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There were no surprises in terms of Council’s decisions. Item 9.3.1 – Consent Application B/06/2021 – Barnes, is worth reviewing if you are thinking about subdividing your property. Council and Staff have been very accommodating in approving the addition of secondary residence units, but there apparently is a limit. This decision may help better define where the actual limit might lie.

Council Minutes (Abridged)

Closed Meeting
(f) advice that is subject to solicitor-client privilege, including communications necessary for that purpose; (Sifto Canada Corporation lease of Smelter Wharf).

Questions of Staff
3.2.1 – In response to Councillor Keith’s inquiry regarding whether the Town should put up signage at the Salt Dock launch warning about ice conditions, Director of Development and Protective Services Dave Thompson reported that while it does not seem the Town bears responsibility for a casualty on the ice, the Town could promote a message advising people to stay off the ice as the weather warms, and that a media campaign with the same message would be beneficial.

3.2.2 – In response to Councillor Backman’s inquiry as to estimated completion date of repairs on the CN trestle over William Street, Director of Public Works Mike Kearns reported that it will be about one month, as there is only a short window of time each day within which the crews can work. As the times that the crews work there vary, signage indicating closure at certain times would be misleading and therefore not recommended.

Correspondence
4.1 – Municipality of McDougall.
Defeated Resolution to support Parry Sound removal from Planning Board.

4.2 – Don Brisbane, North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit Board Member.
Resignation from the Board of Health effective March 1, 2021

4.3 – Seguin Township.
Support Resolution requesting Health Unit publish WPS Area COVID statistics.
Support Resolution requesting more proactive communication from Health Unit.

4.4 – Township of The Archipelago.
Support Resolution requesting Health Unit publish WPS Area COVID statistics.

4.5 – Municipality of McDougall.
Support Resolution requesting Health Unit publish WPS Area COVID statistics.
Support Resolution requesting more proactive communication from Health Unit.
Support Resolution requesting Health Unit establish bi-weekly meetings with WPS Area Mayors.
Appointment of Mayor Jamie McGarvey to Health Unit Board.

4.6 – Township of Carling.
Support Resolution requesting Health Unit publish WPS Area COVID statistics.
Support Resolution requesting Health Unit establish bi-weekly meetings with WPS Area Mayors.
Appointment of Mayor Jamie McGarvey to Health Unit Board.

4.7 – Township of McKellar.
Appointment of Mayor Jamie McGarvey to Health Unit Board.

4.8 – Municipality of Magnetawan.
Support Resolution requesting more proactive communication from Health Unit.

4.9 – Jim Chirico, Medical Officer of Health/Executive Director NBPSDHU (Health Unit).
Response to municipal request to publish COVID-19 data for WPS.
Establishment of bi-weekly meetings with WPS Area Mayors.
Notice of Don Brisbane resignation from NBPS District Health Board.

4.10 – Margaret McCullough.
Request to enact animal welfare legislation to combat puppy mills.

All items of correspondence were filed, with notice that item 4.2 being Don Brisbane’s letter of resignation from the Board of Health of the North Bay Parry Sound District Health Board, as well as any resolutions received from area municipalities appointing a member to the Board of Health were considered under item 9.4.2.

Deputations
5.1 – James Murphy, RTO12-Explorers’ Edge.
Activities Update in support of Tourism sector in Parry Sound and Area.
James Murphy opened his presentation with an acknowledgement that it is being conducted on the traditional lands of the Anishnabek people – party to the Robinson- Huron Treaty of 1850.
Mr. Murphy addressed four issues in his presentation – Business Landscape, Work-to-Date/Upcoming; Business and Operational Plan – new direction; and Workforce development/catalyst housing.
With respect to the business landscape, Mr. Murphy identified statistical participation by Parry Sound businesses with Explorers’ Edge, industry webinars and newsletters issued, and local participation on the Explorers’ Edge (EE) Board.
Projects undertaken were the Cottage Country Spirit Local Travel Packages for Summer/Fall and again in Winter which provided vouchers to encourage shopping at local participating businesses; the Winter Arts Collective promoting ceramic artists, metal/wood workers, performance arts, musicians, fashion/jewellery designers, painters, etc; Fat Bike Friday phone in to CKLP Moose FM for prize vouchers to local businesses; and Great Lakes Cruising Coalition Support. Mr. Murphy described efforts to recruit students to tourism and hospitality programs as enrollment has dropped; he reported that a new website is set to launch with the successful Great Canadian Wilderness branding; and introduced a work-integrated housing ecosystem model to develop and sustain a tourism workforce in the area.
In response to questions from members of Council, Mr. Murphy said that a satellite office in Parry Sound was trialed and did not seem to provide value, but that EE welcomed the opportunity to make presentations and welcomed partnerships with associations, with the ultimate goal of supporting the small business operators. Mr. Murphy suggested that perhaps a survey to small business operators on what they want from EE would be useful. Mr. Murphy noted that the Great Canadian Wilderness brand, proximity to an international airport and the large urban GTA, as well as existing and proposed marketing efforts will poise the Parry Sound area well for tourism coming out of the pandemic.

5.2 – Steve Barnes, proponent for the consent application to sever property on the William Street/Hillcrest Ave. corner in Parry Sound addressed Council in support of his application, and in opposition to the staff report which recommended denial of his application, (item 9.3.1). Mr. Barnes noted that on the existing property there are 2 separate homes with separate addresses and that within the larger home, an additional residence has been created, satisfying the intent of the Official Plan’s promotion of secondary dwelling units throughout Town. Mr. Barnes suggested that if successful in severing the single unit dwelling and it goes to market, it would make a good starter home for a first-time homebuyer which should also be important. Mr. Barnes acknowledged that the lot sizes would be small, however suggested that many lots in Town and especially in this neighbourhood were small.

Resolutions and Direction to Staff
9.2.1 – 2020 Water System Summary Report.
Resolution
Whereas the Town of Parry Sound owns and operates the Parry Sound Drinking Water System (M.O.E. Designation Number 2200000585) which has been categorized as a “Large Residential” Drinking Water System, and
Whereas Ontario Regulation 170-03 (as amended) under the Safe Drinking Water Act requires, according to “Schedule 22 Summary Reports for Municipalities” that all large Municipal Residential Drinking water systems have a report prepared no later than March 31st of each year addressing the items detailed in the Regulation and is given to the members of Council in the case of a drinking water system owned by a municipality;
Therefore, be it resolved that Council of the Town of Parry Sound hereby acknowledges receipt of the report titled:
“Town of Parry Sound Tony Agnello Water Treatment Plan, Large Municipal Residential Drinking Water System Summary Report 2020”, as prepared by Kyle Hall, Manager of Water Systems.
Carried

In response to a councillor inquiry, Director of Public Works Mike Kearns confirmed that year over year information could be provided, preferable in a different report, to compare, for example, the capacity that the Water Treatment Plant operates on as an average maximum daily flow, which might relate to development growth, etc.

9.3.1 – Consent Application B/06/2021 – Barnes.
Prior to Council’s consideration of the resolution, Mr. Elgie responded to aspects of Mr. Barnes deputation under item 5.2, noting that his main concern was that if he recommended approval for the severance of this very sub-sized lot, it would set precedent, with an expectation for approval of future applications to sever garage- turned rental accommodation into freehold units. This would result in circumventing the intent of the provincial policy statements which support secondary rental units on residential property.
Resolution
That Council of the Town of Parry Sound hereby recommends denial of Parry Sound Area Planning Board Application Number B/06/2021 – Barnes.
Carried

9.4.1 – Extension of Virtual Council Meetings.
Resolution
Whereas the COVID-19 Economic Recovery Act, 2020, S.O. 2020, c. 18 expanded the opportunity for Municipal Councils, Local Boards and their Committees to meet electronically, and
Whereas in response, Council passed By-law 2020 – 7061 permitting by means of a resolution, certain expanded terms of electronic participation at meetings of Council, Local Boards and its Committees; and
Whereas pursuant to By-law 2020-7061, Council extended by Resolutions 2020-082 and 2020-112 until March 31, 2021 expanded terms of electronic participation at meetings; and
Whereas best-case COVID-19 vaccine roll-out plans suggest an autumn, 2021 date before all residents of Canada desiring a vaccine will be able to receive one; and
Whereas public health experts advise that as the vaccine is rolled out, practices such as physical distancing, masking, and limiting the number of individuals in gatherings continue to be important measures to combat transmission of COVID-19 virus and its variants;
Now Therefore Be It Resolved that Council of the Corporation of the Town of Parry Sound extends until December 31, 2021 the terms of electronic participation at meetings of Council, Local Boards or Committees of either them per the following:
a) electronic participation counts towards quorum;
b) electronic participants are permitted to vote; and
c) electronic participation is permitted in a meeting closed to the public.
Carried

9.4.2 – Appointment to the North Bay Parry District Health Unit Board.
Resolution
That Whereas Council of the Corporation of the Town of Parry Sound has received notice of the resignation of Don Brisbane from the Board of Health of the North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit, representing the West Parry Sound municipalities; and
Whereas Council has received resolutions from the Township of Carling, Municipality of McDougall, and the Township of McKellar nominating/approving the appointment of Mayor Jamie McGarvey to fill the vacancy, with similar nominations being considered by the Township of The Archipelago, Seguin Township and the Municipality of Whitestone at their next respective Council meetings;
Now Therefore Council of the Corporation of the Town of Parry Sound accepts, effective March 2, 2021, the resignation of Don Brisbane from the Board of Health of the North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit with appreciation for his sixteen years of service in this capacity; and
That effective upon nomination/appointment from all seven West Parry Sound municipalities, Mayor Jamie McGarvey is hereby appointed as joint representative for the seven West Parry Sound municipalities on the Board of Health for the North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit for a term ending November 30, 2022, or until a successor appointment is made.
Carried

By-laws
10.2.1 – Delegation of Authority: MOU with NBPSDHU for use of BOCC as mass vaccination site.
By-law 2021 – 7113
Being a by-law to delegate signing authority to Clayton Harris, CAO, for the purpose of authorizing an MOU for use of the Bobby Orr Community Centre by the North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit as a mass COVID-19 public vaccination location.
Passed, Signed & Sealed.

10.2.2 – Partnership with STEM Camp to Deliver Youth Camp Programs at the Bobby Orr Community Centre.
By-law 2021 – 7114
Being a By-law to authorize the execution of a agreement with STEM Camp for the delivery of education based youth camp programming.
Passed, Signed & Sealed.