The Corporation of the Township of Laird
Regular Council Meeting Minutes – April 18, 2024
REGULAR AGENDA – AGENDA 21 CORPORATION OF THE TOWNSHIP OF LAIRD April 18, 2024, at 6:00 pm Laird Township Council Chambers
Present: Mayor:
Shawn Evoy Councillors:
Wayne Junor, Todd Rydall, Matt Frolick Regrets:
Ed Lapish Clerk:
Jennifer Errington Treasurer:
Rhonda Crozier Road Superintendent: David Pollari Delegates:
Jared Brice, Dick Beitz, Brad Shewfelt
1. Call to Order
Mayor called the Regular meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.
2. Declaration of Pecuniary Interest
3. Agenda Approval
#67-24 Moved by: Todd Rydall Seconded by: Wayne Junor BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council hereby approves the April 18, 2024 agenda as presented with the addition to include item 9. B. Memo: Laird Hall Old Propane Tank Sale. Carried.
4. Delegations and Presentations
- a. Agricultural Advisory Committee Laird Representatives: Dick Beitz and Brad Shewfelt and Agricultural Advisory Committee Secretary: Jared Brice
- i. Memo: Agricultural Advisory Committee
- ii. Prime Agricultural Designation discussion
- Dick Beitz, Brad Shewfelt, and Jared Brice reviewed the two maps with Council. One of the maps was supplied by Jared and the other map had notes from Dick Beitz and Brad Shewfelt’s farm road tour.
- The green areas on the maps have a score of 60 and above, and yellow areas have a score below 60.
- Areas can be added or removed from the green area, but notes are required to make strong arguments for reasons why.
- There is the possibility of having an Agricultural 1 and Agricultural 2 designation in the Zoning By-law, Johnson Township has this in place.
- The Planning Board ideally would like a decision from Council as soon as possible.
5. Adoption of Minutes of Previous Meeting
- a. Council Meeting – March 21, 2024
- b. Recreation Committee Minutes – March 26, 2024 NOTE: No Quorum #68-24 Moved by: Matt Frolick Seconded by: Wayne Junor BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council approves Council minutes of the Regular Meeting of March 21, 2024.
Carried.
6. Adoption of Accounts
- a. General accounts to March 31, 2024 #69-24 Moved by: Todd Rydall Seconded by: Matt Frolick BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council approves the general accounts to March 31, 2024, in the amount of $10,473.86.
Carried.
- b. Roads accounts to March 31, 2024 # 70-24 Moved by: Wayne Junor Seconded by: Matt Frolick BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council approves the roads account to March 31, 2024, in the amount of $36,233.89 as presented.
Carried.
7. Staff and Committee Reports
- a. Road Superintendent (Roads, Waste Disposal & Recycling, and Maintenance)
- i. Road Superintendent Report # 71-24 Moved by: Matt Frolick Seconded by: Wayne Junor BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Road Superintendent Report dated April 18, 2024 be received as presented.
Carried.
- ii. Council Q&A
b. Clerk Administrator, Deputy Treasurer
- i. Clerk’s Report #72-24 Moved by: Todd Rydall Seconded by: Wayne Junor BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Clerk’s Report dated April 18, 2024, be received as presented and arising from the report;
THAT Council approves Matt Frolick and Shawn Evoy to sit on the hiring committee of the Senior Machine Operator. Carried.
- ii. Council Q&A
c. Treasurer’s Report
- i. Treasurer’s Report #73-24 Moved by: Wayne Junor Seconded by: Matt Frolick BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Treasurer’s Report dated April 18, 2024, be received as presented and arising from the report; THAT Council approves the Karhi invoice being forwarded to LIR for payment, approves the 2012 International Truck minimum bid being set at $15,000.00 and approves the tax refund to Central 1 Credit Union.
Carried.
- ii. Council Q&A
- iii. Final Budget 2024 #74-24 Moved by: Matt Frolick Seconded by: Todd Rydall BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council adopts the 2024 Budget and set the tax rates on a 3.83% increase in the amount of $1,856,871 and authorize the Clerk to draft the tax rates By-law.
Carried.
NOTE: Councillor Rydall left the meeting at 8:43 p.m.
- iv. Reserve Report 2023 and 2024 #76-24 Moved by: Wayne Junor Seconded by: Matt Frolick BE IT RESOLVED THAT the 2023 and 2024 Reserve Report be received for information and the amendments to the 2024 Reserve be approved as discussed.
Carried.
- d. Recreation Committee & Recreation Sub-Committees
- i. Wharf Sub-Committee Request #77-24 Moved by: Matt Frolick Seconded by: Wayne Junor BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council receives Wharf Sub-Committee Request and directs staff to deal with matters 1-3 and to have Staff research item 4 and report back to the Wharf Sub-Committee and Council.
Carried.
- e. Cemetery Board
- f. Planning Board
- g. Police Service Board
- 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 #78-24 Moved by: Matt Frolick Seconded by: Wayne Junor BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council receives the April 18, 2024, Task Summary Sheet & Recent Activity Log and the Concern/Information Log as presented and requests that a due date column be added.
Carried.
- c. Memo: LIR Request for Test & Tune #79-24 Moved by: Wayne Junor Seconded by: Matt Frolick BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council approves the amendment to the Tentative Schedule of Events 2024 to include Thursday, June 6, 2024, as a Test and Tune event and to remove Thursday, July 11, 2024, as a race date as it is reserved for the RCMP Musical Ride; and further that any future changes to the schedule must be submitted to the landlord.
Carried.
- d. Memo: Joint Recycling Contract at St. Joseph Turnoff #80-24 Moved by: Wayne Junor Seconded by: Matt Frolick BE IT RESOLVED THAT the report from Staff be received dated April 18, 2024 for information; and THAT Tarbutt Township be advised that Council wishes to terminate the joint recycling contract for the recycle depot located at the St. Joseph Island Turnoff at the end of this year, 2024.
Carried.
- e. Road Superintendent Policy # 75-24 Moved by: Matt Frolick Seconded by: Wayne Junor BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council adopts the Road Superintendent Policy as amended, and that with the passing of this previous Road Superintendent Policy(s) be rescinded.
Carried.
9. New Business
- a. Councillor Lapish, request for leave of absence from Council until June 10, 2024.
#81-24 Moved by: Wayne Junor Seconded by: Matt Frolick BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council approves Councillor Lapish’s request for a leave of absence until June 10, 2024. Carried.
- b. Memo: Laird Hall Old Propane Tank Sale #82-24 Moved by: Matt Frolick Seconded by: Wayne Junor BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council directs staff to sell the old propane tank located at the Laird Hall for $500.00 with the stipulation that it is being sold as is.
10. Notices of Motion
- a. Council Vacancy Policy #83-24 Moved by: Matt Frolick Seconded by: Wayne Junor BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council adopts the Council Vacancy Policy as presented.
Carried.
Motion to Extend Meeting:
#84-24 Moved by: Matt Frolick Seconded by: Wayne Junor BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council approves proceeding with the meeting beyond 3 hours. Carried.
11. Closed Session
#85-24 Moved by: Wayne Junor Seconded by: Matt Frolick BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council proceed into closed session at 8:56 p.m. in accordance with Section 239 (2) (b) of the Municipal Act in order to discuss a personal matter about an identifiable individual, including municipal or local board employees and 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 March 21, 2024
- b. Personal matters about an identifiable individual, including municipal or local board employees. (3 matters)
- c. Labour relations or employee negotiations. (2 matters) #86-24 Moved by: Matt Frolick Seconded by: Wayne Junor BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council come out of closed meeting session at 9:27 p.m.
and continue with the Regular Council Meeting. Carried.
#87-24 Moved by: Wayne Junor Seconded by: Matt Frolick BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council accepts the resignation of Jason Petch, with regret, as Machine Operator Repairer, and directs the Clerk to advertise for this position. Carried.
#88-24 Moved by: Wayne Junor Seconded by: Matt Frolick BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council adopts Stand-by Policy as discussed. Carried.
12. Communications and Correspondence
- a. Dr. Harold S. Trefry Memorial Centre, RE: Identifying Supports and Structures to Help Small and Rural Communities in Northern Ontario Respond to Disruption – March 10, 2024
13. Mayor and Council Comments
14. By-laws
- a. 2013-24 Tree Canopy Policy #89-24 Moved by: Wayne Junor Seconded by: Matt Frolick BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council adopts By-law 2013-24 being a by-law to adopt a Tree Canopy and Natural Vegetation Policy.
Carried.
- b. 2014-24 Conformity By-law #90-24 Moved by: Matt Frolick Seconded by: Wayne Junor BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council adopts By-law 2014-24 being a by-law to confirm the proceedings of the meeting of Council held on April 18, 2024.
Carried.
15. Adjournment
#91-24 Moved by: Wayne Junor Seconded by: Matt Frolick BE IT RESOLVED THAT this Council shall now adjourn to meet again on May 23, 2024 at 6:00 p.m. or until the call of the chair. Carried.
Mayor – ___________________________ Shawn Evoy
Clerk – ___________________________ Jennifer Errington