The Corporation of the Township of Laird

Regular Council Meeting Minutes – May 22, 2025

REGULAR AGENDA – AGENDA 41 CORPORATION OF THE TOWNSHIP OF LAIRD May 22, 2025, at 6:00 pm Laird Township Council Chambers

Present: Mayor:

Shawn Evoy Councillors:

Todd Rydall, Wayne Junor, Regrets:

Matt Frolick, Brad Shewfelt Staff:

Jennifer Errington, Ed Lapish Delegate:

Mat Lacroix

1. Call to Order

Mayor Evoy called meeting to order at 6 p.m.

2. Declaration of Pecuniary Interest

3. Agenda Approval

#114-25 Moved by: Todd Rydall Seconded by: Wayne Junor BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council hereby approves the May 22, 2025 agenda as presented. Carried.

4. Delegations and Presentations

  1. a. C-Can By-law 992-18, Mat Lacroix
  • Mr. Lacroix requested Council to consider modifying the C-Can By-law 992-18
  • Council discussed, no changes to be made to Zoning By-law or its amendments.

5. Adoption of Minutes of Previous Meeting

  1. a. Council Regular Meeting – April 17, 2025
  2. b. Council Special Meeting – April 30, 2025
  3. c. Recreation Committee Meeting – April 29, 2025 #115-25 Moved by: Todd Rydall Seconded by: Wayne Junor BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council approves minutes of the Regular Council meeting of April 17, 2025, the Special Council meeting of April 30, 2025, and the Recreation Committee meeting of April 29, 2025.

Carried.

6. Adoption of Accounts

  1. a. General accounts to April 30, 2025 #116-25 Moved by: Todd Rydall Seconded by: Wayne Junor BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council approves the general accounts to April 30, 2025, in the amount of $1,824.29.

Carried.

  1. b. Roads accounts to April 30, 2025 #117-25 Moved by: Wayne Junor Seconded by: Todd Rydall BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council approves the roads account to April 30, 2025, in the amount of $26,610.27.

Carried.

7. Staff and Committee Reports

  1. a. Road Superintendent (Roads, Waste Disposal & Recycling, and Maintenance)
  2. i. Road Superintendent Report #118-25 Moved by: Wayne Junor Seconded by: Todd Rydall BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council receives the Road Superintendent Report dated May 22, 2025, as presented.

Carried.

  1. i. Council Q&A

b. Clerk Administrator, Deputy Treasurer

  1. i. Clerk’s Report #119-25 Moved by: Todd Rydall Seconded by: Wayne Junor BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council receives the Clerk’s Report dated May 22, 2025, as presented.

Carried.

  1. ii. Task Summary Sheet & Recent Activity Log
  2. iii. Concern/Information Log – Updates #120-25 Moved by: Todd Rydall Seconded by: Wayne Junor BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council receives the May 22, 2025, Task Summary Sheet & Recent Activity Log and the Concern/Information Log as presented.

Carried.

  1. iv. Council Q&A

c. Treasurer’s Report

  1. i. Final Budget 2025 – Passed April 30, 2025 #110-25 #121-25 Moved by: Wayne Junor Seconded by: Todd Rydall BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council receives the Final Budget 2025, passed at the April 30, 2025, Council meeting, presented with modifications to remove working notes and highlighting.

Carried.

  1. d. Recreation Committee & Recreation Sub-Committees
  2. i. Fairgrounds Sub-committee Minutes – May 5, 2025
  3. ii. Laird Hall Sub-committee Minutes – May 6, 2025
  4. iii. Pumpkin Point Park Sub-committee Minutes – May 13, 2025 #122-25 Moved by: Todd Rydall Seconded by: Wayne Junor BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council receives the minutes of the following sub- committees: Fairgrounds Sub-Committee meeting held on May 5, 2025, Laird Hall Sub-Committee meeting held on May 6, 2025, and Pumpkin Point Park Sub-Committee held on May 13, 2025.

AND FURTHER THAT Council directs staff to communicate to the Laird Fairgrounds Sub-Committee that Council has approved Motion R22-25 to amend the budget, reallocating the $3,000 originally designated for electrical

repairs at the gazebo and announcer’s booth, to instead be used for electrical work at the gazebo and arena lighting.

Council also directs staff to respond to Motion R23-25, informing the Laird Fairgrounds Sub-committee that the Township is currently unable to process credit card payments. Furthermore, in order to charge a credit card for damages, the individual’s explicit consent and a written agreement would be required.

Council further approves the Laird Fairgrounds Sub-committee Motion R2425 to remove the white concession booth and replace it with a gravel pad with a power post. Carried.

  1. e. Cemetery Board
  2. f. Planning Board
  3. g. Police Detachment Board
  4. h. Algoma District Services Administrative Board
  5. i. Algoma District Municipal Association (ADMA)

8. Unfinished Business

  1. a. Fairgrounds Custodian Job Description #123-25 Moved by: Todd Rydall Seconded by: Wayne Junor BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council approves the new position description for a Fairgrounds Custodian, and FURTHER THAT Council directs the Clerk to advertise for the position.

Carried.

9. New Business

  1. a. Petition Drain Application – Plan H757 RCP Lot 20 #124-25 Moved by: Todd Rydall Seconded by: Wayne Junor 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 petitioners have 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 Vicary Fremlin and Thomas Fremlin for drainage works at 197 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, that staff recommend to Council a Drainage Superintendent and a Drainage Engineer for the examination of the areas requiring drainage and proceed with the requirements of a petition drainage for Plan H757 RCP Lot 20. Carried.

  1. b. Trailer Permit Request – 151 Lake George Road West #125-25 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 151 Lake George Road West for the duration of the building permit 01-25, expiring March 24, 2026. As per the Temporary Use of Trailer as Residence Policy, a $5,000 deposit and confirmation letter have been

signed and submitted acknowledging that the owner has read and understood the conditions of the permit. Carried.

  1. c. Grade 5/6 Echo Bay Central School letters #126-25 Moved by: Wayne Junor Seconded by: Todd Rydall BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council receives the letters from the Grade 5/6 Echo Bay Central School students, and based on discussion, each Councillor will respond to the letter they received.

Carried.

  1. d. Planning: Application for Consent – L2025-04 #127-25 Moved by: Todd Rydall Seconded by: Wayne Junor BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council receives the consent application L2025-04 and directs staff to communicate with the Desbarats to Echo Bay Planning Board that Council recommends consent be given.

Carried.

10. Notices of Motion

11. Closed Session

#128-25 Moved by: Wayne Junor Seconded by: Todd Rydall BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council proceed into closed session at 7:55 p.m. in accordance with Section 239 (2) (a) personal matters about an identifiable individual, including municipal or local board employees.

  1. a. Approval of closed meeting minutes of March 13, 2025 and March 26, 2025.
  2. b. Personal matters about an identifiable individual, including municipal or local board employees.

#129-25 Moved by: Wayne Junor Seconded by: Todd Rydall BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council come out of closed meeting session at 8:10 p.m. and continue with the Regular Council Meeting. Carried.

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

#130-25 Moved by: Todd Rydall Seconded by: Wayne Junor BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council hires the following summer students: Abbigail Daynard, Jayden Lefrancois, Jacob Kluding, and Ristan McBride. Carried.

12. Communications and Correspondence

  1. a. Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing, Protect Ontario by Building Faster and Smarter Act, 2025 (Bill 17), May 13, 2025
  2. b. The Kensington Conservancy, Corporate Sponsorship Request, May 5, 2025

13. Mayor and Council Comments

14. By-laws

  1. a. 2053-25 Final Tax Rates By-law #131-25 Moved by: Wayne Junor Seconded by: Todd Rydall BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council adopts By-law 2053-25 Final Tax Rates 2025, authorizing the tax bills be issued, as presented.

Carried.

  1. b. 2054-25 Conformity By-law #132-25 Moved by: Todd Rydall Seconded by: Wayne Junor BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council adopts By-law 2054-25 being a by-law to confirm the proceedings of the meeting of Council held on May 22, 2025.

Carried.

15. Adjournment

#133-25 Moved by: Todd Rydall Seconded by: Wayne Junor BE IT RESOLVED THAT this Council shall now adjourn to meet again on June 5, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. at the Laird Fairgrounds for a site meeting or until the call of the chair. Carried.

Mayor – ___________________________ Shawn Evoy

Clerk – ___________________________ Jennifer Errington