THE MUNICIPAL CORPORATION OF THE TOWNSHIP OF ARMOUR

MINUTES

MARCH 27, 2001

The regular meeting of the Council of the Township of Armour was held on Tuesday, March 27, 2001 at 7:30 p.m. Those in attendance were Reeve Frank Gill, Councillors Rod Blakelock, Marty Corcoran, Joanne Cripps, and Gary McFarlane; guests, Pat Aspin & Dan Boulanger from NECO, Anne Gill, Phyllis Leggett, Don Cameron and Marie Stitt; staff Laura Rowley, Clerk Treasurer, Wendy Whitwell, Deputy Clerk-Treasurer and Leanne Crozier, Deputy Clerk. The meeting was called to order at 7:31 p.m. and the minutes of the regular meeting on March 14, 2001 and the special meeting on March 21, 2001 were adopted as circulated.

DECLARATION OF PECUNIARY INTEREST:

No pecuniary interest was declared.

DELEGATIONS:

  • -Pat Aspin & Dan Boulanger attended Council to outline the services provided by NECO, Nipissing East Community Opportunities. Packages were handed out and a slide presentation given outlining the organization's products & services; Small Business Financing; Business Planning Initiative; Business Counselling; Self-Employment Benefit Program; Young Entrepreneurship Program; Business Resource Centre; Canada Ontario Business Service Centre; LET$ Exchange Program & Community Economic Development.


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  • -Marie Stitt attended Council on behalf of the Katrine Leisure Club to request support for an application to the Trillium Foundation for funds to renovate & improve the facilities of the Club in the Katrine Community Centre. The complete application package was included in the agenda package for Council's review. A resolution of support, in principle, was passed.

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BUSINESS ARISING FROM THE LAST MEETING:

  • -DSSAB - A copy of a letter to the Clerk-Administrator, Township of Perry, regarding the disbursement of funds to the Harvest Share Program and a newsletter from the area 5 reps regarding Social Housing, Budget, Board Training, Water Quality Concerns and Correspondence, were included in the agenda package for Council's review. Gary McFarlane will contact rep, Barb Marlow, with a further question on the DSSAB's legislative authority.


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  • -Minutes of the special meeting of March 8, 2001. A staff report was received and reviewed. Councillor Joanne Cripps requested "I would like to bring a motion forward to rescind the resolution of March 14/01 due to a procedural error on my behalf". A resolution was passed to rescind resolution # 21 of the March 14, 2001 meeting and to adopt the minutes of the special meeting of March 8, 2001 as circulated.


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  • -Resolutions in closed session. A staff report was received and reviewed.


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  • -Closed session. Council moved into closed session at 8:10 p.m. to discuss personnel matters and out of closed session at 8:47 p.m.

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BUSINESS ARISING FROM A PREVIOUS MEETING:

  • -A letter was received from the Minister of Municipal Affairs & Housing, the Hon. Chris Hodgson, regarding a review of the Municipal Elections Act and the issue of voting proxy procedures.

  • -A work flow chart from Robert Miller, Planner for the Official Plan 5 year Appraisal Program was received and reviewed. Council set a date for a special meeting with the planner to identify & assess municipal issues as Wednesday, April 11th.


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  • -Rogers AT & T Tower. The following documentation was included for Council's review; letter to the Township lawyer, Jan. 11/01; letter to the property owner, Jan. 11/01; and an letter of opinion from the municipal lawyer. The Council accepted the lawyer's recommendations and instructed the Clerk to inform Rogers AT & T.


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  • -MTO - Council discussed the meeting with MTO representatives the previous evening, March 26th, and the conceptual plan presented at that time. The following evening, March 28th, is the scheduled public information meeting at Katrine. Gary McFarlane will take the plan left by Stantec to that meeting and following the input and comments from that meeting, prepare for the next Council meeting, a letter to MTO with outstanding issues from the February 6th letter.

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BY-LAWS:

  • -By-law # 9-2001, being a by-law to enter into an agreement with the Almaguin Animal Shelter, was read a third time.

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REPORTS:

  • -Village of Burk's Falls Community Recovery Program - Mar. 15th - minutes of the meeting were received.
  • -Fire Board - Mar. 19th - minutes of the meeting, the 2001 proposed budget and an invitation to a meeting to discuss hiring a full time fire inspector were received. The issue of purchasing a new or used truck was also debated. The budget will be brought back for further discussion.
  • -Almaguin 2000 - Mar. 29th - a report was given by Rod Blakelock.
  • -Arena Board - Mar. 21st - rescheduled to April 5th.
  • -Library Board - Mar. 21st - a report was given by Rod Blakelock.
  • -Special meeting of Council - Mar. 21st - A discussion was held concerning the resolutions passed at that meeting and subsequent information received by members of Council. Resolution # 8 was put forward and defeated.
  • -Economic Development Committee - Mar. 22nd - minutes of the meeting were received and two resolutions passed.
  • -Amalgamation meeting - Mar. 22nd - minutes of the meeting were circulated.

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CORRESPONDENCE:

  • -The Hope Floats Project. Information on the fundraising concert and a request for donation for the dinner for the performers. A resolution was passed to donate $ 50.00. Mr. & Mrs. Gill will receive the tickets to the dinner & concert and it was the consensus of Council that Township pins should be given to all the performers.
  • -Medical Students of Ontario, information on unaffordable medical school tuition and its effects on the current physician shortage affecting communities across Ontario. A sample letter to be sent to the Provincial Government and a sample resolution was included. Council passed a resolution.


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  • -FONOM, Media release regarding a proposed Medical School for Northern Ontario.

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  • -City of Cornwall, resolution regarding funding the cost of improving our municipal roads through an allocation of a portion of fuel tax revenues to municipalities. A resolution of support was passed.


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  • -AMO, Toward More Effective Rural Economic Development, An Invitation to Hear Results of Major Study.


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  • -District of Parry Sound Social Service Administration Board, request for an indication of Armour's interest in being designated under the Social Housing Reform Act to borrow on behalf o the DSSAB for social housing purposes. The Council of the Township of Armour is not interested.


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  • -North Bay - Mattawa Conservation Authority, information on Planning Applications - Septic System Comments.

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NEW BUSINESS:

  • -Berriedale Country Store - Request from Alteng Engineering for a compliance letter to install a 2000 USWG Horizontal Propane Tank, and an opinion from the planner, Robert Miller. A resolution was passed authorizing the issuance of a compliance letter conditional on a development agreement being executed between the operator and the Township before a foundation or building permit is issued.


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  • -Budgets - Resolutions were passed accepting the 2001 budget for Landfill & Recycling.


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  • -Letter from R.W. Haviland, comment regarding potential amalgamation.


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  • -AMCTO - summary report on 2000 municipal elections.


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  • -Staff report on Household Special Waste.

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  • -Request from Council Joanne Cripps - "I would like it recorded in the minutes of March 27/01 that the special meeting held on March 8/01 and the special meeting held on March 21/01, during the closed sessions, that the notes from the Clerk and the correspondence from Weir Foulds tabled at the meeting of March 21/01 be regarded as confidential material and retained accordingly".
  • -List of correspondence received and not on the agenda.

    • RESOLUTIONS:

  • -Moved by Rod Blakelock, Seconded by Marty Corcoran, That the minutes of the regular meeting held on March 14, 2001 be adopted as circulated (Carried)


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  • -Moved by Rod Blakelock, Seconded by Gary McFarlane, That the minutes of the special meeting held on March 21, 2001 be adopted as circulated. (Carried)


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  • -Moved by Joanne Cripps, Seconded by Rod Blakelock, That the Council of the Township of Armour support, in principle, the application to the Trillium Foundation by the Katrine Leisure Club. (Carried)

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  • -Moved by Joanne Cripps, Seconded by Rod Blakelock, That the Council of the Township of Armour hereby rescind resolution # 21 passed at the regular meeting of Council held on March 14, 2001 and adopt the minutes of the special meeting held on March 8, 2001 as circulated. (Carried)


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  • -Moved by Rod Blakelock, Seconded by Marty Corcoran, BE IT RESOLVED that the Council of the Township of Armour move into closed session at 8:10 P.M. in order to discuss personnel matters pursuant to Section 55 (5) (b) of the Municipal Act. (Carried)


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  • -Moved by Rod Blakelock, Seconded by Marty Corcoran, That we move out of the closed session at 8:47 P.M. (Carried)


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  • -Moved by Rod Blakelock, Seconded by Joanne Cripps, That By-law # 9-2001 be read a third time, signed and the seal of the Corporation affixed thereto and finally passed in open Council this 27th day of March, 2001. (Carried)


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  • -Moved by Rod Blakelock, Seconded by Marty Corcoran,

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED:

That Whereas Reeve Frank Gill, and Councilors Gary McFarlane and Joanne Cripps obtained a legal opinion from the law firm of Weir & Folds with regard to Conflict of Interest;

And That this opinion was presented to the Council at the meeting on Wednesday, March 21, 2001 during a closed session of Council;

And That Councilors Rod Blakelock and Marty Corcoran agreed to a resolution as presented to Council;

And That it has come to the attention of Councilors Rod Blakelock and Marty Corcoran that the law firm of Weir & Folds is also the law firm representing the Three Mile Lake Community Club Incorporated in a civil action, in which the Township is also involved;

And That it is of the opinion of Councilors Rod Blakelock and Marty Corcoran that the law firm of Weir & Folds may not be presenting an unbiased opinion to the Municipality due to their representation of the Three Mile Lake Community Club Incorporated;

And That if Councilors Rod Blakelock and Marty Corcoran were aware of the law firm's association with the Three Mile Lake Community Club Incorporated, would not have voted in favour of this Resolution;

Now Therefore Councilors Rod Blakelock and Marty Corcoran respectfully request that the Resolution passed regarding the opinion as presented by the law firm Weir & Folds hereby be rescinded;

And That should Council wish to present a new resolution expressing their support of the opinion expressed by Weir & Folds, That a recorded vote be held.

(Recorded vote - For - Blakelock & Corcoran; Against - McFarlane, Cripps, Gill)

(Motion Defeated)

  • -Moved by Gary McFarlane, Seconded by Joanne Cripps, That the Council of the Township of Armour agrees to the appointment of Barry W. Boyes as Area 1 representative on the Economic Development Committee. The Committee is comprised of Area 1 - Armour, Ryerson & Burk's Falls - Barry Boyes

Area 2 - Whitestone, Magnetawan & McKellar - Sam Dunnett

Area 3 - Sundridge, Strong, Joly, Machar & South River - Elgin Schneider

Area 4 - Perry, Kearney, McMurrich-Monteith - Bill Core or alternate (Carried)

  • -Moved by Marty Corcoran, Seconded by Rod Blakelock, That the Council of the Township of Armour supports the FedNor / M.D.D.M. Community Recovery Program for the Almaguin Area wherein an Economic Development Officer will be employed to address economic growth and development for the area municipalities; this at no cost to area municipalities. (Carried)


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  • -Moved by Rod Blakelock, Seconded by Gary McFarlane, That the Council of the Township of Armour hereby donate $ 50.00 to the Hope Floats Project to offset costs of a diner for the performers of a fundraising concert. (Carried)


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  • -Moved by Joanne Cripps, Seconded by Gary McFarlane,

WHEREAS the combination of excessive tuition and frozen student assistance have impaired students' accessibility to a medical education;

WHEREAS the physicians most likely to practise in a rural area are originally from rural areas themselves;

AND WHEREAS unaffordable tuition disproportionately excludes medical students from rural communities;

BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Corporation of the Township of Armour calls upon the Ontario Government and the Universities of Ontario to ensure that medical education be made financially accessible to all qualified students;

AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the Corporation of the Township of Armour requests that medical tuition be capped and reregulated at a level accessible to all Ontarians, and that the Ontario Student Assistance Plan / Canada Student Loan program be adjusted, in order to ensure that Ontarians from all communities are able to afford a medical school education. (Carried)

  • -Moved by Rod Blakelock, Seconded by Marty Corcoran, That the Council of the Township of Armour hereby support the resolution of the City of Cornwall regarding asking the Provincial and Federal governments to help fund the cost of improving our municipal roads through an allocation of a portion of fuel tax revenues to municipalities. (Carried)


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  • -Moved by Gary McFarlane, Seconded by Joanne Cripps, That the Council of the Township of Armour hereby authorize the Clerk to issue a compliance letter to Alteng Engineering for the proposed installation of a propane tank at the Berriedale Store conditional on a Development Agreement, based on a site drawing, being executed between the operator and the Township before a foundation or building permit is issued (Carried)


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  • -Moved by Joanne Cripps, Seconded by Rod Blakelock, That the Council of the Township of Armour hereby accept the 2001 budget for the Landfill. Armour's share being $ 16,666.50. (Carried)


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  • -Moved by Joanne Cripps, Seconded by Rod Blakelock, That the Council of the Township of Armour hereby accept the 2001 budget for Recycling. Armour's share being $ 14,924.00. (Carried)

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  • -Moved by Gary McFarlane, Seconded by Marty Corcoran, That we do now adjourn at 10:58 p.m. until the next regular meeting of Council scheduled for April 10, 2001, or at the call of the Reeve.