Council Meeting

THAT the draft agenda presented to Council and dated the 28th day of November, 2023 be adopted as amended by adding the following: -16. Other Business - Canadian Emergency Business Account Loan Repayments -17. In-Camera - Cassellholme

THAT the Minutes of the Regular Council Meeting of November 14th, 2023 and the Special Council Meeting of November 14th, 2023 be adopted as circulated.

THAT Council for the Corporation of the Municipality of East Ferris authorizes the Chief Administrative Officer/Treasurer to submit an application to Emergency Management Ontario’s Community Emergency Preparedness Grant 2023-24 for a minimum of $5,000 to a maximum of $50,000; AND FURTHER THAT the Chief Administrative Officer/Treasurer be authorized to commit to a contract with the Government of Ontario.

THAT By-law No. 2023-48 being a By-law to authorize the execution of a condominium agreement for 1278 Village Road between Jeffrey James Staples and 845826 Ontario Inc. and the Corporation of the Municipality of East Ferris, BE READ a third time and passed this 28th day of November, 2023; AND THAT said By-Law be signed by the Mayor and Clerk, and sealed with the Seal of the Corporation.

WHEREAS Council for the Municipality of East Ferris deems it expedient to pass three readings of the following by-law at this session; BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED THAT a By-law to reappoint David C. King, Municipal Advisory Services (MAS), as the Integrity Commissioner for the Municipality of East Ferris BE READ a first, second and third time, passed and numbered 2023-50; AND THAT said by-law be signed by the Mayor and Clerk and sealed with the Seal of the Corporation.

WHEREAS the 2024 Good Roads Conference is being held at the Fairmont Royal York in Toronto April 21st - 24th, 2024; BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED that the following members of Council are approved to attend the 2024 Good Roads Conference: Councillor Kelly, Councillor Trahan, Councillor Champagne, Mayor Rochefort.

WHEREAS Near North Crime Stoppers serves the Districts of Nipissing and Parry Sound and enhances community safety across the region; AND WHEREAS to date, Near North Crime Stoppers has received over 22,468 calls from tipsters, contributing to the arrest of 1,786 individuals, over $4.3 million in property and cash has been recovered and over $58 million in drugs destined for our communities have been seized because of Crime Stoppers; BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED that Council of the Corporation of the Municipality of East Ferris hereby authorizes the declaration of the month of January 2024 as Crime Stoppers Month in the Municipality of East Ferris.

THAT Council approve the Correspondence and Information as circulated with the agenda of November 28th, 2023.

THAT the Council for the Municipality of East Ferris supports the letter received from MPP Bourgouin regarding highway safety and the act of passing on the left side of a lane when it is marked with two solid yellow lines.

WHEREAS section 5.3 of the Council Procedural By-law No. 2020-17 states that there shall only be one meeting of Council held in the December; BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED that Council for the Municipality of East Ferris cancel the regular scheduled meeting of December 26th; AND THAT a Special Meeting of Council be scheduled in accordance with Section 240 of the Municipal Act, as amended at the call of the Chair if required.

THAT Council approve the general accounts for the Municipality of East Ferris as indicated in the cheque register(s) dated November 28th, 2023 in the amount of $279,573.39.

THAT Council for the Municipality of East Ferris requests that the deadline for Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA) Loan Repayment be extended from January 18th, 2024 to June 30th, 2024; AND FURTHER THAT this extension still allow businesses to qualify for partial loan forgiveness up to 33%; AND FURTHER THAT that a copy of this resolution be sent to MP, Anthony Rota, Prime Minister, Trudeau, and Minister of Finance, Chrystia Freeland.

THAT this meeting proceeds to In-Camera session at 7:27 p.m., under Section 239(2)(b) of the Municipal Act, 2001, S.O. 2001, c.25 in order to address matters pertaining to: Personal matters about an identifiable individual, including municipal or local board employees pertaining to the Senior`s Villas and Cassellholme.

THAT we do now adjourn this In-Camera meeting at 8:07 p.m. and return to our regular session of Council.

WHEREAS the Board of Management governance structure for Territorial District Homes under Section 128 of Ontario's Fixing Long-Term Care Act, 2021 is an antiquated model that is flawed for several reasons; AND WHEREAS seven (7) of the current nine (9) member municipalities for the District of Nipissing East Home for the Aged (Cassellholme) are requesting that a review of the existing legislation that governs Territorial District Homes be performed by the Ministry of Long-Term Care in consultation with member municipalities of the six (6) Territorial District Homes governed by a Board of Management; AND WHEREAS the Mayors of seven (7) of the nine (9) member municipalities for the District of Nipissing East Home for the Aged (Cassellholme) have prepared a letter to Honourable Stan Cho, Minister of Long-Term Care outlining the issues and concerns with the current legislation; BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED THAT Council for the Corporation of the Municipality of East Ferris endorses the letter as attached to this Resolution.

WHEREAS Council for the Municipality of East Ferris deems it expedient to pass three readings of the following by-law at this session; BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED THAT a By-law to confirm the proceedings of Council from November 14th, 2023 to November 28th, 2023, BE READ a first, second and third time, passed and numbered 2023-51; AND THAT said by-law be signed by the Mayor and Clerk and sealed with the Seal of the Corporation.

THAT we do now adjourn at 8:10 p.m. and meet again on December 12th, 2023.