THE CORPORATION OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF EAST FERRIS

REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES

Tuesday, March 23, 2021

6:00 P.m. - 9:00 P.m.

Corbeil Park Hall

PRESENT:

• Pauline Rochefort, Mayor
• Terry Kelly, Councillor
• Erika Lougheed, Councillor
• Steven Trahan, Deputy Mayor
• Rick Champagne, Councillor

STAFF PRESENT:

• Monica L. Hawkins, Clerk
• Jason Trottier, CAO/Treasurer

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1.

Call to Order

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

2.

Adoption of Agenda

• 2021-76
  Moved by Councillor Champagne
  Seconded by Deputy Mayor Trahan

  THAT the draft agenda presented to Council and dated the 23rd day of March, 2021 be adopted as circulated.

  Carried Mayor Rochefort

3.

Accepting the Minutes of the Previous Meeting(s):

a.

Approval of Council Minutes of meeting held March 9th, 2021

• 2021-77
  Moved by Councillor Lougheed
  Seconded by Councillor Champagne

  THAT the minutes of the Regular Meeting of Council held March 9th, 2021 be adopted as circulated.

  Carried Mayor Rochefort

4.

Business Arising from the Minutes

None for this session

5.

Declarations of Conflict of Interest

Mayor Rochefort declared an indirect Pecuniary Interest on agenda item 7(b) and agenda item 10(e).  Mayor Rochefort advised that Lucie Laperriere Rochefort was her sister.  Prior to the discussion of these two matters, Mayor Rochefort handed over the Chair's seat to Deputy Mayor Trahan.  Deputy Mayor Trahan chaired the meeting for these items of  discussion

a.

Mayor Rochefort - Delegations to Council and Report No. PLAN-2021-05

6.

Chair's Comments:

7.

Delegations to Council:

a.

Mr. Todd Wilcox

Mr. Todd Wilcox made a presentation to Council on an update of the Algonquin Land Claim

b.

André Laperrière and Lucie Laperrière Rochefort

• Mayor Rochefort declared a conflict on this item. (Mayor Rochefort's sister, under agenda item 7(b)- Delegation to Council from Lucie Laperriere Rochefort and agenda item 10(e) Report No. PLAN-2021-05 which pertains to Lucie Laperriere Rochefort.   )

Prior to hearing Andre Laperriere and Lucie Laperriere Rochefort's presentation; Mayor Rochefort declared her interest and turn the chair over to Deputy Mayor Trahan to chair this part of the meeting.  Mayor Rochefort did not participate nor vote on any matter pertaining to the presentation.

Lucie Laperriere Rochefort made her presentation to Council regarding the purchase of Lakeshore Road Allowance Sale Finalization, 141 Blanche Road.  Council approved the finalization of the sale and passed resolution No. 2021-78.

8.

Committee Reports:

a.

Public Works and Infrastructure Committee

b.

Community Emergency Management Committee

c.

Fire and Emergency Services Committee

1.

Committee met to review the Fire Report as presented to Council at the meeting of February 23rd, 2021

d.

Planning Advisory Committee

e.

Committee of Adjustment

1.

Minutes of March 17th, 2021

f.

Recreation, Parks and Culture Committee

1.

Rob Effinger

Letter to be sent to Mr. Effinger accepting his resignation from the Committee

g.

Economic Development Committee

1.

Minutes of March 17th, 2021

• 2021-79
  Moved by Councillor Kelly
  Seconded by Councillor Lougheed

  WHEREAS the Economic Development Committee recommended to Council that a personal welcome from Council and the Economic Development Committee be made each time a new business is established in the community in place of a business welcome package;

  AND WHEREAS the Economic Development Committee deems this approach to be a more effective and engaging in welcoming of a new business to the community;

  BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED THAT Council approves of this recommendation.

  Carried Mayor Rochefort

h.

Communications Committee

i.

East Ferris Centennial Celebration Committee

1.

Minutes of March 16th, 2021

j.

Municipal Office Project/Technical Advisory Committee

9.

Board Reports:

a.

Library Board

b.

Police Services Board

1.

Minutes of March 11th, 2021

10.

Departmental Reports & Resolutions:

a.

Report No. 2021-02 - Frank Loeffen, Fire Chief/CEMC - Volunteer and Officer Wage Comparison

• 2021-81
  Moved by Councillor Champagne
  Seconded by Councillor Lougheed

  THAT Council for the Municipality of East Ferris accepts the recommendation from the Fire Chief/CEMC contained in Report No. FD-2021-02 as follows:

  1. To increase the annual points system budget by $10,000 over the 2020 budget for 2021, and for future years beginning in 2022, continue with the annual point budget increase of 3% per year;
  2. To increase the annual officer honorarium by 2% per year beginning in 2021; and
  3. To revise the remuneration structure for the Fire Prevention Officer from $50.00/inspection to the same honorarium being received by the other Officers.

   

  Carried Mayor Rochefort

b.

Report No. FD-2021-03 - Frank Loeffen, Fire Chief/CEMC

Councillor Kelly advised that under the Municipal Conflict of Interest Act Sections 5 and 5.2 do not apply to a pecuniary interest in any matter that a member may have:           

(i) in respect of an allowance for attendance at meetings, or any other allowance, honorarium, salary or benefit to which the member may be entitled by reason of being a member or as a member of a volunteer fire brigade, as the case may be.  In other words, the same exemption that permits members of council to vote on their own compensation as councillors also covers any such pecuniary interests regarding those who are volunteer firefighters.

• 2921-82
  Moved by Deputy Mayor Trahan
  Seconded by Councillor Lougheed

  THAT Council for the Municipality of East Ferris accepts the recommendation from the Fire Chief/CEMC contained in Report No. FD-2021-03 as follows:

  1. To continue with the current practice of recognizing years of service with awards and plaques for every 5 years of service; and
  2. To provide, on a go forward basis beginning in 2021, all members with financial compensation for years of service as follows: 5 years - $250, 10 years - $500, 15 years - $750, 20 years - $1,000, 25 years - $1,500, and 30 years $2,000.
  Carried Mayor Rochefort

c.

Report No. PLAN-2021-03, Greg Kirton, Manager of Planning and Economic Development

• 2021-83
  Moved by Councillor Kelly
  Seconded by Councillor Champagne

  THAT Council for the Municipality of East Ferris accepts the recommendation from the Manager of Planning and Economic Development contained in Report PLAN-2021-03 as follows:

  1. That the request made by Tammy Medeiros, on behalf of 1743617 Ontario Inc., to purchase a portion of unopened road allowance adjacent to 652 Astorville Road be approved. This sale would be done in accordance with the policies laid out in By-law 2218 and valued at a rate of $0.75/sq. ft. as set out in the East Ferris Fees and Charges By-law.
  Carried Mayor Rochefort

d.

Report No. PLAN-2021-04, Greg Kirton, Manager of Planning and Economic Development

• 2021-84
  Moved by Deputy Mayor Trahan
  Seconded by Councillor Lougheed

  THAT Council for the Municipality of East Ferris accepts the recommendation from the Manager of Planning and Economic Development contained in Report No. PLAN-2021-04 as follows:

  1. That the request made by Yvonne Vlietstra, owner of 103 Morgan Road, to purchase a portion of unopened road allowance adjacent to 103 Morgan Road be approved. This sale would be done in accordance with the policies laid out in By-law 2218 and valued at a rate of $0.75/sq. ft. as set out in the East Ferris Fees and Charges By-law.
  Carried Mayor Rochefort

e.

Report No. PLAN-2021-05, Greg Kirton, Manager of Planning and Economic Development

During the discussion of this resolution, Mayor Rochefort declared an Indirect Pecuniary Interest on this matter as it involved her sister's property.  Mayor Rochefort handed over the chair to Deputy Mayor Trahan to chair this part of the meeting.  Mayor Rochefort did not participate nor vote on the motion No. 2021-78

• 2021-78
  Moved by Councillor Kelly
  Seconded by Councillor Lougheed

  THAT Council for the Municipality of East Ferris accepts the recommendation from the Manager of Planning and Economic Development contained in Report No. PLAN-2021-05 as follows:

  1. That municipal staff prepare a by-law to execute the sale of the previously closed shoreline road allowance to Lucie Laperriere-Rochefort in accordance with the terms outlined in Resolution No. 16 passed by the Township of East Ferris Council on December 14^th, 2004.
  Carried Deputy Mayor Trahan

f.

Report No. PLAN-2021-06, Greg Kirton, Manager of Planning and Economic Development

Mr. Neil Hutchinson from Hutchinson Environmental Sciences Ltd. was present at the meeting along with Greg Kirton, Manager of Planning and Economic Development to review with Council the Lake Assessment Study Report for Lake Nosbonsing.

• 2021-80
  Moved by Deputy Mayor Trahan
  Seconded by Councillor Lougheed

  THAT Council for the Municipality of East Ferris accepts the recommendation from the Manager of Planning and Economic Development contained in Report No. PLAN-2021-06 and accept the Lake Assessment Study Report for Lake Nosbonsing that was prepared by Hutchinson Environmental Sciences Ltd. and that Council direct staff to explore options for ongoing monitoring and additional data collection, as recommended by the report.

   

  Carried Mayor Rochefort

g.

Report No. PLAN-2021-07, Greg Kirton, Manager of Planning and Economic Development

• 2021-85
  Moved by Deputy Mayor Trahan
  Seconded by Councillor Kelly

  THAT Council for the Municipality of East Ferris accepts the recommendation from the Manager of Planning and Economic Development contained in Report No. PLAN-2021-07 as follows:

  1. That Robert & Joanne Guillemette be permitted to make an application for minor variance under section 45 of the Planning Act for Lot 7, Plan 36M-707, located on Nosbonsing Park Road.
  Carried Mayor Rochefort

11.

Notice of Motions

12.

By-laws:

a.

By-Law No. 2021-15 - 1st, 2nd and 3rd Reading

• 2021-86
  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 remove the Holding (H) Zone Symbol from Lands Zoned by By-law No. 2018-51 (Quae Quae Road and Hurtubise Road) BE READ  a first, second and third time, passed and numbered 2021-15;

  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.

General (Ret'd) Rick Hillier

b.

Ministry of Solicitor General

c.

Sylvia Jones, Solicitor General

d.

AMO Communications

e.

Integrity Commissioner

f.

Nipissing District and Homeless Partnership

g.

North Bay Regional Health Centre Foundation

h.

Stewart Millar

Mr. Millar's letter was deferred to staff for report

14.

Action Items:

a.

Approval of Correspondence and Information circulated with the agenda

• 2021-87
  Moved by Councillor Champagne
  Seconded by Councillor Lougheed

  THAT Council acknowledge the correspondence and information as circulated with the agenda and dated the 23rd day of March, 2021.

  Carried Mayor Rochefort

b.

Support of Resolution

• 2021-88
  Moved by Councillor Kelly
  Seconded by Deputy Mayor Trahan

  THAT Council for the Municipality of East Ferris supports the resolution from the Municipality of West Grey pertaining to Municipal Insurance Rates.

  Carried Mayor Rochefort

c.

Support of Resolution

• 2021-89
  Moved by Councillor Kelly
  Seconded by Councillor Champagne

  THAT Council for the Municipality of East Ferris supports the resolution from the Township of Archipelago requesting Minister Clark to review the Municipal Act and provide amendments to provide clearer, stronger wording to assist Municipal Clerks in addressing issues to allow for a more definitive decision to be made when adding names to the voters’ list.

  Carried Mayor Rochefort

d.

Deferred resolution of support from last Council meeting

Motion N. 2021-90 was defeated through voting

• 2021-90
  Moved by Deputy Mayor Trahan
  Seconded by Councillor Kelly

  THAT Council for the Municipality of East Ferris supports the resolution from the Township of Conmee to lobby the Provincial Government to amend the Municipal Act and Municipal Elections Act, as may be, so that people with a criminal record who have not had their record cleared from the RCMP Data Base by order of the Governor General of Canada, be prohibited from becoming a candidate in municipal elections.

  Defeated

15.

Approval of Accounts Payable

• 2021-91
  Moved by Deputy Mayor Trahan
  Seconded by Councillor Lougheed

  THAT Council approve the general accounts for the Municipality of East Ferris as indicated in the cheque register(s) dated March 23rd, 2021 in the amount of $463,034.07.

  Carried Mayor Rochefort

16.

Other Business

None for this session

17.

In Camera (if required)

18.

Confirmatory By-Law

a.

By-law No. 2021-14 - 1st, 2nd and 3rd Reading

• 2021-92
  Moved by Councillor Champagne
  Seconded by Councillor Lougheed

  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 March 9th, 2021 to  March 23rd, BE READ  a first, second and third time, passed and numbered 2021-14;

  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

• 2021-93
  Moved by Deputy Mayor Trahan
  Seconded by Councillor Kelly

  THAT we do now adjourn at 7:42 p.m. and meet again on April 13th, 2021.

  Carried Mayor Rochefort