Belleville city hall (File photo: Mary Thomas/Quinte News)
Belleville Fire Chief Mark MacDonald praised city staff and city residents at city council Tuesday, regarding the ongoing flood situation.
MacDonald said there were “unprecedented” water levels and the citizens “listened to officials and were very understanding” about restrictions.
Director of Recreation Mark Fluher told council Meyers Pier marina is now open but Victoria harbour facilities are shutdown.
Fluhrer said he’ll be coming back to council this fall with “some things to think about” concerning the marina.
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Mayor Taso Christopher declared a conflict and left the council chambers last night as council considered a bylaw issue.
It was regarding a Lease Surrender Agreement between the city and Belleville Sports and Entertainment Corporation, a subsidiary of BSE Ventures Incorporated, doing business as Belleville Bulls Hockey Club.
Christopher declared a conflict since “he is a part owner of a business that sells sporting goods.”
Councillor Kelly McCaw questioned the cost which Director of Recreation Mark Fluhrer said was $38,000.
Council approved the bylaw on a vote of seven to one, with McCaw voting against and the mayor out of the chambers.
Belleville City Council has established a downtown parking review committee.
The committee, chaired by Councillor Mike Graham, includes four councillors, two members at large and a representative from the Belleville Downtown Improvement Area.
The committee will be responsible for discussing short, medium and long-term needs for parking in the downtown core, as well as coming up with strategies to address those needs and presenting them to council.
The committee has been asked to report back to council in October.
Belleville will reach out to city property owners, over a plan to remove or scale back the vacancy rebate program.
The program was implemented in the late 1990s and gives owners an option to apply for a rebate on taxes paid on properties that were empty for more than 90 straight days of the year.
Municipalities are now being given the flexibility to adjust the plan to specific community needs.
The Downtown Business Improvement Area will be reaching out for feedback, and a public meeting will be held in June.
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