MUNICIPAL CORPORATION OF THE TOWNSHIP OF ARMOUR

MINUTES

OCTOBER 23, 2001

The regular meeting of the Township of Armour was held on Tuesday, October 23rd at 7:30 p.m. Those in attendance were Reeve Frank Gill, Councillors Rod Blakelock, Marty Corcoran, Joanne Cripps and Gary McFarlane; delegates Margaret Herrington, Don Spiess and Al Thompson of Hydro One ; guests Paul and Sylvia Robinson, Phyllis Leggett, Gord Isbister and Michael Jordan; staff Laura Rowley, Clerk-Treasurer and Wendy Whitwell, Deputy Clerk Treasurer. The meeting was called to order at 7:40 p.m. The minutes of the meeting on October 9, 2001 were adopted as circulated.

DECLARATION OF PECUNIARY INTEREST:

No pecuniary interest was declared.

DELEGATIONS:

  • -Margaret Herrington, Doe Lake Ratepayers' Association, attended Council with a written request for an amendment to the Official Plan during this review process. Council directed the Clerk to forward the request to the planner, Robert Miller and informed Ms. Herrington that is would be discussed at a special meeting with the planner to be held on November 1st.

  • -Al Thompson & Don Spiess, Hydro One, attended Council to discuss brush control on their right-of-way by spraying and because of the resolution passed by Council at the regular meeting on October 9th opposing the use of Garlon *4*. Mr. Thompson gave a slide presentation on Vegetation Management Background. The three main components of the presentation were Line Caring; danger tree removal and brush control; Public Safety, improve reliability of service and maintain access; and Brush Control, different methods. Mr. Thompson & Mr. Spiess answered questions from Council and the guests. Mr. Thompson was requested to provide further information to the Clerk which will be discussed at the next meeting.

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BUSINESS ARISING FROM A PREVIOUS MEETING:

  • -Muskoka - Parry Sound Health Unit - Head Office Accommodation

Council reviewed the following documents; Clerk's letter dated Sept. 18th; minutes of the Board meeting on September 20th; 2001 levy formula showing % share by municipality; report from the Health Unit showing support by resolution for ownership & mortgage. A resolution was passed.

  • -Recovery of legal fees re Court Costs. A resolution to instruct the Township's solicitor to recover as much of the Township's costs in the Court action was discussed. A resolution was passed with a recorded vote. A resolution regarding publication in the Almaguin News was also passed.

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BY-LAWS:

- By-law # 30-2001, being a by-law to accept Minutes of Settlement re MTO OMB hearing was ready for passing. Information had been received from the municipal solicitor with amended Minutes of Settlement from MTO. Councillor McFarlane also requested an amendment to the Minutes of Settlement. A discussion followed. Council passed two resolutions and the by-law was tabled.

REPORTS:

  • -Property Standards Committee - Oct. 10th - Gary McFarlane gave a brief report stating that the newspaper article in the Almaguin News was fairly accurate. No date has been set for the next meeting.


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  • -Special Events Committee - Oct. 11th - no one attended


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  • -Planning Board - Oct. 11th - Gary McFarlane gave a report on severances in a plan of subdivision. A letter from the Planning Board to their consultant and a reply from the consultant was circulated to members of Council for their review. Council will discuss this issue and Sec. 3.1.3 of the O.P. with the planner, Bob Miller, on Nov. 1st.


  • -Almaguin 2000 - Oct. 16th - Marty Corcoran attended and reported.


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  • -Library Board - Oct. 17th - Rod Blakelock was unable to attend.


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  • -AHIC - Oct. 18th - annual general meeting - no one attended.


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  • -By-law enforcement report for Sept. - to be discussed later in the meeting.

CORRESPONDENCE:

  • -Burk's Falls, Armour & Ryerson Union Public Library, thank you for donation toward the purchase of the air conditioner.


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  • -Almaguin Highlands Development Agency, offer to attend a Council meeting to update on a Business to Business Marketing & Communications Strategy.


  • -Almaguin Highlands Community Adjustment Committee, update on the purpose of the committee and a request for staff and Council support when the consultants are seeking data and input. Gary McFarlane is reviewing the Terms of Reference for this committee. The Clerk was instructed to send a note to the Chair of the Committee suggesting that a delegation should come to Council for the information they are looking for.


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  • -AMO, information re New Strategy for Federal & Provincial Participation in Municipal Infrastructure. A resolution was passed.


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  • -AMO Alert, information re AMO Asks Municipal Councils to Support Infrastructure Funding Strategy.


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  • -AMO Alert, information re Ontario Municipalities Set To Get New Municipal Act.


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  • -Muskoka - Parry Sound Health Unit, information to aid in a response to a possible bioterrorist incident.


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  • -Community Broadband Workforce, results for the Community Broadband Survey.


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  • -Rogers AT&T, comments from their review of Armour's policy on telecommunications infrastructure.


  • -East Parry Sound Special Christmas Fund, request for donation. A resolution was passed donating $ 100.00.
  • -Information on the 10th annual Christmas Parade in the Village of Burk's Falls.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS:

  • -Data Sharing Agreement re Archaeological Sites. Council reviewed emails from Bill Allen, Frank Gill and Robert Miller and a request by Bill Allen that Council enter in an agreement with the Ministry of Citizenship, Culture & Recreation. A resolution was passed authorizing the Clerk to proceed.


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  • -A staff report on comparison of shared services agreements was reviewed.


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  • -The budget to the end of August was reviewed.

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NEW BUSINESS:

  • -OPP, Renewal of Specialized Services Contract for 9-1-1 CERB Services. A resolution was passed authorizing the renewal.


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  • -First draft of a "Culvert" by-law. The Clerk was instructed to bring the by-law back to the next meeting for passing.


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  • -At the request of Councillor Cripps, the following information was included in the agenda package for information and review; outstanding taxes in dollars as of October 1st; list of properties and assessments with property class, Managed Forest; Managed Forest program information; list of properties and assessments with property class, Farmland; and Farmland program information.


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  • -Council moved into closed session at 10:30 p.m. and out of closed session at 11:15 p.m.


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  • -List of correspondence received and not on the agenda.

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RESOLUTIONS:

- Moved by Joanne Cripps, Seconded by Gary McFarlane, That the minutes of the regular meeting held on October 9, 2001 be adopted as circulated (Carried)

- Moved by Joanne Cripps, Seconded by Gary McFarlane, That the Council of the Township of Armour hereby object to new head office accommodations for the Muskoka - Parry Sound Health Unit on the basis that no costs have been disclosed to the Municipality. (Carried)

- Moved by Joanne Cripps, Seconded by Marty Corcoran, That the Council of the Township of Armour instruct the Township's solicitor, Graham Wilson & Green, to recover as much of the Township's costs as possible in the Decision as handed down in the matter Armour et al ats Jerry Brandt et al. (Recorded vote - for - Cripps, Gill, McFarlane - opposed - Blakelock, Corcoran) (Carried)

- Moved by Gary McFarlane, Seconded by Joanne Cripps, That the Council of the Township of Armour hereby authorize and instruct the Clerk to send the Court decision to the Almaguin News for complete publication in the event that it is printed in part only in the Oct. 24th newspaper. And further that the complete document be posted on the Township website. (Carried)

- Moved by Joanne Cripps, Seconded by Gary McFarlane,

WHEREAS public infrastructure is the backbone of a successful, dynamic economy; and

WHEREAS Federal and Provincial financial support is essential for public infrastructure upgrades, replacement and expansion; and

WHEREAS the current slowing of the economy combined with the tragic events of September 11, 2001 have created substantial uncertainty in the Canadian economy, particularly in Ontario; and

WHEREAS the Township of Armour welcomes the Ontario Government's renewed commitment towards supporting public infrastructure with its recent announcement of financial assistance for public transit and roads and bridges; and

WHEREAS the current Federal share of the Infrastructure Canada Program in Ontario is significantly less than that of the Province and municipalities;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT The Township of Armour calls on both the Federal Government to follow the Ontario Government's lead and commit itself to a higher level of funding for public infrastructure; and

FURTHERMORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT The Township of Armour calls on both the Federal and Provincial Governments to speed up the existing infrastructure funding process under the Canada-Ontario Infrastructure Program (COIP) and SuperBuild in order to provide a much needed economic stimulus in the face of the current economic downturn; and

FURTHER THAT The Township of Armour supports the call from the Association of Municipalities of Ontario for the Federal and Ontario Governments to return to a straightforward 1/3 - 1/3 - 1/3 funding formula for COIP and SuperBuild funded projects. (Carried)

- Moved by Joanne Cripps, Seconded by Rod Blakelock, That the Council of the Township of Armour hereby donate $ 100.00 to the East Parry Sound Special Christmas Fund. (Carried)

- Moved by Gary McFarlane, Seconded by Marty Corcoran, That the Township of Armour hereby consent to the approval of this application in part, and to the road closures requested by the MTO identified as numbers 9 and 16 to 21 inclusive.

The Township of Armour do not consent to the road closure identified as # 8, and request the Ministry of Transportation to provide the following;

1) The MTO will contact Armour at the start of the detailed design stage contemplated in the Transportation Environmental Study Report dated July 2001, to afford Armour an opportunity to provide input as to the location of the Tower Road connection.

2) The MTO undertakes to review any concerns identified by Armour or others with respect to the location of the Tower Road connection. The MTO review will involve a consideration of the existing topography in relation to the proposed roadway geometrics. MTO will provide full disclosure of alternative route assessments complete with drawings, costs and selection rationale. Details to be provided to Armour for review and comment prior to finalization of the Tower Road connection.

3) The parties hereby consent to the imposition of a condition incorporating the conditions of this resolution into any order the Ontario Municipal Board may make with respect to its approval of this application. (Carried)

- Moved by Joanne Cripps, Seconded by Gary McFarlane, That the Council of the Township of Armour hereby authorize Bill Koughan of Russell, Christie, Miller, Koughan & Winnitoy to attend the OMB hearing on October 30, 2001 and present Councils position as expressed by resolution. (Carried)

- Moved by Joanne Cripps, Seconded by Marty Corcoran, That the Council of the Township of Armour hereby instruct the Clerk to proceed with a Data Sharing Agreement with the Minister of Tourism, Culture & Recreation. (Carried)

- Moved by Gary McFarlane, Seconded by Joanne Cripps, That the Council of the Township of Armour authorize the renewal of the Specialized Services Contract for 9-1-1 CERB Services for an additional 2 years using the new population figure of 1239 and adjusting the cost to $ 712.43. (Carried)

- Moved by Joanne Cripps, Seconded by Rod Blakelock, BE IT RESOLVED that the Council of the Township of Armour move into closed session at 10:30 P.M. in order to discuss legal and personal matters pursuant to Section 55 (5) (e) & (b) of the Municipal Act. (Carried)

- Moved by Joanne Cripps, Seconded by Marty Corcoran, That we move out of the closed session at 11:15 P.M. (Carried)

- Moved by Gary McFarlane, Seconded by Mary Corcoran, That we do now adjourn at 11:16 p.m. until the next regular meeting of Council scheduled for November 13th, 2001, or at the call of the Reeve. (Carried)