A meeting of Victoria County Municipal Council was held at the Court House, Baddeck, on Monday, June 18, 2001, beginning at 5:30 p.m. with Deputy Warden Bruce Morrison in the Chair.
Present were:
District #1 – Dan E. MacNeil
District #2 – Shane Toms
District #3 – Bruce Morrison, Deputy Warden
District #4 – John Graham MacInnes
District #5 – Gerald Sampson, Warden
District #6 – Lawrence Barron
District #8 – Robert MacLellan
Also present were:
Brian Trask, CAO
Heather MacLean, Recording Secretary
Absent was:
District #7 – Wayne Budge
CALL TO ORDER
Deputy Warden Morrison called the meeting to order.
AGENDA – TIME TO ADJOURN
The agenda was presented for approval.
It was moved by Councillor MacInnes, seconded by Councillor MacLellan, that the agenda be approved as presented and the time for adjournment be set at 7:00 p.m. Motion carried.
WELCOME
Deputy Warden Morrison, on behalf of Council, extended a welcome to former Councillor and Deputy Warden, Gerald Yetman, who was in attendance in the audience.
RALPH ANDERSON, VICTORIA HIGHLAND CIVIC CENTRE
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Deputy Warden Morrison extended the courtesy of Council to Ralph Anderson, Chairman of the Board of the Victoria Highland Civic Centre, who made a presentation on the rink. Mr. Anderson also submitted a request for financial assistance in the amount of $1,500 from each Council Member within the areas serviced by the Victoria Highland Civic Centre for each year of their tenure as Councillor.
Mr. Anderson was advised that this request for financial assistance would be discussed during budget considerations within the next month.
Mr. Anderson was excused at this time.
MINUTES
The minutes of the May 14, 22 and 30, 2001, meetings of Victoria County Municipal Council were presented for approval.
It was moved by Warden Sampson, seconded by Councillor Toms, that the Council minutes of May 14, 22, and 30, 2001, be approved as presented. Motion carried.
BUSINESS ARISING FROM MINUTES
Solid Waste
Brian Trask advised that a meeting will be held with the Deputy Ministers of Environment and Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations in Halifax tomorrow to discuss concerns pertaining to solid waste management. Deputy Warden Morrison, Councillor Toms, Councillor MacNeil and Brian Trask will be attending this meeting.
Other topics suggested to be discussed at this meeting included a derelict vehicle program, when the announcements regarding infrastructure funding will be made and the closure of the Enviro-Depot in Ingonish Beach. Councillor Barron indicated that the operators were given a license by the RRFB, only to have it revoked after 6 weeks of operation. He felt such a depot was needed in this area.
Discussion took place on a derelict vehicle program. It was felt that now is the time to have the vehicles removed prior to the busy tourist season. Councillor MacInnes suggested including $4,500 in the budget as a starting point for this program. This topic will be addressed during the meeting in Halifax.
The cost of a heavy garbage collection throughout the County was
discussed.
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It was moved by Warden Sampson, seconded by Councillor MacNeil, that the garbage contractor be requested to provide a cost per district for undertaking a heavy garbage collection. Motion carried.
Wayne Gretzky& Friends Invitational
Brian Trask indicated that after investigating the parking requirements for the Wayne Gretzky & Friends Invitational, the Baddeck Landfill Site is not a consideration for parking.
A letter was received from Ted Stonehouse, General Manager, Bell Bay Golf Developments Inc., requesting assistance towards the cost of security and parking for the Wayne Gretzky & Friends Invitational. They have received a quote from Maritect Security to handle security and administer parking under the direction of the RCMP. The cost of $15,794.00 plus HST exceeds their budget a lot. The magnitude of this event and the impact it will have on our County was discussed.
It was moved by Councillor MacInnes, seconded by Warden Sampson, that $2,500 be approved from last year’s advertising budget for parking for the Wayne Gretzky & Friends Invitational. Motion carried.
A request was also received from Bell Bay to have access to the Baddeck Landfill on Sunday, July 1, 2001, to allow them to dump their waste.
It was moved by Warden Sampson, seconded by Councillor MacNeil, that one of the workers at the Baddeck Landfill be made available to allow Bell Bay to access the site on Sunday, July 1, 2001. Motion carried.
Baddeck Landfill
The status of the agreement with Wagmatcook First Nations was discussed and it was indicated that correspondence was provided to the Chief, however; to date no response has been received. It was indicated that tomorrow’s meeting with the Deputy Ministers may have a major impact on what will happen in this regard.
Warden Sampson brought up a concern addressed to him by Jim MacLean, Baddeck Landfill Operator/Manager. This matter should be addressed through the proper chain of command and will be discussed with Mr. MacLean.
Strait-Highlands Regional Development Agency
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A request was received from the Strait-Highlands Regional Development Agency that the Municipality pay the full amount of $30,000, in exchange for relieving the County of further financial obligations.
Brian Trask was previously authorized to negotiate with the SHRDA and he will arrange a meeting to undertake these negotiations.
Student Grants
It was moved by Councillor Barron, seconded by Warden Sampson, that any Council Member wishing to provide top-up funding for student grants be permitted to do so from the district budget funds. Motion carried.
County Flags
County flags are now available and any Council Member requiring one for schools in their area are to notify the municipal office.
CORRESPONDENCE
1. Council members were provided with tickets and information for the Wayne Gretzky & Friends Invitational to be held at Bell Bay Golf Club on July 1 and 2, 2001.
2. Correspondence from John Burett, Acting Director – FCM, calling for resolutions on subjects of national municipal interest for debate at the September, 201, FCM Board of Directors meeting.
3. Memorandum from Judy Webber, UNSM, regarding conference room booking for the fall UNSM Conference to be held in Sydney.
4. Letter from the Honourable Jamie Muir, Senior Citizens Secretariat, proclaiming June 17-23, 2001, as Senior Citizens’ Week in Nova Scotia.
5. Correspondence from Ed Carey, P. Eng., Carey Geoenvironmental Engineering, regarding the development of event parking areas in the Baddeck area.
6. A copy of a client satisfaction survey from the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency.
DISTRICT CONCERNS
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District #1
Councillor MacNeil updated Council on the status of the contaminated/relay oyster fishery in MacKinnon Harbour.
Councillor MacNeil also indicated that the MacKinnon Harbour Water Committee are requesting time on the Council agenda within the next month.
District #2
Councillor Toms indicated that Chuck Thompson, Department of Fisheries and Oceans, indicated the representatives from DFO will to come to Council to discuss the oyster fishery.
Councillor Toms will express Council’s interest to Mr. Thompson.
District #5
Warden Sampson updated Council on the meeting he attended in Middle River concerning the Church Cross Bridge.
Warden Sampson also reported on the meeting of the Building Code Advisory Committee he attended.
District #4
Councillor MacInnes questioned on the grant applications received and how they will be determined. 1% of the municipal budget can be allocated for such grants.
District #6
It was moved by Councillor Barron, seconded by Councillor MacLellan, that $2,000 be approved for Ski Cape Smokey from the District #6 budget. Motion carried.
District #8
Councillor MacLellan questioned on the Dingwall Water Supply and the cost for upgrading the system. Brian Trask will contact Steve Wheller, ENG Environmental, to request the cost required to undertake the immediate repairs to the system..
District #4
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It was moved by Councillor MacInnes, seconded by Councillor MacNeil, that $1,500 be approved for the North River Hall from the District #4 budget. Motion carried.
District #3
It was moved by Deputy Warden Morrison, seconded by Warden Sampson, that $300 be approved for the Baddeck Volunteer Fire Department (c/o Darin MacAulay) and $200 for Centre Bras d’Or (c/o Barb Stokes) from the District #3 budget. Motion carried.
DEVELOPMENT OFFICER
Deputy Warden Morrison indicated that it is hoped that a meeting can be coordinated with Jack Novack, Henson College, on Wednesday to discuss criteria for the Development Officer position. If this cannot be coordinated, then a meeting will be arranged for a later date.
ADJOURN
There being no further business, on motion of Councillor Toms,
the meeting adjourned at 6:55 p.m.
Gerald E. Sampson, Warden
Brian E. Trask, CAO