M I N U T E S
Regular Council Meeting
March 13, 2002 - 7:30 p.m.
Council met in the Meeting Room of the
Municipal Building on the above date. Present were Reeve Rod Wood and
Councillors Annette Fischer, Pat Garside and Jim See. Councillor David
Leask was also present but advised he would have to leave the meeting
early. Lyn Garside, Road Superintendent, and Bud May, Building Inspector,
attended as well.
When presented with the Agenda,
Councillor Leask requested one item be added.
Moved by Pat Garside 2002-24
Seconded by Jim See
Resolved that we do accept the Agenda as
amended.
Moved by David Leask 2002-25
Seconded by Annette Fischer
Resolved that we do approve the Minutes
of the meeting of February 6, 2002, as presented.
Councillor Leask advised Council that the
St. Joseph Island Voyageurs had submitted a proposal to the OFSC for their
intent to do work on the Kaskawan Trail. The work will involve putting in
culverts and gravel to build up the trail, currently closed due to
flooding. The group’s hope is the OFSC will contribute fifty percent of
the required $15,000 upgrade.
Moved by Annette Fischer 2002-26
Seconded by Jim See
Resolved that we do give permission to
the St. Joseph Island Voyageurs to upgrade portions of the municipal road
allowance known as the Kaskawan Trail for the purposes of trail safety and
sustainability.
The Clerk advised council of a verbal
request from a local resident regarding the condition of Highway 548
between the Village of Hilton Beach boundary and Hamilton Bay Road.
Council concurred that the road needed extensive improvement but felt the
problems continued the entire length of the W Line, well past the Hamilton
Bay turnoff. The Clerk was asked to write to the Ministry of
Transportation requesting an upgrade to the surface treatment. She was
also requested to address other concerns such as roadside mowing by the
MTO and the snow plowing inefficiencies resulting from monitoring snow
conditions from Echo Bay.
A letter was received from Fort St.
Joseph requesting permission to erect signs along the Hilton Road that
would offer better direction to motorists heading to the Fort. Council
felt such signs should be confined to Highway 548.
The issue of changes to the entrance
permit policy was discussed. A sample by-law was reviewed from a nearby
municipality that addressed both permanent and temporary entrances.
Council requested that both the Clerk and Road Superintendent draft a new
by-law that will better protect the concerns of the municipality.
Lyn Garside, Road Superintendent, advised
council of one more item to be added to the amalgamated tender.
Moved by David Leask 2002-27
Seconded by Annette Fischer
Resolved that we do tender for the
following through the amalgamated tender:
8 only - 5/8" x 8" x 132"
- One way Plow Blades - 8" hole spacing
Council reviewed a draft survey outlining
shoreroad land to be sold to Anthony and Cynthia Sabelli. Council’s
normal practice is to have the opportunity to review such surveys prior to
final registration in the event any obvious irregularities are identified.
Council did question the boundaries marked and requested the Clerk contact
the surveyor and relay those concerns.
Hilton Union Fire Chief, Joe Books, was
present and advised council that representatives from the three fire
departments had decided on a specific compressor to be purchased that
would be jointly funded by the three fire departments and the Northern
Ontario Heritage Fund.
Information was received on updating the
municipality’s Emergency Plan and Chief Books offered to review the
contact numbers and bring them up to date. The suggestion was made that
the Village of Hilton Beach and our municipality share a joint plan in
recognition of our joint volunteer fire service.
The issue of a purchase of capital
equipment by the Fire Department from the Roads Department was discussed.
The following was agreed to as per Minutes of an earlier Fire Board
Committee meeting.
Moved by Pat Garside 2002-28
Seconded by Jim See
Resolved that the Hilton Union Fire
Department does agree to purchase from the Hilton Township Roads
Department capital equipment (portable radio and generator) in the amount
of $1,000.00, the cost of which shall be shared equally by the Village of
Hilton Beach and the Township of Hilton.
Councillor Leask left the meeting at this
time.
Year-end figures were reviewed for the
Building and By-Law shared service. While the numbers were as yet
unaudited, the overall result was a small surplus. The Building and By-Law
Committee (BBC) had met recently and authorized the Employer be
compensated for costs over the total allowed under the administration fee.
The BBC had recommended rather than increase the administration fee for
the current year, the same fee should remain in effect and any shortage be
addressed at the following year-end.
Moved by Annette Fischer 2002-29
Seconded by Jim See
Resolved that, as the Employer for the
Building and By-Law Shared Service, and as agreed to by the Building and
By-Law Committee at its February 26, 2002 meeting, the expenses exceeding
that which is recoverable through the administration fee be deducted from
the 2001 year-end surplus prior to the funds being distributed.
In response to a query from Council at
last month’s meeting, the Clerk advised that Staff Sergeant Mark Andrews
of the East Algoma OPP Detachment had detailed the process for certifying
the By-Law Enforcement Officer as a Provincial Offences Officer. Sgt.
Andrews explained that any council could pass a resolution to request a
costing for contract services from the OPP. If a contract was formed, it
would then be necessary to form a Police Services Board , which would have
the authority to appoint a Provincial Offences Officer. He suggested the
other three municipalities on the Island might wish to apply also and form
a joint contract. He explained the advantages of a contract would include
more accountability; the ability to have the OPP enforce our municipal
by-laws (excluding animals and buildings); the authority to appoint a
Provincial Offences Officer. He cautioned there was a substantial cost
involved with operating a Police Services Board considering the mandatory
training and memberships fees involved. Council suggested the matter be
discussed at the joint meeting of councils to be held in the next couple
months.
A zoning amendment was requested by
Anthony and Cynthia Sabelli, the owners of Lots 26, 27, and 28, Plan
M-261, Haight Road. The intent of the zoning change would be to allow the
construction of a home that would cross two lots, requiring a waiver of
the six foot side-yard setback requirement. The Clerk advised that the
notices would be mailed and a public meeting held to address the matter on
April 9, 2002, Council’s next regular meeting date.
The municipality’s insurance policy was
received for the period March 2002-2003. Premium costs were increased by
the additional coverage required for the new plow truck and pick-up
vehicle as well as by the effect of recent world events. The overall rate
climbed over 35% from 2001 premium figures.
Moved by Pat Garside 2002-30
Seconded by Annette Fischer
Resolved that we do accept the insurance
policy as presented by Algoma Insurance Brokers Limited in the amount of
$20,791.20 for the period March 2002 – 2003.
A letter of resignation was accepted with
regret from Joanne Daynard from her position on the Hilton Union Library
Board. Thank you, Joanne, for your time and efforts over the years. Your
dedication is greatly appreciated.
Bell Canada announced some time ago that
they planned on discontinuing the provision of the 911 answering service,
effective September 2002. Municipalities have been searching for alternate
providers and reviewed proposals received from three different sources at
a recent meeting. The quotes ranged from .05 cents to .16 cents per month
per capita. This is an amount the municipality pays in addition to that
paid by each resident on their individual lines. The lowest rate was
offered by the Ontario Provincial Police.
Moved by Jim See 2002-31
Seconded by Pat Garside
Resolved that we do accept the quote from
the Ontario Provincial Police for CERB (Central Emergency Reporting
Bureau) services at a rate of $0.575 per annum per capita for a two year
contract starting July 1, 2002.
The Clerk presented Council with a by-law
establishing the tax ratios for the current year. The tax ratios are used
to determine the yearly tax rate for each class and were not changed from
those used last year.
Moved by Annette Fischer 2002-32
Seconded by Jim See
Resolved that we do give first and second
reading to By-Law No. 750 being a by-law to establish tax ratios for the
year 2002.
Moved by Jim See 2002-33
Seconded by Pat Garside
Resolved that we do give third and final
reading and pass By-Law No. 750 being a by-law to establish tax ratios for
the year 2002.
The Clerk advised Council that the
Minutes from the past couple months had been forwarded to Wayne Van Sickle
for incorporation in Hilton Township’s site on www.stjosephisland.net
The site will be down for the month of March 2002 while extensive
upgrading takes place. The site should prove to be an ideal medium for
posting notices of public interest to our community.
Following discussion with the local
Assessment Office on the issue of merging lots, the Clerk was able to
provide Council with more detail on the criteria involved with such
action. The Assessment Office was clear that despite one individual owning
adjacent lots, the lots would not be combined on the assessment roll with
a reduced value, as long as one of the lots remained viable. It is only
when the lots are used in such a manner to consider them one unit,
precluding the future sale of either lot on its own, would the lots be
rolled together on the Roll. Adjacent lots owned by the same individual
could be listed under one roll number however, with no reduction in value,
for the purpose of simplifying the tax billing process.
Staff requested council’s permission to
attend upcoming seminars and training courses they felt would be of
benefit to their positions.
Moved by Jim See 2002-34
Seconded by Pat Garside
Resolved that we do authorize Lyndon
Garside, Road Superintendent, to attend the "Work Zone Traffic
Control" course to be held April 02, 2002 at the Bruce Station
Community Hall.
Moved by Pat Garside 2002-35
Seconded by Jim See
Resolved that we do authorize Valerie
Obarymskyj, Clerk Treasurer to attend the Performance Measurement seminar
to be held in Sault Ste. Marie on April 10, 2002.
In accordance with the Municipal Act,
Council reviewed the Clerk’s bond for the current year.
The Hilton Community Projects Recreation
group plan to once again offer the Twin Lakes swimming program for a
period of seven weeks in the summer. Application will be made to Human
Resources Development Canada for funding to help offset the associated
costs.
Moved by Jim See 2002-36
Seconded by Annette Fischer
Resolved that we do apply for a grant
under the Summer Career Placement Program to employ two students for a
period of seven weeks each for the Twin Lakes swim program.
Updated information was received from the
St. Joseph Economic Development Office regarding the proposed broadband
width Internet service. The study is currently underway and will hopefully
prove viable for area municipalities with the assistance of government
funding.
Moved by Jim See 2002-37
Seconded by Annette Fischer
Resolved that we do approve the payment
of Township bills for the month of February 2002 in the amount of
$21,243.77 as per Voucher No. 02-02. The bills were made up of the
following: Algoma District Homes for Aged - $995.45; Administration -
$6,376.75; Building - $65.33; Fire - $2,978.02; Miscellaneous - $3,985.78;
Policing - $2,456.00; Roads - $4,386.44.
Moved by Pat Garside 2002-38
Seconded by Annette Fischer
Resolved that we do adjourn, Council to
meet again on Tuesday, April 9, 2002 at 9:30 a.m. or at the call of the
Reeve.
Rodney I. Wood, Reeve
Valerie Obarymskyj, Clerk Treasurer |