Tag Archives: OPP

Council Agenda Preview – July 7, 2020

04 Saturday Jul 2020

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After a bit of a lull it seems that things are starting to heat up again. Understanding the more important issues requires reviewing the agenda package and the attachments. These are the items that I will be looking at a little bit closer:

9.2.3 – West Parry Sound Area Recreation and Culture Centre Update (formerly Wellness Centre & Pool). The pool project seems to be active and dependent on the support of the Province. The total project is budgeted at about $32 million.
9.3.1 – Reserve and Reserve Fund Annual Report; 2019 Surplus allocation.
Resolution. I am having some trouble understanding the net/net of the report and will contact Town Staff for help.
10.1.2 – Development Charges Deferral Agreement – Maruti Parry Sound lnc. The Town seems to be willing to take on infrastructure costs to support the development of the proposed Best Western hotel on Pine Drive across from the Pet Smart and The Source. Some of you may remember the way that the Town was ‘surprised’ by the infrastructure costs they assumed with the original Walmart development on Pine Drive.

NOTABLE AGENDA ITEMS
As always review the issued agenda hosted at the Town’s website for the full agenda and the associated documentation.

Closed Session
No agenda items listed.

Correspondence
4.1 – Diane Gould-Brown, City Clerk, City of Sarnia. Resolution of recommended improvements to Long Term Care Homes

4.2 – Maryann Weaver, Clerk, Township of the Archipelago. Resolution of recommended actions to improve rural internet connectivity

4.3 – Lori West, Municipality of McDougall. DSSABs not the best solution for oversight of Northern OPP Detachments

4.4. – Maryann Weaver, Clerk, Township of the Archipelago. DSSABs not the best solution for oversight of Northern OPP Detachments

Deputations
None

Resolutions and Direction to Staff
9.2.1 – Request NBPSDHU Issue Recommendation vis-à-vis Wearing Masks.
Resolution
WHEREAS COVID-19 and the risk of spreading the virus is still present in our community;
WHEREAS we rely on public health professionals for recommendations on ways to prevent the spread of the virus;
WHEREAS Public Health Units have the authority to impose restrictions;
WHEREAS some Public Health Units in Ontario such as Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph have issued an Order requiring individuals entering commercial establishments and public spaces, noting appropriate exceptions, to wear a mask or face covering.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the North Bay/Parry Sound District Health Unit be requested to provide their recommendation with respect to issuing an Order to require individuals entering commercial establishments to wear a mask or face covering, noting appropriate exceptions within the area served by the Health Unit;
AND THAT this Resolution be forwarded to all municipalities in West Parry Sound and MPP Norm Miller.

9.2.2 – 2019 Integrity Commissioner Report.
Resolution
That Council receive the 2019 Integrity Commissioner Report as attached.

9.2.3 – West Parry Sound Area Recreation and Culture Centre Update (formerly Wellness Centre & Pool).
Resolution
That the report Attached as Schedule A and confidential attachment regarding an update on the West Parry Sound Area Recreation and Culture Centre and the ICIP grant application be received for information purposes.

9.3.1 – Reserve and Reserve Fund Annual Report; 2019 Surplus allocation.
Resolution.
That Council receives the 2019 Reserve and Reserve Fund Annual Report attached as Schedule A, in compliance with the Town’s Reserve and Reserve Fund Policy; and
Further that Council hereby approves the allocation of the surplus in Schedule B.

9.5.1 – OPP Detachment Boards.
Resolution
WHEREAS Council for the Corporation of the Town of Parry Sound received resolutions from the Municipality of McDougall and the Township of the Archipelago regarding oversight boards for OPP Detachments, and
WHEREAS correspondence dated May 14, 2020 from The Federation of Northern Ontario Municipalities (FONOM) regarding issues discussed at their May 13th, 2020 virtual meeting brought attention to the Association of Municipalities of Ontario’s (AMO’s) Discussion Paper “New Ontario Provincial Police Detachment Boards: Building a Framework for Better Policing Governance”;
AND WHEREAS AMO’s discussion paper proposes that Northern Ontario District Social Services Administration Boards (DSSAB) replace the current OPP Detachment Boards;
AND WHEREAS the FONOM Board has identified several issues with DSSAB Boards replacing the current Detachment Boards, and recognizes that Community Policing is distinctive to each Municipality;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Council for the Corporation of the Town of Parry Sound is in agreement with the opinion of FONOM, and supports the resolutions of the Municipality of McDougall and the Township of the Archipelago, that the current DSSABs would not be the best solution for overseeing the Northern OPP Detachments;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT a copy of this resolution be sent to FONOM and its member municipalities, AMO, the Honourable Sylvia Jones, Solicitor General, and Norm Miller, MPP for Parry Sound-Muskoka.

9.5.2 – Increased Funding Request to support more Full-time Staff for Long Term Care.
Resolution 2020
WHEREAS the Corporation of the City of Sarnia has requested support from all Ontario municipalities for a resolution adopted by its Council on June 22, 2020 that urges Premier Ford to increase hours for all part-time and casual labour in Long-Term Care facilities and to increase inspections of private Long-Term Care facilities in order to end the neglect and unacceptable conditions being experienced in Long-Term Care facilities by vulnerable seniors;
AND Whereas the Town of Parry Sound Council deems it appropriate to support the spirit of the resolution while redirecting the motion due to the following issues:
– the precarious employment often experienced by part-time and casual workers resulting in diminished availability of such workers when better employment opportunities open up, in turn resulting in diminished continuity of care to individual residents;
– neglect and unacceptable conditions in Long-Term Care facilities are deemed to be the result of lack of labour;
– the existing strong regulations in Long-Term Care service should be sufficient for proper enforcement of the Long-Term Care Act;
Now Therefore be it resolved that the Corporation of the Town of Parry Sound Council requests that the Province increase funding to Long-Term Care facilities specifically to hire sufficient full-time, skilled labour to meet and exceed the provincial standards of care, as dictated by the Ministry of Long Term Care;
AND FURTHER that this resolution be sent to the Honourable Merrilee Fullerton, Minister of Long-Term Care, The Honourable Doug Ford, Premier of Ontario, Mr. Norm Miller, MPP, Parry Sound – Muskoka, the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) and the City of Sarnia City Clerk’s Office.

By-laws
10.1.1 – Fleck Street Service Manager Housing Facility Agreement – Amendment.
By-law 2020 – 7052
Being a By-law to Amend a Service Manager Housing Facility Agreement with the District of Parry Sound Social Services Administration Board, and Karasmanis (2757896 Ontario Ltd.).

10.1.2 – Development Charges Deferral Agreement – Maruti Parry Sound lnc.
By-Law 2020 – 7055
Being a By-law to authorize a Development Charges Deferral Agreement with Maruti Parry Sound lnc. (Best Western).

10.1.3 – Site Plan Application S19/08 – Pine Drive (Maruti Parry Sound lnc.).
By-Law 2020 – 7053
Being a By-law to authorize a Site Plan Agreement S19/08 with Maruti Parry Sound lnc./Best Western (Pine Drive).

10.1.4 – Rezoning Application – Z/20/03 – Best Western Plus (Pine Drive) – Lifting of “h” symbol.
By-Law 2020 – 7054
Being a By-law to amend By-law No. 2004-4653 (The Zoning By-law) as amended to remove a holding provision (Maruti Parry Sound Inc./Best Western Plus, Pine Drive).

Council Agenda Preview – March 3, 2020

29 Saturday Feb 2020

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Another short meeting with two points that caught my attention.

5.1 – OPP Billing Model. This deputation is the most transparent overview of why we are paying $2.1 million per year for our policing services. I won’t go into a summary or analysis of the presentation; I do encourage you to take a look at it if you are interested. I may return to it later in the year for particular points of interest.

9.1.2 – Tender Award – New Reception Desk. Town Staff is requesting approval of a replacement for the existing reception desk at a price of $51,939 plus HST and another $6,000 for project coordination. What??? I remember the heated discussion about upgrading the chairs in the council chambers for much, much less. So why exactly do we need a new reception desk for this price? The arguments put forward in the agenda package do not resonate with me. “Workspace for signing documents”? Jeez. I didn’t realize that as a Town we are as rich as that. I will be interested in seeing how a couple of our Councillors react to this. FYI – this ‘upgrade’ amounts to about 0.5% of your 2020 tax bill.

2.1 – Municipal Zoning By-law Amendment – Additional Dwelling Units. More infill it seems. That’s probably the best future for the Town, more residents and more services. I don’t suppose you saw that as a core theme of the Strategic Plan? Don’t define it – just do it.

Other: Wellness Centre & Pool Citizens Advisory Committee. The agenda for their March 3rd meeting is linked here. Not much has been heard from them but it seems things are moving forward. There are plans for a public consultation meeting the end of March.

Closed Session Agenda
e) litigation or potential litigation, including matters before administrative tribunals, affecting the municipality or local board, (claim against the municipality);
f) advice that is subject to solicitor-client privilege, including communications necessary for that purpose, (Agreement for services) (claim against the municipality);
n) educating or training council members and no member discusses or otherwise deals with any matter in a way that materially advances the business or decision-making of Council, (Water and Wastewater Rate Structures).

Public Meeting
2.1 Municipal Zoning By-law Amendment – Additional Dwelling Units.
The Town of Parry Sound is proposing to amend the Zoning By-law to permit secondary residential units within single detached, semi-detached and townhouse dwellings, and within ancillary units (i.e. garages) to these forms of residences. This is following Provincial direction per Section 16(3) of the Planning Act.

Correspondence
There is none this meeting. Strange!

Deputations
5.1 – Sergeants Withrow and McDonald. OPP Billing Model

5.2 – David Sweetnam, Executive Director, Georgian Bay Forever (GBF). GBF update and request for support for Seabins.

Consent Agenda
8.1 – Public Health Funding.
Resolution. That Council of the Corporation of the Town of Parry Sound supports the Township of Strong’s resolution requesting that public health be funded through regular provincial taxation, not municipal property taxation, per the following:
Whereas the North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit has advised municipalities of the following changes in the funding formula:
change from 25/75 municipal/provincial to 30/70 for mandatory programs, and;
change from 100% provincial funding to 30/70 for a number of other related programs;
And Whereas these changes will result in a 42% increase in the municipal levy, commencing in 2021, with no increased service delivery;
And Whereas small rural Northern Ontario municipalities do not have the financial resources to fund this 42% increase due to:
– sparse populations and small tax bases making it difficult to raise the requisite funds, and also provide core mandated municipal services to residents; and
– residents’ annual income being well below the provincial poverty level, with many on fixed incomes and raising municipal property taxes will create significant hardship;
hence, the Town of Parry Sound states that it requests the Corporation remain under the auspices of the North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit, and under the Rural & Northern Ontario designation;
And Whereas the Province of Ontario is currently reviewing the mandate and operations of Public Health Units;
Therefore be it resolved that the Town of Parry Sound requests that Jim Pine, Facilitator of the Public Health Modernization consultations, review the current funding formula for Public Health and Rural & Northern Ontario municipalities; proposing exemptions, for the province to implement for 2021;
And that the Town of Parry Sound contends that Public Health, as a pillar of our Ontario Health Care system, be funded through regular provincial taxation, not municipal property taxation;
And Further That this resolution be distributed to all 22 Municipalities in the District of Parry Sound for endorsement with copies forwarded to the Minister of Health, Minister of Long Term Care, MPP Norm Miller, MPP Vic Fedeli, Ontario Health Board Chair, FONOM Chair, NOMA Chair, AMO Chair, and the North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit.

Resolutions and Direction to Staff
9.1.1 – Water & Wastewater Rate Study
Resolution. WHEREAS the water and wastewater rates enacted by By-law 2012-6091 for the year 2020 are expected to adequately recover necessary operating and capital related expenditures for water and wastewater in 2020,
NOW THEREFORE Council hereby confirms the water and wastewater rates as enacted by By-law 2012-6091 for 2020; and further
THAT pricing structure changes be deferred for a staff report and recommendation on additional pricing structures for consideration of updated rates for 2021.

9.1.2 – Tender Award – New Reception Desk.
Resolution. That upon the recommendation of Brenda Ryan, FAD Architects, Council award the tender for the New Reception Desk (Front Counter Redesign) to CFC Contracting Inc., in the amount of $51,939 plus HST, this tender being the lowest of three (3) tenders received.

9.3.1 – Consent Application – B 02/2020 (PS) (Wylie).
Resolution. That a decision on Consent Application No. B 02/2020 (PS) (Wylie) be approved subject to a condition of consent:
That the retained lot ensure compliance with the Zoning By-law as a result of the reduced frontage, or that the severed lot be realigned to ensure no road frontage is reduced.

By-laws
10.3.1 – Site Plan Application S19/05 – Microsuite Properties Ltd. (Church Street).
By-Law 2020 – 7020. Being a By-law to authorize a Site Plan / Development Agreement with Microsuite Properties Ltd. (Church Street – S19/05).