Council Meeting Minutes – March 24, 2022

MINUTES OF AGENDA NUMBER 47, OF THE COUNCIL OF THE

CORPORATION OF THE TOWNSHIP OF LAIRD, HELD 0N MARCH 24, 2022,

HELD IN PERSON AT THE LAIRD HALL.

Present: Mayor:

Dick Beitz Frank Turco Councilors:

Ed Lapish Shawn Evoy Todd Rydall Absent:

Jennifer Errington Clerk:

Terence Graham Observer:

ON MOTION (No. 30-22) of Ed Lapish, seconded by Shawn Evoy that Council approves Council minutes of February 17 and February 28, and the recreation CARRIED committee minutes of February 22, 2022, as presented.

ON MOTION (No. 31-22) of Frank Turco, seconded by Shawn Evoy that the next approves general accounts to March 24, 2022, as presented in the amount of CARRIED $7,038.37.

ON MOTION (No. 32-22) of Ed Lapish, seconded by Shawn Evoy that Council approves roads accounts to February 28, 2022 in the amount of $57,537.56, as CARRIED presented.

1. Staff and Committee Reports

1. a) Roads Superintendent (Roads, Waste Disposal & Recycling & Maintenance)
2. i. Council Q&A
3. ii. 2022 Road Budget Figures
4. b) Clerk Administrator, Deputy Treasurer
5. i. Tax Sale Fees – Lawyer vs. Realtax

• Clerk presented that the fees are very similar using a Lawyer vs.

Realtax to conduct the tax sale process. The Clerk recommended continuing to use Realtax for the municipality’s tax sale needs as they are experts in the field and we have had a great working experience with them thus far. The Tax Collection policy provides procedures for 2 + years arrears.

1. ii. Municipal Clerks Institute – Level 1

• Very informative course, the first thing to be implemented is a Conformity By-law.
• Clerk explained that the Municipal Act states that no note or comment should be a part of the minutes. Council acknowledged the section of the Act and it was the consensus of Council to continue to do the minutes the way they have been done since the appointment.

1. iii. Community Safety Zone By-law – on HOLD

• Will present a revised By-law once Macdonald Meredith and Aberdeen are consulted and the approvals process is confirmed.

1. iv. Installation of Reduced Speed Limit Signs – on HOLD

• Once the consultation with neighboring municipalities is complete signs will be uncovered.

1. c) Planning Board
2. i. Joint Official Plan Draft Copy – Planning Board Meeting

• Clerk attended the Planning Board meeting held on March 22, 2022, excellent conversation and a progress plan to move forward. The Clerk’s will meet again with the Planner on March 29, 2022. The Planner hopes to conduct Council workshops in May.

ON MOTION (No. 33-22) of Ed Lapish, seconded by Frank Turco that Council approves By-law 1044-22, appointing a Weed Inspector for the Township of Laird, CARRIED as presented.

ON MOTION (No. 34-22) of Frank Turco, seconded by Ed Lapish that Council approves By-law 1045-22, establishing Laird Fairgrounds Committee for the Laird CARRIED Fairgrounds, as amended.

ON MOTION (No. 35-22) of Shawn Evoy, seconded by Ed Lapish that Council appoints the following members to the Laird Fairgrounds Committee: Ed Lapish – Council Representative, Dick Beitz – Council Alternate, Brenda Aelick – Laird Recreation Representative, Vasco Dias – Grounds Manager, and persons at large: CARRIED Colleen Alloi, Jim Withers, and Chuck Siddall, as discussed.

ON MOTION (No. 36-22) of Shawn Evoy, seconded by Ed Lapish that Council appoints 2022 Committee and Board members, as amended to add Fairgrounds CARRIED Committee appointments, as discussed.

Council discussed Agenda item 6. c) NDMNRF Correspondence – Site-visit request. It was the consensus of Council that the first step for the Black Creek project would be to put a scope of work together, Councillor Evoy offered to assist the Clerk. Once a scope of work is approved by Council the next steps will be to entertain tendering for the work required and what type of consultation is required for properties in the Black Creek area in question.

ON MOTION (No. 37-22) of Ed Lapish, seconded by Shawn Evoy that be it resolved that the report from the Clerk regarding Engineering Services required at the Landfill Site be received; and that Council authorizes the Clerk to prepare and circulate a Request for Tender for Engineering Services at the landfill site to include providing technical advice and support required by the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks, as well as surveying, testing, monitoring CARRIED and preparation of the annual report.

Agenda item 7. a) Courageous Companions Canada, Courageous K9 Publication was discussed. It was the consensus of Council to turn the matter over. Council requested that the Treasurer prepare a report of the donations Council made last year so that Council can determine during the budget process what organizations to donate to and how much to budget for.

ON MOTION (No. 38-22) of Shawn Evoy, seconded by Ed Lapish that Council acknowledges the 2021 Laird Council Expenditure report, as presented. CARRIED

ON MOTION (No. 39-22) of Shawn Evoy, seconded by Ed Lapish that Council approves the 2022 – Bi-Annual OSIM Bridge Inspection of Kresin Engineering in CARRIED the amount of $1,808.00, as presented.

ON MOTION (No. 40-22) of Shawn Evoy, seconded by Ed Lapish that Council is in favor of having a joint meeting with Macdonald Meredith Aberdeen Additional CARRIED (MMAA) Township on April 12, 2022, at 7:00 p.m.

Agenda item B. c) Budget Meeting – Special Meeting Set a Date(s) was discussed. It was the consensus of Council to have a special meeting and would like to set the date for May 5, 2022 at 4 pm. Council requests to have the Budget at least a week and a half in advance so that Council has sufficient time to prepare and submit any questions in advance.

ON MOTION (No. 41-22) of Ed Lapish, seconded by Shawn Evoy that the next portion be closed to the public to discuss labour relations or employee negotiations and a personal matter about an identifiable individual, including CARRIED municipal or local board employees.

ON MOTION (No. 42-22) of Shawn Evoy, seconded by Ed Lapish that Council CARRIED return to open meeting.

ON MOTION (No. 43-22) of Ed Lapish, seconded by Shawn Evoy that Council adopts the Employee Agreement 2022-2024 policies and authorizes the Mayor and Clerk to sign the Memorandum of Agreement with respect to staff rates of pay CARRIED for 2022, 2023, and 2024.

ON MOTION (No. 44-22) of Shawn Evoy, seconded by Frank Turco that Council adopts By-law 1046-22 being a by-law to confirm the proceedings of the meeting CARRIED of Council held on March 24, 2022.

ON MOTION (No. 45-22) of Shawn Evoy, seconded by Ed Lapish that Council CARRIED meeting be adjourned at 9:15 p.m.

Mayor – ___________________________ Richard (Dick) Beitz

Clerk – ____________________________ Jennifer Errington