Crowsnest Pass Council Meeting Feb 1, 2011

Crowsnest Pass Council Meeting Feb 1, 2011

Adoption of Agenda:

Councilor Mitchell added item #7 under other business Emergency Manual
Mayor Decoux removed Item #4 under other business AUMA Mayors Caucus
Motion to accept amended agenda passed unanimously

Adoption of previous Minutes

Few minor spelling errors motion to accept minutes as corrected passed unanimously

Delegations:

Mark Murphy from Emergency Management Services for Southern Alberta was scheduled to present an update on the CNP emergency plan he was unable to attend so CAO Tully Clifford presented his comments instead on our municipal emergency plan.
He felt that the present plan is very good, and the municipality is very well prepared. Also stated that the plan will be formatted and placed on the municipal web site.

Admin and Agency Reports: None

Business Arising from the Minutes:

Budget 2011.

Concerns and comments raised by council:

Hiring of more staff
Not raising taxes a good thing
Money needs to go into reserves but will be dealt with later in the year
Some felt the need for Track Hoe
One councilor felt that the $30,000 removed from advertising should be placed back in.
Need more staff in the office
Taxes should go up 2-3%
Could we not just get by with the Foreman and the HR person
Track if purchased should have all the necessary equipment to go with it.
External organizations should have clear terms of reference, and mandates
It is a myth that the municipal office has too many employees
Retirement, attrition and reassignment of work duties will reduce the workforce down the road.
Concern about holding tax increases to low amounts and then hitting the taxpayers harder in future years.

Motion to accept the budget as presented passed by a vote of 5-1 Councilor Saje absent and Councilor Saindon opposed.

Correspondence:

Alberta Order of Excellence, council members to provide names to CAO

Committee Reports

1. G+P minutes January 25 motion to accept passed unanimously
2. Municipal Heritage Board Minutes of April 28, 2010 motion to accept passed unanimously
3. Police Advisory Board Minutes of November 29 motion to accept passed unanimously

Bylaws: None

Notices of Motion: None

Other Business:

1. Proposed Policy Development Procedures and Templates Motion to accept passed unanimously; Mayor Decoux also raised the issue of the policy committee and expanding its membership by adding two councilors. Motion to accept and add councilors Mitchell and Gallant passed unanimously

2. Appointments to the SDA, Motion to accept the appointments of Bill MacIntyre and Loretta Thompson to the SDA passed unanimously

3. Approval for signage on Municipal property besides the Blairmore Liquor store. Motion to deny passed unanimously.

4. AUMA mayors caucus removed by Mayor Decoux

5. Senior Housing Board appointment, Motion to accept Sasha Jagerbaird to the Seniors Board passed unanimously

6. Tipping Fee Request, Request by a non-profit group to remove an older home and have the municipality waive the tipping fees. Councilor Saindon motioned for the municipality to take the concrete and brick to the municipal pit in Passburg and the rest of the material to go to the land fill with the municipality covering the first $2000 of tipping fees. Motion passed 5-1 Councilor Gallant opposed.

7. Emergency Manuals, added to the agenda by Councilor Mitchell and withdrew by Councilor Mitchell

Council Member reports: Councilor Saindon attended the Chinook Library board meeting; Mayor Decoux attended the Devon cheque presentation. Councilor Gail stated that he intended to attend the cheque presentation but did not.

Public Input: None

In Camera: None

Motion to adjourn: Passed unanimously.