Hilton Township Council Minutes

013

Council met in the Meeting Room of the Municipal Building on the above date. Present were Reeve Rod Wood and Councillors Annette Fischer, David Leask and Jim See. Councillor Pat Garside was absent with notice. Lyn Garside, Road Superintendent, attended as well.

Moved by David Leask 2002-108

Seconded by Jim See

Resolved that we do accept the Agenda, as presented.

Moved by Jim See 2002-109

Seconded by Annette Fischer

Resolved that we do approve the Minutes of the meeting of September 11, 2002, as presented.

Chris O’Brien and Gloria Fischer attended on behalf of the St. Joseph Island Economic Development Corporation. Chris, intern with the EDC, provided council members with a package of some of the publications the group has produced and outlined a few of the projects on which they have been working. The publications including a Food and Accommodation brochure and a Business and Services directory, and as in the past, the finished products were most impressive. Gloria, Chair of the EDC, advised council that the broadband study will hopefully be competed by February 2003. A cell phone study, as well as the possibility of extending the three-phase power service on the Island, is also being investigated. Reeve Wood gratefully acknowledged the group’s efforts and the successful role they are playing in drawing new people to the Island.

Lyn Garside, Road Superintendent, advised council that the newly purchased grader had arrived in Sault Ste. Marie after being transported from Swift Current, Saskatchewan and was being fitted with the wing. Lyn noted that the tires on the grader should be replaced with all season tires but suggested this could be postponed and incorporated into next year’s budget.

A request was received from the owner of Lot 21, Concession T, to improve a section of the unopened road allowance bordering her property. The work was considered necessary as an earlier means of access was no longer available.

Moved by David Leask 2002-110

Seconded by Jim See

Resolved that we do authorize the owners of Lot 21, Concession T, to improve portions of the unopened "S and T" road allowance to provide access to their property. All work performed must meet with the satisfaction of Hilton Township Road Superintendent, Lyn Garside.

At the request of the owner of Lots 2, 3, 4 and Part Lot 1, Concession Pointe au Gravier, the possibility was discussed of opening up the end of the M & N road allowance located within Concession 14. Council approved the proposal in principle, noting it would result in the safest entry point in view of the other options currently available.

Road Superintendent, Lyn Garside, advised council that additional surveying will have to be completed before he can recommend locations for drainage easements within the Tenby Bay Subdivision.

Council viewed the latest design for the new township logo and suggested some minor changes.

Correspondence was received from Bell Canada asking if council had any concerns regarding construction work it has planned to provide additional telephone service in the area of Hilton Road and Whybourne Road. Council accepted Lyn’s recommendation that the pole line should not encroach more than eleven feet on the sixty-six foot road allowance.

The Clerk provided council with a road classification chart, detailing the length and composition of each road within the township, as well as the level of maintenance performed on each road. This is the first step in satisfying new road regulations coming into effect with the new Municipal Act in January 2003. The chart will be updated each year to reflect any improvements made to road surfaces and any change in maintenance levels. A portfolio will be compiled with pictures of each road within the township as it currently exists and photos will be added as any significant changes occur.

Lyn advised council members that the municipal property had incurred some damage as the result of lightening. Repairs were necessary to the computer as well as the need to replace the pump in the well and other electrical components.

The Township received a copy of a letter forwarded to the Ontario Municipal Board (OMB) from a local resident. The letter petitioned the Board to reconsider its previous decision relating to an OMB hearing that was held in 1999 and further reviewed in July, 2002.

Order No. 1319, dated September 27, 2002 was received from the Ontario Municipal Board. The Board concluded that the conditions set out in its Order No. 0948, dated May 14, 1999, had been met and that By-Law No. 690, as amended, could now be considered in effect.

In response to an earlier request to clarify an existing by-law regarding the control of dogs at municipal beaches, an amending by-law was passed.

Moved by Annette Fischer 2002-111

Seconded by David Leask

Resolved that we do give first and second reading to By-Law No. 757 being a by-law to amend By-Law No. 669 regarding the prohibiting of dogs from running at large at public beaches.

Moved by David Leask 2002-112

Seconded by Jim See

Resolved that we do give third and final reading and pass By-Law No. 757 being a by-law to amend By-Law No. 669 regarding the prohibiting of dogs from running at large at public beaches.

The final agenda was received for a meeting to be held by the Ministry of Natural Resources on October 24, 2002 in Sault Ste. Marie. Councillors Leask and See advised they would attend.

Discussion took place on the issue of constructing a rest stop at the Milford Haven boat launch to be used by boaters and snowmobilers. This project had been budgeted for earlier this year but work has yet to begin. Council confirmed they want to see the project realized before the end of this year, considering it has already been postponed one year. The building is to be constructed in conjunction with the St. Joseph Island Voyageur Snowmobile Club. The Clerk was asked to petition Canada Customs to cover the cost of telephone service to the site as it would probably be considered a port of entry. The tentative plan is to build a 10’ x 20’ cement block structure with a metal roof that will house washrooms, benches, a telephone and information brochures.

The Clerk provided council with Municipal Performance Measurement Schedules for the year 2001. Producing these schedules involves a time consuming process of breaking down the operating costs throughout the year to identify the cost of specific services provided. The goal is increasing accountability to the public. The exercise would be of more value if the standards for comparison remained constant from one year to the next. The government establishes what costs are to be identified as well as the formulas to be used to calculate the overall cost. While this is a relatively new program (it started last year), the prescribed method of comparison for much of the data differed from last year, offering little opportunity for any worthwhile analysis.

The Clerk reported on a workshop she had attended on "Municipal Connect." This is a new internet based system developed by the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation. The service is designed to provide municipal offices with real-time access to assessment information. It will detail what type of structure is on a property, as well as, the date construction took place. It is anticipated that all building permit information will soon be entered on-line through the municipal office, resulting in speedier assessment adjustments. The Clerk signed the agreement as the administrator for this service. The Assessment Office cautioned that much of the information linked to this service could not be released to the public under Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy legislation. A further hands-on training session for all Island clerks is tentatively scheduled for next month.

Councillor Annette Fischer collected the councillors’ completed performance evaluations for the clerk. It was agreed Councillor Fischer and the clerk would meet to review the evaluations prior to next meeting.

A further training session on the New Municipal Act, coming into force January 1, 2003, is being offered in Sault Ste. Marie later this month. The new regulations and administrative requirements pertaining to the Act are extensive. The Clerk advised council that while an earlier training session reviewing the Act in general had already been attended, this workshop seemed geared to critical specific issues such as new road and public notice provisions.

Moved by David Leask 2002-113

Seconded by Jim See

Resolved that we do authorize Valerie Obarymskyj, Clerk, to attend the New Municipal Act workshop to be held in Sault Ste. Marie on Friday, October 25, 2002.

Notice of a public meeting concerning a proposed official plan amendment was received from the Village of Hilton Beach.

Moved by Annette Fischer 2002-114

Seconded by David Leask

Resolved that we do approve the payment of Township bills for the month of September, 2002 in the amount of $183,751.28 as per Voucher No. 09-02. The bills were made up of the following: Administration - $4,256.35; Algoma District School Board - $30,039.79; Algoma District Social Services - $22,440.24; Building - $1,059.57; Fire - $497.45; Miscellaneous - $3,051.27; Police - $2,778.00; Recreation - $174.15; Roads - $119,454.46.

Moved by David Leask 2002-115

Seconded by Annette Fischer

Resolved that we do adjourn, Council to meet again at 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday, November 12, 2002, or at the call of the Reeve.

_______________________________ 

Rodney I. Wood, Reeve

__________________________________

 Valerie Obarymskyj, Clerk Treasurer

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