THE CORPORATION OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF EAST FERRIS

REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES

Tuesday, May 13, 2025

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

East Ferris Municipal Office

PRESENT:

• Terry Kelly, Councillor
• Steven Trahan, Councillor
• Rick Champagne, Councillor
• Lauren Rooyakkers, Deputy Mayor

STAFF PRESENT:

• Jason Trottier, CAO/Treasurer
• Kim Rose, Clerk

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1.

Call to Order

Deputy Mayor Rooyakkers called the meeting to order at 5:00 p.m. 

2.

Adoption of Agenda

• 2025-123
  Moved by Councillor Trahan
  Seconded by Councillor Kelly

  THAT the draft agenda presented to Council and dated the 13th day of May, 2025 be adopted as amended, with the addition of:

  4a) Amendment of the Council Vacancy Policy

  Carried Deputy Mayor Rooyakkers

3.

Accepting the Minutes of the Previous Meeting(s):

a.

Approval of Council Minutes: Regular Meeting of April 23rd, 2025

• 2025-124
  Moved by Councillor Champagne
  Seconded by Councillor Trahan

  THAT the Minutes of the Regular Council Meeting of April 23rd, 2025 be adopted as circulated.

  Carried Deputy Mayor Rooyakkers

b.

Approval of Council Minutes: Special Meeting of May 8th, 2025

• 2025-125
  Moved by Councillor Kelly
  Seconded by Councillor Champagne

  THAT the Minutes of the Special Council Meeting of May 8th, 2025 be adopted as circulated.

  Carried Deputy Mayor Rooyakkers

4.

Business Arising from the Minutes

a.

Amendment to Policy GOV-07

• 2025-126
  Moved by Councillor Champagne
  Seconded by Councillor Trahan

  WHEREAS the Municipal Conflict of Interest Act, Section 4 prescribes for the exclusions where a pecuniary interest does not apply; 
  
  AND WHEREAS section 4(g) states "by reason of the member being eligible for election or appointment to fill a vacancy, office or position in the council or local board when the council or local board is empowered or required by any general or special Act to fill such vacancy, office or position";

  NOW THEREFORE be it resolved that Policy No. GOV-07, Council Vacancy Policy, passed at the special meeting of Council on May 8th, 2025 be amended to remove the requirement for a member of Council to declare a pecuniary interest, if nominated for the Mayor's seat. 

  Carried Deputy Mayor Rooyakkers

b.

Nominations to Fill Mayor Vacancy

• 2025-127
  Moved by Councillor Kelly
  Seconded by Councillor Trahan

  THAT the following list of names be adopted as the 2025 Mayoral Vacancy Nomination Slate:

   - Councillor Richard Champagne

   - Councillor Steven Trahan

  Carried Deputy Mayor Rooyakkers

c.

Open Vote

Nominees were provided a 5 minute delegation to Council.  Council members were alloted 2 questions each, per nominee. Council proceeded to vote. Each member of Council stated their vote orally, as well as in writing. The vote was recorded as follows:

Councillor Richard Champagne - 2 votes (Champagne/Kelly)
Councillor Steven Trahan - 1 vote (Trahan)

Deputy Mayor Rooyakkers abstained from voting. 

• 2025-128
  Moved by Councillor Kelly
  Seconded by Councillor Champagne

  WHEREAS the seat of the Mayor was deemed vacant at the Special Meeting of Council May 8th, 2025; and

  WHEREAS Council voted amongst its membership to appoint a new Head of Council on May 13th, 2025; 

  NOW THEREFORE be it resolved that the Municipality of East Ferris, by way of public vote, does now name Richard Champagne as Mayor for the remainder of the term of Council, effective upon the passing of an appointment By-law and completing the Declaration of Office; and

  FURTHER THAT a By-law appointing Richard Champagne as Mayor be brought forward to the May 27th meeting of Council. 

  Carried Deputy Mayor Rooyakkers

5.

Declarations of Conflict of Interest- Pecuniary Interest Thereof

None for this session.

6.

Announcements and Updates from Council Members

Councillor Kelly congratulated both nominees on their bid for Mayor. 

Deputy Mayor Rooyakkers noted recent and upcoming local events: 

1. FONOM in North Bay, hosted by the City of North Bay, May 5th - 7th, 2025
2. Emergency Preparedness Week, May 4th-10th, 2025
3. Community Clean Up Day, May 13th, 2025
4. Amnesty Day at the East Ferris Landfill, May 17th, 2025
5. East Ferris Tradeshow and Youth Tradeshow, May 24th, 2025
6. Flag Raising for Pride, June 2nd, 2025

7.

Delegations to Council:

None for this session.

8.

Committee Reports:

a.

Public Works and Infrastructure Committee

None for this session.

b.

Emergency Management Program Committee

None for this session.

c.

Fire and Emergency Services Committee

Minutes of May 8th, 2025

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

Deputy Mayor Rooyakkers provided an update to Council regarding the minutes of May 6th, 2025. 

b.

OPP Detachment Board

None for this session.

c.

Cassellholme, DNSSAB, Health Unit and NBMCA

1.

Cassellholme: Minutes of March 27th, 2025

2.

North Bay-Parry Sound District Health Unit: Minutes of February 26th, 2025

10.

Departmental Reports & Resolutions:

a.

Report No. FIRE-2025-03: Pumper Truck Purchase

• 2025-129
  Moved by Councillor Kelly
  Seconded by Councillor Trahan

  THAT Council of the Corporation of the Municipality of East Ferris authorize staff to enter into an agreement with Battleshield Industries Limited for the design and purchase of a new 2025 pumper truck in the amount of $736,715.00 plus HST as per the specifications listed in Appendix A of Report to Council No. FIRE-2025-03.

  Carried Deputy Mayor Rooyakkers

11.

Notice of Motions

None for this session.

12.

By-laws:

a.

By-law No. 2025-30

• 2025-130
  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 amend By-law No. 2021-60 as amended, (Municipality of East Ferris - Champagne Road/Corbeil Road, for the purpose of constructing a Municipal Fire Hall) BE READ a first, second and third time, passed and numbered 2025-30;

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

  Carried Deputy Mayor Rooyakkers

13.

Correspondence and Information Items:

a.

AMO Communications

• 2025-131
  Moved by Councillor Kelly
  Seconded by Councillor Champagne

  THAT Council for the Municipality of East Ferris directs staff to review the Proximity Guidelines and provide feedback through the survey conducted by the Railway Association of Canada. 

  Carried Deputy Mayor Rooyakkers

b.

AMO

Re: 2025 Conference Delegations
This item will be brought forward to the May 27th meeting, as requested by Council. 

c.

City of Cambridge

• 2025-132
  Moved by Councillor Kelly
  Seconded by Councillor Trahan

  THAT Council of the Municipality of East Ferris supports the resolution passed by the City of Cambridge formally requesting the Provincial Government to consider redistributing a portion of the Land Transfer Tax collected on property transactions to municipalities and calling on the Federal Government to allocate a percentage of the GST collected on property sales to municipalities;

  AND FURTHER THAT a copy of this resolution be forwarded to the Right Honourable Prime Minister Mark Carney, the Right Honourable Premier Doug Ford, the Ontario Minister of Finance, the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, MP Pauline Rochefort and MPP Vic Fedeli. 

  Carried Deputy Mayor Rooyakkers

d.

City of Richmond Hill

• 2025-133
  Moved by Councillor Champagne
  Seconded by Councillor Kelly

  THAT Council of the Municipality of East Ferris supports the resolution passed by the City Richmond Hill petitioning the Provincial government to implement provincial regulations to restrict the possession, breeding, and use of non-native (“exotic”) wild animals and license zoos in order to guarantee the fair and consistent application of policy throughout Ontario for the safety of Ontario’s citizens and the non-native (“exotic”) wild animal population;

  AND FURTHER THAT a copy of this resolution be forwarded to the Premier of Ontario, the Ontario Solicitor General, and the Ontario Minister for Natural Resources and Forestry.

  Carried Deputy Mayor Rooyakkers

e.

Town of Georgina

• 2025-134
  Moved by Councillor Champagne
  Seconded by Councillor Trahan

  THAT Council of the Municipality of East Ferris supports the resolution passed by Town of Georgina urging the Province of Ontario to work with key stakeholders to develop limited liability legislation, including enforceable contractor training and a provincially endorsed set of Best Practices for snow and ice management; 

  AND FURTHER THAT a copy of this resolution be forwarded to the Right Honourable Premier Doug Ford, the Ontario Salt Pollution Coalition, MPP Vic Fedeli, and the North Bay-Mattawa Conservation Authority.

  Carried Deputy Mayor Rooyakkers

f.

Township of Champlain

• 2025-135
  Moved by Councillor Champagne
  Seconded by Councillor Kelly

  THAT Council of the Municipality of East Ferris supports the resolution passed by the Township of Champlain calling upon the Government of Ontario to increase surveillance and spot checks of all heavy vehicles travelling on Ontario roads, as well as monitoring the testing standards maintained by privately-owned heavy licensing facilities; 

  AND FURTHER THAT a copy of this resolution be forwarded to the Minister of Transportation, the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, the Ontario Provincial Police, MPP Vic Fedeli, and the Ontario Good Roads Association.

  Carried Deputy Mayor Rooyakkers

g.

Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC)

Re: Annual and Financial Reports - 2024

h.

North Bay Regional Health Centre

Re: Thank You Letter - Annual Contribution

14.

Action Items:

a.

Approval of Correspondence and Information Circulated with the Agenda

• 2025-136
  Moved by Councillor Trahan
  Seconded by Councillor Kelly

  THAT Council approve the Correspondence and Information as circulated with the agenda of May 13th, 2025.

  Carried Deputy Mayor Rooyakkers

15.

Approval of Accounts Payable

• 2025-137
  Moved by Councillor Champagne
  Seconded by Councillor Kelly

  THAT Council approve the general accounts for the Municipality of East Ferris as indicated in the cheque register(s) dated May 13th, 2025 in the amount of $351,626.25.

  Carried Deputy Mayor Rooyakkers

16.

Other Business

None for this session.

17.

In Camera (if required)

None for this session.

18.

Confirmatory By-law

a.

By-law No. 2025-31: 1st, 2nd and 3rd Reading

• 2025-138
  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 confirm the proceedings of Council from April 22nd, 2025 to May 13th, 2025, BE READ a first, second and third time, passed and numbered 2025-31;

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

  Carried Deputy Mayor Rooyakkers

19.

Adjournment

• 2025-139
  Moved by Councillor Trahan
  Seconded by Councillor Champagne

  THAT we do now adjourn at 6:19 p.m. and meet again on May 27th, 2025.

  Carried Deputy Mayor Rooyakkers