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REGIONAL NEWSUCLG awards $2.75 million contract for County Road 44 overpassEMC News – The following are highlightsof the regular United Counties of Leeds andGrenville council, joint services committee,and United Counties’ governance and financecommittee meetings are listed below.Counties council has awarded the CountyRoad 44 and Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR)overpass replacement project in North Grenvilleto Dalcon Enterprises. Dalcon submittedthe lowest of four tenders at a cost of $2.75million.CPR is to cover 85 per cent of the overallcosts to a maximum of $2,025,885, leavingthe Counties share at approximately $700,000to $800,000 and including the Leeds Grenvilleshare of the design and construction administrationcost and contingency amounts.The Counties budget has provided for a totalof $1.3 million for the project.Regional cultural plan under considerationThe Leeds and Grenville joint servicescommittee has asked Counties staff to preparea report on the viability of a regional culturalplan.The request comes after a presentationthis week by Howard Alexander, a foundingmember of the newly-formed Brockville ArtsCouncil. Alexander is proposing a regionalplan involving all Leeds and Grenville municipalitiesas cultural activities are a tourismdraw and are a creator of economic development.A regional program will help market cultural,recreational, and sporting events, Mr.Alexander said. He noted more than half ofthe Brockville Arts Council members are fromthe area outside of the City of Brockville.Maple View Lodge arbitration awardThe United Counties of Leeds and Grenvilleand the Ontario Nurses Association receivedan arbitration award on May 15.The Ontario Nurses Association (ONA)represents the Registered Nurses at MapleView Lodge, who certified on July 29, 2010.Maple View Lodge, located in the Townshipof Athens, is a 60-bed facility owned by theUnited Counties of Leeds and Grenville.It employs three full-time, four part-time,and six casual staff members represented byONA.After extensive bargaining for a first collectiveagreement, the outstanding issues betweenthe parties went before an arbitrationboard as required by the Hospital LabourDisputes Arbitration Act. The term of the firstcollective agreement is from Aug. 17, 2010 toDec. 31, 2012.Counties council was advised that staff willbe meeting with ONA representatives to ensurean efficient implementation of the newcollective agreement. In addition, Councilwas advised to expect a significant impact onthe budget for Maple View Lodge as a resultof the arbitration award. A study of the fullfinancial impact is continuing.One of the requirements of a board of arbitrationis to take into consideration the employer’sability to pay, in light of its fiscalsituation. The United Counties also requestedthe board take into consideration a long heldview that a first contract award ought not tointroduce a collective agreement that wouldbe typical in a mature bargaining relationshipthat has taken numerous rounds of bargaining.It does not appear to the United Counties thatthe arbitration board took either of these twokey factors into account.Counties human resources manager, KristenArgue-Hobbs said the Counties values thecare provided by the Registered Nurses. However,the arbitration award is disappointing tothe United Counties taking into considerationthe current fiscal situation regarding MapleView Lodge.Maple View Lodge future options underreviewA Counties long-term care sub-committeehas recommended an in-depth review of futureoptions for the continued operations atMaple View Lodge.Chief administrative officer Andy Brownhas been asked to oversee an analysis andprepare a report by this September. Six optionswere identified, while the committee isrecommending only two options: seeking efficiencies,and additional opportunities for theproperty to generate revenue.Over the past decade, the costs at the facilitylocated in the Township of Athens haveincreased at a rate much higher than inflationand it has been identified the municipal proportionof costs are significantly higher thanother long-term care facilities.Council renewing 9-1-1 service with theOPPCounties council is proceeding with a recommendationto renew a 9-1-1 Public EmergencyReporting Services (PERS) with theOntario Provincial Police (OPP). A bylawwill be put forth in June.The current annual fee, which includes theCity of Brockville and the Town of Prescott,is $52,000. The Counties invoices Brockvilleand Prescott for a total of $13,500. The cost tothe Counties is $38,500 annually.The Counties has contracted the OPP fortwo consecutive three-year terms. 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