The Corporation of the Township of Laird

Regular Council Meeting Minutes – October 16, 2025

REGULAR AGENDA – AGENDA 48 CORPORATION OF THE TOWNSHIP OF LAIRD October 16, 2025, at 6:00 pm Laird Township Council Chambers

Present: Mayor:

Shawn Evoy Councillors:

Todd Rydall, Brad Shewfelt, Wayne Junor, Matt Frolick Clerk:

Jennifer Errington Staff:

Ed Lapish Delegate:

Cynthia Campbell

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. b. Planning: Application for Consent – L2025-07, as Mayor Evoy is the owner of the subject property.

3. Agenda Approval

#224-25 Moved by: Matt Frolick Seconded by: Brad Shefelt BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council hereby approves the October 16, 2025, agenda as presented. Carried.

4. Delegations and Presentations

  1. a. Huron North Community Economic Alliance (HNCEA) – Cynthia Campbell, Executive Director i. Community Economic Development (CED) video presentation and workshop discussion.
  • Cynthia Campbell provided an introduction, inviting Council to the Community Development Workshops on November 13, 2025, at Sowerby Hall. Council also watched the CED video presentation.
  1. b. Shipping Container – Jessica Dias
  • Jessica Dias was unable to attend; Council reviewed her written submission in her absence.

5. Adoption of Minutes of Previous Meeting

  1. a. Council Regular Meeting – September 18, 2025
  2. b. Recreation Committee Meeting – September 30, 2025 #225-25 Moved by: Todd Rydall Seconded by: Matt Frolick BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council approves minutes of the Regular Council meeting of September 18, 2025, and the Recreation Committee Meeting of September 30, 2025, AND FURTHER THAT Council approves Recreation Committee Motion 36-25, authorizing the donation of all cash revenue and non-perishable food items collected during the Pumpkin Fest to the local food bank. The cash revenue, originally budgeted to offset event costs, will instead be redirected to support this charitable cause.

Carried.

6. Adoption of Accounts

  1. a. General accounts to September 30, 2025 #226-25 Moved by: Todd Rydall Seconded by: Matt Frolick BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council approves the general accounts to September 30, 2025, in the amount of $4,623.82.

Carried.

  1. b. Roads accounts to September 30, 2025 #227-25 Moved by: Wayne Junor Seconded by: Brad Shewfelt BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council approves the roads account to September 30, 2025, in the amount of $43,101.93.

Carried.

7. Staff and Committee Reports

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

#228-25 Moved by: Matt Frolick Seconded by: Brad Shewfelt BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council directs staff to contact representatives of fiber optic project (Rock Network) to have them speak with Council regarding damages to infrastructure and future serviceability of infrastructure. Carried.

229-25 Moved by: Matt Frolick Seconded by: Wayne Junor BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council requests that Council be advised of all future work near township infrastructure, ie. Hydro, gas, fibre optics, etc. Carried.

  1. a. Memo: Murray Drive #230-25 Moved by: Todd Rydall Seconded by: Wayne Junor BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council receives the Murray Drive report dated October 16, 2025,

AND FURTHER THAT Council requests the Road Superintendent to provide a cost estimate and plan to bring Murray Drive up to municipal standards to lot 34 and a separate cost estimate to construct the road through to Pumpkin Point Road. Carried.

  1. i. Road Superintendent Report #231-25 Moved by: Todd Rydall Seconded by: Brad Shewfelt BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council receives the Road Superintendent Report dated October 16, 2025, as presented.

Carried.

  1. ii. Council Q&A

b. Clerk Administrator, Deputy Treasurer

  1. i. Clerk’s Report #232-25 Moved by: Todd Rydall Seconded by: Wayne Junor BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Clerk’s Report dated October 16, 2025, be received as presented, and that the following actions be approved or directed arising from the report:
  2. 1. Bar River Bridge – That Council support deferring the engagement of an engineer for the Bar River Bridge until the 2026 OSIM inspection, at which time the inspecting engineer will be asked to provide recommendations for necessary repairs.
  3. 2. Laird International Raceway (LIR) Curfew Extension – That Council does not approve a one-time, 10-minute curfew extension on the final race weekend of the season for the smaller car division.
  4. 3. Fremlin Drain – That Council acknowledge the ongoing drainage process, including the engineer’s preparation of the design and assessment schedule, and that a future Consideration of the Report meeting will be scheduled following its submission.
  5. 4. 2025 Northeast Planning Workshop – That the Clerk Administrator be authorized to attend the 2025 Northeast Planning Workshop in Sudbury on November 13–14, 2025, at a cost of $70.00 plus applicable travel, accommodation, and per diem expenses.
  6. 5. Laird Hall Generator – That Council acknowledge the repair of the existing generator at Laird Hall and consider budgeting for the purchase of a replacement generator in the 2026 budget, with the following options provided:
  • 13kW Model (40746) at $8,199.99, or
  • 18kW Model (40756) at $10,399.99,
  • Plus optional Retrofit Transfer Switch Relay Kit at $129.99.
  1. 6. Kitchen Equipment – Laird Hall / Fairgrounds – That staff include the purchase of appropriate stoves in the 2026 draft budget, with consideration given to installing gas stoves suitable for large catering events either at Laird Hall.
  2. 7. AMCTO Election Training – That the Clerk Administrator be authorized to register for the AMCTO 2026 Municipal Election virtual training at a cost of $440.00.
  3. 8. 2026 Municipal Election Method – That Council directs staff to proceed with the traditional paper ballot voting method.
  4. 9. Bar River Hall Tables Invoice – That Council approve payment of the $2,036.17 invoice for new tables at Bar River Hall, to be funded from reserves, due to insufficient funds remaining in the 2025 Bar River Hall budget.
  5. 10. Pumpkin Point Bird Viewing Platform – That Council acknowledge the completion of hazardous tree removal at the Pumpkin Point bird viewing platform. Staff completed the work safely with minimal disruption to the area, and David Euler extended his thanks to Council in an email dated October 7, 2025, noting that the removal has improved safety at the site.

Carried.

  1. ii. Task Summary Sheet & Recent Activity Log
  2. iii. Concern/Information Log – Updates #233-25 Moved by: Brad Shewfelt Seconded by: Wayne Junor BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council receives the October 16, 2025, Task Summary Sheet & Recent Activity Log and the Concern/Information Log as presented.

Carried.

  1. iv. Council Q&A
  2. c. Treasurer’s Report

d. Recreation Committee & Recreation Sub-Committees

  1. i. Finns’ Bay Wharf Sub-committee Minutes – September 23, 2025
  2. ii. Laird Hall Sub-committee Minutes – October 7, 2025 #234-25 Moved by: Todd Rydall Seconded by: Wayne Junor BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council receives the Finns’ Bay Wharf Sub- committee minutes dated September 23, 2025 and the Laird Hall Sub- committee minutes dated October 7, 2025.

Carried.

  1. iii. 2025 Committee and Board – Additions to the Recreation Committee and to the Bar River Hall Sub-committee.

#253-25 Moved by: Matt Frolick Seconded by: Brad Shewfelt BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council approves adding Crystal Wells to the Recreation Committee and the Bar River Hall Sub-committee, adding Joanne North to the Pumpkin Point Park Committee and adding Tianna Alton to the Bar River Hall Sub-committee. Carried.

  1. e. Cemetery Board

f. Planning Board

  1. i. September 25, 2025 Correspondence RE: Planning Board Response regarding OP Comments.
  2. ii. Draft OP to be circulated to Council in November
  3. g. Police Detachment Board
  4. h. Algoma District Services Administrative Board

i. Algoma District Municipal Association (ADMA)

  1. i. Fall ADMA Virtual Meeting – Cancelled due to lack of quorum

8. Unfinished Business

  1. a. DRAFT Fire Agreement – January 1, 2026 to December 31, 2026 #236-25 Moved by: Todd Rydall Seconded by: Matt Frolick BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council receives the draft Fire Agreement – January 1, 2026, to December 31, 2026, AND FURTHER THAT Council requests staff to set up a meeting with the Mayor and Clerk of Macdonald Meredith and Aberdeen Additional to discuss the agreement.

Carried.

  1. b. Memo: Freight Containers (C-Cans) #237-25 Moved by: Todd Rydall Seconded by: Brad Shewfelt BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council receives the Freight Container (C-Cans) report dated October 16, 2025, AND FURTHER THAT Council defers consideration of any amendments to the Zoning By-law related to storage containers until the completion of the Official Plan and the subsequent comprehensive review of the Zoning By-law.

Carried.

9. New Business

  1. a. Planning: Application for Consent – L2025-10 Haldenby #238-25 Moved by: Todd Rydall Seconded by: Brad Shewfelt BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council approves consent application L2025-10 severance/lot addition.

Carried.

Mayor Evoy excused himself from the council chambers due to a declaration of pecuniary interest, and Councillor Rydall filled in as the Head of Council for agenda item 9. b. Planning: Application for Consent – L2025-07 Lanaway to Evoy.

  1. b. Planning: Application for Consent – L2025-07 Lanaway to Evoy #239-25 Moved by: Matt Frolick Seconded by: Brad Shewfelt BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council approves consent application L2025-07 severance/lot addition.

Carried.

  1. c. Policy Review: Health & Safety Policy and Violence and Harassment Policy #240-25 Moved by: Brad Shewfelt Seconded by: Wayne Junor WHEREAS the Occupational Health and Safety Act requires that the Health and Safety Policy and the Violence and Harassment Policy be reviewed at least annually; AND WHEREAS staff have completed the mandatory annual review of both policies to ensure compliance with current legislation and alignment with best practices; NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council acknowledges the completion of the 2025 annual review of the Health and Safety Policy and the Violence and Harassment Policy; AND THAT the reviewed policies be received for information and remain in effect until the next scheduled review or unless otherwise amended.

Carried.

10. Notices of Motion

11. Closed Session

#241-25 Moved by: Wayne Junor Seconded by: Matt Frolick BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council proceed into closed session at 8:27 p.m. in accordance with Section 239 (2) (c) a proposed or pending acquisition or disposition of land by the municipality. Carried.

  1. a. A proposed or pending acquisition or disposition of land by the municipality.

#242-25 Moved by: Todd Rydall Seconded by: Brad Shewfelt BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council come out of closed meeting session at 8:52 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

13. Mayor and Council Comments

Councillor Rydall shared information he learned about the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC) grant opportunities. Staff to look into grant opportunities.

14. By-laws

  1. a. 2062-25 Conformity By-law #243-25 Moved by: Matt Frolick Seconded by: Brad Shewfelt BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council adopts By-law 2062-25, being a by-law to confirm the proceedings of the meeting of Council held on October 16, 2025.

Carried.

15. Adjournment

#244-25 Moved by: Todd Rydall Seconded by: Brad Shewfelt BE IT RESOLVED THAT this Council shall now adjourn to meet again on November 20, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. or until the call of the chair. Carried.

Mayor – ___________________________ Shawn Evoy

Clerk – ___________________________ Jennifer Errington