Sep 11, 2023 City Council

[00:00:11]

GOOD EVENING. WELCOME TO THE REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING FOR THE CORPORATION OF THE CITY OF ELLIOT LAKE.

[1. CALL TO ORDER]

I'LL CALL TO ORDER.

ROLL CALL.

ALL MEMBERS ARE PRESENT.

DECLARATIONS OF CONFLICT OF INTEREST.

[3. DECLARATIONS OF CONFLICT OF INTEREST]

THANK YOU, YOUR WORSHIP. I'D LIKE TO DECLARE ON ITEM 16.1 BYLAW 2382 IN RESPECT TO A CONTRACT RENEWAL WITH MY EMPLOYER DECLARING AN INDIRECT PECUNIARY INTEREST.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COUNCILLOR MANN.

ARE THERE ANY OTHER CONFLICTS? GOING ONCE. GOING TWICE.

THERE ARE NONE.

ADOPTION OF PREVIOUS MINUTES.

[4. ADOPTION OF PREVIOUS MINUTES]

COUNCILLOR BULL.

DO WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS HERE? OKAY. SEEING NONE.

WE'LL TAKE A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR? NONE ARE OPPOSED. AND THAT IS PASSED.

FOR PUBLIC INPUT TONIGHT, WE DO HAVE AN EMAIL FROM CLAIRE NOLAN CONCERNING OUR DATE FOR THE SANTA CLAUS

[5. PUBLIC INPUT SESSION]

AND SHE'S OFFERING UP SOME TIME, MAYBE THE FIRST WEEK OF DECEMBER WOULD BE BETTER TO SPREAD OUT THESE EVENTS FOR HER SO WE CAN DISCUSS THAT WHEN WE GET TO ITEM, IT'S 8.1.

SORRY. AND I BELIEVE THERE ARE NO FURTHER PUBLIC INPUT SESSIONS.

THERE ARE NO PUBLIC PRESENTATIONS TONIGHT.

[7. INTRODUCTION AND CONSIDERATION OF CORPORATE REPORTS]

ITEM 7.1 REPORT FROM THE ACTING DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS REGARDING THE EXTENSION TO RFP 2 16-01 FOR CONVENTIONAL TRANSIT SERVICES.

MAY I HAVE A MOTION THAT COUNCIL APPROVE A 5% ONE YEAR CONTRACT EXTENSION TO RFP 216-01 FOR CONVENTIONAL TRANSIT SERVICES UNTIL AUGUST 31ST, 2024, WITH AJ BUS LINES LIMITED AND THAT COUNCIL PASSED THE APPROPRIATE BYLAW TO ENTER INTO A CONTRACT WITH AJ BUS LINES LIMITED TO PROVIDE CONVENTIONAL TRANSIT SERVICES FOR THE PERIOD FROM SEPTEMBER 1ST, 2023 TO AUGUST 31ST, 2024.

MOVER PLEASE COUNCILLOR MANN.

SECONDER COUNCILLOR SEIDEL.

MR. GOULDING, PLEASE.

THANK YOU. THROUGH YOU YOUR WORSHIP.

FAIRLY STRAIGHTFORWARD REPORT IN FRONT OF COUNCIL TONIGHT.

VERY SIMILAR TO ONE THAT WE ENGAGED IN WITH SPECIALIZED TRANSIT SERVICES AT OUR LAST COUNCIL MEETING THAT WE HAD.

AJ BUS LINES IS IF WE WERE TO EXTEND THIS CONTRACT LOOKING FOR AN INCREASE TO COVER ESCALATING COSTS FOR THE SERVICE AND STAFF IS RECOMMENDING THAT WE MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS FOR ONE YEAR EXTENSION SO THAT WE HAVE TIME TO COMPLETE THE TRANSIT REVIEW THAT WE HAVE PROCURED A VENDOR TO UNDERTAKE FOR US.

OKAY. THANK YOU.

ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? COUNCILLOR FLINTOFF.

THANK YOU. YOUR WORSHIP THROUGH YOU TO MR. GOULDING. JUST ON YOUR BACKGROUND NOTES.

THE $900,000 IN THIS ICIP FUNDING OR WHAT? DID WE GET THAT MONEY YET OR IS THAT AN ONGOING PROCESS? THANK YOU. THROUGH YOU, YOUR WORSHIP.

SO MY UNDERSTANDING OF THE PROGRAM IS AND I'M ABOUT TO LEARN THIS INTIMATELY IS THAT WE'VE BEEN ALLOCATED THAT THAT AMOUNT IN APPROVALS.

AND AS WE ACCRUE EXPENSES AGAINST THE IDENTIFIED ELIGIBLE ACTIVITIES, INCLUDING THE TRANSIT STUDY, INCLUDING THE PURCHASE OF THE BUSSES THAT WE DID LAST SPRING, NOT THIS, THIS IS OPERATIONAL, BUT IN TERMS OF IMPROVEMENTS TO THE TRANSIT SYSTEM, WE CAN APPLY TO HAVE THAT THOSE EXPENSES REIMBURSED BY THIS FUNDING PROGRAM.

OKAY. JUST TO FOLLOW UP, SO ON YOUR BACKGROUND, YOU ALSO MENTIONED THE WORD BUS SHELTER.

SO SOME OF OUR BUS SHELTERS ARE PRETTY DECREPIT LOOKING.

HAVE WE ORDERED ANY BUS SHELTERS YET OR ARE YOU WAITING FOR THE FULL TRANSIT REVIEW? YES, THROUGH YOU, YOUR WORSHIP, I THINK IT MAKES SENSE TO HAVE THE REVIEW DONE FIRST BECAUSE THERE COULD BE CHANGES TO ROUTES.

[00:05:06]

WE DON'T KNOW IF WE START REPLACING THINGS, WE MAY HAVE TO RELOCATE THEM.

SO IT MAKES SENSE TO GET THROUGH THAT PROCESS SO THAT WE CAN DO WHAT'S RECOMMENDED IN THE TRANSIT STUDY.

OKAY. THANK YOU.

ARE THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? WHEN IS THE DEADLINE FOR US TO APPLY FOR THIS OR IS THERE? THANK YOU. YOU MEAN THE ICIP FUNDING? SO WE'VE ALREADY MADE THE APPLICATION AND WE'VE ALREADY BEEN APPROVED.

AND SO NOW WE'RE OBLIGATED TO ADMINISTER THE PROGRAM ACCORDING TO THE AGREEMENT THAT'S IN PLACE WITH THE ICIP FUNDING PROGRAM.

AND SO THAT INVOLVES REGULAR REPORTING ON OUR ACTIVITIES OF WHICH WE'VE HAD.

FRANKLY, VERY LITTLE, BECAUSE IN TERMS OF WHAT THEY WANT FOR REPORTING IS WHEN WE'VE PUT MONEY OUT THE DOOR.

AND SO WE HAVEN'T PAID FOR OUR CONSULTANTS YET FOR THE WE'VE ENTERED A CONTRACT, BUT WE HAVEN'T REALIZED THE TRANSIT STUDY AND HAVEN'T PUT THAT MONEY OUT THE DOOR.

WE'VE ORDERED BUSSES, BUT WE HAVEN'T PUT THAT MONEY OUT THE DOOR YET.

SO AS WE ACCRUE RECEIPTS TO SUBMIT TO THE PROGRAM, THEN WE GET THAT MONEY BACK.

OKAY. THANK YOU.

COUNCILLOR MORRISSETTE ARE YOU, MR. CHAIR, FOR MR. GOULDING? THIS ICIP FUNDING, WHICH FISCAL YEAR ARE WE LOOKING AT? IS A JANUARY TO DECEMBER OR IS IT THE GOVERNMENT FISCAL YEAR? THANK YOU. THROUGH YOU, YOUR WORSHIP.

THAT'S ACTUALLY A REALLY GOOD QUESTION BECAUSE THIS PROGRAM IS KIND OF BLENDED FUNDING THAT HAPPENS FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND THE PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT.

THE PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT IS ADMINISTERING THIS FUNDING ON BEHALF OF BOTH ENTITIES.

SO IT'S CALENDAR YEAR.

THE PROVINCE RUNS ON A CALENDAR YEAR, JANUARY THROUGH TO DECEMBER, AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT RUNS THROUGH MARCH 30TH OR APRIL 1ST TO MARCH 31ST.

SO THERE IS A DISCONTINUITY THERE, BUT THE PROVINCE IS ADMINISTERING THIS THROUGH THEIR AUTOMATED GRANT ADMINISTRATION SYSTEM.

SO EVERYTHING'S HAPPENING CALENDAR YEAR AND THEY DO THE RECONCILIATION FOR US.

FOLLOW UP, FOLLOW UP QUESTIONS.

WHAT HAPPENS IF WE DON'T SPEND ALL THAT MONEY OR DOES IT ROLL OVER THE NEXT YEAR OR DO WE LOSE OUT? THANK YOU. THROUGH YOU, YOUR WORSHIP, IT'S A PROJECT BASED FUNDING ALLOCATION.

SO IF WE DON'T END UP ACCRUING THAT MUCH EXPENSE, THEN I WOULD PRESUME THAT IT WOULD BE REALLOCATED TO SOMEONE ELSE THAT WAS OR IT WOULD BE FLOWED BACK TO THE PROVINCE AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT RESPECTIVELY, TO BE USED SOMEHOW BY EITHER PARTY.

OKAY. THANK YOU. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? OKAY. SEEING NONE.

ALL IN FAVOR.

NONE ARE OPPOSED. AND THAT IS CARRIED.

7.2 REPORT FROM THE DIRECTOR OF CLERK'S AND PLANNING SERVICES REGARDING FREEDOM OF INFORMATION 02-23.

AS THIS MATTER DEALS WITH THE REQUEST UNDER THE MUNICIPAL FREEDOM OF INFORMATION AND PROTECTION OF PRIVACY ACT, IT SHALL BE DISCUSSED IN CLOSED SESSION AS PER SECTION 2393A OF THE MUNICIPAL ACT.

WE HAVE A MOTION THAT THIS MATTER BE DISCUSSED IN CLOSED SESSION.

MOVER COUNCILLOR BULL SECONDER.

COUNCILLOR FLINTOFF.

ALL IN FAVOR? NONE ARE OPPOSED. AND THAT IS CARRIED.

ITEM 7.3 MEMO FROM THE ACTING DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS REGARDING ARENA INSPECTION UPDATE.

MAY I HAVE A MOTION THAT THE MEMO FROM THE ACTING DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS BE RECEIVED? MOVER. COUNCILOR MANN SECONDED.

COUNCILLOR SEIDEL.

MR. GOULDING, PLEASE.

YEAH. ANOTHER FAIRLY STRAIGHTFORWARD MEMO, JUST INFORMATIONAL.

THE INSPECTION COMMENCED TODAY.

WE'RE WAITING FOR SOME INPUT BACK FROM THE CONSULTANTS THAT WERE HIRED TO DO THE INSPECTION AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING WHAT THEY'RE SAYING.

ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? COUNCILLOR MORRISSETTE.

THROUGH YOU, MR. CHAIR.

MR. GOULDIND DID THEY HAVE AN IDEA OF WHEN WE WERE GOING TO GET A RESULT BACK FROM THE THESE TESTS? YEAH. THANK YOU. THROUGH YOU, YOUR WORSHIP, WE'RE LOOKING FOR A RESPONSE FROM THEM FAIRLY SHORTLY, SO WE SHOULD HAVE SOME GUIDANCE ON HOW TO MOVE FORWARD FAIRLY SHORTLY IS WHAT I'M EXPECTING. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS?

[00:10:06]

THEY HAVE ANOTHER DAY FOR INSPECTION SO.

OKAY. SEEING NO OTHER COMMENTS, I'LL HAVE A VOTE.

ALL IN FAVOR? NONE ARE OPPOSED. AND THAT IS CARRIED.

ITEM 7.4 MEMO FROM THE MANAGER OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT REGARDING PHASE TWO ENVIRONMENTAL STUDY 80 DIEPPE AVENUE.

MAY I HAVE A MOTION THAT THE MEMO FROM THE MANAGER OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT BE RECEIVED? A MOVER. COUNCILLOR FLINTOFF SECONDED.

COUNCILLOR MORRISSETTE.

MR. ANTUNES, PLEASE.

THANK YOU YOUR WORSHIP THROUGH YOU.

GOOD EVENING, MEMBERS OF COUNCIL.

THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY, AS ALWAYS, TO PRESENT.

THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WAS SET TO GO TO THE LAST COUNCIL BUT WASN'T OVERLY PRESSING.

WE HAD THE PHASE TWO COMPLETED FOR 80 DIEPPE AVENUE, WHICH OF COURSE NOW IS HAS A FOR SALE SIGN ON IT AND WE'RE ACCEPTING BIDS AND LETTERS OF INTEREST UNTIL I SHOULD SAY LETTERS OF INTEREST TILL THE END OF SEPTEMBER.

BUT THIS IS TIED INTO THE PHASE TWO ENVIRONMENTAL THAT WAS COMPLETED.

AND QUOTING THE STUDY BASED ON THE REVIEW AND EVALUATION OF THE RESULTS OF THE PHASE TWO ESSAY, IT'S BEEN DETERMINED THAT THE SOIL AND GROUNDWATER QUALITY MEET APPROPRIATE TABLE THREE STANDARDS WITHIN THE APEX INVESTIGATED.

THEREFORE, NO FURTHER INVESTIGATION IS REQUIRED FOR THE PHASE TWO PROPERTY AND GREENSTONE RECOMMENDS FILING OF THE RSC FANCY WORDS TO SAY THAT THE LAND IS CLEAN, ABLE TO SELL AND ABLE TO TO OBTAIN AN RSC WHICH IS A RECORD OF SITE CONDITION.

SO IF IT IS GOING TO BE TRANSITIONED FROM COMMERCIAL TO RESIDENTIAL, AN RSC RECORD SITE CONDITION HAS TO BE FILED AND THAT'S FANTASTIC NEWS.

SO FOR ANY PROPONENT THAT WANTS TO PURCHASE 80 DIEPPE FOR USE FOR RESIDENTIAL PURPOSES, IT IS CLEAN AND READY FOR AN RSC.

HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT COUNCIL MAY HAVE.

THANK YOU. MR. ANTUNES.

THAT IS EXCELLENT NEWS.

DO WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? COUNCILLOR FLINTOFF.

THANK YOU. YOUR WORSHIP THROUGH YOU TO MR. ANTUNES. SO THE PREVIOUS PROPONENT THAT WAS LOOKING AT THE LAND AND THEN PULLED BACK BECAUSE OF THE PHASE TWO DIDN'T WANT TO PAY FOR IT, ARE THEY WELL AWARE THAT THIS HAD A PIECE OF PRIME PROPERTY, HAS A CLEAN BILL OF HEALTH? THROUGH YOUR WORSHIP THANK YOU.

COUNCILLOR FLINTOFF. YES, ABSOLUTELY.

THE STAFF OF HAVE CONTACTED ANYONE WHO'S EVER UTTERED THE WORDS 80 DIEPPE IN ANY TYPE OF WITH ANY TYPE OF INTEREST.

WE'VE REACHED OUT TO EVERYONE.

WE'VE PUT IT ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

WE'VE PUT A SIGN ON THE LOT.

SO WHETHER THEY WERE THE PREVIOUS PROPONENT OR ANY OTHER PROPONENT KNOWS THAT 80 DIEPPE IS BACK ON THE MARKET AND HAS A CLEAN BILL OF HEALTH.

SO I THINK IT WAS A GOOD CALL TO ROLL THE DICE AND DO THAT PHASE TWO.

SO NOW WE HAVE A PRETTY GOOD PIECE OF PROPERTY TO SELL.

GOOD WORK. THANK YOU, SIR.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? OKAY. SEEING NONE OF A VOTE.

ALL IN FAVOR. NONE ARE OPPOSED.

AND THAT IS CARRIED.

[8. PRESENTATION OF COMMITTEE REPORTS]

SO THE REPORT FROM THE SPECIAL EVENTS COORDINATOR REGARDING 2023 SANTA CLAUS PARADE AT THE SEPTEMBER 5TH RECREATION AND CULTURE STANDING MEETING, THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION WAS PASSED.

BUT IN LIGHT OF OUR PUBLIC INPUT SESSION, I THINK I'M GOING TO MAKE A MOTION TO DEFER SETTING THE DATE FOR THE SANTA CLAUS PARADE UNTIL THE NEXT MEETING.

MAY I HAVE A MOVER AND A SECONDER FOR THAT? COUNCILLOR FLINTOFF.

COUNCILLOR MANN.

ALL IN FAVOR? AND THEN OPPOSED. AND THAT IS CARRIED.

OKAY. NUMBER 9.

THERE'S NO OUTSIDE BOARD AND COMMITTEE REPORTING.

NUMBER 10.

NO UNFINISHED BUSINESS.

NUMBER 11 PETITIONS.

NONE. NUMBER 12 CORRESPONDENCE.

THERE'S NONE. 13 THERE ARE NO NOTICES OF MOTION 14.

[14. COUNCIL REPORTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS]

THANK YOU, WORSHIP.

I JUST WANTED TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXTEND MY SINCERE CONDOLENCES TO LOUISE FARKOUH AND THE ENTIRE FARKOUH FAMILY ON GEORGE'S PASSING.

I WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER GEORGE FOR HIS YEARS OF SERVICE TO ELLIOT LAKE AND WHAT HE DID FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

HIS SERVICE WAS VERY HIS.

THE SERVICE ON THE WEEKEND WAS VERY FITTING FOR HIM AS A LEADER, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY AS A HUSBAND AND FATHER.

AND HE WILL BE MISSED BY THE COMMUNITY.

SO JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COUNCILLOR MANN.

I DEFINITELY ECHO THOSE FEELINGS.

[00:15:01]

IT WAS SAD BUT APPROPRIATE AND, YOU KNOW, WELL DESERVED.

HE WAS A LEADER FOR OUR COMMUNITY FROM I'M PRETTY SURE HE'S THE LONGEST SERVING MAYOR, RIGHT.

EVER. SO DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS? OKAY. THANK YOU.

THERE ARE NO ADDENDUMS. INTRODUCTION AND CONSIDERATION OF BYLAWS.

[16. INTRODUCTION AND CONSIDERATION OF BY-LAWS]

BEING A BYLAW TO AUTHORIZE AN EXTENSION AGREEMENT WITH HURON LODGE WITH RESPECT TO THE SPECIALIZED TRANSIT SYSTEM.

MAY I HAVE A MOTION THAT BYLAW 23-82 BE PASSED? MOVER. COUNCILOR BULL SECONDED COUNCILOR SEIDEL.

ALL IN FAVOR? NONE ARE OPPOSED.

THAT'S CARRIED.

16.2 BYLAW 23-85 BEING A BYLAW TO AUTHORIZE AN EXTENSION AGREEMENT WITH AJ BUS LINES LIMITED WITH RESPECT TO THE CONVENTIONAL TRANSIT SERVICES, MAY I HAVE A MOTION THAT BYLAW 23-85 BE PASSED? MOVER COUNCILLOR MANN.

SECONDED. COUNCILLOR SEIDEL.

ALL IN FAVOR? AND NONE ARE OPPOSED AND THAT IS CARRIED 17 CLOSED SESSION.

[17. CLOSED SESSION (if applicable)]

MOVER? COUNCILLOR MORRISSETTE SECONDED.

COUNCILLOR BULL ALL IN FAVOR.

AND THAT'S CARRIED.

OKAY. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO COME OUT OF CLOSED SESSION AT THE HOUR OF 7:49? MOVER COUNCILLOR MORRISSETTE SECONDED.

COUNCILLOR FLINTOFF ALL IN FAVOR.

THAT IS PASSED.

MISS BRAY. THANK YOU, YOUR WORSHIP.

SO FOLLOWING CLOSE SESSION WE HAVE PROPOSED RESOLUTION WHEREAS ACCESS REQUEST FOI 02-23 IS ESTIMATED AT AN AMOUNT OF $100 OR MORE.

THE HEAD HEREBY DIRECTS THE CLERK TO COLLECT A DEPOSIT EQUAL TO 50% OF THE ESTIMATE AS OUTLINED IN THE FEE ESTIMATE LETTER DATED SEPTEMBER 8TH, 2023.

THANK YOU. DO WE VOTE? A MOVER AND A SECOND [INAUDIBLE].

THAT'S RIGHT. COUNCILLOR BULL.

COUNCILLOR MORRISSETTE. ALL IN FAVOR AND NONE ARE OPPOSED.

THAT'S CARRIED. 18 CONFIRMATORY BYLAW.

[18. CONFIRMATORY BY-LAW]

MOVER COUNCILLOR MANN SECONDED.

COUNCILLOR SEIDEL.

ALL IN FAVOR? NONE ARE OPPOSED. THAT'S CARRIED.

ADJOURNMENT. MAY I HAVE A MOTION THAT THE MEETING BE ADJOURNED AT THE HOUR OF 9 OR 7:51 P.M..

MOVER COUNCILLOR BULL SECONDED.

COUNCILLOR MORRISSETTE ALL IN FAVOR.

AND THAT'S PASSED.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.