THE CORPORATION OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF EAST FERRIS

REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES

Tuesday, May 28, 2024

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

Municipal Office Council Chambers

PRESENT:

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

ABSENT:

• Steven Trahan, Councillor

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 5:00 p.m. 

2.

Adoption of Agenda

• 2024-116
  Moved by Councillor Champagne
  Seconded by Councillor Kelly

  THAT the draft agenda presented to Council and dated the 28th day of May, 2024 be adopted as amended by adding an In-Camera session under Section 239(2)(e) and (f) of the Municipal Act; 

  AND THAT Councillor Kelly has withdrawn his Notice of Motion and it is therefore removed from the agenda. 

  Carried Mayor Rochefort

3.

Accepting the Minutes of the Previous Meeting(s):

a.

Approval of Council Minutes: Regular Meeting of May 14th, 2024

• 2024-117
  Moved by Deputy Mayor Rooyakkers
  Seconded by Councillor Kelly

  THAT the Minutes of the Regular Council Meeting of May 14th, 2024 be adopted as circulated. 

  Carried Mayor Rochefort

4.

Business Arising from the Minutes

Deputy Mayor Rooyakkers asked for clarification on an item discussed under Other Business at the last meeting that was not added to the Agenda as required under the Procedural By-law. Mayor Rochefort advised that the updated Procedural By-law is still new and does urge Council members to communicate with the Clerk. The Clerk was given direction to look into an appropriate location on the Agenda for Council members to provide updates on conferences attended.  

5.

Declarations of Conflict of Interest- Pecuniary Interest Thereof

None for this session. 

6.

Chair's Comments:

Mayor Rochefort stated that Council was provided with the 2024 Property Tax Pamphlets which will be going out with the Final Tax Bills next week. The East Ferris Tradeshow was a great success. 

7.

Delegations to Council:

None for this session. 

8.

Committee Reports:

a.

Public Works and Infrastructure Committee

1.

Minutes of May 14th, 2024

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

1.

Minutes of May 22nd, 2024

f.

Recreation, Parks and Culture Committee

None for this session. 

g.

Striking Committee

None for this session. 

9.

Board Reports:

a.

Library Board

None for this session. 

b.

OPP Detachment Board

None for this session. 

c.

Cassellholme, DNSSAB, Health Unit and NBMCA

10.

Departmental Reports & Resolutions:

a.

Verbal Report - Director of Community Services, Greg Kirton

Council was in favour of the proposed boundaries and directed the Director of Community Services to prepare a Minor Variance Application. 

11.

Notice of Motions

None for this session. 

12.

By-laws:

a.

By-law No. 2024-22: 1st, 2nd and 3rd Reading

• 2024-118
  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 convey part of Lot 19 Concession 6, being Part 1 Plan 36R15180, Township of East Ferris, District of Nipissing, BE READ a first, second and third time, passed and numbered 2024-22;

  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.

Solicitor General

b.

City of Belleville

c.

Municipality of Casselman

d.

AMO Communications

e.

North Bay-Mattawa Conservation Authority

f.

Enbridge

g.

FONOM

• 2024-119
  Moved by Councillor Champagne
  Seconded by Councillor Kelly

  THAT Council for the Municipality of East Ferris supports the letter received from the Federation of Northern Ontario Municipalities regarding Enbridge Gas Inc.'s Rate Rebasing Application; 

  AND FURTHER THAT a letter of comment signed by the Mayor on behalf of Council be sent to the Ontario Energy Board;  

  AND FURTHER THAT that this letter be sent to Premier, Doug Ford, Minister of Energy, Todd Smith, AMO President, Colin Best, Good Roads, MPP, Vic Fedeli, and Enbridge Gas. 

  Carried Mayor Rochefort

h.

Good Roads

i.

North Bay Regional Health Centre

j.

Rural Ontario Municipal Association

k.

Wounded Warriors

14.

Action Items:

a.

Approval of Correspondence and Information Circulated with the Agenda

• 2024-120
  Moved by Deputy Mayor Rooyakkers
  Seconded by Councillor Champagne

  THAT Council approve the Correspondence and Information as circulated with the agenda of May 28th, 2024. 

  Carried Mayor Rochefort

b.

Notice of Motion - Councillor Kelly

Councillor Kelly withdrew his Notice of Motion and the motion was not discussed nor voted on. 

15.

Approval of Accounts Payable

• 2024-121
  Moved by Councillor Kelly
  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 May 28th, 2024 in the amount of $310,416.16.

  Carried Mayor Rochefort

16.

Other Business

None for this session. 

17.

In Camera (if required)

• 2024-122
  Moved by Councillor Champagne
  Seconded by Deputy Mayor Rooyakkers

  THAT this meeting proceeds to In-Camera session at 5:57 p.m., under Section 239(2) of the Municipal Act, 2001, S.O. 2001, c.25 in order to address matters pertaining to: 

  (e)  litigation or potential litigation, including matters before administrative tribunals, affecting the municipality or local board;

  (f)  advice that is subject to solicitor-client privilege, including communications necessary for that purpose.

  Carried Mayor Rochefort
• 2024-123
  Moved by Deputy Mayor Rooyakkers
  Seconded by Councillor Kelly

  THAT we do now adjourn this In-Camera meeting at 6:57 p.m. and return to our regular session. 

  Carried Mayor Rochefort
• 2024-124
  Moved by Councillor Champagne
  Seconded by Councillor Kelly

  Pursuant to Section 2.2 of the Municipality of East Ferris' Procedural By-law No. 2023-55 the applicable rules are hereby suspended to allow for the question to raise the pride flag to be reconsidered more than once within a twelve-month period. 

  Results of Recorded Vote as requested by Councillor Champagne:

  Deputy Mayor Rooyakkers                 Yea  

  Councillor Kelly                                   Yea

  Councillor Champagne                        Yea

  Mayor Rochefort                                  Yea   

  Carried Mayor Rochefort
• 2024-125
  Moved by Councillor Kelly
  Seconded by Councillor Champagne

  WHEREAS Council passed Resolution No. 2024-124 to suspend the rules of procedure and reconsider the question to raise the pride flag more than once in a twelve-month period; 

  BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED that Council for the Municipality of East Ferris, in accordance with the Municipality's Flag Policy, agrees to raise the Pride Flag for 1 day on Saturday, June 1st, 2024.

   

  Results of Recorded Vote as requested by Councillor Champagne:

  Deputy Mayor Rooyakkers                 Yea  

  Councillor Kelly                                   Yea

  Councillor Champagne                        Yea

  Mayor Rochefort                                  Yea   

  Carried Mayor Rochefort

18.

Confirmatory By-Law

a.

By-law No. 2024-23: 1st, 2nd and 3rd Reading

• 2024-126
  Moved by Deputy Mayor Rooyakkers
  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 confirm the proceedings of Council from May 14th, 2024 to May 28th, 2024, BE READ a first, second and third time, passed and numbered 2024-23;

  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

• 2024-127
  Moved by Deputy Mayor Rooyakkers
  Seconded by Councillor Champagne

  THAT we do now adjourn at 7:00 p.m. and meet again on June 11th, 2024. 

  Carried Mayor Rochefort