THE VILLAGE OF BURK’S FALLS
COUNCIL MINUTES

The regular meeting of the Burk’s falls Council was called to order at 7:00PM on Tuesday June 24, 2003.  Present were Reeve Joe Van Gaal, Councillors Cathy Still, Bruce Campbell, Alex Millar, and Rex Smith who arrived at 8:15PM.

Staff Sgt. Ayotte from the Almaguin Highlands O.P.P. detachment was not able to attend this meeting but did leave a statistical comparison of all violations from 2003 to 2002 from January to May.

Council adjourned their regular meeting and convenced the Property Standards Committee at 8:45PM. They reviewed the two work orders issued by the Property Standards Officer and authorized the Registered letters be sent to the property owners.

The following resolutions were passed and will be adopted at the July 22nd meeting.

Alex Millar - Cathy Still:
That we adopt the Minutes of the May 27, 2003 meeting as circulated.

Alex Millar - B. Campbell:
That the Council for the Village of Burk’s Falls make a donation in the amount of $ 100.00 to the Almaguin Highlands Community Living 30th Anniversary Celebrations.

Cathy Still  - Alex Millar:
That we approve the application as presented by the RCL Legion Br. 405 to conduct a raffle lottery (Meat Roll) provided all regulations are adhered to.

B. Campbell - Cathy Still:
That we approve the Application to conduct a Raffle Lottery as presented by the Burk’s Falls Figure Skating Club provided all regulations are adhered to.

Alex Millar - B. Campbell:
That Council adjourn at 8:45 p.m. to enter into a Property Standards Committee which is comprised of Council.

Alex Millar - B. Campbell:
That the Property Standards Committee hereby adjourns at 8:58 p.m.

Alex Millar - B. Campbell:
That we accept the Tender as presented from Tracks & Wheels for the purchase of a new Kubota tractor in the amount of $ 19,923.00 plus taxes.

Alex Millar - B. Campbell:
That we accept the Tender from Watech in the amount of $ 1,800.00 for the Inspection of the Water Standpipe, plus GST.

Rex Smith - Cathy Still:
That we accept the tender from Lawrence Judd in the amount of $ 11,990.00 plus GST for Road construction on MacKenzie Street.  Job to be done by July 21/03.  A late charge of $ 100.00 per day after due date.

Cathy Still - B. Campbell:
We, the undersigned, elected representatives of the Village of Burk’s Falls, in the Province of Ontario, draw the attention of the House to the following:
That, the federal government committed to the taxpayers of Canada that the National Firearms Registry for long guns under Bill C-68 would cost no more that $2 million dollars;

That, the Auditor General’s Report submitted to Parliament on December 3, 2002 determined that the minimum cost of the federal firearms registry for long guns will exceed $1 billion dollars; that a recent administrative review by a consultant for the Justice Department verified that the gun registry will cost an additional $541 million before being fully implemented, and another 1 billion to operate; and that these spending estimates do not include the cost of associated programs;

That the Canadian Taxpayers Federation has recently announced that they believe that the firearms registry for long guns will cost the taxpayers of Canada at least $2 billion;

That the Auditor General of Canada determined that the Justice Department has consistently failed to provide both the Members of Parliament and the Auditor General with accurate information regarding cost overruns of the registry.

That the government has failed to provide any conclusive or verifiable evidence that the registration of long guns is preventing crime or keeping guns out of the hands of criminals.

That the money spent of the firearms registry for long guns would have provided MRI’s for every hospital in Canada, or provided for the hiring of at least 10,000 police officers.

That municipalities across Canada are in dire need of funding assistance to assist with the provision of local services, including public transit, the maintenance of local infrastructure such as roads, bridges, sewers, hospitals and local law enforcement.

That eight Provinces, three Territories, police associations, police chiefs and police officers across Canada have withdrawn their support of the firearms registry for long guns; five recent public opinion polls have demonstrated that a majority of Canadian tax payers support the abolition of the firearms registry in favor of spending on other national priorities; and that six provinces are refusing to prosecute charges associated with the firearms registry;

Therefore, as elected representatives of the Village of Burk’s Falls, we call upon Parliament to retain the licensing component of Bill C-68; to strengthen the sentencing and penalties associated with the use of a firearm in the commission of a crime; and abolish the unworkable national firearms registry for long guns and redirect the tax dollars being spent on the registry to programs in support of municipal infrastructure, health care, education, and local law enforcement.

Cathy Still - B. Campbell:
That we have read the Resolution as presented by the Municipality of Central Elgin regarding Federal and Provincial election calls when municipal elections are being held;

And that our Resolution of support be forwarded to the Municipality of Central Elgin for their collection and presentation.

B. Campbell - Alex Millar:
That we have read the Resolution presented by the Town of Tecumseh expressing concern with the Emergency Readiness Act, 2002 and requirements of municipalities within this Act;

And that we support the concerns expressed in this resolution and our support be forwarded to the Town of Tecumseh for their collection and presentation.

Alex Millar - Rex Smith:
That Council goes into a Committee of the Whole at 10:00 p.m. Purpose under Sec. 239 2(a)(b) Municipal Act, S. O.  c 25, 2001.

Rex Smith - Cathy Still:
That Council comes out of the Committee of the Whole at 10:30 p.m.

B. Campbell - Cathy Still:
That we support payment to Alex Miler for extra work on our water system and time dealing with same in the amount of $ 400.00

Alex Millar - Cathy Still
That we accept the tender as provided by Vipond Inc. in the amount of $ 1706.00 for Burk’s Falls Pumping Station.

Alex Millar - Cathy Still
That we authorize the Reeve and the Clerk to sign the Vehicle Use Agreement as attached with Len Hall.

Alex Millar - Cathy Still
That we authorize the Reeve to sign the Employment agreement with Derek Smith on behalf of the Village of Burk’s Falls. 

Cathy Still - B. Campbell:
That we accept the Accounts Payable as presented up to and including June 24, 2003 in the amount of $127,013.94 and hereby authorize the Clerk/Treasurer to issue cheques for same.

Alex Millar - B. Campbell:
That we do now adjourn at 10:45 until the next scheduled meeting of Council on July 22, 2003.

The above minutes will not be adopted by Council until their next scheduled meeting.

Jarvis W. Osborne

Clerk/Treasurer