Council Highlights - December 14, 2020

gavel

View the full agenda package for Council

Watch the video

Niagara Central Dorothy Rungeling Airport - Overview

Councillor Lisa Haun, joined by other Commissioners of the Niagara Central Dorothy Rungeling Airport (NCDRA), presented an overview of the airport and its history to Pelham Town Council. The overview included history dating back to 1945-1970 when the airport was owned and operated by the Federal government, and then sold to the Welland, Port Colborne, Wainfleet, and Pelham) who now owns it and whose appointed Council representatives form the governing Commission.

In 2015 the Niagara Central Airport was renamed the Niagara Central Dorothy Rungeling Airport in honour of the aviation pioneer and award-winning Pelham resident who was hailed as one of Canada’s most experienced air racers. Dorothy received the Order of Canada in 2003 for her many contributions to aviation. 

Today, the NCDRA features: 

  • Five commercial enterprises: skydiving, flight school, maintenance/repair services and a world-renowned radar manufacturer & research lab.
  • Home to 87 Eagle Squadron Air Cadets-Hundreds of air cadets from Niagara Region participate in spring and fall gliding activities on the field.
  • Home to COPA Flight 149 –local chapter of Canadian Owners and Pilots Association
  • The hard surfaced runways have been rehabilitated.
  • Due to the efforts of COPA 149 an abandoned runway has be revived as a turf surface.
  • A recent joint initiative between COPA 149 and the Commission has renovated an equipment storage facility
  • GPS approach technology added in 2018-2019

 Some of the benefits for Pelham include:

  • The airport’s economic benefit as studied in a 2014 report had a conservative estimate of contributing $4.5 million annually to the local economy (Archbold Leclerc Report)
  • Air ambulance access
  • Attraction visitation -Niagara Skydive, Flight school,
  • Property tax revenues will increase based on the growth ofhangar leases (business plan case TBA)
  • Transportation for residents, visitors and businesses
  • Can facilitate access as a transportation hub for goods, tourism, business travel, commercial growth
  • Local area pilots use NCDRA for recreational and commercial aviation
  • Contributes to economic health and growth
  • Can attract new businesses and improve region’s ability to interact with a larger, international market (Niagara Airport Strategy, Niagara Region COTW, May 2019)

 

Town to establish reserve fund for volunteer firefighters' life insurance

The Town of Pelham provides, to all active volunteer fire fighters, a life insurance premium of $25,000 to be paid out in a lump sum to the deceased’s beneficiary. If a fire fighter passes away from any cause, whether natural or accidental the premium is paid out by an insurance provider, to which the Town in turn pays an annual premium for coverage. The annual cost to the Town is approximately $12,500. The Town can self-fund this life-insurance by establishing a Reserve Fund which will earn interest annually.

In the past few decades, the Town has made this $25,000 payout only once. If the Town were to self-fund this benefit and contribute the annual insurance premium of $12,500 to a specific Reserve Fund, the cost savings would start to be realized after two years of contributions to the reserve. Further contributions could continue until the Reserve Fund is adequate to support an unfortunate series of events which could lead to multiple payouts in the same year.

Since the payout risk is low and the annual premium of $12,500 is high, it makes sense for the Town to put the value of the annual insurance premium amount into a Reserve Fund that will earn interest on an annual basis. In a ten-year period, there would be accumulated $125,000 plus interest in this fund. This would be more than adequate based on past experience.

Splash pad project in Fenwick receives Council support

Council supported the Splash Pad project at Centennial Park in Fenwick to be funded partially by ICIP COVID-19 Resilience Fund for $112,331. The remaining $237,669 to be funded by Development Charges revenue, as stated in the DC Background Study and included in the 2021 Capital Budget. 

The splash pad has been a request at the Budget Open House for several years. The Town of Pelham is one of the few communities left in Niagara that does not have a splash pad in their parks. Splash pads have become popular in parks replacing "baby pools" since they are safer for children with fun interactive water features. This grant is an excellent opportunity to help fund Centennial Park's splash pad along with Development Charge revenue.

The total cost of the splash pad is estimated to be $350,000. This project will be fully funded with this grant and the Development Charge revenue without using tax levy dollars.

There were no other alternatives considered since a splash pad in Fenwick has been a priority for Pelham. A separate grant submission has been made for another splash pad at the Marlene Stewart Streit Park. The Town is waiting for news from the Ministry if this grant is being approved. It was applied under the ICIP- Culture and Recreation Stream in November 2019.