Body: Council
Type: Minutes
Meeting: Regular
Date: February 26, 2021
Collection: Council Minutes
[View Document (PDF)](/docs/north-frontenac/Council Minutes/2021/February 26, 2021 - Regular Council Minutes.pdf)
Document Text
Regular Council Minutes February 26, 2021 Page 1 of 8 Minutes of a Regular Meeting of Council for The Corporation of the Township of North Frontenac, held February 26, 2021 in the Council Chambers, 6648 Road 506, Plevna, Ontario. Present: Mayor Ron Higgins; Councillor Fred Perry – Ward 1; Deputy Mayor Gerry Martin and Councillor Vernon Hermer (Electronic Participation) – Ward 2; Councillor John Inglis and Councillor Fred Fowler – Ward 3. Absent with Regrets: Councillor Wayne Good – Ward 1. Also Present: Cheryl Robson, Chief Administrative Officer (CAO); Tara Mieske, Clerk/ Planning Manager (CPM); Corey Klatt, Manager of Community Development/CAO Back-up (MCD) and Kelly Watkins, Treasurer. 1. Call to Order The Mayor called the meeting to order at 9:17 a.m. 2. Approval of Agenda Moved by Deputy Mayor Martin, Seconded by Councillor Inglis #93-21 Be It Resolved That Council approves the Agenda for the Regular Meeting of Council dated February 26, 2021, as circulated. Carried 3. Disclosures of Pecuniary Interest and General Nature Thereof None declared. 4. Presentations None. 5. Delegations None. 6. Business Introduction None. 7. Adoption of Minutes Moved by Councillor Inglis, Seconded by Deputy Mayor Martin #94-21 Be It Resolved That Council adopts the Minutes of a Regular Meeting of Council dated February 5, 2021, as circulated. Carried 8. Business Arising from Minutes None. 9. Communications – Clerk’s Administrative Reports A: Received for Information: Regular Council Minutes February 26, 2021 Page 2 of 8 Page 2 of 8 Moved by Deputy Mayor Martin, Seconded by Councillor Inglis #95-21 Be It Resolved That Council receives Section A Items of the Clerk’s Administrative Report entitled Communications of Interest, as set out below, for information:
- Eastern Ontario Wardens Caucus re: Release of Review of Eastern Ontario Long-Term Care Facilities;
- Kingston Frontenac Lennox & Addington (KFL&A) Public Health re: COVID-19 Vaccine Update for Partners (Municipalities);
- Worker of Ontario Fire College – Request for Support re: Closure of the Ontario Fire College;
- Mississippi Valley Conservation Authority (MVCA) re: Public Information Session – Plan to Confront Flood Hazards;
- Heart of Hastings Hospice re: Newsletter February 2021;
- Ontario Health East re: Update #8 – Health System COVID-19 Pandemic Response;
- Rick Hillier, General (Ret’d) Chair, Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing (MMAH) re: Communications on Vaccines;
- Kingston Frontenac Lennox & Addington (KFL&A) Public Health re: COVID-19 Vaccines Fact Sheet;
- Keley Katona, Director, Conservation & Source Protection Branch, Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks re: Proclamation of Provisions of the Conservation Authorities Act;
- Kingston Frontenac Lennox & Addington (KFL&A) Public Health re: Media Release – Keep KFL&A Region Open and Safe;
- Mississippi Valley Conservation Authority (MVCA) re: Changes to K&P Trail Bridge over the Clyde River;
- Kingston Frontenac Lennox & Addington (KFL&A) Public Health re: Statement from KFL&A Public Health’s Medical Officer of Health;
- Kingston Frontenac Lennox & Addington (KFL&A) Public Health re: COVID-19 Vaccine Update for Partners (Municipalities);
- Township of Huron-Kinloss – Request for Support re: Property Tax Exemption Veterans Clubs;
- Honourable Jeff Yurek, Minister Environment, Conservation and Parks re: Proposed Whiteduck Park;
- Town of Plympton-Wyoming – Request for Support re: Grant Application Deadlines;
- Mississippi Valley Conservation Authority (MVCA) re: Ottawa Valley Forest Management Plan - Short Term Extension Notice;
- Ontario Health re: Ontario Health Connection Newsletter, Issue #2;
- Mississippi Valley Conservation Authority (MVCA) re: Review of Draft Forest Management Plan Mazinaw-Lanark Forest 2021-2031 Forest Management Plan;
- Minor Variance Application A28/20 – Notice of Decision – Condon;
- Minor Variance Application A02/21 – Notice of Decision – Sugden;
- Kingston Frontenac Lennox & Addington (KFL&A) Public Health re: COVID-19 Vaccination Strategy Short-term Accommodation Rentals Concerns:
- Nina Slawek – Resident;
- Ted Larson – Resident; Regular Council Minutes February 26, 2021 Page 3 of 8 Page 3 of 8
- Bill Carroll and Margaret Hutchinson – Resident;
- Robert Reid – Mazinaw Property Owners Association (MOPA);
- Bob King – Resident;
- Bruce Moore – President, North Frontenac Lake Association Alliance (NFLAA);
- Jim Kozak – Resident;
- Igor Krupin – Resident;
- Colette Cote-Baldwin – Resident;
- Frank McEvoy – Resident;
- Greg and Sonja Schryer – Resident;
- Wayne and Brenda Hilliker – Seasonal Resident;
- Shannon Binder – Resident;
- J.J. Emond – Resident;
- Paul Tyrrell – Resident;
- Richard McIlveen and Nancy Brown – Resident;
- Sue MacGregor – Resident. Carried Note: Darwyn Sproule, Public Works Manager (PWM) arrived at this time. B: Action Items: B1. Neal Hougham, Project Manager, Network Provisioning, Bell Canada re: Funding Opportunity to Improve Bell Connectivity in your Community Moved by Deputy Mayor Martin, Seconded by Councillor Inglis #96-21 Be It Resolved That Council receives for information an email dated February 16, 2021 from Bell Canada, advising the Government of Canada has established the Universal Broadband Fund (UBF) to provide broadband Internet services in eligible underserved areas across Canada; And That, based on Bell’s analysis of the opportunities available, North Frontenac community will be included as part of a Bell Canada application to expand their all-fibre broadband network which, if successful, will improve broadband access that supports the connectivity needs of residents, institutions and businesses in the area, including broadband speeds; And That, as the application is up against proposals for other communities across the country resulting in a competition, Bell Canada is requesting a letter of support by March 5, 2021 to include in their application, demonstrating that access to high-speed internet is a stated priority for North Frontenac; And That Council instructs the Clerk to provide a letter of support before March 5, 2021 and report back to Council with any further updates; And That if any other similar requests are received they be provided a similar letter of support. Carried B2. Municipal Finance Officers’ Association of Ontario (MFOA) – Request for Support re: One Year Extension of Asset Management Planning for Municipal Infrastructure Deadlines Moved by Councillor Inglis, Seconded by Deputy Mayor Martin #97-21 Be It Resolved That Council receives for information a letter dated October 22, 2020, the Municipal Financial Officers’ Association of Ontario (MFOA), regarding Asset Regular Council Minutes February 26, 2021 Page 4 of 8 Page 4 of 8 Management Planning of Municipal Infrastructure under the Infrastructure for Jobs and Prosperity Act, 2015; And That the COVID-19 pandemic has had significant financial and operational impacts on Ontario municipalities; And That municipalities have had to divert resources towards addressing the immediate needs of the pandemic and maintaining service delivery standards despite evolving restrictions and limited funds; And That the Government of Ontario has delayed timelines with respect to several pieces of legislation; And That the Government of Ontario has regulated municipal asset management through O. Reg. 588/17: Asset Management Planning for Municipal Infrastructure under the Infrastructure for Jobs and Prosperity Act, 2015; And That O. Reg. 588/17 mandates that every municipality shall prepare an asset management plan in respect of its core municipal infrastructure assets by July 1, 2021, and in respect of all of its other municipal infrastructure assets by July 1, 2023; And That the key components of an asset management plan as required by the regulation are:
- Infrastructure asset inventory
- Levels of service
- Lifecycle management and financial strategy And That there is a concern amongst Municipal Finance Officers’ Association of Ontario (MFOA) members and their municipalities that current capacity challenges (redeployment of staff, and lack of available resources) will result in limitations for purposeful asset management planning; And That Ontario municipalities do not anticipate the current capacity challenges to be resolved in the short-term; And That the Township of North Frontenac supports MFOA’s letter to the Ministry of Infrastructure requesting a one-year extension of deadlines in O. Reg. 588/17: Asset Management Planning for Municipal Infrastructure under the Infrastructure for Jobs and Prosperity Act, 2015; so that all municipalities can focus on the immediate needs of the pandemic and engage in municipal asset management planning when capacity challenges are resolved. Carried Note: Eric Korhonen, Director of Emergency Services/Fire Chief (DESFC) arrived at this time.
Council, CAO and Managers’ Administrative Reports a) Clerk/Planning Manager – Committee of Adjustments Procedural By-law regarding Participation in Meetings for Members Moved by Councillor Fowler, Seconded by Councillor Perry #98-21 Be It Resolved That Council receives for information the Clerk/Planning Manager’s Administrative Report entitled “Committee of Adjustment Procedural By-law Amendments to Permit Electronic Participation in Meetings”; And That Council will consider a By-law later in the Meeting to repeal By-law #76-19 and By-law #54-20; and adopt a new By-law, being the Procedural Policy and Code of Conduct for the Committee of Adjustments/Planning Advisory Committee. Carried Regular Council Minutes February 26, 2021 Page 5 of 8 Page 5 of 8 b) Public Works Manager – 506 Waste Site - Environmental Certificate of Approval Amendment Update Moved by Councillor Perry, Seconded by Councillor Fowler #99-21 Be It Resolved That Council receives for information the Public Works Manager’s Administrative Report entitled “506 Waste Site – Environmental Certificate of Approval Amendment Update”; And That after the 2021 season the Public Works Manager will report to Council with a recommendation regarding a potential user fee for the disposal of brush and yard waste. Carried 11. External Committees/Local Boards/ Task Force Notes and Reports (Received for information only) a) Economic Development Task Force i) Notes of a Meeting of the Economic Development Task Force dated February 17, 2021 Moved by Councillor Fowler, Seconded by Councillor Perry #100-21 Be It Resolved That Council receives for information Notes of a Meeting of the Economic Development Task Force (EDTF) dated February 17, 2021. Carried ii) Recommendation to accept a 14 inch Telescope that has been offered to the Township’s Dark Sky Preserve as a donation from a private donor; and to approve the loan of the Fred Lossing Telescope to North Frontenac free of charge on the understanding it will be put to use in 2021 or as soon as possible given the current pandemic related activity restrictions. Moved by Councillor Fowler, Seconded by Councillor Perry #101-21 Be It Resolved That Council approves accepting a 14 inch Telescope that has been offered to the Township’s Dark Sky Preserve as a donation from a private donor and instructs the MCD to respond to formally accept the donation (a new initiative); And That Council approves the loan of the Fred Lossing Telescope to NF free of charge on the understanding it will be put to use in 2021 or as soon as possible given the current pandemic related activity restrictions. It is understood that a structure will be built to house and protect the telescope (using Go Fund Me donations received) and that the telescope will be maintained and used by amateur astronomers residing in or commuting to North Frontenac, and will be made available for public astronomy evenings (star parties). RASC Ottawa members who are suitably trained will also be granted occasional access to the telescope when it is not otherwise occupied, by appointment or some other mechanism acceptable to the Township. Moreover; should North Frontenac be unable to maintain or use the telescope for observational purposes RASC Ottawa Centre is to be contacted re: alternate disposition (such as a transfer to the RASC National Telescope Museum). The loan arrangement will be re-evaluated after one year from the date of the telescopes arrival in the Township of North Frontenac with the intention of extending the arrangement for as long as the telescope is being put to appropriate use or to transfer ownership of the asset; And That Council directs the MCD to respond to RASC’s letter formally accepting the Telescope and the conditions stated above, on behalf of the Township. Regular Council Minutes February 26, 2021 Page 6 of 8 Page 6 of 8 Carried b) Notes of a Meeting of the Joint Health and Safety Committee dated January 20, 2021. Moved by Councillor Perry, Seconded by Councillor Fowler #102-21 Be It Resolved That Council receives for information Notes of a Meeting of the Joint Health and Safety Committee dated January 20, 2021. Carried 12. Giving Notice of a Motion (By a Member of Council to the Clerk for Council’s Consideration for Inclusion on the next Meeting Agenda) None. 13. Motions, Written Notice of Which Have Been Given (By a Member of Council and Approved by Council at a Prior Meeting) None. 14. Council Portfolios (Verbal Report) 15. Introduction and Reading of By-laws Moved by Councillor Fowler, Seconded by Councillor Perry #103-21 Be It Resolved That leave be given the Mover to introduce the following By-law that have been circulated to all members of Council and that this By-law be read a first and second time: a) #13-21 – To Establish a Procedural Policy for Committee of Adjustment/Planning Advisory Committee and repeal By-law #76-19. Carried Moved by Councillor Perry, Seconded by Councillor Fowler #104-21 Be It Resolved That the following By-law be read a third time, signed, sealed and finally passed: a) #13-21 – To Establish a Procedural Policy for Committee of Adjustment/Planning Advisory Committee and repeal By-law #76-19. Carried Note: The PWM and DESFC left the meeting at this time. 16. Closed Session Moved by Councillor Fowler, Seconded by Councillor Perry #105-21 Be It Resolved That Council retires to Closed Session at 9:54 a.m. to: a) Adopt Minutes of a Closed Meeting of Council dated February 5, 2021; b) Consider Advice that is subject to solicitor-client privilege, including communications necessary for that purpose more specifically an update with respect to Enforcing the Building Code; c) Discuss Information Explicitly Supplied in Confidence to the Municipality or Local Board by Canada, a Provin
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