Before the meeting opened, Mr. Gerry Mack took the Oath of Declaration of Office.
PRESENT: Mayor Austin Hunt, Councillors Sandi Hurcomb, Tom Imrie, Gerry Mack and Brian Parker
Staff: Kathy McDonald, Clerk Treasurer and Rick Rusk, Public Works Superintendent
Media: Tom Sasvari and Sharon Jackson
Members of the General Public
[well size=”well-normal”]2013-203 Imrie – Hurcomb
BE IT RESOLVED THAT this regular meeting of Council be opened with a quorum of members present at 7:30 p.m. with Mayor Hunt presiding in the Chair.
Carried[/well]
[well size=”well-normal”]2013-204 Hurcomb – Imrie
BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council accepts the minutes of the June 24, 2013 regular meeting as presented.
Carried[/well]
Councillor Imrie reported on the Art of Being Billings Meeting on June 26, 2013.
Councillor Imrie reported on the June 25, 2013 Recreation Committee Meeting.
Councillor Hurcomb reported on the June 18, 2013 Library Board Meeting.
[well size=”well-normal”]2013-205 Imrie – Hurcomb
BE IT RESOLVED THAT Gerry Mack be appointed to the Park Centre advisory Committee and the Recreation Committee; and further that he is a standby for the Island Wide Waste Management Committee.
Carried[/well]
[well size=”well-normal”]2013-206 Imrie – Mack
COUNCIL RESOLVES THAT further to resolution 2012-38 Council agrees to accept rent of $50 per month to cover the cost of hydro; and further that the Fish and Game Club will occupy the hatchery for the months of July, August and September as required; and further that this arrangement will continue on an annual basis until further need arises for review.
Carried[/well]
[well size=”well-normal”]2013-207 Hurcomb – Imrie
BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council has no comments or concerns regarding the Application for Amendment to Zoning By-Law 80-11, file number 8011ABL-13-002.
Carried[/well]
[well size=”well-normal”]2013-208 Hurcomb – Imrie
WHEREAS over 80% of Canadians now live in urban areas and have come to rely on the environmental, ecological and economic benefits of urban forests;
AND WHEREAS the health of Canadians is sustained by their urban forests which provide services through improving air quality, cooling city streets and buildings, acting as a windbreak, shading from harmful UV rays, and filtering storm water, as well as beautifying our communities;
AND WHEREAS neither the federal nor provincial governments currently include urban forestry in their mandates except in a limited role with respect to exotic, invasive pests;
AND WHEREAS the Canadian Food Inspection Agency has not been able to stop the spread of the Emerald Ash Borer throughout Ontario and Quebec
AND WHEREAS the Emerald Ash Borer is expected to cost Canadians over $2 Billion dollars in treatment and replanting;
AND WHEREAS Canadian forestry programs and research are solely focused on industrial forests and do not at present include urban tree planting, appropriate species research, and insect control and management; and
AND WHEREAS other jurisdictions such as the United States Forest Service and the European Urban Forestry Research and Information Centre include urban forestry as a program and research area;
AND WHEREAS Canada engages municipalities in a number of substantial infrastructure programs;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Township of Billings calls on the Federal and Provincial governments to take leadership roles in recognizing the need to support urban forestry, by establishing urban forestry mandates and programs which includes funding assistance to municipalities for the control and management of the Emerald Ash Borer- and any future significant imported diseases and insects -as well as the creation and funding of programs designed to support the on-going sustainable management of urban forests.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED That all municipalities across Ontario be encouraged to endorse this proclamation and that this resolution be distributed to The Honourable Gerry Ritz, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food; The Honourable Joe Oliver, Minister of Natural Resources; The Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities; The Honorable Jim Flaherty, Minister of Finance; Local Federal Member of Parliament Carol Hughes; Honourable Michael Gravelle, Minister of Northern Development and Mines; Honourable David Oriazetti, Minister of Natural Resources; Honourable Linda Jeffery, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing; Honourable Charles Sousa, Minister of Finance; Local Provincial Member of the Ontario Legislature Michael Mantha, Honourable Premier Kathleen Wynne, Tim Hudak, MPP, Leader of Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario and the Opposition Party; Andrea Horvath, MPP, Leader of the New Democratic Party of Ontario; Association of Municipalities of Ontario; Federation of Canadian Municipalities;
Carried[/well]
[well size=”well-normal”]2013-209 Mack – Imrie
BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council authorizes the following accounts for payment: General Accounts $123,443.63
And that the Mayor and Treasurer be authorized to sign cheques number 1322 to 1351 as described in the attached register.
Carried[/well]
[well size=”well-normal”]2013-210 Imrie – Hurcomb
BE IT RESOLVED THAT By-Law 2013-32, being a by-law to confirm the proceedings of Council be given 1st, 2nd and 3rd reading and enacted.
Carried[/well]
[well size=”well-normal”]2013-211 Imrie – Parker
BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council adjourns from this regular meeting of Council at 8:50 p.m. until our next regular meeting of July 15, 2013, or Call of the Chair.
Carried[/well]