The Corporation of the Township of Laird

Regular Council Meeting Minutes – September 18, 2025

REGULAR AGENDA – AGENDA 47 CORPORATION OF THE TOWNSHIP OF LAIRD September 18, 2025, at 6:00 pm Laird Township Council Chambers

Present: Mayor:

Shawn Evoy Councillors:

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

Jennifer Errington Treasurer:

Rhonda Crozier Road Superintendent: David Pollari Delegate:

David Euler

1. Call to Order

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

2. Declaration of Pecuniary Interest

3. Agenda Approval

#206-25 Moved by: Matt Frolick Seconded by: Wayne Junor BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council hereby approves the September 18, 2025, agenda as presented. Carried.

4. Delegations and Presentations

  1. a. David Euler – Pumpkin Point Bird Viewing Platform – Update David Euler, representative from the Sault Naturalists, came to Council to provide an update on the Pumpkin Point Bird Watching Platform:
  • Sault Naturalists have met with the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) to secure approval and permits for a smaller, higher platform.
  • Sault Naturalists has received approval from MRN to remove dead Ash trees. The group would like the trees to be taken down and left on the ground. The group has requested the Township to assist with taking down the dead Ash trees that are a hazard. Council will have staff look at the trees to determine if the Township can be of assistance in taking them down.
  • Sault Naturalists does have liability insurance on the group.

5. Adoption of Minutes of Previous Meeting

  1. a. Council Regular Meeting – August 21, 2025
  2. b. Recreation Committee Meeting – August 26, 2025 #207-25 Moved by: Todd Rydall Seconded by: Brad Shewfelt BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council approves minutes of the Regular Council meeting of August 21, 2025, and the Recreation Committee Meeting of August 26, 2025.

Carried.

6. Adoption of Accounts

  1. a. General accounts to August 31, 2025 #208-25 Moved by: Brad Shewfelt Seconded by: Wayne Junor BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council approves the general accounts to August 31, 2025, in the amount of $25,851.82.
  2. b. Roads accounts to August 31, 2025 #209-25 Moved by: Todd Rydall Seconded by: Matt Frolick BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council approves the roads account to August 31, 2025, in the amount of $176,442.44.

Carried.

7. Staff and Committee Reports

  1. a. Road Superintendent (Roads, Waste Disposal & Recycling, and Maintenance)
  2. i. Road Superintendent Report #210-25 Moved by: Todd Rydall Seconded by: Brad Shewfelt BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council receives the Road Superintendent Report dated September 18, 2025, as presented.

Carried.

  1. ii. Bar River Bridge – Discuss Quotes and Options #211-25 Moved by: Brad Shewfelt Seconded by: Todd Rydall BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council receives the Bar River Bridge – Discuss Quotes and Options report dated September 18, 2025; AND THAT the Council of the Township of Laird defer any decisions related to waterproofing or paving the Bar River Bridge until a professional structural engineer reviews the proposed work; AND THAT the Township seek written confirmation from an engineer verifying the bridge’s capacity to support the additional load and that the proposed construction methodology is appropriate for the current condition of the structure; AND THAT staff be directed to coordinate with the Township of Macdonald, Meredith and Aberdeen Additional to obtain a joint engineering review, if possible, in the interest of cost-sharing and project alignment.

Carried.

b. Clerk Administrator, Deputy Treasurer

  1. i. Clerk’s Report #212-25 Moved by: Todd Rydall Seconded by: Matt Frolick BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Clerk’s Report dated September 18, 2025, be received as presented and arising from the report; THAT Council sets the Fall Clean-up dates for October 18 and 19, 2025; THAT Council approves the Christmas acknowledgment as done in past years and requests staff to organize a Holiday Council and Staff dinner; THAT Council approves the quote of DCR HVAC to repair the furnace at the Laird Hall in the amount of $1,930 plus HST, and to have Black Fox Electric install a surge protector for the building; THAT Council approves sending the Clerk Administrator to the AMCTO Fall Meeting on October 9 – 10, 2025, in Elliot Lake; THAT Council approves the Treasurer to attend the 2025 Northern Finance Workshop in Sudbury on October 15 – 17, 2025; and THAT Council approves Laird Hall to purchase two new stoves for the kitchen, with funds for the purchase to come out of reserves.
  2. ii. Task Summary Sheet & Recent Activity Log
  3. iii. Concern/Information Log – Updates #213-25 Moved by: Todd Rydall Seconded by: Brad Shewfelt BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council receives the September 18, 2025, Task Summary Sheet & Recent Activity Log and the Concern/Information Log as presented.

Carried.

  1. c. Treasurer’s Report

d. Recreation Committee & Recreation Sub-Committees

  1. i. Fairgrounds Sub-committee Minutes – September 9, 2025 #214-25 Moved by: Wayne Junor Seconded by: Matt Frolick BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council receives the Fairgrounds Sub-committee minutes dated September 9, 2025; AND FURTHER THAT Council approves the Sub-committee Motion 38-25 to have a full day rental of the Laird Fairgrounds in the amount of $280; AND FURTHER THAT Council approves sub-committee motion 39-25, to require a 50% non-refundable rental fee deposit for large event rentals, including but not limited to weddings and stags at the Gazebo.

Carried.

  1. e. Cemetery Board
  2. f. Planning Board
  3. g. Police Detachment Board
  4. h. Algoma District Services Administrative Board

i. Algoma District Municipal Association (ADMA)

  1. i. ADMA – Thursday, October 9, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. – Virtual Meeting #215-25 Moved by: Todd Rydall Seconded by: Brad Shewfelt BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council receives the ADMA correspondence and further that Council will have Brad Shefelt and Todd Rydall attend the October 9, 2025, virtual meeting.

Carried.

8. Unfinished Business

  1. a. Laird Fairgrounds Water Meters – ESTIMATE BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council approve the estimate from Plumbers Plus in the amount of $3,373.05 plus HST to install two 1” brass water meter and two 1-1/4”

brass water meter in water room at the Laird Fairgrounds. This will allow the Township to meter the water use of each distribution point. AND THAT Council directs the Treasurer to use the remaining budget of the Gazebo man doors towards the water meter installation. Deferred. – Deferred to next year’s budget.

  1. b. Memo: Blue Box Program – Change Notice #216-25 Moved by: Brad Shewfelt Seconded by: Matt Frolick BE IT RESOLVED THAT the report from the Clerk dated September 18, 2025, regarding the Blue Box Program – Change Notice be received; AND THAT Council authorizes staff to approve the Change Notice as presented;
  2. c. Memo: Laird Fairgrounds Sewage ECA – Topographical Survey #217-25 Moved by: Todd Rydall Seconded by: Brad Shewfelt BE IT RESOLVED THAT the report from the Clerk dated September 18, 2025, regarding the Laird Fairgrounds Sewage ECA – Topographical Survey be received; AND THAT Council authorizes Algoma Engineering Co. to proceed with a topographical survey of both the Red and Blue Zones as proposed, at a total cost of $6,000, to support the Environmental Compliance Approval (ECA) process for the Laird Fairgrounds.

Carried.

9. New Business

  1. a. Memo: Christmas Closure 2025 #218-25 Moved by: Todd Rydall Seconded by: Matt Frolick BE IT RESOLVED that the report from the Clerk regarding Christmas Closures be received; AND THAT Council authorizes the closure of the municipal office on Wednesday, December 24 until 9 a.m. on Friday, January 2, 2026; AND THAT Council acknowledges the Clerk’s vacation request for two weeks from December 22, 2025, to January 3, 2026, inclusive.

Carried.

  1. b. LIR Schedule Approval & Procedure for Curfew Extension #219-25 Moved by: Matt Frolick Seconded by: Wayne Junor BE IT RESOLVED THAT the report from the Clerk Administrator dated September 18, 2025, regarding the Laird International Raceway 2026 Schedule and Procedure for Curfew Extension be received; AND THAT Council approves the 2026 Laird International Raceway Schedule, including the following exceptions to the lease agreement:
  • A Friday race on June 26, 2026, for Opening Weekend;
  • A rain date on Friday, July 10, 2026;
  • Pre-approved Sunday rain dates on June 28, 2026, and August 22, 2026; AND THAT Council not approve an extension to the curfew, and that the terms of the lease agreement be upheld.

Carried.

10. Notices of Motion

11. Closed Session

#220-25 Moved by: Todd Rydall Seconded by: Wayne Junor BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council proceed into closed session at 7:52 p.m. in accordance with Section 239 (2) (b) personal matters about an identifiable individual, including municipal or local board employees. Carried.

  1. a. Approval of closed meeting minutes of August 21, 2025.
  2. b. Personal matters about an identifiable individual, including municipal or local board employees.

#221-25 Moved by: Wayne Junor Seconded by: Matt Frolick 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.

12. Communications and Correspondence

13. Mayor and Council Comments

14. By-laws

  1. a. 2061-25 Conformity By-law #222-25 Moved by: Matt Frolick Seconded by: Brad Shewfelt BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council adopts By-law 2061-25, being a by-law to confirm the proceedings of the meeting of Council held on September 18, 2025.

Carried.

15. Adjournment

#223-25 Moved by: Wayne Junor Seconded by: Todd Rydall BE IT RESOLVED THAT this Council shall now adjourn to meet again on October 16, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. or until the call of the chair. Carried.

Mayor – ___________________________ Shawn Evoy

Clerk – ___________________________ Jennifer Errington