Council Minutes

April 14, 2004

 

A meeting of the Town Council of the Town of Yarmouth was held on Wednesday, April 14, 2004 in the Council Chambers of the Town Hall, Yarmouth, N. S.

CALL TO ORDER

The Mayor called the meeting to order at 7: 30 p.m. with the playing of O= Canada.

RECORD OF ATTENDANCE

APPROVAL OF AGENDA

MOVED BY Councillor Dares, SECONDED BY Councillor Pink that the agenda be approved, as circulated.

                                        MOTION CARRIED

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

MOVED BY Councillor Boudreau, SECONDED BY Councillor Strickland that the minutes of March 11, 2004 (Public Hearing and Regular meeting) as well as the March 25, 2004 (Special meeting) be approved, as circulated.

                                        MOTION CARRIED

BUSINESS ARISING

CANADIAN CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS BY-LAW (2ND Reading)

MOVED BY Deputy Mayor Hood, SECONDED BY Councillor Pink that the 2nd Reading of the Canadian Charitable Organizations By-law be referred to the Finance Committee to consider additional requests for tax exemption.

                                        MOTION CARRIED

PAGE 3102

DELEGATION C RICK GOODWIN RE: TOBEATIC WILDERNESS

The Mayor welcomed Rick Goodwin and Justin Gray, representing lease holders within the Tobeatic Wilderness. (Appendix A)

Mr. Goodwin advised their main concerns were with the proposed management plan to have all private leases located within the Tobeatic Wilderness area terminated by 2010 and the ban of all motorized vehicles within the Tobeatic Wilderness area. They asked that Council support their request by writing a letter to Minister Kerry Morash, Department of Environment & Labour, as well as MLA, Richard Hurlburt and Chris d= Entremont.

The CAO advised that a draft of the management plan is scheduled to be released the 1st week of May which will provide Council with additional information and would also provide an avenue for the public to address any concerns they may have.

MOVED BY Councillor Pink, SECONDED BY Councillor Strickland that a letter be forwarded to the Minister of Environment & Labour, MLA Richard Hurlburt and Chris d= Entremont encouraging them to hear the concerns and view of the citizens concerned about the loss of camp leases, private lands and associated uses in the Tobeatic Wilderness area.

Editor=s Note: Deputy Mayor Hood advised that Council does not have any authority to intervene with any lease agreement for Crown lands.

                                        MOTION CARRIED

CORRESPONDENCE FOR ACTION

WOMEN= S AUXILIARY C RENTAL FEES AT MARINERS CENTRE

Correspondence from Marilyn Burns, Co-Chair Hullabaloo > 04 requesting the Town of Yarmouth cost share with the Municipality of the District of Yarmouth, on the fees associated with the rental of the Mariners Centre for the 2004 Hullabaloo, was considered.

MOVED BY Councillor Strickland, SECONDED BY Councillor Boudreau that the request from the Women= s Auxiliary for the Town of Yarmouth to cost share with the Municipality of the District of Yarmouth the rental fees at Mariners Centre for the 2004 Hullabaloo, be referred to the Finance Committee for consideration.

                                        MOTION CARRIED

PAGE 3103

YARMOUTH COUNTY TOURIST ASSOCIATION C REQUEST FOR FUNDING

Correspondence from Robert Benson, President Yarmouth County Tourist Association, requesting financial assistance to help in expanding this industry, was considered.

MOVED BY Councillor Strickland, SECONDED BY Councillor Pink that the request for financial assistance from the Yarmouth County Tourist Association to help expand the tourist industry for this area, be referred to the Finance Committee for consideration.

                                        MOTION CARRIED

WASTE CHECK C SECOND GENERATION LANDFILL

Correspondence from Jean Melanson, Chair Western Region Solid Waste Resource Management Authority, requesting open dialogue with the Town of Yarmouth to discuss mutual issues regarding landfill options, was considered.

MOVED BY Councillor Dares, SECONDED BY Councillor Strickland that staff be directed to commence discussions with Waste Check concerning landfill options.

                                        MOTION CARRIED

MARIE ATKINSON, RETURNING OFFICER C VOTERS LIST

Correspondence from Marie Atkinson, Returning Officer requesting direction from Council regarding the preliminary list of electors, was considered.

MOVED BY Councillor Pink, SECONDED BY Councillor Strickland that the recommendations from Marie Atkinson, Returning Officer, which include utilization of the Provincial or Federal List of Electors in the upcoming election, be approved.

                                        MOTION CARRIED

CORRESPONDENCE FOR INFORMATION

NATHAN SMITH, MAYOR CITY OF PORTLAND B LETTER OF THANKS

Councillor Dares requested that a copy of the report from the meeting held at the Grand Hotel regarding ports be forwarded to Council.

PAGE 3104

DAVID MORSE, DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY SERVICES B RENT SUPPLEMENT UNITS

Councillor Dares questioned the placement of the rent supplement units. Mayor Crosby advised correspondence had been received advising that the rent units will remain within this community.

PREVIOUSLY DISTRIBUTED

AIRPORT COMMISSION

Mayor Crosby advised there is a meeting scheduled for Friday , April 16, 2004 with Council representatives and CAOs of the three municipal units to further discuss the financial request from the Airport Commission.

REPORTS

FINANCE COMMITTEE

Councillor Pink advised there will be a Finance Committee meeting Saturday, April 17, 2004 at the Town Hall to consider grants to organizations.

PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE

The CAO advised invited tenders were requested from four local truck dealers for the supply of a 2004 compact pickup truck for the Operational Services Department based upon both straight purchase pricing and leasing.

After reviewing the specifications, it is recommended that the tender be awarded to Tusket Sales and Service Ltd based on a 3 year lease with monthly payments of $338.67 + HST.

MOVED BY Deputy Mayor Hood, SECONDED BY Councillor Strickland that the tender for a 2004 compact pickup truck for the Operational Services Department be awarded to Tusket Sales and Service Ltd based on a 3 year lease with monthly payments of $338.67 + HST, be approved.

                                        MOTION CARRIED

FIRE POLICY ADVISORY COMMITTEE

Councillor Pink, Chair Fire Policy Advisory Committee, brought forward a request from the Committee requesting Veteran Status for Robert Reid for providing fifty years of volunteer services to the Fire Department.

PAGE 3105

MOVED BY Councillor Pink, SECONDED BY Councillor Dares that the recommendation from the Fire Policy Advisory Committee requesting that Robert Reid be granted Veteran Status with the Yarmouth Fire Department, be approved.

                                        MOTION CARRIED

Mayor Crosby advised that there were two individuals within the Fire Department who had provided fifty years of service and suggested that the Fire Policy Advisory Committee work with the Fire Chief to bring a recommendation to Council to recognize these individuals.

Councillor Pink advised that Mr. Harry Doane, had recently passed away at 101 years of age and that he was the oldest living veteran.

PLANNING ADVISORY COMMITTEE

Councillor Judge brought forward the following recommendations from the Public Hearing:

Editor=s note: Deputy Mayor Hood did not attend the Public Hearing and stepped away from the Council for the following recommendations.

MOVED BY Councillor Boudreau, SECONDED BY Councillor Dares to amend the Land Use By-law, in particular the Zoning Map, Schedule A A@ , thereby rezoning 86 Parade Street from Low Density Residential (R-1) to Medium Density Residential (R-2).

                                        MOTION CARRIED

Editor= s Note: Mayor Crosby and Councillor Judge declared a conflict of interest and removed themselves from the Council table for the following recommendation.

MOVED BY Councillor Boudreau, SECONDED BY Councillor Dares to amend the Land Use By-law, in particular the Zoning Map, Schedule A A@ , thereby rezoning 13 Kempt Street from Low Density Residential (R-1) to Medium Density Residential (R-2).

                                        MOTION CARRIED

Editor= s Note: Deputy Mayor Hood, Mayor Crosby and Councillor Judge returned to the Council table at this time.

 

PAGE 3106

YARMOUTH WATER UTILITY

Deputy Mayor Hood advised the Public Works Department had begun their flushing program and that there may be some discoloring of the water during this process.

JOINT HERITAGE ADVISORY COMMITTEE

Councillor Dares advised the Cape Forchu Light Station was registered as a Heritage Property on April 2, 2004, which was well attended.

Councillor Dares also mentioned that at the last Joint Heritage Advisory Committee meeting there was a presentation about Canadian Registration of historic places. She advised the Federal Government is encouraging municipal units to endorse the entry of municipal heritage properties.

MOVED BY Councillor Dares, SECONDED BY Councillor Pink that staff be instructed to contact Alan North and obtain additional information on how the Town can participate in the Canadian Registration of historic places and obtain the consent of property owners to permit their properties to be placed on the web site.

                                        MOTION CARRIED

JOINT LEISURE SERVICES COMMITTEE

Councillor Dares advised the Volunteer reception is scheduled for Monday, April 19 at 7:00 p.m. at the Town Hall.

OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY COMMITTEE

Councillor Boudreau advised the committee met on March 17, 2004. They also toured the new Public Works Building and everything appeared in order.

JOINT EMERGENCY MEASURES COMMITTEE

Councillor Boudreau advised the Joint Emergency Measures Committee met on April 6, 2004 and their next meeting is scheduled for May 4, 2004. He thanked the Nova Scotia Community College for the excellent work done by the carpentry class for their desks.

 

PAGE 3107

NEW BUSINESS

HOUSING B COUNCILLOR STRICKLAND

Councillor Strickland suggested that Council officially state their intent regarding a partnership with the Provincial and Federal governments for home ownership agreement programs.

MOVED BY Councillor Strickland, SECONDED BY Councillor Boudreau that correspondence be forwarded to the Minister of Community Services, copied to Gordon MacPherson, Regional Director, and MLA Richard Hurlburt, that the Town of Yarmouth expresses an interest in a partnership with the Federal and Provincial governments for home ownership agreement programs as per the Federal/Provincial Affordable Housing Program.

                                        MOTION CARRIED

STAFF REPORTS

MEMO FROM RAY GALLANT RE UPDATES B WASTE CHECK/SPCA

The CAO referred to a memo from former CAO, Ray Gallant outlining further information regarding Waste Check as well as a perspective on animal control issues.

MOVED BY Councillor Dares, SECONDED BY Councillor Boudreau that the SPCA issue be referred to the Finance Committee for consideration during budget deliberations.

                                        MOTION CARRIED

In response to questioning, the CAO advised the Town had received a Ministerial Order outlining outstanding issues regarding the Compost Facility. The CAO advised he had met with a representative of the Department of Environment earlier today and reviewed these issues. He also advised the Town is in the process of carrying out these orders and that the process is ongoing.

Deputy Mayor Hood advised there are serious issues regarding Waste Check, the 2nd Generation Landfill, etc. and that there are numerous questions to be asked regarding these issues. He suggested an A In Camera@ meeting be set to discuss these issues.

MOVED BY Deputy Mayor Hood, SECONDED BY Councillor Boudreau that the CAO be directed to obtain additional information and bring Council up-to-date on various outstanding issues such as Waste Check, 2nd Generation Landfill, Compost Facility, etc.

                                        MOTION CARRIED

PAGE 3108

 

PUBLIC SECTOR ACCOUNTING BOARD COMPLIANCE

AUDIT COMMITTEE

The CAO referred to a previously circulated memo regarding Public Sector Accounting Board Compliance and the recommendations regarding the presentation of financial statements. He advised the Town= s auditors urged the Town to appoint an Audit Committee consisting of three or four members of Council to review the audit plan and identify areas of concern for the auditor, etc.

It was suggested that the Chair of the Finance Committee, Councillor Pink, Mayor Crosby, Councillor Strickland and Councillor Dares be the representatives on this Committee.

MOVED By Councillor Boudreau, SECONDED BY Councillor Judge that the four representatives on the Audit Committee be Martin Pink, Chair of the Finance Committee, Mayor Crosby, Councillor Strickland and Councillor Dares.

                                        MOTION CARRIED

WOOD CHIPS

In response to questions, the CAO advised the Town of Yarmouth carried out a A test burn@ of wood chips from the Landfill. He advised the test was a success and the Town would be continuing to chip wood at the Landfill to sell for consumption at a wood chip generation plant in Brooklyn, Queens County.

 

APPROVAL OF INVOICES

MOVED BY Councillor Dares, SECONDED BY Councillor Pink that the invoices as approved by the various chairs be authorized for payment.

                                        MOTION CARRIED

PAGE 3109

NEXT MEETING

IT WAS AGREED the next regular meeting would be scheduled for May 13, 2004.

ADJOURNMENT

Meeting adjourned at 8:45 p.m.

___________________________________

MAYOR

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CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER