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Township of St. Joseph November 12, 2002 Council met at the Municipal Administration Building at Richards Landing on the above date. Present were Reeve Lorraine Aelick; Councillors Margaret Butters, Wayne Van Sickle, Vince Vernelli and Jody Wildman; and Clerk-Treasurer/CAO Michael Jagger. The meeting was opened with a prayer. Councillor Van Sickle declared a conflict of interest in respect to consideration of proposed funding for a feasibility study to be carried out jointly with Matthews Memorial Hospital Association as he holds a contract position with that organization. Moved by Jody Wildman Seconded by Wayne Van Sickle Be it resolved that we do adopt the minutes of the October 15, 2002 meeting as presented. -cd.- Quotations for the supply of a sign encouraging recycling were considered. Moved by Margaret Butters Seconded by Vince Vernelli Be it resolved that we do accept the quotation by G. Hawdon to provide a sign promoting recycling at a cost of $315.00. -cd.- Notices of support for this municipality’s request for a meeting of area municipal representatives with Sault Area Hospital officials to discuss hospital funding and representation were received from the Municipality of Tarbutt and Tarbutt Additional and the Township of Johnson. An invitation to the quarterly meeting of the West Working Group was received from the East Algoma Community Futures Development Corporation. Councillors Butters and Vernelli indicated their intention to attend. Correspondence regarding the proposed Safe Drinking Water Act and the Volunteer Firefighters Employment Protection Act was received from AMO. Notice of approval of funding for road improvements and fire equipment upgrades was received from the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation. Correspondence regarding opportunity bonds and tax incentive zones was received from the Ministry of Finance. Notice of the filing of a number of regulations under the Municipal Act and the Municipal Act, 2001 was received from the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing. A copy of a news release announcing the transfer of the Sailors Encampment harbour facility to this municipality was received from Brent St. Denis, M.P. Correspondence regarding the municipality’s OSTAR application was received from Kresin Engineering Corporation. Notice of a meeting to be held in Sault Ste. Marie on November 14, 2002 regarding proposed redevelopment of Algoma Manor was received from Algoma District Homes for the Aged. Reeve Aelick and Councillor Vernelli indicated their intention to attend that meeting. The approved 2002 service agreement respecting services provided for seniors and the physically disabled by this municipality was received from the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care. Moved by Jody Wildman Seconded by Wayne Van sickle Be it resolved that we do authorize the Reeve and the Clerk/CAO to sign the 2002 Service Agreement for seniors and disabled services provided by this municipality. -cd.- A recommendation that Marilyn Billings be appointed as a representative for the North Shore area on the Seniors/Disabled Services Advisory Committee was received from the Township of Plummer and Plummer Additional. Moved by Vince Vernelli Seconded by Wayne Van Sickle Be it resolved that we do appoint Marilyn Billings to represent the North Shore area on the Seniors/Disabled Services Advisory Committee for the balance of the current term. -cd.- Council was advised that the review of the job classification for the Day Program Leader position had now been completed. Moved by Jody Wildman Seconded by Margaret Butters Be it resolved that we do revise the job classification for the position of Day Program Leader from Job Class 14 to Job Class 17, effective September 17, 2002. -cd.- A quotation for winter sand was considered. Moved by Vince Vernelli Seconded by Wayne Van Sickle Be it resolved that we do accept the quotation by Gilbertson Enterprises to supply, deliver and stockpile screened winter sand at a price of $7.27 per cu. yd. -cd.- Correspondence expressing concerns in respect to drainage in the area of Lookout Drive and the extension of that road to service the new subdivision at the end thereof was received from Mr. Larry Tasse. Superintendent Ross Armstrong was in attendance to update Council on the activities of the Public Works and Transportation Department. A number of road related matters were discussed including drainage in the Lookout Drive area, a possible student position next summer and an upcoming training session. Moved by Jody Wildman Seconded by Wayne Van Sickle Be it resolved that we do authorize Superintendent Ross Armstrong to attend the Ontario Good Roads Association Workshop to be held in Sault Ste. Marie on road related issues under the new Municipal Act. -cd.- Chief Building Official Glen Irwin was in attendance to discuss a recent complaint regarding the issuance of a building permit and building plan requirements. Possible revisions to the municipality’s building permit application guideline to clarify the need for detailed building plans for certain types of projects was also discussed. Council directed Mr. Irwin to prepare those changes. Correspondence was received from Kresin Engineering Corporation regarding completion of upgrade requirements for this municipality’s well pump house. Correspondence regarding electricity rates was received from AMO. Notice of action being taken to lower hydro bills was received from the Office of the Premier. A meeting agenda and draft by-law to regulate smoking in public places and work places was received from the Highway 17 East Corridor Smoke-Free Places By-law Committee. Council was advised that a representative of that committee would attend the next meeting of Council. An invitation to an information session was received from the Safe Communities Partnership. Councillor Van Sickle indicated that he would attend that information session. Copies of the minutes of a recent policing committee meeting were received. A copy of the final draft of proposed Official Plan Amendment No. 41 was received from the St. Joseph Island Planning Board together with a request for Council’s comments on that document. It was agreed to consider this matter at the next meeting of Council. Agreements respecting NCCAP funding were received from the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation. Moved by Jody Wildman Seconded by Wayne Van Sickle Be it resolved that we do authorize the Clerk/CAO to sign the NCCAP Funding Agreements for road improvements and fire equipment upgrades. -cd.- The proposed rink improvement project and the proposed feasibility study to be carried out jointly with Matthews Memorial Hospital Association were discussed. Correspondence regarding restructuring of the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation was received from Pat Davies of OPSEU. Moved by Jody Wildman Seconded by Vince Vernelli Whereas the property tax is a vital part of municipal funding, and all municipalities and ratepayers depend on accurate assessments; And whereas the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC) has ignored the wishes of over 100 municipalities and is implementing a corporate restructuring program, call "Futures," that is dramatically changing property assessment in this province; And whereas MPAC has already cut its front-line staff from over 2,100 to 1,350 and will further reduce them to 1,100 once Futures is fully implemented, with job losses in every region of Ontario; And whereas this has shattered workplace morale and disrupted families; And whereas municipalities are already noticing a loss of local expertise and a decrease in service quality as a result of this centralization plan; And whereas Futures is reducing the number of people who collect hard data on property values by 75 per cent and replacing hard data with a computer program; And whereas MPAC assessors have been ordered not to speak directly with municipal officials; And whereas MPAC is now required to reassess every Ontario property annually, instead of every four years; And whereas a plan to do four times the work with just over half the people will not work; Therefore Be It Resolved that the Township of St. Joseph hereby calls on the Ontario Minister of Finance to intervene to repair the damage Futures has done to Ontario property assessment and to bring forward a plan to restore local assessment expertise and good working relationships between assessment staff and municipalities at the local level. -cd.- Correspondence regarding non-owned auto insurance coverage was received from the municipality’s insurance agent. Moved by Wayne Van Sickle Seconded by Vince Vernelli It is resolved that the Corporation of the Township of St. Joseph hereby assume the liability for bodily injury to or the death of any person or damage to property of others imposed by law upon the following designated person for the purpose of insurance coverage provided under section S.E.F. No. 96 of the Non-Owned Automobile Insurance. Designated persons include: - Members of our Council; our Employees; our Volunteers;
The policy responds for designated persons using a properly insured (as regulated by the Government of Ontario) automobile not owned by our Municipality, on the behalf of our Municipality. It is understood that this assumption of liability only applies to a trip in Canada on the business of the Municipality, and that all insurance Limitations, Exclusions, and Conditions as specified under Section SEF No. 96 apply to any and all losses. -cd.- Correspondence regarding the proposed divestiture of the small craft harbour facility at Richards Landing was received from Fisheries and Oceans Canada. Moved by Margaret Butters Seconded by Vince Vernelli Be it resolved that we do authorize the Reeve and Clerk/CAO to sign the transfer framework agreement with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans respecting the small craft harbour facility at Richards Landing. -cd.- The new marina services building project was discussed. Notice of an upcoming series of seminars on new Municipal Act regulations was received from the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing. Moved by Wayne Van Sickle Seconded by Jody Wildman Be it resolved that we do authorize the Clerk/CAO to attend the seminar on Regulations under the new Municipal Act to be held in Sault Ste. Marie on November 26, 2002. -cd.- Councillor Van Sickle updated Council on the ADnet project. Councillor Vernelli reported on the events and festivals workshop that he had attended recently. Moved by Margaret Butters Seconded by Wayne Van Sickle Be it resolved that we do authorize payment of Voucher No. 2002-11A in the amount of $108,215.59. -cd.- Moved by Jody Wildman Seconded by Margaret Butters Be it resolved that we do pass By-law No. 1767 being a by-law to confirm the proceedings of this meeting. -cd.- Moved by Jody Wildman Seconded by Wayne Van Sickle Be it resolved that we do adjourn to meet again on December 3, 2002 or at the call of the Reeve. -cd.- __________________________________ REEVE-Lorraine Aelick ___________________________________ CLERK-A. Michael Jagger |