What was scheduled as a preliminary hearing turned into a trial on Friday as Andrew Thompson pleaded guilty to killing Walter Lasher by setting fire to a Napanee rooming house in the summer of 2024 Thompson was initially charged with several counts and two new informations were entered into the record charging him with manslaughter and arson concerning the Saturday Justice Geoffrey Griffin presided over the Ontario Court of Justice at 41 Dundas Street West in Napanee Thompson chose to plead guilty to the charges Griffin first acknowledged that a number of high school students were in attendance at the court as part of a Law class from Napanee District Secondary School (NDSS) and he cautioned them to be on their best behaviour The judge then stated the grave nature of the case: “What’s taking place today is very serious There has obviously been enormous upset and trauma as a result of the events that took place Crown attorney Monica Heine told Griffin there were two new pieces of information before the court and that the original information could be withdrawn Thompson is a strikingly young-looking 32-year-old man with a pale complexion He wore a grey hoodie with a blue Adidas logo The judge asked Thompson if he had discussed the new matters with his attorney and whether he understood what pleading guilty meant The new information was read aloud: that on August 3 Andrew Thompson did unlawfully kill Walter Lasher and thereby committed manslaughter contrary to section 236 of the Criminal Code of Canada (CC); and count two that he did intentionally or recklessly cause damage by fire to the property of Matthew Raham situated at 159 John Street in Greater Napanee Thompson entered a guilty plea on both counts Heine began by stating that the circumstances were “a bit unusual” but that with Zaduk’s “kind assistance and consent,” the Crown’s case would be presented in a PowerPoint presentation narrated by Detective Constable Aimee Neale of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) Zaduk warned those present that some disturbing images would emerge as the presentation progressed The Crown’s case relied heavily on extensive surveillance video from inside the residence and throughout the town of Napanee which was provided to the court as part of Neale’s presentation The presentation established that Thompson was in a romantic relationship with a woman who lived at the rooming house at 159 John Street in Napanee Thompson’s partner’s bedroom was on the upper floor of the home across the hall from victim Walter Lasher’s room which consists of 14 rooms rented as “transitional housing” and shared kitchen and bathroom areas The transitional housing is paid for by Prince Edward – Lennox & Addington Social Services (PELASS) “Two of the rooms were paid accommodations by the occupant; one of them was Walter Lasher,” Neale explained Neale noted that Lasher was “known as a kind and friendly simple man” who had mobility issues and no criminal record He also didn’t like some activities at the rooming house and was known to be scared while living there the woman disclosed to Thompson that she had an affair with another man the two can be seen arguing in the upper floor hallway of the rooming house Justice Griffin inquired about a large black dog that interacts with the people on screen Neal noted that this was “Scooby,” Thompson’s partner’s pet Lasher can also be seen moving through the house with some difficulty he engages Thompson in a short conversation but otherwise the three have no interaction it appears in the video that Thompson exchanges money with a male in return for “an object,” Neale pointed out both Thompson and the woman can be observed smoking “a glass drug pipe” outside the rooming house Then they both leave the house at around 4:23 p.m they can both be seen on video captured outside an apartment complex at 369 Dundas Street West Thompson takes a bicycle that is leaning against the wall of the building and rides southbound Surveillance cameras pick him up at several other locations in the downtown core between 6 p.m when he eventually returns to the John Street house the video shows him entering the front door of the residence where he removes a red fire extinguisher from the wall and walks into the south kitchen with it concealed behind his back He can be observed to have a yellow lighter in his hand Then he goes out of sight of the camera into what Neale described as “a little hallway where there are two bathrooms.” flashes of orange firelight are reflected on the kitchen walls for several minutes At 6:43 a butane canister “explodes and goes projectile” through the kitchen a fire-damaged broom was located in the bathroom area and the butane canister was swabbed for DNA at the Forensic Science Centre in Toronto The DNA swab result showed that it was 110 times more likely that it originated from Andrew Thomson than anyone else Thompson can be seen jumping the fence in the backyard of 159 John Street he is observed attempting to use the yellow lighter to light the garage window frame on fire and walks in black socks past the mailboxes attached to the wall of the house and switches an object from one hand to the other smoke can be seen billowing from the window “At one point [the resident of that room] had a tea cloth hanging from the window there Thompson then walks westbound into the Trinity United Church parking lot across from 159 John Street Walter Lasher is last seen on camera at 6:46 p.m. He is now “wearing large red pyjama pants and a maroon sweater.” At 7:47 pm. he is seen at the Circle K convenience store on Centre Street “He appears to make efforts to conceal his face with the turtleneck of his sweater,” Neal described a female resident of the John Street rooming house lets Thompson in the front door he can be seen going upstairs and directly into his partner’s room He is off-camera in her room for 25 seconds he conceals his head by holding the sweater over it he is downstairs; he stops at a male resident’s room but “does not get access,” Neale said so he walks to the north entry door and partly enters a bathroom he holds the sweater with his right hand and appears to be lighting it on fire where there is now black smoke billowing from his partner’s room Other residents are seen reacting to the smoke and moving quickly toward the exit Thompson can be seen going into another man’s room and he comes back out wearing a different set of clothes Thompson expels the fire extinguisher in the main entrance Neale next showed the footage from outside the upper-floor bedroom that occurred simultaneously “obviously alerted and focused on the room,” Neale observed and heavy smoke is billowing from the room there will be zero visibility in the hallway,” Neale noted Neale paused to warn members of Lasher’s family that the next video would likely be upsetting the video shows that the upper floor is engulfed in flames “We believe somebody is trapped on the second floor.” I don’t know if he made it out.” Other voices call Walter’s name A body-worn camera video from a police officer then shows the crowd gathered across the street Andrew Thompson is there watching the fire “He never approaches anyone in uniform to speak about the incident.” Walter Lasher was found unconscious in a common area on the second floor Firefighters extracted him from the building and they began trying to save his life He was pronounced dead at Lennox and Addington County Hospital at 9:22 p.m A postmortem examination confirmed Lasher died of smoke inhalation Ten per cent of his body surface had first and second degree burns but it was unclear whether the burns occurred prior to or after death Neale explained that it was easy to identify and arrest Thompson after the events of the day because he had a distinctive tattoo of a “Canadian mask with crossed baseball bats located on his right arm.” He was well known to police in town and had been arrested previously at 159 John Street in December 2023 His mugshot and distinctive tattoo were recorded then and extensive videos were used to match the man to the crime “It was the sole actions of Andrew Thompson which resulted in Walter Lasher’s death,” Neale concluded saying that he made no effort to alert anyone who had mobility issues and whom Thompson would have known was in the building earlier that day Griffin indicated that Thompson would be convicted on both counts saved the Lasher family and friends from having to endure a trial and the time and expense of the justice system what you have done — and I hope it is true — is that you have indicated remorse for these actions… and feel sorry,” the judge said Griffin finished by saying he would sentence Thompson at a hearing in July at which time victim impact statements would be entered into the record “I was unaware of the enormous amount of surveillance we have in our Town,” the judge observed before adjourning Michelle Dorey Forestell is a Napanee based reporter with the Local Journalism Initiative  Ontario’s strong mayor powers will be extended to the heads of councils in 216 municipalities across the province a situation that has raised many questions in municipalities like Greater Napanee Subscribe now to read the latest news in your community Create an account or sign in to keep reading Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience This expansion includes 169 additional municipalities as announced by the Ontario government on April 9 At the meeting of the Council of the Town of Greater Napanee on April 22 Clerk Jessica Walters brought forth a report designed to introduce the concept ranging from the mundane details of how the legislation would work to the more pressing concerns over whether it poses a threat to democracy The initial rollout of strong mayor powers began in 2022 with Toronto and Ottawa 47 municipalities had been granted these powers encompasses a mix of urban and rural communities across Ontario The strong mayor powers are outlined in Part VI.1 of the Municipal Act 2001 specifically in the section “Special Powers and Duties of the Head of Council.” According to the legislation these powers only apply to municipalities designated by the province by regulation Your weekday lunchtime roundup of curated links By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc The next issue of The Kingston Whig-Standard's Noon News Roundup will soon be in your inbox Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. Council heard a presentation on the new legislation based on a report by Walters, who explained the new powers and how their extension aims to expand housing in Ontario. A lengthy discussion then ensued about the changes. Coun. Mike Schenk began by expressing concern. “If a ’dough-head’ mayor is elected, and you give them that much power, and… by the whim, you know, and it’s happened already, they get rid of the CAO and staff… “But we’re an elected, free democracy,” Schenk continued, worrying that staff could be negatively impacted, causing “turmoil” that could essentially “wreck the town.” “I don’t want to see the work that we have done, and the staff that we have, lose it because of an election where, you know, somebody who doesn’t have a basic concept of business gets elected… It could destroy the municipality,” he said. Walters acknowledged these concerns and noted that this was a very fresh discussion without much time for research, “but I believe the intent of the Greater Napanee mayor and staff is to, as quickly as possible after this May 1 deadline, establish what our normal is going to look like.” She said municipalities have received advice “to interpret this language to mean different things as best suits their own circumstances.” “So our goal is to define as much of that quickly with this term of council — establish what normal looks like and bake as much of it into our laws and policies as we can,“ said Walters. ”Could a new mayor overturn all of that on day one on November 16, 2026? Maybe. We don’t know. Nobody’s been in that situation yet, but it would certainly be a large breach of precedent. They would have to believe that they had the will of the voters behind them to do that.” Deputy Mayor Brian Calver, acknowledging that the legislation is from the provincial government, questioned whether the municipality could opt out of the strong mayor powers. “We don’t know,” said Walters with a tone of irony. “The first round, when it was just Ottawa and Toronto, was not optional. The second round was optional because you had to sign the housing pledge to opt in to receive the powers, and some municipalities chose not to. We have not heard anything about a housing pledge or any opt-in or opt-out this time around, so we don’t know.” She noted, “Some municipalities have passed a motion saying, ’we don’t want these powers.’ We don’t know if that is going to have any impact on the bill that gets introduced next week.” Mayor Terry Richardson asked Michael Nobes, general manager of growth and infrastructure for the town, to clarify whether Greater Napanee is a large enough municipality to be included in the housing pledge. Nobes said that it is. “Is that likely to happen?” she continued, adding, “I know I’m asking for somebody to look at a crystal ball.” “I don’t anticipate it,” Nobes answered, “Planning decisions still need to meet the applicable provincial planning statement, county and town official plans, and all the existing regulations. And the policy framework that exists today isn’t changing. So, I would say decisions still need to be made that are consistent with those existing policies and regulations. So, I don’t foresee it.” Councillors Bob Norrie and Dave Pinnell reminded council that it has been through some very trying situations before, due to people with power overstepping their boundaries. They both expressed their feeling that the town had just begun to overcome those challenges, as Pinnell put it, “with clarity and transparency to the residents.” “I take this whole thing as a slap in the face,” Pinnell went on, stating his belief that “this town is now in a good place.” He wanted to know what would happen if a mayor decided to go against the will of council. Walters explained that under the proposed powers, the mayor would have the authority to veto a bylaw; however, vetoing a bylaw does not compel action. The mayor would need at least one third of council on side to compel action, not a majority. “I would prefer that the provincial government say the heck out of municipal affairs completely,” he declared. “This is way, way, way, gone too far.” CAO Matthew Grant said his staff would collect as much information as possible to ease the learning curve for both staff and Council, while keeping the lines of communication open. “I would commend the clerk,” Grant said, “for the work that she’s done to date on figuring these things out and making sure that the mayor and members of council understand, if and when this legislation is tabled, what it says and what our obligations are.” Councillors expressed gratitude for the teamwork that has become a signature of this term. Mayor Terry Richardson concurred, saying, “Tonight is a prime example of why we’re all here. I had asked the clerk and the CAO to bring this report forward so that everyone could be on the same page, understanding things the same way as we move ahead. And honestly, I think this is a pretty solid example of how things are working, or maybe even how they’re going to work moving forward.” “I want to thank council for the candid, respectful conversations we’ve had tonight,” Richardson concluded. “This isn’t the easiest topic to talk about. But it’s made easier when you’ve got a group around the horseshoe who genuinely get along. And sure, we disagree sometimes — sometimes we even get a little mad — but by the end of the night, we can all still go grab something to eat together.” transmission or republication strictly prohibited This website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. Read more about cookies here. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. In anticipation of the re-appearance of encampments in public spaces, the Town of Greater Napanee is preparing to put its recently minted by-law to use. Responding to public concern over tents being set up near parks and public spaces last fall, Greater Napanee council enacted a parks and public spaces by-law last November. That included designating certain areas of the town as ‘sensitive use areas.’ These include schools, playgrounds, daycares, sports fields and walking trails that, under the ordinances of the by-law, carry a minimum distance from which an encampment can be established.     By the time the by-law was passed last fall, Morningstar Mission’s warming centre opened its doors for the winter season. Its presence, for the most part, made the by-law unnecessary as people had somewhere other than outdoors to spend the night. With the warming centre shutting now down for the season, those who were spending the night within the building are likely to move into outdoor tents. That preparation included training for staff on how to deal with a variety of situations, whether it be an abandoned encampment or one still in use. “That involves how to approach people who might be there,” said Grant. “Also sharps removal when we bump across those. We’re exploring other training to do with things like naloxone, should we come into contact with that. I’ve asked the team to be as safe as possible and as cautious as possible.” Managing the by-law won’t be without cost to the community. “We will continue to incur expense,” said Grant. “Last year I would say it was probably around $150,000 just in encampment works and removals and that sort of thing. We are fully committed to working with our partners at the county level who are responsible for housing and homelessness and we will be as supportive a partner as we can be.” Mayor Terry Richardson says they’re going to work with upper tiers of government for longer term homeless solutions. In the meantime, they’re going to manage it with the tools they have in place. Prior to enacting the parks and public spaces by-law, the town held a public consultation. Along with balancing the input of residents, staff had to be mindful of potential legal challenges that could strike down the by-law. They couldn’t simply designate the entire town as a ‘sensitive area’, nor could they limit the space for where tents would be allowed to just one compact part of the town. Per provincial laws, in the absence of a shelter such as the warming centre, individuals are permitted to seek shelter on public lands within a municipality-within reason. Encampment sites must also be contained to a maximum size and must adhere to other safety requirements including following any fire bans that may be in place.   “Our officers will be patrolling the parks on a regular basis and any other public lands,” said Walters. “They will also respond to any concerns that are reported by residents. If residents want to report a concern we have a tool on our website that they can use. If they select the option for encampments under by-law enforcement, they will actually be able to drop right on a map exactly where the encampment is located.” Richardson says given that this is the first summer with the new by-law it will take some adjustment for all residents. A report will be presented to council this fall that will identify areas for improvement to take into consideration for the following year. “We’re fighting a little bit over our weight at this point but anybody that knows anybody that comes from the Town of Greater Napanee knows that we don’t give in very easily. We’ll get there,” said the mayor. Organizers for this year’s Emergency Preparedness Week, which runs May 4 to 10, couldn’t have picked a more applicable topic for this region if they tried. ‘Plan for every season’ really hit home for a lot of residents just last month when an early spring ice storm caused major havoc. Downed power lines left some areas of Lennox and Addington without electricity for over two days. As unwelcome as the storm was, it could have been a lot worse. If nothing else, it served as a perfect reminder as to why now is the time to be prepared so as to not have to react after the fact. “This year with all the natural disaster that we seem to be getting the last few years, is very relevant,” said Erin Tyers, compliance coordinator/community emergency management committee with the Town of Greater Napanee. “We are always encouraging residents to make sure that they have a 72 hour kit.” That includes having non-perishable food that is easy to prepare in the event of a prolonged power outage. “We are very lucky to have a pretty resilient community and you do see that with rural communities,” said Tyers. “Having back up power is a big thing, especially in the winter months.” A wood stove is a great asset to have as well in the event of a winter emergency, though not always practical for every household. When putting together a kit it’s always vital to include essentials that are tailored to those living in the home. That includes a three day supply of any necessary medications-and that includes for pets as well. Local OSPCAs will also be observing Emergency Preparedness Week and use this time as an opportunity to remind pet owners of some helpful tips to ensure their furry friends can whether a disaster. A to-go bag that’s ready in the event of a mass evacuation is always a good idea. Fortunately this area is fairly well protected from flood or fire compared to those in other provinces. While it’s not a huge risk, having a few supplies already assembled can help to alleviate some stress in an otherwise chaotic time. “We don’t see that as much but we don’t want to have that last minute moment whee it’s like ‘hey, we need you to move.’ You don’t want people scrambling when they’re trying to get through that,” said Tyers. As part of Emergency Preparedness Week messaging, members of the town’s fire department will be visiting local schools. “Kids are great to do public education with because they’re sponges,” said Tyers. “They go home and discuss it with their parents and that’s really why it’s such a good resource because it triggers that discussion.” More information on how to be prepared and helpful suggestions on what to include in a kit can be found at https://www.getprepared.gc.ca/cnt/rsrcs/ep-wk/index-en.aspx. A great walking trail, plenty of waterfront and historic Old Hay Bay Church are just some of the features that make Greater Napanee as an emerging real estate market. At least that’s according to Lyn Sable, a freelance writer who included Napanee in the article ‘Fifteen small towns about to become real estate hot spots’, posted on the B.C. based website Mastermind Quotes. Napanee was included among the likes of Duncan, BC, Yellowknife, NWT, Canmore, AB, Bradford, ON and Iqaluit, NU. To gain reaction to the article, the Beaver reached out to Dave Pinnell Jr., who offers a unique perspective as both a local real estate agent with Century 21, and member of town council. “I’m quite certain when they wrote the article they weren’t too far off the mark,” said Pinnell Jr. “It’s one of those hidden little gems that people are starting to figure out. We’re halfway between Toronto and Montreal, we hear that all the time. We’re only 20 minutes to Kingston and Belleville. If you’re working in one of these larger cities, living in Napanee is a benefit.” Sable’s blurb about Napanee mentioned its ‘waterfront location and proximity to Prince Edward County’ as major draws for potential home buyers. “They mentioned in the article Prince Edward County, Kingston, Belleville, the day trips are just phenomenal,” said Pinnell Jr. “When we get into the classifications of housing and what is here, we hit all different types of people. We have century old homes, we have wartime homes, we have new builds, waterfront homes. Soon we’re going to have condos. It seems that we have something for everybody, also with lower costs.” Pinnell Jr. did caution however uncertainty over tariffs stemming from the U.S. and potential job losses have cooled the market across Canada, at least for now. Using 2024 figures, Sable’s article included affordability as a huge point in Napanee’s favour, citing a median house price of $699,900. “Nothing’s worse than being mortgage poor and you can’t afford date night or go out and enjoy what the town has to offer. Here we can,” said Pinnell Jr. “With all the different ranges in homes we have all the different ranges in pricing.” Greater Napanee mayor Terry Richardson was also asked his thoughts on the article. “As the article says, we have the rail line that runs through here, we’ve got the 401, we’re ideally positioned in the province if not the country for access to just about everything you want in the world,” said Richardson. “If you could hand pick a municipality and put the things into it, they’d pick Napanee because we’ve got it all.” Reaction to the article on social among residents was decidedly mixed. Not everyone was thrilled about being included on a national list, with some expressing concern about losing Napanee’s small town feel if a steady increase of new residents were to flock to the area. A higher population would mean a stronger tax base. “It’s a fine line balancing act. You want to keep the nice small little town, best kept secret kind of thing, but then with the council hat on, you want it to grow so that we can offer different amenities, like a swimming pool, to the residents of Greater Napanee,” added Pinnell Jr. Looking at the numbers, it would appear the article has merit as statistics show between 2016 and 2021, Greater Napanee experienced a 6.2 per cent population growth, slightly higher than the provincial average of 5.8 per cent. According to the town’s website, Greater Napanee has a population of 16,879. “Young couples move here with their kids, they’ve got access to education, they’ve got access to health care, there’s going to be lots of jobs here,” said Richardson. “On the other end of it, you have the ability to retire here and it’s affordable. You can still afford to live here and retire here in this municipality.” To view the full article of 15 communities named, visit https://mastermindquotes.com/15-canadian-small-towns-about-to-become-real-estate-hot-spots/. Dormant for some time, displays of Canadian patriotism are on an upswing across the country. Subscribe now to read the latest news in your community. Create an account or sign in to keep reading. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. And, for anyone who has tuned into a Town of Greater Napanee council meeting lately, the proud flourish of the national anthem could be heard prior to any discussions that took place. From the rise in Canadian flag sales to shoppers putting their hard-earned dollars into Canadian made goods, citizens from coast to coast are ready to put their “elbows up” in displays of patriotism. Speaking to Mayor Terry Richardson, he noted the national anthem was something that had been played in the past and that there had been murmurs of reinstating this patriotic ritual for some time. A growing constellation of communities, from the Blue Mountains, Stratford to St. Catharines, and others, are reinstating the national anthem as part of their proceedings. Many more municipal councils, such as that in Collingwood, are slated to vote on this inclusion soon. Ultimately, councillors are elected officials intended to act as representatives of their constituents. On that note, it’s worth pointing out the suggestion to reintroduce the national anthem as part of meetings came from community members. “We had a couple of folks that reached out to members of council that suggested maybe we should put the national anthem back into council meetings,” explained Richardson. “We thought it was a good idea, and in light of recent political issues, we decided we would reinstate this practice.” Against the backdrop of an imminent, all-out trade war and blatant threats about our sovereignty, Canadian patriotism has rarely (at least in recent history) been so widespread or apparent. “We are a patriotic country,” voiced Richardson, adding, “and we should be rejoicing in the country we have.” This website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. Read more about cookies here. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Greater Napanee residents are encouraged to do a bit of spring cleaning around the community this week in honour of Earth Day The town will provide bags for the clean up during business hours at 99-A Advance Ave and at the Best & Bash Arena (or while supplies last) It is required that residents complete a registration form to indicate the location where the collected bags of waste were left Materials that are collected must be in the bags provided by the town and placed at the location specified in the registration form by April 30 at 7 am Staff may not get to all areas on that day but the bags will be collected throughout the week An Earth Day Clean Up registration form can be found at https://www.greaternapanee.com/play/events-and-festivals/ the town will be hosting a free seedling giveaway on May 3 The giveaway will take place In front of the Banquet Hall doors (weather permitting) at the Best & Bash Arena (16 McPherson Dr) the Seedling Giveaway will take place indoors through the main entrance Town of Greater Napanee Council appointed Shawn Armstrong from acting fire chief to fire chief Armstrong will be assuming the roles and responsibilities as the appointed fire chief by council under the Fire Protection and Prevention Act Armstrong will be contributing to the organization on a full-time bases for a non-defined term Armstrong expressed dedication and commitment to his role I am honoured to lead an organization of highly skilled and dedicated firefighters who are passionate about protecting our community from the risks of fire and other hazards I look forward to working with the team at the Greater Napanee Fire Department in delivering council’s approved programs and services I also look forward to working with the community and Fire Team at the Town of Greater Napanee to incrementally improve our mandatory and essential services based on the evolving needs and circumstances of our growing community,” said Armstrong Mayor Terry Richardson expressed excitement that Armstrong accepted a permanent position if Fire Chief and noted Armstrong will be an asset to the Town’s Fire Department “I am extremely excited that Chief Armstrong has decided to accept the permanent position of fire chief with the Town of Greater Napanee Chief Armstrong is an extremely qualified and experienced fire professional who will undoubtedly be an asset to our Department and Corporation to our Greater Napanee family,” stated Richardson Armstrong joined the Greater Napanee Fire Department as the acting fire chief in April 2024 after serving as fire chief for the City of Guelph and Armstrong has successfully led his fire service teams on a continuous quality improvement process which led to a prestigious international accreditation award for Kingston Fire & Rescue’s quality performance measures and strategic planning for fire and life safety programs and services Armstrong is a graduate of the Fanshawe College Law and Security Administration program and Developing Program at the University of Virginia In his post with the Greater Napanee Fire Department • An assessment of all fees and charges that fall within the Fire Department to identify how the town’s fee structures compare with similar municipalities • Delivery of a revised Fire First Response Agreement that prioritizes core life-saving support for the paramedic service in collaboration with the County of Lennox and Addington’s Paramedic Service • Negotiating/reaching new agreements with unions representing full-time and paid-on-call firefighters • Developing service standards for all programs and services within the Fire Department • Establishing training and certification requirements and reporting on operational resourcing in accordance with standardized training as outlined in Ontario Regulation 343/22 under the Fire Protection and Prevention Act • Participating in the development and implementation of enterprise-wide criteria and data systems to measure asset management (vehicles • Researching and revising the by-law governing the Greater Napanee Fire Department to bring it in line with best practices • Completing a Fire Master Plan for the Town of Greater Napanee • Finalizing and reporting on a Community Risk Assessment for the Town of Greater Napanee The Town of Greater Napanee is inviting residents and community stakeholders to share their preferences on the types of municipal information they would like to receive and their preferred methods of communication Feedback collected will be used to create a Communications Strategy that will ensure important information reaches the community efficiently and in a timely manner Visit here to share your feedback Santa will take a bit of a different route through downtown Napanee this year during the Parade of Lights on Dec the parade will depart from the Fairgrounds at 170 York Street through the downtown core before making a left onto Adelphi From there it’ll turn onto Thomas Street and make its way back to the Fairgrounds Santa waves to the crowd as he anchors Greater Napanee’s 2023 Parade of Lights This will mark a bit of a departure from previous years when the parade began from the Napanee District Secondary School parking lot non-perishable food items will be collected during the parade route To register a float, visit https://onlineforms.greaternapanee.com/2024-Parade-of-Lights The Ontario government recently announced an expansion of the strong mayor powers to include an additional 169 municipalities Strong mayor powers are intended to streamline municipal government and reduce obstacles that stand in the way of new housing and infrastructure development The powers would be legislated by the provincial government and would bring with them certain rights and obligations mandated by the province “Heads of Council are key partners in our efforts to build homes and infrastructure across the province,” said Rob Flack ”By extending strong mayor powers to these additional municipalities we are providing mayors every tool at our disposal to empower them to get homes and infrastructure built faster and we support them in taking bold actions for their communities.” The powers would allow the town’s mayor to support shared provincial-municipal priorities, such as encouraging the approval of new housing and construction and maintaining infrastructure to support housing, including roads and transit. “The Town of Greater Napanee, mayor, council, and staff are committed to doing our part in helping to address the housing crisis that exists in our community,” said Greater Napanee mayor Terry Richardson. “There are many aspects that are required to bring this goal to fruition. This announcement is a piece to that puzzle that will aid our community to reach our goals and beyond.” It’s important to note that, as per the provincial government, strong mayor powers and duties include: A comprehensive report will be brought to council to define the town’s legislative obligations and how to proceed. Greater Napanee staff says it is committed to working with the province to help enhance building homes and infrastructure within the municipality. An outside review of the Town of Greater Napanee’s 2022 purchase of a $200,000 Trackless sidewalk snow clearing machine exhibited ‘procedural procurement irregularities.’ This according to a report published by third party KPMG Forensic Inc. The forensic review  found that an emergency purchase of the snow clearing machine did not contravene the Town’s procurement by-law but that the by-law and associated purchasing processes were unclear and vulnerable to internal and external misuse and fraud Greater Napanee mayor Terry Richardson and Greater Napanee CAO Matthew Grant shared the findings of the report with media on Dec the report indicated the purchase was made during a time in which the previous council was in a lame duck phase in August of 2022 a time when council’s purchasing powers are limited The purchase was made by a senior staff member whose purchasing authority was outside that of the town’s procurement by-law emergency provisions council wasn’t informed of the purchase until seven months after the fact “In late March of 2023 some concern with respect to the purchase of a sidewalk snow removal machine was brought to my attention,” Richardson told media gathered at town hall “This machine was purchased on the 17th of August two days prior to the previous council entering into a lame duck  period and preparing for the 2022 municipal election There appeared to be procedural procurement policy irregularities associated with the purchase of this piece of equipment the irregularity was immediately brought before council during a special meeting of council at which time an external independent forensic review of the identified irregularities would be sought as well as a further review of our procurement process to identify weaknesses in our procurement system The purchase was brought to council’s attention after Nicole Davidson became aware of the large equipment purchase and was unable to find adequate approvals for the purchase then CAO John Pinsent undertook an internal review of the purchase Both Davidson and Pinsent have since resigned from their positions with the town though both were interviewed by KPMG for the report as were several senior members of staff from that time frame Peter Dafoe (general manager of infrastructure services at the time Paul Dowber (treasurer at the time prior to Davidson)and Charles McDonald (former director of operational audits) as key individuals involved with the procurement and eventual discovery of the procurement of the snow removal machine Dafoe said he had an in-person meeting on Aug 2022 with Pinsent to seek approval to purchase the snow removal machine Dafoe stated at the time he interpreted those words to be an approval to purchase the Trackless machine especially in the context of long lead times for machine delivery and the urgency of the purchase.’ The report notes in a interview with Pinsent ‘he did not appear to recollect this Aug 2022 meeting and does not recall saying ‘go go get it.’ However he did specifically remark “Even if I said go ahead and purchase everybody knows that even if I say ‘go ahead and purchase’ there is still a process to do it.”’ he commented it was “unorthodox to purchase something of this size without going to council.” ‘As such Cuthill wanted something in writing that included Mr Dafoe’s approval for the sake of keeping proper documentations Dafoe’s approval came back to the office and conveyed the apparent approval for the Trackless procurement Cuthill went ahead and issued the PO to Joe Johnson for the purchase of the Trackless machine.’ KPMG listed a number of areas that the town’s purchasing approval process needed improvements to better protect from potential internal and external vulnerabilities “I find it even more challenging to accept that it would take seven months to inform democratically elected representatives of council of an emergency purchase,” said Richardson “A purchase of the magnitude of a $200,000 piece of equipment nor do I believe that our tax payers would believe that it is reasonable.” “While I’m deeply concerned with respect to sequence of events that lead to the generation of this forensic review recognized the possible irregularities and brought them to attention of council,” added Richardson Grant added the town will be adapting the recommendations by the report and have already taken steps to do so including the centralization of procurement adding greater degrees of checks and balances more reporting to council and more training for town staff “When I was hired by members of this council they were pretty clear about a few things,” said Grant who took over as CAO over a year after Pinsent resigned “They were clear they wanted good communication both with council and members of the public They were very clear that open and transparency was a priority for them and they were also very clear that respect for tax payer money and how it is used is a priority for them When you take a look at the KPMG forensic review it highlights a number of areas for the municipality where we can and should do better and we will do better.” The results of the report are expected to be discussed further during the regular council meeting on Dec “I still at times struggle to understand how we got here I’m very positive that we are in a much better place today,” said Richardson you have the commitment of council that business is going to be conducted differently than in a lot of other municipalities and in this municipality It’s important to us to be transparent and fair and that’s what we’re going to strive for.” Richardson encouraged residents to read the full report online and make their own conclusions It can be found here.  Greater Napanee Health Home (GNHH) is attaching all people who do not have a primary care provider (family doctor or nurse practitioner) and who live within the Town of Greater Napanee an event to increase attachment of people will be held from Nov “Attaching everyone in the Town of Greater Napanee to a primary care provider in a Health Home that includes a team of providers is essential for ensuring consistent Lennox and Addington Ontario Health Team (FLA OHT) “By connecting individuals with a dedicated health-care team coordinated support that addresses both immediate and long-term health needs The GNHH’s team-based approach ensures that every person receives the right care – Greater Napanee Health Home will attach all people who live in the Town of Greater Napanee and who do not currently have a primary care provider; there is no need to worry about securing a spot or being first in line or remaining on the Health Care Connect List and not attending this event – Proof-of-address on a government-issued ID is required to register with the Health Home – The GNHH boundaries are on the map below The GNHH is a collaboration between Kingston Community Health Centres (KCHC) the Town of Greater Napanee and the Lennox and Addington County General Hospital (LACGH) GNHH began the process of implementing the People-Centred Health Home model in April 2024 GNHH has successfully welcomed four new family doctors and attached approximately 1,000 people living within the Greater Napanee region who were registered on Health Care Connect and did not previously have a primary care provider “We at the Town of Greater Napanee have heard from many residents with respect to the lack of Primary Health Care in our community Council and staff have taken an aggressive approach in partnering with our health-care partners in an attempt to solve this crisis We are now seeing the rewards of all our hard work and commitment to health care in our Town  We believe we are well on our way to providing access to Primary Health Care to every resident of Greater Napanee,” said Terry Richardson “Connecting our community members to the Greater Napanee Health Home is a critical step in ensuring accessible we are strengthening care coordination and enhancing access to a full team of health-care professionals dedicated to meeting diverse health needs This model reflects our commitment to building a healthier community through seamless person-centered care,” added  Mike Bell Health Homes are a new model of delivering care by a team of health-care providers in which people can access care close to where they live FLA OHT partners are adopting the model to provide convenient ensuring that health care is integrated into the community it serves Lennox and Addington counties will be attached to Health Homes based on the neighbourhood geographic region that each Health Home serves Existing patients who are already attached to a primary care practice will remain with that practice as it develops into a Health Home By working in geographic regions to provide care close to home in team-based models that will attract new providers to this region we are optimistic that every part of the counties of Frontenac Lennox and Addington will have a Health Home that cares for all individuals within the boundaries that it serves more than 6,000 individuals have been successfully attached to Health Homes in our region Stay tuned for more information about upcoming rostering events at other Health Homes across our region shoppers visiting one-of-a-kind stores while in the distance Though the above might sound like it’s straight out of a Hallmark movie it actually describes what visitors can expect during the 17th Downtown Napanee Shopping Party Dundas Street will once again be bustling with activity as shoppers explore the unique businesses while crossing those last few names off their shopping list “It’s a day that everyone can come out and it’s almost like a ‘meet the neighbour’ It’s a feel good event,” said Ellena Harris-Fleury of Ellena’s Café and Pantry we have the wagon rides this year going between the town and the museum and the museum has programming going on which is really a nice addition for us to have them working with us because it just adds something thing to do in the community on that night.” Horse-drawn wagon rides will be available between the downtown core and the Museum of Lennox and Addington a nice cross promotion between two events as the museum hosts its third in the Friday Night Lights series of live music at their location Meanwhile along Dundas Street and in Market Square local shops will be offering discounts and samples in their festively decorated shops Shoppers can take a break and warm up at fire pits outside of town hall while select locations will be offering live music and a handful of surprises for customers while also collecting donations for the local food bank Santa himself is expected to be wandering the downtown core as well “It’s supporting small business which really is the backbone of our community,” said Fleury-Harris “We’re the ones that do all the donations for our hospital Napanee is such a giving community already but by collecting the food donations and having that fill the food banks as well.” the event is an experience for the whole family “We want to be a place that people think of when they want to feel like home and they want to support their community,” said Fleury-Harris “I think it’s part of so many people’s traditions.” The event is also a great way to showcase the diverse businesses that make up Greater Napanee’s downtown core while taking the stress out of holiday shopping “In a world right now where everyone’s kind of torn apart in many this is the type of thing that brings people together Lennox and Addington OPP have charged one person with impaired driving after leaving a local business L&A County OPP members stopped a vehicle from leaving a parking lot after it was learned the driver was believed to be intoxicated a 37-year-old from Greater Napanee was charged with: The accused was released from custody and is scheduled to appear in the Ontario Court of Justice in Greater Napanee on Feb Their driver’s licence was suspended for 90 days and their vehicle was impounded for 7 days Greater Napanee Pride will mark the start of Pride Month with their annual march and celebration in Conservation Park on May 31 As human rights for 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals face renewed attacks worldwide Greater Napanee Pride says this year’s event stands as an urgent and necessary celebration we are not just marking Pride—we are reinforcing the values of equality and belonging in the face of growing hostility,” says a statement from the organization On May 31 Napanee will once again come alive with the Pride Parade and Pride in the Park launching Pride Month with a visible show of unity and resilience This year’s festival will feature an expanded vendor market and more opportunities for community connection “At a time when legislative efforts around the globe seek to roll back rights and erase queer and trans identities Pride is a declaration that we will not go backward,” the group added politicians continue to use the existence of 2SLGBTQIA+ people as a wedge issue Greater Napanee Pride is a testament to the power of small communities to lead with love Organizers also invite local businesses and organizations to sponsor Pride 2025 ensuring that the events remain free and accessible to all “Greater Napanee Pride is more than a festival—it’s a movement Join us in showing that our community stands firmly on the side of inclusion For more information on volunteering, sponsorship opportunities, or event details, visit greaternapaneepride.com Greater Napanee Firefighter’s annual toy and food drive is underway rallying community support to help brighten the holidays for local families in need non-perishable food items or monetary contributions can be dropped off at the Napanee fire hall Napanee’s firefighters are hoping to at least match last year’s total when 100 food baskets were made up and delivered to families across Greater Napanee “We try to provide enough food for families for when kids are home from school for a couple of weeks we try to give them enough food to get them through those weeks,” said Greater Napanee firefighter Ashley Arnold they might not get the nourishment that they would typically get at the school.” they distribute toys to those who may have fallen on hard times over the last few weeks for a variety of reasons A couple of bad months can sometimes be all it takes for a hard-working family to get behind in their finances and might need a little help this time of year “If a family comes in and they have a kid that is 18 years old (or younger) we will provide a gift for them,” said Arnold Thanks to the community and all the work of firefighters ,we have so many donated toys that we are able to give kids a good Christmas in the sense that we’re not giving them just one gift but I would say the average is $75 to $100 per child.” Toys donated to the hall will be sorted by the firefighters bagged and then delivered to local schools or agencies who will connect families with the baskets “We always have a few last minute demands that we will go out and shop for that’s where things like cash come in handy,” said Arnold “We have a charity account that we can put that cash into and we use it to purchase different things that we need.” Arnold and fellow firefighter Joe Thompson note the support from local businesses Canadian Tire Joyce’s Meats and The Country Butcher who help their dollars go even further “Without their help our costs would be astronomical,” said Arnold Unfortunately due to construction at their Napanee location the annual Denny’s Grand Slam fundraiser won’t be able to take place this year That event always provided a nice boost to the toy drive Thompson is hoping to organize a similar event in the coming weeks though finding a location will be a challenge 11 local Napanee Crunch hockey teams will be doing their part shopping as a team to help fill a fire truck full of food and toys Anyone with a parking ticket issued from now until Dec 13 can pay their fine in the form of a new toy with a receipt attached that shows the cost is equal or greater than the cost of the ticket toy and receipt can be dropped off to 99 Advance Ave Questions about the ticket for toys program can be directed to 343-302-5238 or by emailing jwalters@greaternapanee.com For more information about the Firefighters’ Toy Drive or to donate contact Erin Tyers at 613-856-2226 or etyers@greaternapanee.com As part of an ongoing community discussion regarding homelessness a community forum was held at the Best and Bash Arena on the evening of Oct The forum provided an opportunity for community members to voice comments and/or questions to various service providers involved with this issue Service providers included representatives from the Town of Greater Napanee Prince Edward Lennox and Addington Social Services (PELASS) the issue of homelessness is affecting communities across Canada an estimated 265,000 to 300,000 Canadians experience homelessness each year the Town is working to create a Parks and Public Spaces Bylaw and Encampment Protocol that would pave the way to better handle homelessness as mayor Terry Richardson noted at the onset was solely to discuss homelessness at it relates to the use of public space Richardson pointed to the collective effort of service providers and the Town who together must tackle this issue “This conversation will continue and we will continue to work together to try to find a resolution We are committed to working with our partners to ensure we do so in line with legislation CAO Matthew Grant further explained that much of what the Town does with regard to homelessness is governed by the Municipal Act and the Planning Bylaw “This is why we work with community partners,” said Grant “The Parks and Public Spaces Bylaw is the safe and respectful use of parks and the Encampment Protocol is designed to bring predictability to housed and unhoused residents if a community doesn’t have enough housing residents have the ability to shelter themselves wherever possible.” Questions from the public ranged from enforcement of bylaws Shaun Lucas queried the Town and the OPP as to whether or not police officers were prepared to enforce local bylaws with the CAO noting there are a number of bylaws that “need to be strengthened” He also noted that bylaw officers enforce “in a number of areas.” Detachment Commander for the Lennox and Addington OPP explained it is not within their service mandate to conduct bylaw enforcement “That does not mean we won’t assist bylaw officers if they seek assistance,” said Tovell “What can be done about the use of illegal drugs in the downtown core?” Tovell referred to an elevated police presence in the downtown core He also pointed to plain clothes officers that are working to rid the downtown of illegal drug use “In the last three to four months there has been an increase in police presence….well over 100 guns and drugs have been taken off the streets,” stated Tovell Program Manager at Addiction and Mental Health Services-Kingston “In addition to the Mobile Crisis Response Team we have a Street Outreach Team and Crisis Team that do assertive outreach,” Preston explained they would actively engage that individual refer that individual to long-term addiction supports.” Any conversation about homelessness would be incomplete without a discussion about housing a community member asked the panel of service providers what the municipality was doing to enable the creation of more affordable housing while we don’t have a mandate to provide housing or interim housing aims to be part of the solution,” said Grant a representative from PELASS (an agency that services both Lennox and Addington and Prince Edward County) there are 52 transitional housing units across the two counties and 98 people waiting for transitional housing Those 98 individuals are either homeless or precariously housed was intended as a means to gather and share information regarding this topic one thing made clear is the first step toward tackling homelessness is to form a Parks Bylaw and Encampment Protocol this will likely be an ongoing issue shared by many communities across Canada “Our long term goal is to manage this issue as best we can It’s not within the Town’s ability to solve this issue-it’s a national “We are seeking to create predictability for people who are housed and unhoused In terms of municipal land for affordable housing we are having conversations with the the County of L&A  about how we might support them in their efforts to provide affordable housing For more information about the Town of Greater Napanee’s Parks and Public Space Bylaw and Encampment Response Protocol, or to provide feedback, please visit : https://letstalkgreaternapanee.ca/encampment-response-consultation Lennox and Addington Ontario Health Team (FLA OHT) helped 2,000 Greater Napanee residents get connected to primary care providers in 2024 That was part of over 13,000 residents who were successfully connected to primary care providers (family doctor or nurse practitioner) across the region last year This achievement far surpassed the initial target of attaching 9,000 residents This highlights the FLA OHT health-care partners’ exceptional collaboration and shared commitment to improving access to primary care an estimated 30,000 residents — approximately 10 per cent of the population in Frontenac Lennox and Addington — were without a primary care provider “Our success in 2024 represents an incredible step forward in addressing the gap for those in our region who don’t have access to a primary care provider,” said Dr “Through the tremendous work of our partners and primary care leaders we’ve made significant progress in ensuring FLA residents have access to high-quality primary care close to home This progress gives us real momentum as we continue working towards our goal of ensuring that every single person in our region has a primary care provider.” Included in those numbers were the Tsi Kanonhkhwatsheríyo Indigenous Interprofessional Primary Care Team which attached 589 Indigenous community members; 109 at its site in Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory and 480 at its Kingston site The FLA OHT is working to ensure that every single person in the region has access to a primary care provider close to where they live in a People-Centred Health Home the FLA OHT is supporting existing primary care clinics to become Health Homes while also working with partners to create new Health Homes to increase the number of primary care teams in the region more people will be connected to primary care People who do not have a primary care provider will be connected to a Health Home in their neighbourhood as soon as there is space available People without a primary care provider are encouraged to register with Health Care Connect by calling 1-800-445-1822 or visiting the FLA OHT website to register or learn more Clear steps and answers to common questions about the process are provided to support residents in accessing primary care The FLA OHT also compiled a comprehensive list of resources to help residents without a primary care provider find the health-care services they need across the region while they wait to be connected to a primary care provider. Find the services on the FLA OHT Community Resources page. I look forward to working with the team at the Greater Napanee Fire Department in delivering council’s approved programs and services Mayor Terry Richardson expressed excitement that Armstrong accepted a permanent position if Fire Chief and noted Armstrong will be an asset to the Town’s Fire Department. “I am extremely excited that Chief Armstrong has decided to accept the permanent position of fire chief with the Town of Greater Napanee. Chief Armstrong is an extremely qualified and experienced fire professional who will undoubtedly be an asset to our Department and Corporation. Welcome chief, to our Greater Napanee family,” stated Richardson. Armstrong joined the Greater Napanee Fire Department as the acting fire chief in April 2024 after serving as fire chief for the City of Guelph and, most recently, for the City of Kingston. Throughout his career, Armstrong has successfully led his fire service teams on a continuous quality improvement process which led to a prestigious international accreditation award for Kingston Fire & Rescue’s quality performance measures, community risks assessment, and strategic planning for fire and life safety programs and services. Armstrong is a graduate of the Fanshawe College Law and Security Administration program, the Ontario Police College, the Ontario Fire College, and successfully completed the Leading, Educating, and Developing Program at the University of Virginia, Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service. In his post with the Greater Napanee Fire Department, Armstrong’s mandate will include: — An assessment of all fees and charges that fall within the Fire Department to identify how the town’s fee structures compare with similar municipalities. — Delivery of a revised Fire First Response Agreement that prioritizes core life-saving support for the paramedic service in collaboration with the County of Lennox and Addington’s Paramedic Service. — Negotiating/reaching new agreements with unions representing full-time and paid-on-call firefighters. — Developing service standards for all programs and services within the Fire Department — Establishing training and certification requirements and reporting on operational resourcing in accordance with standardized training as outlined in Ontario Regulation 343/22 under the Fire Protection and Prevention Act. — Participating in the development and implementation of enterprise-wide criteria and data systems to measure asset management (vehicles, equipment, facilities). — Researching and revising the by-law governing the Greater Napanee Fire Department to bring it in line with best practices. — Completing a Fire Master Plan for the Town of Greater Napanee. — Finalizing and reporting on a Community Risk Assessment for the Town of Greater Napanee. Sarah Williams is a local Journalism Initiative Reporter with the Napanee Beaver. The Local Journalism Initiative is funded by the Government of Canada.  Town of Greater Napanee Council entertained a range of impactful decisions at their meeting on April 8. Items on the agenda included a local transit alternative, a noise exemption allowing 24/7 drilling by Hydrostor, and a proclamation request for World Lupus Day.  The first deputation was from Ron Yeomans. Yeomans, who owns Napanee Cab, put forth a transit proposal that would help improve transit options throughout Greater Napanee, particularly for those who are on a low/fixed income. As Yeomans pointed out, there is a gap in transit options since Deseronto Transit was cancelled. This gap, Yeomans noted, is widened by the cancellation of the Senior Outreach Services bus.  The importance of filling this gap is multifold and would address not only issues of accessibility but also the issue of isolation. Getting to the crux of the issue, Yeomans suggested a subsidy transportation could greatly benefit residents. With the average cost of a fare within Napanee being $12, he suggested that the town and/or community partners could subsidize half of that fare. From there, he noted, Napanee Cab would subsidize $1, and with that, the rider would only have to pay $5. Yeomans further noted that, if the Town offered one subsidized ride per person per week, that would equate to $312 per person subsidized. “I propose that we create and make available a $300 transportation subsidy grant for low-income families and seniors to apply to in wake of the cancellation of the bus transit system,” said Yeomans. “If the community partners/town contributed $30,000 in available transportation grant money, the Town could help 100 lower income families and seniors each year as a start. This amount is just the suggested amount for the initial trial year.” For more rural areas, Yeomans suggested a shuttle service where pick ups/drop offs would be available two days per week.  Councillor Angela Hicks questioned how this would affect the current level of service provided by the cab company. “Say I live on County Road 9, and I don’t want to use the shuttle service, will I be able to get a cab?” she asked. Yeoman replied that, “if you were to call us today and needed a cab in the morning, you would pay the regular fare. It would not be the subsidized rate.” In terms of community support, Yeomans stated both the Lion’s and Rotary Club have committed $5,000 to this project. As well, a handful of other local businesses have expressed the desire to support this venture financially.  With the budget already having been passed, council instructed staff to bring back a report detailing the town’s options for transit and how Yeomans’ proposal fits within that. This report will include transit options for the 2026 budget. In other news Council approved a staff recommendation to exempt the energy storage system company, Hydrostor, from the noise bylaw. The company in question intends to complete a bore drilling project as part of their Quinte Energy Storage project, which is located near the Lennox Generating Station. This Canadian technology company is known for their compressed air energy storage and already has sites in both California and Australia. The 24/7 drilling will take place over the span of 2-3 months and, as per Hydrostor, is necessary to evaluate geological depths. Before reviewing a related staff report and supporting the recommendation therein, council heard a representative of Hydrostor, Shaheer Aziz, speak on behalf of that company. Aziz mentioned that Hydrostor has provided the results of two major studies, the noise and hydrogeological study, to council to prove “negligible impacts” on nearby residents. “The studies we did will impact the bore hole program,” he said, pointing to trailers, among other things, that will help inhibit sound. For one neighbour that fell within the 600-700 metre range of the bore hold program, Aziz noted they were “consulted and entered into a good neighbour agreement with Hydrostor.” Off the bat, councillor Bill Martin questioned why 24/7 drilling was necessary. Aziz explained that the additional time it would take to start up and shut down the drill each day would add several months to the project.  To allay fears surrounding noise-especially at night-Aziz noted the noise studies deduced the impact to neighbours should be very little. Councillor Dave Pinnell expressed concern about the nature of the “good neighbour agreement” between the closest resident to the bore hole program and Hydrostor. When pressed on the issue by Pinnell, Aziz explained he was not at liberty to disclose the details of the agreement. “I hope you understand, when we read about this good neighbour agreement, it causes concerns, especially when you can’t disclose the details. It makes me really wonder what is going on with that agreement,” said the councillor. In their report, staff noted concerns raised by neighbours, such as impacts to ground water, noise etc., but added these concerns were nullified by the noise and hydrogeological studies. “With any noise that exceeds 45 decibels, council would have the authority to revoke the noise bylaw exemption and drilling would thereafter have to be completed during normal construction hours,” explained clerk Jessica Walters. According to Hydrostor, the bore hole program will begin in May with drilling to last until July, 2025. Council also threw their support behind a proclamation request declaring May 10, 2025, Lupus Awareness Day in the Town of Greater Napanee. The request was submitted by Keriszma Bhargava, on behalf of Lupus Ontario. At least five million people worldwide have lupus, a chronic autoimmune disease that can damage any organ or tissue from the skin or joints to the heart, kidneys or brain.  World Lupus Day will focus on the need for heightened public awareness of lupus, improved patient healthcare services, increased research into the causes of and desperately needed treatments for lupus, enhanced physician diagnosis of lupus, and better epidemiological data on lupus globally. Lupus Ontario’s mission is to provide vital support, education, awareness, advocacy, and research through the fundraising efforts of our staff and volunteer community to help those with lupus live longer, healthier and better lives. A fulsome discussion was had by the Town of Greater Napanee council during their April 22 regular meeting. From historical document preservation to support for the community gardens and the newly introduced strong mayor powers, council waded through a wide array of topics. The meeting opened with a deputation by Heidi Linde of the Heritage Committee, who spoke passionately about preserving local history. She presented a case for the Town to take possession of a growing collection of historical newspapers, photographs, and other items currently being safeguarded by a local historian. These artifacts include original issues of the Napanee Beaver and the Napanee Express, dating as far back as 1875. The historian inherited the newspapers from Adam Prudhomme, editor of the Beaver, upon his taking possession of that paper. The historian has since taken it upon himself to organize and store this trove of local history. However, storage has become a pressing issue. Linde emphasized that while the Lennox and Addington County Museum does a commendable job preserving historical items, space constraints are limiting their ability to take on more. She also noted that the Lennox and Addington Historical Society, after 116 years of service, disbanded in 2023. Subsequently, its entire collection has since been turned over to the museum. The heritage committee is not requesting new spending or climate-controlled facilities but instead proposes that town staff explore which municipally owned buildings might be suitable to house the collection. They are also offering volunteer support to help organize the materials, minimizing demands on staff time. “(The historian) has said he would be happy to occasional assist citizens to view newspapers if they were housed in a location where that would be possible,” noted Linde. “Those papers reflect a history you won’t see in any book or online.” Councillors offered resounding support for Linde’s request, with many underscoring the importance of preserving local history for future generations. Staff have been directed to prepare a report on possible locations to house these historically significant documents.