Council finally quizzes consultants on wastewater plant EA
Brighton Council finally got their chance to quiz the consultants overseeing the environmental assessment on the town’s wastewater treatment plant.
Representatives from JL Richards and Associates updated the process and took questions from councillors and the public, during Monday’s meeting at the King Edward Park Community Centre.
Brighton Mayor Mark Walas tells Quinte News, the consultants gave a thorough outline of what their recommended plan will be moving forward.
Meanwhile, not all Brighton councillors were pleased with what they heard Monday night.
Councillor John Martinello had pushed hard for the consultants to show up and clarify their plans, but tells Quinte News, he wasn’t fully satisfied with the process.
The $6.5 million plan that is likely to be recommended next week, calls for changes to the lagoon system to better regulate ammonia levels, but Martinello feels more should be done to look at expanding capacity in the system and perhaps shifting towards a fully mechanical plant.
You can click here to see the full presentation from JL Richards and Associates, which was presented at a special council meeting in May and outlines the plan more in depth.
More space needed for interested new doctors
There seems to be a number of new doctors who want to make a home in Brighton, but there’s not enough space right now for them to work in the current health centre.
A letter to council, from the Brighton and Quinte West Family Health Team, says the town’s newest physician already needs more space and at least two other doctors are looking to work out of the Main Street office as well.
Brighton Mayor Mark Walas says it’s a bit of a “good news/bad news situation” but it seems some relief is on the way, as the YMCA Early Years Program gets set to vacate space in the building’s basement by the end of the month.
Council will also look at establishing a Physician Accommodation Advisory Group next month, to look at ways to create more space for doctors moving forward.
New sport putting tennis club in “a bit of a pickle”
Some changes could be on the way to tennis courts in Brighton, with the goal of accommodating a new sport, which is growing in popularity.
A group of citizens addressed councillors last night, asking to have “pickleball” lines added to courts at the Brighton Tennis Club.
Pickleball is similar to tennis, but uses a plastic “wiffle ball”, small paddles, a lower net and a smaller court size, making it more accessible for seniors and young kids who are new to tennis.
The group says lines would be painted in a muted colour, as to not interfere with the current tennis markings and would cost $1,300 to put down.
There were also suggestions to add “pickleball-specific” time slots at the tennis club, or to refurbish and expand the Gosport tennis court as another alternative.
In a letter to council, the tennis club says it would prefer pickleball players continue to use the Gosport court, feeling it’s better suited and under-used.
Staff will bring a report on the issue back to council at an upcoming meeting.
New website launching this week
Brighton Council got a sneak peak at the municipality’s new website Monday night.
Representatives from eSolutions shared a preview of the new site, which has been put together over five months and features a completely new layout.
The revamp is aimed at making the site easier to navigate and will include updated and relevant content for residents, business owners and visitors.
The site also includes a news feed, with a subscription option, which allows for up-to-the-minute notifications.
The site is expected to launch this week.
