REGULAR
AGENDA – AGENDA 55
CORPORATION
OF THE TOWNSHIP OF LAIRD
April
16, 2026, 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
Acting
Road Supt.: Ed
Lapish
Treasurer: Rhonda
Crozier
Delegate: Mitch
Marinovich
1.
Call to Order
Mayor Evoy called the
meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.
2.
Declaration of Pecuniary Interest
3.
Agenda Approval
#88-26
Moved by: Todd Rydall
Seconded by: Wayne
Junor
BE IT RESOLVED THAT
Council hereby approves the April 16, 2026, agenda as presented with an
amendment to include agenda item 14. a. 2080-26 Use of Corporate Resources for
Election Purposes Policy By-law and 14. b. 2081-26 Regulate Election Signs
By-law.
Carried.
4.
Delegations and Presentations
a.
Stefanizzi Professional Corporation Chartered
Professional Accountant
i.
Consolidated
Financial Statements for year ended December 31, 2025 DRAFT
–
Mitch
Marinovich presented the Audit Findings and Financial Overview PowerPoint
presentation.
–
Opinion,
clean audit.
#89-26
Moved by: Brad Shewfelt
Seconded by: Wayne
Junor
BE IT RESOLVED THAT
Council directs the Treasurer and the Clerk to sign the Consolidated Financial
Statements for the year ended December 31, 2025.
Carried.
5.
Adoption of Minutes of Previous Meeting
a.
Council
Regular Meeting – March 19, 2026
b.
Council
Special Meeting – April 2, 2026
c.
Recreation
Committee Meeting – March 31, 2026
#90-26
Moved by: Todd Rydall
Seconded by: Brad Shewfelt
BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council approves the minutes of the
Regular Council Meeting held March 19, 2026, the Special Council Meeting held
April 2, 2026, and the Recreation Committee Meeting held March 31, 2026;
AND FURTHER THAT Council endorses the Recreation
Committee’s recommendation to apply for the 2026–27 Enhancing
Access to Spaces for Everyone (EASE) Grant for the Bar River Hall accessible
washroom project, and directs staff to work with the Bar River Hall
sub-committee to submit the application prior to the May 7, 2026 deadline;
AND FURTHER THAT Council approves the Recreation
Committee’s recommendation to select Jo‑Anne Entwistle as the
2026 Senior of the Year.
Carried.
6.
Adoption of Accounts
a.
General
accounts to March 31, 2026
Moved by: Todd Rydall
Seconded by: Wayne
Junor
BE IT RESOLVED THAT
Council approves the general accounts to March 31, 2026, in the amount of $16,644.20.
Carried.
b.
Roads
accounts to March 31, 2026
Moved by: Wayne Junor
Seconded by: Brad
Shewfelt
BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council
approves the roads account to March 31, 2026, in the amount of $40,992.37.
Carried.
7.
Staff and Committee Reports
a.
Road Superintendent (Roads, Waste Disposal & Recycling, and
Maintenance)
i.
Road Superintendent Report – Verbal
Report
Moved by: Todd Rydall
Seconded by: Brad Shewfelt
BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council
receives the Road Superintendent Report dated April 16, 2026, as presented; and
arising out of the report:
THAT Council approves the
project of ditching on Government Road from Knox Church to the bridge and directs
staff to notify property owners abutting the ditching project area;
AND THAT Council approves the
purchase of an 18-foot landscaping trailer, and directs staff to inspect the
trailer available at Martin’s; and if it meets operational needs, to
proceed with the purchase, otherwise to purchase a suitable trailer from
Action, including delivery costs;
AND THAT Council directs staff
to arrange for the removal of the street light located at the intersection of
Government Road and Lake George Road.
Carried.
b.
Clerk Administrator, Deputy Treasurer
i.
Clerk’s
Report – Verbal Report
Moved by: Wayne Junor
Seconded by: Brad Shewfelt
BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council receives the Clerk’s
Report dated April 16, 2026, as presented.
Carried.
ii.
Memo:
Restricted Acts of Council (Lame Duck Periods)
#95-26
Moved by: Todd Rydall
Seconded by: Brad Shewfelt
BE IT RSOLVED THAT Council receives the Clerk’s
report regarding the Restricted Acts of Council (“Lame Duck”
periods) for the 2026 Municipal Election, noting the two potential restricted
periods from August 21, 2026 to October 26, 2026 and from October 26, 2026 to
November 14, 2026, and that the Clerk will advise Council should it enter into
a Lame Duck position during either period.
Carried.
iii.
Task
Summary Sheet & Recent Activity Log
iv.
Concern/Information
Log – Updates
Moved by: Todd Rydall
Seconded by: Wayne Junor
BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council receives the April 16, 2026,
Task Summary Sheet & Recent Activity Log and the Concern/Information Log as
presented.
Carried.
c. Treasurer’s
Report
i.
Status of Tax Collection – Verbal Update
– The
largest arrears account is now on a payment plan. The second largest has provided
post-dated cheques until June.
d. Recreation
Committee & Recreation Sub-Committees
e. Cemetery
Board
f. Planning
Board
i.
Mayor’s Verbal Report – Planning
Board Meeting
– Mayor
Evoy provided a verbal report on his attendance at the March 24, 2026,
Planning Board meeting, presenting updates on the Official Plan objectives,
consultation process, remaining review steps, and budget status.
g. Police
Detachment Board
i.
OAPSB Training and Communications Team
correspondence
h. Algoma
District Services Administrative Board (ADSAB)
i. Algoma
District Municipal Association (ADMA)
8.
Unfinished Business
a.
Final
Budget 2026
#97-26
Moved by: Todd Rydall
Seconded by: Wayne Junor
BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council adopts the 2026 Municipal
Budget, establishing a municipal taxation levy of $2,083,088, representing a
Council-approved levy increase of 3.5%;
AND THAT the Clerk be directed to prepare the 2026 Tax
Rates By-law to implement the approved levy.
Carried.
b. Memo: Free Open Arena
Horse Nights – Insurance Requirements
#98-26
Moved by: Todd Rydall
Seconded by: Wayne Junor
BE IT RESOLVED THAT
Council receive the report titled “Free Open Arena Horse Nights –
Insurance Requirements”; and
THAT Council
approve proceeding with Free Open Arena Horse Nights with mandatory
equestrian liability insurance required for all participants; and
THAT proof of
equestrian liability insurance be incorporated into the mandatory waiver and
verified as part of the participant registration process; and
THAT staff be
directed to assist participants who do not currently hold equestrian liability
insurance by identifying accessible insurance options, including potential
collaboration with the North Shore Agricultural Society or other such
associations, whose membership programs may provide coverage for riders if they
host or support the event; and
THAT staff report
back to Council should significant participation barriers arise due to the
insurance requirement, including potential solutions or partnership
opportunities.
Carried.
9.
New Business
a.
Setting
Waste Disposal Site Spring Clean-up dates
#99-26
Moved
by: Brad Shewfelt
Seconded
by: Wayne Junor
BE
IT RESOLVED THAT Council sets the Waste Disposal Site Spring Clean-up dates for
Saturday, May 23, 2026, and Sunday, May 24, 2026.
Carried.
b.
NSCAN
Participation Request – Council Consideration
Motion Withdrawn
with no objections.
c.
Memo: Provincial BYOB (Bring Your
Own Bottle) Framework – Municipal Implications and Options.
Motion deferred
to a future Council meeting once the Clerk has additional information.
10.
Notices of Motion
a.
Project
Youth Program Commitment and Budget Support
#100-26
Moved by: Todd Rydall
Seconded by: Brad
Shewfelt
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council of the Township of
Laird hereby formally supports Algoma Public Health’s request for
municipal participation in the Planet Youth Program; and
THAT Council commit to the five‑year funding request
from APH in the amount of $777.60 per year for five (5) years; and
THAT Council authorize the Mayor to
represent the Township of Laird on the Planet Youth Steering Committee; and
THAT Council commit to promoting and/or hosting community
engagement events connected to the Planet Youth initiative; and
THAT Council commit to participating in local priority
setting and to enacting changes to municipal policies and practices where
necessary and practical to support Planet Youth objectives.
Carried.
11.
Closed Session
Moved by: Todd Rydall
Seconded by: Brad
Shewfelt
BE IT RESOLVED THAT
Council proceed into closed session at 8:36 p.m. in accordance with Section
239 (2) (b) personal matters about an identifiable
individual, including municipal or local board employees and Section 239
(2) (e) litigation or potential litigation.
Carried.
Rise and Report:
·
Approval
of closed meeting minutes of February 19, 2026 and March 19, 2026.
·
Council received an employee update
regarding the Road Superintendent under Section 239(2)(b).
·
Council received an employee update
regarding the Waste Disposal Site Attendant under Section 239(2)(b).
·
Council received a litigation update
regarding a by-law enforcement matter at 151 Birch Point Drive under Section
239(2)(e).
·
Council received updates for
information. No direction was
given.
Moved by: Wayne Junor
Seconded by: Brad
Shewfelt
BE IT RESOLVED THAT
Council come out of closed meeting session at 8:45 p.m. and continue with the Regular
Council Meeting.
Carried.
Consideration of and action on matters arising
out of the closed meeting.
N/A
12.
Communications and Correspondence
a.
Support
Resolution: East Zorra-Tavistock, RE: Township of Oro-Medonte –
Association of Ontario Road Supervisors Request for Provincial Legislation
Amendments, April 2, 2026.
#103-26
Moved by: Todd Rydall
Seconded by: Brad Shewfelt
BE IT RESOLVED THAT COUNCIL of the Township of Laird
supports the Township of Oro-Medonte regarding the Association of Ontario Road
Supervisors request for Provincial Legislation Amendments to strengthen
protections for municipal workers and contractors;
AND THAT this resolution be forwarded to the Premier of
Ontario, Michael Kerzner, Solicitor General of Ontario, Jill Dunlop, Minister
of Emergency Preparedness and Response, Rob Flack, Minister of Municipal
Affairs and Housing, Prabmeet Sakaria, Minister of
Transportation, MPP Ernie Hardeman, Association of Municipalities of Ontario
(AMO), Association of Ontario Roads Supervisors (AORS).
Carried.
13.
Mayor and Council Comments
Councillor Shewfelt
asked that the Acting Road Superintendent report on the backhoe saw at the next
meeting. Is this equipment surplus
or are we using it?
14.
By-laws
a.
2080-26
Use of Corporate Resources for Election Purposes Policy By-law
#104-26
Moved by: Todd Rydall
Seconded by: Wayne
Junor
BE IT RESOLVED THAT
Council adopts By-law 2080-26, being a by-law to adopt the Use of Corporate
Resources for Election Purposes Policy.
Carried.
b.
2081-26
Regulate Election Signs By-law
#105-26
Moved by: Todd Rydall
Seconded by: Wayne
Junor
BE IT RESOLVED THAT
Council adopts By-law 2018-26, being a by-law to regulate Election Signs within
the Township of Laird.
Carried.
c.
2082-26
Conformity By-law
Moved by: Brad Shewfelt
Seconded by: Wayne
Junor
BE IT RESOLVED THAT
Council adopts By-law 2082-26, being a by-law to confirm the proceedings of the
meeting of Council held on April 16, 2026.
Carried.
15.
Adjournment
Moved by: Todd Rydall
Seconded by: Wayne
Junor
BE IT RESOLVED THAT this
Council shall now adjourn to meet again on April 21, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. for a
Special Council Meeting or until the call of the chair.
Carried.
Mayor
– ___________________________
Shawn Evoy
Clerk
– ___________________________
Jennifer
Errington