REPORT ON COUNCIL
Jan. 26, 2015
Committee of the Whole Meeting: 9:00 a.m – 1:32 p.m.
Regular Meeting of Council: 8:30 p.m. – 8:57 p.m.
All members of Council present: Mayor George Cornell, Deputy Mayor Steffen Walma, Councillors Cindy Hastings, Richard Hinton and Gibb Wishart
SEPTAGE MANAGEMENT CLASS EA – STATUS AND NEXT STEPS: Anne Egan, R.J. Burnside and Associates, provided a status update on the Septage Management Class EA, including the process, work completed to date, and potential next steps. Council voted to receive the presentation and directed Burnside to prepare a “scope of work” for the Septage Management Class EA, to revisit Phase 2 and to conduct further work on Alternative #3 (i.e. to actively engage in discussions with other municipalities regarding treatment of Tiny’s septage), and to include “all associated works” in the 2015 budget.
SIMCOE PRIDE WEEK TO BE PROCLAMED IN TINY:
In response to a letter from Brandon Amyot, Secretary, Simcoe Pride, Council decided 4-1 to proclaim July 31 to August 8 as Simcoe Pride Week in the Township of Tiny.
The motion (065/15) revises Resolution 161/07, passed in March 2007, to the effect that the Franco-Ontario flag would be raised each year during Francophone Week, but that requests for other declarations and flag raisings would not be accepted. This Council decided to consider such requests case by case.
Councilor Wishart voted against the motion because it might set a precedent. CAO/Clerk Doug Luker told Council that there are few requests for flag flying. Deputy Mayor Walma said that such a proclamation showed inclusiveness. Mayor Cornell pointed out that this was a new Council with new perspectives. He felt it was important to demonstrate an openness to inclusiveness and equality in the Township of Tiny.
STRATEGIC PLANNING EXERCISE MOVES FORWARD:
Council approved CAO/Clerk Doug Luker’s draft Request for Proposals (RFP) for the Strategic Planning Exercise and appointed Mayor Cornell and Councillor Hinton as Council’s representatives on the Consultant Selection Committee. (The RFP outlines the proposed scope, process, timelines, deliverables and general expectations of the Township in regard to this project. Following the receipt of proposals, a consultant selection committee made up of both Council and staff review the proposals and make a final recommendation to Council regarding the preferred consultant.)
PLAN 776:
After its Confidential/Closed Session, Council passed a motion “That the confidential letters dated January 15, 2015, and January 20, 2015, respectively from Ms. Jill Dougherty, WeirFoulds LLP, regarding a summary report of the January 8, 2015 meeting with Township staff regarding Plan 776, and Applications of First Registration be received and remain confidential in nature; And that Council herein delegates the authority to staff to proceed to finalize the Minutes of Settlement; And further appoints Councillor Richard Hinton as the Council representative for the meeting with the applicants and residents.”
PUBLIC MEETING: 6:13 p.m. – 8:16 p.m.
K.J. Beamish Construction has proposed an expansion of its gravel pit which would require a change from rural to aggregate zoning in the area of Darby Road and Hwy 93. A group of citizens almost filled the Council chambers. In summary they were concerned are about proposed annual tonnage of aggregate removal, noise, truck volume, consequences of washing and water runoff, impact on woodland and environment, soil erosion and possible soil, well, and water contamination. There was concern too about the potential impact on ground water levels and thus on local wells. There was a request for baseline testing of water quality and for public input similar that that for Site 41. Some felt that their questions had been ignored by Beamish and the Ministry of the Environment (MOE). There will be further public meetings regarding this proposed expansion.
