Council Meeting Minutes – January 18, 2024

REGULAR MINUTES – AGENDA 18

CORPORATION OF THE TOWNSHIP OF LAIRD

January 18, 2024 at 6:00 pm

Laird Township Council Chambers

Present: Mayor: Shawn Evoy

Councillors: Todd Rydall, Wayne Junor, Matt Frolick

Clerk: Jennifer Errington

Road Superintendent: David Pollari

1. Call to Order

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

2. Declaration of Pecuniary Interest

3. Agenda Approval

#01-24

Moved by: Wayne Junor

Seconded by: Todd Rydall

BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council hereby approves the January 18, 2024 agenda as presented.

Carried.

4. Delegations and Presentations

5. Adoption of Minutes of Previous Meeting

a. Council Meeting – December 21, 2023

#02-24

Moved by: Todd Rydall

Seconded by: Wayne Junor

BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council approves Council minutes of the Regular Meeting of December 21, 2023, as presented.

Carried.

b. Recreation Committee Minutes – December 14, 2023

#03-24

Moved by: Todd Rydall

Seconded by: Matt Frolick

BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council approves Recreation Committee Minutes of December 14, 2023, as presented.

Carried.

6. Adoption of Accounts

a. General accounts to December 31, 2023

#04-24

Moved by: Wayne Junor

Seconded by: Matt Frolick

BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council approves the general accounts to December 31, 2023, in the amount of $10,876.15, as presented.

Carried.

b. Roads accounts to December 31, 2023

#05-24

Moved by: Todd Rydall

Seconded by: Matt Frolick

BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council approves the roads account to December 31, 2023, in the amount of $38,123.25 as presented.

Carried.

7. Staff and Committee Reports

a. Road Superintendent (Roads, Waste Disposal & Recycling, and Maintenance)

i. Road Superintendent Report

ii. Council Q&A

• Councillor Frolick reminded the Road Superintendent that a tree needed to be removed at the cemetery, will be done before March.

iii. 5-year Road Plan 2024 to 2028 (2024 Amended, 2028 Added)

#06-24

Moved by: Todd Rydall

Seconded by: Matt Frolick

BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council receives the 5-year Road Plan 2024 to 2028 and approves the amended plan for 2024, as presented.

Carried.

iv. New Plow Truck – repairs/warranty work

• The new truck had transmission problems and was towed to TMS, it was determined and approved to have a new transmission installed, will take 1-2 weeks to have truck back up and running.
• Other than transmission failure, the truck has been working out well.
• Arrangements have been made to sand the roads on Friday.

b. Clerk Administrator, Deputy Treasurer

i. Clerk’s Report

ii. Council Q&A

#07-24

Moved by: Todd Rydall

Seconded by: Matt Frolick

BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Clerk’s Report dated January 18, 2024, be received as presented and arising from the report;

That Council directs staff to register for the AMCTO Cemetery & Crematorium Approvals and Operations course in the amount of $359.00 plus HST;

That Council requests the Clerk to conduct a Remuneration survey and provide a report at the next Council meeting; and

That Council directs staff to replace drums in the photocopier and have the Treasurer set up a Technology reserve and prepare a recommendation on how much money to reserve for the March budget meeting.

Carried.

c. Treasurer’s Report

i. Report: 2023 Council Remuneration Report

#08-24

Moved by: Matt Frolick

Seconded by: Wayne Junor

BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council receives the 2023 Council Remuneration report as presented.

Carried.

d. Recreation Committee & Recreation Sub-Committees

e. Cemetery Board

f. Planning Board

g. Police Service Board

i. Police Service Board Meeting February 26, 2024 at 9 a.m.

h. Algoma District Services Administrative Board

i. Algoma District Municipal Association (ADMA)

8. Unfinished Business

a. Task Summary Sheet & Recent Activity Log

b. Concern/Information Log – Updates

Moved by: Matt Frolick

Seconded by: Todd Rydall

BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council receives the January 18, 2024, Task Summary Sheet & Recent Activity Log and the Concern/Information Log as presented.

Carried.

c. Memo: Township Logo

#10-24

Moved by: Matt Frolick

Seconded by: Wayne Junor

BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council receives the report on the Township Logo dated January 18, 2024, and that Council request the Clerk to have the first design finalized as the Township logo and have all appropriate formats created.

Carried.

9. New Business

a. 2024 Committee and Board Appointments

#11-24

Moved by: Matt Frolick

Seconded by: Wayne Junor

BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council appoints the Committee and Board members for 2024 as presented.

Carried.

b. Memo: Cell Phones

#12-24

Moved by: Todd Rydall

Seconded by: Wayne Junor

BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council receives the report on Cell Phones dated January 18, 2024, and that Council requests the Treasurer to provide a monthly stipend in the amount of $25.00 to the Clerk Administrator, Treasurer, Machine Operator, and Hall Caretaker positions to compensate for the use of personal cell phones and Directs the Clerk to prepare an acknowledgment to be signed by those employees who receive the monthly stipend. Stipend to be paid annually in the amount of $300.00 December of each year, and to be retro paid for 2023.

Carried.

c. Annual Joint Meeting with Macdonald Meredith and Aberdeen Additional MMAA – Discussion

• Clerk to reach out to Macdonald Meredith and Aberdeen Additional to set up a meeting for March/April.

10. Notices of Motion

11. Closed Session

#13-24

Moved by: Matt Frolick

Seconded by: Wayne Junor

BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council proceed into closed session at 7:22 p.m. in accordance with Section 239 (2) (d) of the Municipal Act in order to discuss labour relations or employee negotiations.

Carried.

a. Approval of closed meeting minutes of November 30, 2023

b. Labour relations or employee negotiations.

#14-24

Moved by: Matt Frolick

Seconded by: Wayne Junor

BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council come out of closed meeting session at 7:32 p.m. and continue with Regular Council Meeting.

Carried.

Moved by: Matt Folick

Seconded by: Wayne Junor

BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council approves the Clerk Administrator wage to be at step 7 on the salary scale for 2024, as per the employee negotiations discussion in closed session.

Carried.

12. Communications and Correspondence

a. Letter of Concern regarding Regional Public Health Ontario Laboratories – December 18, 2023

b. SAH to Install New Radiation Therapy Unit – November 28, 2023

c. Ontario Trillium Foundation – Capital Grant Stream – Open February 7 – March 6, 2024

d. RED Grant

13. Mayor and Council Comments

• Councillor Rydall reported that he talked to the individual pushing snow into the Neebish Road Water Access and requested that they not do that and will be talking to another individual who may be pushing snow as well. Councillor Rydall will ensure that the access is cleared for the kids Fish Derby.
• Councillor Frolick asked if a volunteer could be a caretaker for a hall, it was discussed that in the past volunteers have held the responsibility of hall caretaker.

14. By-laws

a. 2009-23 Conformity By-law

#16-24

Moved by: Matt Frolick

Seconded by: Wayne Junor

BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council adopts By-law 2009-23 being a by-law to confirm the proceedings of the meeting of Council held on January 18, 2024.

Carried.

15. Adjournment

#17-24

Moved by: Todd Rydall

Seconded by: Matt Frolick

BE IT RESOLVED THAT this Council shall now adjourn to meet again February 22, 2024 at 6:00 p.m. or until the call of the chair.

Carried.

Mayor – (signature) Shawn Evoy

Clerk – (signature) Jennifer Errington