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Council Minutes Feb 10/09
February 10, 2009
INCORPORATED VILLAGE OF HILTON BEACH
Council Meeting
February 10th, 2009
The meeting was called to order at 7:30 p.m. Present were Mayor Stevens and Councillors Crack, Hope and Sullivan. Councillor Marziale was absent with notice.
09-12 Moved by R. Hope Seconded by L. Crack
Resolved to approve the minutes of the January 14th, 2009 meeting as presented.
Carried
09-13 Moved by L. Crack Seconded by J. Sullivan
Resolved to authorize payment of Voucher #09-01 in the amount of $59,543.65.
Carried
The Problem Detail Sheet was reviewed. The streetlight repair item was closed. Because of the age of the system it will continue to need repair. No new items were added.
The Clerk’s report was noted. Work continues on year-end and preparation for the audit.
The Facility Assessment Report from OCWA noted a couple of minor items such as signage needed within the buildings.
Notification was received from the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services that the municipality has completed all of the mandatory emergency management activities required under the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act for 2008. Council expressed appreciation to Joe Books for his work on this task.
Information was received from the Ministry of Natural Resources on a workshop on the Endangered Species Act and its implications on municipal infrastructure projects. Local species such as the butternut tree and the red headed woodpecker are on the list. The Clerk was authorized to attend.
Copies of correspondence and resolutions sent to Planning Board were received for the Township of Jocelyn.
Confirmation was received for the Sault Area Hospital that closure of Matthews Memorial Hospital was one of the recommendations of consultants report. While the report is confidential the Board did relaease this one recommendation because of the considerable support shown for the hospital. It is emphasized that the decision will be made and become a part of the Hospital Recovery Plan which will be presented to the Board and the North East Local Health Integration Network for approval.
Copies of correspondence from the Township of St. Joseph to the Sault Area Hospital Board and the NE LIN concerning the possible closure of Matthews Memorial Hospital were received.
Councillor Crack provided and update on the local activities regarding the Hospital including an interview with CBC Radio.
Correspondence was received from the OPP regarding policing service and the levy for 2009. The levy for the Village was reduced from the $15,360 paid in 2008 to $13,072 in 2009.
Assurance was received from Inspector Ronald Faulkner, OPP Detachment Commander that the level of service will not change for the Island. This was to refute information that was being provided to the municipalities by an individual.
The Federation of Northern Ontario Municipalities circulated a resolution requesting additional funding under the Ontario Municipal Partnership Fund based on the Provincial Municipal Fiscal and Service Delivery Review. They requested municipal support.
09-14 Moved by J. Sullivan Seconded by L. Crack
Resolved to support the resolution of the Federation of Northern Ontario Municipalities petitioning the Province to provide an additional $50/household to the Northern Communities Grant.
Carried
The annual tax ratio by-law was considered. The ratios have not changed for several years. These are the ratios for the various tax classes and they must be within a certain range.
09-15 Moved by R. Hope Seconded by J. Sullivan
Resolved to give first, second and third readings to By-law #966 being a by-law to establish ratios for 2009.
Carried
The annual renewal with the CIBC was considered. Loans are being repaid as formerly agreed. Councillor Hope suggested that the possibility of semi-monthly payments could be made which would reduce the interest charges. This will be done.
09-16 Moved by J. Sullivan Seconded by L. Crack
Resolved to approve the annual agreement for financial services with CIBC as presented.
Carried
The need to re-do the Community Plan was noted. A survey will be included with the March tax bill. A summary and any additional information will be inserted in the August tax bill with an opportunity for further input. This method has been used previously and it allows all ratepayers to participate. It is important to have an updated list of priority projects so that action can be taken if funding and time permit.
The Federal grant for wages for summer students is now available. The Village always applies for this funding which pays at a rate of half of the minimum wage.
09-17 Moved by L. Crack Seconded by J. Sullivan
Resolved to apply for four positions under the Canada Summer Jobs program.
Carried
Council had to go into closed meeting to discuss items involving identifiable individuals and terms of an agreement.
09-18 Moved by L. Crack Seconded by R. Hope
Resolved to go into closed meeting.
Carried
09-19 Moved by J. Sullivan Seconded by L. Crack
Resolved to return to open meeting.
Carried
The arrangement with Hilton Township has been considered for a couple of years. The current agreement shared the costs on a 50 – 50 basis and it was recognized by both municipalities that this was not fair. A committee was established to discuss this and other landfill matters but a consensus could not be reached on the charge. At their recent meeting the Township rejected the proposal by the Village for cost-sharing and requested that the Village establish a fee-for-service. After reviewing the operating costs for the past five years Council set the fee tat $9,025 for 2009. This breaks down to a cost per household of $26 for the Township and $34 for the Village which is better than the historical average of $16 for the Township and $44 for the Village. The number of households was used as the comparator because it is the variable on which the levies for hazardous waste, recycling and the Algoma Health Unit, all providing environmental services, are based. When one compares the per-household cost for either municipality to that paid for most other services such as the fire department (VHB $125), library (VHB $56), policing (VHB $97), land ambulance (VHB $181) and social housing (VHB $135) it puts the costs of operating this site into perspective. Each municipality pays over $16/household for recycling and hazardous waste disposal. This Council suggested that the committee still meet to discuss items such as the merits of having the recycling bins situated at the landfill and a capital program. This committee could meet and make recommendations in time for a decision to be made prior to the budgets being set each year. The fee-for-service will be reviewed annually and will reflect the operating and capital costs.
09-20 Moved by R. Hope Seconded by J. Sullivan
Resolved to establish the fee for service for that landfill for Hilton Township at $9,025 for 2009.
Carried
Due to some staff changes several positions have to be advertised for the upcoming season.
09-21 Moved by L. Crack Seconded by J. Sullivan
Resolved to advertise for the following positions: marina manager, marina staff and Hilton Web Connection attendant.
Carried
The wage grids had to be revised due to the increase in the Ontario minimum wage to $9.50. It will increase to $10.25 in 2010. Council honourariums and the mileage rate were not increased.
09-22 Moved by L. Crack Seconded by J. Sullivan
Resolved to give first, second and third readings to By-law #967 being a by-law to appoint the officers and servants for the year 2009 and to fix their salaries, wages and honourariums for the year 2009.
Carried
09-23 Moved by R. Hope Seconded by J. Sullivan
Resolved to give first, second and third readings to By-law #968 being a by-law to confirm the proceedings of the Council meeting held February 10th, 2009 and confirm the taking of any action authorized therein and thereby.
Carried
09-24 Moved by L. Crack Seconded by R. Hope
Resolved to adjourn to meet again on March 11th, 2009 or at the call of the Mayor.
Carried.
APPRECIATION CORNER
To those who attended and helped at the recent “Soups and Stews” community supper.
To Joe Books, Tracey Books, Bob Hope and Tanya Alexander for removing the snow from the kitchen portion of the hall when it started to back up. They reacted so quickly that major damage was prevented. The roof and ceiling are on the “to do” list for 2009.
To Jack Hore for stopping the water running into the workshop and for cleaning up the workshop.
To Joe Books for his work as our Community Emergency Co-ordinator to ensure that the municipality is in compliance with the Act.
RECREATION ACTIVITIES
The Recreation Committee is planning several events. Unfortunately some revolve around the rink and unless the temperatures drop to allow for it to recover changes will have to be made. Assuming that the rink can be re-instated the planned events are listed below. The Committee would like to once again thank Julie and Darren Moore for maintaining the rink. They are volunteers and would certainly appreciate a hand when winter does come again.
Chocolate Festival: Sunday, Feb 15th from 1 to 3 p.m. Any deserts brought for judging should be at the hall by 10 a.m.
Family Day activities at the rink starting at 2 p.m. on February 16th. There will be games and some treats. Weather permitting there will be hotdogs and sausages as well as other goodies.
Broomball will be played on the second and fourth Sundays starting at 2 p.m. The first game will be on Feb 22nd. Everyone is welcome to attend and play.
Another community supper will be held on Saturday, March 21st from 5 – 7. This time there will be an Italian theme. Once more you can come and enjoy for $5 or bring an Italian dish of some kind and get in free. Recreation will provide the salad and beverages. Board games will follow for those who wish to play. Come out and demonstrate your culinary skills.
This summer the Committee will be offering the BOOM sailing program. There will be day classes on Aug 4 – 7 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. for children ages 8 to 14. The cost will be $215 per child. The Committee decided to give credits for volunteer work for Committee activities towards the cost of the course for children at a rate of $5/hour to a maximum of $50. This will both reinforce volunteerism and offset the cost of the course for the child. The adult session will run from Aug 3 to 6 from 6 to 9 p.m. and the cost will be $130. Participation is limited to 16 for the children and 8 for the adults. The Ontario Sailing will bring the small sail boats and provide the instruction. The program is designed to give participants a fun introduction to the sport of sailing and to give them an opportunity to develop sailing skills. Please contact the Village Office to register.
