Toll Free Telephone Service Approved; Update on Site 41; Le Villageois Inches Forward; Outstanding 2006 Budget Items; The Soben Subdivision in Toache; Perkinsfield School
REPORT ON COUNCIL
October 30, 2006 Committee of the Whole Meeting: 9:03 a.m. – 4:39 p.m. Regular Evening Meeting: 7:02 p.m. – 7:57 p.m.
Four Members of Council present. Councillor Rob Panasiuk absent.
CONFIDENTIAL / CLOSED SESSION: 4:35 p.m. – 4:39 p.m.
TOLL FREE TELEPHONE SERVICE APPROVED: Treasurer Doug Taylor recommended that the Township move from its current toll free service, which costs 7.3 cents a minute, to an 800 number, which will cost 4 cents a minute. The current service is sufficiently confusing that few residents take advantage of it; the new 800 number will be listed in the telephone book. (The service will probably cost the Township more, but far-flung residents won’t hesitate to call if they have a concern, and that, in our view, is a good thing.)
UPDATE ON SITE 41: Although the Certificate of Approval for Site 41 has been passed by the Ministry of the Environment, there are apparently still opportunities to get the landfill site stopped. The incoming County Council could, for example, refuse to finance the construction of the dump site when it considers the County’s budget. Also, Council decided to develop a resolution, with the help of the Municipality’s solicitor, requesting the County of Simcoe to complete a comprehensive business case analyzing all costs of waste management in the County, including the costs to be incurred at the proposed Site 41.
LE VILLAGEOIS INCHES FORWARD: As the result of a great deal of hard work by staff, things are ready for Council to sign Responsibility Agreements related to sewage and water and Site Plan Control for this 80-unit retirement complex in Lafontaine, in principle. As the Agreements are structured to ensure that the Municipality always has 100 percent of the securities required to maintain and replace both the sewage and water systems, Council accepted Staff’s recommendation that the Mayor and Clerk be authorized to execute the Agreements, “provided that the agreements are in a form and substance as approved by the Municipality’s solicitor and by the CAO/Clerk.”
OUTSTANDING 2006 BUDGET ITEMS: At the last meeting of Council, Doug Taylor, the Township’s Treasurer, had reminded Council of decisions that need to be made, concerning –
– payment of Township’s share of the operating and capital levy of the Huronia Airport Commission ($13,452.44). At this meeting, Mayor Klug assured Council that the long awaited audits for 2004 and 2005 had been done and would be passed at the next meeting of the Airport Commission; he noted that the auditors had expressed concern about the management style at the airport. The Township has paid $11,000 for insurance for the Airport. Council decided that the remaining $13,453.44 of the Township’s share of the operating a capital would NOT be paid until a business plan is forthcoming.
– a donation of $10,000 matching funds for the Physician Recruitment Program – As the appropriate paperwork had arrived, Council authorized this donation.
– funding for arenas in the area (budgeted as $20,000 for Midland; $15,000 for Penetanguishene; $5,000 for Springwater). Council decided to forward the budgeted amounts, with a note saying that the money is for ongoing capital needs, not for operating expenses, which should be covered by user fees. These transfer payments are made because many Township residents use one or another of the arenas.
– payment of a support grant for CBO Parks and Rec of $1,187.50. As the required bookkeeping had been done, Council decided to forward the full amount of the support grant to the CBO Parks and Rec Association.
THE SOBEN SUBDIVISION IN TOANCHE: Council passed By-law 06-107 authorizing the subdivision agreement.
PERKINSFIELD SCHOOL: Council authorized a second, more detailed, environmental assessment, which is needed before a decision can be taken about acquiring the Saints Martyrs Canadiens Elementary School and its site in Perkinsfield.
