Attending:
Mayor Steve Rawn, Councillors: Christine
Ellis, Vi Montpetit, John Newstead, Merlyn Snow
Guests: Bruce Campbell –Councillor with the Village of Burk’s Falls. Mr. Campbell spoke to council expressing concern with the Ministry of Education and the changes being made to the new Almaguin Highland Secondary School. Mr. Campbell was seeking support from area municipalities to voice their concerns. A resolution was passed by Council.
Mayor Elgin Schneider and Councillor Bill deVries from the Village of Sundridge attended the meeting to discuss placing an archway on the property owned by the Township of Strong and the south boundary of the Village of Sundridge. Council reviewed the plans for the archway and also reviewed proposed signage being placed in and around the Village of Sundridge. Council did not have any concerns with the plans as presented.
Don Preston – G. F. Preston Sales and Service attended the meeting to discuss with council the purchase of an excavator. Mr. Preston reviewed the document advising council of the features of this excavator. A resolution was passed.
Road Superintendant: Dave Pringle provided council with an update on roads, reviewed the proposed budget with council.
The following resolutions were passed:
2010-001 Chris Ellis –
Merlyn Snow:
That the Council for the Township of Strong does hereby adopt the minutes of the following meetings as circulated:
December 8, 2009 Minutes
December 17, 2009 Central Almaguin Economic Development
January 6, 2010 SSJ Arena Board
December 17, 2009
Library Board Carried
2010-002Chris Ellis –
Merlyn Snow:
The Council for the Township of Strong have read resolution 2009-204 as presented by the Village of Burk’s Falls expressing concern with the Ministry of Education and changes being made to the new Almaguin Highland Secondary School design.
The Council for the Township of Strong supports the concerns expressed in this resolution and respectfully request the Ministry of Education fully fund the reasonable school design previously agreed upon by the Ministry and the Near North District School Board;
And that our support is sent to the Hon., Kathleen Wynne, Minister of Education to provide an education for our students which is equal to those who live in urban areas. Carried
2010-003
Vi Montpetit – J. D. Newstead:
Be it resolved that this Council does hereby accept the quotation from G.F. Preston Sales & Service for the purchase of a new Doosan DX140W wheeled excavator in the amount of $ 218,750.00 plus taxes as presented subject to the rate of exchange of the American dollar;
And that council agrees to a deposit paid in
the amount of $ 50,000.00. Carried
2010-004
J. D. Newstead – Merlyn Snow:
The
council is aware that the Township receives some invoices that must be paid
prior to Council meetings because of penalties for late payments.
Council is also aware that the Treasurer pays for janitorial services bi-weekly
and employees wages every second Friday.
Council authorizes the Treasurer to issue cheques for the above as and when
required throughout 2010. The Council also authorizes the Clerk/Treasurer to
purchase necessary stationary supplies, printing supplies and other office materials
that are required to efficiently operate the Municipal office from day to day
throughout 2010 Carried
2010-005 Chris Ellis – Vi Montpetit:
The
Council for the Township of Strong have seen Policy No. PK0900282 (2009) for
Bond Coverage for employees in the amount of $1,000,000.00 as per Section 287
(1) (b) as per S.O. 2001 c.25. Carried
2010-006 Merlyn Snow – Chris Ellis:
The Council for the Township of Strong have
read and approve By-Law No. 2010-001 Being a by-law to authorize the borrowing
from time to time to meet current expenditures during the fiscal year.
And that we authorize the Mayor and the Clerk to sign this by-law and affix the
Seal of the Corporation thereto. Carried
2010-007 Chris Ellis – J. D. Newstead:
The
Council for the Township of Strong have read and approve By-Law No.
2010-002 Being a by-law to provide
interest to be charged for overdue payments – Tax Arrears.
And that we authorize the Mayor and the Clerk to sign this by-law and affix the
Seal of the Corporation thereto. Carried
2010-008 Vi Montpetit – Chris Ellis
The
Council for the Township of Strong have
read and approve By-Law No.2010-003 Being a by-law to establish a charge for
interest for non-payment of current taxes;
And that we authorize the Mayor and the Clerk to sign this by-law and affix the
Seal of the Corporation thereto.Carried
2010-009 Chris Ellis – J. D. Newstead:
The
Council for the Township of Strong have
read By-law No. 2010-004 being a by-law
to confirm the proceedings of Council at its meetings from January 2009 to December 2009;
And that
Council authorizes the Mayor and the Clerk to sign this by-law and affix the
Seal of the Corporation thereto. Carried
2010-010 Chris Ellis – J. D. Newstead:
That the Council of the Corporation of the Township of Strong have read By-law number 2010-005 being a by-law for Indemnification;
And hereby authorize the Mayor and the Clerk to sign this by-law and
affix the Seal of the Corporation thereto.
Carried
2010-011 Merlyn Snow – J.
D. Newstead:
That the Council for the Township of Strong have read and approve By-law 2010-006 being a by-law to authorize the borrowing of money by way of a line of credit to meet expenditures in connection with a certain project – Purchase of equipment for roads having read the by-law the required readings;
And that Council hereby authorize the Mayor and the Clerk to sign this by-law and affix the Seal of the Corporation thereto. Carried
2010-0012 Chris Ellis – Vi Montpetit:
That the Council for the Township of Strong have read and approve By-law
2010-007 being a by-law to authorize the borrowing of money by way of a line of credit to meet
expenditures in connection with a certain project – Municipal Office
renovations having read the by-law the required readings;
And that Council hereby authorize the Mayor and the Clerk to sign
this by-law and affix the Seal of the Corporation thereto. Carried
2010-013 Merlyn Snow – J.
D. Newstead:
By S.O.
2001 c.25 as amended, Section 284 (1) the treasurer of a municipality shall in
each year on or before March 31 provide to the Council of the municipality an
itemized statement on remuneration and expenses paid in the previous year to:
each member of council in respect of his/her services as a member of the
council or any other body, including a local board, to which the member holds
office by virtue of being a member of council; each member of council in
respect of his/her services as an officer or employee of the municipality or
other body described in clause (a); and each person other than a member of council
appointed by the municipality to serve as a member of any body, including a
local board, in respect of his/her services as a member of the body.
And that By-Law 2005-8 identified the remuneration to be paid to council
members as per S.O. 2001, c.25 Section 284 (2).
COUNCIL: MILAGE
PAID:
Mayor Steve Rawn $
12,927.91 Steve
Rawn $ 452.74
Councillors: Christine Ellis $ 10,888.59 Christine
Ellis $ 123.30
Vi Montpetit $
11,088.00 Vi Montpetit $
291.60
John Newstead $ 11,088.00 John Newstead $ 658.90
Merlyn Snow $ 11,088.00 Merlyn Snow $ 63.45
Cemetery Board Members:
Terry
Hornibrook - $ 80.00, Don Richardson -
$80.00, Arnold Hall -$ 80.00, Merlyn Snow- $ 80.00
William
Kent - $80.00, Gary McCreary -$80.00, John Hannaford - $80.00, Jim Schmidt -
$80.00,
Tim
Crozier - $40.00, Kerry Parker -$40.00, Roger Brimacombe - $40.00, Grant
Crozier - $40.00.
Livestock
Valuers:
David
Sinclair - $40.00, John McLachlan - $40.00,
Recreation
Committee:
Sherry
Dobson, - $40.00, Kelly Elik - $240.00, Betty McLaren - $240.00, Cliff Cookman
- $ 40.00,
Library
Board:
Sally
Harper - $ 200.00, Jane Anderson -$240.00
Medical
Centre:
Sally
Harper - $40.00
High Rock
Committee:
Roger
Morgan - $40.00
We have
seen the itemized statement for Councillors etc. for 2009 Carried
2010-014 Merlyn Snow – Chris Ellis:
The
Council for the Township of Strong approve
payment of the annual membership fees to the Parry Sound Municipal
Association in the amount of $ 150.00 per year. Carried
2010-015 Merlyn Snow – Vi Montpetit
That the Council of the
Corporation of the Township of Strong authorize the Mayor and Clerk to sign the
License Agreement dated November 1, 2009 between the Corporation of the
Township of Strong, the Corporation of the Village of Sundridge and the
Corporation of the Township of July, operators of the S.S.J. Arena and Hall and
the Corporation of the Town of Parry Sound, Administrators of the Provincial
Court. Carried
2010-016 Chris Ellis – Vi Montpetit
That whereas the council of the Township of Strong recognizes the
need to provide long-term care:
And Whereas, as a result of provincial under-funding, municipal levies have continually increased to assist Eastholme, our Home for the Aged, and are forecasted to increase by $450,000 for 2010 which represent a 95% increase in the municipal levy;
And Whereas, current provincial funding is insufficient and annual increases to the provincial subsidy have not covered inflationary increases on base costs such as wages, employee benefits, supplies and utilities, as well as ensuring that the home can meet the care needs of the home’s residents to meet compliance standards;
And Whereas, with the passing of the new Long-Term Care Homes Act, 2007 and the soon to be released regulations, there are concerns that more of the home’s limited resources will be spent on the new administrative requirements leading to less money getting to the bedsides of the residents;
And Whereas, any possible increase to the accommodation subsidy each year is currently not a reliable source of funding;
And Whereas, the Province’s last few budgets have not provided sufficient additional permanent operating funding for long –term are homes;
And Whereas, the province is currently funding the unincorporated township’s share of the budget for the District of Parry Sound Social Services Administration Board, but has not provided a similar arrangement for Boards of Management operating district homes for the aged which have unincorporated townships within their jurisdiction, notwithstanding that Eastholme and other district homes for the aged have in past years received funding payments by the Province in respect of the unincorporated townships for operational purposes and capital projects;
Now Therefore, the Township of Strong is requesting that the province provide increase subsidies for 2010 and future years to ensure adequate care of the residents in long-term care homes and to meet the inflationary increases on base expenditures, as well as an annual operational funding payment to the district homes for the aged in respect of the unincorporated townships within their jurisdiction;
And furthermore, this resolution be forwarded to:
The Miniter of Health and Long-Term Care,
The Minister of Finance,
The North East Local Health Integration Network,
Monique Smith, M.P.P. Nipissing,
Norm Miller, M.P.P. Parry Sound –Muskoka
Anthony Rota, M.P. Nipissing-Timiskaming, Carried
2010-017 J. D. Newstead – Merlyn
Snow:
That the Council of the Corporation of the Township of Strong have read correspondence from Pahapill and Associates Chartered Accountants outlining the terms of engagement to audit the financial statements of the Township of Strong and its trust funds and local boards for the year ending December 31, 2009;
And That Council has read the correspondence from Pahapill and Associates outlining the generally accepted auditing standards to conduct the audit;
And that Council hereby authorize the Mayor
and the Clerk/Treasurer to sign the correspondence as acceptance on behalf of
the Municipality. Carried
2010-018 Merlyn Snow – J.
D. Newstead
That the Council for the Township of Strong have reviewed and approve the Application for Consent
presented by Chris Bogart at3421 Pevensey Road, Township of Strong subject to
the usual conditions. Carried
2010-019 Vi Montpetit –
Chris Ellis:
That the Council for the Township of Strong does hereby appoint to the Strong Cemetery Board for the stated term:
Arnold Hall – January 2010 to January 2014 Terry Hornibrook -September 2010 to September 2014
Merlyn Snow – January 2010 to January 2014 David Optovsky- September 2010 to September 2014
Don Richardson – January 2010 to January 2014 Carried
2010-020 Chris Ellis – Vi Montpetit:
The Council for the Township of Strong have reviewed and approve the
submission to be placed in the Discovery Routes publication regarding bicycle
routes throughout the Township of Strong. Carried
2010-021 Merlyn Snow –
Chris Ellis:
The Council for the Township of Strong have purchase a 1/3 page ad
in the Almaguin Highlands Arts Directory at a cost of $150.00. Carried
2010-022
Chris Ellis – Merlyn Snow:
Be it resolved that this Council does hereby proceed with negotiation to purchase the property know as 49 46 006 011
Carried
2010-023 Chris Ellis – Merlyn Snow:
Be it resolved as per By-Law 2007-1545, Section 28, council agrees to extend the Council Meeting past the 9:30 curfew.
Carried
2010-024
Merlyn Snow – J. D. Newstead:
That the Council for the Township of Strong does hereby adjourn at
9:40 p.m. until the next regular meeting on January 26, 2010 or at the call of
the Mayor. Carried
The January 12, 2010
minutes of council will not be adopted until the next regular meeting of
council on January 26, 2010.
______________________________________________________________________________
Linda Maurer, Stephen
Rawn,
Clerk/Treasurer Mayor