Septic-Reinspection: A Response

It is inevitable that in a term of office, there will be one issue that dominates and eclipses all others. For us, it has been septic re-inspection. To my mind, it never should have - but it has.

From Day One, my position has not waivered. My concerns have been chiefly about one thing and one thing only - the money involved. The money the township would need to raise, and the money that you may need to raise as well. The re-inspection committee estimated repair costs could run as high as $30,000 in some cases. To suggest that affordability was not a valid issue was, in mind, a suggestion that every household in Central Frontenac could easily access that kind of money if the situation warranted, or to not think it was a problem if people could not raise the money.

To be clear, under any plan, if a person cannot raise the money to fix their system and it is placed under an order to fix, the Township would contract it and bill it back to the property owner. Until the money is recovered, however, it comes out of our budget. If the problem is big and the situations numerous, then tough decisions would need to be made at budget time. Phasing in, for me, is all about preparing in advance for what you know is coming.

At our November 14th meeting, we voted 8 to 1 for a compromise that would allow a plan to proceed, but would address my concerns - concerns shared by a great number of you to me. I left that meeting feeling like we were on track with a plan that, after staff worked out the specific details of a draft by-law, would give us the best approach and put this issue to rest.

An article in today’s Frontenac News would suggest otherwise.

One of my colleagues has made assertions about what the approved motion does or doesn’t do. In the article, it has been suggested that the motion we passed set a price for inspections and specified who would be allowed to do them.

One of the reasons I maintain this Facebook page and do my regular posts is because I strongly believe that you - the ratepayers and residents of Hinchinbrooke District, and all of Central Frontenac Township - have a right to know what we do and why.

Knowing relies on information - accurate information.

And so, I am providing the full and entire text of the motion made by Tom Dewey, seconded by me, and ratified by 8 out of 9 members of council. I invite you to do your own comparison of the full content of the motion with what my colleague says about it:

“Motion moved by: Tom Dewey WHEREAS the septic re-inspection program that was discussed at the last Regular meeting of Council on October 24, 2017 was defeated; AND WHEREAS Council have been requested to revisit the program using a two part 10 year phase in model; AND FURTHER that Phase 1 include all RW (Waterfront) properties which must be inspected by an approved inspector, authorized by the municipality, under authority of the re-inspection program within 5 years of implementation. AND FURTHER, that Phase 2 include all the other properties not included under Phase 1, where septic systems exist, must be inspected within 10 years of the implementation date; AND FURTHER, pursuant to the aforementioned model, all systems in Phase 1 and 2 will require a 10 year cyclical inspection going forward. AND FURTHER, that staff be directed to develop a program for low income home owners whereby a list of referred agencies that are available to help with funding for failed systems is regularly maintained, and updated along with a municipal program, whereby staff will investigate and bring forward rules and procedures for a municipal assistance program”