Council Meeting

THAT the draft agenda presented to Council and dated the 13th day of February, 2024 be adopted as amended by adding the following under Other Business: a) Bell Canada b) Development of Astorville Property

THAT the Minutes of the Regular Council Meeting of December 12th, 2023 and the Special Meeting of January 16th, 2024 be adopted as circulated.

WHEREAS the Fire and Emergency Services Committee recommends Council enter into an Automatic Aid Agreement with the Municipality of Callander to provide and/or receive fire protection services for the Nipissing Manor facility: BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED that Council approves of this recommendation.

WHEREAS the Parks, Recreation and Culture Committee recommends to Council that the municipality examine the opportunity of providing a connecting walkway between One Mile Road and Centennial Crescent across the municipally owned parkland in conjunction with the broader active transportation plan along Centennial Crescent and MacPherson Drive; BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED that Council approves of this recommendation.

WHEREAS at the East Ferris Police Services Board meeting on January 4 th , 2024, Lucien Chaput, Principal of École Saint-Thomas-d'Aquin, presented to the Board his concerns regarding the speed of traffic in front of the school; AND WHEREAS the Board agrees that traffic control measures are required in the area as the road can become congested during community events and for the safety of students who walk to and from school; AND WHEREAS Staff Sergeant Kraemer was in attendance at the meeting and is in agreeance with the Board; AND WHEREAS the Polices Services Board recommends Council direct staff to look into traffic control measures, such as a flashing school zone sign, on Village Road in front of St. Thomas D’Aquin and the Community Centre; BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED that Council approves of this recommendation.

THAT Council for the Municipality of East Ferris accepts the 2023 Fire Department Activity Report for East Ferris Fire and Emergency Services as outlined in the Fire Chief's Information Report No. FD-2024-01.

THAT Council for the Municipality of East Ferris accept recommendation from the Director of Community Services contained in Report No. PLAN-2023-08 and accept the following reports and direct staff to initiate an Official Plan Amendment and Zoning By-law Amendment based on their recommendations: “J.L. Richards – Trout Lake Plan Directions Report (June 29, 2022)”, “J.L. Richards – Directions Report Addendum (November 2, 2023)” and “Hutchinson Environmental Sciences – Trout Lake Existing Conditions, Issues, Opportunities and Constraints (October 23, 2023)”.

THAT Council for the Municipality of East Ferris accept recommendation from the Director of Community Services contained in Report No. COMM-2024-01 and direct staff to enter into a 4-year agreement with Bay Events to provide their services to organize and implement the East Ferris Tradeshow from 2024 to 2027

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 set tax ratios for the Municipality of East Ferris for the year 2024 BE READ a first, second and third time, passed and numbered 2024-04; 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 amend By-law No. 2023-11: a by-law with respect to the establishment and requirement of the payment of fees for information, services, activities and use of the Corporation's property BE READ a first, second and third time, passed and numbered 2024-05; 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 deem Lots 17, 28-38, 76-78, 80-96, 140-161 and 210-215 on Registered Plan M181 not to be lots on a registered Plan of Subdivision now in the Municipality of East Ferris in the District of Nipissing. further, this By-law deems those portions of Ashwood Avenue, Beechwood Avenue, Elmwood Avenue, Poplar Road, Balsam Road and all laneways located between lots 17, 28-38, 76-78, 80-96, 140-161 and 210-215, as shown on Plan M181, to not be registered as part of a Plan of Subdivision in the Municipality of East Ferris BE READ a first, second and third time, passed and numbered 2024-06; AND THAT said by-law be signed by the Mayor and Clerk and sealed with the Seal of the Corporation.

WHEREAS Section 6.3 of the Municipality of East Ferris Procedural By-law No. 2020-17 states that: "Council shall adjourn its meeting at the hour of 9:00 p.m., if in session at that hour, save and except with the unanimous consent of members present"; AND WHEREAS Council at this time wish to continue the business of the agenda of February 13th, 2024; THEREFORE BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED that Council agree to continue this Council meeting past the hour of 9:00 p.m.

THAT Council approve the Correspondence and Information as circulated with the agenda of February 13th, 2024.

THAT Council approve the 2024 Membership list as presented at the Regular Meeting of Council held February 13th, 2024.

WHEREAS the 2024 Association of Municipalities of Ontario Conference is being held in the City of Ottawa at the Shaw Centre and Westin Ottawa August 18th - 21st, 2024; BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED that all members of Council are approved to attend the 2024 AMO Conference.

THAT Council approve the general accounts for the Municipality of East Ferris as indicated in the cheque register(s) dated February 13th, 2024 in the amount of $1,343,923.68.

WHEREAS in July and August 2021, East Ferris and area municipalities were informed that Bell had received Universal Broadband funding that would provide 50/10 Mbps service to some 8,566 premises throughout the Nipissing area, Bell informally shared maps with area municipalities, and East Ferris would see 98% of homes receiving fiber optic service; AND WHEREAS in April 2022, another announcement was made regarding broadband funding for many of the same areas, again under the Universal Broadband program, but interestingly, this time the areas covered by Bell were reduced to a single project in Nipissing to include the communities of Astorville, East Ferris, Bonfield, Calvin, Kiosk, Mattawa, and Rutherglen; AND WHEREAS in August 2022, the province announced the details of its Accelerated High-Speed Internet Access Program (AHSIP), and many of the areas that had been announced as going to Bell, but did not appear in the April announcement, were now included in this announcement; AND WHEREAS after winning a contract from the provincial government in 2022 to provide fiber optic internet to 98% of East Ferris homes, Bell Canada has yet to begin construction of the project in East Ferris which has a completion deadline of 2025; AND WHEREAS since May 2023, the Municipality of East Ferris has repeatedly invited Bell to appear before Council to discuss the project scope, but Bell has continuously declined our invitations and has privately communicated to the Municipality about its inten

WHEREAS the former school located at 1392 Village Road in Astorville has been vacant since 2015; AND WHEREAS the said property was sold by the school board in 2017 and the new owners had plans to develop housing on the site; AND WHEREAS in 2023 the said property was resold to a new owner who has plans to develop housing on the property; AND WHEREAS Council for the Corporation of the Municipality deems it a priority that any vacant building in East Ferris be developed; AND WHEREAS Council in their 2023-2026 Strategic Plan have directed staff to advocate for increased seniors housing; BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED THAT Council for the Corporation of the Municipality of East Ferris authorizes the Chief Administrative Officer to use municipal resources to assist the current owner of the said property with the preparation and submission of a funding application to CMHC.

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 December 12th, 2023 to February 13th, 2024, BE READ a first, second and third time, passed and numbered 2024-07; 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 9:31 p.m. and meet again on February 27th, 2024.