VILLAGE OF FORT SIMPSON
Minutes of the Regular Council Meeting #RM24
2016 of December 19th, 2016
AGENDA
REGULAR MEETING # RM24-2016
Visitors' Information Centre Theatre Room
Monday, December 19th, 2016 @ 7:00 PM
Present: Mayor D. Sibbeston
Councillor C. Blyth
Councillor C. Cli
Councillor M. Hassan
Councillor M. Lafferty
Councillor S. Whelly
Absent: Deputy Mayor J. Hardisty
Councillor L. McPherson
Councillor M. Rowe
Also present: A/SAO M. Gast
Clerk L. Beaulieu
Finance Mgr B. Coffie
Reporter A. Hudson
Delegate C. Stipdonk
Resident AJ. Augier
Resident J. Pearson
1) Call to Order
The meeting was called to order at 7:03 pm.
2) Agenda Additions
- Add item 8 a) Mayors Report
- Add item 9c) WTP Trainee Position – for discussion
3) Adoption of the Agenda
Resolution #2016-399
Moved by: Councillor Cli
Seconded by: Councillor Hassan
THAT Council adopts the agenda of Regular Meeting RM24-2016 as amended.
CARRIED
4) Declaration of Interest
Councillor Blyth declared interest on Item 9b) NACC Request for Contribution
5) Councillor Absences
a) Resolution #2016-400
Moved by: Councillor Hassan
Seconded by: Councillor Cli
THAT Council excuse Deputy Mayor Hardisty, Councillor Rowe and McPherson from Regular Meeting RM24-2016.
CARRIED
6) Delegations
a) Department of Transportation - Dan Quevillon
Mayor Sibbeston advised Council that Mr. Quevillon sent his regards as he was unable to attend.
b) Rezoning Property – Chris Stipdonk
Mayor Sibbeston introduced Chris Stipdonk. Mr. Stipdonk advised Council that he is attendance in regard to his application to rezone – Item 11 e) to answer any questions or concerns that the Council might have. Councillor Cli questioned as to what the interest is for rezoning? Mr. Stipdonk advised that he plans to put a residential home on the lot in the future. Councillor Whelly had concerns that this lot has low lying areas and is prone to flooding and questioned what plans Mr. Stipdonk had for this problem. Mr. Stipdonk replied that a drain can be put in at some point and that he will take it one step at a time. Mr. Stipdonk advised Council that all the neighbors are residential and would like to have this lot rezoned. He thanked Council for their time. Mayor Sibbeston advised that Council will look at this item in detail further on in the agenda.
c) Northern Arts and Cultural Centre – Lynn Canney
Mayor Sibbeston advised Council that Mrs. Canney was unable to attend and sends regards.
7) Adoption of Minutes
a) Regular Meeting RM23-2016, December 5th, 2016
Councillor Cli requested that one change be made to this minutes on page 11 of 14 and should say *asked if*. Item noted and changed will be made.
Resolution #2016-401
Moved by: Councillor Hassan
Seconded by: Councillor Cli
THAT Council approves the minutes of Regular Meeting #RM23-2016 of December 5, 2016 as amended.
CARRIED
b) Special Meeting SM02-2016, December 8th, 2016
Resolution #2016-402
Moved by: Councillor Lafferty
Seconded by: Councillor Hassan
THAT Council approves the minutes of Special Meeting #SM02-2016 of December 8th, 2016 as presented.
CARRIED
c) Committee of the Whole Meeting CW10-2016, December 12th, 2016
Resolution #2016-403
Moved by: Councillor Cli
Seconded by: Councillor Lafferty
THAT Council approves the minutes of Committee of the Whole Meeting #CW10-2016 of December 12th, 2016 as presented.
CARRIED
8) Reports
a) Mayors Report
Mayor Sibbeston advised that she did not have a formal report but wanted to thank the Council for their hard work and handed out gifts for Council for Christmas. She also thanked them for being here and for the following years to come.
b) A/SAO Report
Acting SAO Gast presented a verbal report to Council. He advised that the Librarian has resigned and that Troy Bellefontaine has been hired as standby librarian and that an ad will be placed in the newspaper this week for the employment opportunity. Other than that, A/SAO Gast advised that he has been gathering as much information as possible for the new SAO and will be giving him briefing notes as well so that the transition can go a smooth as possible. Councillor Cli advised that it is unfortunate that we have lost our librarian as there was a lot of training that went into the position but wishes her well in her future endeavors.
c) Variance Report
The Finance Manager, Ben Coffie, presented Council with the Variance Report in detail and explained as he went through it with them. Mayor Sibbeston thanked Mr. Coffie on a great job on the reporting and that the details are very good. Councillor Whelly also agreed. Councillor Hassan asked as to why the revenue has not been met for the Fire Department? Mr. Coffie advised that this is a result of funding not being received this year. Councillor Cli questioned the surplus to the end of the years and asked if this money can be put towards reserves. Mr. Coffie gave a handout memo which explains this in detail and advised that the reserves cannot be used for Capital and that they have to remain in the W/S fund. Councillor Hassan questioned whether these reserves can be used for training? A/SAO Gast replied absolutely. Councillor Lafferty mentioned that with the current WTP operator soon to retire, that perhaps this go back to being 2 positions as in the past. Mayor Sibbeston advised that more discussion will have to take place in order to figure out how to the use the surplus. Mayor Sibbeston thanked Mr. Coffie for his report.
9) Tabled Items and Old Business
a) Street Lights in Wildrose
Mayor Sibbeston gave a quick update for this item and one of the delegates was supposed to be here but was unable to attend to discuss the community access program. A/SAO Gast advised Council that there is a community access program available for funding for street lights and that an application has been done. He advised that he will be meeting with Dan Quevillon from the Department of Transportation as to the street lighting situation for the 4 mile access road and the information will be given at the next regular meeting. Councillor Cli mentioned that lights are also needed at the T-section of the junction to Wrigley.
b) NACC Request for Contribution
Councillor Blyth declared interest and left Council Chambers at 7:51 pm.
Resolution #2016-404
Moved by: Councillor Whelly
Seconded by: Councillor Lafferty
THAT Council, on behalf of the Village of Fort Simpson, approve a $5000 contribution to the Northern Arts and Cultural Centre (NACC) for the 2017 fiscal year.
CARRIED
Councillor Blyth returned to Council Chambers at 7:57 pm.
c) WTP Training Position
Councillor Hassan wanted this item as agenda addition. He believes that this position needs to be filled and that the training money be used from the W/S surplus. There is also a question regarding an assistant. Mayor Sibbeston advised that the current operator will be employed for another 2 years. Mayor Sibbeston advised that the new SAO will be filled in to develop a plan when he starts January 16, 2017 and that perhaps he can have something together for the first meeting February, 2017. Councillor Hassan also asked about a possibility of an assistant for the WWTP. This will all be included together.
10) Recommendations from Committee Updates
None.
11) New Business
a) Use of Council Chambers – Department of Municipal and Community Affairs
Resolution #2016-405
Moved by: Councillor Hassan
Seconded by: Councillor Cli
THAT Council approve the request from Dept of MACA – Property Assessments to hold an open house in the Council Chambers on January 17th and 18th from 9 am to 7pm.
CARRIED
b) Application for a Development Permit – James Pearson
Council discussed the application. Councillor Hassan questioned the bylaw as to how many signs are allowed? Mayor Sibbeston stated that only 1 sign is allowed. Councillor Cli questioned the dimensions allowed? Mayor Sibbeston advised that one 4 x 8 sign is allowed as per the bylaw and that currently the sign that Mr. Pearson has up on the wall consists of sixteen 4 x 8’s.
Resolution #2016-406
Moved by: Councillor Hassan
Seconded by: Councillor Blyth
THAT Council approve the Development Permit Application for James Pearson to hang a Mural Art sign on the side of home garage facing Mackenzie River, on Lot 218, Plan 881, in Fort Simpson, NT.
LOST
c) Development Permit – Kirby Groat
Council discussed the application and felt that the bylaw should be followed and that fines need to be issued as this and above item 11 b) were installed prior to obtaining a development permit.
Resolution #2016-407
Moved by: Councillor Lafferty
Seconded by: Councillor Blyth
THAT Council approves the Development Permit Application for Kirby Groat to hang a sign on the side of building, on Lot 707, Plan 4572, in Fort Simpson, NT.
CARRIED
d) Support of Research Project - Laurier
Resolution #2016-408
Moved by: Councillor Lafferty
Seconded by: Councillor Blyth
THAT Council continues to support W.L. (Bill) Quinton with the research programme at Scotty Creek from March 15 to August 31, 2017.
CARRIED
e) Application to Rezone Lot 155, Plan 613
Resolution #2016-409
Moved by: Councillor Lafferty
Seconded by: Councillor Whelly
THAT Council accept and approve the request to re-zone the property of Chris and Amy Stipdonk on lot 155, plan 613 from commercial to R1- Residential and that a Bylaw be brought forward to the next regular meeting of January 3rd, 2017 to affect this change.
CARRIED
Council took a break at 8:26 pm. Return at 8:34 pm.
12) Bylaws
a) Bylaw #2016-014, to Repeal Bylaw 632, 3rd Reading
Resolution #2016-410
Moved by: Councillor Whelly
Seconded by: Councillor Lafferty
THAT Bylaw #2016-014, a Bylaw to repeal Bylaw 632, the Curfew Bylaw, be read a 3rd time and passed.
CARRIED
b) Bylaw #2016-013, Land Acquisition, 3rd Reading
Resolution #2016-411
Moved by: Councillor Lafferty
Seconded by: Councillor Hassan
THAT Bylaw #2016-013, a Bylaw to acquire Real Property, be read a 3rd time and passed.
CARRIED
13) Correspondence and Information
a) Update on Norman Wells Pipelines (NW) Inc
Presented as information.
b) Follow up to Question Regarding Economic Impact – Enbridge Pipelines (NW) Inc
Presented as information.
c) Land Use Permit Extension for Quarrying Purposes Hwy #5, Km 7.9 – Carter Industries Limited
Presented as information.
d) Canada 150 Festival Planning Committee Minutes, November 30, 2016
Presented as information. Council felt that Nathan McPherson should attend a meeting scheduled for Tuesday, December 20, 2016
e) Canada 150 Festival Planning Committee Minutes, December 14, 2016
Presented as information. Council felt that Nathan McPherson should attend a meeting scheduled for Tuesday, December 20, 2016.
f) Order of the NWT – MLA Shane Thompson
Presented as information.
14) Council Issues and Concerns
Councillor Blyth. No issues or concerns.
Councillor Hassan. Thanks Mitch and girls for the open house. Merry Christmas and happy new year to all. 2nd issue is the council chambers, he believes this has been discussed before but tables need to be changed. Do we have funding?
Councillor Cli request from Mayor and Village to have honorarium cheque before holidays. Also roads need sanding after blading roads as they are very slippery but job well done.
Councillor Lafferty was also wondering about the tables. Used to have nice tables in old council chambers. What ever happened to them? Mayor those are really big tables and also consider that the chamber may be moving with the new lease being signed. Councillor Hassan advised that if new tables and chairs are purchased, these can be moved to the new chambers.
Whelly would like to wish everyone a merry Christmas and happy new year. He has some old and new items to think about. Old items- letter handed to him about water a bill issue in one of the 4 plex’s and this customer has been contesting since July as the bill has tripled. Customer has never received a reasonable explanation. Letter given to A/SAO Gast to follow up and reply to customer. Another old issue is a safety issue with the old spruce tree behind the firehall. He has known that this issue has been discussed before but has never got any answers or plans. Councillor Whelly encouraged admin to take a look and come up with plan. For the New Year, Councillor Whelly was looking at ways to do things more open for the public with perhaps webcasting/webhosting. Minutes are very extensive and we don’t have to provide that much information. Look at what other towns and cities do. Councillor Whelly also looked into council attendance over the last year and it ranges from not well to really good but thinks there is chance for improvement with more capital projects happening. With road clearing, Councillor Whelly asked about the old recycling depot as there is a resident at end of road, can we keep plowing to end of road. For the new year with As and When services, Councillor Whelly requested for a report for the as and when services so that Council can make better plans when it is put out to the public again. Need better plans on how to administer and help contractors understand what they should be doing when filling out the tender.
Mayor Sibbeston advised there was a time that she felt that discussions are not personal but are for the community. We all have our difference of opinions but that is why we are here. Feels previously that it was hard to move past that and with the New Year coming up that we can respect each other’s opinions. Opinions are accepted and used for the better of the community.
15) In-Camera Issues
None.
16) Adjournment
Resolution# 2016-412
Moved by: Councillor Blyth
Seconded by: Councillor Lafferty
THAT Council adjourn Regular Meeting RM24-2016 at 9:09 pm.
CARRIED
______
Darlene Sibbeston
Mayor
______
Mitch Gast
Acting Senior Administrative Officer
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