Published February 5, 2021
Word Count 2236 words
Reading Time 11 min read

Body: Council
Type: Minutes
Meeting: Regular
Date: February 5, 2021
Collection: Council Minutes

[View Document (PDF)](/docs/north-frontenac/Council Minutes/2021/February 5, 2021 - Regular Council Minutes.pdf)

Document Text

Regular Council Minutes February 5, 2021 Page 1 of 11 Minutes of a Regular Meeting of Council for The Corporation of the Township of North Frontenac, held February 5, 2021 through Electronic Participation. Present: Mayor Ron Higgins; Councillor Fred Perry and Councillor Wayne Good – Ward 1; Deputy Mayor Gerry Martin and Councillor Vernon Hermer – Ward 2; Councillor John Inglis and Councillor Fred Fowler – Ward 3. Also Present: Cheryl Robson, Chief Administrative Officer (CAO); Tara Mieske, Clerk/ Planning Manager (CPM); Corey Klatt, Manager of Community Development/CAO Back-up (MCD); Darwyn Sproule, Public Works Manager (PWM); Eric Korhonen, Director of Emergency Services/Fire Chief (DESFC); and Kelly Watkins, Treasurer.

  1. Call To Order The Mayor called the meeting to order at 9:11 a.m.
  2. Approval of Agenda Moved by Deputy Mayor Martin, Seconded by Councillor Hermer #44-21 Be It Resolved That Council approves the Agenda for the Regular Meeting of Council dated February 5, 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 Fowler, Seconded by Councillor Inglis #45-21 Be It Resolved That Council adopts the Minutes of a Public Meeting of Council re: Fees and Charges By-law dated January 15, 2021, as circulated; And That Council adopts the Minutes of a Regular Meeting of Council dated January 15, 2021, as circulated. Carried
  8. Business Arising from Minutes a) Resolution #13-21– Proposed Whiteduck Provincial Park Moved by Councillor Hermer, Seconded by Councillor Inglis #46-21 Whereas Council passed Resolution #13-21 at their meeting on January 15, 2021 receiving for information a report from Councillor John Inglis regarding the Proposed Whiteduck Provincial Park; and that Council requested the Manager of Community Development send a letter to the Provincial Negotiator requesting consideration be Regular Council Minutes February 5, 2021 Page 2 of 11 Page 2 of 11 given to providing full information to Council and local property owners on potential changes to the Algonquin Land Claim and Whiteduck Provincial Park; an extension of the commenting period; removal of the boundary of Whiteduck Provincial Park from Gull Lake west of Ardoch Road or protection of this area being done within a Conservation Reserve designation; restrictive zoning along the south shore of Big Gull Lake to restrict campsites, roads, parking areas, larger boat launches or park infrastructure; Council and residents being permitted to provide input into the Park Management Plan; and regular consultation with the Township regarding potential effects of Whiteduck Provincial Park on the Crown Land Stewardship Program; Therefore Be It Resolved That Council receives a letter dated January 25, 2021 from Doug Carr, Ontario Chief Negotiator, acknowledging receipt of Resolution #471-20 dated November 20, 2020; Resolution #13-21 dated January 15, 2021; and the letters from the Township dated December 21, 2020 and January 21, 2021 expressing the Township’s position; And That as they have received valuable feedback with strong common themes, they do not believe and extension of public consultation is necessary; and that the questions and concerns regarding the inclusion of Crown Lands southeast of Big Gull Lake will be considered in the completion of the evaluation of the project, including mitigation measures or recommendations of alternative projects; And That he will maintain a direct line of communication with the municipality as analysis of the project continues and negotiations proceed including further contact in advance of the Notice of Completion for the environmental evaluation project and the comment period that will follow; And That he will work collaboratively with North Frontenac Township to bring the best possible way forward with the respect to the Algonquins of Ontario treaty negotiations; however the responsibility for settling a land claim rests with the federal and provincial levels of government and therefore they will be the only two parties at the table with the Algonquins of Ontario. Carried b) Resolution #11-21 – Update on Open House for Community Improvement Plan (CIP) Moved by Councillor Perry, Seconded by Deputy Mayor Martin #47-21 Whereas Council passed Resolution #11-21 at their meeting on January 15, 2021 receiving for information an email from the Manager of Community Development (MCD) recommending the Open House for the Community Improvement Plan (CIP) be deferred until late February; and that Council instructed the MCD to provide an update on potential dates for the Open House and Public Meeting; Therefore Be It Resolved That Council receives for information an email from the MCD dated January 25, 2021 advising the Clarendon Miller Community Hall has been tentatively booked for February 23, 2021 for a potential Open House; and that should the Province still be in lockdown due to COVID-19, the MCD suggests the Open House be moved to March 30, 2021; And That Council sets the Open House for the CIP for February 23, 2021 at the Clarendon-Miller Hall at 6:30 p.m. and if the in-person meeting cannot be held on this date due to Covid-19 restrictions then the Open House be moved to March 30, 2021; Regular Council Minutes February 5, 2021 Page 3 of 11 Page 3 of 11 And That Council will set a date for the Public Meeting after the Open House.
    Carried c) Resolution #08-21 – Seniors’ Housing Project - Notice Registered on Title (Cloyne Property) Moved by Councillor Hermer, Seconded by Councillor Fowler #48-21 Whereas Council passed Resolution #08-21 at their meeting on January 15, 2021 receiving for information the Chief Administrative Officer’s Administrative Report entitled “Seniors’ Housing Project”; and instructed the Clerk to contact the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF) regarding the Notice registered on title requiring the Cloyne property be used for a public recreation site; And Whereas Council instructed the Clerk to advise MNRF Council is considering using the property for affordable housing and to see if MNRF is agreeable to removing the Notice for this use; Therefore Be It Resolved That Council receives for information a letter dated January 27, 2021 from Andy Baxter, Resource Operations Supervisor, MNRF, advising that for the Ministry to release a land use condition on title, MNRF is required to: i. Complete environmental assessment screening to determine there would be no significant environmental impact; ii. Determine there would not be any negative impact on Ministry Programs; And that payment of an administrative fee of $705.01 plus HST will be requested should an application be successful through screening; And That, through the Request for Proposal process if the proponent chooses the Cloyne property, the Clerk will apply to have the land use condition removed from title at that time. Carried d) Resolution #436-20 – Bill 229 Protect, Support and Recovers from COVID-19 Act – Schedule 6 – Conservation Authorities Act. Moved by Deputy Mayor Martin, Seconded by Councillor Fowler #49-21 Whereas Council passed Resolution #436-20 at their meeting on November 20, 2020 requesting the Province of Ontario delay enactment of clauses affecting municipal concerns; and that the Province provide a longer transition period up to December 2022 for non-mandatory programs to enable coordination of Conservation Authority and Municipal Budget processes; and that the Province respect the current Conservation Authority and Municipal relationships; and that the Province work with Conservation Authorities to address concerns by repealing and/or amending changes to the Conservation Authorities Act and the Planning Act; and that the Province remove Schedule 6 from Bill 229, the Protect, Support and Recover from COVID-19 Act; Therefore Be It Resolved That Council receives for information a briefing note dated January 21, 2021, prepared for Councillor John Inglis with respect to Mississippi Valley Conservation Authority and Schedule 6 of Bill 229. Carried Regular Council Minutes February 5, 2021 Page 4 of 11 Page 4 of 11
  9. Communications – Clerk’s Administrative Reports A: Received for Information: Moved by Councillor Inglis, Seconded by Councillor Perry #50-21 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:
  10. Rick Hillier, General (Ret’d) Chair, Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing (MMAH) re: Covid-19 Vaccine Update;
  11. East Regional Electricity Network re: Update on Key Electricity Matters;
  12. Brian Smith, President Gravel Watch re: Ontario on the Rocks;
  13. Honourable Jeff Yurek, Minister Environment, Conservation and Parks re: Ontario Moving Forward with Conservation Authorities Working Group;
  14. Quinte Conservation Authority re: November 19, 2020 Minutes;
  15. Quinte Conservation Authority re: Low Water Response Program Update;
  16. Municipality of West Grey – Request for Support re: Crown Forest Sustainability Act Amendments;
  17. Township of Larder Lake – Request for Support re: Municipal Insurance Costs;
  18. Ron Higgins, Mayor re: North Frontenac’s 2021 ROMA Delegation Request – Ministry of Finance Invite;
  19. Minor Variance Application A24/20 – Notice of Decision – Webster;
  20. Minor Variance Application A27/20 – Notice of Decision – Delyea;
  21. United Counties of Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Resolution – Request for Support re: Reopening of Small Businesses;
  22. Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF) re: Approved Short-Term Forest Management Plan Extension for the Mazinaw-Lanark Forest Inc.;
  23. Kingston Frontenac Lennox & Addington (KFL&A) Public Health re: Vaccine Planning – Partner Update (Municipalities);
  24. Township of Mississippi Mills – Request for Support re: Revisions to Municipal Elections;
  25. Minor Variance Application A01/21 – Notice of Hearing – Montgomery;
  26. Mississippi Valley Conservation Authority (MVCA) re: Finding Peace in a Pandemic;
  27. Cox Bus Lines re: Township of North Frontenac Council Resolution – Tri-Board Student Transportation Services RFP;
  28. Dunham Transportation re: Township of North Frontenac Council Resolution – Tri-Board Student Transportation Services RFP;
  29. Minor Variance Application A28/20 – Notice of Hearing – Condon;
  30. Severance Applications B4/21 & B5/21 – Notice of Hearing – Cannon;
  31. Kingston Frontenac Lennox & Addington (KFL&A) Public Health re: New Variant of COVID-19 Found in KFL&A Region;
  32. Township of Huron-Kinloss – Request for Support re: Property Tax Exemption Veterans Clubs;
  33. Community Safety and Well Being (CSWB) re: Survey Link and Eventbrite for Partner Day;
  34. Town of Plympton-Wyoming – Request for Support re: Grant Application Deadlines;
  35. Town of Plympton-Wyoming – Request for Support re: Drainage and Railways;
  36. Honourable Jeff Yurek, Minister Environment, Conservation and Parks re: Comments Received on Whiteduck Provincial Park; Regular Council Minutes February 5, 2021 Page 5 of 11 Page 5 of 11
  37. South-West Oxford – Request for Support re: Automatic Speed Enforcement with Photo Radar;
  38. Ontario Health re: January 2021 Newsletter;
  39. Mississippi Valley Conservation Authority (MVCA) re: Water Safety Statement January 26, 2021;
  40. Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF) re: Ottawa Valley Forest Management Plan – Short Term Extension Notice;
  41. Severance Applications B1/21, B2/21 & B3/21 – Notice of Hearing – Vos;
  42. Village of Westport re: Workshop on The Science Behind Implicit Bias, January 27, 2021 @ 7:00 p.m.;
  43. Kingston Frontenac Lennox & Addington (KFL&A) Public Health re: New Public Health Social Media Assets for Sharing
  44. Kingston Frontenac Lennox & Addington (KFL&A) Public Health re: Vaccine Planning - Partner Update (Municipalities);
  45. Federation Ontario Cottagers’ Associations (FOCA) re: Elert for January 2021;
  46. Ken Fisher, Chair Sharbot Lake VIA Rail Station Committee re: VIA Train Station Submission;
  47. Forests Ontario re: Registration and Information for the 2021 Forest Health Review;
  48. Technical Standards and Safety Authority (TSSA) re: March 2021 Carbon Monoxide Safety Campaign;
  49. Township of Augusta – Request for Support re: Province Reverse Decision to Close Ontario Fire College;
  50. Minor Variance Application 02/21 – Notice of Hearing – Sudgen. Carried B: Action Items: B1. Geoff Bowlby, Director General, Census Management Office, Statistics Canada – Request for Support re: Townships to Encourage Residents to Complete 2021 Census Moved by Councillor Fowler, Seconded by Councillor Hermer #51-21 Be It Resolved That Council receives for information an email dated January 13, 2021 from Geoff Bowlby, Director General, Census Management Office, Statistics Canada, advising the next census will take place on May 2021; And That Council supports the 2021 Census and encourages all residents to complete their census questionnaire online at Census Canada as accurate and complete census data supports programs and services which benefit our community; And That Council instructs the Clerk to prepare a communication to be added to the Township’s Website and Social Media accounts in the spring to increase awareness and encourage residents to participate in the 2021 Census. Carried B2. Honourable Steve Clark, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing (MMAH) re: Municipal Modernization Program – Second Intake Moved by Councillor Inglis, Seconded by Deputy Mayor Martin #52-21 Be It Resolved That Council receives for information a letter dated January 26, 2021 the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing (MMAH), announcing the launch of the second intake under the Municipal Modernization Program, which will allow municipalities to benefit from Provincial funding to conduct third party reviews as well as Regular Council Minutes February 5, 2021 Page 6 of 11 Page 6 of 11 to implement projects to increase efficiency and effectiveness and lower costs in the long term and permitting municipalities to submit an Expression of Interest for the second intake; And That Council passed Resolution #16-21 deferring the Special Meeting regarding the Service Delivery Review (SDR) and Municipal Modernization until further notice; And That Council sets the Special Meeting regarding the SDR and Municipal Modernization for Wednesday, March 3, 2021; And That Council receives for information a breakdown of the Municipal Modernization Reserve Fund prepared by the Treasurer; And That Council instructions the CAO to meet with the Frontenac CAOs and with the Managers and provide recommendations to Council for the Exp

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