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Council Highlights - August 22, 2022

 
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Posted Thursday, August 25, 2022
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Combined Committee of the Whole & Council Meeting - August 22, 2022

Committee of the Whole - Staff Reports 

2022 Compensation Review for Elected Officials

Marianne Love of ML Consulting presented the 2022 Compensation Review for Elected Officials. Marianne found that the pay compensation for Mayor, Deputy Mayor and Councillor is below the 50th and 60th percentile of local municipal comparators. It was also found that benefits align with comparators, but additional per diem payments do not align with other comparator municipalities. The Committee received the presentation as information with any salary changes to be brought forward to 2023 Budget discussions.

Ramara Industrial Park Procedures for Sale of lots

The Township repurchased seven acres of land in accordance with the Option to Repurchase outlined in the original Agreement of Purchase of Sale. With the available lands and a large wait list, staff suggest a tender process would be best suited as a method of sale. Staff are also proposing a price adjustment of $105,000 per acre due to the increased infrastructure costs, market value, and staff time. Committee approved to proceed with a tender for the sale with an established minimum price of $105,00 per acre.

Mid-Year Priorities and Financial Review

Manon Higgins, Director of Finance/Treasurer, provided a Mid-Year Financial review highlighting the department's budgeted and actual expenses as of June 30, 2022. Some departments' actual expenses are lower due to capital projects occurring from summer to fall; the Township will not incur those expenses until August-September. The Township's tax receivables are slowly decreasing, with no properties scheduled to be sold through a tax sale this year. Please note that the current year's tax receivable breakdown incorporates September tax installment payments due September 26. As well, the Township reserves are shown to be decreasing due to capital projects from 2020 and 2021 being moved to 2022.

Zach Drinkwalter, CAO, provided a Mid-Year Priorities review of the Township's strategic priorities and initiatives. The presentation outlined 26 priorities that were originally presented to Council in March of 2022, with the addition of five new priorities that the Council added throughout the year.

Committee approved receiving both presentations as information.

Rooted in Ramara - Seed Library Program

Justine Bayne, Recreation and Community Services Supervisor presented 'Rooted in Ramara' - a seed library that community members and families could access. The program will begin in the late summer/early fall and, with help from the community, collect seeds for the Seed Library. The Recreation Department would keep the collected seeds over the winter and, in the spring, advertise the seed library to the community. Committee approved to implement the 'Rooted in Ramara' Seed Library Program in the fall of 2022. More information to come.

Council Committees - Terms of Reference

The re-examination of Council Boards and Committee has resulted in the terms of reference for each Board or Committee being updated to ensure consistency. Today, Committee reviewed the Community Safety Council, Youth Action Council, Trails and Economic Development Committees' Terms of Reference. All four Committees, will have a staff representative on them, with staff completing the agenda and minutes, Committee members will include residents and non-residents.

Bayshore Village Inflow and Infiltration (I & I) Reduction Program Project - Update 2

The Director of Infrastructure provided a project status update on the Bayshore Village Inflow and Infiltration reduction program that was presented to the Committee of the Whole on March 14, 2022.

Currently, the Township, with support from OCWA, is in Step 1 - identifying sources of I & I, which is composed of field investigations to determine where excess flows are entering the system and whether the flows are due to groundwater or rainwater. As part of the process, visual property inspections will occur at private properties between August 15 to September 1, which include an outside inspection and an inside visual inspection at the sump pump. Once Step 1 is complete and all information is analyzed, a report will come to Council with a Mitigation and Implementation Plan.

Planning Application Update

Deb McCabe, Planning Supervisor/Zoning Administrator, provided an update on active planning applications, proposed planning applications, and an update on the activities with Committee of Adjustment applications. When reviewing various planning applications, Council and staff brought up the concern with the Layzee Acres (File SP - 7/21 - 5511 Highway 12) application as MTO will not grant an entrance off of Highway 12 and requests the entrance be from Concession Road 11. As the collision rate is higher in the area, the Committee requested a meeting with the Ministry of Transportation regarding their concerns about not allowing an entrance off Highway 12.

Infrastructure Tender - Winter Snowplowing and Winter Sand

Committee approved a contract with Dufferin Construction Company, a division of CRH Canada Group Inc., to supply three combination snow plows for a term of three years with an option to extend another two years if the Contractor and Township agree on satisfactory work. 

Committee approved to contract with Duivenvoorden Haulage Limited to supply, deliver, and mix washed Granite Screenings to be used as winter sand for the 2022/2023 season at a bid price of $102,850.00 plus taxes.

Switch Road - Tree Cutting in Road Allowance 

A request was made to Council to clear trees in the unopened road allowance of Switch Road from the intersection of Switch Road and McMillian Sideroad west to the Black River to re-install a decommissioned hydro service. To re-install the hydro service, the property owner is responsible for getting permission from the Township with all required Contractor information and insurance and
hiring a contractor to complete the tree clearing to Hydro One's specifications. Hydro will then install two 40-foot poles at Switch Road and the Black River and the second on the island. However, due to the Zoning (Environmental Protection) and designation (Greenlands), the Township is awaiting information from the County of Simcoe to understand if any studies would be needed before trees are removed. Committee approved receiving this report as information.

Council - Mayor and CAO Remarks

Mayor Clarke opened up the meeting and reported that Bill (William) Hill, a flyrock expert and blasting engineer who provided evidence and testimonials during the Township's hearing with Fowler Construction, passed away recently. On behalf of the Council, Mayor Clarke extended his sincere condolences to his family and thanked Bill for all his hard work and commitment to his quarry work and the local community.

The Mayor Clarke, Deputy Mayor Gough and CAO Drinkwalter attended a grand opening of Spray-Net, a local business located in Ramara near Highway 12 and Balsam Road. Also, Mayor Clarke reported that he attended the ribbon-cutting in Mara Shores for the North Toronto Centurions Motorcycle Club's Annual Cruisin' for the Cause charity ride. The ride took place on Saturday, August
20, and raised $23,000 for Sick Kids Hospital.

Deputy Mayor Gough reported that Councillor Fisher, Councillor Hetherington, CAO Drinkwalter and himself attended AMO 2022 Annual General Meeting and Conference in Ottawa last week and had several positive meetings with Provincial Ministers.

Deputy Mayor Gough, Councillor Hetherington, Councillor Lamb and Councillor Fisher attended the Township Staff versus Ramara Fire baseball game that occurred last week after hours at the Brechin Ballpark.

Council - Presentations & Deputations

Goose Management Committee

On behalf of the Lagoon City Goose Management Committee, Tom Hart provided an overview of the issues and negative impact geese are having on the Lagoon City community. The Committee is requesting that the Township pursue a Goose Management Program for Lagoon City with staff completing the necessary research feasibility report that will implement an action plan before the February 2023 end date. Council approved for staff to conduct the required research and feasibility report.

Chamber of Commerce

Melodie Stone, Administrator for the Chamber of Commerce, and Roger Selman, member on the Board of Directors, presented an overview of what the Chamber of Commerce does for businesses and the community, organizations and charities it supports and their 2017-2022 financial comparison. Due to COVID-19, the Ramara Chamber of Commerce is seeking $20,000 in financial support to help alleviate the financial strain they are currently facing. Council approved to provide $10,000 in support right away and requested staff create a report on how the additional $10,000 can be supported through COVID-19 relief funds.

Consent Agenda

Thank You!

Thank you to Mary Miller and Sandra Rutledge for their time and dedication to the Trails Committee.

Bills and Bylaws

Joint Compliance Audit Committee

With local municipalities including Ramara, the County of Simcoe formed a Joint Compliance Audit Committee to review compliance audit applications submitted by an elector who believes on reasonable grounds that a candidate or third part advertiser has contravened the provisions of the Municipal Elections Act relating to campaign or advertising finances.


 

View the full Council Highlights document on our Council Highlights page, and remember to subscribe to receive all updates by email.

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Melissa Gowanlock
Manager of Communications & Community Experience
2297 Highway 12, PO Box 130, Brechin, ON, L0K 1B0
T. 705-484-5374 ext. 322
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2297 Hwy 12, PO Box 130
Brechin ON L0K 1B0

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