THE CORPORATION OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF EAST FERRIS

REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES

Tuesday, January 28, 2025

5:00 P.m. - 8:00 P.m.

Municipal Office Council Chambers

PRESENT:

• Pauline Rochefort, Mayor
• Terry Kelly, Councillor
• Steven Trahan, Councillor
• Rick Champagne, Councillor
• Lauren Rooyakkers, Deputy Mayor

STAFF PRESENT:

• Jason Trottier, CAO/Treasurer
• Kari Hanselman, Clerk

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1.

Call to Order

Mayor Rochefort called the meeting to order at 5:04 p.m. 

2.

Adoption of Agenda

• 2025-23
  Moved by Councillor Champagne
  Seconded by Councillor Kelly

  THAT the draft agenda presented to Council and dated the 28th day of January, 2025 be adopted as prepared.

  Carried Mayor Rochefort

3.

Accepting the Minutes of the Previous Meeting(s):

a.

Approval of Council Minutes: Regular Meeting of January 14th, 2025

• 2025-24
  Moved by Councillor Trahan
  Seconded by Deputy Mayor Rooyakkers

  THAT the Minutes of the Regular Council Meeting of January 14th, 2025 be adopted as circulated.

  Carried Mayor Rochefort

4.

Business Arising from the Minutes

None for this session. 

5.

Declarations of Conflict of Interest- Pecuniary Interest Thereof

a.

Deputy Mayor Rooyakkers - Report No. PLAN-2025-01: McLaughlin Surplus Land Request - Amendment to Council Resolution 2024-94

Property is close to my property and affect price of my property. 

6.

Announcements and Updates from Council Members:

Mayor Rochefort advised that Council had two delegations at the ROMA Conference last weekend. She thanked the staff for their hard work preparing presentation materials. 

Councillor Champagne advised that the East Ferris Community Centre and Arena's application to Kraft Hockeyville is now live. 

a.

Medal Presentation: 20 Years Exemplary Service, Ernie Colyer

A medal presentation took place honouring Ernie Colyer and his 20 Years Exemplary Service with the Fire Department. 

7.

Delegations to Council:

a.

James Bissonnette, East Ferris Horticultural Club

James Bissonnette made a presentation to Council regarding the East Ferris Horticultural Society's 2024 achievements and 2025 proposed program and budget. Council deferred to the 2025 budget deliberations. 

8.

Committee Reports:

a.

Public Works and Infrastructure Committee

None for this session. 

b.

Emergency Management Program Committee

1.

Minutes of January 15th, 2025

c.

Fire and Emergency Services Committee

1.

Minutes of January 23rd, 2025

d.

Planning Advisory Committee

None for this session. 

e.

Committee of Adjustment

None for this session. 

f.

Recreation, Parks and Culture Committee

None for this session. 

g.

Striking Committee

None for this session. 

9.

Board Reports:

a.

Library Board

1.

Minutes of January 23rd, 2025

b.

OPP Detachment Board

None for this session. 

c.

Cassellholme, DNSSAB, Health Unit and NBMCA

Council discussed the Housing Targets Report provided by DNSSAB. As East Ferris' representative on the DNSSAB Board, Councillor Kelly will request two delegations to the Board. One regarding the Housing Targets Report and one regarding daycare services. 

1.

Health Unit

2.

North Bay Mattawa Conservation Authority

10.

Departmental Reports & Resolutions:

a.

Report No. PLAN-2025-01: McLaughlin Surplus Land Request - Amendment to Council Resolution 2024-94

• Deputy Mayor Rooyakkers declared a conflict on this item. (Property is close to my property and affect price of my property. ;)

Deputy Mayor Rooyakkers vacated Council Chambers for this agenda item and did not participate in any discussion or vote. 

• 2025-25
  Moved by Councillor Trahan
  Seconded by Councillor Champagne

  THAT Council for the Corporation of the Municipality of East Ferris accepts the recommendation from the Director of Community Services contained in Report No. PLAN-2025-01 and amend the approval recommendation approved by Council Resolution 2024-94 to recognize the on-site conditions and approve the sale of a portion of the road allowance to Ken and Donna Murray, the owners of 50 Kyle Road to allow the Murray’s to purchase a portion of the road allowance where their existing shed straddles the property boundary.

  Carried Mayor Rochefort

b.

Report No. PLAN-2025-02: Champagne and Duquette Road Allowance Request

• 2025-26
  Moved by Deputy Mayor Rooyakkers
  Seconded by Councillor Kelly

  THAT Council for the Corporation of the Municipality of East Ferris accepts the recommendation from the Director of Community Services contained in Report No. PLAN-2025-02 and approves the request from Raymond Champagne on behalf of Roger & Louise Champagne and Tim & Marie Duquette to authorize the closing and transfer of the original road allowance as outlined in this report and as per Section 66 of the Municipal Act.

  Carried Mayor Rochefort

11.

Notice of Motions

None for this session.

12.

By-laws:

a.

By-law No. 2025-09: 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Reading

• 2025-27
  Moved by Councillor Trahan
  Seconded by Councillor Champagne

  WHEREAS Council for the Municipality of East Ferris deems it expedient to pass three readings of the following by-law at this session;
  
  BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED THAT a by-law to set 2025 Tax Ratios for prescribed property classes, BE READ a first, second and third time, passed and numbered 2025-09;
  
  AND THAT said by-law be signed by the Mayor and Clerk and sealed with the Seal of the Corporation.

  Carried Mayor Rochefort

b.

By-law No. 2025-10: 1st, 2nd and 3rd Reading

• 2025-28
  Moved by Councillor Trahan
  Seconded by Councillor Kelly

  WHEREAS Council for the Municipality of East Ferris deems it expedient to pass three readings of the following by-law at this session;
  
  BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED THAT a by-law to enter into a Transfer Site Agreement between the Corporation of the Municipality of East Ferris and Nipissing-Parry Sound Transportation Services, BE READ a first, second and third time, passed and numbered 2025-10;
  
  AND THAT said by-law be signed by the Mayor and Clerk and sealed with the Seal of the Corporation.

  Carried Mayor Rochefort

c.

By-law No. 2025-11: 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Reading

• 2025-29
  Moved by Councillor Trahan
  Seconded by Councillor Champagne

  WHEREAS Council for the Municipality of East Ferris deems it expedient to pass three readings of the following by-law at this session;
  
  BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED THAT a by-law to enter into a Telecommunications Tower and Shelter Agreement at North Bay-Imperial Road Site between the Corporation of the Municipality of East Ferris and Spectrum Telecom Group Ltd., BE READ a first, second and third time, passed and numbered 2025-11;
  
  AND THAT said by-law be signed by the Mayor and Clerk and sealed with the Seal of the Corporation.

  Carried Mayor Rochefort

d.

By-law No. 2025-12: 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Reading

• 2025-30
  Moved by Councillor Champagne
  Seconded by Councillor Kelly

  WHEREAS Council for the Municipality of East Ferris deems it expedient to pass three readings of the following by-law at this session;
  
  BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED THAT a by-law to enter into a Telecommunications Tower and Shelter Agreement at the Astorville Site (Village Road) between the Corporation of the Municipality of East Ferris and Spectrum Telecom Group Ltd., BE READ a first, second and third time, passed and numbered 2025-12;
  
  AND THAT said by-law be signed by the Mayor and Clerk and sealed with the Seal of the Corporation.

  Carried Mayor Rochefort

13.

Correspondence and Information Items:

a.

Ministry of Rural Affairs

b.

City of Peterborough

c.

AMO Communications

d.

Near North Crime Stoppers

• 2025-31
  Moved by Deputy Mayor Rooyakkers
  Seconded by Councillor Champagne

  WHEREAS Council for the Municipality of East Ferris recognizes January as Crime Stopper Month; 

  BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED that Council directs staff to share Near North Crime Stoppers messaging in newsletters, social media, and on community electronic boards to amplify awareness. 

  Carried Mayor Rochefort

e.

Northern Ontario Women's Causcus

• 2025-32
  Moved by Deputy Mayor Rooyakkers
  Seconded by Councillor Champagne

  THAT Council for the Municipality of East Ferris supports the resolution received from the Northern Ontario Women's Caucus calling on Michael Mantha to resign from his position as MPP of the Algoma-Manitoulin riding immediately;

  AND FUTHER THAT this resolution be forwarded to the Office of Michael Mantha, Premier Ford, AMO, ROMA,
  FONOM and NOMA.

  Defeated

14.

Action Items:

a.

Approval of Correspondence and Information Circulated with the Agenda

• 2025-33
  Moved by Councillor Trahan
  Seconded by Councillor Kelly

  THAT Council approve the Correspondence and Information as circulated with the agenda of January 28th, 2025.

  Carried Mayor Rochefort

15.

Approval of Accounts Payable

• 2025-34
  Moved by Councillor Champagne
  Seconded by Councillor Kelly

  THAT Council approve the general accounts for the Municipality of East Ferris as indicated in the cheque register(s) dated January 28th, 2025 in the amount of $203,068.49. 

  Carried Mayor Rochefort

16.

Other Business

None for this session. 

17.

In Camera (if required)

None for this session. 

18.

Confirmatory By-Law

a.

By-law No. 2025-13: 1st, 2nd and 3rd Reading

• 2025-35
  Moved by Deputy Mayor Rooyakkers
  Seconded by Councillor Trahan

  WHEREAS Council for the Municipality of East Ferris deems it expedient to pass three readings of the following by-law at this session;

  BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED THAT a By-law to confirm the proceedings of Council from January 14th, 2025 to January 28th, 2025, BE READ a first, second and third time, passed and numbered 2025-13; 

  AND THAT said by-law be signed by the Mayor and Clerk and sealed with the Seal of the Corporation.

  Carried Mayor Rochefort

19.

Adjournment

• 2025-36
  Moved by Councillor Champagne
  Seconded by Councillor Kelly

  THAT we do now adjourn at 6:50 p.m. and meet again on February 10th, 2025.

  Carried Mayor Rochefort