L’Orignal, Ontario March 11, 2015 REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE To the Warden and Members of Council, United Counties of Prescott and Russell The Committee of the Whole met in L’Orignal at 9:00 a.m. on March 11, 2015. Were present: Robert Kirby, Warden; Gary J. Barton, Jeanne Charlebois, Guy Desjardins, Conrad Lamadeleine, Pierre Leroux and François St- Amour, Council Members. Stéphane P. Parisien, Michel Chrétien, Marc Clermont, Carole Lavigne, Anne Comtois Lalonde, Louise Lepage-Gareau, Louis Prévost, Jonathan B. Roy and Jean St-Pierre, Department Heads; Andrée Latreille, Clerk. Were Absent : Fernand Dicaire, Member and Louise Lalonde, Department head. The report is presented as follows: 1. Conseil des arts Prescott Russell Arts Council Ronald Handfield, President & Shanna Steals, Coordinator of the Conseil des arts Prescott Russell Arts Council (CAPRAC) discussed their activities and projects implemented since their foundation in March 2014. For information purposes, a first contribution agreement (grant) of $100 000 was signed in 2014 between the United Counties and CAPRAC. This agreement stipulates that they shall provide the UCPR with their annual budget approved by the Board of Directors, along with their annual financial statements, their quarterly summary reports as well as their minutes of meetings to access quarterly funding. Council must approve annually the granted budget. 2. Electric Car Chargers at municipal facilities Mr Paul Camiré, of Embrun and representative for Sun Country Highway explained that they have implemented a program to help municipalities adopt a public charging network for electric cars. He would like to expand this network in Eastern Ontario. Municipalities may access up to three electric charging stations by location (community centre, library, tourist attractions, arenas). He discussed the economic and tourism benefits of developing an electric eco-route on our territory, the installation of chargers with public and private partners, etc. 3. Information on a By-law The Mayor of Russell enquired as to By-law 2013-25, being a by-law regulating the construction of private entrances on county roads. THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDED addressing this matter at the Public Works Committee. 4. OGRA Conference Update The Chief Administrative Officer asked if Members were satisfied after meeting the ministers at the OGRA conference in Toronto. The Mayor of Hawkesbury thanked all mayors, local councils and staff present for the unwavering support during these delegations. 5. Local Glengarry-Prescott-Russell Day The Chief Administrative Officer informed that some local councillors have shown an interest in having a Glengarry-Prescott-Russell G-P-R Day such as a 5-à-7 gathering to get acquainted with the Counties. Local councils would be invited to meet the senior staff and socialize with other local councils. Before organizing such an event, Mayors will verify with their municipal Council to determine if there is a real interest in organizing this activity. Committee of the Whole - 2 - L’Orignal, Ontario March 11, 2015 6. Update of the Official Plan Review Planning and Forestry Director notified that the Official Plan review process started back in May 2011 with the holding of a public meeting according to the Planning Act requirements, as well as three Open House sessions in October 2013 and a public meeting in November 2013. He spoke, among other things, of growth targets, expansion of urban areas, the reduction of the limits of several villages, etc. He listed all changes to the Plan sections such as the restrictions, infrastructure policies, changes to agricultural resources policies, aggregates resources, change in terms of the natural heritage, the new policies concerning species at risk, studies of environmental impact, health and public safety, implementation policies, various schedules to the Plan, and requests from the public and the municipalities. The Planning and Forestry Committee will address the individual requests on April 14th & 15th. Individuals who have submitted a written request amendment to the OP will be advised in writing of the staff recommendation as well as the MMAH’s position. These individuals will decide whether or not to attend the committee meeting. Secondly, Council must approve the Amendment No. 27 to the Official Plan (five-year review) followed by the MMAH’s approval. 7. Construction project for an Ambulance Post in Bourget / Administrative Office for the Larose Forest Michel Chrétien explained that the former Council had demonstrated an interest in a construction project of an ambulance post in Bourget jointly with an administrative office for the Larose forest. He explained that this project goes back to 2007. The location for such post in Bourget responded to a service need in this area as well as to provide assistance to the ambulance services of Clarence-Rockland and the municipalities of Embrun, Casselman and Limoges. The Director pointed out that two paramedics were hired in 2014, two more will be hired in 2015, and that it requires eight employees to operate a 24-hour ambulance. Funds were included in the budget and will be taken from both the Larose Forest Reserve and the Emergency Services Reserve. Mr. Prévost explained that this ambulance post / administrative office building will be constructed on the same site as the old house currently used for the Larose Forest administrative offices. The size of the new building is comparable to the St-Isidore Post with a garage on each side. THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDED proceeding with the construction of this Ambulance Post / Administrative Office for the Larose Forest, to use the funds set aside in the Larose Forest Reserve and Emergency Services Reserve, and to report to the Council on the progress of the works. 8. Request to increase the per diem paid by the Counties in Private Domiciliary Hostels At the request of the Mayor of Casselman to increase the per diem that Counties pay to private domiciliary hostel operators, the Social Services Director confirmed that this issue has been repeatedly considered by the former Council and last October, through Resolution No. 2014/204, Council opted to maintain the per diem to $50 for 2015 in order to remain within the established budget. In the Director’s report presented last October, we learned that the Province paid close to $2.5 million from the Support Housing Program while the UCPR paid a discretionary amount of $616,000. In order to remain within this budget in 2014, Council was compelled to reduce the number subsidized residents in domiciliary hostels to 490 and maintain the per diem to $50 per day for each eligible resident. She explained that increasing the per diem by one dollar represents an increase of $178,850 per year while $2 increase represents $357,700. THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDED that Council maintain its position on Resolution 2014/204, that is to maintain the $50 daily allowance paid to operators of private domiciliary hostels for each subsidized resident and that Council review its discretionary budget during the next 2016 budget discussions. Committee of the Whole - 3 - L’Orignal, Ontario March 11, 2015 9. St-Joseph Elementary School in Lefaivre The Economic Development and Tourism Director asked Council a negotiation mandate with the School Board to continue discussions for the acquisition of the St- Joseph Elementary School in Lefaivre declared surplus to the Board’s needs. The Director advised that the former Council had authorized a feasibility study from Plania at a cost of $102,200 to develop a tourism water corridor since it was part of our Strategic Plan to focus on the Ottawa River highlights. This concept of major tourism development estimated at $21,6 million included a series of six water and land locations identified in the municipalities of Lefaivre, L'Orignal, Wendover, Clarence Point, Chute-à-Blondeau, and Hawkesbury. After discussion, THE COMMITTEE is not prepared to support this study prepared by Plania, to invest in the creation of water or land destination poles, nor to maintain discussions on the potential school acquisition and RECOMMENDED that the Director close this file. 10. Purchase Offer from Assaly Contractors for land acquisition This presentation is made in camera since it concerns a proposed or pending acquisition of land by the Counties (Section 239)2)c). The CAO explained that the first contractor's offer was for two parcels of land totalling 7.8 acres, which offer was based on the initial appraisal prepared by Tarle & McAllister. The contractor negotiated a second offer on this property after having received a second appraisal by Maloney. This appraisal was conducted on 7.8 acres but the offer submitted is for a parcel of approximately 4.5 acres. This offer was rejected and the UCPR submitted a counteroffer. THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDED that the Warden and the CAO maintain their counteroffer and confirm the contractor’s position at a next meeting. 11. Lease Renewal at 59 Court Street The CAO informed that our lease with the Province at 59 Court Street will expire at the end of August 2015 and has in fact received a five-year renewal confirmation. Taking into account the possible building expansion project, he asked for the possibility of negotiating a ten-year term with the Province. THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDED that the CAO approach the Province with the possibility of extending the lease at 59 Court Street over a period of ten years. 12. Adjournment The Committee of the Whole adjourned at 12:00 p.m. ALL OF WHICH IS RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED. Robert Kirby, Chairman Moved by Conrad Lamadeleine Seconded by Guy Desjardins THAT THIS REPORT BE ADOPTED Adopted by Council March 25, 2015 ______________________________ Robert Kirby, Warden ___ Andrée Latreille, Clerk .