[1] Email This Page [1]
COMMUNITY OF MISCOUCHE
60TH ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
MARCH 21st, 2017
1. OPENING OF MEETING
Acting Chairperson, Ivan Blanchard called the meeting to order at 7:00 P.M. and welcomed everyone in attendance to this our 60th annual meeting of the Community.
Present:
Ivan Blanchard – Acting Chairperson
Pat MacLellan – Councillor
John Gillis – Councillor
Ricky Myers – Councillor
Joan Arsenault- Councillor
Michelle Perry- Administrator
and: Jenna Dominey- Accountant – BDO Canada
And: Jason Woodbury – Fire Chief
And: 14 Residents and 4 non-resident
2. MOMENT OF SILENCE
Acting Chairperson Ivan Blanchard called for a moment of silence in memory of all residents of the Community who passed away during the past year.
3. ADOPTION OF MINUTES:
MOTION moved by Blaine Gallant, seconded by Adam Gallant and carried,
THAT the minutes of the March 15th, 2016 Annual Meeting be approved
as presented.
4. BUSINESS ARISING
-No Business Arising
5. COUNCIL’S ANNUAL REPORT by Acting Chairperson Ivan Blanchard.
Welcome to our 60th Annual meeting I would first like to introduce our council Members. Pat MacLellan, Ricky Myers, John Gillis, Joan Arsenault and myself Ivan Blanchard, Administrator Michelle Perry. We also have our accountant from BDO Jenna Dominey. At this time I would like to say that regrettably Peter Mallett put in his official resignation as of March 16th, 2017. We would like to thank him for all the hard work he put in over his term and what he has done for this Community.
During the past year Council members had another busy year working on behalf of our residents. Not only had we attended 12 regular monthly meetings and 15 special meetings held in the Community, Council members also attended numerous other meetings outside the Community with various individuals and organizations to discuss projects and issues relating to Community improvements and residents concerns. As well Pat MacLellan was nominated to be a representative of the Board of Directors of the Federation of PEI Municipalities.
During the past year there were 5 building permits issued which included
2 storage buildings, and 3 addition to existing structures , The total value of the building permits was $24,400.00.
We continue to grow as a Community and show a positive growth trend with many new families choosing to come and live in our Community, on behalf of my fellow Council members I wish to welcome all our new residents to our Community, as well as all our other residents, that as a Council we are always ready to listen to any concerns and suggestions they have.
Upgrades and improvements are continuing to be made to community owned properties on an ongoing basis. As well as continuing the sidewalks on Kelly drive with approximately an additional 500 meters and also the ditch being filled in as well.
I am pleased to announce that the 2016 recipient of our Annual Community of Miscouche $1,000.00 Scholarship was awarded to community resident Sydney Strongman who was attending Acadia University in September of last year. Our congratulations go out to Sydney.
The Rec Center continues to be a going concern in our community under the guidance of our Rec Center Manager Robert Gallant. We would like to thank Robert for all his hard work. Not only does the Rec Centre continue to provide a base for the religion classes and regular Blood Donor Clinics, the attendances at our regular weekly bingo’s are steadily growing. In addition we continue to have youth and adult activities at the Rec Centre. Some of those activities now include archery classes which are overseen by Bruce Crabb. The Rec Centre also continues to be rented out for numerous other activities including banquets, meetings and family gatherings. Council also continue to work with our Rec Centre Manager and individual organizations to bring additional activities to the Rec Centre. As well as Robert Gallant there are also a large number of individuals who have generously volunteered their time to help carry out activities at the Rec Centre and we wish to thank all those volunteers for helping to make the Rec Centre such a valuable asset to our Community.
Continued monitoring of our sewer system is carried out on a regular basis and if any problems do arise we attempt to make the necessary repairs as soon as possible. Upgrades and improvements, when needed, are also carried out on our sewer system. Regular cleaning of our sewer mains is another essential element in keeping our sewer system operating properly. As in previous years we have continued with the rotational cleaning of several kilometers of our sewer mains and plan to continue with their annual rotational cleaning as well we hope to start video taping our lines to help keep our sewer system working properly. Overseeing the regular maintenance of our sewer system is done by our maintenance worker Monty MacAusland and we wish to thank Monty for the excellent work he does to see that our sewer system is in good working order.
In addition to our Municipal owned buildings, we also have playgrounds, parks and green spaces and these areas need to be maintained and kept clean on a regular basis and this work is also carried out by our maintenance worker, Bobby DesRoches.
We continue to try and keep our sidewalks clear of snow and this year has been much easier to do than last year, and we would like to thank Monty MacAusland for doing a great job this year.
Another essential part of our Community if our Fire Department. We continue to be very fortunate to have a group of firemen who are willing to continue volunteering their time to respond to our distress calls at any time of the day or night and in all kinds of weather. It is not until we find ourselves in an emergency situation that we realize that they are there to help us. Our volunteer firemen continue to spend numerous hours training to enhance their skills so that they learn how to best help us, whether that be as a firemen or as a medical first responder.
Our firemen continue to provide us, as well as the residents of the surrounding district with the peace of mind that they are ready and willing to respond to any emergency we may have.
Members of both the Community Council and the Fire Department continue to work together to better serve the needs of our residents and as in previous years, upgrading and maintenance of fire fighting equipment is essential. Our Fire Chief, Jason Woodbury, will be providing you with a more detailed list of the upgrades and improvements that have occurred over the past year in his report. On behalf of my fellow Councilors and the residents of our Community, I wish to extend our sincere thanks to all our firemen for providing this essential service to us.
At this time I wish to thank my fellow Council members and Administrator, Michelle Perry, for their hard work and dedication to the Community and its residents during the past year and I look forward to working with you over the next year.
On behalf of myself and my fellow Council members I would also like to thank you, the residents of our Community for all your assistance and support during the past year and we look to working with you in the coming year. We also with to thank each and every one of you for helping to make our Community a great place to live.
MOTION moved by Ivan Blanchard, seconded by Corey Gillis and carried,
THAT the Council’s annual report be approved.
6. FIRE DEPARTMENT ANNUAL REPORT presented by Fire Chief, Jason Woodbury.
MOTION moved by Chief Jason Woodbury, seconded by Corey Gillis and carried,
THAT the Fire Departments annual report be approved as read.
7. PRESENTATION AND APPROVAL OF 2016 FINANCIAL STATEMENT
Copies of the 2016 Financial Statement which was prepared by BDO Chartered Accountants were distributed prior to the meeting. The Financial Statement was read over by our Accountant, Jenna Dominey. The statement showed combined revenues of $434,099.00 for both general and sewer and combined expenses of $523,396.00 for both general and sewer for a deficiency of ($89,297.00). Mrs. Dominey advised that the Community continues to be very
stable and that the we are in a very strong position to be in as a Community. Mrs Dominey invited questions from the residents and none were presented.
MOTION moved by Jean Blanchard, seconded by Corey Gillis and carried,
THAT the 2016 Financial Statement be approved as presented.
8. PRESENTATION AND APPROVAL OF 2017 BUDGET
Copies of the 2017 Proposed Budget were passed out to the residents. Administrator Michelle Perry read over the 2017 proposed Budget for the residents approval, item by item, as follows.
A) FIRE DEPARTMENT
MOTION moved by Albert Gallant, seconded by Estelle DesRoches and carried,
THAT the Fire Dept budget be approved at $54,000.00 for administration and miscellaneous, $42,000.00 for truck maintenance, training and new equipment for a total of $96,000.00 and $25,000.00 be put in a reserve fund for future Fire Truck.
B) ADMINISTRATION
MOTION moved by Corey Gillis seconded by Monty MacAusland and carried,
THAT the administration budget be set at $62.400.00.
C) RECREATION/Community services, street lights, Municipal Federation dues, professional fees, capital expenditures reserve fund, Rec Center operating expenses and debt retirement.
MOTION moved by Corine MacAusland, seconded by Albert Gallant and carried,
THAT Recreation/community services be set at $8,000,00, street lights and
signs be set at $20,000.00, Municipal Federation dues be set at $2,000.00, Professional
fees be set at $10,000.00, Reserve Fund for future capital expenditures be set at $25,000.00
Recreation Centre general operations expenses be set at $61,000.00, Capital expenses
for Municipal buildings, Recreation etc. be set at $97,500.00 for a total of $223,500.00.
The grand total of the 2016 general budget will be $381,900.00 for expenditures with an estimated
revenue of $388,650.00 for a surplus of $6,750.00.
F) SEWER
MOTION moved by Jean Blanchard, seconded by Monty MacAusland and carried,
THAT the operation budget be set at $82,700.00, depreciation and debt $67,410.00 for a deficit of $49,690.00.
Question was asked if the Sewer dues will be going up and Ivan Answered that they will be going up from $120.00 per single family dwelling to $155.00 with a possible increase next year of and additional $30.00.
9. NEW BUSINESS
– Kelly Drive – Sidewalk Extensions – The residents were also advised that Council is looking at finishing the sidewalks on Kelly Dr to the Kinsmen Rd. This will be an additional $285,000.00 with a credit of $150,00.00 for the in filling from the Government so it will cost $135,000.00 plus HST. The loan that the community has now will be extend to finish with the payment of the Gas Tax going on the loan.
MOTION moved by Monty MacAusland, seconded by Adam Gallant and carried,
THAT the residents gave approval to complete the sidewalks on Kelly Drive to Kinsmen Rd.
B) Laughlin St: Ivan explained to residents that the community has an opportunity to purchase the 6 lots on Laughlin St that are not yet developed. They are undersized lots but they have been grand fathered in.
A resident suggested that they take the 6 lots and turn them into 4 and put duplexes on them. Ivan said that would have to be looked into to see if that is possible.
MOTION moved by Albert Gallant, seconded by Monty MacAusland and carried,
THAT the Community purchase the 6 lots on Laughlin St.
C) Tax Rate: Ivan informed the residents that the tax rate will be staying the same no plans to change it in the near future.
10. OTHER BUSINESS
2 Door Prizes of $50.00 each were made
The first ticket holder winner was Joan Arsenault and the second ticket holder winner was Adam Gallant.
11. ADJOURNMENT
MOTION moved by Jean Blanchard, seconded by Monty MacAusland and carried,
THAT the 60th annual meeting be adjourned.