Council adopts Northeast Town OP

Council carried a motion to adopt the Northeast Town Official Plan (OP).

The Northeast Town council also carried motion requesting that the minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing approve the town’s OP “as quickly as possible since the ministry’s ‘pre-consultation’ process was followed.” The second motion also requested that the minister confirm that the OP will be the stand-alone plan for the Northeast Town and that the municipality will not be included within, or be subject to the Manitoulin Official Plan, prepared by the Manitoulin Planning Board (MPB). As well, the motion requested that the minister confirm that the Northeast Town become the approval authority for consent applications and subdivisions within the municipality.

Water and sewer rates

Council passed the increased water and sewer rates for the Northeast Town.

The new rates will mean an increase to the Sheguiandah water rate by four percent, which will be an annual increase to the base cost at $45.10 or $11.27 quarterly.

The Little Current water rate will also increase by four percent, increasing the annual base rate by $15.23 or $3.81 quarterly.

Staff also recommended that the $500 water/sewer account limit be reduced to $400.

“Staff has had this discussion a number of times and it is the same 20-25 people who are floating the line,” explained Mr. Williamson.

Mr. Williamson added that staff work with individuals to help get their bill down, and by lowering the limit to $400 it will help deal with the debt load and interest that people are accruing.

Councillor Dawn Orr said that she would support the reduction because she felt less debt would be easier on people.

Councillor Erskine and Melissa Peters were concerned that the change would affect residents who are already struggling with their finances.

A motion to reduce the water/sewer limit to $400 was carried by council.

Water treatment plan

Council reviewed the Little Current water treatment plant annual Ministry of Environment inspection report. They also reviewed and carried motions to accept both the Little Current and Sheguiandah water treatment plant annual report from the Ontario Clean Water Agency.

Arial imagery

The Northeast Town council carried a motion suggesting the finances for Manitoulin aerial imagery proposed by the Manitoulin Planning Board (MPB) come from the MPB reserves.

Airport report

Councillor Marcel Gauthier reviewed the February East Municipal Airport Commission minutes with council.

He said that it was a slow month for the airport because they had to close twice—once due to cold weather and another time due to a storm.

“The rain and snow mix led to equipment breaking down and extra hours spent to clear the runway,” added Councillor Gauthier. “There was also an accident involving an employee who slipped and fell on the ice. He has been off work, but nothing was broken and he should be returning soon.”

Fire report

Northeast Town Fire Chief Darren Bailey reported that there were three calls for service in March.

On March 2 the department responded to a vehicle rollover on Highway 540, but no extrication was required. The fire department also responded to a possible propane leak at the Manitoulin Hotel and Conference Centre, but said it ended up just being a ‘dry trap.’

The last call was on March 13, when the department responded to a backyard bonfire on Meredith Street East.

“We have been getting the grass and bush firefighting equipment ready for the season and all our apparatus and equipment is in good working order,” reported Fire Chief Bailey.

Community services and public works reports

Reid Taylor presented council with the March community services report. He said that the ice schedule is continuing to be busy with rentals at the recreation centre. He also noted that the ice season would continue to April 17 to accommodate a user group request.

“The Panthers season will finish up this month and tryouts will take place April 11 to 15,” said Mr. Taylor. “We will also be hosting the NOHA House League Tournament of Champions March 18 to 20. As well, we have many bookings for three on three tournament teams in late March and early April.”

In terms of the parks and marina, Mr. Taylor said that the buildings and parks are being monitored and that plans for spring openings are being laid out. He also said that facilities and docks are being monitored as the ice thaws.

Public Works Manager Gary May delivered the public works report. He said that with roads, half loading signs are up and effective from March 8 due to the weather change.

“Catch basins and culverts have been cleared and are being monitored for the mild weather conditions,” Mr. May told council. “The infiltration covers have been installed downtown (under the manholes) and patching work on the roads has begun.”

He said that the equipment for cleaning the streets and sidewalks are being worked on to be ready to start sweeping. He added that all public works equipment is working well.

“The water meters will be read at the end of March and a new meter reader has been ordered (at a cost of $10,000),” said Mr. May.

Fire bylaw changes

Fire Chief Bailey presented the community services and public works committee with a new bylaw to authorize the Northeast Town Fire Department to participate in the Manitoulin District Mutual Fire Aid Plan and Program. The committee made a recommendation to council to approve the new bylaw.

The committee also recommended proposed amendments to the Fire Department Establishing and Regulating Bylaw.

Chief Bailey explained to the committee that he went through the bylaw and clarified a few elements and added further definition to some areas.

The changes also identify the core surfaces that the Northeast Town Fire Department offers.

Mr. Williamson explained that this addition is simply for liability purposes and outlines the minimum core services that the department provides, but that often the fire department goes above and beyond the core services when responding to calls.

Councillor Erskine said that he had a problem with some of the wording in the bylaw that states, “No member (of the fire department) may communicate with the press or otherwise hold themselves out a spokesperson for the municipality.”

“This seems a little overkill,” said Councillor Erskine. “I think the fire chief should be able to talk to the media without going through the CAO’s office.”

Mr. Williamson explained that there were always two points of contact for media inquiries—the CAO for staff requests and the mayor for councillors.

He added that there could be potential legal or political implications in some situations which is why this was town policy and outlined in the bylaw.

A bylaw was also recommended to council by the committee, being a bylaw to provide for the regulation of open air burning and precautions to be taken while burning.

Davis and McLay Development

Council reviewed a letter from the Manitoulin Planning Board (MPB), learning that Assiginack Township would like a condition added into the agreement with Davis and McLay for the subdivision on Lake Manitou that the developers hard surface Red Lodge Road.

Mayor Al MacNevin reminded council of its history with Red Lodge Road, which is on the boarder of the Northeast Town and Assiginack Township and maintained by both municipalities. He noted how Assiginack had been pushing for the project for several years, but that the Northeast Town felt the road needed to be rebuilt before it was hard surfaced. “It is on our list of roads that require work, but it is not a priority at this time,” said Mayor MacNevin.

He added that the developers have already “struggled for two years for this project to go through and now they (Assiginack) wanted to add another condition on top of that.”

Council carried a motion that they objected to the Red Lodge Road condition being added to the agreement with Davis and McLay.