Senior of the Year
The Northeast Town council presented Cameron Spec with a certificate honouring him as the 2015 Northeast Town Senior of the Year. Mr. Spec said he was humbled by the award.
Volleyball request
Lucie and Michael Medwig made a deputation to council on behalf of the Little Current community volleyball program.
A donation request to cover the cost of insurance had been denied by the Northeast Town council earlier this spring, with council reasoning that members of the group could cover the $167 annual cost.
Ms. Medwig pleaded with council to change their minds, explaining that the program had been running in the community for the last 27 years, for 10 months each year, every Friday night at Little Current Public School.
Changes to the town’s insurance policy left the group covering the insurance costs themselves last year, but members hoped the municipality would step forward this year.
“We get a wide range of players and it provides a great opportunity for people to socialize and meet new people,” shared Ms. Medwig. “It is an unorganized group so from week to week we could get anywhere between four up to 20 players and throughout the entire season there could be up to 50 people who come out.”
She explained to council that the flexibility of the program is what makes it successful and accessible to all people. She also explained that it would be difficult to ask individuals to contribute to the insurance cost given the flexible, commitment free nature of the group.
“We feel that it would be a missed opportunity of council to not support this group,” concluded Ms. Medwig.
Council was to revisit this request at its next scheduled council meeting (Tuesday, June 16) as per council’s policy regarding deputations.
Council accepts tender for group benefits
The Northeast Town council accepted the only quote for the town’s group benefits it received from the recent tender process from Desjardins Group for $103,416 annually (the town’s current provider).
Town CAO Dave Williamson explained to council that it was a 33 percent increase over the current rate, but that the town’s rate went down by $20,000 when it originally switched to Desjardins.
Tender accepted for portion Howland Drain No. 3
Council reviewed the quotes received for the replacement of the Highway 6 culvert as part of the Howland Drain No. 3 project. Council accepted the tender from Cechetto and Sons, the lowest bid, for $317,373 plus HST.
Town to purchase new bulldozer
The Northeast Town council reviewed quotes for the new municipal bulldozer. Mr. Williamson noted that the bulldozer purchase was part of the 2015 capital budget. Tormont was awarded the tender, coming in the lowest at $125,089 plus HST.
Bylaw passed to appoint new bylaw enforcement officers
Town staff members Gary May, Robert Jewell and Wayne Williamson were all appointed as Northeast Town bylaw enforcement officers by council at its June 2 meeting.
Turners Lane
Residents of Turners Lane in Little Current, Mark Smith and Rachel Schryer, requested that the municipality place a ‘no exit’ sign at the end of the lane.
Council approved the request.
NEMI Taxpayers’ Association requests
The NEMI Taxpayers’ Association made two requests to council regarding future municipal budget deliberations.
Council carried a motion to support the first request, amending the budget process to include a public meeting session prior to the development of the draft budget (a public meeting is commonly held after the development of the draft budget).
The second request, for council to “openly consider all final suggestions stemming from the final public budget meeting with all items being discussed at an official meeting of council,” was widely discussed by council, but the motion was defeated during a recorded vote with Councillor Laurie Cook, Bill Koehler, Paul Skippen and Bruce Wood voting in favour of the motion, while Mayor MacNevin, Councillors Michael Erskine, Marcel Gauthier, Dawn Orr and Melissa Peters voted against the motion.
Council donates to Sea Cadets
The Northeast Town carried a motion to donate $200 to the Manitoulin Sea Cadets.
Councillors Koehler, Erskine and Gauthier all commented on how wonderful the program is and how much volunteer work the cadets do in the community.
Fish and Game Club receives donation
The Northeast Town council reviewed a request from the Little Current Fish and Game Club for its annual fundraising fish fry on Friday, June 26. Council carried a motion to donate $200 to the club’s fundraiser.
Annual monitoring and operations report for Hwy 6 waste site
Council reviewed and accepted the Annual Monitoring and Operations Report for the Highway 6 Waste Disposal Site for 2014.
Council accepts work order for water treatment plants
The Northeast Town council carried a motion to accept the facility work order summary for the Little Current and Sheguiandah Water Treatment Plants for January and February 2015.
