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RURAL MUNICIPALITY OF MISCOUCHE
Monthly  Council Meeting
March 10th, 2020

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

   Albert Gallant  – Mayor
Allan Parks – Deputy Mayor
Jacqueline Lecky- Councillor
Pat MacLellan – Councillor
John Searle- Councillor
Ivan Blanchard- Councillor
Joan Arsenault – Councillor
Michelle Perry- Administrator

Fire Department Truck Committee meet with Council spokesperson Chief Jason Woodbury provided the following information to council. The reason why the department is looking for a new truck is that the one that they have now is a 1997 and in a couple of years the truck will not even be eligible to be on reserve, due to the age of the truck as per the Underwriters of Canada which determines what your community ranks at and what the residence will pay for insurance based on what the department has for trucks.  Also because the community does not have hydrants they require to have 2 pumpers one that will be used as a fill truck and the other will stay at the fire. The committee has been in touch with MetFab and they have designed a truck that it a basic truck like what they have and the cost will be $388,000.00 plus HST.  To get a truck built it takes about 1 year.
Council thanked the committee for coming .

2. Declaration of Conflict of Interest: Joan A declared a conflict of interest under 10e.

3. FIRE DEPARTMENT: John Searle gave the following report: The department had 1 medical call last month also the senior structure has changed. The monument has been ordered and the Liberal MLA and well as the Premier will attend. The department put a bid in for a used set of Jaws from the Fire school which was only used for training purposes. They have also purchased data for the tablets. Clean Heros will be over to inspect the bunker gear and clean them.  The department has also purchased a badge maker as they were not able to find anyone in Summerside that could print only a few at a time. They will be splitting the cost with Wellington and possibly Summerside Fire Departments.
Chief Jason Woodbury continued with: The EMO plan was updated they have the finally report from Hurricane Dorian. The department made another payment of $1250.00 for the monument which leaves a balance owing of $333.00. PEI Firefighters have increases the annual dues by 200% so a few of the departments are protesting the raise as no one was informed about the increase, and they have just sent a payment on the cost that was charged last year for each member. Also that they are going to be doing hose testing in April and that they are going to need some new hose and they also need to purchase hoses for the Air bags.

MOTION moved by Pat Maclellan seconded by John Searle and carried
THAT the Community apply for a grant to help cover the cost of the New Hoses and the Hoses for the Air Bags.

4. MAINTENANCE REPORT: Maintenance Man Monty gave the following report: The blower has been repaired and hopefully there will be no more break downs this year. There are some sidewalks by the museum that are shifting and will need to be looked at in the Spring.  Also there was a sewer issue on 13 Lady Slipper Dr S which the MJ was fixed on the pipe leading out to the main. The resident will need to complete their property.
5. REC CENTER REPORT: Michelle gave the following report: Since Robert has left council will need to hire a person for tear down and set up of the tables at the Rec Center. Bingo are going very good since Council hired a paid crew to run the bingo they have been very profitable. Also there are some changes that need to be made, since we do not have a correct number of how many bingo passes are out they need to be stopped and new ones created. Also the 2 rentals that are in the rec center weekly should be charged a fee for the center as now they are not be charged anything but charging people to do the sport.

MOTION moved by Pat Maclellan seconded by Joan Arsenault and carried
THAT the Community hire a person for the tear down and set up of the tables at the Rec Center 2 days a week for 2 hours a day at $20.00 an hour, And also that the new Bingo Passes are created and the old ones will be good till March 29th, 2020.

MOTION moved by John Searle seconded by Jacqueline Lecky and carried
THAT the Table Tennis and Archery be charged the resident rate of $25.00 per day for the use of the Rec Center starting September 2020.

6. ADOPTION OF MINUTES: Meeting minutes for February 11th , and annual Public Meeting February 25th , 2020

MOTION moved by Allan Parks seconded by John Searle and carried
THAT the minutes for February 11th, and February 25th 2020 be approved as presented.

7. BUSINESS ARISING:
a) West lagoon: Still waiting for Linkletters to get back to see how they are going to square off the property before we get it surveyed in the Spring.
b) Wilfred St Radar Signs: waiting to the signed to be put there when the snow is gone.
c) Safety Flags: They were delivered today and Michelle will have Monty install them this week.
d) Laughlin St Project: Transportation finally gave the approval to WSP to have the specs done for the Tender.
e) Business Proposal: Michelle spoke with Goldie and they are still interested in the renal at the Rec Center weekdays and they hope to have everything in place by May if not June.
8. COMMITTEE REPORTS:
a) Fire Dept: Council reviewed what was given to them from the Truck Committee, and have decided to table the truck discussion till next meeting so they have a chance to review all the information that was given to them.
b) Planning Board- Building Permits- Permit was issued to 13 Heritage Dr for single Family Dwelling.
c)  Sewer: Bills: New 2020 Bills will be going out April 1st,
d) Firehall Maintenance & Street Lights: New lights were installed at the Walking Trail and Augustine St, and there is still a resident that claims it is very dark on Augustine St. Pat will check it out.
e) Community Improvements: Nothing to report
f) Finances: $25,000.00 was transferred from the operating account to the Capital Expenditures account.
9. APPROVAL OF BILLS TOTALING $ 30,841.05

MOTION moved by John Searle seconded by Pat MacLellan and carried
THAT the payment of the bills totaling $ 30,841.05 is approved.

10. NEW BUSINESS

a) Official Plans: Michelle sent an email to the FPEIM to get some suggestions of who we can hire to get this done. They suggested to put it out for a proposal.

 MOTION moved by John Searle seconded by Jacqueline Lecky and carried
THAT the community put a proposal out for a planner to update the Official Plan.

b) Bylaws : Access to the Information and Retention of Records Bylaw were suppose to be passed by February 28th, Michelle is working on these Bylaw and may have them ready for next month for the 1st reading. Also council asked her to check to see what other communities charge for printing off information.
c) Thank you cards: Council received a thank you card for the Lot 16 Hall Committee for the donation toward the repair for the roof at the hall.
d) Military Service Book. Council was sent a request for a donation for the Military Service Book for Veterans.

MOTION moved by John Searle seconded by Jacqueline Lecky and carried
THAT the Community purchase 1/10 of a page for $230.00 as an advertisement in the Military Service Book.

e) Donation for the Music Program Miscouche Consolidated: Joan left the room as it was a conflict of interest. Council received a request to donate to the Miscouche Consolidated School band trip to Nova Scotia in April 2020.

MOTION moved by Pat MacLellan seconded by Jacqueline Lecky and carried
THAT a donation of $250.00 be given to the Miscouche Consolidated School for the Music Program Band Trip.

Ivan Blanchard voted against.
Joan came back into the room.

f) Complaint: There was a complaint about a resident who rides his tractor on the sidewalk. And how this can be a safety issue.  Michelle will send a letter advising the resident of this.

g) Adoption of the budget: Council went over 2 parts of the budget.  The fire Department travel budget, and since they will have the monument this year they have decided not to send a member to the Ottawa for memorial as their will be celebrations here this year for Mike 5th anniversary. Also council discussed the raise for the maintenance. Since Robert DesRoches is only working 3 or 4 hours a week and only wants to do the painting and flower beds this year that he will not be issued a raise.

 MOTION moved by Ivan Blanchard seconded by Allan Parks and carried
THAT the Community not send a member of the Fire Department to Ottawa this year as they will have a Memorial Celebrations here with the unveiling of the new monument.

John Searle and Jacqueline Lecky voted against.

MOTION moved by Pat MacLellan seconded by Ivan Blanchard and carried
THAT Monty MacAuland be given a 1.6% raise and that the community stop paying for the cell phone of Robert DesRoches as of April 1st, 2020.

11. NEXT MEETING: April 14th, 2020
12. MEETING ADJOURNED

MOTION moved by John Searle THAT the meeting of March 10th, 2020 be adjourned.