REPORT ON COUNCIL
November 1 and 14, 2016
Committee of the Whole Meeting November 1: 9 a.m. – 4:35 p.m.; November 14: 9 a.m. – 6:34 p.m.
Regular Meeting November 1: 6:10 p.m. – 6:49 p.m.; November 14: 7 p.m. – 7:22 p.m.
Mayor George Cornell, Deputy Mayor Steffen Walma, Councillors Cindy Hastings, Richard Hinton and Gibb Wishart all present at both meetings on November 1, 2016. Cindy Hastings absent for the November 14 Committee of the Whole Meeting
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Wyevale Santa Claus Parade, December 3, 2016, 6-8 p.m.
CLOSED MEETING INVESTIGATOR:
According to the Municipal Act a person may request an investigation of a municipality’s compliance with the Act with regard to in camera session(s) in the course of a meeting. The Act gives the municipality the authority to appoint an independent investigator to look into closed meetings if need be. The shared service agreement with the County of Simcoe for the closed meeting investigator services of JGM Consulting expires as of December 31, 2016. The Township could once again participate in a shared service agreement (which has become more expensive), or, if it doesn’t appoint its own closed meeting investigator, the Ontario Ombudsman would provide this service at no cost. Council decided to use the Ombudsman.
CORPORATE INSURANCE RFP RESULTS:
Council decided to accept Treasurer Doug Taylor’s recommendation of BFL Canada as the Township’s new service provider effective January 1, 2017. Volunteer Firemen’s Insurance Services is to continue to provide coverage for the Township’s volunteer firefighters.
PILOT PARKING REVIEW:
On November 1, after discussing a comprehensive report by Steve Harvey, the Township’s Chief Municipal Law Enforcement Officer, Council felt that the pilot parking strategy (conversion of open parking to permit parking) was generally a success and that it should be expanded throughout the Township as deemed appropriate. Requests for inclusion from areas unhappy at being left out of the pilot parking strategy should be satisfied by this decision. Various matters connected with parking are to be discussed at subsequent meetings.
ADDITIONS TO THE MUNICIPAL HERITAGE REGISTER:
These are:
296 Tiny Beaches Road North, a cottage constructed in 1882 in Lafontaine, relocated to Cawaja Beach in 1931, often rented by A.Y. Jackson.
4130 Crossland Road, a house (constructed in 1890 and 1891 in Gothic Revival style) and barn (constructed in 1884), originally two houses and two barns, joined in 1910.
MAJOR BEACH PARKS:
The discussion was informed by Council’s observations during its September tour of major beach parks. On November 14, it raised the wide-ranging issue of consistency of management of the five major beach parks, and then focussed its attention on Lafontaine Beach Park. As beach density is a major concern, Council asked for a copy of the Lafontaine Beach Master Plan as well as information about beach density.
Discussion of the major beach parks is to be an ongoing agenda item, allowing each park to be discussed individually.
RANKED BALLOTS:
The Province recently passed a Regulation under the Municipal Elections Act, 1996, which sets out the provisions for the use of ranked ballots. After considering Deputy Clerk Sue Walton’s Report on the matter, Council decided not to use the Ranked Ballot method of voting in the 2018 Municipal Election.
