Marina revenue projection seems inflated

Re: New Marina Agreement (News, April 2). I am surprised that no one on Council questioned the validity of the $700,000 revenue number Mr. Paschkowiak paraded out during his presentation about the County’s new agreement with Casa Dea to manage their boat slips in Picton harbour.

I would be interested to know how Mr. Paschkowiak arrived at this rather significant amount. Using the slip count of 67 with average length of 35 feet and a docking charge of even $157 per foot (Toronto Dockage Rates –found nowhere in the County) would only yield $368,650. 

Charging rates applied closer to home like those in Kingston’s Confederation Basin, $96.68 per ft., gross revenues would be $226,714. 

This leaves us well short of the $700,000 projection. If staffing is calculated on the inflated revenues of $700,000 then we are in for a big surprise. I will leave this question in your most competent hands.    

Ted Longley, Picton 

Good News at The Regent Theatre

Recently, we were at The Regent Theatre for its Annual General Meeting. It may be unusual to say this about an AGM, but what a great event! 

After years — heck, decades — of hearing that our beloved theatre was at death’s door, we were delighted by a report of robust programming, healthy finances, confident and experienced management, and engaged staff and volunteers. All this while movie prices remain well below those of other commercial venues and we have popcorn with free gourmet toppings! 

It felt great to realize that the theatre is in good hands. Congratulations to The Regent.

Rita Johnson and Betsy Matthews, Cinefest Picton 

Hijacking the School Board

I’m writing to make sure people in our community understand what’s happening at the Hastings Prince Edward District School Board. 

Quinte West Trustee Ernie Parsons has brought forward a notice of motion asking the Province of Ontario to take over the board.

In the past, the province only stepped in when a school board was in serious financial trouble or clearly mismanaging money. That is not the case here. HPEDSB has passed balanced budgets for the last two terms. There is no financial crisis. Even though Bill 33 now gives the Minister of Education more power to take control, that doesn’t mean the board should ask for it. In fact, this change weakens local decision‑making and takes power away from our community.

It’s also important to understand why this notice of motion came forward. Support for a provincial takeover followed a transportation motion being ruled out of order by the board chair. That happened because trustees do not have the legal authority to directly control a shared transportation organization or cancel contracts on their own. All but one other trustee agreed with that ruling. 

A motion being ruled out of order doesn’t mean the board is broken. It means the rules set out by the provincial government are being followed.

At other school boards, provincially appointed supervisors have earned more than $350,000 a year. HPEDSB has already spent over $175,000 this term on code of conduct issues involving PEC Trustee Rachael Prinzen, including ongoing legal appeals. 

That’s public money that could have gone toward classrooms, student supports, or staff. This is also an election year. People need to pay close attention to which school board trustees are focused on doing the hard work of advocating and governing within the Education Act, and which are spending outlandish time and money on conflict instead of solutions. 

Trustees were elected to govern through challenges, not to give that responsibility away. Local school boards exist so communities have a voice in education. A provincial takeover takes that voice away. I encourage people to stay informed, ask questions, and hold trustees accountable, with students always coming first.

Alison Kelly, Former HPEDSB Trustee

Pollinators Bursary

We are pleased to announce  our 5th annual pollinators  bursary program for local PEC farmers committed to the principles and practices of organic farming. 

Funded by a gift from PEC’s Long Point Honey Company, this annual $500 bursary will be awarded to a local farmer who illustrates sustainable practices to protect, preserve, and promote pollinator health. This could include strategies to increase pollinator food resources, nesting habitat, or innovative approaches to integrated pest management. 

It could also include advocacy toward systemic change in local, provincial or federal public policy, or efforts to build public awareness about the importance of pollinators to the fertility of the planet and our food security.This bursary will be awarded by the first week of  May  along with our other agricultural bursary for PEC Ecological Farmers. Candidates should submit their application letters by the end of April to Don Ross at 

[email protected] describing their reasons for being considered for this award.

Don Ross, Milford