Council Minutes
Regular Meeting February 7, 2006

Present:

Reeve Aus Hunt, Councilors Sharon Alkenbrack, Margaret Tuomi, John Bright and Keith McKeen.

STAFF:

Clerk Treasurer Kathy McDonald and Public Works Superintendent Garry Miller.

DELEGATIONS:

Bryan Searle, Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing, Marie Foster, Centennial Manor Representative

MEDIA:

Tom Sasvari

06-21 Tuomi Bright

BE IT RESOLVED THAT this regular meeting of the Council of the Corporation of the Township of Billings be opened with a quorum of members present at 7:30 p.m. with Reeve Austin Hunt presiding in the Chair. Carried

06-22 Bright Tuomi

BE IT RESOLVED THAT we accept the minutes of the January 16, 2006 meeting as presented. Carried

06-23 Tuomi Alkenbrack

BE IT RESOLVED THAT we accept the insurance proposal from Municipal Insurance Services Ltd for $33,998 plus RST. Carried

06-24 McKeen Bright

BE IT RESOLVED THAT we set the 2006 seasonal rates for the small craft marina at $285.00 for the larger slips and $260.00 for the smaller slips. Carried

06-25 McKeen Bright

BE IT RESOLVED THAT we purchase an 8 x 40 container from the Easy Access Storage Co. for $2300 plus freight as quoted. Carried

06-26 Tuomi McKeen

BE IT RESOLVED THAT we instruct the Roads Superintendent to tender through the Roads Superintendents Association, for the items needed, to a maximum of $61,000. Carried

06-27 Bright McKeen

BE IT RESOLVED THAT we authorize the Clerk and Reeve to execute the General Municipal License Agreement, pages 1 and 19, with Municipal Property Assessment Corporation for the GIS Viewer. Carried

06-28 Tuomi Bright

BE IT RESOLVED THAT we authorize the payment of the 2006 Chamber of Commerce membership in the amount of $75.00. Carried

06-29 Alkenbrack Tuomi

BE IT RESOLVED THAT we authorize the payment of $1434.00, to the Town of Northeastern Manitoulin and the Islands for our share of the 2005 operations at the MTA Centre. Carried

06-30 McKeen Tuomi

BE IT RESOLVED THAT we agree to reimburse the Clerk for Unit 4 of the Municipal Administration Program in the amount of $326.35. Carried

06-31 Bright McKeen

BE IT RESOLVED THAT we agree to send the Clerk to the Election Training Session on April 5, 2006 in Sudbury in the amount of $240.75. Carried

06-32 McKeen Bright

WHEREAS, the Liberal party promised during the 2003 election campaign to increase funding to long term care homes by $6,000 per resident per annum; AND WHEREAS, funding for direct care and services to residents was increased in 2004 by $3.49 on average, along with an increase of $0.75 identified in 2005, with the exception that homes increase the level of staffing. AND WHEREAS, funding for direct care and services to residents was increased by $1.01, an increase of 1.5 percent which falls short of inflationary costs for long term care homes; AND WHEREAS, these combined increases represent $1916.25 or less than a third of the governments $6000 promise; AND WHEREAS, significant investment is needed now to meet the immediate needs of residents; THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that this council urges this government to increase the per diem to residents of long term care homes in the fiscal year 2006-2007 by $4083.75 per resident, thereby fulfilling its election promise made in 2003. Carried

06-33 McKeen Bright

BE IT RESOLVED THAT we support the December 7, 2005 letter from the Township of Burpee and Mills to the Ministry of Natural Resources, requesting that they take action to discontinue the present initiative to designate Pitchers Thistle as an endangered species until its status can be properly evaluated and the financial implications to landowners of Manitoulin and the surrounding islands can be resolved. Carried

06-34 Tuomi Alkenbrack

BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council authorizes the following accounts for payment:    General Account      $147,037.66    Public Works            $ 13,473.29 And that the Reeve and Treasurer be authorized to sign cheques #5280 to $5336 as described in the attached register. Carried

06-35 Alkenbrack Tuomi

BE IT RESOLVED THAT in accordance with Section 239 of the Municipal Act, 2001 S.O. Chapter 25, this Council proceed to a Closed Session at 8:30 p.m. in order to discuss a matter pertaining to personal matters about an identifiable individual, including municipal or local board employees. Carried

06-36 Tuomi McKeen

BE IT RESOLVED THAT we adjourn from our closed session and resume our regular meeting. Carried

06-37 Tuomi Alkenbrack

BE IT RESOLVED THAT we provide financial support to the Gore Bay Manitoulin Airport for 2006 in the amount of $1000.00. Carried

06-038 Tuomi Alkenbrack

BE IT RESOLVED THAT we payout for accumulated sick time to Garry Miller and to Floyd Becks at their entitlement. Carried

06-039 McKeen Tuomi

BE IT RESOLVED THAT we adjourn from this regular meeting of council until our next regular meeting of February 20, 2006, or Call of the Chair. Carried

_______________________________
Aus Hunt: Reeve


_______________________________
Kathy McDonald, Clerk Treasurer


08/02/06:km

These minutes have been prepared but are not considered official until approved by the Council at a subsequent meeting.

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