SESSION NO. #96

REPORT

TOWN OF FORT FRANCES

COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE

March 28, 2022

A meeting of the Committee of the Whole of Council was held virtually and in the Committee Room at the Civic Centre.

PRESENT:

 Councillor D. Judson, Chairperson; Mayor J. Caul; Councillors M. Behan,            W. Brunetta, A. Hallikas, J. McTaggart and R. Wiedenhoeft.

ALSO PRESENT:

F. Anwar, CAO, G. Lecuyer, Clerk, K. Haney, Deputy Clerk, D. Galusha, Treasurer, T. Rob, Manager of Operations & Facilities, A. Hansma, HR Manager, C. Vangel, Building Inspector, J. Hughes, IT Manager

1.

Call to Order / Roll Call

Chair Judson called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m.

2.

Disclosure of pecuniary interest and the general nature thereof.

Councillor Judson declared a conflict related to agenda item 6.7.  The general nature it is his per diem. Councillor Behan is to assume that Chair with respect to item 6.7..

Councillor Brunetta declared a conflict related to agenda item 6.8.  The general nature it is her per diem.

3.

Delegations/Deputations: None

4.

Council Reports on Board & Committee Activity:

4.1

Mayor Caul - Verbal Update:  Mayor Caul reports on activities she attends as Mayor such as the Treaty Three Police Banquet.  noted the curling club to help promote Fort Frances and spoke on the recommendation provided from the Northwestern Health Unit relating to COVID-19.

Councillor Behan - Did not provide a report. 

Councillor Brunetta - Verbal Update relating to the upcoming NOMA conference to be held at the Fort Frances Curling Club, the Northwestern Health Unit updates and advised of the consultation process being  underway for the Strategic Plan and Doctor Recruitment and Retention update.

Councillor Hallikas -Did not provide a report. 

5.

Consent Agenda:

5.1

Approval of Consent Agenda

218

Recommendation:  THAT the matters listed on the Consent Agenda be referred to the Consent Agenda for the Regular Meeting of Council later tonight for approval being items # 5.2, 5.3, 5.4 and 5.5

CARRIED

5.2

North Air Re: Taxi Rates - Correspondence received to Council and subsequently forwarded to PDEC for consideration.  Request from company to raise rates due to inflation.  Limousine rates to remain the same.  Nothing noted re dial a ride.  By-law provided a summary of his report.  Committee supportive of increase considering insurance/fuel costs.  Recommendation from Committee that item return to Council to support increases as requested.

Recommendation:  approval of this report will agree with the recommendation of the Planning & Development Executive Committee that the Mayor & Council approve the proposed rate increases as presented and direct that By-Law# 42/14 be amended to reflect the new rate schedule for all taxis.

5.3

2022 Sorting Gap Dock Purchase

Recommendation:  approval of this report will agree with the recommendation of the Operations and Facilities Executive Committee that:

1. Administration applies to FedNOR for additional funds to cover cost overages related to the Phase 2 Sorting Gap Dock replacement project.

2. Failing Funding, budget shortfalls related to this project be funded through year end surplus or the Corporate Projects Reserve Fund.

5.4

Request to Operate the Point Park Canteen

Recommendation:  approval of this report will agree with the recommendation of the Operations and Facilities Executive Committee that:

1. Administration prepares an RFP for an operator of a canteen at the Point Park Office Building fall of 2022, starting summer 2023.

2. That administration prepare capital budget cost estimates for repairs to the Point Park office in fall  2022 for operation as a canteen summer 2023.

5.5

Honeywell Energy Performance Contract Annual Energy Report

Recommendation:  approval of this report will agree with the recommendation of the Operations and Facilities Executive Committee that the Annual Energy and Operational Savings Report be received by Council as Information.

6.

Administration and Finance Division:

6.1

COVID-19 Vaccination Policy

The motion will be presented for Council's consideration at the Regular Council Meeting following this session.

Recommendation:  approval of this report will agree with the recommendation of the Human Resources Manager that Council of the Town of Fort Frances approve the rescindment of the Town’s COVID-19 Vaccination Policy (#5.43).

6.2

2022 Capital Budget - Purchase of Network Switches

The motion will be presented for Council's consideration at the Regular Council Meeting following this session.

Recommendation:  approval of this report will agree with the recommendation from Information Technology Manger that Council of the Town of Fort Frances authorize the purchase of network switches from Compugen Inc. at a cost of $160,599.64, including the Town’s portion of HST

6.3

2021 Capital Financing

The motion will be presented for Council's consideration at the Regular Council Meeting following this session.

Recommendation:  approval of this report will agree with the recommendation of the Treasurer that Council approves the additional Reserve Fund allocations to fund the remaining Capital expenditures in the amount of $174,818.03 from Reserve Funds as indicated in the report;

and further that it is noted that the total reserve fund allocation is $1,760,887.87 lower than the budgeted amount.

6.4

2022 BIA Budget

The motion will be presented for Council's consideration at the Regular Council Meeting following this session.

Recommendation:  approval of this report will agree with the Treasurer that Council approves the 2022 budget estimates in

the amount of $62,000, as submitted by the Fort Frances Business Improvement Association, and approves the tax rate and BIA special charge levy in the amount of $0, as the BIA is supporting use of prior year surpluses.

6.5

2021 Contribution to Reserve Funds

The motion will be presented for Council's consideration at the Regular Council Meeting following this session.

Recommendation:  approval of this report will agree with the recommendation from the Treasurer  that Council approves the year-end contributions to the reserve funds as follows:

6.6

2022 Ontario Regulation 284-09 Budget Matters

The motion will be presented for Council's consideration at the Regular Council Meeting following this session.

Recommendation:  approval of this report will agree with the recommendation of the Treasurer that Council receives the Ontario Regulation 284/09- Budget Matters disclosure report as presented for the 2022 Operating Budget.

6.7

Chair Judson vacates the Chair with respect to agenda item 6.7 due to his declared conflict of interest.  Councillor Behan assumes the Chair.

Councillor D. Judson RRDMA Per Diem The motion will be presented for Council's consideration at the Regular Council Meeting following this session.

Recommendation:  approval of this report will agree with the recommendation from the Treasurer that Schedule “F” Travel Statement- Mayor/Council Honorarium per diem in the total amount of $80.00 as submitted by Councillor Douglas Judson for attendance at the RRDMA Annual General

Meeting held virtually on January 15, 2022 be approved

6.8

Councillor Judson assumes the Chair.

Councillor Brunetta declared a conflict with respect to agenda item 6.8.

Councillor W Brunetta NOMA Per Diem

The motion will be presented for Council's consideration at the Regular Council Meeting following this session.

Recommendation:  approval of this report will agree with the recommendation from the Treasurer that Schedule “F” Travel Statement- Mayor/Council Honorarium per diem in the total amount of $160.00 as submitted by Councillor Wendy Brunetta for attendance at the NOMA Strategic Planning Session and Board Meeting held virtually on February 22 and 23, 2022 be approved

6.9

Use of Corporate Resources for Election Purposes Policy

The motion will be presented for Council's consideration at the Regular Council Meeting following this session.

Recommendation:  approval of this report will agree with the recommendation from the Municipal Clerk / Returning Officer that Council rescind the Use of Corporate Resources for Election Purposes Policy adopted by resolution Consent Item 310 (04/18) on 2018-04-23 and that a By-Law be prepared to adopt the new proposed Use of Corporate Resources for Election Purposes Policy

6.10

Procedural By-Law - Electronic Participation

The motion will be presented for Council's consideration at the Regular Council Meeting following this session.

Recommendation: approval of this report will agree with the recommendation from the Municipal Clerk that Council consider and discuss how to proceed with electronic participation within its procedural by-law while addressing the needs of Council, Staff and the Public and that based on the discussion the Clerk will compile the information and bring back proposals at a later meeting

6.11

Indemnification By-Law

The motion will be presented for Council's consideration at the Regular Council Meeting following this session.

Recommendation:  approval of this report will agree with the recommendation from the CAO and the Municipal Clerk that Council receive the report re: Indemnification By-Law and that Council directs Staff to bring forward an Indemnification By-Law for review and consideration

7.

Information:

7.1

The following items were received.  Council was provided an opportunity for clarification and questions relating to all information items.

Operations and Facilities Division - Public Works Area - Operations Statistics - February 2022

8.

ADJOURNMENT

8.1

The meeting adjourned at 6:40 p.m

219

Recommendation: THAT this meeting of the Committee of Whole of Council of the Town of Fort Frances be now closed.

CARRIED