It’s time for another meeting of the Parry Sound Council, and there is nothing of a ‘mission critical’ nature on the agenda as far as I can see. There are a few items worth noting as summarized below.
DBA – Items 4.3 and 9.4.2 start the process of strategic plan for the Parry Sound Downtown Business Association.
Trail Link – Items 4.4, 5.2, 8.3 and 9.1.1 are all ‘linked’ with the resignation of Wendall Fisher as chair of the 8 to 80 Committee and the opening of a new trail.
Sale of CN Station – Item 9.3.1. The station, after the previous sale fell through, is being sold for the reduced price of $80,000. That’s a bargain of sorts for the right opportunity.
Bobby Orr Community Centre Upgrade – Item 9.4.1. An investment of $40,000 is required to dehumidify the facility to permit the installation of the ice surface. A climate change consequence? Perhaps we’ll just need to shorten the hockey season in Canada.
Additional items and information can be found below and in the Town’s full Meeting Agenda.
Closed Session
d) labour relations or employee negotiations. (Succession Planning & Organizational Redesign, Personnel Update)
e) litigation or pending litigation, including matters before administrative tribunals, affecting the municipality or local board. (Zoning Matter)
Correspondence
4.3 – Susan Hyrcyna, EA for Parry Sound Downtown Business Association (PSDBA). Re: Recommendation by the Board to accept the proposal received from Ontario Business Improvement Area Association (OBIAA) and Page By Page Consulting to develop a Strategic Plan for the PSDBA by working with the Downtown Steering Committee and the PSDBA Board.
4.4 – Wink Fisher, Chair – 8-80’s Committee of Council. Re: Mr. Fisher’s resignation from the Committee due to health reasons.
Deputations
5.1 – Trevor Pinn, Director of Finance and POA Court Services. Re: Demonstration of Budget Tool Software.
5.2 – Becky Pollack and Susan Woodhouse, on behalf of the Parry. Sound Active Transportation Committee Re: Request for signage support and contribution on the trail link extending from Mall Drive along Parry Sound Drive to the Nobel Trail. Also request support to name the trail link “Wink’s Link” in recognition of Wendall Fisher’s contribution to the building of this trail through his work in the Parry Sound Area Active Transportation group.
Consent Agenda
8.2 – Audited Statements for Land Ambulance and POA Court Services. Resolution. Whereas the Council for the Town of Parry Sound has previously approved the draft Consolidated Audited Financial Statements for the Town of Parry Sound for the year ending December 31, 2016; And Whereas the Town issues two supplementary statements for the Administration of the POA Court and the Administration of the Land Ambulance Service; Now therefore be it resolved that the Council for the Town of Parry Sound approves, substantially as attached as Schedules “A” and “B”, the audited statements for the Administration of the POA Services and the Administration of the Land Ambulance Service for the year ended December 31, 2016.
8.3 – Wink Fisher, Chair – 8-80’s Committee of Council. Resolution. Whereas Mr. Fisher has served on the 8-80’s Committee of Council since it’s inception; and Whereas Council is very appreciative of Mr. Fisher contribution to the 8-80’s Committee; Now, therefore Be It Resolved that Council accepts, with regret, Mr. Fisher’s resignation as Chair and member of this Committee.
Resolutions and Direction to Staff
9.1.1 – Naming of the Parry Sound to McDougall Trail Link and Signage. Resolution. That Council fully supports the naming of the ‘Link’ trail to McDougall “Wink’s Link Community Path” and that an appropriate sign be constructed at the Town entrance to the Trail to be funded from the Trials Master Plan budget at a cost of up to $1,500.
9.3.1 – Sale of CN Station – 1 Station Road. Resolution. That Council accepts the offer of purchase from Scott Ben Michaud for the purchase of the CN station and property located at 1 Station Road, Parry Sound, in the amount of Eighty thousand dollars ($80,000.00); And further that Council directs staff to retain the services of a solicitor to prepare the final Agreement of Purchase and Sale; And further, that the net proceeds from the sale be placed in the Capital Asset Legacy Reserve fund.
9.4.1 – BOCC: Emergency Dehumidifier Replacement. Resolution. That Council authorize staff to single source the delivery and installation one (1) RefPlus DDE-2500 Ice Rink Desiccant Dehumidifier, from Cimco Refrigeration, for an approximate total of $40, 000, including HST, and that it be funded from the Building Replacement Reserve.
9.4.2 – Downtown Business Association (DBA) Strategic Plan RFP. Resolution. That upon the recommendation of the Downtown Steering Committee, Council accept the proposal from the Ontario BIA Association and Page By Page Consulting for the development of a Downtown Business Association Strategic Plan in the amount of $8,500 attached as Schedule “A”.
9.4.3 – Façade Improvement Program Recommendation – Tanis Mack and Amy Black (Pardon My Garden and a Black-Tie Affair). Resolution. That upon the recommendation of the Façade Improvement Review Committee, Council approve the Pardon My Garden and a Black-Tie Affair application, being 35 Seguin Street in the amount of $1,877.50.
By-laws
10.5.1 – Appointment of Nathan Jeffery as a Municipal Bylaw Enforcement Officer. By-law 2017 – 6772. Being a bylaw to appoint Nathan Jeffery as a Municipal Law Enforcement Officer and to repeal By-law 2002-4443.
I won’t be at the meeting this week. The online stream is so much more convenient. The seating at home is more comfortable with high speed internet available and the option to multitask. It might be fun to start live Tweeting the meetings and engage in a real time discussion of the issues as they are before Council. That might go a long way to stimulating more community participation. Just no mean Tweets.