The meeting of the Council of the Village of South River was held on Monday, January 12, 2009 in the South River Council Chambers. A quorum was present. In attendance were Mayor Coleman, Councillors Dickerson, Mahon, Parker and Scott.

 

Staff present was Susan Arnold, Clerk-Administrator and Bart Wood, Public Works Chief Operator.

 

Public present were Rick Callery and Linda Loney, Higher Heights and Sue Miller, North Bay Mattawa Conservation Authority.

 

1.         Call to Order – The meeting was called to order by Mayor Coleman at 5:30          p.m.

 

2.         Declaration of Pecuniary Interest and General Nature Thereof

            Councillor Scott declared a pecuniary interest with agenda item 7.1.8.

 

3.         Deputation

            Rick Callery and Linda Loney discussed issues with the Ottawa Avenue church building not being exempt from taxes from first day of ownership.  Lawyers placed the church in the personal names of two directors.  Building has been under constant renovation since shortly after purchase.  It is used solely for church related activities.

 

            Sue Miller, the North Bay Mattawa Conservation Authority asked Council             to approve a draft delineation of protection Zone 1 for South River.     Councillor Dickerson wondered if the Village could have planning authority       on the portion of unorganized township which lies within Zone 1. Sue Miller          thought the suggestion was a good one and would investigate.

 

Bart Wood arrived at 6:50 p.m.

 

4.         Minutes

 

1-2009 Mahon/Scott

BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Council of the Village of South River does hereby accept the minutes of Monday, December 22, 2008, as printed.

Adopted

 

5.         Reports From Staff and Committees

 

2-2009             Parker/Dickerson        

                        BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Council of the Village of South River does hereby receive the following reports:

1.      Public Works Report (November/December)

2.      M.L.E.O. Report (December)

Adopted

 

Public Works Chief Operator, Bart Wood, outlined in more detail, the list of capital projects he has drawn up for Council’s consideration. Last year Bart had been asked to research the installation of water meters for residential and commercial properties. He has had several discussions with two companies and additional research will be done from the municipal office. Municipalities are continuously being asked to provide proof that water conservation techniques are being used before application is made for additional funding from the government. Water meters are a huge component of water conservation. Bart is considering water main pigging and swabbing east of Highway #11.

 

Bart would like to replace another 400 feet of sidewalk in the Village as well as do some ditching and culvert replacement at several locations throughout the Village.

 

Council was given a general description of the events which took place on December 25, 2008 when a piece of Village equipment hit a privately owned vehicle. No persons were harmed and property damage to the Village’s trackless tractor was minimal while the private vehicle has been written-off. Further discussion regarding the incident would take place in a closed session.

Bart Wood left the meeting at 7:25 p.m.

 

3-2009 Parker/Mahon

BE IT RESOLVED THAT in order for projects enhancing protection for the Village of South River intake to qualify for funding, the Village of South River does hereby accept the draft delineation of the Village of South River intake Protection Zone One, as presented by the North Bay Mattawa Conservation Authority, for the sole purpose of accessing the Ontario Drinking Water Stewardship Program fund.

Adopted

4-2009             Dickerson/Scott

BE IT RESOLVED THAT this Council of the Village of South River does hereby approve that Hunter Street be closed between Ottawa Avenue and Montreal Street on Saturday, February 14, 2009 between the  hours of 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. to safely accommodate the Lion’s Club Winterfest activities.

Adopted

 

5-2009 Scott/Dickerson

                        WHEREAS the Central Almaguin Area relies heavily on tourism for                    economic development and

                        WHEREAS fishing is the main attraction for tourism in Northern Ontario and

                        WHEREAS the Ministry of Natural Resources refuses to restock the lakes in the Central Almaguin Economic Development Association area, specifically Lake Bernard in Strong Township and Eagle Lake in Machar Township and

                        WHEREAS the Ministry has stated it will take from twenty five to fifty years for the fish population to propagate naturally and

                        WHEREAS the Ministry does restock lakes in remote area of Parry Sound that are not accessible to most fishermen and

                        WHEREAS out of frustration some fishermen have introduced invasive species of fish to under stocked lakes and

                        WHEREAS the Ministry has had a restocking program on these lakes in the past and

                        WHEREAS it makes no sense to not restock these lakes now and in the future and

                        WHEREAS the water level on Lake Bernard is controlled by the Ministry of Natural Resources operated dam and

                        WHEREAS the Ministry does not draw down the water to the winter level until late in the fall and

                        WHEREAS the trout spawn on the rocks during high water and

                        consequently the fish eggs are destroyed as a result of freezing when the water is lowered and

                        WHEREAS this practice is detrimental to the young fish population that could be offset by restocking and

                        WHEREAS the Province of Ontario has undertaken a tourism Competitiveness Study to research the best practices and best prospects for growing tourism in Ontario and

                        WHEREAS the Ministry of Natural Resources has a mandate to protect and lands and waters that are home to Ontario’s tens of thousands of species of fish, wildlife and plants

WHEREAS the Natural Resources claims it restores and protects fish                   and wildlife population and habitats including those at risk now

THEREFORE the Central Almaguin Economic Development Association does hereby petition the Ministry of Natural Resources to initiate a restocking program for Lake Bernard and Eagle Lake and other lakes in the Central Almaguin Area and

FURTHER that this resolution be forwarded, together with the                         supporting resolutions of CAEDA’s member municipalities, to:

 

                        Donna Cansfield                     - Minister of Natural Resources

                        Davis Lindsay                         - Deputy Minister

                        Monique Smith                       - Minister of Tourism

                        Jim Watson                             - Minister of Municipal Affairs and                                                                               Housing

                        John Burkes                            - Deputy Minister

                        Michael Gravelle                     - Minister of Northern Development                                                                             and Mines

                        Kevin Costante                       - Deputy Minister

                        Gary Martin                            - Fish and Wildlife Legislative                                                                                     Specialist

                        Cameron Mack                        - Director of Fish and Wildlife Branch                                                                         M.N.R.

                        Ray Bonenberg                       - Regional Director

                        Dalton McGuinty                    - Premiere of Ontario

                        Norm Miller M.P.P.                - Parry Sound/Muskoka

Adopted

 

6-2009 Mahon/Parker

                        BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Council of the Village of South River does hereby approve the request for funding from the Women’s Own Resource Centre in the amount of .30 cents per capita as it has in the past to support current and future economic programs in our community and surrounding area.

Adopted

 

7-2009 Dickerson/Parker

                        BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Council of the Village of South River does hereby approve the purchase of parts to repair the furnace in the municipal building located at 93 Ottawa Avenue, South River.

Adopted

 

8-2009 Mahon/Dickerson

BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Council of the Village of South River does hereby accept the tender in the amount of $157.50 (including GST) from Metroland North Media for the year 2009 to supply the yearly subscription of the Almaguin News, public the notice of monthly or bi-monthly council meetings and set guaranteed line rate for semi-classified advertising of notices.

Adopted

 

9-2009             Mahon/Scott  

BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Council of the Village of South River does hereby accept the following reports from municipal staff as presented:

1.                  South River – Machar Union Public Library, December 16, 2008

2.                  South River – Machar Medical Centre Board of Management, December 16, 2008

Adopted

 

10-2009           Mahon/Dickerson

BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Council of the Village of South River does hereby accept the following reports from regional committees:

1.                  CAEDA, December 18, 2008

2.                  South River – Sundridge District Airport Committee, November 4, 2008

3.                  Parry Sound Dist Emergency Medical Services Advisory, December 4, 2008

4.                  Central Almaguin Planning Board, December 17, 2008

5.                  District of Parry Sound Social Services, November 13, 2008

Adopted

 

11-2009           Parker/Scott

BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Council of the Village of South River does hereby accept the following correspondence to Council:

1.                  Association of Municipalities of Ontario, Gas Tax Extension

2.                  Northeastern Fire Education Conference 2009

3.                  Ministry of Natural Resources,  Approved Forest Management Plan

4.                  MPAC, 2008 Assessment Update

Adopted

 

12-2009           Mahon/Parker

                        BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Council of the Village of South River be closed under Subsection 239 (3.1) and that this Council proceed in Camera at 8:15 p.m. in order to address a matter pertaining to:

                        1- a personal matter about an identifiable individual, including municipal or local board employees,

                        2- labour relations or employee negotiations, and;

                        3- the meeting is held for the purpose of educating or training the members AND at the meeting, no member discusses or otherwise deals with any matter in a way that materially advances the business or decision-making of the council, local board or committee.

Adopted

 

13-2009Mahon/Scott

                        BE IT RESOLVED THAT this Council reconvene in Open Session at 8:32 p.m.

Adopted

 

Representatives of Council who will be acting on behalf of the Village at the union contract negotiations has directed the Clerk-Administrator to advice the C.U.P.E representative that the following dates have been agreed upon from the list of available dates which were provided to Council: February 17 & 18 and February 25 & 26, 2009.

 

The Clerk has been directed to forward correspondence from the owner of the private vehicle involved in the accident to the insurance company and request some additional information.

 

6.         Roundtable

 

Discussions took place about a car pooling parking lot located near the new four-lane highway for commuters.

 

Councillor Mahon attended the New Year’s Levee with Norm Miller and Tony Clement.

 

A 2 Day workshop will be held in the Council Chambers beginning

January 13, 2009 at 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m and will continue on

Wednesday, January 14. The workshop is a BEM (Basic Emergency

Management) and is being facilitated by EMO.  Twenty-six

participates have registered, mostly from out of town. From this office

Raina Froats and Susan Arnold will be attending.

 

The Clerk-Administrator will be away from the office Thursday and

Friday (January 15 & 16)

 

The annual audit will take place January 26 & 27

 

Public Works staff will be replacing the helipad windsock as well as the

windsock at the airport as soon as they have time. The bucket truck will be used in the interest of safety.

 

 

7.         By-laws

 

14-2009           Parker/Dickerson

BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Council of the Village of South River does hereby read a first, second, third and final time By-law 1-2009, being a by-law to authorize borrowing from time to time to meet current expenditures.

Adopted

 

15-2009Parker/Dickerson

BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Council of the Village of South River does hereby read a first, second and third time and finally pass by-law 2-2009, being a by-law to confirm the proceedings of Council at its meeting held on the 12th day of January, 2009 with the signatures of the Mayor and the Clerk-Administrator and the corporate seal affixed.

Adopted

 

8.         Adjournment

           

16-2009           Mahon/Scott

BE IT RESOLVED THAT this Council of the Village of South River does hereby adjourn to meet again as the South River Council on Monday, January 26, 2009 at 5:30 p.m. in the South River Council Chambers located at 63 Marie Street or at the call of the Mayor.  Time of Adjournment: 8:40 p.m.

Adopted

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

_____________________________             ______________________________

Mayor, Jim Coleman                                       Clerk-Administrator, S. L. Arnold