The Long-Term Planfor Glendale

Lakereport.ca / Niagaranow.com The Hyper-local news for Niagara-on-the-Lake Lake Report Fernando closes up shop | Page 6 Vol. 3, Issue 39 Niagara-on-the-Lake’s first independent newspaper October 1, 2020 The long-term plan for Glendale Area is expected to add 15,000 people to town’s population when completed in 15 years This rendering depicts what could line Glendale’s proposed Main Street. It is looking southeastward from the top of Main Street with the proposed community/transit hub. SUPPLIED Steve Hardaker With more than 700 to as many as 15,000 and walking trails, and new Council also autho- the region’s planning and Community Correspondent hectares of land, 400 of residents and about 7,500 amenities to support the rized ongoing work of the economic development which could be developed, jobs – “a complete, urban neighbourhod’s population. Glendale District Plan tech- committee on Sept. 9, lead Niagara regional council Glendale has been identified community,” according to a With its endorsement on nical advisory committee planner Kirsten McCauley has endorsed the Glendale by Niagara Region as an regional planner. Sept. 17, council authorized with the mandate to imple- stated, “Endorsement of the District Plan, concluding a area to focus on growth and The district will offer a regional staff to work col- ment the key directions, plan confirms the vision and two-and-a-half year effort to economic prosperity. mix of housing options, laboratively with the Town strategies and recommenda- commitment to Glendale develop a vision and a plan When fully built in a a dedicated employment of Niagara-on-the-Lake on tions of the development of becoming a complete, urban to support future develop- few decades, Glendale area, a hospitality district, an update to the existing the community. ment in Glendale. is expected to be home a transit hub, greenspace Glendale Secondary Plan. During a presentation to Continued on Page 7 Gates wants lower taxes Bell Fibe network comes to town on Ontario/VQA wines Julia Sacco town are glad to be included Special to The Lake Report in the expansion. The Lake Report “The wine industry is an Nathan Gibson, senior incredibly important part More residents of manager of media rela- Niagara MPP Wayne of our community here in Niagara-on-the-Lake will tions for Bell Canada, said Gates wants to give Ontario Niagara and the economic soon have access to high- the “all-fibre broadband wines a tax break. impact of COVID-19 has speed, fibre-optic internet network” will connect an On Wednesday he intro- dealt a massive blow,” Gates as Bell Canada expands its additional 2,000 homes duced a bill in the Ontario said in a news release. service in town. and businesses, “delivering legislature which, if passed, “This legislation is an Bell’s long-awaited internet access speeds up to would exempt VQA and 100 important step in creating a Fibe service has only been 1.5 gigabits per second, the per cent Ontario wines from level playing field and assist- available on the east side of fastest in the country.” the 6.1 per cent basic tax ing our wineries and grow- town until now and many Ryan Bates operates the directional drill used to clear a paid on wine sold at winery locals around the rest of the Continued on Page 7 path for the Fibe lines. RICHARD HARLEY retail stores. Continued on Page 3 Page 2 October 1, 2020 NEWS Fired hydro worker pays back 60% of stolen funds Kevin MacLean in October. We still expect manager. brought the discrepancy to Managing Editor to recover 100 per cent of The scheme involved the attention of senior man- the funds,” Curtis said. phony invoices issued and agement, the utility began A Niagara-on-the-Lake The Niagara Regional Po- paid over an 18-month an internal investigation Hydro manager who lice have been notified and a period, he said. and subsequently hired a was fired after defraud- detective has been assigned The fraud “was accom- Toronto forensic accounting ing the utility of more than to the case, he said. plished by the creation of firm to look into the case. $250,000 has repaid more A police spokesperson a false contract and the Only two business than half of the money so said the criminal investiga- approval of subsequent false days elapsed between the far, hydro’s CEO says. tion is proceeding but no invoices,” he said last week discovery of the fraud on a “Sixty per cent of the charges have been laid. in a statement to The Lake Thursday and the firing of funds have now been On the advice of law- Report. the employee the following returned,” NOTL Hydro yers retained by the utility, The fraud was discov- Monday. president Tim Curtis told Curtis said he could not ered by a co-worker in the In the wake of the discov- NOTL Hydro office. FILE/RICHARD HARLEY The Lake Report Tuesday. release the name or per- finance department who was ery, hydro has been examin- money, our focus is on en- operations,” Curtis said this “We are expecting more sonal details of the former processing a payment. ing its internal procedures. suring there were no other week. “No evidence of any- this week and the remainder employee, who was a senior After the co-worker “Beyond recovering the frauds and maintaining thing else has been found.” Council debates ways to streamline lengthy meetings Niagara-on-the-Lake councillors have spent twice the time in meetings that Niagara Falls has in the same period Richard Harley development services, said The Lake Report the purpose of the report was to help in planning Niagara-on-the-Lake the 2021 council meeting town council will be stick- schedule. ing to its regular schedule “The reason for some for 2021, despite sugges- of these changes were just tions from town staff to help some of the observations streamline meetings. that I’ve seen since this new During the committee council has taken office,” of the whole meeting Sept. Larmour said. 21, a staff report was dis- “They’re just suggestions cussed that showed council- on ways we can provide for lors have spent more time more efficient use. I’m not in meetings than five other trying to limit any discus- Niagara municipalities. sion I’m just trying to chan- NOTL councillors spent nel it.” 249 hours in session since Lord Mayor Betty Disero Dec. 1, 2018, more than said it would be “difficult double Niagara Falls and to limit the number of staff Thorold, and about 100 A graphic from the report shows a comparison of hours spent in office since Dec. 1, 2018. SOURCED that are required at com- more hours than St. Catha- mittee of the whole and rines and Port Colborne in ably more time in meetings that (committee of the selves to other municipali- or committee meetings and council.” the same period of time. since taking office.” whole) meetings may be ties that have their very own why. And see if maybe we “We tried to do that The report came with rec- The report said that hav- used by some members to different political culture can reduce the number of when we came up with this ommendations that council ing bi-weekly council meet- become familiarized with does anything to advance staff that are expected to schedule that we’re meeting adjust its meeting schedule ings means decisions can be the reports and use the time our strategic goals as an attend,” Cameron said. in now,” she said. “We tried to try to reduce time spent, made more frequently. at meetings to ask questions organization,” she said. Cameron said with re- to put all the planning into to stop delays in decisions “Therefore, if council is of staff and gain greater “Of all the things that gards to councillors coming one meeting and then that and to save money on em- not prepared to make deci- clarity,” the report said. I’m concerned about in with questions prepared, it’s way the planning staff could ployee costs. sions on a particular item The report also acknowl- this town, the length of our not always possible when be there and public works Staff suggested options at a meeting, they have the edged more time has been meetings isn’t something information comes right doesn’t have to be ... but that that might save time, includ- option, as always, to defer spent at special council that I’m concerned about. I before the meeting. hasn’t happened because ing removing committee the report to a future meet- meetings due to the CO- actually take heart in how “We continue to receive we now have planning of the whole meetings and ing. The benefit of more VID-19 pandemic, but said much debate and discussion items at the very last min- items at the general meet- having two council meet- frequent council meetings is even without those meetings occurs.” ute,” she said. ings so we’re still requiring ings per month instead. that a deferral of a report or added to the total, “council She said if overtime She said she was “very everybody to be here all the “Staff has observed signif- matter does not result in a is still on pace to greatly hours for staff is the main troubled” by the proposal, time.” icant increase in the dura- month delay.” exceed the total of the past concern, she would support “especially in this commu- Coun.

Load more