1966
REGULAR AGENDA – AGENDA 62
CORPORATION OF THE TOWNSHIP OF LAIRD
August 20, 2026, at 6:00 pm
Laird Township Council Chambers
Present:
Mayor: Shawn Evoy
Councillors: Todd Rydall, Wayne Junor, Matt Frolick, Brad Shewfelt
Clerk: Jennifer Errington
Treasurer: Rhonda Crozier (6:00 to 7:30 p.m.)
Acting Road Supt.: Ed Lapish (6:00 to 8:44 p.m.)
Guests: Jared Brice (6:00 to 6:53 p.m.)
1. Call to Order
Mayor Evoy called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.
2. Declaration of Pecuniary Interest
Mayor Evoy filed a declaration of pecuniary interest with Agenda item 9. e. Petition Drain Application – Plan H753 RCP Lot 52, as he is the owner of the property in question.
3. Agenda Approval
#186-26
Moved by: Wayne Junor
Seconded by: Todd Rydall
BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council hereby approves the August 20, 2026, agenda as presented, with the modification to bring 7. f. ii. Memo: Joint Official Plan – Statutory Public Meeting – September 2026 ahead of section 5.
Carried.
4. Delegations and Presentations
5. Adoption of Minutes of Previous Meeting
a. Council Regular Meeting – July 16, 2026
b. Recreation Committee Meeting – No meeting in July
#187-26
Moved by: Todd Rydall
Seconded by: Matt Frolick
BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council approves minutes of the Regular Council meeting of July 16, 2026.
Carried.
6. Adoption of Accounts
a. General accounts to July 31, 2026
#188-26
Moved by:
Seconded by:
BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council approves the general accounts to July 31, 2026, in the amount of $3,373.45.
Carried.
b. Roads accounts to July 31, 2026
#189-26
Moved by: Brad Shewfelt
Seconded by: Wayne Junor
BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council approves the roads account to July 31, 2026, in the amount of $25,523.71.
Carried.
7. Staff and Committee Reports
a. Road Superintendent (Roads, Waste Disposal & Recycling, and Maintenance)
i. Road Superintendent Report – Verbal Report
#190-26
Moved by: Brad Shewfelt
Seconded by: Wayne Junor
BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council receives the Road Superintendent Report dated August 20, 2026, as presented;
AND THAT Council sets the Fall Road Tour for Wednesday, August 26, 2026 at 2:00 p.m.;
AND FURTHER THAT Council directs the Clerk to post public notice of the Road Tour.
Carried.
ii. Council Q&A
b. Clerk Administrator, Deputy Treasurer
i. Clerk’s Report – Verbal Report
#191-26
Moved by: Wayne Junor
Seconded by: Matt Frolick
BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council receives the Clerk’s Report dated August 20, 2026, as presented;
AND FURTHER THAT Council approves the use of volunteers at the Waste Disposal Site Share Shed, and directs staff to proceed with onboarding Elizabeth Hooper subject to completion of safety orientation.
Carried.
ii. Task Summary Sheet & Recent Activity Log
iii. Concern/Information Log – Updates
#192-26
Moved by: Todd Rydall
Seconded by: Brad Shewfelt
BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council receives the August 20, 2026, Task Summary Sheet & Recent Activity Log and the Concern/Information Log as presented.
Carried.
iv. Council Q&A
c. Treasurer’s Report
d. Recreation Committee & Recreation Sub-Committees
i. Laird Hall Minutes – July 29, 2026
#193-26
Moved by: Matt Frolick
Seconded by: Brad Shewfelt
BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council receives the Laird Hall Sub-committee minutes of July 29, 2026.
Carried.
e. Cemetery Board
f. Planning Board
i. Information: Desbarats to Echo Bay Planning Board at its July 20, 2026 meeting approved the consent application L2026-03_Gjos for the purpose of creation of one (1) lot, pertaining to lands at 43 Isbester Road, subject to the conditions outlined in Appendix D of the approval documentation.
ii. Memo: Joint Official Plan – Statutory Public Meeting – September 2026
This item was moved ahead of Section 5 as approved under Resolution #186-26.
Jared Brice spoke to the memo and provided an overview of the Planning Board’s direction regarding the Joint Official Plan statutory public meetings and recommended next steps.
Council discussed the Draft Joint Official Plan, noting the importance of confirming whether Council’s previously submitted comments had been incorporated.
Council did not pass a motion on the memo.
Council directed staff to organize a meeting with the Township’s Planner on the evening of September 2, 2026, for the purpose of conducting a peer review of the Draft Joint Official Plan and to verify whether Council’s original comments have been captured.
g. Police Detachment Board
h. Algoma District Services Administrative Board (ADSAB)
i. Algoma District Municipal Association (ADMA)
8. Unfinished Business
9. New Business
a. Council Phone Poll – Laird Hall Additional Work Request – July 30, 2026
#194- 26
Moved by: Todd Rydall
Seconded by: Brad Shewfelt
WHEREAS Council participated in a phone poll on July 30 and July 31, 2026 to provide preliminary approval for additional work required at Laird Hall;
BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council receives the recommendation of staff to relocate the heat pump, generator, and propane tank while contractors and staff are on site completing the foundation repairs, and directs staff to complete the required drainage work, including sloping of the back parking lot;
AND THAT Council approves the additional work to fill in the ditch to create space for future parking, requiring the purchase of four lengths of culvert pipe and three couplers, with gravel supplied from Township stock, and with the work completed using employee time;
Council authorizes staff to undertake this work and to contract services as required on a Time and Material basis, and further directs that the Acting Road Superintendent approve all Time and Material costs associated with completing this phase of work.
Carried
b. Memo: Request for Council’s Approval in Principle – Proposed 2.2 acre Lot Creation
#195-26
Moved by: Matt Frolick
Seconded by: Brad Shewfelt
BE IT RESOVED THAT Council receive the report titled Request for Council’s Approval in Principle – Proposed 2.2 acre Lot Creation dated August 20, 2026;
AND THAT Council supports the proposed lot creation in principle, subject to the policies of the new Joint Official Plan once adopted and subject to all requirements of the Echo Bay to Desbarats Planning Board at the time of application. Provided the spacing between lots allows for the creation of a future lot.
Carried.
c. Re-Align Grave Marker Tender Results
#196-26
Moved by: Brad Shewfelt
Seconded by: Todd Rydall
BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council awards the tender to Bailey Contracting for 80 stones at the unit rate quoted. The Cemetery Board will identify the stones to be adjusted and provide lines.
Carried.
d. Memo: Open Arena Horse Night Extension Request
#197-26
Moved by: Wayne Junor
Seconded by: Matt Frolick
BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council receive the report titled Open Arena Night Extension Request dated August 20, 2026;
AND THAT Council extends the Open Arena Horse Nights, ending September 30, 2026.
Carried.
Mayor Evoy excused himself from the council chambers due to a declaration of pecuniary interest, and Councillor Rydall filled in as Head of Council for agenda item 9. e. Petition Drain Application – Plan H753 RCP Lot 52.
e. Petition Drain Application – Plan H 753 RCP Lot 52
#198-26
Moved by: Wayne Junor
Seconded by: Brad Shewfelt
WHEREAS, a petition for drainage works has been received by the Council of the Township of Laird under Section 4 of the Drainage Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. D. 17;
AND WHEREAS, the petitioner has requested the construction, improvement, and/or maintenance of a drainage system to address water management issues affecting their property;
BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council proceed with the petition submitted from Shawn Evoy for drainage works at 847 Bar River Road East and instruct the Clerk to proceed with the notice required under Section 5 of the Drainage Act; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that pursuant to Section 8 (1) of the Drainage Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. D. 17, Council hereby appoints K. Smart Associates Limited as the Engineer to examine the areas requiring drainage and to prepare the necessary report for the petitioned drainage works affecting Plan H753 Lot 52;
AND THAT the Drainage Superintendent and the appointed Engineer proceed with all requirements of a petition drain under the Drainage Act.
Carried.
10. Notices of Motion
11. Closed Session
#199-26
Moved by: Todd Rydall
Seconded by: Brad Shewfelt
BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council proceed into closed session at 7:55 p.m. in accordance with Section 239(2) of the Municipal Act, 2001, for the following reasons:
- Personal matters about an identifiable individual – s.239(2)(b);
- Proposed or pending acquisition of land – s.239(2)(c);
- Labour relations or employee negotiations – s.239(2)(d).
Carried.
Closed Session Items
- Approval of closed meeting minutes – July 16, 2026.
- Employee medical leave update – s.239(2)(b).
- Cemetery property land acquisition – ownership clarification and direction – s.239(2)(c).
- Staff wage recommendation – s.239(2)(d).
- Employee compensation request – s. 239 (d)(b)(d)
#200-26
Moved by: Matt Frolick
Seconded by: Todd Rydall
BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council come out of closed meeting session at 8:44 p.m. and continue with the Regular Council Meeting.
Carried.
Consideration of and action on matters arising out of the closed meeting.
12. Communications and Correspondence
- Rachel McBride, RE: Letter of Appreciation of the Use of Laird Hall and Bar River Hall, July 17, 2026
- Ministry of Emergency Preparedness and Response, RE: Alert Ready, July 18, 2026
- Dr. Harold S. Trefry Memorial Centre, RE: Thank you for the donation, July 30, 2026
- Ontario Provincial Conservation Agency, RE: Transition Committee to support new regional conservation authority, July 30, 2026
13. Mayor and Council Comments
Council revisited the request raised earlier in the meeting by the Acting Road Superintendent regarding succession planning for the Grounds Keeper position.
Council discussed the operational benefits of hiring a seasonal Grounds Keeper ahead of the 2027 season to allow for overlap and training with the current Grounds Keeper.
#201-26
Moved by: Brad Shewfelt
Seconded by: Todd Rydall
BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council directs staff to advertise for the seasonal Grounds Keeper so that they can train with the current Grounds Keeper.
Carried.
14. By-laws
a. 2092-26 Compliance Audit Joint Committee for Central Algoma Area.
#202-26
Moved by: Todd Rydall
Seconded by: Matt Frolick
BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council adopts By-law 2092-26, being a by-law to authorize the appointment of a Compliance Audit Joint Committee for Central Algoma Area Municipalities.
Carried.
b. 2093-26 Fuel Agreement with Tarbutt Township
#203-26
Moved by: Brad Shewfelt
Seconded by: Matt Frolick
BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council adopts By-law 2093-26, being a by-law to authorize the execution of a fuel services agreement between the Township of Laird and the Township of Tarbutt.
Carried.
c. 2094-26 Conformity By-law
#204-26
Moved by: Todd Rydall
Seconded by: Matt Frolick
BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council adopts By-law 2094-26, being a by-law to confirm the proceedings of the meeting of Council held on August 20, 2026.
Carried.
15. Adjournment
#205-26
Moved by: Matt Frolick
Seconded by: Brad Shewfelt
BE IT RESOLVED THAT this Council shall now adjourn to meet again for a Special Meeting on September 9, 2026 or until the call of the chair.
Carried.
Mayor – ___________________________
Shawn Evoy
Clerk – ___________________________
Jennifer Errington