FEBRUARY 2 AND 3, 2022 COUNCIL REPORT
February 2 and 3, 2022
Committee of the Whole: February 2, 2022: 9:00 a.m. – 12:25 p.m.
Special Meeting of Council – LDD: February 3, 2022: 4:00 p.m. – 5:32 p.m.
Regular Meeting of Council: February 2, 2022: 6:00 p.m. – ???
Attendance: Mayor George Cornell, Deputy Mayor Steffen Walma and Councillors John Bryant, Cindy Hastings and Gibb Wishart present both days
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
• Visit the Township’s COVID-19 webpage at www.tiny.ca/coronavirus for municipal
impacts and updates
• Tiny Connect – Sign up now at www.tinyconnect.ca
• Subscribe to CivicWeb to receive direct notification of e-agenda publications
STAFF: Misty Everson has become Executive Assistant to the C.A.O, Mayor and Council. Laura Russell has been appointed Deputy-Clerk for the Township of Tiny, retroactively effective December 21, 2021.
REJECTION OF DEPUTATION BY MARK VANDERHEYDEN OF PLAN 763, WAHNEKEWENING BEACH: Re: Vanderheyden’s presentation that the easements in Plan 763 deeds regarding beach Block A grant broad rights of use including the installation of wells and that the Township had violated these rights by removing owners’ property and fire pits and by delineating municipal land with posts on Block A, Council decided that delineation will continue. Council did not seek legal advice in coming to this decision.
PROCEDURAL BY-LAW CHANGES: Staff prepared a draft procedural by-law for discussion. This interesting document, showing the proposed changes in red, is included in the CoW Agenda for February 2. The proposed changes consolidate previous amendments and changes in agenda structures to create efficiencies in the conduct of meetings. The changes were adopted on February 23.
We note that regular meetings of Council are to be held every third Wednesday at 9:00 a.m. followed by a Committee of the Whole Meeting. Public meetings under the provisions of the Planning Act are to commence at 6:00 p.m. on Council meeting Wednesdays. Many changes were made to deal with electronic participation.
REMUNERATION FOR COUNCIL AND TOWNSHIP EMPLOYEES INCREASED: Effective January 1, 2022.
Mayor $41,200.80
Deputy Mayor $30,901.02
Councillor $26,780.24
In addition, Council is paid per diems for attendance at many committees and special meetings. They can also claim various expenses.
For staff, a COLA of 1.5% was applied to all wages and adjustments were made to summer student wage grids.
LAME DUCK COUNCIL: If fewer than four members of Tiny’s Council decide to run for the next term of Council in the municipal election on October 24, 2022, the lame duck restrictions on Council’s power and authority would apply. Such a Council may not
– appoint or remove from office any officer of the municipality
– hire or dismiss any employee of the municipality
– dispose of any real or personal property of the municipality which has a value exceeding $50,000 at the time of disposal
– spend or incur any other liability which exceeds $50,000.
A lame duck Council may delegate authority to maintain operations during a lame duck period.
KEY ELECTION DATES IN 2022:
May 2 to August 18 – Nomination Period
August 19 – Nomination Day
September 1 – Voters’ List available to Candidates
October 1 – Last day to establish a Compliance Audit Committee October 24 – Election Day
October 25 – Declaration of Official Election Results
November 15 – term of new Council begins
November 15 and 16 – Council orientation
November 23 – Inaugural Meeting
2022 BUDGET: The 2022 Budget was given formal approval. The increase in the “preliminary blended tax rate” was 2.92%. Large investments were made in roads infrastructure (more than $4 million) and roughly a million each in major fleet equipment, water system infrastructure and recreation. No mention was made to the fact that the Township’s share of the tax bill increased by 5%. There was no reference to reducing the Township’s carbon footprint.
LDD SPECIAL MEETING: Dan Rowlinson of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry supplied province-wide information about the infestation of LDD, an invasive species. The moths overwinter in egg masses, emerge as caterpillars in late May and June, eat broadleaf tree leaves in June and July, lay their eggs in July and August. A large outbreak in Ontario and Quebec began in 2019, expanded in 2020, peaked in 2021 when it began to wane under the impact of a virus that kills the caterpillars and reduces the size of egg masses. Recurrent winter temperatures below minus 20 also reduce an outbreak. Deciduous trees usually survive such infestations.
Graeme Davis, Forestry, County of Simcoe reported a similar cycle in Simcoe’s County Forests and expects the population to collapse this year. Evergreen trees (spruce, pine) don’t survive if their foliage is stripped.
Tamara Brincat and Michelle Hudolin of the Severn Sound Environmental Association reported that SSEA did a survey in late fall 2021 in the Dubeau Forest in Concession 9 of Tiny. This forest (a mixture of pine, oak and beech) showed little or moderate infestation due to the impact of an egg parasite, a fungus and a virus.
All experts were of the opinion that there is no need for the Township to spray this year.
Regarding the impact of BTK on moths and butterflies, timing is important. The spray lasts only 48 hours on leaves. It must be ingested and only works on alkalid digestive systems, not on birds (which do eat the caterpillars) or mammals both of which have acidic digestion. Rashes and respiratory system problems are probably caused by the tiny hairs on the caterpillars.
Council decided that there will be no municipally run spray program this year. The overspray program will continue to be supported.