Print This Page
 Email This Page

 

RURAL MUNICIPALITY OF MISCOUCHE
Monthly  Council Meeting
May 14th, 2019

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

2. Declaration of Conflict of Interest:
3. FIRE DEPARTMENT: John Searle gave the following report: June 1 the Juniors are doing a BBQ fund raiser for the trip to Ottawa and they will be selling tickets on a BBQ. The Fire department is July 6 at the Fire Hall. The department order coveralls for the firefighters and will be paying for them out of there own funds. Uniforms will be fitted and ordered. Ottawa trip is booked. Jason added to the report: The monument worked will be started shortly. Jason had some concerns that he was not contacted yet about the CMA 2019 for August 14-15 and the role that the fire department will play in these days, and he was looking for the community to hire 3-4 fire fighters to man the station for the day of 14 and morning of the 15 in case there was an emergency. Michelle stated that she will contact Karen from the CMA and see what the plan is. The trip to Ottawa Jason was concerned that the $1200.00 that was allocated to the trip did not include the perdiem or taxi fares or parking for the trip. He was looking for an extra $400.00 to cover these costs. Parking lot at the hall: The spaces get filled up when there is a event going on such as something at the museum or a funeral luncheon and the members were wanting to know if there was a way to reserve 4-5 parking spaces for Fire department only. This does not happen on a regular basis.  There are 40 members in the fire department including the juniors, and recently 2 juniors became of age to move up, but since there is no room in the department they have not been taken in.  This becomes a cost to the department for equipment, as this is the reason that it was capped at 35 fire fighters.

4. MAINTENANCE REPORT: Michelle gave the following report: There is some work that needs to be done on the Blower, and Monty got a quote from Corcoran’s to have the repairs done.
MOTION moved by John Searle seconded by Allan Parks and carried
THAT the work on the Blower be done for the cost of $ 6,883.15.
5. REC CENTER REPORT: Jacqueline gave the following report. The Bingo have been going good and there have been no more complaints about the cheating at bingo since Robert has been using the serial numbers on the cards. Heat Pump is still done and we have received a Quote to replace the heat pump. Council suggested to get another 2 prices on the 24,000 BTU’s. It was discussed about a resident who rented the hall and was overcharged in the pricing.

 MOTION moved by Pat Maclellan seconded by Jacqueline Lecky and carried
THAT the refund of $125.00 be given back to the resident that was overcharged for the Hall rental.

MacLellan Electric was in to check to see if there was something drawing the power at the Rec Center the light bills were high.  They checked and they did not find anything unusual, except that the heat pumps were running a lot and didn’t shut off often, but it is a big building so it does take a lot to heat it. Council decided to have a closed meeting to review the finances of the Rec Center. So at this time they decided not to invest anything more into the Rec Center until this has been reviewed.

MOTION moved by John Searle seconded by Jacqueline Lecky and carried
THAT Council hold a closed meeting on May 22nd, 2019 to review the finances of the Rec Center

6. ADOPTION OF MINUTES: Meeting minutes for April 9th, 2019  be approved as presented.

MOTION moved by Ivan Blanchard seconded by Pat MacLellan and carried
THAT the minutes for April 9th, 2019 be approved as presented.

7. BUSINESS ARISING:
a) Letter to Extend the Boundaries: The resident who requested this had called the office on May 1st and stated that they will not be going ahead with their request.  Michelle called the resident back on May 13th, 2019 to confirm that they were pulling the request to extend the boundaries, the resident stated that it would be of no benefit to the community at this time to proceed so they will with draw the request. Council decided at this time this will not be something that they pursue.
b) Property on Laughlin: Ivan was in contact with Curran Briggs to see if their was drawing for the road on Laughlin and there was not, however they did give a name of a person that can help the community to come up with the plan to finish the road. The community is still waiting for confirmation on funding from the Gas Tax.
c) Summer Meal: John Searle brought up his concerns with having an open bar at the meal and that he had contacted Community and Curtal Affairs about this as well as a few other communities and it wasn’t against the law but it was frowned upon, unless it was clearly stated in a By Law.

MOTION moved by Ivan Blanchard seconded by Pat MacLellan and carried
THAT the Summer Meal with the open bar as previous years.

John Searle Opposed.
Date set tentatively for June 15th at 6:30

e) corner of main & Lady Slipper Dr: Still; no word from the government on the plans for the corner. Albert will contact Stephen Yeo do see if there was any progress on this.

8. COMMITTEE REPORTS:
a) Fire Dept: Council discussed the peridium for the Ottawa trip, and decided that it was already put in the budget for $1200.00 and that next year they will ask the Fire Chief when requesting to have it in more detail as to what they are looking for the expense to cover for the trip.

MOTION moved by John Searle seconded by Allan Parks  and carried
THAT the there be no extra money giving for the trip as this was already set in the budget.

b) Planning Board- Building Permits- Permit fees increase.  Allan has done some research on the fees for the building and Subdividing the land under the provincial rules. And is requesting the increase of the building permits follow provincial regulations at a minimum of $50.00 to a maximum of $250.00 going by .20 a square ft.

 MOTION moved by Ivan Blanchard seconded by Joan Arsenault and carried
THAT the Allan Parks puts a package together for the Building permit increase.

Pat Maclellan Opposed.
c)  Sewer: Bills: There are 19 residence that have not paid anything on last year or this years taxes.

MOTION moved by Pat MacLellan seconded by Jacqueline Lecky and carried
THAT the on June 1st registered letters be delivered to the residence with the past due sewer bills with a 30 days notice for payment or disconnection of service.

d) Firehall Maintenance & Street Lights: Lady Slipper Dr N Street light at that location is covered in the trees and does not shine on the sidewalk council looking to have it removed and put across the street. It was suggested to talk to the resident to see about moving it. Albert will check with the resident. And also provide Michelle with the pole # to add the street lights to Lady Slipper Dr S.
e) Community Improvements: Unsightly property on Lady Slipper Dr N and South and Main Dr.  There have been some residence complaints about a few properties that were becoming unsightly. Michelle will draw up letters to send to the residence. Also she will send a demolition permit to St John the Baptist as they are tearing down the Monaghan House.
f) Finances: Computer Upgrade and Geo Links: Michelle is requesting upgrades to the office computer as well as the laptop to use for the Asset Management course in June and also to get Geo maps as the community can sign up with the government for $25.00 to get access to Geo Maps which the community will then have access to the land information and will be able to print off the information at a certain cost which will be taken off the $25.00. The cost will be charged to the customer when accessing a building permit.

MOTION moved by John Searle seconded by Pat MacLellan and carried
THAT the Michelle get 3 quotes for upgrades to the computer and that the community sign up for Geo Links.

9. APPROVAL OF BILLS TOTALING $ 44,703.45

MOTION moved by Allan Parks seconded by Ivan Blanchard  and carried
THAT the payment of the following bills totaling $44,703.45 is approved.

10. NEW BUSINESS:
a) Supporting Summerside: Council has received a letter asking for their support in having the Toll eliminated on the Confederation Bridge.

MOTION moved by Ivan Blanchard seconded by Allan Parks and carried
THAT the Rural Municipality of Miscouche support Summerside in the initiative to support Senator Percy Downe in removing the toll for the Confederation Bridge.

b) Gift for Bobby DesRoches Maintenance: Bobby has had all his treatments and surgery and the Dr stated he could come back to work.  Since things are caught up at the present time he will return back to work in middle or end of June.

MOTION moved by Allan Parks seconded by John Searle and carried
THAT a gift of $100.00 be given to Bobby DesRoches as a get well after coming back after Cancer Treatment.

c) Curran Briggs Pit on Augustine St: The pit is being overloaded with residence debris and needs to be pushed back. Council decided since Curran Briggs owns the pit to have them do it. At a cost of $80.00 hour. .
d) Speeding Wilfred St: There have been a few complaints about the speeding on Wilfred St and it was suggested to have speed bumps put in for safety. Albert stated that he will check with Stephen Yeo about this.

MOTION moved by Pat Maclellan seconded by Allan Parks and carried
THAT the Community request to have 3 speed bumps put in on Wilfred St.

e) PCH Donation and Annual Meeting.  Council received a request for a donation towards Cardiac Monitors for the PCH, and also their Annual meeting is May 16th at Noon. Joan Arsenault will attend the meeting.

MOTION moved by Ivan Blanchard seconded by John Searle and carried
THAT the Annual Donation of $1000.00 be given to the PCH to go towards Cardiac Monitors.

f) Resident Bursary: The annual resident bursary for a graduating Garde 12 Student.

MOTION moved by John Searle seconded by Ivan Blanchard and carried
THAT the Annual Resident Bursary for $1000.00 be continued again this year.

g) Graduation Miscouche Consolidated: Annual donation towards graduation for the 2019

MOTION moved by Joan Arsenault seconded by Jacqueline Lecky and carried
THAT the Annual donation of $200.00 be given to the Miscouche Consolidation towards the Grade 9 Graduation of 2019

h) Eddie Laughlin Award:

MOTION moved by Jacqueline Lecky seconded by Pat MacLellan and carried
THAT the call for nominations for the Eddie Laughlin Service person of the Year go ahead again this year.

i) Daycare Operation: Council received a request to have a Daycare in a home on Main Dr E. Council had some concerns about if it was going to be a registered day care, and if the home owner had insurance for that. At the present time there is no By Law for that sort of an operation.
j) Newsletter going out in July, wanting to get the council picture in it as well as the rental rates for the Rec Center, as well as projects that will be completed around the community.
k) Summer Student: We have been approved for 1 student from the federal Government waiting for confirmation from the Provincial side.
l) Sewer / Rec Center Loans: These have not been paid yet. Michelle will send an email to Credit Union to see if there any penalties for paying earlier.
m) Congress 2019: council received a request to attend a launching of the program for PEI. Joan Arsenault will attend this function.

11. NEXT MEETING: June 11th, 2019
12. MEETING ADJOURNED

MOTION moved by John Searle THAT the meeting of May 14th, 2019 be adjourned.