Feb. 25, 04 Minutes for the Meeting of the Village of Burks Falls

THE VILLAGE OF BURK’S FALLS
COUNCIL MINUTES

The regular meeting of the Burk’s Falls Council held on Feb. 25, 04, was called to order at 7:00 P.M. in the Council Chambers. Present were Reeve Ron Russell and Councillors Lewis Hodgson, Bruce Campbell and Rex Smith.

Others in attendance at this meeting included: Bob Hall and Barb Marlow from the Winterfest Committee; Heather Garland from “Just for Fun Theatre”; Kathleen Finlay from the Fed Nor Youth Intern program; John Atkinson, By-Law Officer and Mary Connolly.

The following resolutions were passed:

Lewis Hodgson - B. Campbell
We adopt the Minutes of the January 27, 2004, February 4, 2004 and February 10, 2004 meetings as circulated.

B. Campbell - Lewis Hodgson
The Council for the Village of Burk’s Falls appoints John Stark as the alternate representative on the Community Emergency Management Committee.

B. Campbell - Lewis Hodgson
The Council for the Village of Burk’s Falls purchase a Scanner for the computer system at a maximum cost of $250.00 + taxes.

Rex Smith - B. Campbell
The Council for the Village of Burk’s Falls have read the request from the Royal Canadian Legion Br. 405 to increase the allowable percentage of net lottery proceeds from Nevada Lottery Funds.
Council will allow the Royal Canadian Legion Br. 405 to use up to 60% of net lottery proceeds from Nevada Lottery sales for general maintenance, utilities and upkeep of the organization’s building, insurance, taxes, heat, hydro, equipment maintenance, replacement and rentals, cleaning materials and equipment.

Rex Smith - B. Campbell
The Council accepts the application from Dianne Mehaffey as the representative for the Village of Burk’s Falls on the Burk’s Falls Armour & Ryerson Union Public Library Board.

Lewis Hodgson - B. Campbell
That the Council for the Village of Burk’s Falls enters into a Closed Session of Council as per C.25, as amended 2001, paragraph 239(2) subsection at 7:58 P.M..

Lewis Hodgson - B. Campbell
That the Council for the Village of Burk’s Falls exits from a Closed Session of Council as per C.25, as amended 2001, paragraph 239(2) subsection at 8:34 P.M..

Rex Smith - Lewis Hodgson
We have read and approve By-Law No. 04-2004 being a by-law to appoint certain officers and set the rates of pay for the year 2004; to increase by the sum of $1.00 per hour - effective March 8th, 2004.
And that we authorize the Reeve and the Clerk to sign this by-law and affix the Seal of the Corporation thereto.

Lewis Hodgson - Rex Smith
The Council for the Village of Burk’s Falls have read By-Law No. 5-2004 being a by-law to require the provision of security boxes containing Fire Safety Plans, Hazardous Materials and Hazardous Physical Agent Information or Keys for the Fire Department to prevent the spread of Fire.
And that the Council for the Village of Burk’s Falls authorizes the Reeve and the Clerk to sign this by-law and affix the Seal of the Corporation thereto.

B. Campbell - Lewis Hodgson
The Council for the Village of Burk’s Falls have read the Resolution circulated by the Corporation of the Township of St. Joseph expressing concern with implementing the Drinking Water Systems Regulation (O.Reg 17-03) and the impact this Resolution will have on small business operators.
And That the Council for the Village of Burk’s Falls supports the Resolution as presented;
And That the Council of the Village of Burk’s Falls requests the Hon. Dalton McGuinty, Premier of Ontario to allow and extension of the implementation date of the regulation along with a complete review of this regulation.

Lewis Hodgson - Rex Smith
The Council for the Village of Burk’s Falls recognizes the importance of the Women’s Own Resource Centre.
And Council is also aware of the every increasing need to continue providing these much needed programs to all areas of the Almaguin Highlands;
And That Council is aware of the many benefits these programs offer it’s residents.
Therefore the Council for the Village of Burk’s Falls supports in principle the funding proposal for training and hiring of three Rural Outreach Program Endeavour Facilitators for the Almaguin Highlands.

B. Campbell - Lewis Hodgson
The Council for the Village of Burk’s Falls have read the resolution presented by the Village of South River expressing concern with the 2004-2024 Forest Management Plan for the French-Severn Forest.
The residents of the South River and Almaguin Highlands Trails Committee have spent endless hours, money and shown dedication to promoting these trails and the natural beauty they provide to the many tourists who visit our area. Council is concerned that any changes in the no cut zone would dramatically impact the sustainability of the trails in the region.
Therefore the Council for the Village of Burk’s Falls also supports the maintenance of the 30 meter no cut zone and the additional 45 meter modified cut zone around authorized trails in the South River and Almaguin Highlands areas;
And that our resolution of support be forwarded to the Village of South River for their presentation.

Rex Smith - Lewis Hodgson
1. That the Premier of Ontario be petitioned to implement a methodology for real property assessment in Ontario, which would alleviate the current instability created by the present CVA method, to both municipalities and property owners by implementing the following measures:
a) Immediately reinstate minimum educational requirements and standard accreditation of assessors.
b) Abandon the premise that assessed values include a hypothetical component reflecting an unrealized Capital Gain, caused by the dominant and inappropriate influence that location has in calculating that value.
c) Create a stable, continuing assessment base, which can be used by municipalities as a stable base budget forecasts and the calculation of property taxes.
d) Enact a regulation, which immediately establishes the ARB’s decision as final and not be arbitrarily overruled or ignored by MPAC in the following and future years.
e) Immediately strike a Task Force comprised of Ontario government representatives, recognized municipal associations and recognized independent experts in the field of assessment, and other related disciplines.
f) Outline a strict time schedule for all reporting and progress reports to be filed with the government and that a deadline be established for the final report, including proposed legislation, open to public review and comment, to be submitted to the appropriate parliamentary committee for presentation to the House for passage into law, and;
2. Further that, this resolution be forwarded to the Premier, Minister of Finance, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing for their action; and
3. Further that this resolution be forwarded to Mr. Norm Miller, MPP for Muskoka Parry Sound for his awareness of the extent of dissatisfaction with CVA within his riding.

Lewis Hodgson - Rex Smith
We have read the resolution presented by the Township of Ramara expressing concern that the Provincial Government may sell Hydro One, Power Generation.
Therefore the Council for the Village of Burk’s Falls requests the Provincial Government to retain all Power Generation in public ownership so that the resident of Ontario can have power at costs and a reliable system.
And that our resolution of support be forwarded to the Township of Ramara for their collection and presentation.

Lewis Hodgson - B. Campbell
We continue beyond the 11 o’clock curfew.

B. Campbell - Lewis Hodgson
The Village of Burk’s Falls hire Morning Dove Monuments to refurbish the war memorial at a price of $878.00 (tax included). The townships of Armour, Ryerson & Branch 405 RCL will be asked if they wish to contribute to the project.

Rex Smith - Lewis Hodgson
We accept the Accounts Payable as presented up to and including February 25, 2004 in the amount of $80,452.11 and hereby authorize the Clerk/Treasurer to issue cheques for same.

B. Campbell - Lewis Hodgson
We do now adjourn at 11:35 PM until the next regular meeting of Council on March 23, 2004.

Jarvis Osborne
Clerk/ Treasurer