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RURAL MUNICIPALITY OF MISCOUCHE
Monthly  Council Meeting
June 9th, 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 (Absent)
Michelle Perry- Administrator

2. Declaration of Conflict of Interest: Ivan Blanchard declared a conflict of interest in 10 a)
Patrick McSweeney BDO: Patrick gave the Audit report for the Year End Financial Statement for March 31, 2020 and answered any questions that council had.
Council thanked Patrick for the report and Patrick left the meeting.

MOTION moved by Allan Parks  seconded by John Searle and carried
THAT the Financial Statement of 2020 be approved as presented.

Sharon Doyle: Sharon wanted to speak with council on recognizing Edward Greencorn for the  work that he does around the community for the Veterans Graves. She wanted to speak personally to council about recommending him for the Eddie Laughlin Service Person Award. Michelle gave Sharon the information on the Eddie Laughlin Award and stated that we will be having the award again this year but we are just not sure when it will be presented due to the restrictions in place.  Sharon advised that she will send her recommendation by email for Edward to be considered for the award.
Council thanked Sharon for her presentation.

3. FIRE DEPARTMENT: Grant for the hoses and Air bags was approved and they have been ordered, also Michelle sent an email to Cooke’s Insurance to see if they could find out about the cost of Insurance from the Underwriters if the Pumper Truck was not replaced, but she has not heard back from them yet.
Chief Jason Woodbury gave the following report: the jaws were put in service however they need a little work as they are not working correctly. The department knew that they may have issues as they were a used set. They are getting someone to look at them. 132 the wheel wells were repaired. Truck Committee would like to know where council stands on the new truck. Memorial Service was cancelled for this year, the stone is done but not engraved hoping to have the service in September if the restrictions are lifted. Fire department is looking to have their annual summer party however all the details are not worked out quite yet. Fire department applied for 2 grants to assist with the lost of income from the 50/50 and Chase the Ace, and they are waiting to hear back on them. Since Covid-19 the community had activated the Emergency Plan for this community as well as St Nicholas and Lot 16. To date they have had 65 situation reports and
handed out more than 2000 liters of hand sanitizer to business in the communities as well as 19 champion gift cards to community residents. Jason also wanted to recommend that the council complete the fire burning by-law to protect the community incase there ever was a major fire in the community as they do not have the infrastructure to deal with it and it could be catastrophic.
Council thanked Jason for the report.

4. MAINTENANCE REPORT: council received to quotes to refurbish the blower shaft from Kensington Metal Products and Linkletter welding.

MOTION moved by Ivan Blanchard  seconded by John Searle and carried
THAT the Blower repairs be done by Linkletter welding for the cost of $480.00 plus HST lowest bidder.

Councillor Pat Maclellan had a very detailed breakdown on the cost and saving of a new Zero Turn Lawnmower.  Council discussed the pro and cons and the finances at this time. And that maybe the money should be put into upgrading the Bobcat as we need this equipment in both winter and summer.

 MOTION moved by Ivan Blanchard  seconded by Pat MacLellan and carried
THAT the Zero Turn be put on hold for now till the finances improve.

5. REC CENTER REPORT: Michelle was at the Rec Center and made a list of all the product that was expired for Pop and Chips its about $110.00 worth.  Council also received a complaint about cars parking in the Rec Center all hours of the evening and they have been reeving motors and squealing tires. Michelle contacted the RCMP to make extra patrols. They discussed putting signs up but decided not to at this time. Council also received a request to see about birthday parties again at the Rec Center

MOTION moved by John Searle  seconded by Alan Parks and carried
THAT Birthday Party rentals not be a go at this time as the risk is to high.  It will be re-evaluated at the next meeting.

6. ADOPTION OF MINUTES: Meeting minutes for May 12th, 2020

MOTION moved by Ivan Blanchard seconded by John Searle and carried
THAT the minutes for May 12th, 2020 be approved as presented.

7. BUSINESS ARISING:
a) West Lagoon: The community have at this time only received 1 quote, so since this project needs to get underway the company Locus will be doing the work for an estimated amount of                       $1800.00 plus HST.
b) Laughlin St: Council discussed the sale of the lots on Laughlin St, and also there is a lot of topsoil left and the contractor wanted to buy it for $25.00 a load.  It was suggested to check to see what other contractor pay for the topsoil.

MOTION moved by Pat MacLellan  seconded by Jacqueline Lecky and carried
THAT the lots be sold for $37,000.00 for the 2 back lots and $32,000.00 for the 4 others.

c) Parks are open again to the public at their own risk.  Swings and skate park equipment have been put out.
d) Traffic Sign on Wilfred St: The traffic sign was put up on Wilfred St and it will be monitored to see if this makes a difference
e) CAO Contract: The contract for the CAO increase hours was created and read to council.

MOTION moved by John Searle  seconded by Jacqueline Lecky and carried
THAT the CAO Contract for hours and duties be approved as presented.

8. COMMITTEE REPORTS:
a) Fire Dept: Council had a question about the fire department no joining the PEI Firefighters Association and if this will impact training.  Jason stated that he heard that the commercial dues maybe going up in price and that since they had none doing level 1-2 this year that they will look at the benefits next year in joining if they have firefighters doing training.
b) Planning Board- Building Permits- Permit was issued to 9 Cunningham Dr for a storage shed  and 47 Main Dr E for New House Build.
c)  Sewer: Bills: We have received $25,000.00 to date in payments  although they are not due till June 30 2020
d) Firehall Maintenance & Street Lights: Roof still leaking in the Fire Hall the gutters in the front of the building need to be checked they maybe plugged.
e) Community Improvements:
f) Finances: Sidewalk Loan was paid out for $37,500.00 that was suppose to come out in January 2020 was taken out May 21 2020
9. APPROVAL OF BILLS TOTALING $ 18,298.31

MOTION moved by Pat MacLellan seconded by John Searle and carried
THAT the payment of the bills totaling $ 18,298.31 is approved.

10. NEW BUSINESS:
a) Driveway concerns 21 Laughlin St : Ivan left the room due to a conflict of interest.  Resident wrote a letter to council asking that council consider resurfacing their driveway due to the expansion and they have to put a new culvert in and they just re-paved their driveway last year.

MOTION moved by Allan Parks  seconded by John Searle
THAT the Community not re-pave the residents driveway at 21 Laughlin St as it is standard repair for the government to re-pave what they had to replace.

Jacqueline Lecky and Pat Maclellan both voted no which left mayor Albert Gallant to break the tie vote and he voted for not re-surfacing the driveway Motion was carried.

Ivan came back into the room

b) Unsightly Property: council received a complaint about unsightly property at 22 Lady Slipper Dr S a letter will be sent to the resident advising to have the garbage and down trees cleaned up.
c) Eddie Laughlin Award: Council will do it again this year and we will have it added to the Newsletter.
d) Right of way on Heritage: Council received a formal complaint about people walking on their property on Iris court and the resident wanted to know if there could be signs put up on the right away as residents don’t know that there is one there as the neighbors are maintaining the grass. Council advised to contact the owner of the subdivision to put some post up to mark out the right of way.
e) Councillor Ivan requested that a letter be sent to the RCMP advising them that we have concerns of excessive speeding of the RCMP when they are responding to calls through the community. With a lot of children and elderly in the community it is becoming unsafe. A letter will be sent.
f) Councillor Ivan wanted to request that since Fisherman’s Wharf is closed for the season that we go to Silver Fox for the annual dinner. Council discussed and decided that they will review this at a later date.

11. NEXT MEETING: July 14th, 2020

12. MEETING ADJOURNED

MOTION moved by John Searle THAT the meeting of June 9th, 2020 be adjourned.