The Corporation of the Township of Laird

Regular Council Meeting Minutes – July 18, 2024

REGULAR MINUTES – AGENDA 25 CORPORATION OF THE TOWNSHIP OF LAIRD July 18, 2024, at 6:00 pm Laird Township Council Chambers

Present: Mayor:

Shawn Evoy Councillors:

Wayne Junor, Todd Rydall, Matt Frolick Clerk:

Jennifer Errington Treasurer:

Rhonda Crozier Delegates:

Ron Prickett, Bill Meades, Vince LaTassa

1. Call to Order

Mayor Evoy called the Regular meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.

2. Declaration of Pecuniary Interest

3. Agenda Approval

#152-24 Moved by: Matt Frolick Seconded by: Wayne Junor BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council hereby approves the July 18, 2024 agenda as presented. Carried.

4. Delegations and Presentations

  1. a. Sault Naturalists, Pumpkin Point Platform – Ron Prickett, Bill Meades, Vince LaTassa
  • Sault Naturalists provided a presentation on the Pumpkin Point Platform. The current platform condition has deteriorated significantly.
  • Sault Naturalists have consulted with Tulloch Engineering to prepare plans for a new platform.
  • Sault Naturalists asked Council if Council would be interested in allowing the platform to be located on lot 33, which is owned by the Township. Lot 33 is more solid ground.
  • Sault Naturalists look for grants.

5. Adoption of Minutes of Previous Meeting

  1. a. Council Regular Meeting – June 27, 2024
  2. b. Recreation Committee Minutes – June 25, 2024 #153-24 Moved by: Wayne Junor Seconded by: Matt Frolick BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council approves Council minutes of the Regular Meeting of June 27, 2024 and the Recreation Committee minutes of June 25, 2024.

Carried.

6. Adoption of Accounts

  1. a. General accounts to June 30, 2024 # 154-24 Moved by: Wayne Junor Seconded by: Todd Rydall BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council approves the general accounts to June 30, 2024, in the amount of $4,115.32.

Carried.

  1. b. Roads accounts to June 30, 2024 #155-24 Moved by: Todd Rydall Seconded by: Matt Frolick BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council approves the roads account to June 30, 2024, in the amount of $48,916.78 as presented.

7. Staff and Committee Reports

  1. a. Road Superintendent (Roads, Waste Disposal & Recycling, and Maintenance)
  2. i. Road Superintendent Report #156-24 Moved by: Matt Frolick Seconded by: Wayne Junor BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Road Superintendent Report dated July 18, 2024 be received as presented and that Council approves the cost of sub- contracting the roadside cutting if needed.

Carried.

  1. ii. Council Q&A

b. Clerk Administrator, Deputy Treasurer

  1. i. Clerk’s Report #157-24 Moved by: Todd Rydall Seconded by: Matt Frolick BE IT RESOLVED THAT Clerk’s Report dated July 18, 2024, be received as presented and arising from the report; That Council directs the staff to reinstate the contract to have the Sault Ste.

Marie Humane Society as Laird Township’s municipal pound facility with an annual user fee of $800.00 Carried.

  1. ii. Council Q&A

c. Treasurer’s Report

  1. i. 2024 Roads Projected Labour Budget – June 30, 2024 #158-24 Moved by: Matt Frolick Seconded by: Wayne Junor BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council receives the 2024 Roads Projected Labour Budget updated with actual labour hours to June 30, 2024.

Carried.

  1. ii. 2024 Reserve Capital Fund #159-24 Moved by: Matt Frolick Seconded by: Wayne Junor BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council receives the updated 2024 Reserve Capital Fund information.

Carried.

d. Recreation Committee & Recreation Sub-Committees

  1. i. Pumpkin Point Park Sub-Committee Minutes – June 17, 2024
  2. ii. Bar River Community Centre Sub-Committee Minutes – June 26, 2024
  3. iii. Finns’ Bay Wharf Sub-Committee Minutes – July 3, 2024 #160-24 Moved by: Wayne Junor Seconded by: Todd Rydall BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council receives the Pumpkin Point Park Sub- Committee minutes of June 17, 2024, the Bar River Community Centre Sub- Committee minutes of June 26, 2024, and the Finns’ Bay Wharf Sub- Committee Minutes of July 3, 2024; and further that Council approves the Finns’ Bay Wharf request to install a reclaimed red channel marker to be placed at the Wharf property as a landmark.
  4. iv. 2024 Committee and Boards – addition request #161-24 Moved by: Matt Frolick Seconded by: Todd Rydall BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council appoints Ashlee Boychuck, an Algoma Horse Association AHA member, to the Laird Fairgrounds Sub-committee.

Carried.

  1. e. Cemetery Board
  2. f. Planning Board
  3. g. Police Detachment Board
  4. h. Algoma District Services Administrative Board
  5. i. Algoma District Municipal Association (ADMA)

8. Unfinished Business

  1. a. Task Summary Sheet & Recent Activity Log
  2. b. Concern/Information Log – Updates #162-24 Moved by: Todd Rydall Seconded by: Wayne Junor BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council receives the July 18, 2024, Task Summary Sheet & Recent Activity Log and the Concern/Information Log as presented.

Carried.

  1. c. Ditching Tender closing Wednesday, July 17, 2024, at 2:00 p.m. (Lake George Road East, Cemetery Road, Riverside Drive) #163-24 Moved by: Todd Rydall Seconded by: Wayne Junor BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council awards the 2024 Ditching Tender to Kevin Ibbitson in the amount of $36,000.00 plus HST.

Carried.

  1. d. Playground Equipment Tender – G.W. Evoy Rink closing Wednesday, July 17, 2024, at 2 p.m.

#164-24 Moved by: Matt Frolick Seconded by: Wayne Junor BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council awards the 2024 Playground Equipment Tender to CRCS Recreation in the amount of $27,200.00 plus HST. Carried.

  1. e. Planning: Severance/Lot Adjustment – Approval in principle #165-24 Moved by: Todd Rydall Seconded by: Wayne Junor BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council approves in principle an application to consolidate the existing second severed lot on Lake View with the farm and create a new lot of 3 acres on Riverside Drive.

Carried.

9. New Business

10. Notices of Motion

11. Closed Session

#166-24 Moved by: Todd Rydall Seconded by: Wayne Junor BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council proceed into closed session at 7:22 p.m. in accordance with Section 239 (2) (b) of the Municipal Act in order to discuss personal matters about an identifiable individual, including municipal or local board employees.

  1. a. Approval of closed meeting minutes of May 23, 2024
  2. b. Personal matters about an identifiable individual, including municipal or local board employees.

#167-24 Moved by: Wayne Junor Seconded by: Matt Frolick BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council come out of closed meeting session at 8:22 p.m. and continue with the Regular Council Meeting. Carried.

12. Communications and Correspondence

  1. a. Ministry of Natural Resources – July 11, 2024
  2. b. Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) – Critical healthcare challenge resolution request – July 9, 2024 #168-24 Moved by: Todd Rydall Seconded by: Matt Frolick

WHEREAS the state of health care in Ontario is in crisis, with 2.3 million Ontarians lacking access to a family doctor, emergency room closures across the province, patients being de-rostered and 40% of family doctors considering retirement over the next five years; and

WHEREAS it has becoming increasingly challenging to attract and retain an adequate healthcare workforce throughout the health sector across Ontario; and

WHEREAS the Northern Ontario School of Medicine University says communities in northern Ontario are short more than 350 physicians, including more than 200 family doctors; and half of the physicians working in northern Ontario expected to retire in the next five years; and

WHEREAS Ontario municipal governments play an integral role in the health care system through responsibilities in public health, long-term care, and paramedicine.

WHEREAS the percentage of family physicians practicing comprehensive family medicine has declined from 77 in 2008 to 65 percent in 2022; and

WHEREAS per capita health-care spending in Ontario is the lowest of all provinces in Canada, and

WHEREAS a robust workforce developed through a provincial, sector-wide health human resources strategy would significantly improve access to health services across the province;

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Council of Township of Laird urge the Province of Ontario to recognize the physician shortage in the district of Algoma and Ontario, to fund health care appropriately, and ensure every Ontarian has access to physician care. Carried.

13. Mayor and Council Comments

14. By-laws

  1. a. 2022-24 Conformity By-law #169-24 Moved by: Todd Rydall Seconded by: Matt Frolick BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council adopts By-law 2022-24 being a by-law to confirm the proceedings of the meeting of Council held on July 18, 2024.

15. Adjournment

#170-24 Moved by: Matt Frolick Seconded by: Wayne Junor BE IT RESOLVED THAT this Council shall now adjourn to meet again for the Special Meeting of Council on August 13, 2024 at 6:00 p.m. or until the call of the chair. Carried.

Mayor – ___________________________ Shawn Evoy

Clerk – ___________________________ Jennifer Errington