THE CORPORATION OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF EAST FERRIS

REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES

Tuesday, February 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

• 2021-42
  Moved by Councillor Champagne
  Seconded by Councillor Lougheed

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

  Carried Mayor Rochefort

3.

Accepting the Minutes of the Previous Meeting(s):

a.

Approval of Minutes

• 2021-43
  Moved by Deputy Mayor Trahan
  Seconded by Councillor Kelly

  THAT the minutes of the Special Council meeting held February 4th, 2021 and the minutes of the Regular Council Meeting held February 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

None for this session

6.

Chair's Comments:

Mayor Rochefort advised that members of Council participated at the Ontario Good Roads Conference held this week.  Mayor Rochefort also advised that the Municipal Director of Public Works, Mr. Antoine Boucher sits on the OGRA Board of Directors and Councillor Champagne is a standing past President of the OGRA.

7.

Delegations to Council:

None for this session

8.

Committee Reports:

a.

Public Works and Infrastructure Committee

1.

Minutes of February 18th, 2021

b.

Community Emergency Management Committee

c.

Fire and Emergency Services Committee

d.

Planning Advisory Committee

e.

Committee of Adjustment

f.

Recreation, Parks and Culture Committee

Meeting scheduled for February 24th, 2021

g.

Economic Development Committee

h.

Communications Committee

i.

East Ferris Centennial Celebration Committee

j.

Municipal Office Project/Technical Advisory Committee

9.

Board Reports:

a.

Library Board

b.

Police Services Board

10.

Departmental Reports & Resolutions:

a.

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

Council advised that it was a good report.  Within the report, Council members requested to see recognition pertaining to years of service for members with the department.  Report was referred back to the Fire Department for review.

11.

Notice of Motions

None for this session

12.

By-laws:

a.

By-law 2021-08 - 1st, 2nd & 3rd Reading

• 2021-44
  Moved by Councillor Champagne
  Seconded by Deputy Mayor 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 amend By-law No. 2020-25, being a By-law to constitute and appoint a Committee of Adjustment, BE READ  a first, second and third time, passed and numbered 2021-08;

  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 - Vaccine Distribution Task Force

b.

Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks

c.

Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing

d.

Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF)

e.

Ministry of Solicitor General

f.

City of St. Catherines

Council referred for support

g.

Municipality of Mattawan

h.

Town of Gravenhurst

i.

Town of Parry Sound and Municipality of McDougall

j.

Township of Conmee

Council referred for support

k.

Township of Emo

l.

Township of Perth

m.

AMO Communications

n.

Cassellholme

o.

North Bay-Mattawa Conservation Authority

p.

2021 Farmland Forum

q.

Near North Crime Stoppers

14.

Action Items:

a.

Approval of Correspondence and Information

• 2021-45
  Moved by Councillor Kelly
  Seconded by Deputy Mayor Trahan

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

  Carried Mayor Rochefort

b.

Chris McConnell, President, OPSEU Local 317

• 2021-46
  Moved by Deputy Mayor Trahan
  Seconded by Councillor Lougheed

  THAT Council for the Municipality of East Ferris supports the letter received from Mr. Chris McConnell, President of OPSEU Local 317 regarding the closure of Ontario Fire College;

  AND THAT a copy of this resolution be forwarded to OPSEU Local 317 and the Town of Gravenhurst.

  Carried Mayor Rochefort

c.

Resolution

• 2021-47
  Moved by Councillor Kelly
  Seconded by Deputy Mayor Trahan

  WHEREAS Section 284 of the Municipal Act, 2001, S.O., c.25, as amended, requires that the Treasurer of a Municipality shall in each year on or before March 31^st  provide to the Council of the municipality an itemized statement on remuneration and expenses paid in the previous year;

  BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED that Council for the Municipality of East Ferris accepts the 2020 Statement of Remuneration and Expenses itemized for each Member of Council and Member of Local Boards and Committees, as submitted.    

  Carried Mayor Rochefort

15.

Approval of Accounts Payable

• 2021-48
  Moved by Councillor Lougheed
  Seconded by Councillor Champagne

  THAT Council approve the general accounts for the Municipality of East Ferris as indicated in the cheque register(s) dated February 23rd, 2021 in the amount of $173,150.80.

  Carried Mayor Rochefort

16.

Other Business

Councillor Kelly advised that the Expressions of Interest for the Medical Building are being received.  The deadline for the Expressions of Interest is Friday, February 26th, 2021.  The working group will be reviewing in detail and will bring forward to Council later.

17.

In Camera session requested by Mayor Rochefort

• 2021-49
  Moved by Councillor Champagne
  Seconded by Councillor Kelly

  THAT this meeting proceeds to In-Camera session at 6:59 p.m., under Section 239(2) of the Municipal Act, 2001, S.O. 2001, c.25 in order to address a matter pertaining to letter from the Ministry of Infrastructure and Ministry of Indigenous Affairs under the following section:

  • Information explicitly supplied in confidence to the municipality or local board by Canada, a province or territory or a Crown agency of any of them.

   

  Carried Mayor Rochefort
• 2021-50
  Moved by Councillor Lougheed
  Seconded by Councillor Kelly

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

   

  Carried Mayor Rochefort

18.

Confirmatory By-Law

a.

By-law No. 2021-09 - 1st, 2nd & 3rd Reading

• 2021-51
  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 confirm the proceedings of Council from February 9th, 2021 to  February 23rd, 2021, BE READ  a first, second and third time, passed and numbered 2021-09;

  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

• 2021-52
  Moved by Councillor Champagne
  Seconded by Councillor Lougheed

  THAT we do now adjourn at 7:57 p.m. and meet again on March 9th, 2021.

  Carried Mayor Rochefort