Council of the Corporation of
The Township of Billings
Regular Meeting
January 18, 2016
PRESENT: Mayor Austin Hunt, Councillors Sharon Alkenbrack, Barb Erskine, Tom Imrie and Brian Parker
Staff: Kathy McDonald, Clerk Treasurer and Rick Rusk, Public Works Superintendent
Media: Tom Sasvari
Members of the general Public
2016-011 Alkenbrack – Parker
BE IT RESOLVED THAT this regular meeting of the Council of the Corporation of the Township of Billings be opened with a quorum present at 7:30 p.m. with Mayor Hunt presiding.
Carried
2016-012 Alkenbrack – Parker
BE IT RESOLVED THAT the agenda for the January 18, 2016 regular meeting of Council be accepted as amended.
Carried
The agenda was amended to add under 7. Old Business e) OPP Helicopter and to removed under New Business b) Tax Three Years in Arrears.
2016-013 Alkenbrack – Parker
BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council accepts the minutes of the January 5, 2016 regular meeting of Council as presented.
Carried
2016-014 Alkenbrack – Parker
BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council accepts the minutes of the January 12, 2016 Committee of the Whole Meeting as presented.
Carried
2016-015 Alkenbrack – Imrie
BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council accepts the minutes of the January 13, 2016 meeting with downtown business owners as presented.
Carried
Councillor Erskine reported on the Recreation Committee meeting held on January 6, 2016.
Councillor Alkenbrack reported on the Economic Development Committee meeting held on January 15, 2016.
Mayor Hunt reported on the FONOM (Federation of Northern Ontario Municipalities) teleconference that he attended on January 15, 2016.
2016-016 Erskine – Alkenbrack
WHEREAS, the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care funds the Northern Health Travel Grant which provides financial assistance to patients requiring specialized health care services outside of their local region.
AND WHEREAS, many northern patients travel less than the minimum 100 km one-way distance to receive their specialized health care services or lifesaving treatment and may also pay an additional parking fee per visit and do not qualify to receive any financial assistance under the current grant stipulations;
AND WHEREAS it is important that all northern residents have equal opportunity to access specialized health care services in Ontario without incurring any financial hardship and that all residents travelling to receive required health care services should be permitted to apply for the Northern Health Travel Grant regardless of the distance travelled.
BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council for the Township of Billings urges the Minister of Health and Long Term Care to consider amending the qualifying criteria so that all roundtrips exceeding 100 km in total travelled distance be eligible for the Northern Ontario Travel Grant thus ensuring fair and equitable reimbursement for all Ontario residents who must travel outside of their community for specialized health care services;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution be sent to the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care, to the Manitoulin Municipal Association, the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) and to the Federation of Northern Ontario Municipalities (FONOM) requesting their support in this important initiative.
Carried
2016-017 Erskine – Parker
BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council forms the 156 Main Street rental ad hoc committee consisting of Councillor Tom Imrie and Councillor Sharon Alkenbrack; said committee is empowered to select the best business and negotiate a lease, the committee will bring its recommendation back to Council for approval at which time it will be dissolved.
Carried
2016-018 Parker – Imrie
WHEREAS, the OPP have decided to close the search and rescue helicopter base in Sudbury and move it to Orillia,
AND WHEREAS, most of the calls were related to hunters or fisherman missing in remote areas of the North,
AND WHEREAS, there is much more remote area in Northern Ontario than in Southern Ontario, which means there is a greater need here than in Southern Ontario for an aircraft dedicated to emergency response,
AND WHEREAS, locating the search and rescue helicopter in Orillia will delay rescue efforts in the North,
AND WHEREAS, any potential financial savings in relocating the search and rescue helicopter does not compensate for the loss of a life,
BE IT RESOLVED that Council does not support this decision and requests that the OPP reconsider the “cost cutting” decision and have the search and rescue helicopter remain in Sudbury, where it can respond to Northern emergencies in a timely manner;
AND BE IT RESOLVED that the Clerk Treasurer send a copy of this resolution to MPP Mantha, the Premier, MP’s Gelinas and Thibault, The City of Greater Sudbury and the Manitoulin Municipal Association to reverse the decision of the OPP.
Carried
2016-019 Erskine – Alkenbrack
BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council instructs the Clerk Treasurer to complete an application for a Zoning Conformity Permit for the Township lot located on 26 Main Street.
Carried
2016-020 Erskine – Alkenbrack
BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council instructs the Clerk Treasurer to send a letter to Manitoulin Island Cycling Advocates (MICA) acknowledging their event on June 4 and 5, 2016.
Carried
2016-021 Erskine – Alkenbrack
BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council instructs the Clerk Treasurer to sign 4Elements application for funding, Part E.
Carried
2016-022 Alkenbrack – Erskine
BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council authorizes the following accounts for payment:
General Accounts $ 73,038.71
Water Capital Account $ 5,097.69
and that the Mayor and Treasurer be authorized to sign cheques number 3572 to 3597 and 106 as described in the attached register.
Carried
2016-023 Imrie – Erskine
BE IT RESOLVED THAT By-Law 2016-02, being a by-law to confirm the proceedings of Council be given first, second and third reading and enacted.
Carried
2016-024 Alkenbrack – Erskine
BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council adjourn from this regular meeting of Council at 8:46 p.m. until our next regular meeting of February 2, 2016 or Call of the Chair.
Carried
__________________________ ___________________________
Austin Hunt, Mayor Kathy McDonald, Clerk Treasurer
01/19/16:km
These minutes have been prepared but are not considered official until approved by Council at a subsequent meeting.