59 Carden St.

Guthrie adds name to list of "no comments"

Michael Sona, the local lad who's found himself in the middle of the so-called "robocall" phone scandal, has predictably been keeping his head down since it all hit the fan several days ago.

That has led media outlets, us included, to look for comment from other people with connections to the beleaguered politico.

That led us to this photo, which shows Sona (on the right) speaking to Coun. Cam Guthrie last April at an all-candidates debate at Our Lady of Lourdes. (Sona at the time was communications director for local Conservative candidate Marty Burke. Hours after this photo was taken, Sona made headlines when he tried to shut down a special polling station at the U of G)

Earlier today Guthrie didn't have much to say about Sona of the unfolding scandal when contacted by my colleague Joanne Shuttleworth, referring her to the Conservative party.

Hiking support for social services funerals

Posted by Phil Andrews

The city's Community and Social Services Committee is advancing the proposal that the city increase its spending on social services funeral rates by 20 per cent retroactive to Jan. 1, to align with the County of Wellington's funeral directors fees.

This would see the civic subsidies received for such funerals "more closely reflect the actual costs for (such) funeral services," according to a new city staff report.

Former council candidate may be set to serve on committee

Posted by Phil Andrews

Former Ward 3 council candidate Melissa (Missy) Tolton is recommended for appointment by city council to serve on the municipality's Accessibility Advisory Committee.

Council is to consider her potential appointment Monday.

 

 

City settles Hanlon Creek Biz Park lawsuit

Posted by Phil Andrews

The city has dropped its lawsuit over protesting acitivities at the site of the Hanlon Creek Business Park.

It was discontinued in January, the Guelph’s city solicitor confirmed Thursday to Mercury reporter Rob O'Flanagan.

“The action was concluded on the basis that it was discontinued without costs,” said Donna Jaques. She explained that “without costs” meant neither party was required to pay the court costs of the other. “The notice of discontinuance has been filed with the court and the matter is now concluded.”

The city, Jaques said, paid $59,276 to external legal council from 2009 to the present on the matter. Evans Sweeny Bordin LLP of Hamilton was the firm. Because the discussion on the discontinuation was in a closed session of city council, and because it was subject to attorney/client privilege, details as to the rationale behind the discontinuation can not be discussed publicly, Jaques said.

Market Square skating and wading

Posted by Phil Andrews

I'm told the City of Guelph will seek to have the Market Square rink operating through the March Break if weather permits.

It seems temperatures up to about 5C could be readily managed in trying to make that happen.

Given that the weird winter has scuttled neighbourhood rinks, I wonder if the Market Square skating traffic has been even higher than anticipated.

I'm surprised no one has prominently suggested rentals of the ice surface might be a possible civic revenue play. That would upset folks but would likely bring in some revenue.

We did a webpoll Tuesday on whether shinny should be allowed on the rink at certain times - 72 per cent of responses were against that proposition.

I look forward to seeing what the water feature aspect of the facililty looks like later this spring. It will apparently have several fountains, lights and can be set to do shows set to music.

Trees and monuments

Posted by Phil Andrews

City staff is recommending that council's Operations and Transit Committee approve a proposal to see the city do away with having permanent commemorative plaques related to civic tree dedications in municipal parks.

The change would see a 10-year plaque display period implemented.

It would also "prevent City parks from being viewed as memorial parks," according to a city staff report.

The issue is to be reviewed by the committee Tuesday night.

Seeking an opponent of bullying on council

Posted by Phil Andrews

On Tuesday, Guelph mom and anti-bullying activist Lynne MacIntyre is to appear before council's Community and Social Services Committee.

According to a letter sent to the mayor and council, she will be seeking "a member of council to be an active member on a newly-formed group: The Guelph Anti-Bullying Coalition."

The coalition is made up of representatives from multiple community partners including the Upper Grand District School Board , the Gueph Police and the John Howard Society.

MacIntyre has made public that her son has been the victim of repeated incidents of bullying in the city. Last year, a poem he wrote about his struggles touched people across the city and well beyond it too.

 

Seeking rental relief

Posted by Phil Andrews

On behalf of all non-profit organizations in the sector, the Royal City Musical Productions group is going to appeal to council's community and social services committee Tuesday seeking a review of the rental costs of civic facilities for such organizations.

According to information provided to councillors in advance, the group is proposing an rental rate arrangement linked to ticket revenue.

"Unfortunately, we are unable to price tickets at the same level as professional shows as there still seems to be a stigma around the fact that we are an amateur production company," states a RCMPI document sent to council. "However, we are being charged the same fees as a professional production."

The legal bill over the McCrae medals fight

Posted by Phil Andrews

The city’s extended battle to retain the First World War service medals of its most famous son didn’t come cheap.

The three-year legal battle with the heirs of Guelph-born soldier-poet Lt. Col. John McCrae ended this week with the family agreeing the McCrae House museum downtown would be the permanent home of the six medals, in exchange for a plaque and press release publicly acknowledging that gift.

City solicitor Donna Jaques said Thursday legal fees to an outside law firm representing the city amounted to $233,000 as of Dec. 31.

The city paid no settlement to the family, she added.

 

Any guesses on the company?

Posted by Phil Andrews

This story is sure to get a guessing-game going of name that firm.

It will be interesting to see what municipality lands the plant, its 90 jobs and at what cost.

 

GUELPH — A food industry company may be close to constructing a major food distribution facility in the Hanlon Creek Business Park off the Hanlon Expressway in the southwest corner of Guelph.

A city report relating to the proposal estimates the development could create between 80-90 jobs and see a construction start-up date in the spring, with occupancy by the end of 2012.

But it appears Guelph is not the company’s only suitor.

The proposal was scheduled to go before council Monday evening for approval of a so-called development charge early payment agreement, but the developer pulled the report at the last minute. The city has not disclosed the identity of the company; it asserts it’s withholding that information at the request of the firm.

A city official believes the project is a good fit for the business park, but said the company has not indicated a timeframe for a decision on the project, and is likely in negotiations with other communities at the same time.

While the council report was pulled from Monday evening’s proceedings, it was made public prior to the meeting. It indicates that Guelph is one of several municipalities involved in a competitive process to attract the development opportunity. The company had indicated other municipalities were prepared to recommend deferral of development charges for up to five years.

“It is a very significant building, and would be one of the largest warehouses, if not the largest warehouse in Guelph,” said Peter Cartwright, the City of Guelph’s general manager of economic development and tourism. He added that the report to council on the development was pulled because it was “premature” to bring it forward.

According to the Feb. 6 report to city council, the proposed facility would be a 26,214 square meter (282,174 square foot) industrial building on a 8.4 hectare (20.7 acre) part of the Hanlon Creek Business Park land owned by Cooper Construction Ltd. The massive building would serve as a refrigerated distribution centre.

The report asserted that development charges for the building would amount to just over $1.6 million at $62.27 per square meter, with annual taxation revenue of approximately $325,000. The report indicated the developer was seeking to pay its development charges before March 1. The early payment would mean the developer would save nearly $600,000 in development charges. As of March 2, industrial development charges will increase to $85.14 per square meter.

“It would be great if (the proposed development) could happen,” said Cartwright. “It’s a good company. It will be a name that everybody recognizes. It’s a good fit for the business park, and it meets our needs from an economic development standpoint, since we’re targeting the agri-food industry. We don’t see any downside to it.”