Council Meeting

THAT the draft agenda presented to Council and dated the 12th day of August, 2025 be adopted as prepared.

THAT the Minutes of the Regular Council Meeting of July 8th, 2025 be adopted as circulated.

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 authorize an agreement between the Corporation of the Municipality of East Ferris, and Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) for capital project funding, BE READ a first, second and third time, passed and numbered 2025-38; 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 authorize the CAO/Treasurer to submit an application to Ontario Infrastructure and Lands Corporation for the financing of certain new capital projects , BE READ a first, second and third time, passed and numbered 2025-39; 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 appoint a Municipal Law Enforcement Officer BE READ a first, second and third time, passed and numbered 2025-40; AND THAT said by-law be signed by the Mayor and Clerk and sealed with the Seal of the Corporation.

WHEREAS the 2025 Northeastern Municipal Council Workshop Conference is taking place in Sudbury on October 21st and 22nd, 2025; BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED that all members of Council be approved to attend the workshop; AND FURTHER that staff be directed to register members accordingly.

WHEREAS the Northern Ontario Resource Development Support (NORDS) pilot program was introduced to help Northern Ontario municipalities address infrastructure pressures resulting from natural resource sector activities; AND WHEREAS the funding provided through the NORDS pilot was very well received by the municipal sector, as it delivered timely and much-needed financial support to many communities across the North; AND WHEREAS the program has allowed municipalities, such as the City of North Bay, to strategically stack multi-year allocations in order to support large-scale infrastructure initiatives critical to community development and economic growth; AND WHEREAS the NORDS pilot program has clearly demonstrated its value and effectiveness in helping Northern municipalities address the infrastructure challenges tied to resource development and extraction; AND WHEREAS rural and northern municipalities are also facing infrastructure degradation resulting from the increasing size and frequency of agricultural machinery and activity, which is currently outside the scope of the pilot; THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Council of the Municipality of East Ferris strongly urges the Government of Ontario to make the Northern Ontario Resource Development Support (NORDS) program a permanent fixture of its support to Northern municipalities; AND FURTHER THAT the Province consider expanding program eligibility to recognize the significant impact that agricultural equipment and operations

WHEREAS Rail Safety Week is to be held across Canada from September 15 to 21, 2025; WHEREAS 261 railway crossing and trespassing incidents occurred in Canada in 2024; resulting in 68 avoidable fatalities and 58 avoidable serious injuries; WHEREAS educating and informing the public about rail safety (reminding the public that railway rights-of-way are private property, enhancing public awareness of the dangers associated with highway rail grade crossings, ensuring pedestrians and motorists are looking and listening while near railways, and obeying established traffic laws) will reduce the number of avoidable fatalities and injuries cause by incidents involving trains and citizens; and WHEREAS Operation Lifesaver is a public/private partnership whose aim is to work with the public, rail industry, governments, indigenous communities, police services, media and others to raise rail safety awareness; and WHEREAS CN and Operation Lifesaver have requested City Council adopt this resolution in support of its ongoing efforts to raise awareness, save lives and prevent injuries in communities, including our municipality. NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Council for the Municipality of East Ferris supports national Rail Safety Week to be held from September 15 to 21, 2025.

WHEREAS the Municipality of East Ferris received a request for support from the City of St. Catharines Council calling on elected officials, organizations and community members to support the Elect Respect campaign and sign the online pledge at www.electrespect.ca; NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Municipality of East Ferris Council supports the Elect Respect pledge and commits to: •Treat others with respect in all spaces—public, private, and online, •Reject and call out harassment, abuse, and personal attacks, •Focus debate on ideas and policies, not personal attacks, •Help build a supportive culture where people of all backgrounds feel safe to run for and hold office, •Call on relevant authorities to ensure the protection of elected officials who face abuse or threats, and •Model integrity and respect by holding one another to the highest standards of conduct; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution be sent to, relevant MPs and MPPs, the Ontario Provincial Police and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

THAT Council approve the Correspondence and Information as circulated with the agenda of August 12th, 2025.

THAT Council approve the general accounts for the Municipality of East Ferris as indicated in the cheque register(s) dated August 12th, 2025 in the amount of $967,355.55.

THAT this meeting proceeds to In-Camera session at 6:06 p.m., under Section 239(2) of the Municipal Act, 2001, S.O. 2001, c.25 in order to address a matter pertaining to: (b) personal matters about an identifiable individual, including municipal or local board employees for a discussion regarding Volunteer Appreciation nominations; and (c) a proposed or pending acquisition or disposition of land by the municipality or local board for a discussion regarding a potential land acquisition.

THAT Council does now return to regular session at 6:38 p.m.

WHEREAS Council reviewed the draft In-Camera Minutes from the Recreation, Parks and Culture Committee meeting held July 15 th , 2025 regarding the “Volunteer Recognition Program” Nominations; BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED that Council approves of the recommendations from the Recreation, Parks and Culture Committee and approve the four nominations selected.

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 July 8th, 2025 to August 12th, 2025, BE READ a first, second and third time, passed and numbered 2025-41; 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 6:39 p.m. and meet again on September 9th, 2025.