Regular Meeting of Council

Be it resolved that the agenda be adopted as presented.

Whereas the Budget 2020 was adopted and the Town set aside funds of $26,000.00 to support community, sports and cultural activities of local organization, and; Whereas the deadline to submit an application for the 2020 Budget according to the Request for donations Policy was December 15, 2019. Be it resolved to grant the funds described in the Request for Donations 2020 report, following confirmation from the different groups to the Treasurer on which activities will be organized despite the pandemic and final decision be taken by the ad hoc committee, recommended in document 2020_REC_25 modified.

Whereas section 284 of the Municipal Act, 2001 , the Treasurer must provide Council an itemized statement of remuneration and expenses paid in the previous year to the following members: Municipal Council; Hawkesbury Police Services Board; Minor Variance Committee; Hawkesbury Public Library Board; Hawkesbury Hydro Commission. Be it resolved to receive the statement of remuneration and expenses paid in 2019, as recommended in document 2020_REC_28.

Whereas in March 2019 the Town received a $624,072.00 unconditional grant from the government of Ontario, intended to help modernize service delivery and reduce future costs, and; Whereas this grant must be recorded immediately as income in 2019, even though only an amount of $29,000.00 has been spent so far, and; Whereas amounts of $11,063.14 and $7,985.68 for capital projects of street lights and culverts, respectively, were over financed in 2018. Be it resolved to transfer amounts of $595,072.00, $11,063.14 and $7,985.68 into reserve for modernization of service delivery projects, street lights projects and technical services projects, respectively, as recommended in document 2020_REC_26.

Whereas in the past the Town has allowed the Eastern Ontario Public Schools Council (EOPSC) to use the traffic lane of the Robert Hartley Sports Complex and to use the parking spaces, and; Whereas the activities of the Sports Complex as well as those of the New Horizon Public Elementary School have increased considerably, and; Whereas the situation is no longer viable for the parties and the road has deteriorated significantly, and; Whereas the representatives of the Eastern Ontario Public Schools Council (EOPSC) are aware of this situation. Be it resolved to share with the Eastern Ontario Public Schools Council (EOPSC) the costs of repairs and annual maintenance and that these undertake to open an entrance on Higginson Street, comply with standards, within the next five (5) years, as recommended in the document 2020_REC_27.

Whereas the water consumption for the property located at 261 Geneviève Street was 9 times higher during the January, February and March 2020 trimester than during the October, November and December 2019 trimester, and; Whereas section 1 of by-law N° 6-2020 fixing the rates for the water and sewer services, the owner of each assessed parcel of land that is connected to the municipal water distribution system shall pay a water rate and a sewer rate based on water consumption, and; Whereas section 15 of the same by-law, it shall be the responsibility of the owner to inspect the water meter and plumbing periodically to ensure no leaks are visible and shall report said leaks or defects immediately to the Town. The Town shall not be held responsible for any damages from such leaks nor for the repairs and shall not be responsible to credit the owner for water wasted. Be it resolved not to adjust the the water billing for January to March 2020, but to however allow payment without interests until August 31, 2020, as recommended in document 2020_REC_24 modified.

Whereas Mosselaer Construction Inc. submitted an application for an amendment to a subdivision agreement dated February 25, 2020, and; Whereas the subdivision project proposes the development of 18 residential lots on Lafrance Crescent, namely Lots: 124, 214-224, 246-251 of subdivision plan 232, and; Whereas all civil engineering plans and documents were approved with the signed original subdivision agreement, dated November 7, 2018, and; Whereas the financial guarantees shall be in a form of cash or letter of credit. Be it resolved to conclude an amendment to the subdivision agreement with the developer Mosselaer Construction Inc. c/o Philip Mosselaer and that a by-law be adopted accordingly, as recommended in the document 2020_REC_23.

Whereas on April 14, 2020, the Ontario government adopted a draft regulation N°189, 2020 Coronavirus Support and Protection Measures Act (COVID-19), and; Whereas the Town has received requests under the Planning Act , and; Whereas the Planning department wishes to proceed with said requests. Be it resolved to accept the procedures recommended by the Planning department, but to have access at the Town Hall, while respecting gathering restrictions, a computer for people who cannot join remotely, as recommended in document 2020_REC_29 modified.

Whereas the Ontario government is extending all emergency orders that have been put in place to-date under s.7.0.2 (4) of the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act until May 6, 2020, and; Whereas the recreational activities Spring Session is from March 30 to June 7, 2020, and; Whereas the Medical Officer of Health for the Eastern Ontario Health Unit recommends postponing all Canada Day activities, and; Whereas during the meeting of the committee of the whole held on April 21, 2020, Council supported the cancellation or postponement of the above-mentioned activities. Be it resolved to confirm the Council decision to cancel the spring session and to postpone Canada Day activities, as recommended in document 2020_REC_30.

Whereas the special garbage collection which usually takes place in the spring had to be postponed to a later date due to COVID-19, and; Whereas the federal, provincial and municipal authorities have implemented several prevention measures, protocols, decrees and regulations in order to minimize the spread of the virus, and; Whereas two of the most important measures, physical distancing and restrictions on social gatherings, and; Whereas by authorizing the special garbage collection while the measures mentioned above are effective, we risk seeing the number of offences increased which could have the effect of increasing the risks of contracting and spreading the virus, and; Whereas the contractor responsible for collecting garbage, Mayer Sanitation Inc., tells us that he is currently having difficulty retaining the manpower required to perform regular waste collection, and; Whereas we do not wish to impose additional stress on the contractor's services so as not to jeopardize the regular waste collection. Be it resolved to proceed with the special garbage collection in the months of May and June despite the administration's recommendation 2020_REC_31.

Be it resolved to receive the March 2020 monthly reports for the following departments: Public works and Engineering, Construction, Environment and Fire.

Be it resolved that the meeting be adjourned at 8:45 p.m