The Corporation of the Township of Laird

Council Meeting Minutes – November 17, 2022

REGULAR MINUTES – AGENDA 1 CORPORATION OF THE TOWNSHIP OF LAIRD November 17, 2022, at 6:00 pm In-Person: Laird Township Boardroom Chambers

Present: Mayor:

Shawn Evoy Todd Rydall Councillors:

Wayne Junor David Pollari Road Superintendent:

Jennifer Errington Clerk:

Phyllis MacKay Guests:

The Inaugural meeting started with the Mayor and Council members reading their Declaration of Office aloud and were sworn in by the Clerk. The Clerk declared to Mayor Evoy that the 2023 to 2026 Council is now duly organized.

A. ACTION ITEMS 1. Consideration of Agenda

  1. a) Declaration of Conflict of Interest
  2. b) Modifications, Additions, Deletions
  3. c) Approval #166-22 Moved by: Todd Rydall Seconded by: Wayne Junor “Be it resolved that Council hereby approves the November 17, agenda as presented.” CARRIED

2. Routine Matters

  1. a) Approval of minutes of October 20 and November 10, 2022 #169-22 Moved by: Todd Rydall Seconded by: Wayne Junor “Be it resolved that Council approves Council Minutes of the Regular Meeting of October 20 and the Special Meeting of November 10, 2022, as presented.” CARRIED
  2. b) Approval of recreation minutes October 25, 2022 #170-22 Moved by: Todd Rydall Seconded by: Wayne Junor “Be it resolved that Council approves the Recreation Committee minutes of October 25, 2022, as presented.” CARRIED
  3. c) Approval of general accounts to November 17, 2022 #167-22 Moved by: Todd Rydall Seconded by: Wayne Junor “Be it resolved that Council approves the general accounts to November 17, 2022, in the amount of $1,200.10, as presented.” CARRIED
  4. d) Approval of roads accounts to October 31, 2022 #168-22 Moved by: Wayne Junor Seconded by: Todd Rydall “Be it resolved that Council approves the road accounts to October 31, 2022, in the amount of $34,092.33, as presented.” CARRIED

3. Delegations and Presentations

4. Staff and Committee Reports

  1. a) Roads Superintendent (Roads, Waste Disposal & Recycling & Maintenance)
  2. i. Road Superintendent Report All driveway culverts are done, 2 cross culverts to do. Still dealing with beaver activity. Plow equipment is on the truck and ready for winter. The dump truck required new lines and the hydraulic valve bank was rebuilt, the truck is now good to go.

Targets for next month: The grader requires winter plow equipment.

  1. ii. Council Q&A
  2. iii. Fairgrounds, clearing update Work is almost done at the fairgrounds.
  3. iv. Ditching update Ditching started at Lakeview Road.
  4. v. Black Creek update Reached out to MNRF, no update at this time.
  5. vi. Task Summary Items – update
  6. b) Clerk Administrator, Deputy Treasurer
  7. i. Clerk’s Report The month of October was very busy with the Election. Targets for next month: Grant Reporting for Asset Management Program & Systems Development grant, reporting to MPAC the final list of changes to the voter’s list, a thorough review of By-laws and required policies, council orientation program, Asset Management, Official Plan, Zoning By-law, and Waste Disposal Site projects.
  8. ii. Council Q&A
  9. iii. Councillor Orientation Session December 15, 2022 during regular Council meeting.
  10. iv. MMAH Council Training Council recommended having the training on January 16th, 2023 at 4:30 p.m.
  11. c) Treasurer’s Report
  12. d) Recreation Committee & Recreation Sub-Committees
  13. e) Cemetery Board
  14. f) Planning Board
  15. g) Police Services Board
  16. h) Algoma District Services Administrative Board
  17. i) Algoma District Municipal Association

5. By-laws

6. Business Arising out of Discussion

  1. a) Waste Disposal Site – Christmas closure #172-22 Moved by: Wayne Junor Seconded by: Todd Rydall “Be it resolved that the Waste Disposal Site (WDS) will be closed at 3 p.m. on December 24th and 31st and request that the Clerk advertise in a newsletter and at the WDS that it will be closed early on those dates.” CARRIED

7. New Business

  1. a) Annual, Staff Christmas recognition #171-22 Moved by: Todd Rydall Seconded by: Wayne Junor “Be it resolved that Council recognizes full-time staff by providing gift cards in the amount of $100.00 to each staff in lieu of traditional annual staff Christmas dinner in light of possible Covid-19 restrictions.” CARRIED
  2. b) Support Resolution – Re: Ontario Wildlife Damage Compensation Program Administrative Fees #173-22 Moved by: Todd Rydall Seconded by: Wayne Junor “That the correspondence regarding Ontario Wildlife Damage Compensation Program, be received, AND WHEREAS the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) administers the Ontario Wildlife Damage Compensation Program to provide compensation to farm producers for livestock by wildlife; AND WHEREAS Ontario Municipalities administer the Program on behalf of OMAFRA by appointing Livestock Investigators and staff to work on wildlife damage claims; AND WHEREAS the costs associated with wildlife damage claims exceed the administration fee of $50.00 per claim as provided to the Municipality by OMAFRA; THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Council of Laird Township request the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs review the administration fee provided to Municipalities for the administration of the Ontario Wildlife Compensation Program; AND FURTHER THAT this resolution be circulated to the Association of Municipalities of Ontario and all Ontario Municipalities for their consideration and support.” CARRIED

B. INFORMATION AND PROPOSALS

1. Communications and Correspondence

  1. a) Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing – October 25, 2022
  2. b) Matthews Memorial Hospital Association – November 8, 2022
  3. c) Ministry of Finance – November 9, 2022, OMPF allocation
  • OMPF funding reduced by 8.8%

2. Council Information

  1. a) Task Summary Sheet & Recent Activity Log
  2. b) Concern/Information Log – Updates
  3. c) Round Table Discussion –concerns that were expressed during campaigning:
  • Roads Department, having two people driving around in the truck
  • Ditching is contracted out
  • Request for lower taxes
  • Speeding specifically on Pumpkin Point Road, Bar River Road, and Finns’ Bay Road.
  • Waste Disposal Site: complaints about accepting contaminated fill, lack of glass recycling, and share shed.
  • Finns’ Bay Wharf, lack of development but also opposing the development.

3. Council Meetings

  1. a) December 15, 2022

C. CLOSED MEETING

#174-22 Moved by: Wayne Junor Seconded by: Todd Rydall “Be it resolved that Council proceed into closed session at 7:55 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.” CARRIED

D. RETURN TO OPEN MEETING

#175-22 Moved by: Todd Rydall Seconded by: Wayne Junor “Be it resolved that Council come out of closed meeting session at 8:18 p.m. and continue with Regular Council Meeting.” CARRIED Consideration of and action on matters arising out of the closed meeting. #176-22 Moved by: Todd Rydall Seconded by: Wayne Junor “Be it resolved that Council accepts Assessment Review Board (ARB) award decision to cancel taxes, award to be applied to tax account, as municipal policy and per request of land owner.

#177-22 Moved by: Wayne Junor Seconded by: Todd Rydall “Be it resolved that Council directs the Clerk to respond to the person who had concerns about parking on Maclennan Road and to reach out to the person who has been parking to communicate Road Superintendent’s direction.” CARRIED

E. CONFORMITY BY-LAW

#178-22 Moved by: Todd Rydall Seconded by: Wayne Junor “Be it resolved that Council adopts By-law 1067-22 being a by-law to confirm the proceedings of the meeting of Council held on November 17, 2022.” CARRIED

F. ADJOURNMENT

#178-22 Moved by: Todd Rydall Seconded by: Wayne Junor “Be it resolved that Council adopts By-law 1067-22 being a by-law to confirm the proceedings of the meeting of Council held on November 17, 2022.” CARRIED

Mayor – ___________________________ Shawn Evoy

Clerk – ____________________________ Jennifer Errington