Print This Post
 Email This Post

RURAL MUNICIPALITY OF MISCOUCHE
Monthly Council Meeting
December 10th, 2024

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: No one declared a conflict of interest

3. Residents of 31 Antoinette: The residents did not show up to address council.

4. MAINTENANCE REPORT: Monty MacAusland gave the following report: The snow removal at this point is slow at this time of the year.  There is a light fixture that will be replaced at the top of the stairs by the Fire Chief office. And the Solar Light will be placed at the Well head in the next day or two.

5. ADOPTION OF MINUTES: Monthly Meeting November 12th 2024

MOTION moved by Charles MacAusland seconded by Ivan Blanchard and carried
THAT the minutes for the Monthly Meeting November 12th, 2024, be approved as presented.

6. BUSINESS ARISING:
a) West Lagoon Upgrades: The final bill has been submitted, and the total cost of the project was $3,185,959.92 with $170,000 to be drawn for the 5% hold back in August 2025. The loan is in repayment for $933,449.83 at 6.89% over the next 25 years.
b) Hydrant: The project has been completed and is up and running, and the department will receiving training before they use the well. The total cost for that project was $130,000.

c) Unsightly Property 100 Lady Slipper Dr S: There has been progress on the property grounds, however no progress has been made to the structures.
d) Phase 2 Kinsmen Rd: Council still has not received any drawings for Phase 2 yet.
e) Speed Change Request/ Painting of the crosswalks for the veterans: This has been sent to Highways. Councilor Blanchard will get a letter of support from the Miscouche Legion for the crosswalk painting.
f) Waste Go: Council was asked to make a decision as to whether they wanted to go ahead with the project in the West lagoon in the Spring as it will have to budgeted for.

MOTION moved by Ivan Blanchard seconded by Charles MacAusland and carried
THAT the community go ahead with the Waste Go Product for the Spring of 2025

g) RCMP: The RCMP were contacted, and they will be happy to come and meet with council in the New year.

7. COMMITTEE REPORTS:
a) Fire Dept: Councilor MacAusland was absent for the meeting in December so he passed this  to the Fire Chief to give the report: The policy was put in place for weekly clean up checks and they are working out so far. Also it was requested that once a year the community would do a full cleaning including the floors. Santa Run will be December 15 @ 1pm.  They also have a box for letters to Santa for the kids since the postal service is down. The man door and the roof are still leaking in the fire hall and it should be checked. Also there was a plan created for the residents of Dawsyn Crt in the case of a structure fire.  The department would like to meet with the residents in the new year to go over the plan so that they will all be aware of what needs to happen. As there is not enough room in the subdivision to get the trucks in there. Also the lines on the fire hall floor need to be painted after the work is done on the floor.
b) Recreation, Park, Playgrounds and Green Spaces: Councilor J Gallant gave the following report: Bingo are going good there was an average of 85 people per evening over the last 5 weeks and the amount brought in was $2,314.00. And last Sunday there was only 67 people there due to the weather so we lost $240.00.
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: Nothing to report on the buildings however council should get the leaks looked into in the fire hall. Council agreed to get some estimate to see what it would cost to get the roof fixed and the man door. Also it was mentioned that the 3 bay doors should be replaced as well.  It was suggested to get some prices to see what the cost will run, as this might have to be a 5 year plan. Also it was suggested to turn the furnace on at the fire hall and the rec center to make sure they work as they have not been running for over a year.
e) PEI Federation of Municipalities: Councillor MacLellan was absent so no report was given..
f) Finances:   Deputy Mayor Parks gave the following report: Over the last 8 months the community is in a deficit of $94,500.00 a lot of that is from the west lagoon project. And with the new budget being worked on we need to make sure that we have enough funds to pay for projects.
g) Bylaw Committee: Councillor MacAusland gave the following report: There are 2 members of council, the mayor  and 3 residents on the committee. There will be another meeting in January and it was suggested that there be a lox box outside with the main door key and the boardroom key in it so they can get in. They are also looking into the cost of having a lawyer on retainer.  There will be more information after the next meeting.

MOTION moved by Charles MacAusland seconded by Allan Parks and carried
THAT the community put a lockbox with the main door key and the boardroom key in it for meetings.

8. Total bills paid for the month of October was $98,614.26

MOTION moved by Allan Parks seconded by Charles MacAusland and carried
THAT the bills paid last month for $98,614.26 be approved.

9. NEW BUSINESS:

a) Pancake Breakfast: council will be doing this again this year on February 22 @ 8:00am

b) Heat Pump for the UV Chamber: Since the electric heater that is in the UV chamber now is drawing too much power council decided to put a heat pump in the chamber. And after getting 6 different quotes. This was done through email with council as it had to go in right away. Councillor Gillis was not involved as it was a conflict of interest for him.

MOTION moved by Allan Parks seconded by Charles MacAusland and carried
THAT the community put a heat pump in the UV Chamber from Palmers Mobile

c) Budget: CAO Perry will start working on the budget and would like council to think about any projects that they would like to see happen this coming fiscal year. It was already discussed about the fire hall needing repairs.  Councillor MacAusland would also like to see a shed for the hydrant so that all the hoses and the electrical boxes would be locked in the shed. Councillor MacAusland also asked about the fire truck that is going to be replaced if the community was going to keep it or sell it, as if they keep it they may want to build a bigger piece on the back maintenance shed to store it. Council will think on this and have some suggestions for next meeting.

10. NEXT MEETING: Monthly Meeting January 14th, 2025

11. MEETING ADJOURNED

MOTION moved by Charles MacAusland that the meeting of December 10th, 2024, be adjourned.