Council Meeting of June 7, 2011
Mayor Decoux prior to the meeting commencing said some kind words about former Mayor Irwin’s years of service to the municipality and requested everybody present to take a moments silence.
Public Hearing: None
Agenda: Mayor Decoux added Emergent Land Issue in Camera. He also changed Item #5 under Bylaws to come after delegations. He deleted the following items correspondence #2 letter from Hon. Luke Ouellette regarding Federal Gas Tax Fund. He also deleted under other business, Drum Creek Flooding, Draft Budget Policy, and Municipal Office. He added Gifts for members of the task force under other business. Motion to accept the Agenda as amended was passed unanimously
Adoption of previous minutes:
1. Minutes of the Council Meeting of May 17, 2011, with minor corrections. Motion to accept was passed unanimously
2. Minutes of the Special Council Meeting of May 11, 2011, with minor corrections. Motion to accept was passed unanimously
Delegations:
1. Mark Murphy Emergency Management Field Officer for Southern Alberta reviewed the Emergency Management planning process with council and administration.
2. Larry Simpson, Director Strategic Philanthropy and Conservation for the Nature Conservancy gave an over view of what they do and stated that they own 1600 acres in the Pass and have conservation easements on 400 more acres.
Bylaws: 826 Land Use Bylaw third reading (Green Mountain Company in West Coleman)
Mayor Decoux gave the public the option to present anything new on this issue, no response either for or against.
Comments from council: Councilor Saindon needs to be convinced that the developer will address the public’s concerns.
Councilor Gallant felt that those issues would be covered off in the development agreement.
Councilor Gail had concerns about old mines workings, underground creeks, and the highway and really could not see this area being used for development. Motion for third reading passed 5-2 (Saindon/Saje opposed)
Administrative and Agency Reports: None
Business arising from the Minutes: None
Correspondence:
1. Municipality of Crowsnest Pass Library Board-Pat Korble-Closure of the Bellevue Library. Mayor Decoux asked for comments or questions none provided.
Committee Reports:
1. Minutes of May 24, 2011 G+P committee meeting, no discussion. Motion to accept passed unanimously.
2. Minutes of May 10, 2011 G+P committee meeting, no discussion. Motion to accept passed unanimously
Bylaws:
1. Bylaw 805,2011- Road Closure Frank Industrial Park (2nd & 3rd reading) No discussion. Motion passed 2nd reading 6-1 (Saje) 3rd reading passed 6-1 (Saje)
2. Bylaw 816, 2011 – Walking Trail Bylaw given (2nd & 3rd Reading). No discussion 2nd reading passed Unanimously, 3rd reading passed unanimously
3. Bylaw 821, 2011 – Property Tax Penalties Bylaw given (1st Reading) No discussion 1st reading passed unanimously
4. Bylaw 825, 2011 – Agricultural Services Board Bylaw given (2nd & 3rd Reading). No discussion 2nd reading passed unanimously 3rd reading passed unanimously.
5. Bylaw 826, 2011 – Land Use Bylaw Amendment given (3rd Reading) - (Green Mtn. Company) Dealt with previously after delegations.
6. Bylaw 828, 2011 – Traffic Bylaw Amendment given (1st Reading) No discussion passed 1st reading unanimously.
7. Bylaw 829, 1011 – Noise Bylaw Amendment given (1st Reading) No discussion passed 1st reading unanimously.
8. Bylaw 830, 2011 – Long Grass Bylaw Amendment given (1st Reading) No discussion passed 1st reading unanimously.
9. Bylaw 831, 2011 – Community Standards Bylaw Amendment given (1st Reading) No discussion passed 1st reading unanimously.
10. Bylaw 832, 2011 – Land Use Bylaw Amendment – Sign Standards given (1st Reading) – now has a Public Hearing No discussion passed 1st reading unanimously.
11. Bylaw 833, 2011 – Land Use Bylaw Amendment - Rezoning - given (1st Reading Tartal in Frank) – now has a Public Hearing No discussion passed 1st reading unanimously.
Notices of Motion: None
Other Business:
1. Rescind Endorsement Policy: Councilor Mitchell as been opposed to this policy from its concept, the intent of the policy was to have any council member inform council and seek its approval before appearing in any promotional material for business, developers etc. Motion to rescind passed 5-2 (Saindon/Gallant opposed)
2. Code of conduct for Council and Council committees: Motion to send this to the Policy committee passed 6-1 (Saindon opposed)
3. Council summer schedule: Motion to cancel July 26 G+P, August 2 Council and August 9 G+P, with an additional council to be added August 30. Motion passed 6-1 (Gallant opposed)
4. Draft reserve policy: Motion to accept passed unanimously.
5. Purchase gifts for task force: Mayor Decoux explained that the task force gave their time for free for five meeting since February, felt it reasonable to present the committee members with gifts up to a value of $2250. Motion passed unanimously
6. Draft Budget Policy: Motion to defer to the June 21st meeting passed unanimously.
7. Request for enhanced policing for Rum Runner Days: The municipality to pay $10,000 for 178 of policing, question of administration is this sufficient CAO stated that the RCMP felt not. Councilor Saje felt that moving forward this whole weekend needs to be dealt with more as a business plan, to get away from the huge costs the municipality incurs. Councilor Gail asked if administration had received a revenue report from the fire department yet for the weekend, administration stated they were still working on this. Motion to incur the $10,000 cost passed unanimously.
8. Independent Trucking Enterprise Parking Request: Request to park the coal haul trucks at the old Crowsnest Centre parking lot. Numerous concerns raised by council motion to defer to the next meeting passed 6-1 (Saindon opposed)
9. Municipal Auction Fund Disbursement: Administration recommended that the proceeds from the auction held on the weekend ($2700 approximately) be donated to the Town of Slave Lake. Councilor Mitchell strongly disagreed felt the money should be placed into reserves. Motion passed 5-2 (Saindon/Mitchell opposed)
10. Notice of Motion Transportation: Motion to have a needs assessment conducted and bring back to council on September 6th passed unanimously.
Council Member reports: Comments about various groups sending condolences regarding former Mayor Irwin.
Public Input: None
Motion to go In Camera: Passed Unanimously
****Additional information from last nights meeting****
The package from last nights meeting was just posted on the municipal web site. As noted previously Mayor Decoux deleted several issues from the agenda one of which was the Municipal Office.
Now reading the package I was expecting administration to come back with a reconfiguration as directed by Council a number of weeks ago.
Instead it again raises the issue of moving to the MDM which I have expressed my opinion on previouly. One of my concerns was the cost, especially when council has made it clear that they will improve inefficiencies by reducing the number of staff over time which would make the space issue in the office a non issue.
In the package it shows that $15,000 will be used to facilitate that move, with that money to come from savings by the delayed hiring of staff.
That raises a number of concerns with me first of all how necessary were those positions here we are almost half way through the year and they are still not filled.
Second of all its an old fiscal management trick to make one look good down the road by building additional costs in the budget and then showing savings at the end of the year.
Third it becomes a slush fund for ideas like these that should have been dealt with in the budget process and given a yes or no at that time, or did we not know that the proposed positions would require a place to be?
Fourth does this mean that administration does not believe Councils position that the work force will be reduced in time by the means that council has previously discussed.
Fifth these delays in hiring should provide the opportunity to save a few dollars that could be used to lessen the burden on the taxpayer next year.
Showing posts with label Endorsement policy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Endorsement policy. Show all posts
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Council Meeting April 19 2011
Adoption of Agenda
Councilor Gallant added a Land under In Camera
Mayor Decoux also requested that the Delegation be moved to Land In Camera
Motion to accept agenda as amended passed Unanimously
Adoption of previous minutes
Minutes of the regular meeting of April 5, 2011, passed unanimously
Delegations
Shane Stewart development discussion, originally scheduled here council moved In camera
Administrative and Agency Reports: None
Business Arising from the minutes:
1. Budget Appropriation to accommodate the 10% increase in the 2011 Senior Housing Requisition.
Reductions in spending in various areas to offset the $18,500 in additional requisition to finance the seniors housing.
Correspondence:
1. Letter from Hon Hector Goudreau regarding Municipal consultation process, after reaching consensus that it did not really answer councils concerns Motion to file the letter as information passed unanimously
2. Letter from John Pundyk requesting that council look at the possibility of putting in place a moratorium on off site levies for the next fifty homes built in the Crowsnest Pass. Council agreed to table this until the next meeting. To allow administration to come back with information on the issue.
Committee Reports
1. Minutes of the March 29 G+P meeting motion to accept passed unanimously
2. Minutes of the March 8 G+P meeting motion to accept passed unanimously
3. Minutes of the March 10 Heritage Board meeting motion to accept passed unanimously. Councilor Londsbury also made a motion to approach Community Futures to request a copy of their list of historical buildings, passed unanimously.
Bylaws
1. Bylaw 826 Green Mountain Land Use Bylaw Amendment (First Readings)
This is to rezone land in west Coleman to build fourplexs, First reading passed unanimously
Notices of Motion: None
Other Business:
1. Endorsement Policy Councilor Mitchell brought forth a Motion to rescind this policy, Councilor Gallant spoke strongly in support of the policy, concern raised about the Mayor having the ability to welcome new businesses to the community. Councilor Mitchell moved to table his motion passed unanimously, Councilor Londsbury moved to send it to the policy committee passed unanimously.
2. Community Services Website, Administration brought forth the idea of creating a web site for the Community Services department, Councilors spoke about wanting to look at the entire municipal web site, also to look at the possibility of doing something in conjunction with the recommendations of the Economic Task Force, Councilor Saje felt that the report will be looking at the issue of branding the community. Motion to accept Administrations recommendation was defeated 2-5 with Councilors Londsbury and Mitchell in support.
3. Snow and Ice Control Policy, No suggestions from the public were received, Motion to accept the policy as presented was passed unanimously.
4. Temporary Road Closure Request for Bellevue passed unanimously.
5. Encroachment Agreement, Councilors Saje and Saindon asked to be excused due to reasons of conflict. Motion to accept was passed unanimously by remaining members of council.
6. Boulevard Parking, this issue was brought forth by a member of the public previously, requesting the community standards bylaw be amended to allow this. Councilor Saindon made it very clear that people did not want to be seeing other peoples garbage on their boulevard and strongly felt the bylaw was good and clear and its time for the municipality to enforce it, Councilor Gail agreed very much with that position, a motion was made to Maintain and enforce Bylaw 798, 2010 as passed by the previous council this was supported unanimously.
7. Municipal Historical Resource Designation Process, Motion to accept the process was passed unanimously, a request to meet with the group was tabled until September which also passed unanimously.
8. Approval of the request for the Orpheum Theatre as a Municipal Historical Resource and Notice to designate, was passed unanimously.
9. Appointments to the Crowsnest Pass Library Board, Motion to accept administrations recommendations passed unanimously.
10, Cancellation of the April 26 G+P meeting motion to cancel passed unanimously.
Council Member Reports:
Of note Councilor Saje made the comment that council should expect to see a Notice of Motion coming shortly on renovating the Elks Hall
Mayor Decoux informed council that the Province had reduced substantially funding to the South west Rockies organization
Councilor Gail spoke about a publication called 13 ways to kill a community, highly recommended it and after reading it realized he himself was guilty of doing many things in the book.
Public Input:
John Pundyk spoke about development concerns, felt that due to a previous bad experience with developers that the community as to be careful in the development of future policy in that in a desire to do the right thing it does not create policy that as the opposite effect of pushing away development.
Motion to go into Camera passed unanimously.
Councilor Gallant added a Land under In Camera
Mayor Decoux also requested that the Delegation be moved to Land In Camera
Motion to accept agenda as amended passed Unanimously
Adoption of previous minutes
Minutes of the regular meeting of April 5, 2011, passed unanimously
Delegations
Shane Stewart development discussion, originally scheduled here council moved In camera
Administrative and Agency Reports: None
Business Arising from the minutes:
1. Budget Appropriation to accommodate the 10% increase in the 2011 Senior Housing Requisition.
Reductions in spending in various areas to offset the $18,500 in additional requisition to finance the seniors housing.
Correspondence:
1. Letter from Hon Hector Goudreau regarding Municipal consultation process, after reaching consensus that it did not really answer councils concerns Motion to file the letter as information passed unanimously
2. Letter from John Pundyk requesting that council look at the possibility of putting in place a moratorium on off site levies for the next fifty homes built in the Crowsnest Pass. Council agreed to table this until the next meeting. To allow administration to come back with information on the issue.
Committee Reports
1. Minutes of the March 29 G+P meeting motion to accept passed unanimously
2. Minutes of the March 8 G+P meeting motion to accept passed unanimously
3. Minutes of the March 10 Heritage Board meeting motion to accept passed unanimously. Councilor Londsbury also made a motion to approach Community Futures to request a copy of their list of historical buildings, passed unanimously.
Bylaws
1. Bylaw 826 Green Mountain Land Use Bylaw Amendment (First Readings)
This is to rezone land in west Coleman to build fourplexs, First reading passed unanimously
Notices of Motion: None
Other Business:
1. Endorsement Policy Councilor Mitchell brought forth a Motion to rescind this policy, Councilor Gallant spoke strongly in support of the policy, concern raised about the Mayor having the ability to welcome new businesses to the community. Councilor Mitchell moved to table his motion passed unanimously, Councilor Londsbury moved to send it to the policy committee passed unanimously.
2. Community Services Website, Administration brought forth the idea of creating a web site for the Community Services department, Councilors spoke about wanting to look at the entire municipal web site, also to look at the possibility of doing something in conjunction with the recommendations of the Economic Task Force, Councilor Saje felt that the report will be looking at the issue of branding the community. Motion to accept Administrations recommendation was defeated 2-5 with Councilors Londsbury and Mitchell in support.
3. Snow and Ice Control Policy, No suggestions from the public were received, Motion to accept the policy as presented was passed unanimously.
4. Temporary Road Closure Request for Bellevue passed unanimously.
5. Encroachment Agreement, Councilors Saje and Saindon asked to be excused due to reasons of conflict. Motion to accept was passed unanimously by remaining members of council.
6. Boulevard Parking, this issue was brought forth by a member of the public previously, requesting the community standards bylaw be amended to allow this. Councilor Saindon made it very clear that people did not want to be seeing other peoples garbage on their boulevard and strongly felt the bylaw was good and clear and its time for the municipality to enforce it, Councilor Gail agreed very much with that position, a motion was made to Maintain and enforce Bylaw 798, 2010 as passed by the previous council this was supported unanimously.
7. Municipal Historical Resource Designation Process, Motion to accept the process was passed unanimously, a request to meet with the group was tabled until September which also passed unanimously.
8. Approval of the request for the Orpheum Theatre as a Municipal Historical Resource and Notice to designate, was passed unanimously.
9. Appointments to the Crowsnest Pass Library Board, Motion to accept administrations recommendations passed unanimously.
10, Cancellation of the April 26 G+P meeting motion to cancel passed unanimously.
Council Member Reports:
Of note Councilor Saje made the comment that council should expect to see a Notice of Motion coming shortly on renovating the Elks Hall
Mayor Decoux informed council that the Province had reduced substantially funding to the South west Rockies organization
Councilor Gail spoke about a publication called 13 ways to kill a community, highly recommended it and after reading it realized he himself was guilty of doing many things in the book.
Public Input:
John Pundyk spoke about development concerns, felt that due to a previous bad experience with developers that the community as to be careful in the development of future policy in that in a desire to do the right thing it does not create policy that as the opposite effect of pushing away development.
Motion to go into Camera passed unanimously.
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Shocked in the Crowsnest Pass
Why am I shocked? Well after all this community went through with the promises of Billion dollar projects, and all the glitz and glamour that came with them.
Last night at the G+P meeting Councilor Mitchell brought forth the following Notice of Motion.
“Whereas the council of the Mun of Crowsnest Pass passed a policy motion CL.013 in the fall of 2010, regarding endorsement policy for member of the council.
And whereas this policy may affect the goodwill of the community towards new endeavours of commercial or industrial ventures and instill the feelings that the community wishes to discourage new development.
And whereas this type of policy is covered under the Mun. Government Act in sections 172 and 173 (pecuniary interests) as quoted when this policy was brought forward in 2010.
With the above in mind, I Larry Mitchell, councilor of the Mun. of Crowsnest Pass will move or cause to be moved a motion to rescind this policy CL.013 2010 at our regular council meeting on April 19,2011.”
This policy came about because the former Mayor of the Crowsnest Pass appeared in a promotional video for a developer that created a lot of noise in the area over the last five years.
Councilor Mitchell understands as full well as I do that sections 172 and 173 of the MGA refers to pecuniary interests, (which in lay mans terms means no member of council shall participate in any council duty that they may gain financially from personally). That’s why we had a councilor for eighteen months who left the chambers every time an issue with this company came up, because he did have a pecuniary interest. He collected a paycheck from this company.
When this policy came forth it was explained in great detail to Councilor Mitchell that there was a perception real or not that when a municipal politician appears in a developers promotional material, it lends credibility to that project.
Nobody wants to discourage new ventures and it may be appropriate at some point for the community and its leaders to assist in the promotion of new development, marketing plan, economical initiative etc.
But prior to our Mayor appearing in this video was there a discussion in council? No
Was council as a whole given the opportunity to discuss if this was a good idea? No.
Now this is what the policy states “No member of council shall be permitted to endorse any project, appear in any promotional video, pamphlet, or publication of any type, or attend shareholders meetings acting as a member of Council without first presenting to Council the reasons for such involvement and receiving Council’s approval”
SHOCKING isn’t it? in simply terms it states that for a member of council to do this he/she would have to bring it to council first and receive approval. As a member of the council at that time I found out about this video months after it was released when a local real estate agent emailed it to me.
I would like to hear Councillor Mitchell or any other politician explain to the public how this policy, “discourages new development”
Last night at the G+P meeting Councilor Mitchell brought forth the following Notice of Motion.
“Whereas the council of the Mun of Crowsnest Pass passed a policy motion CL.013 in the fall of 2010, regarding endorsement policy for member of the council.
And whereas this policy may affect the goodwill of the community towards new endeavours of commercial or industrial ventures and instill the feelings that the community wishes to discourage new development.
And whereas this type of policy is covered under the Mun. Government Act in sections 172 and 173 (pecuniary interests) as quoted when this policy was brought forward in 2010.
With the above in mind, I Larry Mitchell, councilor of the Mun. of Crowsnest Pass will move or cause to be moved a motion to rescind this policy CL.013 2010 at our regular council meeting on April 19,2011.”
This policy came about because the former Mayor of the Crowsnest Pass appeared in a promotional video for a developer that created a lot of noise in the area over the last five years.
Councilor Mitchell understands as full well as I do that sections 172 and 173 of the MGA refers to pecuniary interests, (which in lay mans terms means no member of council shall participate in any council duty that they may gain financially from personally). That’s why we had a councilor for eighteen months who left the chambers every time an issue with this company came up, because he did have a pecuniary interest. He collected a paycheck from this company.
When this policy came forth it was explained in great detail to Councilor Mitchell that there was a perception real or not that when a municipal politician appears in a developers promotional material, it lends credibility to that project.
Nobody wants to discourage new ventures and it may be appropriate at some point for the community and its leaders to assist in the promotion of new development, marketing plan, economical initiative etc.
But prior to our Mayor appearing in this video was there a discussion in council? No
Was council as a whole given the opportunity to discuss if this was a good idea? No.
Now this is what the policy states “No member of council shall be permitted to endorse any project, appear in any promotional video, pamphlet, or publication of any type, or attend shareholders meetings acting as a member of Council without first presenting to Council the reasons for such involvement and receiving Council’s approval”
SHOCKING isn’t it? in simply terms it states that for a member of council to do this he/she would have to bring it to council first and receive approval. As a member of the council at that time I found out about this video months after it was released when a local real estate agent emailed it to me.
I would like to hear Councillor Mitchell or any other politician explain to the public how this policy, “discourages new development”
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