MINUTES
TOWNSHIP OF NIPISSING
Tuesday, September 15, 2020

A regular meeting of the Township of Nipissing Council was held on Tuesday, September 15, 2020.
In response to the Declaration of Emergency for Covid-19, the meeting was held at the Township of Nipissing Community Centre, 2381 Highway 654.

Present: Mayor Tom Piper and Councillors Linda Andersen, Tom Marchant, Liz Moore and James Scott.
Present: Operations Superintendent Dan MacInnis, Fire Chief Will Bateman, EDO-Planning Assistant-CEMC John-Paul Negrinotti, Treasurer-Deputy Clerk Kris Croskery-Hodgins and CAO-Clerk Charles Barton.

The meeting was called to order at 6:30 p.m.

Disclosure of pecuniary interest: None.

Staff Reports:
John-Paul Negrinotti, EDO-CEMC-Planning Assistant – written report.
Will Bateman, Fire Chief – verbal and written report.
Dan MacInnis, Operations Superintendent – verbal and written report.
Kris Croskery-Hodgins, Treasurer-Deputy Clerk – verbal report.
Charles Barton, CAO-Clerk – verbal report.

Committee Reports:
Tom Piper – CAO and Mayors Meeting

R2020 -170 L. Andersen, J. Scott: That the minutes of the meeting held September 1, 2020 be adopted as published. Carried.

R2020-171 T. Marchant, L. Moore: That the minutes of the Special meeting held September 10, 2020 be adopted. Carried.

R2020-172 L. Andersen, J. Scott: WHEREAS the owner of Part Lot 10, Concession 10 has offered to convey part of the Byers Road which crosses the property to the Township of Nipissing for road purposes;
AND WHEREAS the Township of Nipissing Official Plan policy is to acquire title to roads that have historically been used and maintained as public roads in the Township but have not been dedicated as public highways;
NOW THEREFORE the Township is willing to accept a minimum of 10 metres on either side of the existing road centerline to the Municipality for road purposes, as shown as Parts 1 and 2 on Plan 42R-21455. Carried.

R2020-173 L. Moore, L. Andersen: That we pass By-Law Number 2020-41, being a By-law to provide for fees charged by the Corporation of the Township of Nipissing.
Read a first, second and third time and passed this 15th day of September, 2020. Carried.

Minutes – September 15, 2020 – Page 2

R2020-174 J. Scott, L. Andersen: That we pass By-Law Number 2020-42, being a By-law to establish Open Air Burning Procedures.
Read a first, second and third time and passed this 15th day of September, 2020. Carried.

R2020-175 T. Marchant, L. Moore: That we pass By-Law Number 2020-35, being a By-law to establish an/or continue a Fire Department.
Read a second and third time and passed this 15th day of September, 2020. Carried.

R2020-176 T. Marchant, L. Moore: That we pass By-Law Number 2020-43, being a By-law to appoint an Inspector to investigate complaints under the Residential Tenancies Act for the Corporation of the Township of Nipissing.
Read a first, second and third time and passed this 15th day of September, 2020. Carried.

R2020-177 L. Andersen, J. Scott: Whereas Resolution Number 2020-037 authorized the purchase of a Tandem Axle Diesel Truck w/ Snowplow/Sanding Equipment from Currie Truck Centre for a total cost of $313,441.81;
And whereas the purchase of an extended warranty package on the vehicle was approved after the original purchase Resolution was issued;
Therefore Council approves the purchase of the extended warranty package on the truck at an additional cost of $7,872.71. Carried.

R2020-178 L. Moore, T. Marchant: That we accept the quote received from Bernard Rochefort Ltd. for the supply and install of a fuel card lock/key fob system for 3 fuel pumps at the Township Yard.
Cost submitted $16,928.00 plus applicable taxes.
This project will be completed using the federal-provincial Safe Restart Program funding received. Carried.

R2020-179 L. Andersen, T. Marchant: WHEREAS the Township of Nipissing received a per-capita grant from the federal-provincial Safe Restart Program intended to provide financial support for maintaining critical services during COVID-19;
NOW THEREFORE the Council approves the following projects for use with the funding:
1. Provide financial support for COVID-19 response at the Powassan District Union Public Library for provision of a web-based communication program and electronic devices to allow for communication over distances for patrons. Amount: $2720.00.
2. Purchase 2 Electrostatic Units for disinfection of fleet, offices and public spaces. Includes purchase of units and 4 cases of disinfectant. Amount: $18,271.86.
3. Purchase of 6 stand-alone hand sanitizer units with supplies to be placed outside of the Township Office door and other locations during operating hours.
4. Replacement of lighting in the Township Office to retrofit office spaces for social distancing measures. Amount: $1,614.77; and
NOW THEREFORE the remaining funds shall be placed into a reserve for use as required during the COVID-19 response for 2020 and 2021. Carried.

 
Minutes – September 15, 2020 – Page 3

R2020-180 L. Andersen, L. Moore:
WHEREAS, we the Nipissing communities of the Nipissing-Temiskaming riding, Mattawa/North Bay Algonquin First Nation, Antoine First Nations, Bonfield (Bonfield, Rutherglen), Callander, Calvin, Chisholm, East Ferris (Astorville, Corbeil), Mattawa, Mattawan, Nipissing, North Bay, Papineau-Cameron, Powassan (Powassan, South Himsworth, Trout Creek) and Redbridge, seek fast, reliable and affordable internet and e-connectivity for our citizens, our businesses, our non-profit organizations and our visitors; and
WHEREAS, we form part of Blue Sky Net where internet speed in our communities has been confirmed as substantially lacking as reported in the recently published report entitled “The Speed of Northern Ontario Broadband”; and
WHEREAS, our companies find it difficult to operate in a business environment that is becoming increasingly digitalized; and
WHEREAS, our citizens are frustrated as the school season resumes and their children require internet for their education programs; and
WHEREAS, we are concerned that applications for the Improving Connectivity for Ontario (ICON) was severely over-subscribed; and
WHEREAS, we are equally concerned there has yet to be Federal Government funding announced in support of the ICON fund; and
WHEREAS, we are more so concerned that our voice will be lost in the sea of funding demands for improved internet and e-connectivity currently being made by communities across our region, our province and our country;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Township of Nipissing encourages the citizens of our area to raise their voice in support of their municipalities and Blue Sky Economic Growth Corporation (Blue Sky Net) as they look to secure funding for internet for our Nipissing communities; and
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that we encourage our MP Anthony Rota and our MPP Victor Fedeli to examine the opportunity to re-instate the role played by our northern economic development agencies (FedNor and NOHFC) in the delivery of internet funding in Northern Ontario as they are best positioned to understand the needs of our region; and
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that we encourage our Federal Government to release funding for a National Broadband Initiative that encompasses the critical needs of communities and citizens that fall under the Blue Sky Net (Nipissing) umbrella; and
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that communities in the Blue Sky Net (Nipissing) area are committed to supporting the anticipated deployment and adoption of this infrastructure in our communities. Carried.

R2020-181 T. Marchant, J. Scott: That we accept the correspondence as presented. Carried.

R2020-182 J. Scott, L. Moore: That the statement of accounts dated September 3, 4 and 15, 2020; totaling $65,665.04 be approved. Carried.

R2020-183 J. Scott, L. Moore: That we pass By-Law No. 2020-44, being a by-law to confirm the proceedings of Council at its meeting held on September 15, 2020.
Read the first, second and third time and passed this 15th day of September, 2020. Carried.

Minutes – September 15, 2020 – Page 4

R2020-184 L. Andersen, J. Scott: That the meeting be adjourned. Time: 8:10 p.m. Next regular meeting to be held October 6, 2020. Carried.

Mayor:

CAO-Clerk:

Minutes prepared as per Section 228 (1)(a) of the Municipal Act, S.O. 2001, c. 25.
Clerk to record, without note or comment, all resolutions, decisions and other proceedings of the council.
Minutes to be approved by Council at the next regular Council Meeting.