LAURIE WEIR

Rideau Lakes Township is updating its emergency response plan to strengthen preparedness and response measures in case of a crisis.

At the Monday, March 24 municipal services committee meeting, fire Chief Gene Richardson presented the proposed changes, recommending that council repeal the existing plan and adopt a new version.

Key updates include relocating the primary emergency operations centre from the Elgin Municipal Complex to the Chantry municipal office, incorporating volunteer groups into emergency planning, and introducing a disaster recovery strategy for IT systems. The plan also enhances evacuation protocols, details emergency assistance for people with disabilities, and designates a single deputy mayor as the mayor’s alternate instead of using a rotational system.

As part of the updates, council appointed Coun. Deborah Anne Hutchings as the alternate member for the head of council for the remainder of this term, ensuring stronger oversight of the township’s digital infrastructure and emergency response capabilities.

“If you can teach an old dog a new trick, then I’ll do it,” Hutchings said of her appointment to the municipal emergency control group as an alternate member for the head of council.

Richardson said there is both an online and in-person training component.

“You have to take basic management training, and other training … if there is an emergency and the mayor isn’t around, then you would be called in,” he said.

Coun. Sue Dunfield asked if the deputy mayor’s position lasts six months, then all members of council should be trained in the emergency response plan.

Chief administrative officer Shellee Fournier said they were looking for one appointee rather than a rotation, for better continuity.

“We’re recommending that it not be the deputy mayor,” she said. “Because the rotation makes it too difficult. Similarly to the county, they don’t accept rotations. They require one person per term to be alternate to the head.”

Council will also appoint an alternate member to the municipal emergency control group to act on behalf of the head of council when needed. The new plan ensures compliance with provincial emergency management requirements while improving operational clarity and response effectiveness.

The updated emergency response plan was passed by the committee and will move forward for final approval at an upcoming council meeting.