REPORT ON COUNCIL:
January 14, 2013
Committee of the Whole Meeting: 9:00 am – 12:09 am
Regular Meeting: 1:35 pm – 2:16 pm
Deputy Mayor Lawrence, Councillors Claire, Warren, and Wishart
Regrets: Mayor Millar
In the absence of Mayor Millar, Deputy Mayor Lawrence took the chair for both meetings
Severn Sound Environmental Association 2012 Review
Keith Sherman, Executive Director, provided an overview of SSEA activities within the Township of Tiny in 2012 including healthy streams project; tree distribution; tributary monitoring (Wye, Lafontaine, Copeland); stream temperature and benthos monitoring (Wye, Lafontaine, Copeland); Source Water Protection; Ontario Drinking Water Stewardship Program for source protection; Tiny bog evaluation to document the extent of the bog; and Provincial Groundwater Monitoring Network. Tiny has significant drinking water threats. SSEA is working on rescuing wells on public property that are no longer used, from abandonment so that they can be outfitted for monitoring water quality.
He also presented a cheque in the amount of $7,938.73 from the Ontario Drinking Water Stewardship Program/Early Response Program Grants for well repairs to Georgian Bay Estates and Bluewater water systems.
New 2013 Recreation and Related Fees and Affordable Recreation By-law
Council considered Clerk’s Report CR-001-13 dated January 14, 2013 from Bonita Desroches, Community Recreation Coordinator, regarding proposed 2013 Recreation and Related Fees and Affordable Recreation. Council passed By-law 13-004 which revises the policy “Fees and Charges” of the Recreation Department Policies and Procedures and ensures more Council responsibility for facilities and funds.
Audio Recording of Council Meetings
Council reviewed a legal opinion dated January 8, 2013 from Adrianna Pilkington of Barriston Law relating to the audio recording of Council in-camera sessions, and resolved to authorize the audio recording of all in-camera meetings. In addition, staff was directed to prepare in-camera procedures.
By-law to Address Environmental and Financial Impacts of Wind Farm Developments
As he indicated at the December 10, 2012 Council meeting, Deputy Mayor Lawrence presented information regarding the installation of industrial wind turbines (IWTs) within the Township of Tiny. Deputy Mayor Lawrence noted that the role of Council is to represent the well-being and interests of the municipality when faced with the development of IWTs by developers. He pointed out the negative impact on property values and the high cost to decommission IWTs after their life span. He introduced a proposed by-law (By-Law No. 13-008) to protect residents and the Township from such impacts. Among other provisions, it ensures that installers are held financially responsible for taking down turbines after their useful working lifetime through a Standby Letter of Credit in the amount of $250,000 for each turbine to cover decommissioning costs. This Standby Letter of Credit must be signed by the proponent and/or the land owner. It also sets a building permit fee of $50,000 per megawatt to cover the costs to the township. Council enacted the by-law at the Regular Meeting of Council.
Septage Management Class EA Study/Phases 3 & 4
At the December 10, 2012, Council meeting, Councillor Warren requested that consideration be given to award the contract for Phases 3 & 4 of the Septage Management Class EA Study to R. J. Burnside & Associates Limited as outlined in their presentation to Council at the November 26, 2012 meeting. Councillors Warren and Wishart confirmed they would be willing to continue as Council representatives for Phases 3 and 4. Council agreed to award the project to R. J. Burnside & Associates Limited.
Final Draft 2013 Municipal Budget
Council considered Treasury Report TR-003-13 dated January 14, 2013 from Doug Taylor, Manager of Administrative Services/Treasurer, the final draft of the 2013 Municipal Budget. D. Taylor outlined the changes as discussed during the December 3, 2012 Budget meeting and incremental changes proposed by staff. Council voted to defer the presentation of the 2013 Municipal Budget to the February 11, 2013 Council meeting in the absence of the Mayor.
Road Conditions in the Sawlog Bay area
Councillor Wishart reported on the conditions of the crescents in the Sawlog Bay
area. He reported that during a snow/ice thaw (January 12-13), the crescents were impassable. Henk Blom, Manager of Public Works, reported that he would investigate the matter.
County of Simcoe Invited to Explain New Waste Management Program
Councillors brought forward a motion that staff from the County of Simcoe Waste Management Department be invited to attend a future Regular Committee of the Whole meeting to discuss the new waste management program.
The new program will eliminate the current heavy garbage pickup and replace it with a new scheme.
