Municipal drain readings sent to committee
Council deferred second and third readings on the Mindemoya Drain back to committee at the behest of Mayor Richard Stephens, who indicated that he had told two members of the council that it was to be sent back to committee.
“I don’t know what more discussion we can have on this,” objected Councillor Derek Stephens. “It’s like beating a dead horse.”
Mayor Stephens maintained that the council policy was to return the matter to committee after only passing first reading.
Councillor Alex Baran asked whether the delay would impact payments, to which CAO Ruth Frawley noted the project levies cannot go forward without three readings at council. Ms. Frawley pointed out that it will be two weeks before the matter could be brought back in front of council.
“I was under the understanding we had the information we needed,” said Councillor Baran, “but if you think two weeks will help I have no objection.”
Fire Hall property purchase finalized
CAO Ruth Frawley confirmed that the documents for the purchase of the new Mindemoya fire hall had been finalized in response to a question from Councillor Derek Stephens as to how the RFP for the fire hall design was proceeding.
Providence Bay hall construction quotes received
CAO Ruth Frawley confirmed that she had received quotations for the “majority of the work” and that she had approved the lowest of those bids.
Financial reports approved
Year to date financial reports for the Finance and Economic Development Committee were passed on a motion by Councillor Alex Baran and seconded by Councillor Ted Taylor. The cheque register ending December 31, 2015 in the amount of $456,401.49 was approved on a motion by Councillor Patricia MacDonald and seconded by Councillor Derek Stephens.
A motion by Councillor Ted Taylor, seconded by Councillor Patricia MacDonald was passed to approve the Office and Administration Committee financial report ending December 31, 2015.
A motion by Councillor Alex Baran, seconded by Councillor Linda Farquhar, was passed to approve the year to date financial report ending December 31, 2015, of the Safety, Security and Health Committee.
Interim borrowing bylaw passed
Bylaw 2016-01, being a bylaw to authorize the borrowing of money to meet current expenditures be given its three readings and be duly passed was moved by Councillor Alex Baran and seconded by Councillor Derek Stephens.
Interim tax levy authorized
A bylaw authorizing the levy of the interim tax was given its three readings and passed on a motion by Councillor Alex Baran and seconded by Councillor Derek Stephens. A second motion to authorize tax capping engendered some discussion, with CAO Ruth Frawley pointing out that the motion is a housekeeping measure whose purpose is to cushion ratepayers from large increases. Ms. Frawley noted that the municipality’s computer systems do the necessary calculations for the staff.
Council work plan approved
Council approved its 2016 workplan on a motion by Councillor Patricia MacDonald and seconded by Councillor Derek Stephens.
“I had a chance to read it and it is a great document,” said Councillor Alex Baran. “It provides continuity from term to term. It is great to have central core road map, there are things you have to deal with before it is too late.”
The four core items on the workplan are: landfills, drainage east of Mindemoya, assisted living and cost analysis of all municipal buildings.
“This gives us an idea of where we have to go,” agreed Councillor Derek Stephens. “I think we have done a very good job taking on the challenges this year.”
Donation made
Council approved a motion moved by Councillor Derek Stephens and seconded by Councillor Patricia MacDonald, to provide a $100 donation to support the Manitoulin North Shore Victim Services fundraiser.
Mayor authorized to attend OGRA/ROMA conference
Council approved a motion by Councillor Patricia MacDonald, seconded by Councillor Ted Taylor, that Mayor Richard Stephens be authorized to attend the annual combined Rural Ontario Municipality Association/Ontario Good Roads Association in Toronto on February 21 to 24 and to also attend the head of council training at the same time.
Councillor MacDonald noted that she had a chance to review the schedule of workshops and seminars at the conference and that there were a number of items that were of interest to the municipality.
It was also noted that the opportunity to “brush up” afforded by the heads of council training provided a valuable opportunity.
Nature Club donation
A motion by Councillor Linda Farquhar, seconded by Councillor Patricia MacDonald, authorized a $100 donation to the Manitoulin Nature Club for their May 27 to 28 conference in Mindemoya. Councillor Derek Stephens asked why the council did not simply donate the use of the hall, as it has done for other groups. Councillor MacDonald noted that the group’s needs were not high.
Call to increase long-term care funding
A motion by Councillor Derek Stephens, seconded by Councillor Alex Baran, to support the motion of the Manitoulin Centennial Manor calling on the provincial government to increase funding to long-term care facilitates was passed.
Councillor Patricia MacDonald noted that anyone who has someone they care about in a long-term care facility realizes the impact that funding shortfalls have on smaller homes where extra care is needed. “Huge homes have the resources in place,” she noted. “Greater funding would help to offset those costs (in smaller homes) as well.”
“When the province cuts back, they expect the municipalities will pick up the shortfalls,” said Councillor Derek Stephens, who noted he once worked in the long-term care industry. “We need our health system to as good as we can make it. Our old people paid for everything that is there—we should take care of them.”
Call to reinstate physician incentives
Council passed a motion, moved by Councillor Alex Baran, seconded by Councillor Linda Farquhar, that council support the Township of Gordon/Barrie Island’s resolution calling on the provincial government to reinstate incentives for physician recruitment and retention in rural northern communities.
“We know from our own experiences that it (physician incentives) works,” said Mayor Richard Stephens.
CAO Ruth Frawley noted that Little Current and Mindemoya have both recruited new physicians.
Appointment to fire department
A motion by Councillor Ted Taylor, seconded by Councillor Derek Stephens, to appoint Julian Jurczynski to the Central Manitoulin Volunteer Fire Department as recommended by the fire chief, was passed.
