MINUTES REGULAR MEETING October 9, ALSO PRESENT: ABSENT: Councillor Grant Arnold, Laura Bruni, Treasurer, Len Arps, Public Works Manager

Transcription

1 PRESENT: Mayor Kevin Holland MINUTES REGULAR MEETING October 9, 2018 Councillor Robert MacMaster Councillor Sheila Maxwell Councillor Cathy Woodbeck ALSO PRESENT: ABSENT: Councillor Grant Arnold, Laura Bruni, Treasurer, Len Arps, Public Works Manager 1. CALL TO ORDER Mayor Holland called the meeting to order at 6:05 pm. 2. ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA Resolution No THAT the Meeting Agenda be adopted as amended. The Agenda was amended by the removal of items 8.2 and These items will be brought back to the next meeting. 3. DECLARATION OF PECUNIARY INTEREST Mayor Holland declared a pecuniary interest in item 7.2, Disbursement List No. 10AA, DEPUTATIONS AND PETITIONS There were no deputations or petitions for Council s consideration. 5. ADOPTION OF MINUTES 5.1 Resolution No THAT the Minutes of the Regular Meeting of Council held on September 11, 2018 be adopted as circulated. 6. REPORTS FROM MUNICIPAL OFFICERS 6.1 Road Superintendent s Report - filed - Landfill Report filed - Generator Report filed - Tank Level Report Not at this meeting 6.2 Fire Chief s Report filed

2 6.3 Clerk s Report The Clerk reported on an incident at the landfill. A resident was advised by the Landfill Attendant that she could not leave a box of shingles in the landfill. The resident was upset and verbally abusive to the Attendant. The Attendant left to deal with other matters and when he returned the box of shingles was sitting by the recycle bin. As shingles could contain asbestos, a hazardous material, and as our Certificate of Operations does not allow us to accept hazardous material unless there is an amendment to the Certificate, I directed the Landfill Attendant to take the shingles to the John Street Landfill. The City landfill is approved to accept such materials. The cost to take the shingles was approximately $30.00, including the Landfill Attendant s time, mileage and fees at the City Landfill. 6.4 Treasurer s Report Not at this meeting 6.5 Councillor Reports Mayor Holland reported on his activities since the last meeting including a NOMA meeting, an LRMC meeting, a Planning Board meeting an attending the Grand Opening of the Marathon seniors building. Mayor Holland also advised Council that he had received a letter from the Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services regarding the issue of increased firefighter training and certification. Mayor Holland had advised the Minister that although firefighter safety was a priority, the previous government s plan to require 200 hours of training was unreasonable. Mayor Holland had advised the Minister that the cost of sending all of our volunteers to Guelph for this training, plus having volunteers give up 2 weeks of their personal lives was not sustainable for small, rural municipalities. Mayor Holland noted that training should be geared to the type of fires that our volunteers deal with, as training in how to fight a fire in a high-rise building was not appropriate. The Ministry has agreed to put this section of the Act on hold for the time being while it investigates the matter further. noted that he had provided information to Council and to the Township of O Connor on the Board of Health DineWise program. He also noted that he had not attending the Thunder Bay District League meeting on behalf of as the meeting had been cancelled due to the death of Councillor Bob Krause. advised that there is an upcoming meeting of the Social Committee to finalize the Halloween party, and also advised that the comedian has been booked for the November 10 th Comedy Night. Tickets and posters will be available shortly. advised that she had attended the FedNor Round Table discussions and noted that there may be further funding opportunities. 6.6 Other Board and Agency Reports - DSSAB Minutes Regular Meeting June 28, filed - DSSAB Minutes Closed Meeting June 28, filed - LRCA Minutes Regular Meeting August 29, filed - Board of Health Minutes Regular Meeting June 20, filed

3 7. DISBURSEMENT LIST 7.1 Disbursement List No 10A, 2018 Resolution No THAT the accounts in the amount of $98, as per Disbursement List No. 10A, 2018 be approved for payment. 7.2 Disbursement List No 10AA, 2018 Resolution No THAT the accounts in the amount of $4, as per Disbursement List No. 10AA, 2018 be approved for payment. Mayor Holland declared a conflict and left the room. 7.3 Payroll Disbursement Resolution No THAT the Payroll in the amount of $17, as per Disbursement List No. 10AAA, Payroll 2018 be approved for payment. 8. UNFINISHED BUSINESS 8.1 Resolution Support Request Township of Selwyn re Agricultural Systems Mapping Resolution No THAT the Council for the Township of Conmee supports the resolution from the Township of Selwyn regarding the Provincial Agricultural Systems Mapping and calls on the Provincial Government to review the rationale and research for the decision to implement these changes (copy attached). DEFEATED Council asked that the Clerk research whether this issue will impact Conmee Township and bring back a resolution if necessary. 8.2 Resolution re Employee Benefits - deferred 9. NEW BUSINESS 9.1 Gas Tax Allocations filed

4 9.2 Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act Compliance filed 9.3 Congratulations to Dale Ashbee re Canadian Volunteer Fire Chief of the Year Council requested that the Clerk send a letter of congratulations to Chief Ashbee of the Neebing Volunteer Fire Department. 9.4 Letter from L. Bruni September 24, 2018 Mayor and Council, I am submitting this letter into the public record and wish to have it read during the open session of the September 25 th, 2018 Regular Council Meeting. It was brought to my attention on September 20 th, 2018 that Suzanne Huot, Mayoral Candidate posted a rather disturbing accusation in regards to royalties from gravel pits not being recorded. My intention of this letter is to report this accusation to Council and to address this claim in a professional manner. As the Municipal Treasurer for the Corporation of the Township of Conmee I do not take accusations such as these lightly. Perhaps the fall out of this accusation was not intended on the part of Ms. Huot but regardless, her accusation is posted on a public Facebook page that she is responsible for. Irrespective of the intent, the perception portrayed to her readers is criminal since the word royalties means funds paid to the municipality. Each and every transaction (including aggregate) that goes in and out of the Township is recorded. All municipal accounts are audited by an independent auditor each and every year as required under the Municipal Act. Finding of the audited report are then publically presented to Council by the auditing firm in the form of Financial Statements. The presentation takes place during a regular Council meeting that is open to the public. Finally, all audited Financial Statements are available to the public by requesting a copy. Unfortunately, as a Senior Municipal Manager I have been a target of social media absurdity in the past, and to a degree that is expected with this position. This post however is alarming as it has very serious allegations from a candidate running for the office of Mayor. The perception of wrong doing has been put into motion and as social media goes, this is not something that can be undone by simply deleting a post. At no time did Ms. Huot request information from me or any administrative staff to support her misleading claim, which leads me to believe this post was designed on personal opinion rather than facts. Laura Bruni, Treasurer/Deputy-Clerk Attached: Facebook Post from Suzanne Huot, Mayoral Candidate 9.5 Aggregate Revenue The Clerk provided a letter from the Ontario Aggregate Resources Corporation with information that the Township would receive Aggregate Licence fees in the amount of $11, for OPP Letter re Court Security Grant Allotment The Clerk presented a letter from the OPP stating that any further payments under the 2018 Court Security and Prisoner Transportation Grant Allotment

5 was being placed on hold as per the direction of the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services, until such time as the Government s expenditure management review was completed. 9.7 OPP Annual Billing Statement The Clerk provide Council with the information that the OPP levy for 2019 is estimated at $90, Council noted that this is simply the Base amount and will be adjusted for calls at the end of Attendance at SHARE (Spurring Affordable Housing Development) Resolution No THAT the Mayor and Clerk be authorized to attend the Spurring Affordable Housing Development workshop on October 30, 2018 in Thunder Bay. 9.9 Invitation to Thunder Bay Federation of Agriculture Annual Meeting filed 9.10 Letter re Thunder Bay and Area Food Strategy filed 9.11 Resolution Support Request Township of Montague Provincial/Municipal Consultation Council requested that this resolution be deferred. The Clerk will consult with the Association of Municipal Manager s Clerk s and Treasurers to determine if this is something they wish municipalities to support JML Engineering 2018 Bridge Report deferred 9.13 Resolution re Liquor Licence for Comedy Night - deferred 10. CORRESPONDENCE TBT Engineering Replacement of Cedar Creek Culvert Hwy 590 Closure 10.2 Letter from Minister of Infrastructure re AMO Delegation 10.3 Ontario Legislation re Natural Gas Expansion through Private Investment 10.4 AMO Communications September 30, 2018 CLOSED SESSION TO DISCUSS MATTERS PERTAINING TO THE SECURITY OF MUNICPAL PROPERTY Resolution No THAT we do now adjourn to a Closed Session to discuss: 1. The security of the property of the municipality or local board; 2. A proposed or pending acquisition or disposition of land by the municipality or local board 3. Personal issues regarding an identifiable individual including a municipal or board employee

6 At 8:26 pm. Council discussed the Rydholm Village development and the Union Agreement. Resolution No THAT we do now adjourn the Closed Session and return to the Open Meeting at 9:12 pm. 11. ADJOURNMENT Resolution No THAT we do now adjourn this meeting at 9:14 pm. Mayor Clerk