RM of Dufferin - Council Meeting - April 08 2022
BY JENNIFER ARGUE, Local Journalism Initiative reporter
April 08, 2022
Council made a motion to follow up on the environmental services analysis report looking at water quality in Findlater.
The Admin report consisted of decision items for Council.
Municipal Administrators Internship Program application - 4 applications were received. Council discussed in closed session before making a motion to Candace Zinn to be engaged for a one-year internship at an annual salary of $42,000.
The Council made a motion to offer the foreman position to a candidate they discussed in the closed session.
The RM received only one quote for gravel crushing which caused the CAO concern as she expected to see more. The Council accepted the quote from Emshay Enterprises.
Zoning bylaw amendment for bunkhouses - made a motion for a maximum of 100 square feet, single story.
Lot consolidation request, which is a holdover from Findlater. The RM approved the request.
A bylaw to repeal Findlater bylaws- Council made a motion to repeal Findlater’s bylaws passed in three readings.
The RM received approval for the Targeted Sector Support Study Grant grant, which will look at emergency egress by Buffalo Vista and North Grove. Urban Systems will prepare a service agreement.
Buffalo Vista Shoreline Permit Renewal - the Council, made a motion to require the application to be resubmitted following the guidelines in the RM policy for shoreline development. Councillor Bob Bennett voted against the motion. He disagreed with the RM requiring resubmission of the application because the policy wasn’t in place when the Council had previously approved the permit. The CAO explained they had the permit until September 2021 but didn’t complete it in the time frame and didn’t get renewed before expiry. Council said that while it’s unfortunate, there are implications if the RM doesn’t follow its policy. The concern is that others also won’t follow the policy.
Buffalo Vista Phase 2 Agreement - A draft service agreement from Urban Systems was presented to Council to review. Council discussed and will be making amendments to the draft agreement with revisions for the boat launch later.
The CAO said she would bring to the May meeting - the addition of a purchasing policy, draft audited 2021 financial statements, draft zoning bylaw, capital budget, agreement with Urban Systems, draft salary grids, changes to the policy manual, report on improving technology and security, employer recognition policy, development report including security held, preliminary 2022 operating budget.
Unfinished Business
Highwood Beach Boat Slip Leases - a motion failed in a tie to reconfigure the boat slips at Highwood Beach to four slips and that the boathouse is repositioned to allow for better access. Then, a motion to repeal the bylaw also was defeated. The item will be deferred until the next meeting.
Councillor Bob Bennett left the meeting early in the afternoon. The Reeve left the meeting just before 6:30, leaving Deputy Reeve Sheila Fishley as the chair. The following discussion item was regarding an application to cross a road from K + S Potash. There was some discussion regarding whether Councillor Fishley was in a conflict of interest. Council determined that she would receive no financial interest from the discussion, so no declaration was required. Chair Fishley said that Council might not want the mine to continue to cut the road. Council passed a motion to notify the company that an application for a development permit be submitted before approvals for crossing agreements can be made.
Note: These reports are abridged for content
