Body: Council
Type: Minutes
Meeting: Special 2025 Budget
Date: November 29, 2024
Collection: Council Minutes

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North Frontenac Regular Council Minutes November 29, 2024

Special Meeting Minutes Draft 2025 Budget 9:00 AM - Friday, November 29, 2024 Council Chambers

Present:
Mayor Gerry Lichty, Deputy Mayor John Inglis, Councillor Wayne Good, Councillor Stephanie Regent, Councillor Vernon Hermer, Councillor Roy Huetl and Councillor Fred Fowler Also Present: Corey Klatt, Chief Administrative Officer, Dipl. M.A.; Kelly Watkins, CAO Back up/Treasurer, Dipl. M.A., M.M.; Sandra Lessard, Deputy Treasurer; Tara Mieske, Clerk/Planning Manager, Dipl.M.A. Dipl.M.M.; Darwyn Sproule, Public Works Manager, P. Eng.; Brooke Ross, Manager of Community Development, Dipl.M.A.; and Adam Robinson, Director of Emergency Services/Fire Chief.

Call to Order The Mayor called the Special Meeting to order at 9:04 a.m. The purpose of the Meeting is to consider the proposed Draft Budget for 2025.

Traditional Land Acknowledgement We begin this gathering by acknowledging and celebrating these traditional lands as a gathering place of the first peoples and their ancestors who are entrusted to care for Mother Earth since time immemorial. We do so respecting both the land and the Indigenous People who continue to walk with us through this world. Today, the Township of North Frontenac is committed to working with Indigenous Peoples and all residents to pursue a united path of reconciliation.

Approval of Agenda

a) November 29, 2024 401-24 Moved by Councillor Stephanie Regent, Seconded by Councillor Wayne Good

Be It Resolved That Council approves the Agenda for the Budget Meeting dated November 29, 2024 as circulated. Carried

Disclosure of Pecuniary Interest and General Nature Thereof None declared.

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North Frontenac Regular Council Minutes November 29, 2024

Presentations

a) Treasurer: 2025 Draft Budget Overview (PowerPoint at meeting)

2025 Budget Presentation

Communications

a) Treasurer’s Communications of Interest to Council Re: 2025 Draft Budget 402-24 Moved by Councillor Stephanie Regent, Seconded by Councillor Wayne Good

Be It Resolved That Council receives for information Section ‘A’ Items of the Treasurer’s Administrative Report entitled “Communications of Interest”. Carried

Council, CAO, and Managers’ Administrative Reports

a) Manager of Community Development: Clar Mill Community Hall - Proposed Engineering for Washrooms 403-24 Moved by Councillor Stephanie Regent, Seconded by Councillor Wayne Good

Be It Resolved That Council receives for information the Manager of Community Development’s Administrative Report entitled “Clar Mill Community Hall - Engineering for Washrooms Proposal”.

Carried

b) Manager of Community Development: Asbestos Management Programs in Buildings 404-24 Moved by Councillor Stephanie Regent, Seconded by Councillor Wayne Good

Be It Resolved That Council receives for information the Manager of Community Development’s (MCD) Administrative Report entitled “Asbestos Management Programs in Buildings” for information purposes. Carried

c) Manager of Community Development: Community Improvement Plan (CIP) - 2024 Annual Report 405-24 Moved by Councillor Stephanie Regent, Seconded by Councillor Wayne Good

Be It Resolved That Council receives for information the Manager of Community Development’s Administrative Report entitled “Community Improvement Plan (CIP) - 2024 Annual Report”. Page 2 of 32

North Frontenac Regular Council Minutes November 29, 2024

Carried

d) Manager of Community Development: Increase of two (2) hours per Week for Recreation Maintenance Assistant 406-24 Moved by Councillor Stephanie Regent, Seconded by Councillor Wayne Good

Be It Resolved That Council receives for information the Manager of Community Development’s (MCD) Administrative Report Entitled “Increase of two (2) hours per Week for Recreation Maintenance Assistant”. Carried

e) Manager of Community Development: EDTF Proposal - Summer Student for Economic and Community Development 407-24 Moved by Councillor Stephanie Regent, Seconded by Councillor Wayne Good

Be It Resolved That Council receives for information the Manager of Community Development’s (MCD) Administrative Report entitled “EDTF Proposal - Summer Student for Economic and Community Development” for information purposes. Carried

f) Director of Emergency Services/Fire Chief: Volunteer Firefighter In-house Training Wages 408-24 Moved by Councillor Stephanie Regent, Seconded by Councillor Wayne Good

Be It Resolved That Council receives for information the Director of Emergency Services / Fire Chief’s Administrative Report entitled, “Volunteer Fire Fighter In-House Training Wages”. Carried

g) Public Works Manager: Limited Re-opening of the Ardoch Waste Site 409-24 Moved by Councillor Roy Huetl, Seconded by Councillor Vernon Hermer

Be It Resolved That Council receives for information the Public Works Manager’s Administrative Report entitled “Limited Re-opening of the Ardoch Waste Site”. Carried

h) 2025 Summary of the Ten (10) Year Capital Plan 2025-2034; Tangible Capital Asset (TCA) Replacement Schedules (planned spending) as amended. 410-24 Moved by Councillor Vernon Hermer, Seconded by Councillor Roy Huetl

Be It Resolved That Council receives the Treasurer’s Administrative Report entitled “2025 Summary of the Ten (10) Year Capital Plan 2025-2034; TCA Replacement Page 3 of 32

North Frontenac Regular Council Minutes November 29, 2024

Schedules (planned spending) as amended” for information purposes. Carried

i) Treasurer: Consideration of 2025 Draft Budget 411-24 Moved by Councillor Roy Huetl, Seconded by Councillor Vernon Hermer

Be It Resolved That Council receives the information from the Treasurer regarding the 2025 Draft Budget.
Carried

Council Discussion

a) Council Discussion: 2025 Draft Budget

Public Forum

Consideration of Budget

a) Manager of Community Development: Clar Mill Community Hall - Proposed Engineering for Washrooms 412-24 Moved by Councillor Vernon Hermer, Seconded by Councillor Roy Huetl

Be It Resolved That Council approves including $4,000 in the 2025 Budget to have engineering work completed for the Clar Mill Community Hall Washrooms. Carried

b) Manager of Community Development: Asbestos Management Programs in Buildings 413-24 Moved by Councillor Vernon Hermer, Seconded by Councillor Roy Huetl

Be It Resolved ThatCouncil approves completing Designated Substance Reviews (DSRs) in 2025 at an approximated cost of $30,000.
Carried

c) Manager of Community Development: Community Improvement Plan (CIP) - 2024 Annual Report 414-24 Moved by Councillor Roy Huetl, Seconded by Councillor Vernon Hermer

Be It Resolved That Council approves including $15,000 CIP funding in the 2025 Budget. Carried

d) Manager of Community Development: Increase of two (2) hours per Week for Recreation Maintenance Assistant 415-24 Moved by Councillor Vernon Hermer, Seconded by Councillor Roy Huetl

Page 4 of 32

North Frontenac Regular Council Minutes November 29, 2024

Be It Resolved That Council approves increasing the Recreation Maintenance Assistant position to 32 hours per week. Carried

e) Manager of Community Development: EDTF Proposal - Summer Student for Economic and Community Development 416-24 Moved by Councillor Roy Huetl, Seconded by Councillor Vernon Hermer

Be It Resolved That Council approves the hiring of a Economic and Community Development Summer Student effective the 2025 season and beyond at an approximate cost of $20,000 per year; And That Council approves the MCD annually applying for funding to potentially offset the cost of this position, if successful.
Deferred Prior to 10 i) Consideration of Budget

f) Director of Emergency Services/Fire Chief: Volunteer Firefighter In-house Training Wages 417-24 Moved by Councillor Vernon Hermer, Seconded by Councillor Roy Huetl

Be It Resolved That Council approves providing North Frontenac Firefighters with a hourly in-house training wage, starting January 2025, at an estimated cost increase for 2025 of approximately $15,000. Carried

g) Public Works Manager: Limited Re-opening of the Ardoch Waste Site 418-24 Moved by Councillor Vernon Hermer, Seconded by Councillor Fred Fowler

Be It Resolved That Council approves starting the process to re-open the Ardoch Waste Site on a limited basis; And That Council approves the estimated cost of $17,700 to be funded from the Waste Closure Costs Obligatory Reserve Fund with an estimated year end balance in 2024 of $775,253. Carried

h) Council Conferences 419-24 Moved by Councillor Roy Huetl, Seconded by Councillor Fred Fowler

Be It Resolved That Council increases the budget for 100-0-50180 “Council Conferences” to $6000. Carried

i) Contribution to North Frontenac Food Bank 420-24 Moved by Councillor Roy Huetl, Seconded by Councillor Stephanie Regent

Be It Resolved That Council approves providing $2000 to the North Frontenac Food Page 5 of 32

North Frontenac Regular Council Minutes November 29, 2024

Bank annually; And That this be added as an exemption to the Community Grants Policy. Carried

j) Ontario Provincial Police Funding 421-24 Moved by Councillor Wayne Good, Seconded by Councillor Stephanie Regent

Be It Resolved That Council instructs the Treasurer to incorporate the $147,480 of OPP Funding by allocation $83,970 to 2025 and placing $63,510 in the Contingency Reserve Fund to be used in 2026 to offset OPP costs.
Carried

k) Roads Tangible Capital Asset 422-24 Moved by Councillor Wayne Good, Seconded by Councillor Fred Fowler

Be It Resolved That Council instructs the Treasurer to increase the contribution to the Roads TCA to 2%. Carried

l) Treasurer: 2025 Summary of the Ten (10) Year Capital Plan 2025-2034; Tangible Capital Asset (TCA) Replacement Schedules (planned spending) as amended. 423-24 Moved by Councillor Fred Fowler, Seconded by Councillor Vernon Hermer

Be It Resolved That Council approves the 2025 Summary of the 10 Year Capital Plan (2025 – 2034) Tangible Capital Asset (TCA) Replacement Schedules (planned spending); And That Council authorizes the CAO and Managers to proceed with the applicable 2025 TCA Capital Purchases/Tenders (in accordance with these Schedules and the Procurement By-law). Carried

m) Manager of Community Development: EDTF Proposal - Summer Student for Economic and Community Development 424-24 Moved by Councillor Stephanie Regent, Seconded by Deputy Mayor John Inglis

Be It Resolved That Council approves the hiring of a Economic and Community Development Summer Student effective the 2025 season at an approximate cost of $20,000 per year; And That Council approves the MCD annually applying for funding to potentially offset the cost of this position, if successful.

For: Councillor Stephanie Regent, Councillor Roy Huetl, and Deputy Mayor John Inglis Page 6 of 32

North Frontenac Regular Council Minutes November 29, 2024

Against: Mayor Gerry Lichty, Councillor Wayne Good, Councillor Vernon Hermer, and Councillor Fred Fowler Defeated 3-4 on a recorded vote

n) Consideration of 2025 Draft Budget 425-24 Moved by Councillor Vernon Hermer, Seconded by Councillor Fred Fowler

Be It Resolved That Council approves in principle the 2025 Draft Budget with a levy increase of $327,376 being a 4.55% increase. Carried

Confirmatory By-law

a) Confirming By-law #2024-76 426-24 Moved by Councillor Fred Fowler, Seconded by Councillor Vernon Hermer

Be It Resolved That By-law #2024-76, being a By-law to confirm all actions and proceedings of Council for its Regular Meeting held November 29, 2024, be read a first, second, and third time and finally passed.
Carried

Adjournment

a) Adjournment of the Council Meeting 427-24 Moved by Councillor Vernon Hermer, Seconded by Councillor Fred Fowler

Be It Resolved That Council adjourns the Meeting at 2:03 p.m. until December 13, 2024, or at the call of the Chair. Carried

Mayor Clerk

Page 7 of 32 November 29, 2024 Page 8 of 32 SLIDE | 2 Introduction Timelines Proposed Levy increase Reserve / Reserve Funds Proposed Tangible Capital Asset – 10 Year Plan Grants (approved & pending) Projects/commitments from Reserve/Reserve Funds Budget Overview 2025 Draft Budget Meeting Presentation Agenda Page 9 of 32 What is a Budget? The annual budget development is driven by the Township’s Strategic Plan, Department Operating Plans, applicable legislation, etc.
This draft budget outlines inflationary pressures, repair/maintenance of infrastructure, asset management funding, external Requisitions, etc. 2025 DRAFT BUDGET Introduction Page 10 of 32 SLIDE | 4 2025 DRAFT BUDGET Timeline August 22, 2024 – Report to Council September 9th to October 3 – Managers met with their departments October 7th to 17th – CAO, Treasurer and Manager – one on one meetings November 13th – Managers Meeting – Review Draft TODAY – Draft Budget presentation to Council Page 11 of 32 2025 DRAFT BUDGET 2025 Proposed Increase in Total Municipal Dollars $345,461 or 4.80% Page 12 of 32 SLIDE | 6 0.38 0.8 2.97 2.98 5.34 4.8 0.1 4 6.8 3.8 2.1 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 Yearly Levy Rate CPI August Average Levy Average CPI CPI and Levy Comparison (2020 to 2025) Page 13 of 32 2025 DRAFT BUDGET Summary of the Increases Affecting Levy Operating 2.17% Increase in Contributions to TCA 1.09% Police 1.54 % 4.80% Page 14 of 32 SLIDE | 8 OPP Funding Announcement $147,480 2024 2025 2026 Estimated Costs $821,578 $950,632 $969,647 Year-End Adjustments on billing (reconcilliation 2 years ago) $13,531 $62,772 $63,510 Funding received ($147,480) -$147,480 Funding from Surplus for 2024 adjustment $835,109 $865,924 $1,033,157 increase in dollars to be raised $30,815 $167,233 Levy % increase 0.43% 2.21% Allocation of Funding 100% in 2025 Page 15 of 32 SLIDE | 9 OPP Funding announcement Proposed Allocation 2024 2025 2026 Estimated Costs $821,578 $950,632 $969,647 Year-End Adjustments on billing (reconcilliation 2 years ago) $13,531 $62,772 $63,510 Funding received ($147,480) -$83,970 -$63,510 Funding from Surplus for 2024 adjustment -$36,802 $835,109 $892,632 $969,647 increase in dollars to be raised $57,523 $77,015 Levy % increase 0.73% 1.02% Proposed allocation of Funding Page 16 of 32 SLIDE | 10 Revenue Changes (2.93%) Ontario Municipal Partnership Fund (OMPF) – increase $150,000 Blue Box Transition Program – additional funding $38,000 User Fees – increase $23,000 Asset Management 1.11% Contributions to TCA Reserve Funds – increase $80,039 Payroll 1.46% Cost of Living (2.1%), Benefits etc. increase $105,000 2025 DRAFT BUDGET Summary of the Increases Affecting

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