MUNICIPALITY OF McCREARY

Minutes of the public hearing to present the Draft 2020 Financial Plan held April 22, 2022 in the McCreary Community Centre, 445 Broderick Street, McCreary, as advertised and to accommodate Physical Distancing.

Reeve Gawaziuk declared the public hearing open at 7:00 p.m., welcomed those in attendance and gave a brief overview.

The members of Council and staff present included:

Mike Gawaziuk Head of Council Shawn Buchanan Deputy Head of Council Donna Duggan Councillor John Graves Councillor Craig Terrick Councillor Wendy Turko Chief Administrative Officer

Members of the public in attendance as per the attached RSVP and sign-in sheet included:

Lorraine Musgrave Joan Whyte

Photocopies of the Draft 2020 Financial Plan have been made available for pick up at the Municipality of McCreary office inside the first set of doors at 432 First Avenue, McCreary, Manitoba, as at April 14, 2020 and as authorized by Council by Resolution #158/2020 passed on April 14, 2020. The draft 2020 Financial Plan was also made available on the website at exploremccreary.com. Copies of the draft 2020 Financial Plan were also made available during the hearing and will continue to be made available to the public at the office at 432 First Avenue, McCreary, Manitoba inside the first set of exterior doors.

The Public Hearing was advertised locally by poster and in the March 27, 2020 and April 3, 2020 issues of The Banner & Press.

There were no written or verbal submissions received from the public as requested in the advertisements and therefore there were no written nor verbal submissions to be read aloud.

The 2020 Draft Financial Plan was presented by Head of Council Gawaziuk page by page starting on Page 2.

Questions, comments or clarification requests were received on the following topics during the presentation of the draft financial plan:

- Cutting employee positions, hours and rates of pay was suggested; - Cutting recreation employees was suggested; - Cutting all expenses was suggested; - Cutting education taxes was suggested; - Cutting employees and requiring them to apply for Employment Insurance was suggested;

Approved by Resolution #169/2020

Municipality of McCreary Draft 2020 Financial Plan Public Hearing – April 22, 2020 Page 2

- What employees of the Municipality and the Recreation Commission are doing was questioned; - What is included in Legislative was confirmed as being indemnities, CPP employer costs, mileage and per diems for elected officials; - The Chief Administrative Officer and Staff budget increase from $171,000.00 to $183,885.00 includes administrative wages increase for CAO overlap of $5,000.00 due to a retirement and $7,885.00 for a Summer Jobs Student. The actual cost in 2019 was lower because of vacant positions. It was suggested that office staff should remain as only two. - It was suggested that education costs should be paid back. Deferred revenues were discussed; - Educating employees for them to leave was a concern. The changes to this policy were discussed; - Boot allowance being cut was suggested. Personal Protective Equipment requirements were discussed; - Requirements of Provincial and Federal governments and mandates/responsibilities given to municipal government were discussed; - Recycling not actually being recycled was a comment received; - Whether annual increases in pay are mandatory was asked. Rates of pay are reviewed annually by Council but increases are not always given; - Starting all employees at minimum wage was suggested; - It was confirmed that Roads and Streets – Wages and Benefits includes all Public Works employees and that it also includes all costs of employment like CPP, EI and the pension and health benefits packages, as does Administration; - What happened to the Aline Drive project was asked. The Municipal Roads Program ended prior to Phase Two of the project being completed. Costs of hard top and asphalt contractors were discussed. Preventative maintenance by applying seal coat was suggested. - Repair of the water line and trying a new surfacing product on Beverley Avenue were discussed. It is being tried on Beverley first as it is a shorter street and to see if it is a cheaper alternative; - Sewer coming from Fletcher Park was discussed. Private sewer issue was discussed; - Funding for Dauphin Regional Airport has been cut as STARS air ambulance is able to land in McCreary; - The Development Officer is retiring and MLA Regional Planning service is planning to replace the Development Officer with a Development Officer/Building Inspector for the region and end contracts with the Office of the Fire Commissioner for building inspections. There may be an overlap for 2020 in costs for building inspections of $3,650.00; - Why we continue to pay into Veterinary Boards was questioned. If any of the three veterinary boards no longer operate and the assets are sold it is hoped that there will be some sharing of those funds;

Approved by Resolution #169/2020

Municipality of McCreary Draft 2020 Financial Plan Public Hearing – April 22, 2020 Page 3

- Recreation cost increases were questioned. The Special Service Levy was discussed. The recreation commission funding is $73,680.00 which includes the Recreation Directors costs of employment, operating and programming costs. The capital contribution is again $12,500.00; - It was suggested that Fletcher Park should be closed as there are gatherings happening there. Whether they are over 10 people or not was asked but was not known for sure; - What is included in the Parkland Regional Library levy was confirmed as being all the books for rotation, the computer system, the librarian. - Fiscal services and capital costs were discussed and are proposed as split out on Page 13; - It was asked if the government did not fund radios for the fire department. Costs for operation of fire departments is the responsibility of municipalities. The budgeted cost of the radio upgrades for the new system is $12,410.00; - It was suggested that the Congregate Meal Program debenture debt until 2033 should be shared with the rural area and not just be the urban area; - Differential Mill Rates are available for use by the Municipality of McCreary until 2022. After 2022 anything that is not raised by special service levy, debenture or a requirement for education, watersheds, etc. will be by At Large Mill Rate with no Urban or Rural Mill Rate possible; - Mill rates of other municipalities were discussed; - Use of $10,000.00 from the General Reserve to explore a Community Well was discussed; - Approval of our 2020 Flood Preparedness Grant Application of $65,709.00 for a fully funded generator and switches was discussed; - A concern was raised about wasted time with Summer employees; - A compliment on the great job that the Grader Operator is doing was received and will be passed on; - The reporting structure of the Public Works Department was discussed; - Increased or new costs include $8,000.00 for building demolition, increased insurance cost for municipal buildings of $11,000.00, $10,000.00 increase in appropriation to the Fire Reserve, $10,000.00 increase in appropriation to the Equipment Reserve, Christmas lighting and Archie refreshing of $4,000.00, increase in CAO and staff of $12,885.00 mentioned earlier, increased costs for planning to $11,000.00; - A concern was raised about the net increase in municipal components of $14,278.74 or 1.19% when comparing 2019 to 2020 as included on Page 1(e); (ADDITION) - A complaint was received about the amount of chlorine in the water and the cost of water and sewer service. Treatment is as required by regulations and rates are as approved by the Public Utilities Board; - Costs of new water meters in previous years was a concern; - Status of Hometown Green Team and Canada Summer Jobs applications for funding is not yet confirmed; Approved by Resolution #169/2020

Municipality of McCreary Draft 2020 Financial Plan Public Hearing – April 22, 2020 Page 4

- Deferred revenues were again discussed. Requirement for the budget to be completed on paper now and include authority for all was discussed. Changes would require another round of advertising and another public hearing; - Cuts where possible were encouraged.

There being no further questions, all who attended were thanked for their attendance, interest and for their input.

The Public Hearing was declared closed and did adjourn at 8:00 p.m.

MUNICIPALITY OF McCREARY

______Mike Gawaziuk, Head of Council

______Wendy L. Turko, Chief Administrative Officer

Approved by Resolution #169/2020