April 2021 Town of Pelham Newsletter

April 2021 Town of Pelham Newsletter

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 Pitch in and team up to clean up with the Town of Pelham 

As part of the Town of Pelham’s ‘Team Up to Clean Up’ program, recreation, culture, and wellness staff invite residents to help keep Pelham beautiful and participate in Pitch in Week.

Pitch in Week is a week-long community cleanup program that helps keep public places in Pelham neighbourhoods clean and safe for everyone. This program provides all the tools needed to run a cleanup, including gloves, masks, recycling bags, and specially marked garbage bags. 

“In the past year, with the lockdowns and stay-at-home orders, it might be the longest period many of us have spent in and around our neighbourhoods and parks,” said Jodi Shishkov, culture and community enhancement programmer. “Pitch In Week is a great opportunity to get outside, enjoy your surroundings, and clean up areas needing extra attention. On top of that, it makes you feel good about connecting with your community.”

Residents wanting to host a cleanup event on Town property during the week of April 18 – 24 can choose sites such as parks, trails, streets, or parking lots. To help assist with safety precautions, it is asked that households organize small groups, ideally within their immediate family or bubble.

Registration is required, and registrants can pick up supplies at the Meridian Community Centre in Fonthill.  

 For more information, including how to register, COVID-19 safety tips, and more, visit: www.pelham.ca/cleanup 

Town of Pelham announces hiring of next Town Clerk

On Monday, March 22, 2021, the Town of Pelham announced Holly Willford as Pelham’s new Town Clerk. 

Willford, the Town’s current Deputy Clerk since 2018, will begin the role May 31, 2021, upon current Town Clerk Nancy Bozzato’s upcoming retirement. 

“Holly was the most deserving candidate for this position, and we are very pleased that she will be stepping into the role,” said CAO David Cribbs. “Holly’s skills and knowledge fit the expectations and criteria of who we were looking for in this position, and we are happy to see such a qualified internal candidate rise to the top.”

As Deputy Clerk, Willford has worked in lockstep with Bozzato, training and preparing for the responsibilities that will be asked of her as Clerk. Having clerked several Council meetings and playing an integral role on the Committee of Adjustment, a seat around the horseshoe is familiar.

Willford’s past experience includes five years at the Regional Municipality of Peel and over seven years as a real estate law clerk and legal assistant. 

“Without a doubt, Holly is the right person for the job,” said Mayor Marvin Junkin, a member of the hiring committee. “We’ve seen what Holly can do first hand, clerking several meetings, and we are confident she will continue to be a great asset to the Town of Pelham.”

A significant role of any Clerk is running an election. As Deputy Clerk, Willford played an integral part in the 2018 election and an even more substantial role in the pandemic-shaped 2020 by-election, delivering an election without issue and provided a safe and convenient voting experience.

Gypsy moth population assessment and defoliation forecast and 2021 treatment program development

A report submitted to Council Monday evening contained evidence that Pelham’s gypsy moth population may have passed its peak and is on the decline. Given the population levels and abundance of host species, the Town is forecast to experience severe levels of defoliation throughout Fenwick, Fonthill, and rural forested areas south of Fenwick and north/west of Fonthill.

The report provides three management options to protect the overall health of the Town’s urban forest canopy:

1) “Do nothing”, where the Town does not intervene and allows the gypsy moth population to run its natural course,

2) Targeted treatment of areas within the urban boundaries of Fenwick and Fonthill (with the option of adding forested areas adjacent to the urban boundaries),

3) Large-scale treatment, including both urban and rural areas.

The 2021 Operating Budget includes $150,000 for the Gypsy Moth treatment Program. The cost associated with the areal spray program’s coordination and implementation of a scaled-down forest health program is $39,000. 

Program communications costs are expected to be similar to 2020 at $5400. Based on preliminary pricing of $920/ha for urban aerial treatment, the remaining $105,600 will be utilized for the spraying of 114ha. 

Due to the resources available, staff recommend that the Town of Pelham design an aerial spray program for the treatment of gypsy moth based on Option 2 of the BioForest, 2020 Gypsy Moth Monitoring Program Report.

Updates will be made at www.pelham.ca/gypsy-moth as available.