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Council Minutes June 14/06
June 14, 2006
INCORPORATED VILLAGE OF HILTON BEACH
Council Meeting
June 14, 2006
The meeting was called to order at 7:30 p.m. Present were Reeve Hore and Councillors Crack, Hope and Stevens. Councillor Sullivan was absent with notice.
Tracy Stevens and Donna Lambert were in attendance on behalf of a group that is interested in conserving the jail. The first step is to obtain Council concurrence and to have a committee established. They will then research what should be and has to be done to preserve this building. Once a plan is in place, they will present the information to Council. The group plans to fundraise as is required to meet its objectives. Council was supportive of this endeavour as the jail has been on the back burner for a long time. It was included in the Long Term Plan for the Village that was developed over the past year.
06-59 Moved by L. Crack Seconded by R. Hope
Resolved to establish a Municipal Heritage Committee and appoint the following people to this committee Wilfred Stevens, Dana Stevens, Donna Lambert, Tim Keenan, Cindy Hore, John Crack, Judy Connell, Bill Vair and Tracy Stevens.
Carried
06-60 Moved by W. Stevens Seconded by R. Hope
Resolved to approve the minutes of the May 10th, 2006 meeting as presented.
Carried
06-61 Moved by W. Stevens Seconded by L. Crack
Resolved to authorize payment of Voucher #06-05 in the amount of $87,885.93.
Carried
The Problem Detail Sheet was reviewed. The removal of the decrepit Neighbourhood Watch sign at the south end of the Village was added.
The Clerks Report was noted. Considerable progress was made in May. Staff has been hired for the summer and many other pre-summer tasks completed.
The Grounds and Maintenance Job Summary was reviewed. Several tasks have been completed and work has commenced on others. Still others will be done later in the season.
The Fire Call Report received from the dispatcher regarding the recent fire at Busy Beaver Campground was noted. The first vehicle from the Hilton Fire Department was on the scene twelve minutes after receiving the call and the first vehicle from Jocelyn was on the scene fourteen minutes after receiving the call. Four other emergency vehicles from the two departments arrived within twenty-one minutes of receiving the call. Council thought that this was extremely good response time and commended both Departments. These are volunteer fire departments and the calls came in shortly before midnight. All involved deserve recognition.
The amalgamated tender results were received. Council has decided to surface treat Ash St. and the strip of Canoe Point Rd. between Marks St. and Hwy 548.
06-62 Moved by R. Hope Seconded by W. Stevens
Resolved to approve the Village portion of the amalgamated tender: Surface Treatment Royal Paving in the amount of $3,799.57.
Carried
Several pieces of correspondence regarding the capital levy for the Algoma Manor were reviewed. The committee had met with Minister Smitherman and his response is expected in August.
Reeve Hore declared a conflict on the next item and left the Council Chambers. Councillor Stevens assumed the Chair.
The Tiltn Hilton requested support for an extension to their liquor licence for Community Night and the CL16 Regatta. This has worked very well in the past.
06-63 Moved by L. Crack Seconded by R. Hope
Resolved that Council has no objection to a temporary extension of the liquor license for the Tiltn Hilton Steakhouse and Beverage Co. for Community Night August 5 and the Can-Am CL16 White Sail Regatta August 12 13, 2006.
Carried
The Library budget was reviewed. There is a $1,100 increase over the 2005 budget but only a $300 increase over the actual. The largest increase is for utilities with the expected large increase in power. The Librarian provided some information on usage of the Library. There are currently approximately 700 card holders and 25 to 30 one-time users such as overnight campers. The total circulation of books and magazines for 2005 was 11,344. In addition to the monetary donations, many people donate new and once-read best sellers which helps keep the collection current. The $10,500 grant that was received will be used over time for its stated purpose of improving literacy and life long learning. The summer reading program will be Quest for Heroes. All children are encouraged to participate.
Information to and from the Ministry of the Environment regarding the requirements for the water system was reviewed. The final decision is expected shortly.
The interim report to the Ministry of the Environment for the Source Protection Pre-screening program was noted. The study will be completed by the end of the summer.
Comments from the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing regarding Draft 4 of the new St. Joseph Island Official Plan were received. As well, a summary of these comments was received from Chris Jones of Meridian Planning.
A request for a $25 donation was received from the St. Joseph Island Central School for a graduating student. This has been done annually for many years and will be given again.
A resolution from the Municipality of Leamington raised the concern that municipalities have spent a considerable amount of money on applications for infrastructure funding under the COMRIF program, many of which were unsuccessful.
06-64 Moved by W. Stevens Seconded by R. Hope
Resolved to support the resolution of the Municipality of Leamington petitioning the Federal and Provincial Governments to develop a program that will support infrastructure sustainability by providing an annual stream of funding for all rural municipalities
Carried
A resolution was received from the Federation of Northern Ontario Municipalities requesting support for a preferred electricity rate for the forestry industry. Council did not support the resolution because it was too narrow in scope.
The Northern Ontario Large Urban Mayors group developed a position paper regarding electricity rates, which was more encompassing.
06-66 Moved by R. Hope Seconded by L. Crack
Resolved to support in principle the submission of the Northern Ontario Large Urban Mayors to the Minister of Energy requesting that Northern Ontario industries and residents be able to purchase their power on a blended production costs basis rather than a Southern Ontario demand price system and to develop energy sources in Northern Ontario before committing to the purchase of electricity from new developments in other provinces.
Carried
A detailed calculation of the Ontario Municipal Partnership Fund operating grant was received. As indicated earlier, the total grant should be $198,549 but the increase between the old CRF and new OMPF is being phased in over a period of years. The bottom line is that only $92,258 will be received which is 46% of what the Province itself calculates should be received. In 2005 $90,833 was received which was 48% of what they calculated the total should be. This Council, along with others, continues to protest this phase-in provision as those municipalities that were receiving the correct amount or even too much under the old system have not been adjusted downwards.
Randy Gardner who has been building inspector for the Village for many years has just accepted a new position. Mr. Gardner initially worked for the Village alone and then for the past several years he worked under a shared services agreement for the Township of Jocelyn, the Township of Hilton and the Village. A joint meeting of all three municipalities had been held the week previously to hear a presentation from Mike Tulloch and to consider what options were available either jointly or individually. Municipalities are required to have a qualified building inspector available. Council decided to contract with Tulloch. Arrangements will be made and coordination as possible with any other municipality that contracts with this firm. Mike Tulloch will be Chief Building Official and Ron Leblanc with be Deputy. Mr. Leblanc will do the inspections. There is a toll free number so there will be no cost to reach them.
06-67 Moved by R. Hope Seconded by L. Crack
Resolved to give first , second and third readings to By-law #879 being a by-law to appoint a Chief Building Official and a Deputy Chief Building Official.
Carried
A report for the use of the Federal Gas Tax rebate of $3,393 received for 2005 had to be prepared showing the use of the funds. Council decided to apply it to the cost of the surface treatment.
06-68 Moved by W. Stevens Seconded by L. Crack
Resolved to use the Federal Gas Tax Revenue from 2005 for the surface treatment of South St. and Birch St.
Carried
The Province has draft legislation that will very severely curtail many activities that are a part of Ontario life. No longer will food prepared at home be able to be provided or sold to others in such venues as markets, church teas and community potlucks.
06-69 Moved by R. Hope Seconded by W. Stevens
Resolved to support the resolution of the Township of Edwardsburgh/Cardinal petitioning the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care to place a moratorium on legislative changes that would adversely affect farmers markets, church suppers, bazaars, teas, pot-luck suppers and other similar community social and fundraising events.
Carried
06-70 Moved by W. Stevens Seconded by R. Hope
Resolved to go into closed meeting.
Carried
06-71 Moved by L. Crack Seconded by R. Hope
Resolved to return to open meeting.
Carried
06-72 Moved by W. Stevens Seconded by R. Hope
Resolved to give first, second and third readings to By-law #880 being a by-law to confirm the proceedings of the Council meeting held on June 14th, 2006 and confirm the taking of any action authorized therein and thereby.
Carried
06-73 Moved by W. Stevens Seconded by L. Crack
Resolved to adjourn to meet again on July 5th, 2006 or at the call of the Reeve.
Carried
APPRECIATION CORNER
To the Horticultural Society, Judy Connell and Dana Stevens who have planted and will tend to the planters in the Village and to Carl Grexton who is watering them.
To those who have volunteered to serve on the Village Heritage Committee
To the Hilton and Jocelyn Fire Departments who responded so quickly to the recent trailer fire at Twin lakes.
GARAGE SALE
If you want to be put on the map for the Village-wide garage sale, please contact the Office.
The Recreation Committee has decided to have a table beside the Library to raise funds to reconnect the power on Marks St. that is used for Community Night. Great Lakes Power has disconnected the power, as it does not meet the recent requirements even though it is only used the one evening of the year. After looking at all alternatives the Committee decided to use some of the funds from the Reserve and to fund raise the rest. If you would like to donate items to the Recreation Garage Sale table for this cause please contact the Office. As well if you would like to make a donation for this project, a receipt that can be used for Income Tax purposes will be issued. The cost of the project is approximately $3,500.
HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY
The St. Joseph Island Horticultural Society would like help to beautify the Island with plantings of flowers and shrubs at various locations. New members are always welcome. If you are interested in joining this organization please contact Mary Williams at 246-1819.
