We're going to start, I want to welcome everyone to our July 13th meeting this evening. I'll call the meeting to order and I'll ask actually if there's any changes toward confirmation of our agenda. Yes. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. There are a few changes this evening. We are deferring item 10 F and we have added a key information report regarding noise concerns as item 10 G. Also, it's my understanding that a member has something that they'd like to request to add under new business. Okay. Thank you.
Is there a disclosure of a Q&A re-interest or any conflict or anything there are council members?
Seeing none, we'll move to our clear cutting tree law by law.
And we have any calls here to give us a presentation.
Is it like Cass?
It's like as in the S is silent.
Oh yeah, I never see anything like that.
that's great. Thank you. So you can start anytime you want. I'll let you take care of everything.
Okay. And you can get off for us. Okay.
Can everyone hear me? Okay. Yeah. Okay. I just as long as the public can hear you too.
Oh yes. You speak close to the mic if you can. Okay. Okay. Like this? Yes. Okay. I wrote something down. So I'll just be reading my little speech here.
Mr. Mayor and members of Council, thank you for allowing me to speak at this meeting.
The purpose of my presence here today is to start the conversation on forestry management
at a municipal level.
As outlined in my July 6 letter to you, clear cutting has increased as a prominent activity
in our area.
I can appreciate that municipalities can't disallow clear cutting completely.
However, we can certainly regulate the manner in which it is done.
We need to start cutting sustainably and leave enough for the fauna and flora to survive
and thrive.
I believe that a clear cutting or, better yet, a forest management bylaw would be a perfect
start to protecting the environment and its already fragile state.
To be clear, we're not trying to stop forestry, we're not trying to stop agricultural activities
or development.
We're simply trying to limit or restrict the percentage of cutting.
I can appreciate that implementing a proper forest management plan will take time.
There will be hurdles waiting for us, but without sustainable development goals, we cannot protect
our environment. We cannot safeguard our future and the future of those who come after us.
I spoke with Jacques Ubreon, the CBO of North Glingery, about the clear-cutting bylaw they
implemented in 2021. They have approved two permits since its inception, both of which the conservation
authority had no comments on, not because they didn't want to comment, but because they couldn't
legally find anything wrong with the clear-cutting requests.
As a possible time-saving options, North Glengarri's Biola could be used as a template to create
south-storms.
It could then be amended, as an example, at perhaps adding the maximum percentage of tree removal
on a lot to represent our specific bio-diverse landscape and habitat.
that. It would get the ball rolling, so to speak, to use it as a template. I urge
you to consider this by-law request. It would be my pleasure to assist the township
with groundwork in order to move forward with this. By making our local, beautiful landscape
or priority, we will be taking steps towards its preservation. Thank you.
Thank you very much. Council have any questions or comments? Councilor Gato.
Thank you Mr. Mayor. Through you I first I just want to say thank you Nicole for coming
and making your presentation tonight. And actually question for the director of planning
I was reviewing some correspondence that Council and staff had around November last year where
we actually were discussing a review of the by-law in North Glen Gary and talking about
but whether that could be something we look at
bringing forward in the future.
Have we made any progress on that?
Any other questions or comments?
Councillor, or sorry, a deputy mayor Smith.
Thank you, through you, Mayor.
Thank you, and you call once again.
I did not disagree with what you're trying to do.
I think the drafts be some limitations
to the clear cutting that goes on.
And I would support this request.
However, I was just wondering if you thought about
taking this to the counties
and try to get this throw at the whole SD and G.
It might be better if we all had the same by a lot of work with.
The United Counties. That's good idea.
I hadn't thought about that.
I was at North Stormont.
They have a by-law for preservation, but not permitting for clear cutting.
So there's nothing really solid to permit clear cutting on a regulatory body.
So I was going to meet with them, but definitely it's a good idea United Counties. I will contact them.
Thank you and good luck. Thank you.
This has been a discussion. I know I had asked we're up to bring this forward a few times and
I think the best thing we're going to do is you know ask to have to bring back a report
from discussions that we've had previously and also from your presentation because
is we had a chance to review, we have the by-law
from North Bengal here with us,
so we had a chance to review it.
And I know that there is a lot of controversy there,
moving that forward.
So we want to make sure that we,
when before we have a chance to approve anything
that we have it all, our eyes dot it and our teeth crossed it.
This is really, I mean, there's a election year coming up too,
and this is a bad time to bring something up like this,
just to be open and honest.
And the thing is that we know about it, we know that there's an issue out there as both
the very colleagues said.
And I appreciate your comments today and I've even brought this to the minister up and
that's the resources before too as well.
And yeah, there's an issue there.
I see a lot of care cutting and not a tree planting to replace the cutting that's going on.
So, I think it's a great idea and a suggestion that
Deputy Mayor Smith's age to you to go to the counties and maybe look at the
would not throw the whole county system instead of rather just at one
municipality at a time but we're all different though you know that's what's
probably what most counties are going to say that we're all unique in our own
way. There's more agriculture sector going on in other municipalities and
and there is same substance or amount.
So the North Park's more agriculture,
we have more in terms of development or not.
So when you made that comment that you don't want to,
you're not there to do it,
make any changes in terms of development to developers
or agriculture, what did you mean?
Because most of the clear cutting is coming
from a lot of the agriculture sector, right?
Yes, Mr. Mayor.
So what happens is if you're planning on
doing a development, you have a series of regulations that you need to abide by for
new roadways for new houses, zoning, things like that.
If you're planning on transforming a forested area into agriculture, you also have rules
and regulations to follow.
However, if you're planning on clear cutting, not every municipality has a by-law against
clear cutting.
So what we're seeing is developers or farmers, they will clear-cut first and then they will
apply for either agricultural area or development.
If I can provide an example, you have, let's say, 50 acres of a old-growth forest, it gets
cut down.
There's no buy loss.
It's not illegal.
They do it.
And then once they're ready to develop, there's no significant wetland.
and it's all dried up.
There's no species at risk.
The fauna and the flora have gone
because there's nothing left.
So it's much easier for them to develop.
So that's why it's not specific to agricultural
or development because they already have their own rules.
It's clear-cutting that does not.
Okay, just wanted to get your view on that.
I have no other questions or comments, any other?
I just wanted to say thank you very much
for bringing this back to us.
So it is something that we have discussed in the past, and I think today's presentation
was a good reminder that it needs to be brought back to the forefront.
I do think that there are a lot of reasons why it has to be an individual municipal policy.
I think definitely we want to see it adopted throughout SD&G, but there might be some differences
between our municipalities where some of the clauses would have to be different.
But I think today you reminded us that this needs to be put back on the list.
So thank you.
Thank you, through you, Mayor Smith.
Thank you, through you, Mayor.
If I can just add, yeah, the counties are aware of this.
And if you brought it to them, they may be of some assistance, because I did go to some of our
a couple of years ago about connectivity of Bush, so
that wildlife can move from one area to another safely, where there's not a whole lot of open fields,
where they're going to be at risk.
Do you ever hear of the Alasimus?
No.
I suggest you Google Alasimus and you'll see how Amuse,
that was, they tracked from down the states,
they tracked it all the way up to Northern,
to a Georgian Bay area.
And it had to go from one bush to another bush to another bush.
And so they're trying to have a connectivity.
So when people are applying for their permits to cut,
they're trying hard to make sure that connectivity is still there for the wild life to move and get around one place or another.
It's Alice Samos, because you'll be pleasantly surprised.
I will.
Well, thank you for your interest in this and making a nice presentation to us.
So we appreciate that.
As I said, we'll probably bring a report eventually and we'll discuss this at a future meeting, okay?
Thank you very much. Thank you. Thank you. I'm nice night. You as well
Okay, next we have a 2021 financial statements the overview we have Jamie Jamie's here
Someone said you're gonna be five minutes late and you pop right in
So we'll let you
start off
Just don't call me late for dinner
Thank you very much for having me tonight, most people know who I am, I'm Jamie Pollock,
I'm a CPA and partner with MNP and I'm here to go through the dry financial statements
with you tonight.
If there's any questions or concerns of what we go through please stop me and I'll be
more than happy to answer your questions.
Now, I'm just going to try to find the right spot to start the report on, so
I'll know
you're not in my way at all, that's a big screen, so
if I will start with the financial
statements and it's actually not on this PDF document, but I believe it's in your package.
In the fancy statements, we have our independent auditors report, and it is quite lengthy, but I will kind of just hit the highlights.
And it's really the first two paragraphs in it.
It's addressed to the members of council, inhabitants, and rate payers of the corporation of the township of Selstormont.
We have audited the final statements of the township, which comprises the statement of a final position as of December 31st, 2021.
one, and the statements of operations, changes in net assets, and cash flows for the year then ended, and
notes to the financial statements, including the summary of significant accounting policies.
In our opinion, the accompanying financial statements presents fairly in all material respects,
the financial decision of the township, as of December 31, 2021, and the results of its operations,
change in net financial assets and its cash flows for the year then ended in accordance with Canadian public sector accounting standards.
So it's a clean audit opinion and meets the financial information that's presented and these financial statements meet Canadian gap,
generally accepted accounting principles for municipalities of your type of organization.
The report goes through the responsibilities of management and those charged with governance for the financial statements and our responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements along with some limitations.
If we turn to the page one where it's indicated as the statement of financial position,
so the statement of financial position is your balance sheet.
it is at a particular point in time at December 31, 2021. Your total assets was 19.3 million compared
to just under 18 million the previous year.
An increase of $1.4 million. Your cash position closing balance was $12.1, compared to $11.5, an increase by 5%. Your taxes receivable is actually down by $442,000, which is actually a good thing for the municipality at $1.7 million compared to $2.2 million. Your accounts receivable, which takes up a lot of your grants receivable and your user charges.
That is up at 5.1 compared to 3.9 million the previous year and what you have in there is your HST
receivable of 402,000 recycling revenue of 150 ICP grant of 80,000 and water and sewer
charges that basically make up the difference of that balance along with other grant revenue.
Under liabilities total liabilities is at 13.4 compared to 12.3 million from the previous year
an increase of 1.3 million half of that increase is under accounts payable you see is that 3.8 compared
to 3 million the previous year and that is timing of trade payables contract or hold backs
and payroll accrual, but it's mostly trade payables related to capital projects at the time.
Deferred revenue obligatory reserve fund is the other increase, 1.2 million compared to 935,000.
Well, that is, it's mainly your gas tax funds that you have received, but not yet spent.
So you have an obligation really to spend those funds on specific purposes.
If not, then they have to be paid back to the funder source.
So I know municipalities think considered as a reserve fund, but you have kind of conditions with those reserve funds, and if you don't spend it, you have to pay back, and that's why it's shown as liabilities in your financial statements, but if they're for your use.
A small change in your crude landfill, closer and
post-closure costs for the amount, for the site that's still being used and what's remaining to reach its capacity.
And little change in municipal debt, $13,000 decrease.
You did take on new debt of $559,000, but you did pay down debt of $572,000.
So your net financial assets, $5.9 million compared to $5.7 million,
an increase of $200,000 from the previous year.
Under non-financial assets, you have your tangible capital assets, closing balance for
accounting purposes, which is the net book value of historical cost, less accumulating
an amortization, the $61 million compared to $58.6, and then an increase of $2.5 million.
As indicated, this is for accounting purposes, it's not necessary your fair market value,
or your replacement value, if you ask your administration what's the replacement value of those assets it would be considerably higher than that.
So your accumulated surplus when you take in your tangible capital assets inventory and prepaid expenses.
67.4 million compared to 64.7 the previous year an increase of 2.6 million dollars.
If we go to the next page, this is your statement on financial activities or your income statement
for the full fiscal year ended December 31, 2021. Under your revenues, if we look at
the middle column, your total revenues for the year is 17.5 million, almost in line with
the previous year, but your higher than budget of $16.9 million, or $608,000 or $3.6%.
Most of that increase is under fees and service charges.
The total amount raised in the year was $6.9 million, or the budget was $6.2 million, and
all of that increase was due to higher water and sewer charges.
There was higher environmental revenue for the landfill and recycling of $208,000, but
there was less recreation revenue by of 214,000 that kind of offsets.
And that's due to some of the COVID closures that occurred in 2021.
If we under expanses, total expanses in the middle column is 15.8 million.
slightly less than the previous year of almost $200,000, but less than budget by $1.6 million or 9%.
So you have a total surplus before other items of $1.6 million.
We have other revenue related to capital of $963,000.
That brings to your surplus for the year per piece as $2.6 million as indicated.
and that brings you to your close and accumulated surplus of 67.4 million.
Now, in your package, and it's very close to really what's presented here for your surplus for the year on these statements,
your actual operating and water and sewer surpluses for the year is quite close to that number.
the totals $2,945,648 were split between the operating surplus of $1.8 million.
The exact number was $1,838,199.
And your water and sewer surplus for the years 1.1 million, 1,107,449.
And it's kind of broken down in this one page summary.
But it's very close to the amounts presented on the statement of flancel activities.
And most of the savings that you had in expenses related to materials and services.
Now in this case, it's just more coincidence than anything that you're close for
your overall operating surpluses for water and sewer and operations close to the statements.
But if we turn to the next page.
But before I do that, we have this one page summary that is in your package and it kind of goes through the line by line, which we just went through on the last page, and it helps explain where your surplus for the year comes from.
So if we go through under the revenue taxation, it was very in line with budget, but when you look at fees and service charges,
is your over budget to the good by 657,000, which basically all comes from water and sewer
charges for the year.
As indicated, environmental revenue was $288,000 higher, but recreation revenue was less
than budget of 214.
You had higher interest in investment income in the year at 511,000 compared to 336, but
But you did not sell all the land that you're hoping to, but that varies from year to year short of budget by 148,000.
So under the revenue item, you're over budget to the good of 600 and 3565.
As indicated, as you go through the line by line of expenses, there's savings and materials and wages on every line item from general government through protections to persons and
property, transportation, environmental, environmental, it has one of the highest savings but that's because any budgeted capital repairs and maintenance end up being capitalized, and there were same as the materials that doesn't show there, so you had a savings of $370,000 from an operating point of view.
Recreation and cultural services, you had savings of $105,000 and same with planning and involvement.
So your total operating revenue before any transfers is $2.18 million dollars for the year.
Now as we go through the bottom part, you did not spend all of your capital of $1.6 million,
but you didn't take on debt of $1.5 million either.
So on a capital basis, it looks like you're over $100,000,
dollars but only because you didn't do all the work and you didn't need to take on the debt that you're required to.
Any savings in capital of $149,000 because of time and of capital projects was transferred back into your reserves and reserve funds.
Because of the time and of the debt of new debt raised and debt payments in the year,
you actually had a savings on your municipal debt repayments of $262,000.
So when you take the 2.1 million plus the 261,000, it really, and plus and minus some of the other statements here.
You bring you to the overall 2.9 million, overall surplus as I indicated.
And there's the split between water and waste water of 1.1 and operating of 1.8 million.
and according to your tax by-laws and your rate in by-laws, those surpluses has already
been transferred to your appropriate reserves at the end of the year in the financial statements.
So with the savings and materials and wages and the access of revenue, you had an excellent
year from a financial point of view, and it overall increased your net financial assets,
your tangible capital assets, and we'll go through that it actually helped with your reserve
and reserve on position as well.
So those $2.9 million was end up being transferred into reserves at the end of the year.
So if we go back to the financial statements,
so this is the statement of changes in
and net financial assets, it kind of goes from the surplus, from the statements of 2.6 to the change of your net financial assets of 2.11.
What's not on, what's in the statement of financial activities that's not kind of presented for operations that you're used to seeing is two items.
I'm an amortization expense which we kind of add back here.
And then we deduct the acquisition of changeable capital assets, which is $5.3 million.
So overall, your net financial assets grew by $211,000 in the year.
So you're surplus that you had when going back into your investment in your
tangible capital assets during the year.
If we just go through some of the other highlights on the financial statements,
We have your tangible capital asset schedule breaking down by asset type.
The netbook value if you look at the second column at the bottom from the right hand side is just over 61 million compared to 58.6 million.
When we look at your netbook value of 61 compared to your total cost of 119, it represents 51% of your useful life remaining on your assets.
That's, it's at 51%, it's over 50, so it just indicates that with all your assets as a whole you still got 50% left of its useful life.
But one thing we always like to save for administration and councils that as you have your additions for the year of 5.3, it's always higher than the amortization expense, which is 2.8.
So it shows to us that you're always reinvested back into your infrastructure and your equipment
and your bridges, roads, water, and wastewater systems.
So that's always good that you're moving ahead and you're replacing the assets that's
almost fully amortized with new assets.
The next page is broken down by department and not a surprise if you take the closing netbook
the value of the transportation, environmental departments.
The netbook value is 47.6 million, which represents close to 80% of your total
tangible capital assets.
If we go to the schedule of a community at surplus, you will see I have a small round
in problem here.
I just left to show you there's a buck difference, but that will be addressed before we release
the financial statements, but your total operating deficits is 1.2 million and it's only because
we have liabilities that need to be recovered from future revenues. They're shown as kind
of a deficit. And that's mainly because of the future of crude landfill, closure and
the proposed closure costs of $764,000.
Your reserves and reserve funds total 14.9 million compared to 14.67 million from the previous year.
An overall increase of $242,000.
So you did take funds out to pay for capital items and operating in the year of $4 million.
And dollars, but you're not putting $4.3 million back.
So when you look at your reserves, it's 14.3 by approximately $200,000 from last year, 14.1.
You did use a lot of your working capital reserve in the year of 1.7.
But you also made administration, made efforts through your budgeting process,
put reserves aside for facilities. Fire went up by.
50,000, road surplus reserve went up from 323 to 719, your waste management reserve, which was in a kind of a deficit position at the start of the year is now as a closing of 115, and recreation is up from 122 to 389.
Just the roundup, your community surplus, you have your invested and tamed book, capital assets, net book value of 61 million, less the related debt, 7.3 million,
So it brings you to 53.7 and then close in 67.4.
So when I look at the schedule, the key number to look at is your reserve and reserve balance of 14.9 compared to 14.7.
Now yes, while overall you are in great shape because of your reserve and reserve funds,
You've got to look at what the future purpose of each of those reserve funds are.
And it's going to be used for operating or for capital purposes.
If it's going to be used for capital purposes, you might be kind of on the low side.
And that's one of our recommendations that through the budget process and through administration that you might want to consider building up some of those reserves that's going to be used for capital purposes.
And I'll just go through that in a little bit later.
So as we quickly just go through the financial statements,
because if I go line by line, we'll probably be here until tomorrow.
So I
don't think people like to hear accountants talk that long myself.
So on page 16, note 4 is the deferred revenue obligatory reserve funds.
As indicated, most of it is your gas tax, which you have a closing balance of 1.2 million.
Parkland is 18,000 for a closing balance of 1.2 million.
You receive 815,000 in grant revenue in the current year, but you utilize $515,000 in 2021.
By the balance of 1.2 million to be used in future years.
We talk about the accrued landfill closure and post-closure costs.
And it's based on what happens if you have to spend the money in today's dollars to close the site based on its current usage.
We calculate the liability to be 764,242 based on the part that has already been utilized.
In a couple years, there is going to be an accounting change happening, where the liability is going to be changed.
where we'll have to present the full amount of what's going to cost to close your remain in landfill site.
Plus the post-closure monitoring costs at an on top of that.
So there might be significant change in that account and standard, which will be coming, which might have a change in your amounts to be presented on the finance statements.
So that's something to be just aware of, that's coming down in the future.
We have note seven musical debt as indicated you received a new debt in the year for the fire pump or rescue vehicle $552,000 is the closing balance and you see the remaining balances for each type of the major asset that the debt was raised over the years.
Closing balance is 7.4 million small decrease from last year of $13,000.
We have kind of the repayment terms of the debt over the next five years, and in those five years, how is the municipality going to fund those debt payments?
It is almost 50, 50 from the general tax base and 50% from the benefit land owners, or mainly the water and sewer users of the municipality.
I talked about the unfunding liabilities to be covered from future revenues in note eight.
And most of that is the long-term debt of 7.5 plus the accrued land flow closure cost.
And it indicates how is that going to be funded in the future from the following sources that's indicated.
Here this is your operating expenditures by object.
And that is indicated most of the savings, you have savings across each of these main
expanse lines.
And the majority as indicated is under materials and services where you had savings compared to budget of $1.6 million.
You had savings and contractive services of $208,000 in the year and that's where majority of your savings from the expenses lead into your surplus for
the year comes from is from those two line items and you can see the savings compared
the budget as indicated.
So if we do have this part of your financial statements attaches
your five year financial review and it just shows your revenues over the last five years has
grown from 13.5 million to 17.5 million. Your expenses have grown from 12.8 million to 15.8
In your closing surplus for the year, per the financial statements have grown from 1.2 to 2.6.
On the bottom part, we have the property taxes billed, breaking down for
your own purposes, upper tier municipality in the school boards.
Your revenues have grown from 2017 to 2021 by $1.3 million, or 3.9% analyzed.
over those five years.
And when I turn the page and look at your taxable assessment,
your taxable assessment between 2017 and 2021 has grown by 3.5% on an annual basis.
So all your increase in your revenue has come from the increased taxable assessment
that levied by impact, we do have indicated your
municipal residential tax rate, and that has grown by 2.2%
over the last five years, but majority of your increase in
your property tax revenue does come from the increase in your tax base.
Some of the percentages I'd like to just point out to you, you see your tax
levy as a percentage of your own levy and total levy is 22 and 8% respectively.
And it's lower compared to 2020 and from previous years.
So it's moving in the right direction, and that's what we like to see as your auditors.
The municipal debt is $7.4 million, which is actually lower than it was a few years ago.
And the municipal debt charges is lower from five years ago at $7.89.
49.
If we look kind of down to the reserve coverage, your total reserves is 14.3 million compared to 8.6 million five years ago.
Now, when I was preparing for today's meeting, it looks like, well, what's happening there in 2019?
It only looks like 2.6 million, well, the one in front of that, too, is not shown, and so I'll correct that.
So it's actually $12.7 million so it's not like you took a major B-dip there that one year just bringing that to everyone's
attention
So the reserves to operate in expenditures is at 90% and then reserves the working capital which we like to see at one to one
It's just 1.08 to one so that's a great
Ratio to have that you have the working capital set aside to match the reserves that you do have at the end of December 31st
So that is the financial report for the year end in December 31st, and we're prepared to issue a clean audit opinion on those financial statements.
Before I complete my presentation in your package, there is a management recommendation letter and I always like to bring this to council and it's in draft format.
I've already have discussed our recommendations with your administration, so they're aware of this, also not issues, but there's just ways to maybe improve your financial shape and things to consider going forward.
The one point I have is regarding your water and waste water reserves and reserve funds.
And as I indicated overall the municipality is in a strong financial position due to the large amount of the reserves and reserve funds of 14.9 million at the end of the year.
Water and waste water reserve comprise about 51% of it at 7.6 and the general purpose reserve is 7.3%.
In conjunction with the Township's Asset Management Plan and its reserves and reserve fund policy,
we recommend that Administration and Council undertake a review of its reserves and reserve funds.
To determine the appropriate level of reserves and reserve funds required to finance future capital projects and
what remaining reserves could be used for future operating purposes.
So I know I can stand up here and say you have great reserves, but
If all your reserve is going to be used for capital, you might not have enough capital or you know
You might have it all segregated for capital and nothing for operating and then if you have
Maybe one bad year and just say there was no government funding for COVID related in 2020
And you had no reserve set aside for operating you could catch yourself short. So
I recommend that a review gets done to make sure you have the appropriate amount of
reserves for operating and the
corporate amount of reserves and reserve funds for future capital and my
understanding based on maybe some of the capital projects that's going to be
maybe installed in the next few years you might need those reserves to help
finance those projects with my discussions with the
administration and based on their asset management plan as well and the
budget process administration prepared a detailed budget that is broken
down by department and further by expenditure category that did not match the general ledger accounts in all areas such as water and waste water operations.
Therefore, they're by not allowing a meaningful line by comparison with actual fancy results in 2021.
The development of a new chart of accounts in 2020 and 2021 created some of this inconsistency.
Providing budget detail that matches the general ledger accounts will enable better budget to actual review process by both administration and council.
Also, the Township have a significant operating surpluses in the last few years.
Various factors have created these surpluses such as the impact of COVID-19 on operations, deferral of capital projects, and change over in full time and part time treasurers.
Administration should review the annual budget process along with the asset management plan and policies relating to debt management,
Reserves and reserve funds and multi-year budgeting determined if the budget at revenue and expenditures are
Realistic with the actual financial results that's
Occurring
as we go through some of the recommendations from previous years as in
From 2019 to 2020 your taxes rose by 20% this past year they have decreased by 20% and
The overall taxes are rears in relation to your overall tax level is 8%
However, some of your neighboring municipalities have presented at about 50% lower than the percentages that's presented for this township.
We just recommend the administration continue in their efforts in monitoring, collecting the tax over years on the timely basis.
And that will help with the cash flow for your township.
There's a lot of issues from 2019 that has been addressed for your administration, such as the collection of sales tax receivable.
Setting up either new subledgers or separate accounts for miscellaneous accounts receivables, which was completed.
Tender and plan in deposits, you have a separate bank account to hold those funds.
However, there's a difference between what has been collected and what's really in that bank account.
They should be the same, if there is a difference.
And it's our understanding that a transfer will be made to make sure that what you have on your listing
and what you're holding for matches what's in the bank account.
I did indicate that you should have a reserve and reserve fund policy and it was
devolved and improved by Council in 2021. We had some issues with segregation of
duties and that were addressed by a administration in 2021. So those are the
issues and recommendations based on our audit this past year, you do have a strong reserves
in place. It depends on how you're going to use them for operating in capital of 14.9
million. You had an overall good fiscal year with overall operating surpluses of 1.1 for
water and wastewater, 1.8 million for operating purposes, and you're still on very strong
financial shape. And that is my report to council administration for the year and then December 31st, 2021.
Thank you very much, Jamie. I was going to ask anybody, is that any staff members want to comment first?
David, do you have anything you want to comment on? Do you like what you're hearing?
Yeah, yeah, so I don't want to say Jamie and his team come here did the 2021 auditing process
This year was really hard because we have a new child account a lot of change in finance
But he and his team did one for jobs. So I really appreciate that for that. And meanwhile, it's just like James
I would do have a strong position about
Resort with the funds, but actually we have a
Thank you,
Mr. Mayor, thank you very much. Certainly, Jamie and his team have done a great job as has finance. David's leadership in the finance department has been significant in terms of addressing some long standings.
issues that the organization has had, and he continues to have some really good ideas to bring forward.
So I think you'll find in the coming term of council, we will be bringing forward a variety of new policies.
And there will be some very tough decisions for the future council to make.
Another thought I had too, okay, so you just told my thunder.
So anyway, Deputy Mayor Smith has a comment or a comment.
Yeah, thank you through you, Mayor.
So I want to say I'm not going to pretend to make you believe that I understood everything that you said, Jamie.
I'm not a finance guy, but what I did get out of that is our staff administration has done a really good job.
They've been really very responsible.
That part I understood and I just want to congratulate and thank our staff for the hard work in tough times.
So we had a lot of ups and downs in the last couple of years.
And I think you've done a really good job
by the sounds of it, appreciate it.
Any other comments?
Thanks very much, Jamie.
It was a great overview.
And I said the same thing prior to our meeting this evening
that we have to thank our administration
for all the hard work they do.
And I mean, they make our job a little easier
when they come back with some great reports.
It makes it easier for us to make decisions.
So yeah, so the finance department is doing fantastic job here as I and so is the other department
So I'm not just going to say the one but
You're always very thorough and we and you make it sound, you know
Years ago when I first was on council. I was gonna say like Dave
It was hard to grasp everything they were saying, but yeah, you make it looks so easy and sounds so easy
But I know there's a lot of effort and work involved in this so it doesn't happen overnight
So thanks again very much for your overview of the whole financial situation.
Thank you very much and I like to say thanks to Debbie and David and Cindy and their
accounting team for their cooperation and assistance during the audit.
It makes our lives easier so thank you very much and I look forward to working them again
for next year and thank you for having me tonight and anytime there's questions or concerns
So I'm only a phone call or email away.
Appreciate that comment.
Thank you.
Thanks.
Have a good evening.
Have a nice evening.
You too.
And don't be late for supper.
Excuse me.
Okay.
We can move to our confirmation of the minutes.
June 22, 2022.
We have a motion.
Thank you, Mr. Mayor.
Moved by Councillor Woods, seconded by Councillor Gando, that the minutes of the June 22,
Second, 2022 meeting be adopted as circulated.
Thank you.
Any comments under the summary reports?
All in favor of the motion then?
It is carried.
Thank you.
Next, we'll move to the key information reports.
And on page 81, purchasing contracts approved June 2021 or 22, sorry.
And we have a Debbie, did you want to speak to that, please?
Through you, sorry, Mr. Mayor, I think we've missed the consent agenda items.
Okay,
we'll go back to that.
We have a motion for that.
Thank you, Mr. Mayor.
Moved by Deputy Mayor Smith, seconded by Councillor McKisic, that all items under the
consent agenda be received and filed for information purposes.
I asked a question, but I didn't move the motion.
Any questions?
All in favor of that?
It's carried.
Thank you.
Okay, let's slow down a little bit.
but now we'll move to the key information reports on 81W.
Do you want to speak to the purchasing contracts that are approved?
Through you, Mr. Mayor.
So, as Council is aware, we had some pretty significant wins last month.
And as a result, we had, in addition to that,
we actually had a number of trees that were of concern prior to the windstorms.
And we did do an RFQ to have those trees and stumps and what not taken care of, that came in at 37,165.50.
So for that, the township service was 26 large trees being removed, 14 from the lost villages, 13 from Lakeview Park, one on Loyalist Crescent Park,
Mark, six of the trees were removed due to damage from the storm and the contractor hired was based on the lowest tender cost.
Any comments or questions?
Okay, we'll move to page 86, thanks Debbie.
Celstermont student versus repolicy, and I know that Councillor McKisic would like to speak to this.
Thank you, Ms. Mayor.
So I'm very pleased to bring this proposed policy to council this evening.
We know that students everywhere have economic barriers in entering post-secondary education.
I'd like to see our council play a part in helping to alleviate those costs and formally
recognize a special secondary student who has contributed to our community by helping
them have the opportunity to pursue their post-secondary academic goals.
So as you have seen in the criteria of this proposed policy, the annual bursary would be
for residents of South Stormmont graduating from secondary school who will be attending
a post-secondary institution in a program of two years or more in length.
A thousand dollars would be awarded annually to one student pursuing a full-time post-secondary
education program in any field of study.
The proposed criterion includes that the student must be graduating from grade 12 and must
provide proof of registration to a Canadian college university or other post-secondary institution
and a full-time program in the fall of the current year
in any field of study that is a minimum of two years in length.
The student must have demonstrated a passion
for community leadership.
The student must complete the application form
and submit accompanying documentation electronically
or in person at the Township Office
no later than April 30th of each current year.
The Bursary recipient would be chosen by a team of reviewers
made up of one member of council and senior management
and accordance with the established criteria.
The review committee would discuss and consider
all applications received by the deadline date,
and the successful candidate would be recommended
to Council for approval.
In previous years, the Township of South Stormont
did award an annual bursary at Rothwald's
and Brook School's Secondary graduation.
This was discontinued in 2017
when RO was forced to close.
Our municipality has the most school age children
and all of SDNG, and I hope that our Council will agree
to pass this policy so we can once again
begin to recognize a special cell storm on student annually.
The goal for this burst rate would be to make it as accessible to as many students as
possible by not adding excessive restrictions to the application requirements.
At this stage, staff are seeking Council's feedback on the proposed criteria, burst rate
amount and review process based on the input received.
It is proposed that the policy could be adopted during the August 10, 2022 Council meeting.
for 2022, especially for this year, staff are recommending following the adoption in August
and aggressive advertising push to be undertaken and the first recipient of the South
Storm on Bursary be recognized during the September council meeting. So I think perhaps it would be
appropriate to open the floor for any questions or discussion on any changes to what's been proposed
in the documents that you have in your package.
They'll start with Councillor Gato and Deputy Mayor Smith.
Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Through you, I just wanted to say I'm glad
to see this come forward and I'm happy to sport it.
Just a question, though.
I was wondering why we're limiting it only to students going
to Canadian colleges, universities,
or post-secondary institutions.
I know we don't have a lot of students
going to the state side or abroad,
but if we had a young person with a commitment to the community
and was looking to go down south. I don't know why we wouldn't support them if they made an application.
So that's something that's definitely up for discussion. I personally am not opposed to changing that to remove the Canadian portion of it.
Okay. We'll note that and that's one comment. Deputy Mayor Smith, your next.
Thank you through you. Good report, Jen.
Yeah, this is something that I was sad to see go away for a number of reasons, not just that we lost our old, but this is something that I think a lot of the students see.
They try a little harder, I'm not thinking of the right word, but they had something to shoot for during their final academic year.
I'm just wondering a couple of things, should we maybe have discussion on whether or
not this should be just one award or a male and a female award?
Or maybe another way to go, because there's different courses.
I would like arts and science courses are great and I think this is what we would be lenient.
But I'd like to see something for the tech courses as well because we need
to acknowledge those that are going to remain farming or going to the trades.
And that would be something that I would like to encourage and offer the same kind of award.
If I may explain, so Deputy Mayor Smith, the way that this has been written, this anniversary would be open to anyone attending any post-secondary programs, so anything in agriculture or trades, they would be open to applying.
for this as well.
Typically, now we don't open awards to gender-based, so we could have a conversation as to whether
there would be two bursaries available, or whether we would have one bursary available,
but typically it wouldn't, it's not usually customary to apply it to male and female.
Thank you.
I certainly liked the idea.
I certainly support it, and I would definitely like to have conversation and how we can build
on this because it's something that we have to go back to, for sure.
Councillor Woods.
Thank you through you, Mr. Mayor.
I agree as well.
This is something that I'm really happy to see come forward again.
Our students need to know that we support them in their educational programs that they're
going for, and it doesn't matter which one they're going to, they're all important.
And the fact is that they're going to continue to improve and to learn and probably, hopefully,
being that the township has supported them and encouraged them with, you know, possibly
give us a chance at hiring them in the future and stay within South Stormont, if not to
work then to live anyway.
But no, I truly think this is a great idea and I think it probably could be improved
a little bit.
I don't see how I think it's very well written and I think I'd like to see two awards
I don't think it necessarily has to be male female, but I'd like to see two students
per year get a bursary I give them something to look forward to to achieve, to strive
for and you know I just think it's a great idea and I'd like to see two so maybe it's something
we can talk about as well.
Okay.
Any other comments?
I know I had the honor to be invited to many graduations throughout my tenure of being
in the mayor and it was awesome to see them and we had a burst of relan too as you know
for many years and I'm very happy this is bringing brought up tonight too as well.
And just for comment, the comments that were made tonight are you going to to bring back
a report?
Through you, Mr. Mayor, we certainly can take a look at this and bring back a report.
And if Council was feeling a little flush, we could possibly do more than two,
given the fact that you've got a pretty nice surplus report tonight.
Excuse me, go ahead, please.
Just a question for staff.
Are you, because we're looking to have a quick turnaround on this so that we can open it up for this year.
offer student attending post-secondary education next year, should we agree tonight on the amount
of bursaries and the removal of the stipulation of Canadian institution? Is that what's expected
from staff that you receive that direction right now?
That would be helpful, certainly, to bring something forward so that it could actually be usable
for anybody going forward this year.
You remind me of me when I was younger.
Okay, so we've heard three, so council wants to make a decision prior to the report.
Would you be happy with it because of the surplus we have that we can do that this year,
for next year, right?
This will be for next year as well.
We'll be for this Saturday, this September and then continuing in future years.
Future years as well.
So, is that, I see a lot of nods? Just raise your hands in approval. Okay. So, everybody's,
so Debbie, that makes your job a little easier.
And there's one I just wanted to make a comment
before Councillor Gano. You mentioned it was going to be one from staff and one councillors
that would be on the committee. So there would be an approval committee. I'm
not sure if staff have decided how many members of staff or how many members of council would
be on the committee and how that would be decided.
I'd like to see more than one council member because if there's going to be three different
firstsaries, it'd be better to have more than one. And just if I may also, I want to add a point
that staff prepared in the report. I can find it quickly.
So just for transparency's sake,
municipal elected officials, township staff and their immediate families would not be eligible
eligible to participate in the Bursary Program.
Immediate family would include spouse, children, residents,
the municipal's officials household,
or any other person claimed out the dependent
on the municipal official's tax return.
Okay, so would Council be in favor of moving forward
with maybe two people sitting on the members' council
and staff, would that be, can you put that in here?
Yes, sir, I have notes on that.
But the one area that we need clarity on is the permission for applicants for international schools.
I was just going to comment that Mr. Mayor, just as long as it's an accredited program anywhere in the world, I don't really see why we'd restrict it.
Like I said, good applicant from the area, even if they're going state, site, or elsewhere, I see no reason why we wouldn't support them, or at least consider supporting them.
what education, right, in support for future education?
Education for people that are students that want to, you know,
or need to help, or, you know, they might even need more help
if they're going to be going, you know, abroad.
So I don't, but you've got to comment.
I don't have an issue with it.
I guess the only thing is, is that maybe because it's a little bit
more food for thought, would staff take a moment to do a bit
of research to see if there are any obstacles in that case, or is it something that's pretty easy?
Or is there anything that comes to mind where there will be a reason not to?
We certainly can take a look at it.
I can take a look at administration and employees generally.
And we have people here who are working here today who've returned to this municipality,
but have been educated internationally.
So I don't have an immediate objection at all by any means.
If we decide not to go with more than one councilor, could we at least have an alternate
in case there's a conflict, you know, like it's Jim brought up.
Just in case there's a conflict, we have the alternate constipation.
We're going to go with more than one, okay, that's the feeling, right?
I think an alternate would be something we should have anyway, also to note, I mean when I
I was at the graduation classes, our public businesses were very generous with
firstsaries too as well so that should be noted.
You know, it's nice to see them handing out this money when they go up to the
stage and the smiles on their faces, you know that they're going to get some support
financially to help them get through the courses that they're taking.
It's awesome.
So, close to the businesses as well.
So just two points to add, one thing that brought this to light for me was seeing that
in many cases, self-strawing students attending school outside of the municipality, which they
have to do are sometimes disqualified from applying for bursaries in other schools because they're
not from that area or they haven't participated in the social clubs that exist in those areas.
So this is why my intention was to make this open as broadly as possible so that someone
going into the trade, someone with academic excellence, athletic excellence, community
involvement excellence, anyone would look at this application and any of those students
would look at this application and say, I can apply for this, I'm not immediately disqualified
because I don't check all the boxes.
from there we're asking them to submit maximum 750 word essay and submit the resume to show us you know what they've done and how they've contributed to their community in the workplace academically et cetera and tell us their story.
So in a lot of cases, bursary applications and scholarship applications, they're forcing you into a mold and then a lot of students say immediately I don't qualify because I don't fit the mold.
So here we're trying to remove those barriers and open it up to anyone who's attending a post-secondary program
That's two years and length or more starting in the fall and and give them the opportunity for that and let them tell us their story and then the
Approval committee will will review those applications and decide from there
Okay, there's no other comments. We'll wait for the report to come back and then we'll make a decision
Okay, next page page 90
We have the second order drainage report.
And, Mohammed, would you speak to this, please?
Thanks, Mr. Mayor, through you.
This is the quarterly drainage report
for Q2 of this year.
It's presented to the council to confirm
of beaver trapping requests
from municipal drain maintenance
and completed municipal drain maintenance
within the township.
As of this quarter, beaver traps were in April,
we are 17 in May, 12 June, 17.
As of today, the beginning of this year, the number is 426.
Municipal Training Maintenance is, work is beginning this fall 2022.
Okay, questions?
Okay, thanks.
Next we'll move to page 92, it's 2021-22, requests, complaints, statistics, actually I'll ask you to speak to this regarding E11.
one. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. So this report provides an overview of the complaints and request
received up to June 30th of this year. In the period between January 1st and June 30th,
we have logged 531 cases in our access E1-1, which is our tracking system for our complaints
and requests. In total, in 2021, there were 1,000 and 7 cases logged. So I would say it looks
to be trending at a similar rate as in previous years has noted in the report the public
works department and our by law enforcement department are the department's most frequently
requested to provide some sort of assistance as it went in that report and it provides a
bit of an update on what those requests are for Council's information,
and that's consistent
with previous reports as well, and so far in 2022, 47 cases were entered directly by
members of the public using the report a concern feature on our website, so we continue to encourage
residents to use that because those requests can come in 24 hours a day, seven days a week,
you don't need to speak to a staff member, they all still get logged and addressed in the same fashion as
they would if you actually had called and spoke to somebody on the phone.
So we continue to promote that and with those 47 cases it makes approximately 9% of the cases
that are entered into our system. And the only other note I guess that would be important to point
out is that through our modernization funding that we had received we are in the process of
implementing a new work order system. It's called asset essentials. And that system
is intended to replace the current access E1-1 system, but that likely won't happen
until 2022 or 2023. But that will be a more robust and integrated system with our other
systems that we're also implementing at this time.
I'll answer questions.
Okay. Thank you, Ashley.
Now, we'll move to page 97. Annual Merit
review that he would like to talk about this?
Through you, Mr. Mayor.
So in accordance with Township Policy, employees have a performance review system.
And there is a salary administration policy whereby employees are eligible based on service and
have gone through the performance review process.
having achieved their goals and objectives that are set between themselves and their directors both for tasks as well as for professional development and personal improvement potentially in areas whereby maybe we need a bit of work in terms of prioritization of tasks, those kinds of things.
So on that basis for our non-unionized employees, we have 19 employees that are eligible for an annual merit increase.
They are, I should be clear, while there's 19 eligible for the merit increase, every single individual working for this organization should be recognized in some way,
shape or form for the very hard work that they have done over the past two years.
It has not been simple, it has not been easy.
I can tell council today that we have had four people off with COVID since July 1st.
So that means that somebody else is having to pick up and carry the extra work.
As a result, anyway, that's on a side, but I did think council should be aware we are still dealing with COVID internally
early in this organization and managing to get our work done.
So employees not eligible for a 2022 merit increase, have specific contracts.
They may have received a salary adjustment based on either completing their probation earlier this year.
Or alternatively, they've moved to a new position.
So some of the areas where we've had reorganization, such as in finance where somebody has transitioned to a new position.
and they're not eligible for the merit increase
because they've already had an increase, okay?
So I did wanna make it clear that of those people,
of those less than, or those people
who are not getting a merit increase,
there's absolutely no question that their work
and their performance has not been exemplary.
It's just been a situation
where there have been other adjustments made, anyway.
Cost of the adjustments, including employer taxes
This is in benefits for the six month period of July to December for 19 individuals is $33,000.
And they were included in the annual budget for wages.
And the CAO's position is not included in there.
Any questions?
Okay, we move on.
Next we have a noise concerns regarding the Cornwall Handgun Club.
and I'll ask if our chief Jill will speak to this week.
Thank you, Mr. Mayor, through you.
We're starting to receive complaints
or some community members about the noise and the frequency
of the guns that are being shooting that's taking place
at the Carmel Hang Club.
We're also hearing that the community is also preparing the petition
that to be submitted to the township very shortly.
I'm not sure exactly what the petition is going to be about.
to give you a little background on the hand club,
the Cornwall Hand Club.
They operate seven days a week from 8.30 in the morning
till dusk, including holidays.
There's approximately 500 members that participate
in the hand club, and there's also five law agencies
that train at the head and club.
So the OPP, the RCMP, Cornwall Police,
Sacrificing Police, and the Ministry of Natural Resources
to do all their training at that facility
because that's the only facility that's in an area
where they can train.
So when the law agencies do their training,
their training is done by the high-powered rifles,
which create a lot more noise.
So you can imagine if there's 20 or so individuals
from a law agency doing their training,
firing high-powered rifles
that it is gonna create a lot of noise.
I did meet with the president and the vice president
of the handclub last week and I asked them who's an appetite for maybe reducing the hours
and maybe a little earlier at night and possibly looking at adjusting the hours on the weekends.
They were very receptive to it but they had to bring it to their board of directors and they
promised me that they would put this on the agenda to the next meeting which should be very
soon and they'll have a discussion about it.
They also indicated to me that they're prepared to invest $100,000 in moving part of the shooting range to a different location on their property.
I believe they have 44 acres.
And they want to move it to the far end of the property where it's not as close to the built up areas.
And with the baffling system that they want to put in to baffle the noise, they feel this will be a huge advantage in alleviating some of the noise and complaints.
They're very passionate about their club but they also want to work with the township to make sure that we can reduce some of these complaints.
So as soon as they get back to me with some of the adjustments hopefully I'll report back to council.
I can say that, I guess I want to initiate it this through the place I've been receiving.
And not only from the complaints that people come into my driveway, my house, sending
emails and whatnot, and I understand that their concerns are it's getting louder and louder.
I know here from where I live, and I live quite a ways from there, and I know you could hear
them too. And with this higher, what do they call them? I don't know what caliber they're using, but they're in the case.
And the different guns that they're using is making, like you said, increase, the noise it has
been increased over the years. And with the, I remember years ago when I was on council
back in the coronal township, when this handgun club started, there was no discussion
of all these other agencies or organizations coming in and starting the shoot. So I actually
asked the question and they said, no, that wasn't going to happen, but it's, it's happened
over the years and these complaints were, you know, often brought to council over the
years, different councils and I think it's time that we have to ensure that we can help
them out because it's getting to the point where it's, you know, the noise is not, it's
a nuisance to the community in that area.
Yes, they'd like to see, you know, weekends, holidays and other things that you've mentioned
And I'm very happy to hear that the club is looking at alternatives to make it easier
for the community because there's a lot of people that are upset about it.
And I know that they said they're going to present a petition, but I told them that
we were going to act on this, and I appreciate staff looking after this and bringing it to
council tonight.
So I know that the counselor or Deputy Mayor Smith, would you have a comment that you want
to make?
Yeah, I do.
Go ahead, please.
Thank you, through you, Mayor.
Joe, I just wondered, is the land and the gun club a privately owned operation,
or is it a government regulated operation?
I believe it's privately owned.
It's privately owned, right.
And there are regulations that they have to follow from the federal government.
They do get an annual inspection, I believe we get a report of the annual inspection.
And from what I've been told that the Carmel Hand Club is the model club that everybody
that he uses for the inspection purposes.
They are very strict with rules and regulations
with their members.
And everything they do is right by the block.
And I believe they get a full report every year,
which is a good standing.
So that report is submitted to the township
that we have on our manual basis.
So I think the property is on privately
and it's regulated by the federal government.
So would I be overreaching if I were to suggest
I guess that I see that the complaints are because there's too many members, I guess.
So there's too many guns going off.
And because there's so many members, the hours of operation are going to be from early in the morning till as late at night as they can be.
I'm seeing that there are people belonging to this club from outside of South Stormont,
So, Arkansas and Cornwall, would we be able to keep the membership within our township in that way we'd be able to reduce ours?
I'm reaching, I'm looking for some help here.
No, but anyway, let's did Debbie answer that one.
Through you, Mr. Mayor.
No, it is a private organization.
As such, we have no control in any way, shape or form, as to their membership or their bylaws.
because they do abide by all the required regulations that the federal government has instituted.
The complaint at the moment is largely around the high-powered rifles and they are looking
into and proposing changes in order to be able to mitigate the noise as a result.
One of the challenges they have is they don't have a good baffling system.
And so they are looking into doing that, but they're waiting for legislative change that
that is being instituted at the federal level, and that's due to come out this fall.
So they actually have plans in place to fix this, but they don't want to spend $100,000 next month and
have the legislation require something slightly different in October.
So we're just on a waiting timeline, but they are looking to reduce their hours at their next meeting.
Okay, thank you, I'm just trying to wrap my head around whether or not this gun club is for safety purposes learning how to use a gun and properly use it and keep in training or if it's for recreation and just for the sake of shooting guns like we all know people like to just shoot guns and if that's the case, we do have regulations on noises and four wheelers and stuff like that that are going through five years.
We were able to stop that because it's recreational, and if that was the purpose of the gun club then I was wondering if there's something we can do to reduce the noise.
Well, I can report that any member has to be a certified, I think there's two certifications you have to get before you can even buy a handgun or any ammunition.
So those two certifications have to be presented to the board of the hand club organization.
They also go through a one-day training with each member to make sure that they know all
the rules and regulations and they put on probation for one year and if any rules or regulations
are broken by that member through the year, their membership will be dismissed immediately.
So, they do run a very safe hand club and it is all regulated and now everyone has to have their proper license before they can even apply for membership at the hand club.
And that's all registered to the government also.
All right, thank you.
That's not that you and I can go there with no license and shoot a handgun.
That's not what it's about.
All right, thank you.
I'm happy to see that they have the gun club.
I'm just sad for those who are putting up with the noise and, you know, especially with small kids in that area.
Most of the complaints that I received was not to do with safety, it was mostly the noise.
And I brought this up at the police meeting a couple weeks ago and I mentioned to Commander Mark Hammrich that this is an issue going on.
and he understood, and he just said, yeah, he says the township can control it by a by-law
and he said what we can do.
So I said I'm glad that you at least understand that something's going to be, there's going
to be a change of some sort.
And so I'm glad that the hang again, the hang club will, we'll look at changing some of
their timeline.
Councillor Woods.
Thank you, pardon me, through you, Mr. Mayor.
I remember a few years ago that we had the same kind of complaints with the noise and they were building a berm to help with that.
Did that have any effect on the noise at all, or did they even do that?
Okay, that means she's been really close with this.
Through you, Mr. Mayor, to be honest, Councillor Woods, I don't know whether they built a berm or not.
But I think the big challenge right at the moment is the fact that it's the high powered rifles that are the issue in relation to noise because they repeat very rapidly as opposed to a traditional handgun which doesn't repeat quite as quickly and is not quite as powerful in terms of the noise.
So they have committed to looking into it and as council is aware our efforts in terms of by law enforcement are to work with the community first before we start laying charges.
So, they are aware that we have a noise by law and that we will look at it if we don't see some improvements.
Okay, well said, there's nothing else we'll move on.
Next one with the action requests.
We have a motion for 2021 financial statements.
Can you read the motion please?
Moved by Councillor Gando, seconded by Deputy Mayor Smith, that Council accept the 2021
financial statements as presented and prepared by MNP-LLP on July 13, 2022.
Thank you.
David.
Thank you, Councillor, and Mr. Mayor.
I think Jamie already speak a lot about this, so that's really fair to represent our financial
this name is for the 2-0-21, so I'm just asking council if you accept or not.
Thank you.
Okay.
Thanks.
Anything else?
We'll move on.
All in favor?
It is carried.
Next we have the motion to the Stormont County Fair, designated municipality, significant
event.
Actually.
Moved by Councillor McKisic, seconded by Councillor Woods, that council designates the Stormont
County Fair hosted in Newington as a municipal significant event for the Labor Day weekend from Friday, September, 2, 2022 to Monday, September, 5, 2022.
Thank you. Any comments or questions? Ashley, is there anything that you want to discuss about this issue?
I don't believe so, but I think the report speaks for itself.
They come to us on an annual basis to pass this resolution so that they can apply for their special occasion permit through AGCO.
And of course, we're pleased to bring this report forward to council.
Okay, no comments or questions?
I'll untie over the motion.
It is carried.
Next, we have support for the municipality of Brighton, this motion for that.
It's called the Draven Alert, and can you read the motion?
I'll ask Councillor McKisic to speak to it.
As moved by Councillor McKisic, seconded by Deputy Mayor Smith, that Council of the
Township Assault Stormont supports the municipality of Brighton's Resolution requesting changes
to the Amber Alert System to allow for the creation of a new alert called the Draven Alert,
which will protect vulnerable children who have not been abducted but are at high risk
of danger, injury, or death, and alert the public that they are missing.
Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Mayor, through you, some of you will recall the tragic event of an 11-year-old
boy named Draven Graham with autism, who was found deceased in the Skogal River in
Lanzi, Ontario earlier in June.
Auditions have been circulating to create a second amber alert system to be set up for when vulnerable.
Petitions have been circulating to create a second amber alert system to be set up for when vulnerable children go missing called draven alert in an honor of the boy who died.
Over 90,000 people have signed the change.org petition so far and the municipality of Brighton has circulated this resolution requesting endorsement and support from all municipalities in Ontario.
I hope that our council will support this resolution tonight.
Okay. Thank you.
Comments? All in favour?
Carrier, the support of it.
Next, on page 105, support for the City of Owen Sound, removal of Councillors under prescribed
circumstances. And we have a motion for that.
Moved by Councillor Gando, seconded by Councillor Woods, that Council of the Township
Sous Stormont supports the city of Owen Sounds resolution requesting the province investigate options for the removal of councillors under prescribed circumstances and to facilitate strengthen orientation sessions for councillors.
Councillor Gano, you asked for this, do you have anybody in mind or?
No, Mr. Mayor, I don't.
Yeah, it's pretty self-explanatory, but there are under-minus black, there is no mechanism
to remove councillors who are behaving poorly, despite this sort of recall being available
in other jurisdictions, so it's something the province ought to look to, something the
province ought to look into.
Okay.
Any other comments or questions?
Have you, Mayor Smith?
I know you're coming.
I could see you're moving.
I'm just having a little trouble with this, because this is an elected official retox,
talking about, and we can't take away the public's
needs or who they voted.
We can't let three people on a council make that decision, you know, in a council of
five or, you know, 50% plus one anywhere else.
I'm just not comfortable with this.
I keep thinking back to, with a name and name,
so I can think of a mayor who's been in office for 36 years.
He's old school, and if council had their way, he would have been removed.
But because he was elected official, he wasn't removed, he was just, his office was moved.
Okay, Mr. Mayor, Andrew wanted to develop.
I think you, Mr. Mayor, I don't think what's being suggested would be a simple vote of council that would not be appropriate in different jurisdictions, such as California, after the petition of a certain amount of the electorate to remove a councillor, like say 20%, then there would be an actual recall election with that person on the ballot.
So there's different ways they can go about doing it. It might not make sense for small municipalities. I just think it's something that has to be reviewed.
A good classic example is with Arnold Schwarzenegger when he became the governor of California was pursuant to every call election.
Removing a governor who had breached certain sections of their legislation or something along those lines.
So it was actually the voting base deciding to remove the councilor versus staff.
So I appreciate American politics, but it doesn't work here in Canada.
We have an integrity commissioner, which I will openly say I wasn't really approving,
but we have an integrity commissioner to handle these types of things.
And so far we have a very good counsel here.
We haven't had to call on him, and I don't expect that we should ever.
But he's there for these types of reasons.
I think what Andrew is talking about is this will go through an integrity commissioner.
But the thing is his hands are tight, but the way the law is, it's a provincial law, that they can't remove any, you know, members of council for whatever wrongdoing they done.
And so I think this will give them the right through the province to make that decision, and then forward that decision to council to make a decision. That's how they normally work, right? Debbie? Through you, Mr. Mayor, in terms of how other jurisdictions work, I really don't have a clear idea because it depends a lot of times on context. However, having said that, I would bring to council
will bring forward for Council's consideration situations in other municipalities because
we're being, Council's simply being asked to support this idea that the province look
at it. From the perspective of situations whereby
Councillors who have become completely inappropriate in a host of different ways, and maybe we would
want to take a look at the City of Ottawa as an example where we have an individual who
has had numerous complaints of sexual harassment.
There are situations where staff have been harassed.
There are situations where when people have come forward of a different ethnic background,
individuals on council have been behaved completely inappropriately in the chambers.
There is a standard of conduct and if that kind of conduct is allowed to continue on an ongoing basis because someone refuses to leave the chair or refuses to consider the context in which they are in, which is council chambers and your leaders of the community having a requirement to behave in a certain way both with the people that work with you as well as your community members.
and if you have, as a council, no ability to sanction, and if necessary, physically remove
someone from the chair, even when you have members of the community complaining about
that individual's behavior, your stock and it gets to be really difficult for a council
to operate in an effective fashion.
So that would be my comment with respect to what's come forward.
Thank you, but I'll see you in a final comment kind of echoing what the CAO said.
This request isn't providing for any sort of mechanism.
I'm not suggesting any sort of mechanism.
I'll just use an example of ones that exist in other jurisdictions.
This is just saying that it's an issue where you'll have municipalities where you have a
Councillor who's not even able to do his job's restrictions put on place in them and it
just doesn't make any sense. We have to find a way forward whether it be the province
has the ability to remove them, an integrity commissioner council or the voting public.
This is just asking that we pressure the province to study the situations and see if we can
come up with some sort of framework to deal with it.
Okay, so we've heard from everyone all in favor of the motion.
Motion is carried.
This will be the province take 20 years for the acquisition.
Anyway, I will move to page 107, 2022, capital street lights.
We have a motion for that.
Moved by Deputy Mayor Smith, seconded by Councillor Gando, the Council instruct staff to proceed
with the installation of new street lights as follows.
Raiman Road at County Road 12-1, Manning Road at Parkway Estates 2, and Wilburck Drive
Alt Island 2, or until Transportation Capital Budget for Streetlights of $15,000 is expended.
Okay, Mahalat.
Yeah, thanks for being Mr. Mayor.
Typically, new streetlights are added to the streetlight network when I'm as request basis.
With written request received by residents recommendation for the recommendation out of
those proposed or requests have been reviewed by staff based on current conditions, vehicular
and pedestrian traffic patterns noted.
Having reviewed the request staff is recommending the following streetlights to be added in 2022.
As mentioned, the first one is the intersection of Raymond Road at Counter Road 12, Newington
to place one street light and that is estimated cost is $6,000.
The second one is the manning road at Parkway States.
Two street lights to be installed with a cost of $3,500 each.
And the third is the will-proc drive at Old Island.
And the intent is to install street lights as advertised.
One, two, three, as mentioned above.
until budget, the budget of $15,000 is extended.
There are total of new lives, the total, the total new lives requested is above 20 requests
or 20 lives to be installed.
And the staff is recommending for additional capital budget, that will be needed to be added
it for the 2023 budget moving forward.
Okay, so you're saying at this time,
we don't have the resources because of the amount
of flights or what you want to call them.
It's already agreed to and they're going to be installed.
So we're over our budget if we continue to do more, right?
Okay, that would be Mayor Smith.
Thank you, through you, Mayor.
Well, thank you for that report.
I did get a call on the way to the meeting tonight, someone's seen this in our agenda.
And they're assuming that this is going to get a done deal.
However, I'm glad to see that it's just a report.
My question is, is the same question they asked me, is will the residents in the surrounding area,
will they have a say in whether or not a street light goes up?
because apparently as much as it sounds like a good idea to have streetlights, there's some people that don't want them, especially those that have it in their front yard and are going to expect a bright light shining in their window.
So I guess my question is, if we decide to bring this up again in the later date, will we be contacting the surrounding neighbors that will be affected by the streetlight?
So, typically those, once we receive those requests from residents, we will, before the installation,
we will be contacting those residents and we will be contacting some other places, the
home owners association, to select the places where we want to place those light poles.
So it's all the discussion between us and the residents before proceeding with that physical
installation.
Okay, sounds fair, thank you, we just don't see any sense in putting up the light and spending money and time in a place where people don't want one unless it's for safety reasons.
But thanks, that's the thing.
We only put, we have a criteria where we put our street lights and most of it's because of the safety reasons or concerns that we have,
If people happen, they make their complaint.
Did we not already look at the area and
there will be a report coming forward one day?
I think that's how it happened.
Through you, Mr. Mayor, with respect to anticipate that the deputy mayor got a telephone call
about all-dialand.
And so from that perspective, there have been a number of challenges, shall we say, with respect to that particular area.
And as a result, before anything happens, there will be a comprehensive review done because some of the streetlights that already exist are privately owned.
So there is no way that those privately owned that we have any jurisdiction or any right to make changes or amendments on other people's property.
So we will be doing a comprehensive review and meeting with the neighbors to have a conversation in advance of any work being done in that location.
Thank you.
It's all in favour of the motion.
It's carried.
Next one with the by-laws.
By-law number 2222, 52.
A point, compliance, audit, committee.
We have a motion.
If I be Mr. Mayor, you have.
I miss one.
Yes, you did.
Oh, I'm sorry, yes, I did.
I put the line underneath Charles Street Paving.
They didn't even talk about it yet.
So, Muhammad, we have to do the motion.
Could you speak to that, please?
Go ahead.
Moved by Councillor Woods, seconded by Councillor McKisic, that Council approve the paving of
Charles Street from headline road to the new development, Dejolimo Drive, with considerations
for completion of work in future budgets. Estimated cost is $19,840 plus HST.
Okay, thank you.
Through you Mr. Mayor, staff have been working with the developers most recently since 2018,
for the Stonegate subdivision.
Construction schedule for the works
wasn't clear at the time we prepared
that 2022 capital budget preparation.
The developer hasn't indicated its intention
to pay first lift of asphalt in the upcoming weeks.
A staff is proposing to,
proposing Charles III to be paid with the first lift
to the new development to provide connectivity.
The intention is for the final lift of asphalt
to be installed as the development fills in. And staff are proposing to include the completion
of Charles Street upgrades in the future budget year with an approximate cost of $26,160
or if Council approves to pave the whole Charles Street from headline road to the end, sorry,
approximately total cost is $40,000, $46,000 plus $6,000, and this edition since it's not captured
by the 22 budget. However, there are some surplus from the transportation budget based on some
cost savings in other current projects that was budgeted in the same year.
All right. Thank you.
Any comments?
All in favor?
That motion is carried.
Next, we have the under bylaws. We have page 113, bylaw number
2022, 53. Sorry, no, 22, 52, a point compliance audit committee.
Moved by Deputy Mayor Smith, seconded by Councillor Woods, that bylaw number 2022, 52, being a bylaw
to adopt terms of reference and a point, compliance audit committee members be read and passed in open council signed and sealed this 13th day of July 2022.
I'll let you keep going on this one.
Thank you, Mr. Mayor.
So under the Municipal Elections Act, it's mandatory that municipalities establish a compliance audit committee.
This committee would address any concerns related to a candidate or a registered third party who may have contravened provisions of the Municipal Elections Act relating to campaign finance and to consider reports from the clerk.
Working with the clerks in SDNG, we have gone out and done joint advertising and have received applications.
and this by-law is bringing brought forward to appoint the members of the Compliance Audit Committee for the upcoming term.
Thank you, thanks. Questions or any discussion? All in favor? The motion is carried.
All right, next we have page 121, the by-law number 2022, 53 adopt workplace violence and harassment policy.
Moved by Councillor McKisic, seconded by Councillor Gando, that by-law number 2022-53
being a by-law to repeal by-law number 2018-81 and to adopt an updated workplace violence
and harassment policy, be read and passed in open counsel, signed and sealed this 13th
day of July 2022.
Through you, Mr. Mayor, so as council is aware, we have been working really hard to get
all of our human resources policies up to date and sorted out.
This particular policy was originally instituted in 2018, however, we do have mandatory requirements
for review of this policy.
And as a result, there are a couple of minor changes, sections in relation to the Occupational
health and safety act and insurance around the committee.
So the township has currently established a new committee and that committee is in the
process of getting their training finalized as well as taking on the work.
So they have actually reviewed this policy, made recommendations for a couple of changes.
In addition to that, we did receive a telephone call from Councillor Gandh today and we have made
those minor adjustments that were requested with respect to clarity in some of the wording.
And we are recommending that Council approve this updated version.
And there are training requirements as part of the policy.
And in the past several months, we have instituted a respect in the workplace program.
And that's being provided through Fort Log Consulting.
Discussion? All in favor? Motion is carried.
Thanks, Debbie. Okay, next we have the, on page 134,
bylaw number 2022-54, regulate traffic in Celstermont.
Motion.
Moved by Councillor
Woods, seconded by Deputy Mayor Smith, that bylaw number 2022-52 being a bylaw to regulate traffic
at the intersection of Jim Bancroft Boulevard and Warner Drive and the intersection of White
Tale Avenue and Fikes Road, be read and passed in Open Council, signed and sealed this
13th day of July 2022.
Okay, thank you.
Well, hello.
As a result of a recent addition of Jim Bancroft Boulevard in the East Industrial Bar and
White Tale Avenue in Langsu, traffic control is warranted at the intersection of Jim Bancroft
Bollywood at to our not drive and do I tell Evan you at fixed or fixed or
Anything
Any comments all in favor?
Motion's carried. Thank you. Next. We have a bylaw on page 136 number 20
22 55 to adopt a mobile device policy
Moved by Councillor Gando seconded by Councillor McKisic that bylaw number 222 55 being a bylaw
to repeal by law number 2019-40 and to adopt an updated mobile device policy, be read and passed
in open counsel, signed and sealed this 13th day of July 2022.
Keep going. Thank you, Mr. Mayor.
So this report has been brought forward. Council originally adopted a mobile device policy back
in April 2019, through this service delivery review that was conducted in 2020, the mobile
device policy was identified as problematic.
So the main difference in this policy, as opposed to the last policy, is the recommendation
and this one is to remove the bring your own device or the BYOD component from the policy
at this point.
It is important to note that any existing BYOD participants will be permitted to continue
under the current policy and as the corporate devices or as they fail or staff changes occur at that point we would issue new devices.
Other than that the policy remains largely unchanged.
Questions, colonists, all in favour?
Carried.
147, by-law number 2222, 56, advance voting and reduce hours of retirement homes.
Moved by Deputy Mayor Smith, seconded by Councillor Woods, that by-law 2222, 56 being
a by-law to repeal by-law number 222, 30, and to establish advance voting and reduce hours
of voting in a retirement home for the 2022 municipal elections, be read and passed in open
council, signed and sealed this 13th day of July 2022.
Okay, I think it's pretty smell self explanatory, right?
I believe so, Mr. Mayor.
Yeah, all in favor of the motion?
Carry.
I want you off easy on that one.
The
last by-law, number 2227, Council of the Social Monster Mont Development Charges.
Moved by Councillor Gando, seconded by Councillor McKisic, that Council approve the development
charges background study dated May 2, 2022, and further that Council approve the capital
projects listing set out in chapter 5 of the development charges background study dated
May 2, 2022, subject to annual review during the capital budget process.
And further, that by-law number 2022, 57, being a by-law to impose development charges for
the Township Assault Stormont, effective September 15th, 2022, be read and passed in open council,
signed and sealed this 13th day of July 2022.
Okay, thanks.
Good evening, Council, Mr. Mayor.
So we're finally here.
The by-law has been prepared in its final format, which is in line with the background
study and the services that are included within the by-law and the schedule that has been
reviewed with the public, I've been reviewed with Council, I've been reviewed internally
with administration and staff, and we're in a position right now to pass
the by-law
this evening.
I'd just like to reiterate that, you know, if it is approved tonight, we
are requesting that the effective date be September 15th, so administration and staff
can set up proper financial accounting requirements and just interpretation of the by-law when
whenever we're evaluating development applications. The by-law is good for five years. After five
years an amendment to the background study would have to take place for subsequent amendments or
of council wishes to repeal it prior to the five years with an amendment to the background
study if we're going to add additional charges.
So the by-law is as presented this evening and self-stormant will be able to start recovering
capital costs associated with future anticipated group.
Okay, thank you.
Go ahead, councilor Vino.
Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Through you, a question for Director Doyle. Have we received any further feedback that Council ought to be aware of since our June 8 meeting?
Through you, Mr. Mayor, we have not any other questions.
I just want to say that over the years, a lot of councils in different municipalities are very leery of introducing this type of charge.
But it's come to a point now and now development industrial and commercial and well not so much commercial but residential
That's a it's time that we all set the cost to the taxpayer for all these extra
Will be cost for services and everything else like that. So this is a I think something that's really needed here in this
Simulity we have no other choice. So it's gonna be a more money in our coffers and it's gonna be less to the taxpayer
And that's what I think was about.
So I'm happy that we didn't call on the vote yet,
but I'm happy to support this, too, for sure.
Is there any other comments?
Again, nothing?
All right.
All in favor, please carry it, thank you.
Thanks, Carl.
And just before there was little to none
in terms of the public opinion on this,
I didn't, we didn't hear very much with this at all, this introduction of development charges.
We did receive some commentary from stakeholders, which was positive, and we did receive some commentary from the public, which was positive again,
just for the record.
All right, we're going to move to committee announcements or updates, reports, anything anybody wants to bring up?
I think, okay, because of other meetings, future meetings coming up.
So we have, the next item is new business.
And we have Mr. or Deputy Mayor, Mr. Smith is going to see you make a comment on this.
Yeah, thank you, through you Mayor.
It's kind of a good news story, I'm hoping everyone will agree.
I was contacted recently by one of our residents and he's very proud to inform me that
but his mother is turning 100 years old this week.
And I was wondering if we had a policy in place to recognize their age and
the residency in our township.
It's been done before, but it hasn't been done for a while, like a lot of other things.
So I was hoping and so is this person that we can invite this century lady to our meeting in August.
and wore her with the certificate and acknowledged her 100 years on this planet.
I think it would be a good, feel good story for a lot of stuff that we've gone through in the last couple years.
And I believe it's something that we could probably do more often if people let us know about their relatives.
I'm hoping to get support from Council on this.
I'm seeing a lot of nods, I was mentioning to David, or to, I'm depending on Smith, a few
times I was asked to go to the nursing home and bring a certificate and sit down and talk
to them, you know, the whoever's, and more than once sometimes.
And it was really nice, and I'll tell you, you learn a lot by listening to somebody that's
reached a hundred years old, believe me.
And you asked them questions, you learn a lot by listening to my grandfather, he was 93.
three, and he, you know, we're making 24 cents an hour working up and getting
out in the logs. A lot of people, you know, thinks that you hear, you don't
normally hear from your parents even. So it's a, yeah, I'd be really happy to
support that bringing her here.
It might add to, I'm also very happy to say that this lady is able to come
here and receive the award. I see her at many of the dinners that the church has
put on and she is pretty active for 100 years old, I hope I'm like that when I'm 70.
I hope you are too.
Anyway, if this is something we can do, I think we have a letter or a certificate to just have to have the name.
I can get the name of the lady, the individual, and invite them to our next meeting or we can have staff and reach out.
I can get through the information.
Okay, Debbie.
Sorry, Mr. Mayor, through you.
I think it would be appropriate for a formal invitation
to go out that we could actually produce
to make it a little more special
if the lady is physically capable of attending here,
as opposed to being a little more informed
as typically many people are at that age.
So we could do a formal invitation from the mayor
And then have the certificate and what not that we produce available here for a formal presentation.
For next month, I think it's the 17th of August.
And would you like me to give the information so that you can formally invite them?
Yes, please.
I will do that this week.
Thank you.
Yesterday I was passing, somebody was 99 on a tractor cutting the grass with a flailer.
I couldn't believe it, it took us head off big way, 99 years old, it's amazing.
I hope he's here next year to visit council, okay Dave.
Now we're going to move into a close session.
We have a motion in the recent way, we're moving into close, would you read it please?
Boothed by Councillor Woods, seconded by Councillor Gato.
that Council has provided in section 239-2 of the Municipal Act 2001 move into a closed meeting at 6.57 p.m. to address a matter pertaining to litigation or potential litigation and advice that a subject to solicitor client privilege, specifically Ontario land tribunal files, and a proposed or pending acquisition or disposition of land by the municipality, specifically potential sale of land.
Thank you, Mr. Mayor.
All the directors with the exception of the Director of Planning and Building are excused.
I'm sorry, Cindy, you too.
I
think we're good, Mr. Mayor.
Okay, thank you very much.
We're going to reconvene into an open session.
We have a motion for that, please.
Moved by Councillor McKisak, seconded by Deputy Mayor Smith, that Council rise from the
close meeting at 7.22 p.m. and report.
All in favor of the motion?
Carried.
We have another motion for the report.
Yes.
Moved by Councillor Gando, seconded by Deputy Mayor Smith,
that the recommendations contained in the confidential reports
concerning the Ontario land tribunal files and potential sale
of land be adopted.
All in favor of the motion?
Carried.
Next, we have a confirmation of by-law, by-law number 2022-58.
Moved by Deputy Mayor Smith, seconded by Councillor Gainesau, that by-law number 2022-58
to adopt, confirm, and ratify matters dealt with by resolution, be read and passed in open
counsel signed and sealed this 13th day of July 2022.
All in favor?
Carried?
Last motion for adjournment.
Moved by Councillor Woods, seconded by Councillor McKisic, that Councillor
adjourn this meeting at 7.23 p.m. and return to the call of the chair.
All in favor.
Motion is carried. Thank you.
Thanks, everyone.
Long meeting.