martin said.
The recycling discussion came from the Town of Georgina, whose Agricultural Advisory Committee decried the lack of options for recycling boat shrink wrap and agricultural bale wrap and twine. The motion it contained called for steps to be implemented in consultation among government, municipalities, and agricultural and marine groups.
Manager of Environmental and Technical Services Adam McCue noted that Northumberland County is fortunate to have both strong agricultural and marine communities. It is also blessed with its own Material Recovery Facility – though provincial plans call for sweeping changes to be made within a few years.
The MRF's vendors do deal in certain types of these plastics, though there are variations that are unacceptable. For example, a certain type of bale wrap that is white on the outside and black on the inside can find a buyer, but a variety that is all white (with improved stretchiness) cannot – and must be sent to the landfill. Similarly, a low-density polyethylene boat wrap can be used, but many new types coming into the marketplace cannot.
They are doing their best to notify both communities, McCue said, so individual buyers can make their purchasing decisions armed with that information.
“These are important things we should see are addressed going forward,” Deputy Warden Mandy Martin said.
“We know our own recycling situation is changing in the coming years, and these are measures we can take now that will set the standard going forward.”
And looking ahead, Martin added, “I recommend this be received for action – support it and take it forward to the province.”
Port Hope Mayor Bob Sanderson asked about options for twine mentioned in the original motion. McCue said twine is essentially garbage with no options available.
