The Corporation of the Township of Laird

Regular Council Meeting Minutes – June 27, 2024

REGULAR MINUTES – AGENDA 24 CORPORATION OF THE TOWNSHIP OF LAIRD June 27, 2024, at 6:00 pm Laird Township Council Chambers

Present: Mayor:

Shawn Evoy Councillors:

Wayne Junor, Todd Rydall, Matt Frolick Clerk:

Jennifer Errington Treasurer:

Rhonda Crozier Road Superintendent: David Pollari Delegates:

Lorrie & Mike Rollin, Harvey Matthews, Colleen Alloi, Miranda Ramsay

1. Call to Order

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

2. Declaration of Pecuniary Interest

3. Agenda Approval

#103-24 Moved by: Todd Rydall Seconded by: Matt Frolick BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council hereby approves the June 27, 2024 agenda as presented. Carried.

4. Delegations and Presentations

  1. a. Matthews/Rollin Severance – Mike and Lorrie Rollin and Havey Matthews
  • Delegates asked why Council denied their proposed severance, and the Mayor explained following the severance policy of creating 2 lots plus remaining from parcel as of 1980.
  • Clerk to investigate 3-4 acre requirement of APH for septic.
  1. b. North Shore Agricultural Society (NSAS) – Colleen Alloi, Chair and Miranda Ramsay
  • Delegates provided updates on RCMP Musical Ride. Ticket costs are going well, covering costs of the arena, stalls, and feed. Raw posts were used and have caused issues. They are planning for 500 people per night. Struggling to get shavings and armed officers to be in attendance.
  • NSAS provided a formal letter request for donations for the Laird Fair.

5. Adoption of Minutes of Previous Meeting

  1. a. Council Regular Meeting – May 23, 2024
  2. b. Council Special Meeting – May 27, 2024
  3. c. Recreation Committee Minutes – May 29, 2024 #131-24 Moved by: Todd Rydall Seconded by: Wayne Junor BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council approves Council minutes of the Regular Meeting of May 23, 2024, the Special Meeting Minutes of May 27, 2024, and the Recreation Committee minutes of April 30, 2024.

Carried.

6. Adoption of Accounts

  1. a. General accounts to May 31, 2024 #132-24 Moved by: Matt Frolick Seconded by: Wayne Junor BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council approves the general accounts to May 31, 2024, in the amount of $3,744.13.

Carried.

  1. b. Roads accounts to May 31, 2024 # 133-24 Moved by: Todd Rydall Seconded by: Matt Frolick BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council approves the roads account to May 31, 2024, in the amount of $70,253.24 as presented.

Carried.

7. Staff and Committee Reports

  1. a. Road Superintendent (Roads, Waste Disposal & Recycling, and Maintenance)
  2. i. Road Superintendent Report #134-24 Moved by: Matt Frolick Seconded by: Wayne Junor BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Road Superintendent Report dated June 27, 2024 be received as presented.

Carried.

  1. ii. Council Q&A
  • Council suggested having a part of the Road Superintendent Report a monthly update on the Roads Projected Labour Budget with actual labour hours used to date.

b. Clerk Administrator, Deputy Treasurer

  1. i. Clerk’s Report #135-24 Moved by: Todd Rydall Seconded by: Matt Frolick BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Clerk’s Report dated June 27, 2024, be received as presented and arising from the report;

That Council directs the Clerk to reach out to the Macdonald Meredith and Aberdeen Additional Council to request that they consider having a purchasing committee for future purchase of a new fire truck; and

That Council directs the Clerk to invite David Euler and the Sault Naturalists Platform Committee to a meeting to review possible approaches to replace the Pumpkin Point Bird Viewing Platform structure.

  1. ii. Council Q&A
  • Council requested an update on the Government Road Bridge for next meeting.

c. Treasurer’s Report

i. Financial Report as of May 31, 2024 #136-24 Moved by: Matt Frolick Seconded by: Wayne Junor BE IT RESOLVED THAT the report from the Treasurer-Deputy Clerk be received; and that Council approves the line item description changes of Garage Power Wash and Garage Upgrades to read Lake George Road East Resurfacing Gravel and approves the mower modifications; and further that Council approves the funding for the Government Road Bridge coming out of the Working Capital Reserves; and further that Council approves the funding for the Cross Culvert Lake George Road East coming out of the overage from the Surface Treatment budget overages. Carried. ii. Council Q&A

  • Council requested that the MNRF Fire reserve line item to be recreated, as it has been removed.

d. Recreation Committee & Recreation Sub-Committees

  1. i. Laird Hall Sub-Committee Minutes – May 28, 2024 #137-24 Moved by: Todd Rydall Seconded by: Matt Frolick BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council receives the Laird Hall Sub-committee minutes of May 28, 2024; and further that Council approves having staff sell the metal grey chairs on Facebook Market Place for $5.00 each and advertising the organ for sale; and further that Council request staff to investigate if the existing dolly can be modified for the new chairs.

Carried.

e. Cemetery Board

  • Work all done, Cemetery Board pleased, however, there were three issues that the contractor is to rectify.
  • It was discussed that a Cemetery Board member would be best suited to do locates versus entertaining a new caretaker. This is to be further discussed at the Cemetery Board meeting to provide recommendations to the Council at a later date.

f. Planning Board

  1. i. J. L. Richards – Consultant Scope Change Request 1
  • $7,274.43 per Township increase, cost increase due to changes to the Provincial Policy Statement (PPS). Communicate to the Planning Board that Council is not happy with the increase.
  1. g. Police Detachment Board
  2. h. Algoma District Services Administrative Board

i. Algoma District Municipal Association (ADMA)

  1. i. Annual General Meeting (Fall Meeting)

8. Unfinished Business

  1. a. Task Summary Sheet & Recent Activity Log
  2. b. Concern/Information Log – Updates #138-24 Moved by: Matt Frolick Seconded by: Wayne Junor BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council receives the June 27, 2024, Task Summary Sheet & Recent Activity Log and the Concern/Information Log as presented.

Carried.

  1. c. Bar River Hall Interior Repairs – Tender #3 Results #139-24 Moved by: Wayne Junor Seconded by: Todd Rydall BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council awards the Bar River Hall Interior Repairs Tender #3 to Stobie Mechanical & Welding in the amount of $206,328.00 plus HST.

Carried.

  • The Bar River Hall Committee discussed at their meeting to put washroom on hold until 3rd phase is completed, as a contingency plan, washroom will be done at end if room in budget.
  1. d. Memo: Proposed New Building Permit Fees #140-24 Moved by: Todd Rydall Seconded by: Wayne Junor BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council requests staff to prepare a public notice, as required by Section 1.9.1.2 of Ontario Regulation 332/12 under the Building Code Act, to provide information supporting the proposed increases in Building Permit

fees and to have the Public Meeting on September 19, 2024, prior to passing the Building Permit Fee amendment by-law. Carried.

9. New Business

  1. a. Councillor Ed Lapish – Resignation Letter June 5, 2024 #141-24 Moved by: Wayne Junor Seconded by: Todd Rydall BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council declares a vacancy on Council, due to the resignation of Ed Lapish from Council.

Carried.

  1. b. Memo: Vacant Council Office #142-24 Moved by: Todd Rydall Seconded by: Wayne Junor BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Office of Councillor Vacancy be filled by an open call for nomination from qualified individuals;

That the Clerk provide notice to the public of the method selected by Council, the application period, individual qualifications, and other relevant considerations necessary for interested members of the community to be considered for appointment;

That the Clerk be delegated the authority to amend the Council Vacancy Policy procedures to include a process for a tied vote to be consistent with the principles of the Municipal Election Act; and

That the selection and appointment of a candidate take place at a Special Council Meeting to occur on August 13, 2024 at 6:00 p.m. Carried.

  1. c. Trailer Permit Request – 462 Finns’ Bay Road North, active Building Permit 24- 11, requesting to use trailer as accommodations while building.

#143-24 Moved by: Wayne Junor Seconded by: Todd Rydall BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council approves a trailer permit to allow for one trailer to be used as a dwelling on 462 Finns’ Bay Road North. The trailer permit is active for the duration of the building permit 24-11, expiring May 23, 2025. Carried.

  1. d. Energy Conservation and Demand Management Plan 2025-2029 #144-24 Moved by: Wayne Junor Seconded by: Todd Rydall BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council adopts the Energy Conservation and Demand Management Plan (CDM) 2025-2029.

Carried.

  1. e. Sault Ste. Marie Humane Society – 2024 Annual User Fee #145-24 Moved by: Todd Rydall Seconded by: Wayne Junor BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council request staff to prepare a report to provide recommendations on using the Sault Ste. Marie Humane Society as the municipal pound versus using the By-law Enforcement Officers pound and further provide recommended changes to the Dog Control By-law 924-12 including recommendations on banned breeds.

Carried.

  1. f. Sponsorship Proposal – Rowdy Ranchers Round Up Show 2024 #146-24 Moved by: Todd Rydall Seconded by: Matt Frolick BE IT RESOLVE THAT Council is unable to make a donation to the Rowdy Ranchers 2024 show, and encourages the group to provide donation requests prior to budget deliberations.

Carried.

  1. g. Algoma Veterinary Committee – Membership renewal request #147-24 Moved by: Todd Rydall Seconded by: Wayne Junor BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council renews the Algoma Veterinary Committee 2024 membership in the amount of $449.46 and further requests the Treasurer to budget for this membership fee in the future.

Carried.

  1. h. Community Risk Assessment #148-24 Moved by: Todd Rydall Seconded by: Wayne Junor BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council adopts the Township of Laird’s Community Risk Assessment.

Carried.

10. Notices of Motion

11. Closed Session

12. Communications and Correspondence

  1. a. The Kensington Conservancy – May 23, 2024

13. Mayor and Council Comments

14. By-laws

  1. a. 2020-24 Stop Sign Finns’ Bay Road North By-law #149-24 Moved by: Todd Rydall Seconded by: Wayne Junor BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council adopts By-law 2020-24 being a by-law providing for the erection of a stop sign at the intersection of Nebbish Road West and Finns’

Bay Road North, facing traffic southbound on Finns’ Bay Road North. Carried.

  1. b. 2021-24 Conformity By-law #150-24 Moved by: Matt Frolick Seconded by: Todd Rydall BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council adopts By-law 2021-24 being a by-law to confirm the proceedings of the meeting of Council held on June 20, 2024.

Carried.

15. Adjournment

#151-24 Moved by: Wayne Junor Seconded by: Todd Rydall BE IT RESOLVED THAT this Council shall now adjourn to meet again July 18, 2024 at 6:00 p.m. or until the call of the chair. Carried.

Mayor – ___________________________ Shawn Evoy

Clerk – ___________________________ Jennifer Errington