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July 8, 2003 Minutes COUNTY OF ELGIN Tuesday, July 8, 2003 The Elgin County Council met this day at the Administration Building, at 9:01 AM. in accordance with adjournment, with all members present except Councillor Crevits (attended later). Warden Wilson in the Chair Moved by Councillor Rock Seconded by Councillor Habkirk THAT the minutes from the meeting held on June 24,2003 be adopted. - Carried. DISCLOSURE OF PECUNIARY INTEREST AND THE GENERAL NATURE THEREOF- None. Moved by Councillor Mcintyre Seconded by Councillor Faulds THAT we do now move into Committee Of The Whole Council. - Carried. CORRESPONDENCE Items for Consideration 1. Greg Farrant, Government Relations & Communications Manager, Ontario Federation of Anglers & Hunters, with a resolution concerning the licensing component of Bill C-68 regarding sentences and penalties associated with the use of firearms in commission of a crime and the abolishment of the unworkable national firearms registry. 2. J.W. Jamieson, CAO/Deputy Clerk, County of Bruce, with a resolution requesting the senior levels of Government to take immediate action to show financial support to the livestock industry impacted by the cow testing positive to Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy. 3. Elaine Clark, Acting Clerk Administrator, Town of Ingersoll, with a resolution petitioning the Provincial Government to enact legislation prohibiting the possession or smoking or otherwise consuming tobacco products in a public place in the Province of Ontario. 4. Joe G. Pavelka, Chief Administrative Officer, Municipality of Chatham-Kent, with a resolution concerning the cost sharing arrangements for the POA revenues. 5. Robert C. Prowse, Town Clerk, Town of Richmond Hill, with a resolution concerning the Yellow/Green Fluorescent School Zone Signs, doubling of traffic violation fines in posted school zones and to amend criteria for Community Safety Zones. 6. Beverley A Wright, President, St. Thomas & District Labour Council, requesting County Council appoint a member of Council to the St. Thomas & District Labour Council Health Care Committee. The following recommendation was adopted respecting Correspondence Item #1 : County Council 2 July 8, 2003 Moved by Councillor VanBrenk Seconded by Councillor Faulds THAT Elgin County Council supports the resolution from the Federation of Anglers and Hunters to retain the licensing component of Bill C-68 to strengthen the sentencing and penalties associated with the use of firearms in the commission of a crime; and, THAT the unworkable national firearms registry for long guns be abolished; and, THAT the tax dollars being spent on the registry programs be redirected to support municipal infrastructure, health care, education and local law enforcement. - Carried Unanimously. The following recommendation was adopted respecting Correspondence Item #2: Moved by Councillor Mcintyre Seconded by Councillor McPhail THAT Elgin County Council supports the resolution of the County of Bruce requesting the senior levels of Government to take immediate action to show financial support to the livestock industry impacted by the cow testing positive to Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy. - Carried Unanimously. The following recommendation was adopted respecting Correspondence Item #3: Moved by Councillor Habkirk Seconded by Councillor Rock THAT Correspondence Item #3 be received and filed. - Carried. The following recommendation was adopted respecting Correspondence Item #4: The Chief Administrative Officer read a letter to Steve Peters, M.P.P. for Elgin-Middlesex- London, requesting that Mr. Peters convene a meeting between the Minister and the County to clarify the Ministry's position on revenue sharing between municipalities along the Highway 401 corridor. Council instructed staff to copy this letter to the Counties of Middlesex and Essex in order to gain their view of this matter and also, that Municipality of Chatham-Kent be requested to continue to track the funds until the Ministry clarifies their position on the matter. Councillor Crevits entered the Chambers at 9: 17 AM. Moved by Councillor Habkirk Seconded by Councillor VanBrenk THAT Correspondence Item #4 from the Municipality of Chatham-Kent be received and filed with action pending. - Carried Unanimously. The following recommendation was adopted respecting Correspondence Item #5: Moved by Councillor Habkirk Seconded by Councillor Faulds THAT Correspondence Item #5 be received and filed. - Carried. County Council 3 July 8, 2003 The following recommendation was adopted respecting Correspondence Item #6: Moved by Councillor VanBrenk Seconded by Councillor Stewart THAT Correspondence Item #6 be received and filed. - Carried. STAFF DIRECTION: Council directed staff to send a letter of explanation to the St. Thomas and District Labour Council indicating that Council is open and willing to listen to the Labour Council's views. Items for Information - (Consent AQenda) 1. Honourable John Manley, Minister of Finance, responding to Council's resolution requesting the Federal and Provincial Governments to provide tax incentives to promote economic growth in Ontario. 2. Honourable Gar Knutson, M.P., Elgin-Middlesex-London, acknowledging Council's concern regarding: 1) the federal and provincial elections running concurrently with municipal elections; and 2) the proposed consolidation of Geriatric Psychiatry Services at the London site. 3. VON Great Community Walk, with registry information and entry forms for the event on Sunday, August 24, 2003. 4. Jon Kanellakos, Communications Officer, Massimo Bergamini, Director of Communications, Federation of Canadian Municipalities, "Members' Advisory", re: 'Bridging the Gap' Municipal Leaders' Toolkit Now Available On-Line. 5. Steve Peters, M.P.P., Elgin-Middlesex-London, supporting Council's resolution urging the Provincial Government to take a leadership role in the fight against the West Nile Virus. 6. AMO Member Communication ALERT, "AMO Will Not Input Into Tax Referenda Proposal" 7. Malcolm Bates, Director, Emergency Health Services Branch, Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, announcing the County of Elgin receiving a one-time funding assistance payment for SARS costs. 8. Honourable Carl DeFaria, Minister of Citizenship, offering information and assistance of the Accessibility Advisory Council in regards to the Ontarians with Disabilities Act and the requirement that every municipality prepare an annual accessibility plan. 9. Diane Gagner, Chair, Western Ontario Smart Growth Panel and Mayor, Municipality of Chatham-Kent, with copies of the "Shape the Future: Western Ontario Smart Growth Panel Discussion Paper". 1 O. Honourable James M. Flaherty, Ministry of Enterprise, Opportunity & Innovation, acknowledging Council's resolution supporting an auto strategy. The following recommendation was adopted respecting Correspondence Items #1, #2-1 and #3 to 10: Moved by Councillor Habkirk Seconded by Councillor VanBrenk THAT Correspondence Items #1, #2-1, and #3 to 10 be received and filed. - Carried. County Council 4 July 8, 2003 COUNCIL DIRECTION: (unanimous) Concerning Correspondence Item #2-2, from Gar Knutson, M.P., Elgin-Middlesex-London, regarding Geriatric Psychiatry Services: Warden John Wilson will write a letter to Cliff Nordal and his Board Chair of St. Joseph's Health Care London, with a copy to the Minister of Health, inviting them to attend a future Council meeting to discuss the moving of the 47 Geriatric Psychiatry Program beds to London and how this will impact health care and the economy in the Elgin community. OTHER BUSINESS Statements/InQuiries by Members - None. Notice of Motion - None. Matters of UrQency - None. Council took a short break at 10:25 AM. Warden Wilson displayed the Elgin County Courthouse circa 1855 Anniversary prints for the Members of Council informing them that the prints are available for sale through Administrative Services. Moved by Councillor Stewart Seconded by Councillor Faulds THAT we do now proceed In-Camera to discuss property and personnel matters. - Carried. Moved by Councillor VanBrenk Seconded by Councillor Habkirk THAT we do now rise and report. - Carried. SewaQe Treatment Plant Moved by Councillor Habkirk Seconded by Councillor Faulds THAT the reports from Golder & Associates and Conestoga Rovers and Associates be authorized and released to the County's insurer and adjuster. - Carried. Verbal Update - Labour Relations The Director of Human Resources provided Council with an update on the collective bargaining process with the County's unions and informed Council on human resources matters at Terrace Lodge. Compensation Review Moved by Councillor VanBrenk Seconded by Councillor Mcintyre THAT the 2003 Confidential Compensation Review be deferred for consideration by the new Council in 2004. - Carried. County Council 5 July 8, 2003 Moved by Councillor Stewart Seconded by Councillor Crevits THAT the confidential correspondence from Mrs. Hazel Luscombe be received and filed. - Carried. Ambulance RFP Update Councillors Habkirk and VanBrenk updated Council on the evaluation of the RFP for Ambulance Services. Hospital FundinQ Update Councillor VanBrenk informed Council of the local hospital's plans to meet with the Minister of Health to discuss funding inequities. CAO'S Performance Evaluation Moved by Councillor VanBrenk Seconded by Councillor Stewart THAT discussion of the results of the Performance Evaluation of the Chief Administrative Officer be deferred to the July 22, 2003 Council Meeting. - Carried. Moved by Councillor VanBrenk Seconded by Councillor McPhail THAT we adopt the recommendations of the Committee Of The Whole Council. - Carried. BY-LAWS Moved by Councillor Habkirk Seconded by Councillor Faulds THAT By-Law No. 03-23 "Being a By-Law to Designate Community Safety Zones on County Roads" be read a first and second time. - Carried. Moved by Councillor Stewart Seconded by Councillor Habkirk THAT By-Law No. 03-23 be read a third time and finally passed. - Carried. Moved by Councillor Mcintyre Seconded by Councillor Rock THAT By-Law No. 03-24 "A By-Law to Confirm Proceedings of the Municipal Council of the Corporation of the County of Elgin at the July 8th, 2003 Meeting" be read a first and second time. - Carried. County Council 6 July 8, 2003 Moved by Councillor McPhail Seconded by Councillor VanBrenk THAT By-Law No. 03-24 be read a third time and finally passed. - Carried. Moved by Councillor VanBrenk Seconded by Councillor Stewart THAT we do now adjourn at 12:30 P.M. to meet again on July 15, 2003 at 1 :00 P.M. - Carried. Mark G. McDonald, Chief Administrative Officer. John R. Wilson, Warden.