The Corporation of the Township of Laird
Regular Council Meeting Minutes – August 21, 2025
REGULAR AGENDA – AGENDA 46 CORPORATION OF THE TOWNSHIP OF LAIRD August 21, 2025, at 6:00 pm Laird Township Council Chambers
Present: Mayor:
Shawn Evoy Councillors:
Todd Rydall, Brad Shewfelt, Wayne Junor,
Regrets:
Matt Frolick Clerk:
Jennifer Errington Treasurer:
Rhonda Crozier Road Superintendent: David Pollari
1. Call to Order
Mayor Evoy called meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.
2. Declaration of Pecuniary Interest
Councillor Shewfelt filed a declaration of pecuniary interest with Agenda Item 11.
- a. Closed Session: proposed acquisition or disposition of land, as Councillor Shewfelt has a direct pecuniary interest in the matter to be discussed.
3. Agenda Approval
#186-25 Moved by: Todd Rydall Seconded by: Brad Shewfelt BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council hereby approves the August 21, 2025, agenda as presented. Carried.
4. Delegations and Presentations
5. Adoption of Minutes of Previous Meeting
- a. Council Regular Meeting – July 17, 2025
- b. Special Council Meeting – August 21, 2025
- c. Recreation Committee Meeting – No scheduled meeting for July #187-25 Moved by: Todd Rydall Seconded by: Wayne Junor BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council approves minutes of the Regular Council meeting of July 17, 2025, and the Special Council Meeting of August 12, 2025.
Carried.
6. Adoption of Accounts
- a. General accounts to July 31, 2025 #188-25 Moved by: Todd Rydall Seconded by: Wayne Junor BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council approves the general accounts to July 31, 2025, in the amount of $1,913.07.
Carried.
- b. Roads accounts to July 31, 2025 #189-25 Moved by: Wayne Junor Seconded by: Todd Rydall BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council approves the roads account to July 31, 2025, in the amount of $37,481.80.
Carried.
7. Staff and Committee Reports
- a. Road Superintendent (Roads, Waste Disposal & Recycling, and Maintenance)
- i. Road Superintendent Report #190-25 Moved by: Wayne Junor Seconded by: Brad Shewfelt BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council receives the Road Superintendent Report dated August 21, 2025, as presented.
Carried.
- ii. Council Q&A
b. Clerk Administrator, Deputy Treasurer
- i. Clerk’s Report #191-25 Moved by: Brad Shewfelt Seconded by: Todd Rydall BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council receives the Clerk’s Report dated August 21, 2025; and
Further be it resolved that Council approves the following actions arising from the report:
Climate Ready Infrastructure Grant:
That Council approves submitting an application to the Climate Ready Infrastructure grant program through Climate Ready Canada for a technical study focused on determining whether culverts are appropriately sized not only for current conditions but also for future climate scenarios.
Share Shed and Feral Cat Concerns:
That Council directs staff to:
- Notify the concerned ratepayer of the Share Shed policy;
- Contact the Ontario SPCA to inquire about available programs to manage the feral cat population at the Waste Disposal Site, including but not limited to the Working Cat Program;
- Report back to Council with findings and potential next steps regarding a humane and environmentally responsible approach to managing the feral cat population; and
- Communicate to the concerned ratepayer that the Township is actively exploring alternatives and has already begun relocating some feral cats to local farms.
Laird International Raceway – Rain Date Approval:
That Council approves Laird International Raceway (LIR) to operate on Sunday, August 24, 2025, should inclement weather prevent racing on Friday, August 22, or Saturday, August 23, 2025. If weather conditions prevent the event from occurring, LIR is approved to reschedule the event to the weekend of September 5, 6, and 7, 2025, with Sunday, September 7, 2025, serving as the rain date for that weekend. Carried.
- ii. Task Summary Sheet & Recent Activity Log
- iii. Concern/Information Log – Updates #192-25 Moved by: Todd Rydall Seconded by: Brad Shewfelt BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council receives the August 21, 2025, Task Summary Sheet & Recent Activity Log and the Concern/Information Log as presented.
Carried.
- iv. Council Q&A
c. Treasurer’s Report
- i. Budget report up to June 30, 2025 #193-25 Moved by: Brad Shewfelt Seconded by: Wayne Junor BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council receives the Budget Report up to June 30, 2025.
Carried.
- ii. Arrears Update – Verbal report
- iii. Financial Audit Meeting August 14, 2025 – Verbal report
d. Recreation Committee & Recreation Sub-Committees
- i. Finns’ Bay Wharf Sub-committee Minutes – June 25, 2025
- ii. Pumpkin Point Park Sub-committee Minutes – July 22, 2025
- iii. Fairgrounds Sub-committee Minutes – July 22, 2025 #194-25 Moved by: Todd Rydall Seconded by: Brad Shewfelt BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council receives the June 25, 2025 Finns’ Bay Wharf Sub-committee minutes, July 22, 2025, Pumpkin Point Park Sub- committee minutes and the July 22, 2025, Fairgrounds Sub-committee minutes; and
Further That Council approves the Finns’ Bay Wharf Sub-committee motion 09-25 to have the Wharf gazebo made accessible by altering the West corner and installing a 36-inch door to match the existing entrance door and install a ramp and requests the committee to put required renovations in the 2026 budget.
Council also approves the Finns’ Bay Wharf Sub-committee motion 10-25 to have the gravel be cut back by one load and the funds be used to purchase and install the life ring at the Finns’ Bay Wharf.
Council approves Fairgrounds sub-committee motion R34-25 to add the option of a $25.00 fee for having the horse arena groomed the following day by staff for evening rentals. Carried.
- iv. 2025 Committee and Board – Addition to Fairgrounds Sub-committee and resignations from Pumpkin Point Park Sub-committee and the Laird Hall Sub-committee.
#195-25 Moved by: Wayne Junor Seconded by: Brad Shewfelt BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council approves adding Patrick Connolly as a member of the Fairgrounds Sub-committee and that Council accepts the resignation of Shawna DePlonty from the Pumpkin Point Park Sub-committee and the Laird Hall Sub-committee, with regrets, and would like to thank Shawna for her volunteer work. Carried.
- e. Cemetery Board
- f. Planning Board
- g. Police Detachment Board
- h. Algoma District Services Administrative Board
i. Algoma District Municipal Association (ADMA)
- i. ADMA AGM – September 27, 2025, White River BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council receives the ADMA correspondence and further that Council will send ________________ and ________________ to attend the September 27, 2025 meeting and will participate on the shared bus transportation.
Withdrawn.
8. Unfinished Business
- a. Computer Purchase Options and Recommendation Report #196-25 Moved by: Todd Rydall Seconded by: Wayne Junor BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council approve the quote from Algoma Business Computers in the amount of $10,464.67 plus HST for the purchase of desktop computers, including full-service setup and a 3-year warranty, as per the specifications provided by the Township’s IT provider.
Carried.
- b. Memo: Appointment of an Engineer for ECA Compliance #197-25 Moved by: Todd Rydall Seconded by: Wayne Junor BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council appoint Algoma Engineering Co. to provide engineering services for the Township’s Environmental Compliance Approval (ECA) compliance at the Fairgrounds site, including preparation for and attendance at the pre-application consultation meeting with the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP), at a cost of $5,000 plus HST, with fees as outlined in their submitted proposal;
And further that Staff be directed to notify the MECP of the appointment of a qualified person and provide estimated timelines for submission, in accordance with the requirements of the Inspection Report received July 3, 2025. Carried.
- c. Memo: Laird Fairgrounds Rental to LIR #198-25 Moved by: Todd Rydall Seconded by: Brad Shewfelt BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council advises staff to not charge Laird International Raceway (LIR) any additional rental fees for their wrap-up weekend events.
Carried.
9. New Business
- a. Fairgrounds Yard Light Replacement #199-25 Moved by: Brad Shewfelt Seconded by: Wayne Junor BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council approve Black Fox Electric to install 4 300-watt flood lights for the horse barn area and 4 150-watt yard lights at the Laird Fairgrounds in the amount of $6,102.66 plus HST, to come out of working capital reserve; and
Further that Council approves Black Fox Electric to install horse arena lighting in the amount of $4,607.97 and to install 11 LED light figures in the LIR washrooms in the amount of $2,844.21. Carried.
- b. By-law Enforcement Officer – Best Buy Quote #200-25 Moved by: Todd Rydall Seconded by: Wayne Junor BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council approves the Best Buy quote for a new laptop equipped with the necessary Microsoft Office program, contributing $215.00 to the joint purchase with the Townships of Macdonald, Meredith & Aberdeen Additional, Tarbutt and Hilton Township.
Carried.
- c. 2025 Northeast Municipal Council Workshop BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council reviews the save the date information on the upcoming 2025 Northeast Municipal Council Workshop on October 21 and 22, 2025, in Sudbury, and further that Council would like to register _________________________________________ Councillors to attend.
Tabled.
10. Notices of Motion
11. Closed Session
#201-25 Moved by: Todd Rydall Seconded by: Brad Shewfelt BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council proceed into closed session at 7:51 p.m. in accordance with Section 239 (2) (c) a proposed or pending acquisition of disposition of land by the municipality or local board. Carried.
- a. Approval of closed meeting minutes of July 17, 2025.
Councillor Shewfelt excused himself from the council chambers due to declaration of conflict of interest for agenda item 11. b. Pending disposition of land by the municipality.
- b. Pending disposition of land by the municipality
#202-25 Moved by: Todd Rydall Seconded by: Wayne Junor BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council come out of closed meeting session at 8:05 p.m. and continue with the Regular Council Meeting. Carried.
Consideration of and action on matters arising out of the closed meeting.
#203-25 Moved by: Todd Rydall Seconded by: Wayne Junor BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council hereby accepts the offer from Bradley Shewfelt in the amount of $650.00 for the purchase of Lot 10, RCP H762, declared surplus to the needs of the municipality;
AND THAT the purchaser shall be responsible for all legal fees incurred by both the Township and the purchaser, as well as any applicable sales taxes;
AND THAT the purchaser shall be required to consolidate the subject property with their existing abutting parcel, as Lot 10, RCP H762 is undersized and not suitable for independent development, in accordance with By-law 1048-22 – Policies and Procedures for the Sale of Real Property;
AND FURTHER THAT Council acknowledges that efforts were made to notify both abutting property owners, including the Thompsons, and that staff were unable to locate a valid mailing address for one party despite reasonable efforts. Carried.
12. Communications and Correspondence
- a. Canadian Land Access Systems, RE: CLAS Introduction, June 11, 2025
- b. Riston McBride, RE: Summer Co-op Student, August 6, 2025
- c. Jim and Jackie Junor, RE: Support for Stop the Spray Ontario, August 13,
- Council requested that staff formally put forward the West Nipissing and Moonbeam Township support resolution.
- d. Jacob Kluding, RE: Laird Heritage Tidbits, August 2025
13. Mayor and Council Comments
- Mayor Evoy presented information on Biosolids.
14. By-laws
- a. 2060-25 Conformity By-law #204-25 Moved by: Wayne Junor Seconded by: Brad Shewfelt BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council adopts By-law 2060-25 being a by-law to confirm the proceedings of the meeting of Council held on August 21, 2025.
Carried.
15. Adjournment
#205-25 Moved by: Wayne Junor Seconded by: Brad Shewfelt BE IT RESOLVED THAT this Council shall now adjourn to meet again on September 18, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. or until the call of the chair. Carried.
Mayor – ___________________________ Shawn Evoy
Clerk – ___________________________ Jennifer Errington