THE CORPORATION OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF EAST FERRIS

REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES

-
Municipal Office Council Chambers
PRESENT:
  • Rick Champagne, Mayor
  • Lauren Rooyakkers, Deputy Mayor
  • Terry Kelly, Councillor
  • Steven Trahan, Councillor
  • Nick Brazeau, Councillor
STAFF PRESENT:
  • Jason Trottier, CAO/Treasurer
  • Kim Rose, Clerk

1.
Call to Order

 

Mayor Champagne called the meeting to order at 5:10 p.m. 

2.
Adoption of Agenda

 
  • 2026-18
    Moved byCouncillor Trahan
    Seconded byCouncillor Brazeau

    THAT the draft agenda presented to Council and dated the 27th day of January, 2026 be adopted as prepared.

    Carried Mayor Champagne

3.
Accepting the Minutes of the Previous Meeting(s):

 

a.
Approval of Council Minutes: Regular Meeting of January 13th, 2026

This item has attachments. 
1.Council Meeting Minutes - January 13th, 2026.pdf
  • 2026-19
    Moved byCouncillor Brazeau
    Seconded byCouncillor Kelly

    THAT the Minutes of the Regular Council Meeting of January 13th, 2026 be adopted as circulated.

    Carried Mayor Champagne

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. COMM-2026-03

 

Deputy Mayor Rooyakkers declared a conflict as she is a member of the Board of Directors for the Seniors Villas of East Ferris and the Villas are a separate entity of Council. The Deputy Mayor vacated her seat for the duration of the discussions on this matter and did not participate in any vote. 

6.
Announcements and Updates from Council Members

 

Mayor Champagne reminded the public that the East Ferris Winter Carnival is coming up. The Mayor advised that advertisements for a snow sculpture competition will be published in the coming days. 

Mayor Champagne also noted that Council recently attended the Rural Ontario Municipal Association (ROMA) conference where a focus of the event was building more homes.

Councillor Trahan advised that the annual Ride for Jack event is set for February 21st at Stepping Stones Trail off MacPherson. This event is hosted by One Kid's Place, with proceeds to support summer camps and initiatives for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. 

Deputy Mayor Rooyakkers advised that Saturday, January 31st, Wasi Ski Club is hosting a moonlit snowshoe. Details can be found on the Wasi Ski Club Facebook page. 

7.
Delegations to Council:

 

None for this session.

8.
Committee Reports:

 

9.
Board Reports:

 

10.
Departmental Reports & Resolutions:

 

a.
Report No. COMM-2026-02

This item has attachments. 
1.COMM-2026-02 - BRE Council Report.pdf

Economic Development Officer, Connor Montgomery reviewed his Business Retention and Expansion Plan and Community Organization Outreach report with Council. This was an informational report.

b.
Report No. COMM-2026-03

This item has attachments. This item has conflict.
1.COMM-2026-03 - East Ferris Seniors Villa Expansion.pdf
  • Deputy Mayor Rooyakkers declared a conflict on this item. (Deputy Mayor Rooyakkers declared a conflict as she is a member of the Board of Directors for the Seniors Villas of East Ferris and the Villas are a separate entity of Council. The Deputy Mayor vacated her seat for the duration of the discussions on this matter and did not participate in any vote. ;)

re: Seniors Villa of East Ferris Expansion Project - Director of Community Services, Greg Kirton

NOTE: The Clerk drafted two resolutions for the appointment of a member of Council to the Expansion Project Steering Committee. The resolution to appoint Mayor Champagne was carried, and as such, the second resolution was not tabled. 

  • 2026-20
    Moved byCouncillor Trahan
    Seconded byCouncillor Brazeau

    That the Council for the Municipality of East Ferris accepts the recommendation of the Director of Community Services as detailed in Report No. COMM-2026-03; 

    And that Council supports the East Ferris Seniors Villa application to the Build Canada Homes (BCH) Program in the following ways:

    1. Grant application writing support
    2. Participation in a project steering committee (CAO, Director of Community Services, 1 Council representative); and
    3. Land donation, contingent upon approval from the BCH Program and hitting key project milestones.
    Carried Mayor Champagne
  • 2026-21
    Moved byCouncillor Kelly
    Seconded byCouncillor Brazeau

    THAT Council appoints Mayor Champagne to the Seniors Villa of East Ferris Expansion Project Steering Committee. 

    Carried Mayor Champagne

11.
Notice of Motions

 

None for this session.

12.
By-laws:

 

None for this session.

13.
Correspondence and Information Items:

 

a.
AMO Communications

This item has attachments. 
1.AMO Watchfile - January 15, 2026.pdf
2.AMO Watchfile - January 22, 2026.pdf

re: Watchfile of January 15th & 22nd, 2026

b.
Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC)

This item has attachments. 
1.MPAC 2025-MunicipalPartnershipsReport-EN.pdf

re: 2025 Municipal Partnership Report

c.
District of Nipissing Social Services Administration Board

This item has attachments. 
1.DNSSAB 2026 Apportionment on assessment 2025 tax ratio 2025.pdf

re: 2026 DNSSAB Levy

d.
City of Peterborough

This item has attachments. 
1.City of Peterborough re Sustainable Funding for Police Resolution.pdf

re: Sustainable Funding for Police Services

  • 2026-22
    Moved byDeputy Mayor Rooyakkers
    Seconded byCouncillor Kelly

    THAT the Council for the Municipality of East Ferris supports the City of Peterborough requesting that the Province of Ontario provide targeted financial assistance to municipalities to offset any additional costs that are directly and demonstrably incurred as a result of compliance with the Community Safety and Policing Act, 2019, and not general increases to police budgets; 

    AND THAT Council urges the Province of Ontario to review and reform its current police grant programs to ensure a more equitable distribution of funding to municipalities so that communities with growing populations and expanding service demands receive fair and sustainable provincial support; and

    BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT Council requests that the Province of Ontario provide stable sustainable funding to offset costs associated with the provision of providing court security services; 

    AND FINALLY THAT this resolution be forwarded to the Premier of Ontario, the Minister of the Solicitor General, the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, and the Lake Nosbonsing OPP Detachment Board.

    Carried Mayor Champagne

14.
Action Items:

 

a.
Approval of Correspondence and Information Circulated with the Agenda

 
  • 2026-23
    Moved byCouncillor Trahan
    Seconded byDeputy Mayor Rooyakkers

    THAT Council approve the Correspondence and Information as circulated with the agenda of January 27th, 2026. 

    Carried Mayor Champagne

15.
Approval of Accounts Payable

 
  • 2026-24
    Moved byCouncillor Kelly
    Seconded byCouncillor Brazeau

    THAT Council approve the general accounts for the Municipality of East Ferris as indicated in the cheque register(s) dated January 27th, 2026 in the amount of $228,859.74.

    Carried Mayor Champagne

16.
Other Business

 

None for this session.

17.
In Camera (if required)

 
  • 2026-25
    Moved byCouncillor Trahan
    Seconded byCouncillor Brazeau

    THAT this meeting proceeds to In-Camera session at 6:09 p.m., under Section 239(2) (b) of the Municipal Act, 2001, S.O. 2001, c.25 in order to address a matter pertaining to personal matters about an identifiable individual, including municipal or local board employees for the purpose of discussing the Sports Hall of Fame nominations.

    Carried Mayor Champagne
  • 2026-26
    Moved byCouncillor Trahan
    Seconded byCouncillor Kelly

    That this meeting returns to regular session at 6:22 p.m. 

    Carried Mayor Champagne

18.
Resolution(s) Resulting from In-Camera Session

 
  • 2026-27
    Moved byCouncillor Brazeau
    Seconded byCouncillor Trahan

    THAT Council accepts the nomination of Ray and Karen Sabourin for the 2025 Sports Hall of Fame Induction; and

    THAT this award be presented at the opening ceremonies of the 2026 Winter Carnival.

    Carried Mayor Champagne

19.
Confirmatory By-law

 

a.
By-law No. 2025-08: 1st, 2nd and 3rd Reading

This item has attachments. 
1.By-law No. 2026-08 Confirmatory - January 14th - January 27th, 2026.pdf
  • 2026-28
    Moved byDeputy Mayor Rooyakkers
    Seconded byCouncillor 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, 2026 to January 27th, 2026, BE READ a first, second and third time, passed and numbered 2026-08;

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

    Carried Mayor Champagne

20.
Adjournment

 
  • 2026-29
    Moved byCouncillor Kelly
    Seconded byCouncillor Trahan

    THAT we do now adjourn at 6:25 p.m. and meet again on February 10th, 2026.

    Carried Mayor Champagne
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