March 30, 2016 - Special Council Meeting

Agenda

SPECIAL MEETING OF COUNCIL

To Be Held in the Council Chambers
Wednesday, March 30, 2016 at 9:00 a.m.

Council’s Special Meeting Agenda

For Consideration:

1. OPENING
a) Adoption of Agenda
b) Disclosure of Pecuniary Interest and General Nature Thereof

 

2. BUDGET DISCUSSION
a) Operating Budget
b) Department Head Budget Submissions
c) Council Member Projects
d) Set Date/Time for next Budget Meeting

 

3. ADJOURNMENT

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Minutes

SPECIAL MEETING OF COUNCIL SUMMARY

Held Wednesday March 30, 2016 at 9:00 a.m.

Municipal Office Council Chambers

 

PRESENT:

Mayor: Paul Moffatt, Members Brenda Reid, Leslie Fields, Hugh Moggy, Robert Case

C.A.O: Alton Hobbs

Clerk: Jeremy Rody

Treasurer: Deb MacDonald

Press: Alicia McCutcheon, Expositor

 

 #85-07-16        L. Fields – H. Moggy

THAT this special meeting of the Council of the Corporation of the Township of Assiginack be opened for business with a quorum of members present at 9:00 a.m., with Mayor Moffatt presiding in the Chair. CARRIED

 

#86-07-16        B. Reid – R. Case

THAT the agenda for this meeting be accepted as presented. CARRIED

 

No Disclosures of Pecuniary Interest

 

SUMMARY:

The CAO opened the discussion by explaining to Council that the purpose of this meeting was to distribute the budget binders prepared by the Treasurer.  The department heads have submitted their items for budget consideration and they will be invited to the next budget meeting to present their priorities to Council.

The CAO followed up on a few items from the previous meeting.  The Planning Board has requested an upgrade to their mapping programs which will cost between $1,800-2,300 and is recommended that Council include in the budget.  Engineers have been contacted to provide costs for engineering studies on the force main, Queen/Arthur Street Rehabilitation, and Mitchell’s Hill.  The cost of an engineering study on options for the Water Treatment Plant is estimated at $25,000.

The Treasurer went through the budget binder distributed to Council.  Highlighted points are listed below:

  • Education rates have not been received to date; all calculations have been based on last year’s rates but are expected to lower again this year
  • Ontario Municipal Partnership Fund funding increased for 2016
  • Wages have been adjusted by 2%
  • The Fire Department wage increase will be phased in over 3 years
  • Police services cost increased by $1,000
  • Streetlight budgeted expenses could be lowered as the first bill has been received based on the new LED lights and is significantly lower than the previous bill
  • OCWA’s capital requests have been included in the water and waste water budget but is up to Council as to how they proceed
  • Ambulance costs increase by $3,500 in 2016
  • DSSAB and Manitoulin Centennial Manor levies are up by $500 and $1000, respectively
  • The Summer Program has been adjusted to only include the Swimming Instructor wages and the materials needed for the program
  • The Arena budget is lower than last year due to work that was done on the compressor in 2015
  • The Planning/Development department is budgeted for an increase but could be more depending on the result of NEMI’s request to leave the Planning Board
  • The Landfill expansion is included in the operating budget but depends on MOE approvals

Councillor Moggy asked if the siding replacement for the Roller Mills Building was included in the budget.  Staff informed him that Terra Star is working on a quote and that there may be a problem finding someone interested in doing the installation.  Councillor Moggy also asked about money available for the Agricultural Society and Horticultural Society, those amounts are included in the budget every year.

Councillor Fields asked how much grant money was received by the Project and Events Coordinator to offset expenses.  The Treasurer responded that approximately $16,000 had been acquired in 2015 but would have to confirm that number.

Councillor Reid asked about the cost to re-surface 1 km of road with tar and chip.  The Treasurer referenced an email from the Roads Superintendent which estimated the cost to be approximately $15,000 per kilometer.

Mayor Moffatt suggested that proper costing be acquired to renovate the back end of the arena to turn the space into a multi-purpose area that would benefit the community and could possibly be used by the Fire Department.  Councillors agreed that this project should be included in the long range plan and money put into reserves for that purpose.

Councillor Fields noted that there is not much money left over for capital budget purposes with a 2% or less increase and that money should be spent on engineering studies to prepare for infrastructure projects and funding opportunities.

The next budget meeting was set for Thursday, April 7, 2016 at 9 a.m. to be held in the Council Chambers.

 

#87-07-16        B. Reid – L. Fields

THAT we adjourn until the next regular meeting or Call of the Chair.

CARRIED

 

 

___________________________                             __________________________

Mayor                                                                          Clerk

 

9:35 a.m.

These Minutes are not considered official until adopted by Council.

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