A meeting of Victoria County Municipal Council was held at the Court House, Baddeck, on Wednesday, June 28, 2000, at 5:00 p.m. with Warden MacInnes in the Chair.

 Present were:

District #1 – Gerald Yetman, Deputy Warden
District #3 – Bruce Morrison
District #4 – John Graham MacInnes, Warden
District #6 – Lawrence Barron
District #7 – David Donovan
District #8 – Robert MacLellan

 Also present was:

Heather MacLean, Recording Secretary

 Absent were:

District #2 – Shane Toms
District #5 – Gerald Sampson
Brian Trask, CAO

VICTORIA COUNTY STRATEGIC PLAN

 Warden MacInnes advised that this was an informal meeting of Council called for the specific purpose of  reviewing the Victoria County Strategic Plan drafted by R. Schneider & Associates.  He then called upon Ruth Schneider to initiate the discussion.

 Dr. Schneider began by thanking Council and everyone who participated in the planning process for their support and input given which formed the framework for the final document.   She indicated that her team tried to be as realistic as possible.  They were awarded the contract to develop the strategic plan in March, 2000, and gathered and analyzed a lot of information in a short period of time.

 Dr. Schneider indicated that she felt the document is something that Council can work with.  It is a living document that is meant to move forward and evolve.  The recommendation is to hire a Municipal Director of Development for the  County  for a  five  year  period.    She  emphasized  the  importance  of  the

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relationship with the Strait-Highlands Regional Development Agency as they provide a network with all agencies of government.

 Councillor Barron expressed his displeasure that there was very little detail or mention  of his district in the plan.  He indicated that there is a lot of good work being done in the Ingonish area.

 Councillor Morrison clarified the issue with the Strait-Highlands Regional Development Agency.  He indicated that Council was exercising their option and giving the one-year notice of withdrawal as is required.  This matter will again reviewed.  This notice was given for a number of reasons:
? This is an election year and it gives the new Council an option on their involvement in committees
? Whether the Municipality can afford cost of being a member of the SHRDA and hiring a Development Officer for the County as outlined in the strategic plan

Dr. Schneider indicated that the Terms of Reference she followed for the strategic plan were drafted by the Victoria County Community Economic Development Committee.  She indicated that they contacted people from all sectors in developing the plan.

 Discussion took place and Dr. Schneider indicated that the strategic plan is a document that can be used for the County to move forward.  The Victoria County Community Economic Development Committee passed a motion at their last meeting recommending that the Victoria County Strategic Plan be adopted by Council.

It was moved by Councillor Yetman, seconded by Councillor Donovan, that the Victoria County Community Economic Development Committee’s recommendation to approve the Victoria County Strategic Plan be adopted by Council.  Motion carried.

 Catherine Ann Fuller, Community Development Officer, indicated that the approval of the strategic plan was a positive step for Victoria County.   She requested that Council approve the 15% holdback payable to R. Schneider & Associates.

 It was moved by Councillor Yetman, seconded by Councillor Morrison, that the final payment be approved for R. Schneider & Associates.  Motion carried.
 

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 George Maher, member of the Victoria County Community Economic Development Committee, indicated that he volunteered to serve on this committee because it was something he was interested in.  He felt it was more beneficial to talk about the positive things and now that there are guidelines in place to help, hopefully something will happen.

 A vote of thanks was extended to all members of the Victoria County Community Economic Development Committee for the work and time put into the realization of the Victoria County Strategic Plan.

 Jim Morrow indicated that he felt it would be beneficial for the CED Committee to sit down and meet with the municipal auditors, municipal solicitor and municipal advisor, to obtain a better knowledge of the realities the municipality has to deal with.
 
Discussion took place on the letter received by the Strait-Highlands Regional Development Agency from Council concerning the one-year notice of withdrawal from the RDA.  Warden MacInnes indicated that he would forward a letter to the SHRDA clarifying the intentions behind the one-year notice of withdrawal from the SHRDA, which should alleviate some of the concern.

Warden MacInnes extended a vote of thanks to Dr. Ruth Schneider and her associates on behalf of Council.

ADJOURN

 There being no further business, on motion of Councillor Morrison, seconded by Councillor Yetman, the meeting adjourned.
 
 

      John G. MacInnes, Warden
 
 

      Brian E. Trask, CAO