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RURAL MUNICIPALITY OF MISCOUCHE
Monthly Council Meeting
February 11th, 2025

1. OPENING MEETING
Mayor Albert Gallant called the meeting to order at 7:00 P.M.

Present:
Albert Gallant  – Mayor
Allan Parks – Deputy Mayor
Ivan Blanchard- Councillor
Charles MacAusland  Councillor
Corey Gillis  Councillor
Patrick MacLellan Councillor (absent)
Jonathan Gallant Councillor
Michelle Perry- CAO

2. Declaration of Conflict of Interest: Councillor MacAusland declared a conflict of Interest in 6f -Pay Committee

3. MAINTENANCE REPORT: Monty MacAusland gave the following report: Everything is going well

4. ADOPTION OF MINUTES: Monthly Meeting January 14th, 2025

MOTION moved by Allan Parks seconded by Charles MacAusland  and carried
THAT the minutes for the Monthly Meeting January 14th, 2025, be approved as presented.

5. BUSINESS ARISING:
a) Unsightly Property 100 Lady Slipper Dr S: The resident sent a message to council informing that there were weather delays on the project.
b) Speed Change Request/ Painting of the crosswalks for the veterans: The letter was completed for Highways and CAO Perry wanted to make sure that council was aware that the letter was changed from the community painting the crosswalks to asking highways to paint the crosswalk as they own the roads and they would have the equipment to do so.  Council also received a letter of support from the Miscouche Legion that will be sent with the letter. Nothing on the speed change request for Lady Slipper Dr S, so we will be in touch with Highways to see if there is an update on it.
c) Budget: Council had received the proposed budget and had a chance to review it. The floor was opened to any questions.  It was asked if there was any thought on getting solar panels for the Rec Center, this was talked about in previous years, and it will be something that council will look into for the next budget.  It was also requested by the deputy chief that $2,000 be added to the travel budget for the fire department to go to Ottawa this year since there will be 2 names being added to the monument this year from PEI. CAO Perry stated that she will have to look in the previous minutes to see if there was any motion made that council was not supporting the Ottawa trips anymore, and she will let council know so they can decide if they want to add the additional funds to the budget. The public meeting will be February 25 @ 7pm for the proposed budget with March 11 as the adoption date.
d) Pancake Breakfast: The breakfast will be February 22, and council will need to be here at 7 am.

6. COMMITTEE REPORTS:
a) Fire Dept: Councilor MacAusland gave the following report: The department had 6 calls last month.  The chaplain has 500 teenagers coming to the island for a week in July and is looking to see if the community has any small jobs that need to be done. CAO Perry is making a list. The chaise for the new truck should be arriving in Fort Gary on March 1, also the heat pump is making a noise upstairs, Councillor Gillis stated that there was a motor on order for it. The department recently had Sled training with Summerside at Carrs Corner, and they will be doing hall clean up on Monday for the pancake breakfast.

b) Recreation, Park, Playgrounds and Green Spaces: Councilor J Gallant gave the following report: Bingo
had an average of 97 people per evening over the last 4 weeks and the amount brought in was $3,560.00 before expenses.
c)  Water & Sewer:  Councilor Gillis gave the following report: There was nothing to report.
d) Repairs, Maintenance and Village Properties: Councilor Blanchard gave the following report: no issues to report, and he just wanted to mention that the generators were all working good on the recent power outage.
e) PEI Federation of Municipalities: Councillor MacLellan was absent, so no report was given.
f) Finances:   Deputy Mayor Parks gave the following report: Finances look good, and nothing major is expected before the new fiscal year.  At this time Deputy Parks asked CAO Perry, Councillor MacAusland and Monty MacAusland to step out of the room so he could discuss the pay Committee report. After the brief discussion they all stepped back in the room and the committee suggested that a 3% raise for the maintenance worker and CAO on the hourly wage be put in the new budget.
g) Bylaw Committee: Councillor Gillis gave the following report: The group met in January, and they are at a standstill right now until the budget gets approved and the tender goes out for the Official Plan and Bylaws.

7. Total bills paid for the month of October was $40,393.38

MOTION moved by Allan Parks seconded by Charles MacAusland and carried
THAT the bills paid last month for $40,393.38 be approved.

8. NEW BUSINESS:

a) Sewer rate change request for 11 Lady Slipper Dr N: council received a letter from the resident asking that council look at changing the rate of the sewer as they only had occupancy for 3 months of the year and not 6 months.

MOTION moved by Corey Gillis seconded by Charles MacAusland and carried
THAT the community keep the rate the same, as they are already receiving a discounted price for the dwelling.

b) Sewer disconnected on Main Dr E: CAO Perry reached out to a lawyer to advise what the options are for the community to try to receive the amount owing on this property since it was disconnected back in March 2024. And since the community will need to hook the sewer back up in the event that the house is sold either through a tax sale or a property sale. They would like to recoup as much money as they can. The lawyer advised that there are 3 options for the property.

1. For the community to certify the amount prior to the tax sale, and the amount will be kept on file with the tax commissioner, however we will be the 3rd in line to receive any money if there is money left from the sale.
2. Lein on the property. This is good if the property would sell then the community would get their money back. This cost about $500.00 for legal fees an additional $77.25 to file.
3. Sue the resident, this would cost between $1500. – $2500. And if the resident does not have the money to pay then the community would not receive anything until they do.

MOTION moved by Ivan Blanchard seconded by Jonathan Gallant and carried
THAT the community go with Option 1 – 2 and register the amount for $5,000.00

c) Potential Development on Kelly Dr: Council received drawing of a potential development for a 6-plex on two parcels of land on Kelly Dr.  The developer was requesting that council see it to see if there was any issue with this development before he put an offer in on the property. Council reviewed the drawings and did not see any potential reasons why the development could not happen. The developer is aware that there will need to be a public meeting with the residents when they are looking to develop.

9. NEXT MEETING: Monthly Meeting March 11th, 2025

10. MEETING ADJOURNED

MOTION moved by Charles MacAusland that the meeting of February 11th, 2025 be adjourned.