Council Meeting Minutes – December 16, 2021

MINUTES OF AGENDA NUMBER 43, OF THE COUNCIL OF THE

CORPORATION OF THE TOWNSHIP OF LAIRD, HELD 0N DECEMBER 16,

2021, HELD IN PERSON AT THE LAIRD HALL.

Present: Mayor:

Dick Beitz Frank Turco Councilors:

Ed Lapish Shawn Evoy Todd Rydall

Deputy Clerk:

Rhonda Crozier

David Pollari Road Superintendent:

Jennifer Errington (Virtual Participation) Clerk:

ON MOTION (No. 198-21) of Shawn Evoy, seconded by Frank Turco that Council approves Council minutes of November 18 and November 29, the Recreation Committee minutes of November 30, the Bar River Hall Committee minutes of November 23 and the G.W. Evoy Rink minutes of November 20, 2021, as CARRIED presented.

Mayor Beitz asked if there were any questions for the Roads Superintendent. The Roads Superintendent reported that they are working on fixing the Plow Truck, as there is an issue with a valve.

Items were taken out of order; Council asked the Roads Superintendent about item 5. c). The Roads Superintendent reported that on November 22, 2021 the Machine Operator Repairer received a call from a ratepayer reporting that a tree was down due to extreme weather, the Machine Operator Repairer took an alternate route to go deal with the tree and on his way he ended up in a white out condition and hit a down tree on Reid’s Road West. The Machine Operator Repairers personal vehicle is to be written off due to the accident.

ON MOTION (No. 199-21) of Todd Rydall, seconded by Frank Turco that Council approves that the Township pay the $500.00 deductible for the accident that took place on Monday, November 22, 2021 during the road tour conducted by the CARRIED Machine Operator Repairer in their personal vehicle.

The Road Superintendent commented on Agenda item 5 a) v. Reporting that it will cost approximately $7,500.00 for signage and posts if Council approves amending the speed limit to 60 km for all roads in the Township. It was discussed that it may be more economical to do signage like the City of Sault Ste. Marie, where they have a sign when you enter City limits that state that the speed limit is 60 km/h unless otherwise posted. The Clerk and Road Superintendent will investigate if this is possible and/or cost effective.

ON MOTION (No. 200-21) of Todd Rydall, seconded by Shawn Evoy that Council approves roads accounts to November 30, 2021 in the amount of $193,233.65, as CARRIED presented.

ON MOTION (No. 201-21) of Ed Lapish, seconded by Frank Turco that Council approves general accounts to December 16, 2021, as presented in the amount of CARRIED $7,360.68.

ON MOTION (No. 202-21) of Ed Lapish, seconded by Shawn Evoy that Council CARRIED approves Tax Ratio 2022 By-law 1036-21, as presented.

ON MOTION (No. 203-21) of Todd Rydall, seconded by Ed Lapish that Council CARRIED approves Interim Tax Rate 2022 By-law 1037-21, as presented.

ON MOTION (No. 204-21) of Ed Lapish, seconded by Todd Rydall that Council approves By-law 1038-21, to erect a stop sign at the intersection of Lakeview CARRIED Road and Lake George Road West, as present.

ON MOTION (No. 205-21) of Ed Lapish, seconded by Frank Turco that Council approves By-law 1039-21, to erect a 4-way stop at Lakeview Road and Riverside CARRIED Road, as presented.

ON MOTION (No. 206-21) of Frank Turco, seconded by Todd Rydall that Council approves By-law 1040-21, to prescribe a maximum rate of speed for motor CARRIED vehicles in the Township of Laird, as presented.

ON MOTION (No. 207-21) of Ed Lapish, seconded by Frank Turco that Council approves By-law 1041-21, to designate parts of highways under its jurisdiction as CARRIED community safety zones, as presented.

It was the consensus of Council to notify the public in the next newsletter that Council passed By-laws reducing the speed limit to 60 km for the entire municipality along with implementing Community Safety Zones for the Hamlets located in Bar River and Pumpkin Point Road along with Finns’ Bay Road North and Nebbish Road.

ON MOTION (No. 208-21) of Ed Lapish, seconded by Shawn Evoy that Council approves By-law 1042-21 to amend Schedule “B” CONTRACT AGREEMENT to CARRIED By-law 956-14, as presented.

ON MOTION (No. 209-21) of Shawn Evoy, seconded by Ed Lapish that Council passed the following:

WHEREAS the Council of the Township of Laird accept the April 19, 2021 report on the stat of the Bar River Hall and the need for structural repairs.

WHEREAS Council will make the Bar River Hall a capital priority for 2022, as the repairs required are imperative to preserving the century old building that provides a hub for the community.

THEREFORE Council approves the $500,000.00 application to the NOHFC Community Enhancement Program to support the Bar River Hall project. The Laird Township will contribute $125,000.00 or 25% to the project, and the CARRIED Township will cover any costs overruns if any are incurred.

Council discussed the 2020 Financial Snapshot report. The Treasurer had pointed out that there is no cause for concern, the municipality is in good shape, however taxes receivable has gone up $100,000.00 since 2019. Council requested that staff look into using a debt collector and provide a report.

ON MOTION (No. 210-21) of Frank Turco, seconded by Shawn Evoy that Council CARRIED acknowledges the 2020 Financial Snapshot report, as presented.

ON MOTION (No. 211-21) of Shawn Evoy, seconded by Frank Turco that Council acknowledges the External Funding Review and approves recommendations of CARRIED the Treasurer, as presented.

ON MOTION (No. 212-21) of Shawn Evoy, seconded by Ed Lapish that Council approves the Treasurer to apply to the Northern Ontario Resource Development Support (NORDS) Fund to obtain the annual allocation of $70,882.34, as per CARRIED discussion.

ON MOTION (No. 213-21) of Todd Rydall, seconded by Shawn Evoy that Council adopts the Joint Community Safety and Well Being Plan and authorizes the Clerk of the Township of Macdonald Meredith and Aberdeen Additional to sent the plan to the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services and Office of the CARRIED Solicitor General on behalf of the Township of Laird.

ON MOTION (No. 214-21) of Todd Rydall, seconded by Ed Lapish that Council passed the following:

WHEREAS the Thessalon Hospital provides an essential and critical service to the Town of Thessalon and surrounding areas providing service to 2,500 people from April-September 2021.

WHEREAS the likelihood of contracts ending between the Ministry of Health and the remaining two Thessalon and Bruce Mines area physicians providing emergency department coverage at the NSHN Thessalon Site is a matter of grave concern and has reached a critical point.

THEREFORE we call upon the Ministry of Health and Ontario Health North to work immediately and collaboratively with the NSHN, the municipalities and First Nations to take immediate steps to fill existing and upcoming vacancies in order to continue to provide this essential service to our communities.

AND THEREFORE be it resolved that this be forwarded to MPP Mike Mantha, MP Carol Hughes, Ministry of Health and Ontario Health North. CARRIED

ON MOTION (No. 215-21) of Frank Turco, seconded by Ed Lapish that Council authorizes the Clerk to register for the Municipal Clerks Institute (MCL) – Level 1 education program running March 2 to March 24, 2022. Registration cost CARRIED $1,146.95.

ON MOTION (No. 216-21) of Todd Rydall, seconded by Shawn Evoy that Council continues to support the National Wall of Remembrance Project in the amount of CARRIED $319.00 (plus HST) for a business card ad.

Councillor Lapish declared a conflict of interest for agenda item 5 i)

ON MOTION (No. 217-21) of Todd Rydall, seconded by Shawn Evoy that Council hires Teegan Lapish as rink caretaker for this season as per G.W. Evoy Rink CARRIED Committees recommendations.

ON MOTION (No. 218-21) of Shawn Evoy, seconded by Ed Lapish that Council approves the Bar River Hall and Laird Hall rental rate increases as per the Bar CARRIED River Hall Committees recommendation.

ON MOTION (No. 219-21) of Frank Turco, seconded by Shawn Evoy that Council will discontinue supplying Facility User Coverage insurance for renters starting CARRIED 2022, as recommended by the Laird Recreation Committee.

Councillor Evoy reported that a new furnace was required at the G.W. Evoy Rink, it will be apart of the 2022 budget.

Councillor Evoy asked the status on Black Creek, and would like to have a meeting set up with the Ministry of Northern Development, Mines, Natural Resources and Forestry (NDMNRF) as soon as possible. The Clerk reported that she is waiting to hear back from the District Planner.

Mayor Beitz asked Council if they would like to continue to have meetings start at 6:00 p.m. It was consensus of Council to have meetings start at 6:00 p.m. during the winter months.

ON MOTION (No. 220-21) of Ed Lapish, seconded by Shawn Evoy that Council CARRIED meeting be adjourned at 7:52 p.m.

Mayor –

Clerk –