2007 - 100 January 31, 2008 MUNICIPAL COUNCIL The Regular Session of the Municipal Council of the Municipality of the County of Colchester was held in the Courthouse, Truro, N.S. on Thursday, January 31, 2008 at 7:00 p.m. Roll Call The roll was called with the following Councillors in attendance: Mayor Mike Smith, Chair Councillor Bob Taylor District #1 Councillor Bill Masters District #2 Deputy Mayor Hughie Matheson District #3 Councillor Mike Cooper District #4 Councillor Glen Edwards District #5 Councillor Ron Cavanaugh District #6 Councillor Jimmie LeFresne District #7 Councillor Bob White District #9 Councillor Doug Cooke District #10 Councillor Terri Mingo District #11 Absent: Councillor Soley Lynds District #8 Approval of Agenda Moved by Councillor Edwards Seconded by Councillor White “That the agenda for January 31, 2008 be approved with the following additions: - add 8b: Rural Mail Delivery - add 8c: Higgins Mountain Wind Farm - add 8d: Garbage” Motion Carried Unanimously. Approval of Minutes Moved by Deputy Mayor Matheson Seconded by Councillor Cooke “That the minutes of meeting held on November 29, 2007 be approved as circulated.” Motion Carried Unanimously. Business Arising There was no business arising from the minutes of meeting held on from Minutes November 29, 2007. Presentations Ms. Toni MacAfee, Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) 2007 - 101 January 31, 2008 Ms. MacAfee introduced the other members from the Canadian Union of Postal Workers - Marilyn Totten, John Callaghan and Jean Francoise Savoie. In their presentation, the representatives from CUPW informed Council that Canada Post is currently moving forward with plans to review the way it delivers mail to rural communities. In all likelihood, this review will result in replacing the rural home delivery mailboxes with community mailboxes. The process for this review involves a procedure known as the Traffic Safety Assessment Tool. This process does not include consultation with either delivery employees or the residents of the communities affected by this review. CUPW requested that Council consider endorsement of a resolution in support of a moratorium on removing rural roadside mailboxes until public consultation has taken place. The resolution was read into the record by the Acting Clerk. Moved by Councillor Taylor Seconded by Councillor Cavanaugh “That the presentation from the Canadian Union of Postal Workers be received.” Motion Carried Unanimously. Moved by Councillor Cavanaugh Seconded by Councillor Cooper “That Council endorses a resolution from the Canadian Union of Postal Workers in support of a moratorium on removing rural roadside mailboxes; and, that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to the Prime Minister of Canada, the local MP and the local MLA’s.” Motion Carried Unanimously. At Council’s request, CUPW agreed to provide a copy of the Traffic Safety Assessment Tool. They also circulated an information package to Council on this issue. Standing Committee Deputy Mayor Matheson presented reports from Council Committee Report and meetings held on December 13, 2007 and January 17, 2008: Recommendations N.S. Provincial Moved by Deputy Mayor Matheson Exhibition - Request Seconded by Councillor Masters 2007 - 102 January 31, 2008 for Financial “That Council approves a contribution in the amount of $10,000 for Support the Nova Scotia Provincial Exhibition Commission to assist them in covering an operating loss, source of funds to be general operations as an unbudgeted item.” Motion Carried. (Councillors LeFresne, Cooke and Mingo opposed) Loan Guarantee - Conflict of Interest Onslow/Belmont Fire Brigade Both Councillor Masters and Councillor White declared a conflict of interest on this item and removed themselves from the table. Moved by Deputy Mayor Matheson Seconded by Councillor Taylor “That Council approves that the Municipality of the County of Colchester provide a “letter of intent” in support of a loan of $115,000 for the Onslow-Belmont Fire Brigade for the purchase of a new rescue van and, in the event that this is not satisfactory to the lending institution, that the Municipality provide a loan guarantee for this amount.” Motion Carried Unanimously. At this point, Councillor Masters and Councillor White returned to the table. AMA Spring Moved by Deputy Mayor Matheson Workshop 2008 Seconded by Councillor Taylor “That Council approves that $1,000 be put in the 2008/09 “maintenance budget” for the AMA Spring Workshop 2008.” Motion Carried Unanimously. North Shore Moved by Deputy Mayor Matheson Recreation Centre Seconded by Councillor LeFresne Zamboni “That Council approves an amendment to the 2007/08 capital budget project list for the North Shore Recreation Centre to allow for the purchase of a Zamboni ice machine.” Motion Carried Unanimously. Staff agreed to follow up with the Recreation Department in response to Councillor Taylor’s questions on what happens to the old machine and who purchases the equipment, the County or the Recreation Centre. 2007 - 103 January 31, 2008 Potential Joint-Use Conflict of Interest Agreement - Harmony Heights Councillor Mingo declared a conflict of interest on this item and School removed herself from the table. Moved by Deputy Mayor Matheson Seconded by Councillor Edwards “That Council authorizes the Mayor and Chief Administrative Officer (Acting) to sign the Harmony Heights Elementary School Joint-Use Agreement with the Chignecto Central Regional School Board.” Motion Carried Unanimously. At this point, Councillor Mingo returned to the table. Executive and Audit There was no business arising from the minutes of the Executive and Committee Audit Committee meetings held on November 29 and December 13, 2007. Regional Emergency In response to an inquiry from Councillor Taylor, staff advised that Measures Advisory once updated, Councillors will receive a copy of the Regional Committee Emergency Measures Plan. Following a brief discussion on the Alternate Emergency Measures Coordinator item, it was recommended that the Advisory Committee be requested to advertise for this position. Moved by Councillor Mingo Seconded by Councillor Cooper “That the Regional Emergency Measures Advisory Committee be requested to advertise and receive applications for the position of Alternate Emergency Measures Coordinator.” Motion Carried. (Deputy Mayor Matheson opposed) Nominating Committee Mayor Smith provided a verbal report from the Nominating Committee meeting held earlier this evening. Moved by Councillor Taylor Seconded by Councillor Masters “That Mr. Frank F. Kesick be appointed as a citizen representative on the Police Advisory Committee.” 2007 - 104 January 31, 2008 Motion Carried Unanimously. ACTION ITEMS First Reading - Moved by Councillor Masters Proposed Replacement Seconded by Councillor Taylor of the “Mobile Home Park By-law with the “That Council approves at First Reading the Land Lease “Land Lease Development By-law, as presented, for purposes of forwarding these Development By-law documents to a public hearing and reserving consideration of the amendments until Second Reading following the public hearing.” Motion Carried Unanimously. Returning Officer - Moved by Councillor Cavanaugh 2008 Municipal Seconded by Councillor Edwards Election “That Council approves an allocation of $15,000 for the position of a Returning Officer for the 2008 municipal election, to be staffed through either an internal or external process; and, That the Executive and Audit Committee be authorized to proceed with the staffing of this position.” Motion Carried Unanimously. Rural Mailbox Delivery Moved by Councillor Mingo Seconded by Councillor Cooper “That a letter be written to Canada Post to determine why a commitment to Council from their local representative two years ago had not been adhered to, specifically, that Area Councillors be contacted regarding any changes in rural roadside mail delivery.” Motion Carried Unanimously. Higgins Mountain Councillor Cooke reported that he had received an invitation to Wind Farm attend a meeting on wind farms in Wentworth on Saturday at 10:00 a.m. He would like to see Council move forward on a wind turbine by-law. Staff advised that a draft by-law will be coming to Council in the near future now that a model wind turbine by-law has been received from the Union of Nova Scotia Municipalities. Garbage Deputy Mayor Matheson voiced his concern with the road conditions this winter being the cause of garbage collection being cancelled in some cases for up to four to six weeks. Staff agreed to 2007 - 105 January 31, 2008 follow up on several questions that Deputy Mayor Matheson raised concerning cancellation of collection, notification to residents, and rescheduling. During discussion on this matter, Council also recommended that a letter be written to the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal regarding the timeliness of clearing the roads and the effect it has had on services provided by the Municipality. Moved by Councillor Taylor Seconded by Councillor Cooke “That a letter be written to the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal to inform them that, on a number of occasions this winter, garbage and recyclables have not been collected on County roads on the normal collection day due to poor road conditions, and the effect this has had on service provided to residents.” Motion Carried Unanimously. Correspondence Council requested the following ‘Correspondence’ items be moved from Information to Action: - Nos. 4 and 7: letter from Transportation and Infrastructure