The Corporation of the Township of Billings
Council Minutes
Feb 22nd, 2011
Council of the Corporation of
The Township of Billings
Regular Meeting
February 22, 2011
PRESENT:
Mayor Austin Hunt, Councillors Kim Bilbija, Sandi Hurcomb, Tom
Imrie and Brian Parker.
STAFF:
Kathy McDonald, Clerk Treasurer.
MEDIA: Tom
Sasvari
2011-045
Hurcomb- Imrie
BE IT
RESOLVED THAT this regular meeting of the Council of the Corporation of
the Township of Billings be opened with a quorum present at 7:30 p.m.
with Mayor Austin Hunt presiding in the Chair.
Carried
2011-046
Imrie - Hurcomb
BE IT
RESOLVED THAT Council accepts the minutes of the February 1, 2011
regular meeting as presented.
Carried
Councillor
Imrie reported on the POA Committee meeting that he attended. Interviews
for part time staff will be March 3, 2011
Councillor
Hurcomb reported on the Recreation Committee Meeting on February
16. Ball Hockey tournament
is to be held March 12.
Councillor
Hurcomb reported on the Billings Waste Management Committee meeting.
Councillor
Hurcomb reported on the January 18th Library Board meeting.
Councillor
Bilbija reported on the February 7th Museum Board meeting.
They are seeking grant money for new projects. Next meeting February 28.
Mayor Hunt
reported that he had many letters from organizations asking for
donations.
Mayor Hunt
reported on the FONOM meeting that he attended.
Mayor Hunt
reported on the Island Wide Waste Management Meeting that he attended.
Mayor Hunt
reported on the Fish and Game Club meeting that he and Councillor Imrie
attended on February 5.
Mayor Hunt
reported that on Friday February 18, when the power was out, he received
a number of phone call from someone with no heat. Mayor Hunt suggested
that we should have a list of people that should be called and checked
on in the event of a power outage.
2011-047
Hurcomb-Imrie
BE IT
RESOLVED THAT Council accepts the Trillium Grant Application, as
presented and supports its submission as amended.
Carried
Discussion on
having Safety Protocols in place for the Power Generating Station so
that in the event of an emergency the dam can be closed and the
generating station shut off.
2011-048
Imrie – Parker
WHEREAS the
Lake Huron Management Unit requires the Gore Bay Hatchery to have an
Environmental Assessment completed before allowing the said Hatchery to
access Rainbow Trout eggs from Normandale Fish Culture Station,
AND
WHEREAS at a
meeting in Sudbury on March 31, 2010, the LHMU offered to complete the
EA for us by April, 2011,
HEREBY BE IT
RESOLVED that the Lake Huron Management Unit assist as necessary to
complete the EC process and in the procurement of eggs.
Carried
2011-049
Imrie – Hurcomb
WHEREAS the
sport fishing in Lake Huron has collapsed or is on the verge of collapse
and is crucial to the economic growth of tourism in our area,
AND WHEREAS
the OMNR is proposing a Lake Huron Rehabilitation Plan which will not
meaningfully benefit Manitoulin and the North Shore Communities and will
not create a World Class Sports Fishery in our area,
THEREFORE BE
IT RESOLVED THAT
a) serious
review of the Plan be made by Minister Linda Jeffrey,
b) the
Minister of Natural Resources, Linda Jeffrey, be asked that the proposed
LTR Plan be revised for this area and a new plan, with emphasis on a
diversified species approach, replace the proposed plan.
Carried
Discussion on
bulk water rates. Clerk instructed to look into costs of producing water
and cost of coin operated metered fill system.
WHEREAS volunteer
firefighters serve 93% of Ontario communities;
AND WHEREAS
fire apparatus and equipment is prohibitively expensive to purchase and
maintain;
AND WHEREAS
recruitment and retention of
volunteer firefighters in small communities has become difficult due to
aging populations, financial demands on families, and migration to urban
centres for economic reasons;
AND WHEREAS
ongoing and rapid advancements in vehicle technology, building
construction, and communications equipment require considerable and
often expensive equipment upgrades and training to provide up to date
quality emergency services;
AND WHEREAS
volunteer fire departments respond to many of the same calls as police
and ambulance, but without the same provincial support;
AND WHEREAS the 2005
Fire Service Grant provided one-time funding that was both needed and
appreciated;
AND WHEREAS
the ability of volunteer fire services to provide a consistent quality of
service is impacted by the ability of individual communities to fund
necessary equipment and training;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Council of the Corporation of the
Township of Billings requests that the government of Ontario develop a
strategy to provide ongoing supplementary funding and support for the
volunteer fire service;
AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Council of the Corporation of the
Township of Billings requests that the government of Ontario implement
this strategy to promote a consistent level of fire service to all
residents and travellers across Ontario.
Carried
2011-051
Hurcomb - Imrie
BE IT
RESOLVED THAT Council supports the application for funding under the
OSWAP 3 program (Ontario Small Waterworks Assistance Program).
Carried
Discussion on
Sudbury Shrine Clubs request for a key to the landfill site.
Decision made that no keys will be given out.
Manitoulin
Streams sent a letter requesting a donation. To be reviewed with budget.
Ontrace has
started a Pilot Project for enhancing Emergency Management Capabilities
regarding traceability of farm products. It was decided not to
participate at this time.
Discussion on
Paul Darlaston’s letter regarding Billings Strategic Plan.
2011-052
BE IT
RESOLVED THAT Council authorizes the following accounts for payment
General Accounts
$95,183.50
And that the
Mayor and Treasurer be authorized to sign cheques number 9688 to 9728
as described in the attached register.
Carried
2011-053
Parker - Bilbija
BE IT
RESOLVED THAT By-Law 2011-09, being a by-law to confirm the proceedings
of Council be given 1st, 2nd and 3rd
reading and enacted.
Carried
2011-054
Bilbija - Parker
BE IT
RESOVLED THAT this regular meeting of Council be adjourned until our
next regular meeting of March 1, 2011, or Call of the Chair.
Carried
_____________________________________
________________________________
Austin Hunt,
Mayor
Kathy McDonald, Clerk Treasurer
02/24/11:km
These minutes
have been prepared but are not considered official until approved by
council at a subsequent meeting.