Body: Council
Type: Minutes
Meeting: Regular
Date: March 20, 2020
Collection: Council Minutes
[View Document (PDF)](/docs/north-frontenac/Council Minutes/2020/March 20, 2020 - Regular Council Minutes.pdf)
Document Text
Regular Council Minutes March 20, 2020 Page 1 of 13
Minutes of a Regular Meeting of Council for The Corporation of the Township of
North Frontenac, held March 20, 2020 in the Council Chambers, 6648 Road 506,
Plevna, Ontario.
Present: Mayor Ron Higgins; Councillor Fred Perry and Councillor Wayne Good –
Ward 1; and Councillor Fred Fowler – Ward 3.
Absent: Deputy Mayor Gerry Martin and Councillor Vernon Hermer – Ward 2;
Councillor John Inglis– 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); Eric Korhonen, Director of Emergency Services/Fire Chief (DESFC);
and Kelly Watkins, Treasurer.
- Call To Order The Mayor called the meeting to order at 9:36 a.m.
- Approval of Agenda Moved by Councillor Perry, Seconded by Councillor Good
#126-20 Be It Resolved That Council approves the Amended Agenda for the Regular Meeting of Council dated March 20, 2020, as amended. Carried 3. Disclosures of Pecuniary Interest and General Nature Thereof None declared. 4. Business Introductions None. 5. Presentations a) Eric Kohlsmith, Regulations, Mississippi Rideau Septic System Office - 2019 Septic Re-Inspection Report (Receive Report – Presenter Unable to Attend) Moved by Councillor Good, Seconded by Councillor Perry
#127-20
Be It Resolved That Council receives for information the presentation prepared by Eric
Kohlsmith, Regulations, Mississippi Rideau Septic System Office, regarding the 2019
Septic Re-Inspection Report.
Carried
b) Cambium Inc. - Annual Update of Waste Disposal Sites – (Consider Report -
Presenter Unable to Attend).
Moved by Councillor Perry, Seconded by Councillor Good
#128-20 Be It Resolved That Council receives for information the presentation prepared by David Bucholtz, C. Tech, EP, Cambium Inc., regarding the Annual Update of Waste Disposal Sites; And That Council authorizes the Public Works Manager to approve the draft Annual Reports and upon approval authorizes Cambium to submit the 2019 Annual Reports to the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change on behalf of the Township. Carried Regular Council Minutes March 20, 2020 Page 2 of 13
- Delegations None.
- Adoption of Minutes Moved by Councillor Perry, Seconded by Councillor Good
#129-20 Be It Resolved That Council adopts the Minutes of a Regular Meeting of Council dated February 28, 2020, as circulated. Carried 8. Business Arising from Minutes a) Amendment to By-law #03-20 – To Adopt an Interim Tax Rate for 2020 Moved by Councillor Perry, Seconded by Councillor Good
#130-20
Whereas Council passed By-law #03-20 at their meeting on January 17, 2020, to
provide for an Interim Tax Levy for the year 2020 to be used before the adoption of
estimates for the year, to provide for the payment of taxes, and to provide for penalty
and interest charges for non-payment of taxes;
And Whereas due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, the Township’s Community Control
Group met and due to the closure of the Municipal Office, discussed the possibility of
amending the Interim Tax Rate By-law to assist taxpayers in North Frontenac and
recommending extending the due date from March 27, 2020 to April 27, 2020 and
waiving Penalty and Interest on past due amounts that would normally be added on
April 1st (one month relief);
Now Therefore Be It Resolved That Council receives a draft Amended Interim Tax
Rate By-law and will consider adopting the By-law later in the meeting.
Carried
b) Mayor Higgins – Participation in Council Meetings by Electronic Means during
COVID-19 Pandemic.
Moved by Councillor Good, Seconded by Councillor Perry
#131-20
Whereas Council passed By-law #99-19 at their meeting on December 13, 2019 to
establish a Procedural Policy for Members of Council and Committees;
And Whereas due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, Council’s ability to conduct regular
meetings under the provisions in the Procedural Policy may be impacted due to self-
isolating measures and concern about spreading the virus;
Now Therefore Be It Resolved That Council receives an email dated March 18, 2020
from Mayor Higgins advising he had a meeting on March 17, 2020 with Minister Clark
along with other heads of Council; and that the Municipal Act will be amended to allow
electronic meetings very soon; and that Mayor Higgins has asked Staff to amend the
Procedural By-law accordingly to be ready when that is done;
And That Council receives a draft Amended Procedural Policy to permit participating in
Council Meetings by electronic means and will consider adopting the By-law later in the
meeting.
Carried
9. Communications – Clerk’s Administrative Reports
A: Received for Information:
Moved by Councillor Good, Seconded by Councillor Perry
#132-20 Regular Council Minutes March 20, 2020 Page 3 of 13
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:
- Sharbot Lake Business Group re: Sharbot Lake Village Re-Construction;
- County of Frontenac re: Request for Support – Conservation Authorities;
- Mississippi Valley Conservation Authority (MVCA) re: Annual Board of Directors Meeting Summary;
- County of Peterborough re: Request for Support – Bill 156, Security from Trespass and Protecting Food Safety Act;
- Town of Bracebridge re: Request for Support – Ban of Single-Use Disposable Wipes;
- Melanie Joy, Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages re: Bioindustrial Innovation Canada Officially Opens Brockville Office;
- Township of Puslinch re: Request for Support – Electronic Delegation to Provincial Ministers;
- Township of Puslinch re: Request for Support – Bill 132, Legislative Changes to the Aggregate Resources Act and the Safe Drinking Water Act;
- Quinte Conservation re: December Board Meeting Approved Minutes;
- Bonita McCourt, Director of The Salvation Army Community and Family Services re: Job Posting for Frontenac’s Homelessness Prevention Program;
- Township of Tyendinaga re: Request for Support – Call for a Solution to the Ongoing Coastal GasLink and Rail Disruption Situations;
- Steve Clark, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing re: 2020 Provincial Policy Statement;
- Strategy Corp Inc. re: Frontenac Service Delivery Review Project Update;
- Municipality of West Nipissing re: Request for Support – Bill 132, Legislative Changes to the Aggregate Resources Act and the Safe Drinking Water Act;
- Enbridge Gas Inc. re: Government’s Natural Gas Expansion Program;
- Town of Ajax re: Request for Support – Conservation Authorities;
- Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC) re: Statement on Integrity Commissioner’s Determination on Part-time Commissioner Conflict of Interest;
- Independent Electrical System Operator (IESO) re: East Regional Electricity Forum Meeting March 11, 2020;
- Eastern Ontario Leadership Council (EOLC) re: Potentially Useful Information from the EOLC Commuter Strategy Project;
- Municipality of West Nipissing re: Request for Support – Provincially Significant Wetlands Designation;
- Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF) re: A Solid Wood Bioheat Guide for Rural and Remote Communities in Ontario;
- Municipal Engineers Association re: 2020 Student Bursary Program. Carried B: Action Items: B1. Eastern Ontario Trails Alliance (EOTA) re: Request for Board Member Moved by Councillor Perry, Seconded by Councillor Good
#133-20 Be It Resolved That Council receives for information an email dated February 19, 2020 from Cindy Cassidy of Eastern Ontario Trails Alliance (EOTA), requesting for North Regular Council Minutes March 20, 2020 Page 4 of 13
Frontenac Council to add a member to the Board; and advising that Councillor Fred
Fowler, as Trail Liaison, attends the EOTA meetings; and that various other
municipalities are appointed to the EOTA Board of Directors representing their
municipality;
And That Council instructs the Clerk to contact Ms. Cassidy advising Councillor Fowler
will be on the Board of Directors.
Carried
B2. County of Haliburton re: Request for Support – Tourism Oriented Destination
Signage Fee Increase Deferral/Phase In
Moved by Councillor Good, Seconded by Councillor Perry
#134-20
Whereas Council receives for information a letter dated February 3, 2020 from the
County of Haliburton regarding a significant increase in fees being charged to
businesses by Canadian Tourism Oriented Destination Signage Limited (Canada TODS
Limited); and that the Ministry of Heritage, Sport, Tourism and Culture and the Ministry
of Transportation supervise the delivery and maintenance of tourism oriented
destination signage through Canada TODS Limited;
And Whereas enhanced tourism opportunities are vital to the economy throughout the
Province and this increase will result in financial hardships for business owners;
And Whereas the fees for the Four Seasons Scenic Route Signage on Highway 7 and
Highway 41 (4 signs) went from $612 plus HST in 2019 to $1,600 plus HST in 2020;
and this price is very unaffordable for the many local businesses that advertise or would
like to advertise along these Provincial highways, as well as small rural municipalities
like North Frontenac;
Therefore Be It Resolved That Council supports the request from the County of
Haliburton to the Ministry of Heritage, Sport, Tourism and Culture and the Ministry of
Transportation to reconsider or phase in this fee increase, allowing an appropriate
amount of time for businesses to adjust;
And That Council instructs the Clerk to forward this resolution to the County of
Haliburton; the Premier; the Minister of Heritage, Sport, Tourism and Culture; the
Minister of Transportation; the County of Frontenac; and Randy Hillier, MPP;
And That the Mayor shall send a letter along with the support.
Carried
B3. Mississippi Valley Conservation Authority (MVCA) re: Mazinaw Lake Dam Gate;
Moved by Councillor Good, Seconded by Councillor Perry
#135-20 Be It Resolved That Council receives for information a letter from Mississippi Valley Conservation Authority (MVCA) dated February 7, 2020 proposing to install a gate to discourage the public from using the dam overflow by-pass as a boat launch as this was identified as a safety risk during a Dam Safety Assessment of the Mazinaw Lake Dam; and MVCA met with the Public Works Foreman to discuss options and the Kaladar/Barrie Fire Chief and adjacent land owner Brad Robson; And That Council receives for information an email dated January 31, 2020 from the Public Works Foreman (PWF) advising he met with MVCA at the Mazinaw Lake Dam; and that he asked that they put the gates as close to the dam as possible so Public Works could still get the snow plow turned in the winter months and the school bus has room to turn; and that MVCA agreed to the requests; Regular Council Minutes March 20, 2020 Page 5 of 13
And That Council receives for information an email dated February 24, 2020 from the Kaladar/Barrie Fire Chief advising after discussion with MVCA, the gate would be moved closer to the hydrant and the fence posts tucked beside the trees; the gate would be widen to 22’ to allow for fire trucks with intake lines deployed; he did not see any concerns from the fire department perspective other than the need for “No Parking Fire Route” signage to deter people from parking in front of the gate; And That Council defers consideration of this request until MVCA attends the May 8, 2020 Council Meeting to explain how they suggest addressing the concerns from residents and Council will then determine how best to proceed. Carried B4. Max Mieske, Resident re: Mississippi Valley Conservation Authority (MVCA) Request to Deny Public Access to the Mazinaw Dam; Moved by Councillor Good, Seconded by Councillor Perry
#136-20
Be It Resolved That Council receives for information an email dated March 7, 2020
from Max and Tara Mieske, Resident, advising they are the owners of property on the
corner of Head Road and Wellman Road, with a Right-of-Way included on the deed
over the private road adjacent to Lots 1, 2, 3 and 4 on Plan 690, which is now the
Township Road known as Wellman Road; and this road was created to the Shore Road
Allowance to allow access to the lake; and that Road Allowances are used all over the
Township to allow residents to access the water at their cottages and the public to
access where it is accessible by public roads/lands;
And That Mr. Mieske advises that by installing a gate, Mississippi Valley Conservation
Authority (MVCA) will not stop people from accessing the dam as it is an open area; and
as taxpayers, but especially as property owners who have access noted on our deed to
the Shore Road Allowance which is being blocked, we have several concerns with
restricting access to the lake;
And That Mr. Meiske requests that Council not permit MVCA to install a gate; and, if
Council is considering granting permission to this request to MVCA, the following should
be considered:
- Provide Public Notice in accordance with the Road Closing Policy, at the expense of MVCA, which is used when a road allowance leading to water or shore road allowance is closed or at least notify the property owners who have a deeded access over the roadway.
- Consider moving the gate to the southern side of the fire hydrant to allow an access north of the gate where the water is calm and is more than 16 metres (52 feet) from the northern abutment of the dam. It would also eliminate the fire department having to unlock a gate to access the fire hydrant increasing safety.
- If the gate is not moved, require MVCA to provide a key to the property owners who have deeded access over the roadway so they can continue to use the Shore Road Allowance to access the lake. And That, as MVCA will be in contact with Mr. Mieske to discuss the gate and other matters, Council defers consideration of this request; and invites Mr. Mieske to attend as a delegation to the May 8, 2020 Council Meeting prior to MVCA’s presentation on their dams (including the Mazinaw dam) and their Watershed Plan, etc. Carried Regular Council Minutes March 20, 2020 Page 6 of 13
B5. Jeff Yurek, Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks re: Provincial Day of Action on Litter; Moved by Councillor Good, Seconded by Councillor Perry
#137-20 Be It Resolved That Council receives for information an email dated March 11, 2020 from Jeff Yurek, Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP), advising the Provincial Day of Action on Litter Act, 2019 was proclaimed December 2019 and established the second Tuesday of May each year as the Provincial Day of Action on Litter; And That the first officia
[Document continues — view full PDF for complete text]
