THE CORPORATION OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF EAST FERRIS

REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES

Tuesday, January 14, 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
• Kim Rose, Deputy Clerk

---

1.

Call to Order

Mayor Rochefort called the meeting to order at 5:02 p.m 

2.

Adoption of Agenda

• 2025-01
  Moved by Councillor Champagne
  Seconded by Councillor Kelly

  THAT the draft agenda presented to Council and dated the 14th 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 December 10th and the Special Meeting of December 17th, 2024

• 2025-02
  Moved by Councillor Trahan
  Seconded by Deputy Mayor Rooyakkers

  THAT the Minutes of the Regular Council Meeting of December 10th, 2024  and Special Council Meeting of December 17th, 2024 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.

Councillor Champagne - By-law No. 2025-04: 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Reading

Councillor Champagne declared a conflict due to family. 

6.

Announcements and Updates from Council Members

Mayor Rochefort noted the upcoming Rural Ontario Municipalities Association annual conference occurring from January 19th - 21st, 2025. East Ferris will be presenting delegations to the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Infrastructure and the Solicitor General. 

7.

Delegations to Council:

None for this session.

8.

Committee Reports:

a.

Public Works and Infrastructure Committee

Councillor Champagne thanked staff for doing an excellent job with recycling pick-up over the holidays.  Council agreed.

b.

Emergency Management Program Committee

None for this session.

c.

Fire and Emergency Services Committee

None for this session.

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 6th, 2025

b.

OPP Detachment Board

1.

Minutes of Community Representative Advisory Committee

2.

Recommendation from Minutes

• 2025-03
  Moved by Councillor Champagne
  Seconded by Deputy Mayor Rooyakkers

  WHEREAS the Lake Nosbonsing OPP Detachment Board Community Representative Advisory Committee at it's meeting of December 16th, 2024 reviewed applications for the Community Representative vacancy;

  AND WHEREAS as per the Community Safety and Policing Act, 2019, the successful applicant must be jointly appointed by all 3 member municipalities;

  AND WHEREAS the Committee recommends to Council for the Municipality of East Ferris that Brian Linn be appointed to the Lake Nosbonsing OPP Detachment Board as the community member who is neither a member of the council of, nor an employee of, any of the above municipalities, jointly appointed by all of the above municipalities;

  AND WHEREAS this appointment shall be for the remaining 2022-2026 term of Council; 

  NOW THEREFORE be it hereby resolved that Council approves of this recommendation. 

  Carried Mayor Rochefort

c.

Cassellholme, DNSSAB, Health Unit and NBMCA

1.

Cassellholme

2.

District of Nipissing Social Services Administration Board

3.

North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit

4.

North Bay Mattawa Conservation Authority

10.

Departmental Reports & Resolutions:

None for this session.

11.

Notice of Motions

None for this session.

12.

By-laws:

a.

By-law No. 2025-01: 1st, 2nd and 3rd Reading

• 2025-04
  Moved by Councillor Kelly
  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 levy Interim Tax Rates and Charges, BE READ a first, second and third time, passed and numbered 2025-01;
  
  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. 2025-02: 1st, 2nd and 3rd Reading

• 2025-05
  Moved by Councillor Champagne
  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 authorize temporary borrowing from time to time to meet current expenditures during the fiscal year ending December 31st, 2025, BE READ a first, second and third time, passed and numbered 2025-02;
  
  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. 2025-03: 1st, 2nd and 3rd Reading

• 2025-06
  Moved by Councillor Kelly
  Seconded by Deputy Mayor Rooyakkers

  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 2025-03;
  
  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. 2025-04: 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Reading

• Councillor Champagne declared a conflict on this item. (Councillor Champagne declared a conflict due to family. ;)

Councillor Champagne left the Council Chambers for this item and did not participate in the discussion or vote. 

• 2025-07
  Moved by Deputy Mayor Rooyakkers
  Seconded by Councillor Trahan

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

  BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED THAT a By-law to authorize the purchase of land at 31 Champagne Road from Rene and Linda Champagne, BE READ a first, second and third time, passed and numbered 2025-04;

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

  Carried Mayor Rochefort

e.

By-law No. 2025-05: 1st, 2nd and 3rd Reading

• 2025-08
  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 authorize an agreement between the Corporation of the Municipality of East Ferris and His Majesty the King in Right of Ontario as Represented by the Office of the Fire Marshal, BE READ a first, second and third time, passed and numbered 2025-05;
  
  AND THAT said by-law be signed by the Mayor and Clerk and sealed with the Seal of the Corporation.

  Carried Mayor Rochefort

f.

By-law No. 2025-06:1st, 2nd and 3rd Reading

• 2025-09
  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 appoint Community Emergency Management Coordinators, Chairs and Information Officers, BE READ a first, second and third time, passed and numbered 2025-06;

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

  Carried Mayor Rochefort

g.

By-law No. 2025-07: 1st, 2nd and 3rd Reading

• 2025-10
  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 amend By-law No. 2021-60 (Barbara Breault - 2667 Highway 17 East) as amended, BE READ a first, second and third time, passed and numbered 2025-07;

  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 Municipal Affairs and Housing

b.

Ministry of Natural Resources

c.

Emergency Management Ontario

d.

Ontario Provincial Police

e.

Province of Ontario

f.

Municipality of Kincardine

g.

AMO

1.

Communications

2.

AMO/MEPCO/LAS

h.

DNSSAB

• 2025-11
  Moved by Councillor Kelly
  Seconded by Deputy Mayor Rooyakkers

  That Council directs staff to seek a delegation to the District of Nipissing Social Services Administration Board in regards to the Housing Targets Report, and services to East Ferris. 

  Carried Mayor Rochefort

i.

FONOM

• 2025-12
  Moved by Councillor Kelly
  Seconded by Councillor Champagne

  That the Council of the Municipality of East Ferris is in support of the letter received from FONOM calling on the Government of Ontario to immediately address the funding shortfall in child welfare by providing emergency stabilization funding to Children's Aid Societies; 

  And that the Municipality of East Ferris requests that the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services undertake a Province wide service review, including the funding model; 

  And further that this resolution be forwarded to: The Honourable Michael Parsa, Minister of Children, Community and Social Services, the Ontario Association of Children's Aid Societies, Association of Native Child and Family Services Agencies of Ontario, the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO), and Rural Ontario Municipal Association (ROMA).

  Carried Mayor Rochefort

j.

Municipal Property Assessment Corporation

k.

North Bay-Parry Sound District Health Unit

l.

Northern Ontario Women's Caucus

Deferred to the next meeting of Council. 

14.

Action Items:

a.

Approval of Correspondence and Information Circulated with the Agenda

• 2025-13
  Moved by Deputy Mayor Rooyakkers
  Seconded by Councillor Kelly

  THAT Council approve the Correspondence and Information as circulated with the agenda of January 14, 2025.

  Carried Mayor Rochefort

b.

Resolution: 2025 Council Memberships

• 2025-14
  Moved by Councillor Champagne
  Seconded by Councillor Trahan

  THAT Council approve the 2025 Membership list as amended to include the Northern Ontario Women's Caucus, and presented at the Regular Meeting of Council held January 14th, 2025 .

  Carried Mayor Rochefort

c.

Resolution: East Ferris Winter Carnival

• 2025-15
  Moved by Councillor Trahan
  Seconded by Councillor Champagne

  THAT Council for the Municipality of East Ferris has no objection to the East Ferris Carnival Committee hosting the 2025 Winter Carnival from February 13^th to February 16^th, 2025;

  AND FURTHER that Council declares this a municipally significant event and has no objections to the applications for appropriate licences. 

  Carried Mayor Rochefort
• 2025-16
  Moved by Councillor Trahan
  Seconded by Councillor Kelly

  That the Council of the Municipality of East Ferris supports Councillor Champagne's initiative in the nomination and application process for Kraft Hockeyville; 

  AND THAT Council agrees to promote this application and seek public support at the 2025 Winter Carnival. 

  Carried Mayor Rochefort

15.

Approval of Accounts Payable

• 2025-17
  Moved by Deputy Mayor Rooyakkers
  Seconded by Councillor Trahan

  THAT Council approve the general accounts for the Municipality of East Ferris as indicated in the cheque register(s) dated January 14, 2025 in the amount of $1,030,688.95.

  Carried Mayor Rochefort

16.

Other Business

Councillor Kelly advised that the Fitness Centre is proceeding with updated equipment, security cameras and signage. 

Councillor Kelly also noted the high level of communication with the public by Deputy Mayor Rooyakkers. 

17.

In Camera 

CAO Jason Trottier was delegated the powers and duties of the Clerk, under the authority of the Municipal Act, 2001 for the purpose of this in-camera session, and all items that occur after the in-camera session for this meeting of January 14th, 2025. 

• 2025-18
  Moved by Councillor Kelly
  Seconded by Councillor Champagne

  THAT this meeting proceeds to In-Camera session at 6:46 p.m., under Section 239(2) of the Municipal Act, 2001, S.O. 2001, c.25 in order to address a matter pertaining to (d) Labour relations or employee negotiations - regarding Staff Performance Review. 

   

  Carried Mayor Rochefort
• 2025-19
  Moved by Councillor Kelly
  Seconded by Councillor Champagne

  THAT we do now adjourn this In-Camera meeting at 7:56 p.m. and return to our Regular session. 

  Carried Mayor Rochefort
• 2025-20
  Moved by Councillor Trahan
  Seconded by Councillor Kelly

  That Council for the Municipality of East Ferris has completed the CAO Performance Appraisal for 2024 and that the CAO's performance has been deemed to be excellent. 

  Carried Mayor Rochefort

18.

Confirmatory By-Law

a.

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

• 2025-21
  Moved by Councillor Trahan
  Seconded by Deputy Mayor Rooyakkers

  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 December 10th, 2024 to January 14th, 2025, BE READ a first, second and third time, passed and numbered 2025-08;

  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

• 2025-22
  Moved by Councillor Kelly
  Seconded by Councillor Champagne

  THAT we do now adjourn at 8:00 p.m. and meet again on January 28th, 2025. 

  Carried Mayor Rochefort