THE CORPORATION OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF EAST FERRIS

REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES

Tuesday, December 12, 2023

6:00 P.m. - 9:00 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 6:00 p.m. 

2.

Adoption of Agenda

• 2023-327
  Moved by Councillor Champagne
  Seconded by Councillor Kelly

  THAT the draft agenda presented to Council and dated the 12th day of December, 2023 be adopted as prepared. 

  Carried Mayor Rochefort

3.

Accepting the Minutes of the Previous Meeting(s):

a.

Approval of Council Minutes: Regular Meeting of November 28th, 2023

• 2023-328
  Moved by Councillor Trahan
  Seconded by Deputy Mayor Rooyakkers

  THAT the Minutes of the Regular Council Meeting of November 28th, 2023 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

None for this session

6.

Chair's Comments:

Mayor Rochefort advised the Christmas lights at the Memorial Park look nice. 

7.

Delegations to Council:

None for this session

8.

Committee Reports:

a.

Public Works and Infrastructure Committee

1.

Minutes of December 5th, 2023

2.

Recommendation(s) from Minutes:

• 2023-329
  Moved by Councillor Champagne
  Seconded by Councillor Kelly

  WHEREAS at their meeting of December 5th, 2023 the Public Works and Infrastructure Committee reviewed the Final Culvert Inspection Report dated June 2023 as prepared by McIntosh Perry;  

  AND WHEREAS the Committee recommends Council accept the Final Culvert Inspection Report; 

  BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED that Council approves of this recommendation. 

  Carried Mayor Rochefort

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.

Economic Development Committee

None for this session 

h.

Striking Committee

None for this session 

9.

Board Reports:

a.

Library Board

1.

Minutes of December 4th, 2023

b.

Police Services Board

None for this session

c.

Cassellholme, DNSSAB, Health Unit and NBMCA

10.

Departmental Reports & Resolutions:

a.

Report No. PLAN-2023-08 - Trout Lake Water Quality Study

Council requested a second meeting with JL Richards and Hutchinson Environmental before making a decision. 

b.

Report No. CBO-2023-01 - Building Permit Fees

• 2023-330
  Moved by Councillor Trahan
  Seconded by Councillor Kelly

  THAT Council for the Municipality of East Ferris directs staff to prepare an amendment to our Fees and Charges By-law No. 2023-11 to incorporate the new proposed building permit fees in Appendix 'A' to Report No. CBO-2023-01. 

  Carried Mayor Rochefort

c.

Report No. CAO-2023-06 - COVID-19 Vaccination Policy Suspension

• 2023-331
  Moved by Councillor Trahan
  Seconded by Deputy Mayor Rooyakkers

  THAT Council for the Municipality of East Ferris accepts the recommendation from the CAO/Treasurer contained in Report No. CAO-2023-07 and suspend the municipality's Covid-19 Vaccination Policy approved on October 12th, 2021 (Policy No. GOV-007). 

  Carried Mayor Rochefort

d.

Report No. CAO-2023-07 - Library Renovations

• 2023-332
  Moved by Councillor Champagne
  Seconded by Deputy Mayor Rooyakkers

  THAT Council for the Municipality of East Ferris accepts the recommendation from the CAO/Treasurer contained in Report No. CAO-2023-07 and award the Request for Proposal – Library Renovations to DL Building Group, at an upset limit of $55,000, and directs staff to negotiate the scope of work based on operational priorities.

  Carried Mayor Rochefort

11.

Notice of Motions

None for this session

12.

By-laws:

a.

By-law No. 2023-52: 1st, 2nd and 3rd Reading

• 2023-333
  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 authorize the execution of a Plan Review Agreement between the North Bay Mattawa Conservation Authority and the Corporation of the Municipality of East Ferris BE READ a first, second and third time, passed and numbered 2023-52;

  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. 2023-53: 1st, 2nd and 3rd Reading

• 2023-334
  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 authorize the execution of an Agreement for Category 2 and 3 Programs and Services between the North Bay Mattawa Conservation Authority and the Corporation of the Municipality of East Ferris BE READ a first, second and third time, passed and numbered 2023-53;

  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. 2023-54: 1st, 2nd and 3rd Reading

• 2023-335
  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 authorize the execution of the Minutes of Settlement between the Corporation of the Municipality of East Ferris and 1851477 Ontario Inc. BE READ a first, second and third time, passed and numbered 2023-54;

  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. 2023-55: 1st and 2nd Reading

• 2023-336
  Moved by Deputy Mayor Rooyakkers
  Seconded by Councillor Champagne

  THAT By-law No. 2023-55 being a By-law to govern the proceedings of Council, Local Boards and Committees or either, the conduct of its members, the calling of the meetings and to establish rules of order , BE READ a first and second time this 12th day of December, 2023.

  Carried Mayor Rochefort

13.

Correspondence and Information Items:

a.

Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry

b.

Municipality of Tweed

c.

AMO Communications

d.

North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit

1.

Re: Board of Health Minutes - September 27th, 2023

2.

Re: Modernizing Alcohol Marketplace and Product Sales

e.

FONOM

1.

Re: 2024 Conference Registration - Early Bird ends April 7th, 2024

• 2023-337
  Moved by Councillor Trahan
  Seconded by Councillor Kelly

  WHEREAS the 2024 FONOM Conference is being held at the Holiday Inn in Sudbury May 6 - May 8th, 2024; 

  BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED that all members of Council are approved to attend the 2024 FONOM Conference:  

  Carried Mayor Rochefort

2.

Re: Learning Opportunity for Municipal Elected Officials

f.

Ombudsman Ontario

1.

Re: Municipal Integrity Commissioners: Best Practice Guide

2.

Re: Codes of Conduct, Complaint and Inquiry Protocols, and Appointing Integrity Commissioners: Guide for Municipalities

g.

Todd Wilcox

14.

Action Items:

a.

Approval of Correspondence and Information Circulated with the Agenda

• 2023-338
  Moved by Councillor Trahan
  Seconded by Councillor Kelly

  THAT Council approve the Correspondence and Information as circulated with the agenda of December 12th, 2023.

  Carried Mayor Rochefort

b.

Referred for support from meeting of November 28th, 2023

1.

Resolution: Municipality of Wawa - Support Tax Credit for Firefighters

• 2023-339
  Moved by Councillor Champagne
  Seconded by Deputy Mayor Rooyakkers

  THAT the Council for the Municipality of East Ferris supports the resolution received from the Municipality of Wawa regarding the request of the Government of Canada to support Bill C-310 and enact amendments to subsections 118.06 (2) and 118.07 (2) of the Income Tax Act in order to increase the amount of the tax credits for volunteer firefighting and search and rescue volunteer services from $3,000.00 to $10,000.00.

  Carried Mayor Rochefort

2.

Resolution: Town of Alymer - Support Amendments to the Residential Tenancies Act

• 2023-340
  Moved by Councillor Champagne
  Seconded by Deputy Mayor Rooyakkers

  THAT the Council for the Municipality of East Ferris supports the resolution received from the Town of Aylmer regarding the request of provincial consideration for amendments to the Residential Tenancies Act, 2006, to ensure that all tenants benefit from protections intended to preserve affordability. 

  Carried Mayor Rochefort

3.

Resolution: Town of Orangeville - Support Increase in Ontario Works Financial Assistance Rates

• 2023-341
  Moved by Councillor Kelly
  Seconded by Councillor Trahan

  THAT the Council for the Municipality of East Ferris supports the resolution received from the Town of Orangeville  regarding the call upon the provincial government to urgently at least double Ontario Works rates and index rates to inflation, answering calls already made by “Raise the Rates” campaign and the “Income Security Advocacy Centre”; to commit to ongoing cost of living increases above and beyond the rate of inflation to make up for the years they were frozen, and to commit to jointly working between the Ministry of Children, Community, and Social Services and the Ministry of Health on the best methods of assessing client needs and then matching those in need to the services they require.
  

  Carried Mayor Rochefort

c.

East Ferris Carnival

• 2023-342
  Moved by Councillor Kelly
  Seconded by Councillor Trahan

  THAT Council for the Municipality of East Ferris has no objection to the East Ferris Carnival Committee hosting the 2024 Winter Carnival from February 15^th to February 18^th, 2024;

  AND FURTHER that Council declares this a community festival and has no objections to the applications for appropriate licences.  

  Carried Mayor Rochefort

15.

Approval of Accounts Payable

• 2023-343
  Moved by Councillor Champagne
  Seconded by Deputy Mayor Rooyakkers

  THAT Council approve the general accounts for the Municipality of East Ferris as indicated in the cheque register(s) dated December 12th, 2023 in the amount of $743,322.21.

  Carried Mayor Rochefort

16.

Other Business

Councillor Kelly thanked staff for the Christmas party. 

17.

In Camera (if required)

None for this session 

18.

Confirmatory By-Law

a.

By-law No. 2023-56: 1st, 2nd and 3rd Reading

• 2023-344
  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 November 28th, 2023 to December 12th, 2023, BE READ a first, second and third time, passed and numbered 2023-56;

  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

• 2023-345
  Moved by Councillor Kelly
  Seconded by Councillor Champagne

  THAT we do now adjourn at 7:34 p.m. 

  Carried Mayor Rochefort