4 • Thursday, December 12, 2013
The Standard
‘Zero tolerance’ policy adopted for Scugog BLAKE WOLFE The Standard
After several months in development, Scugog’s ‘zerotolerance’ policy for municipally-owned facilities is expected to come into effect in the new year. The draft document, presented to councillors this week by Recreation and Culture Manager Craig Belfry, outlines a number of behaviours deemed unacceptable for local arenas, playing fields and facilities - such as aggressive or violent acts - as well as corresponding staff responses and penalties for offenders. Councillors approved a staff recommendation this week that the policy be adopted. The policy, which Mr. Belfry said is based on a similar document enforced in the City of Burlington, went through a lengthy review period involving consultations with local user groups, hall boards and Durham police. The policy will also be reviewed with staff of the Scugog Memorial Public Library, as peer a council amendment to the staff recommendation at the meeting. Staff training and a public awareness campaign are expected to start in the new year, said Mr. Belfry. Operating on a ‘three strikes’ basis, penalties for various behaviours range from a minimum one- to six-month ban, based on the type and severity of the incident, from all municipal recreation facilities upon the first offence,
up to a minimum three-year ban for a fourth offence. Appeals to the policy will require individuals to pay a nonrefundable fee of $200, which Mr. Belfry previously said was in line with other municipalities that have enacted such policies. Work began on the policy following a Feb. 19 assault on a hockey ref at the Scugog Arena. In that incident, a verbal exchange between the referee and two parents of Port Perry players began inside the arena, regarding calls made by the ref during the game. Police said that one parent later threatened the ref and kicked his legs in the parking lot. The assault took place in front of several people, including children, said police. One parent was charged while the ref and the second parent were later suspended for their roles in the incident. In response to an inquiry by Councillor Larry Corrigan, Mr. Belfry explained that the incident has drawn awareness to the issue of unacceptable behaviours at local facilities. “There seems to be a greater awareness since the March incident,” he said, “and a dialogue has begun between staff and user groups. It’s really started the communication. Port Perry Minor Hockey now staffs their dressing rooms with two adults - these new rules and changes are being developed.”
Infrastructure funding could last 25 years F RO M PAG E 1
Added Treasurer Trena DeBruijn: “We don’t know what’s coming the future,” she said, “so we’re recommending a made-in-Scugog approach.” The treasurer added that while the recommendation was to levy a one per cent increase for infrastructure for 25 years, the increase is “not set in stone” and could be examined every year as budget pressures change, a point which Ward 5 Councillor Howard Danson deemed “fickle,” as the council elected next October could do away with the funding plan if it so chose. “The thing we’re going to have difficulty with is telling someone that for the next 25 years, we’re going to increase taxes by one per cent,” said the councillor. “It’s going to be a hard sell.” Councillor Larry Corrigan raised concerns with increasing the levy prior to any public discussion of the budget; however, Ms. DeBruijn explained that as part of completing the asset management plan within the province’s required timeframe, municipalities must show that they are taking steps to maintain local infrastructure, adding that by not doing so, it could jeopardize future
funding opportunities. Dave Anderson of 4 Roads Management Services, which prepared the plan for the township, summed up the municipality’s current infrastructure state. “Your roads are in below-average condition,” said Mr. Anderson, “and your bridge/culvert system, on average, is beyond its design life.” Citing the number of complaints regarding local roads received by the township, Mayor Chuck Mercier lauded the plan but expressed uncertainty regarding the effectiveness of a one per cent increase dedicated to infrastructure. “The time is now for a built-in-Scugog plan,” said the mayor, adding that infrastructure concerns are the “number one complaint from the public. “The province is also basing its funding distribution on our preparedness and will only address those who meet the specific criteria. The long-term plan assures that we address the roads problem, but is it enough?” Mr. Roger responded, “it’s not enough, but in a situation where we are a Greenbelt community and our OMPF funding is being reduced, this is a long slow climb, but it’s the best we can do right now.”
NICHOLE Reinhardt and Scott, Nicole and big sister Taylor are pleased to announce the birth of
SHANE Jeffrey
Copy JACK & JILL
join us on
NEW YEARS EVE at
Scugog Arena 8pm $10 OR $15 AT THE DOOR
Campbell Ross Swain Born October 4, 2013 7lbs 3oz Proud grandparents are Don & Louise Swain of Blackstock and Gord & Ann Munroe of Perth. It is with great excitement for big sister Joanna to announce the arrival of baby sister
Sadie Pauline Penney 8lbs 3oz on December 3, 2013 Proud parents Mark & Sarah would like to thank Doctors M. Brown, M. Stewart, M. Adams and the exceptional nursing staff at the New Life Centre.
IT’S A GIRL!!
First time Grandparents Ted & Wilma Smith of Sunderland and Allan & Lois Baker of Woodville, are thrilled to announce the arrival of
BRYNN MARIE, 10 lb. 5 oz. on August 19, 2013
to proud parents Graham & Holly Smith, Sunderland. Great-grandparents are Bill & Jackie Guthrie, Whitby and Rosalind & John Doble, Lindsay. Happy Aunts are Lee-Ann Smith of Cold Lake, AB and Kathy Weatherup (Matt) of Peterborough. Thanks to Dr’s Kazarian, Stryde & Schurter and the nurses at the New Life Centre, Port Perry Hospital Submissions for Turning Points are due Monday at noon.
Nursery school feeling pinched in Blackstock plan BLAKE WOLFE The Standard
SCUGOG: After 35 years, the board of a local daycare fears they may be on the move due to a proposed update of a local recreation facility. Representatives of the Blackstock Cooperative Nursery School, which has operated out of the Blackstock Recreation Centre since the mid-1970s, told The Standard they are leery of what a planned renovation to the facility will mean for their continued operation in that location, after Scugog councillors were presented with the latest update on the renovation process last week. Among the changes in the renovation plan are the relocation of the facility’s bar area to the room which currently houses the nursery school, a change that the board says could more or less oust the school from the centre. “By making the room smaller,” said board representative Rob Probst, “they will make it physically impossible for us to stay there. Inevitably, if it goes through, we will have to move.” Mr. Probst noted that while the school has not been told by the township that they will have to vacate the room, the renovation would mean that to stay in the facility they would have to make use of the banquet hall - an unlikely scenario given the potential for increased rental fees and the lack of permanent space, he noted. Mr. Probst said that at this point, a possible alternate location for the nurs-
ery school has not been determined. In the recent presentation to council, architect Nick Swerdfeger, who was hired on by the township to design the facility’s updated look, was quoted as telling councillors and staff that the school had been “fully involved” with the planning process. Mr. Probst explained that the nursery school board has not been actively involved in the planning process for the renovation. This week, Recreation and Culture Manager Craig Belfry told The Standard that it was the Blackstock Recreation Centre Advisory Committee that was involved with the planning process and not the nursery school board as previously quoted. He acknowledged that while the nursery school isn’t being pushed out of the facility, they will no longer have exclusive use of the room due to a need identified in the consultation process for a multi-purpose room. With 22 families currently making use of the nursery school, Mr. Probst said that any changes to the current format will be felt beyond the immediate community. “Everyone in Blackstock knows someone who’s gone there,” he noted, adding that in some cases, multiple generations of family members have attended. “But we have families from Cadmus, Burketon and other communities who have kids here.... They’re telling us ‘we don’t want you to leave but you can’t stay in here.’”
Work progresses on new skatepark plan Scugog Township will help out with a local initiative to bring a skateboard park to Caesarea, in the form of a $40,000 funding allocation for a formal design of the proposed facility. Councillors approved a staff recommendation this week that the money be allocated from the township’s Parks reserve for the project, which has been the goal of a community fundraising initiative for several years. Earlier this summer, the skatepark committee was turned down for funding from the Ontario Trillium Grant. According to Public Works Director Ian Roger, a formal design will both narrow down the project’s final cost and also allow for the project to be submitted to the Trillium Grant for a second time. The proposed skatepark is slated for a parcel of land in Caesarea in Putsey Park, near the intersection of Cedar Grove Dr. and Pier St.