Minutes of the Regular Council meeting of the Rural Municipality of Mountain held Wednesday, March 9th, 2016 in the R.M. of Mountain Council Chambers in Birch River, Manitoba.



Members Present:
Reeve: Marvin Kovachik
Councillors:
1 –
2 –
3 – Nestor Rizok
4 – Connie Forbes
5 – Jesse Larocque
6 – Brad Wyatt

CAO Robin Wiebe was present and acted as secretary.

1. Call to Order
The meeting was called to order at 10:01 A.M. by Reeve Marvin Kovachik, quorum being present.

2. Agenda

2.1 Adoption of Agenda
Forbes
Wyatt
BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Agenda for the March 9th, 2016 Regular Meeting of Council be adopted as amended.
CARRIED.
For 5_ Against 0

2.2 Adoption of Minutes
Wyatt
Forbes
BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Minutes of the February 24th, 2016 Regular Meeting of Council be adopted as presented, all requirements having been complied with.
CARRIED.
For 5_ Against 0

2.3 Adoption of Special Minutes
Larocque
Forbes
BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Minutes of the March 2nd, 2016 Special Budget meeting of Council be adopted as presented, all requirements having been complied with.
CARRIED.
For 5 Against

3. Matters Arising from Minutes

4. By-Laws & Policies
4.1 By-Law 01/16 Procedures By-Law [First Reading] Res. No.99/16
4.2By-Law 03/16 Compensation By-Law [Second & Final Reading]Res.No.100/16 & Res. No.101/16
4.3 By-Law 01/15 Fire Protection Services [Second Reading] Res. No. 102/16
4.4 By-Law 08/06 Organization[8.0 Signing Authorities]
4.5 Council Code of Conduct [5.0 Rules of Conduct]

CAO left the meeting

4.6 Harassment Prevention Policy
4.7 Violence Prevention Policy
4.8 The Municipal Council Conflict of Interest Act [(5)Disclosure during
Meetings,(10) Statement of assets & interest,(14) Insider information, (16) Use of influence]
4.9 The Municipal Act [Expenditures 169, 171, 127/128; In Camera 152]
4.10 FIPPA [Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act] Disclosure of personal information

CAO joined the meeting

4.11 June District Resolutions [Act Amendments] Res. No. 105/16, Res. No.106/16

Forbes
Wyatt
BE IT RESOLVED THAT By-Law No. 01/16, being the Procedures By-Law, be introduced and given first reading.
CARRIED.
For 5_ Against 0

Larocque
Forbes
BE IT RESOLVED THAT By-Law No. 03/16, being a by-law to provide for the compensation of council members, be given second reading.
CARRIED.
For 5_ Against 0

Larocque
Wyatt
BE IT RESOLVED THAT By-Law No. 03/16, being a by-law to provide for the compensation of council members, be given third and final reading; passed, signed and sealed.
Kovachik – for
Ward 1 [vacant]
Ward 2 [vacant]
Rizok – for
Forbes – for
Larocque – for
Wyatt – against
For 4_ Against 1

Wyatt
Forbes
BE IT RESOLVED THAT By-Law No. 01/15, being a by-law to provide for fire protection in the Rural Municipality of Mountain, be given second reading.
CARRIED.
For 5 Against

Forbes
Larocque
WHEREAS Section 152(3) of The Municipal Act authorizes Council to close a meeting to the public to discuss certain matters;

BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council of the Rural Municipality of Mountain meet as a committee to discuss 4.4 – 4.10 Legal Matters.
CARRIED.
For 5 Against

Larocque
Wyatt
BE IT RESOLVED THAT the meeting of the committee of the whole be adjourned, and that the regular meeting of Council of the Rural Municipality of Mountain be re-opened to the public.
CARRIED.
For 5 Against

Forbes
Rizok
WHEREAS Municipalities are large, publicly-funded multi-million dollar corporations saddled with the responsibility for management of approx., 60% of the country’s critical infrastructure;

AND WHEREAS this burden is compounded by lack of continuity on council, minimal eligibility requirements for office, and no vetting process as exists for Provincial or Federal candidates;

AND WHEREAS many new councillors have limited experience, training, or knowledge in many related fields;

AND WHEREAS communications, information, reporting & submissions are increasingly dependent on electronic capability;

AND WHEREAS taxpayers expect council to be good stewards of the public purse, with municipal resources being used responsibly and efficiently, maintaining compliance with current legislation and regulations;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Association of Manitoba Municipalities (AMM) lobby the Province of Manitoba to amend applicable Acts, including The Municipal Act, to establish minimum standards for elected officials, including but not limited to:

Literacy;
Telecommunications/electronic communication capability;
Provision of a current Criminal Record Check;
Participation in an Educational Program such as the AMM Education
Workshop series, with Governance topics covered within the first 6-12 months in office.
CARRIED.
For 5 Against

Larocque
Forbes
WHEREAS Municipalities are dependent in large part on property tax revenues to provide services;

AND WHEREAS taxpayers expect council to be good stewards of the public purse, with municipal resources being used responsibly and efficiently, maintaining compliance with current legislation and regulations;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Association of Manitoba Municipalities(AMM) lobby the Province of Manitoba to amend The Municipal Act to disqualify a member of council who is two (2) or more years in arrears of property taxes on any parcel of land in Manitoba owned by him/her or owned by a corporation of which he/she has a pecuniary interest.
CARRIED.
For 5 Against

Broke for Lunch

5. Financial:
5.1 Accounts Receivable: Res. No. 107/16
5.2 Voluntary Transfer: Res. No. 108/16
5.3 2015 Allowance for Doubtful Accounts: Res. No. 109/16
5.4 Fire Department Purchases: Reviewed
5.5 Accounts Payable: Res. No. 110/16
5.6 Draft Budget: Reviewed
5.7 CDI Program: Reviewed

Forbes
Larocque
BE IT RESOLVED THAT the unpaid utility accounts presented in Schedule ‘A’ attached hereto be added to the real property tax account of each account holder.
CARRIED.
For 5 Against

Forbes
Larocque
BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council of the Rural Municipality herby authorize the Volunteer Transfer as per Schedule “A” attached hereto;

AND THAT Reeve and Chief Administrative Officer be authorized to sign on behalf of the Municipality.
CARRIED.
For 5 Against

Forbes
Wyatt
BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council of the Rural Municipality of Mountain make additions to the Allowance for Doubtful Accounts as per Schedule “A” attached hereto.
CARRIED.
For 5 Against

Councilor Forbes declared an interest and left the meeting for Res. No. 110/16

Larocque
Wyatt
RESOLVED THAT Cheque Nos. 20160238 to 20160306 be approved for payment in the amount of $64,910.18, including $4,012.79 for Councillor Indemnities, as authorized by By-Law 02/14 and $5,289.11 directly deposited to payees,attached hereto as Schedule ’A’,

AND FURTHER IT BE RESOLVED THAT the direct payment amount of $4,910.20 for Receiver General February 2016 be approved for payment.
CARRIED.
For 4 Against

Councilor Forbes returned to the meeting.

6. Ward Reports & Work Orders

Forbes
Larocque
BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council of the Rural Municipality of Mountain hereby approve work orders #007/16 to #008/16 and #010/16 to #011/16 attached hereto.
CARRIED.
For 5 Against

7. Delegations/Petitions

8. General Business
8.1 RFQ – Custodian Res. No. 112/16
8.2 RFQ – Website Development/Maintenance[Meet March 23rd]
8.3 Complaints/Requests – Reseed Hay @ Lagoon: Tabled
Personnel [Payout CAO banked time] Res. No. 113/16

Forbes
Wyatt
BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council of the Rural Municipality of Mountain hereby accept the RFQ [Request for Quotation] from Joan Jackson, attached hereto as Schedule ‘A’, to proceed with Custodial duties at the RM Administrative office, subject to terms and conditions as attached,

AND THAT the Reeve and CAO be authorized to sign on behalf of the municipality.
CARRIED.
For 5 Against

Larocque
Forbes
BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council of the Rural Municipality of Mountain hereby approve for payment the banked time as attached hereto Schedule ‘A’.
CARRIED.
For 5 Against

9. Other Communications
9.1 RM of Mossey River Notice of Public Hearing : Received
9.2 Star & Times [correction to RM Mountain By-election article]: Reviewed
9.3 SV Municipal Airport Commission [New Agreement]: Tabled
9.4 LUD Birch River Regular Meeting Minutes March 1st, 2016: Reviewed
9.5 LUD Mafeking Regular Meeting Minutes March 7th, 2016 Res. No. 114/16
9.6 LUD Pine River Regular Meeting Minutes March 7th, 2016: Res. No. 115/16
9.7 Animal Control Report February 2016: Reviewed

Wyatt
Larocque
BE IT RESOLVED THAT the invoice(s) attached as Schedule ‘A’ hereto for the LUD of Mafeking be approved for payment.
CARRIED.
For 5 Against

Rizok
Wyatt
BE IT RESOLVED THAT the invoice(s) attached as Schedule ‘A’ hereto for the LUD of Pine River be approved for payment.
CARRIED.
For 5 Against

10. Adjournment
Larocque
Forbes
BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Regular Meeting of Council of the Rural Municipality of Mountain be adjourned to meet again on March 22nd, 2016.

The meeting adjourned at 3:40 p.m.
CARRIED.
For _5 Against 0