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RURAL MUNICIPALITY OF MISCOUCHE
Monthly  Council Meeting
August 13th, 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: No one declared a conflict of interest.

3. FIRE DEPARTMENT: John Searle gave the following report.
There were 10 calls last month and 6 were medical. The fire hall will be staffed for the congress tomorrow and Thursday Morning in case there are any emergency. 3 Scott air pacs were replaced and 2 were donated to Victoria Fire Department.    There is 1 position opened in the department and they will be holding 8 interviews in September to fill the position. This will leave the department with 35 active fire fighters and 5 juniors. Government will be installing 2 cad systems in the trucks and the and the budget will have to cover $35 a month per system. Chief Jason Woodbury adding to the following report: The base for the monument and the flag poles were installed after some discussion on where they were going to be installed, in the end they were moved out 5 more feet from the building. The department needs another $11,075.58 to have the monument installed., and they are still working on raising the money.  The trucks will be all undercoated. The department is looking to replace the #112 in the next 3-4 years this will cost around $375,000.00, and they will be adding this expense to their budget next year which they will have ready in December for review.

4. MAINTENANCE REPORT: The sign was done for Laughlin Street development and council needs to pick a place where it will go, as well as the flag pole that needs to be put up at the Rec Center.  Also Monty wanted to know if he could rent an auger to make it easier to dig the holes. We have received a email from Luc at WSP and a topographic survey will need to be done and the  property re-pinned before anymore work can be done. The cost is $3,700.00 plus HST.

MOTION moved by John Searle seconded by Jacqueline Lecky and carried
THAT the Survey be done on Laughlin Street for the next step of the project.

MOTION moved by Allan Parks  seconded by Jacqueline Lecky  and carried
THAT an Auger be rented to have the post dug for the Laughlin St sign as well as the Rec Center flag pole.

5. REC CENTER REPORT: The phone message has been changed at the Rec Center and the Lock box was ordered however the locks will not be changed till after the summer program is completed.

6. ADOPTION OF MINUTES: Meeting minutes for June 11th, 2019  be approved as presented.

MOTION moved by Ivan Blanchard  seconded by John Searle  and carried
THAT the minutes for July 9th, 2019 be approved as presented.

7. BUSINESS ARISING:
a) West lagoon: Albert was in touch with Linkletter and the community needs about 3 acres to make this work and Luc from WSP was down to look at the property and they would prefer to have the property on the same side as the Lagoon. Also Linkletter wanted the community to make the offer on the property so Allan will look in to see what the assessed value is on the property. The community also needs to have test hole dug to see what the ground is like underneath.

MOTION moved by John Searle seconded by Jacqueline Lecky and carried
THAT the test holes be dug at the potential property at the West Lagoon to determine if the soil is good.

b) Newsletter, and Printing: Michelle was in touch with Robin about the quality of the printing and she stated that she can buy a program for $2.99 to try it to see this will make a difference on the next printing.  Also a resident who works out of a office in Summerside wanted to have the business added to the Newsletter.

MOTION moved by Pat MacLellan seconded by Ivan Blanchard and carried
THAT the only registered Miscouche Business would be put in the community newsletter.

c) Grass cutting School Property: This has been done.
d) By Laws: There are 3 By laws in the process of being created EMO, Fire Services and Grant By Law with 2 policies associated with them. Michelle was requesting a By Law Committee which will consist of her and 2 other council to have them created before they are brought to council. John Searle and Jacqueline Lecky agreed to be on the committee.
e) Farm Credit Grant: community was not approved for the grant.
g) Eddie Laughin Award: Ivan brought up that the award has been going on for years and since no one sent any nominations council in previous years had picked one to present at the Parish Picnic, and he wanted to know going forward if this was still the understanding.

MOTION moved by Ivan Blanchard seconded by Joan Arsenault and carried
THAT in the event that no one is nominated for the Eddie Laughlin Award that council pick someone eligible in the community.

Pat MacLellan abstained from voting and Jacqueline Lecky and Allan Parks voted against it.  Motion carried.

h) Corner Main Dr Lady Slipper N: It was asked if the barricades were going to be replaced by the Island, and it was stated that this will be done in September. Also an angry  resident left a message advising that the barricades be taken out and that there is was a petition at the store to have them removed.

8. COMMITTEE REPORTS:
a) Fire Dept: Already Discussed
b) Planning Board- Building Permits- 79 Lady Slipper Dr N, 32 Wilfred St and 4 Plex on Lady Slipper Dr N: Resident on Lady Slipper put a pool and fence in, and also the property was being charged for duplex as there was an apartment on the property.  Owner stated that they have since removed the apartment.  Council advised to have a letter written from the owner advising that there property is a single family dwelling again.  Wilfred Street submitted a building permit for a detached storage garage on the property.  Lady Slipper 4 Plex. The resident was just inquiring about what they need to make this happen in the near future.  Council advised that as per the zoning bylaws now they have enough square ft, however they will need to check again before they do it as the laws could change, and they would also need to submit a request to change the zoning to a multi resident.
c)  Sewer: Bills: There are still 2 residents that the signs were put up in the yard to have the sewer disconnected that have not made contact as of yet. 1 of the properties is a rental property with no contact information besides Miscouche to contact the owner.  Ivan and Joan volunteered to go to the address and see if they can get the information for the owner to be contacted.  And the other property on lady Slipper will be set for disconnection.
d) Firehall Maintenance & Street Lights:
e) Community Improvements: Unsightly property: 3 letters were delivered around the community to have the property cleaned up. Lady Slipper S the homeowner died and once the estate is settled the beneficiary will tear down the porch on the front of the house.
f) Finances: Gas Tax: The double payment and the first part of this year payment was deposited in the account and the second half will be deposited in December. This is ear marked for Laughlin St.

9. APPROVAL OF BILLS TOTALING $ 45,563.34

MOTION moved by Allan Parks seconded by Ivan Blanchard  and carried
THAT the payment of the bills totaling $45,563.34 is approved.

10. NEW BUSINESS:
a) PEI Housing Kids Park Kelly Dr: PEI Housing called and wanted to know if the community was still interested in buying the property that the kids park is on.  Council approached housing a few years ago inquiring about the purchase but no price was negotiated.  They did state that if we did not buy it that they would possibly develop it. Council wanted to find the lease agreement on the property and find out what the value of the property is worth. Allan will look into the value and Michelle will see if she can find the lease.
b) Potential Business Opportunity for the Rec Center: A business with Bouncy Castles that put on Birthday parties is looking for a place to rent from September to May on the weekends to throw Birthday parties about 2-3 a day. And they will do the clean up and they have a contract agreement that would be signed by the party goers that would release all liabilities for the center and the business.  Council wanted a little more information on this.
c) Dr Herb Dickieson: Sent a letter to council asking for their support in creating a motion to help increase the Dr shortage on the Island and to create a program at the University of PEI to bring more physicians to the Island.
MOTION moved by Pat Maclellan seconded by John Searle and carried
THAT the Community support this initiative.
d) LEAP Program Grant for the Art class at the Rec Center.  Michelle received a call from the program leader and they were wanting to fill out a grant to acquire funding to pay for a teacher to come in and give lessons. However they needed to be under a non profit organization, which they are just seniors doing art classes once a week.
MOTION moved by Ivan Blanchard seconded by Jacqueline Lecky and carried
THAT the community apply for the LEAP Grant on behalf of the Art Program at the Rec Center
11. NEXT MEETING: September 10th, 2019
12. MEETING ADJOURNED

MOTION moved by Pat MacLellan THAT the meeting of August 13th, 2019 be adjourned.