REGULAR AGENDA – AGENDA 51
CORPORATION OF THE TOWNSHIP OF LAIRD

January 15, 2026, at 6:00 pm
Laird Township Council Chambers

Present

Mayor: Shawn Evoy
Councillors: Todd Rydall, Brad Shewfelt, Wayne Junor, Matt Frolick
Clerk: Jennifer Errington
Senior Machine Op.: Ed Lapish

1. Call to Order

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

2. Declaration of Pecuniary Interest

3. Agenda Approval

#01-26
Moved by: Wayne Junor
Seconded by: Todd Rydall

BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council hereby approves the January 15, 2026, agenda as presented with the amendment to include agenda item 9. e. Memo – G. W. Evoy Memorial Rink Committee Policy.

Carried.

4. Delegations and Presentations

N/A

5. Adoption of Minutes of Previous Meeting

  • a. Council Regular Meeting – December 18, 2025
  • b. Recreation Committee Meeting – December 16, 2025

#02-26
Moved by: Brad Shewfelt
Seconded by: Wayne Junor

BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council approves minutes of the Regular Council meeting of December 18, 2025 and the Recreation Minutes of December 16, 2025.

Carried.

6. Adoption of Accounts

a. General accounts to December 31, 2025

#03-26
Moved by: Brad Shewfelt
Seconded by: Wayne Junor

BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council approves the general accounts to December 31, 2025, in the amount of $3,653.91.

Carried.

b. Roads accounts to December 31, 2025

#04-26
Moved by: Todd Rydall
Seconded by: Matt Frolick

BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council approves the roads account to December 31, 2025, in the amount of $52,079.60.

Carried.

7. Staff and Committee Reports

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

  • 1. Road Superintendent Report – Verbal Report

    #05-26
    Moved by: Wayne Junor
    Seconded by: Brad Shewfelt

    BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council receives the Road Superintendent Report dated January 15, 2026, as presented.

    Carried.

    #06-26
    Moved by: Todd Rydall
    Seconded by: Brad Shewfelt

    BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council authorize staff to approve complete grader repairs as per the provided quote from CAT.

  • ii. 5-Year Road Plan 2026 to 2030 – Discussion

    #07-26
    Moved by: Todd Rydall
    Seconded by: Matt Frolick

    BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council receives the 5-year Road Plan 2026 to 2030 and directs staff to put together budget figures for 2026 based on trying to complete the surface treatment within the next 3 years, while maintaining the current surface treatment.

    Carried.

  • iii. 2026 EARSA Amalgamated Tender

    #08-26
    Moved by: Wayne Junor
    Seconded by: Brad Shewfelt

    BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council authorize staff to participate in the 2026 EARSA Amalgamated Tender pricing exercise for the purpose of obtaining indicative pricing for materials required in 2026;
    AND THAT participation does not constitute a commitment to purchase, nor a delegation of procurement authority, and all purchasing decisions remain subject to the Municipality’s Procurement By-law.

    Carried.

  • iv. Council Q&A

b. Clerk Administrator, Deputy Treasurer

  • i. Clerk’s Report – Verbal Report

    #09-26
    Moved by: Brad Shewfelt
    Seconded by: Wayne Junor

    BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council receives the Clerk’s Report dated January 15, 2026, as presented.

    Carried.

  • ii. Task Summary Sheet & Recent Activity Log
  • iii. Concern/Information Log – Updates

    #10-26
    Moved by: Brad Shewfelt
    Seconded by: Todd Rydall

    BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council receives the January 15, 2026, Task Summary Sheet & Recent Activity Log and the Concern/Information Log as presented.

    Carried.

  • iv. Council Q&A

c. Treasurer’s Report

  • i. Report: 2025 Council Remuneration Report (Council Expenditures)

    #11-26
    Moved by: Brad Shewfelt
    Seconded by: Todd Rydall

    BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council receive the report from the Treasurer regarding the 2025 Statement of Remuneration and Expenses.

    Carried.

d. Cemetery Board

8.

e. Planning Board

  • i. Report: Draft Joint Official Plan and Initial Council Comments

    #12-26
    Moved by: Brad Shewfelt
    Seconded by: Wayne Junor

    BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council has provided comments on the Draft Joint Official Plan for the Desbarats to Echo Bay Planning Board area and directs staff to coordinate next steps with Planning Board Coordinator, Jared Brice.

    Carried.

f. Police Detachment Board

g. Algoma District Services Administrative Board

h. Algoma District Municipal Association (ADMA)

Unfinished Business

a. Municipal Garage – Generac Generator Estimate

#13-26
Moved by: Matt Frolick
Seconded by: Todd Rydall

BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council receives the Generac estimate in the amount of $7,461.80 for a new generator at the Laird Township Municipal Garage, and that Council authorize staff to proceed with the purchase prior to budget deliberations.

Carried.

9. New Business

a. 2026 Committee and Board Appointments

#14-26
Moved by: Matt Frolick
Seconded by: Todd Rydall

BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council appoints the Committee and Board members for 2026 as presented.

Carried.

b. Expression of Sympathy – Resolution of sympathy for a former retired employee of the Township of Laird, Mr. Edward Roy Lapish.

#15-26
Moved by: Todd Rydall
Seconded by: Matt Frolick

BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council extend its deepest sympathy to the family of Mr. Edward Roy Lapish on his passing;
AND FURTHER THAT Council acknowledge and honour Mr. Lapish’s dedicated service to the Township of Laird, where he was employed for 22 years from 1980 to 2002 and served as Road Superintendent from 1989 to 2002;
AND FURTHER THAT Council honour his memory by authorizing a charitable donation in the amount of $300.00 to the Echo Bay Elks.
AND FURTHER THAT Council requests staff to investigate naming of the Municipal Garage for Roy Lapish.

Carried.

c. Laird Township Boundary Sign

#16-26
Moved by: Matt Frolick

Seconded by: Wayne Junor

BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council for the Township of Laird acknowledges that the Ministry of Transportation has reviewed the existing boundary signs for the Township of Laird and confirmed that the signs require updating, and that the Township qualifies for enhanced boundary signing under the Ministry’s signing policy;
AND THAT the Township of Laird selects the enhanced boundary sign option 4 (Modified G315 (B) no slogan), as provided under the Ministry of Transportation’s signing policy, to display “Municipality of Laird, Population 1,121” along with the Township logo;
AND THAT Township staff are authorized to provide the Ministry of Transportation with this resolution and the required logo file in the prescribed format, subject to final Ministry approval.

Carried.

d. Memorandum: Report of the Integrity Commissioner

#17-26
Moved by: Todd Rydall
Seconded by: Brad Shewfelt

BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council receive the report of the Integrity Commissioner for the period of January 1, 2025, to December 31, 2025, and that Council direct staff to prepare a by-law to extend the agreement established by By-law No. 1010-19 for the appointment of an Integrity Commissioner for a further three (3) year term.

Carried.

e. Memo – G. W. Evoy Memorial Rink Committee Policy

#18-26
Moved by:
Seconded by:

BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council receives the report from the G. W. Evoy Memorial Rink Committee dated January 15, 2026, and approves the amended G. W. Evoy Outdoor Rink Policy, the Rink Caretaker Position Description, and the Caretaker-Attendant Duties and Responsibilities document, effective upon the date of Council approval.

Carried.

10. Notices of Motion

N/A

11. Closed Session

#19-26
Moved by: Brad Shewfelt
Seconded by: Wayne Junor

BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council proceed into closed session at 8:17 p.m. in accordance with Section 239 (2) (d) labour relations or employee negotiations and Section 239 (2) (b) personal matters about an identifiable individual, including municipal or local board employees.

Carried.

  • a. Approval of closed meeting minutes of December 18, 2025.
  • b. Labour relations or employee negotiations.
  • c. Personal matters about an identifiable individual, including municipal or local board employees
  • d. Personal matters about an identifiable individual, including municipal or local board employees
  • e. Personal matters about an identifiable individual, including municipal or local board employees

#20-26
Moved by: Brad Shewfelt

Seconded by: Matt Frolick

BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council come out of closed meeting session at 8:46 p.m. and continue with the Regular Council Meeting.

Carried.

Consideration of and action on matters arising out of the closed meeting.

#21-26
Moved by: Todd Rydall
Seconded by: Brad Shewfelt

BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council appoints Teegan Lapish as an on call (back up) Machine Operator to plow snow.

Carried.

12. Communications and Correspondence

N/A

13. Mayor and Council Comments

#22-26
Moved by: Brad Shewfelt
Seconded by: Wayne Junor

BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Laird staff have recorded 9 loads of refuse to the dump clean up of 312A Neebish Road West. Council has agreed to reduce the tipping fees by $1/3$.

RECORDED VOTE
For Motion Abstain Motion
Shawn Evoy
Wayne Junor
Brad Shewfelt		 Matt Frolick
Todd Rydall

Carried.

14. By-laws

a. 2066-26 Tax Ratio By-law

#23-26
Moved by: Todd Rydall
Seconded by: Brad Shewelt

BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council adopts By-law 2066-26 being a by-law to establish the 2026 Tax Ratios.

Carried.

b. 2067-26 Interim Tax By-law

#24-26
Moved by: Wayne Junor
Seconded by: Brad Shewfelt

BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council adopts By-law 2067-26, being a by-law to set the 2026 Interim Tax Rates.

Carried.

c. 2068-26 Borrowing By-law

#25-26
Moved by: Todd Rydall
Seconded by: Brad Shewfelt

BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council adopts By-law 2068-26 being a by-law to authorize temporary borrowing to meet the current expenditures of the municipality for the year ending December 31, 2026.

Carried.

d. 2069-26 Shared Services Agreement with Tarbutt Township By-law

#26-26
Moved by: Matt Frolick
Seconded by: Wayne Junor

BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council adopts By-law 2069-26 being a by-law to enter into a Shared Services Agreement with the Township of Tarbutt and That Council authorize the Clerk to sign the Shared Services Agreement, to take effect on date of signing.

Carried.

e. 2070-26 Conformity By-law

#27-26
Moved by: Matt Frolick
Seconded by: Brad Shewfelt

BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council adopts By-law 2070-26, being a by-law to confirm the proceedings of the meeting of Council held on January 15, 2026.

Carried.

15. Adjournment

#28-26
Moved by: Todd Rydall
Seconded by: Wayne Junor

BE IT RESOLVED THAT this Council shall now adjourn to meet again on February 19, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. or until the call of the chair.

Carried.

__________________________

Mayor

Shawn Evoy

__________________________

Clerk

Jennifer Errington