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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSpecial Council Minutes - January 14, 2025 Cape Breton Regional Municipality Special Council Minutes January 14, 2025 2:42 p.m. at City Hall Council Chambers Council Mayor Cecil P. Clarke Councillor Gordon MacDonald Councillor Earlene MacMullin Councillor Esmond "Blue" Marshall Councillor Steve Gillespie Deputy Mayor Eldon MacDonald Councillor Glenn Paruch Councillor Steven MacNeil Councillor Dave MacKeigan Councillor Paul Nickituk Councillor Darren O'Quinn Councillor Kim Sheppard-Campbell Staff Demetri Kachafanas, KC, Interim Chief Administrative Officer Christa Dicks, Municipal Clerk Robert Sampson, KC, Regional Solicitor Jennifer Campbell, Chief Financial Officer Sean Tobin, Chief of Staff Spencer Merrill, Information Technology Technician Nathan Saccary, Information Technology Technician Kelly McDonald, Administrative Assistant YueCong Cao, Administrative Assistant Sharon MacSween, Recording Secretary The following does not represent a word for word record of the proceedings of this meeting. The agenda, reports, supporting documents, information items circulated, and video (if available) are online at verw.v..fir_„_c_b_rrr�..,..n_s c.. .. Special Council January 14, 2025 Approved February 11, 2025 Page 2 of 4 Mayor Cecil P. Clarke called the meeting to order. Roll Call 1. Approval of Agenda Motion Moved by Councillor O'Quinn, seconded by Councillor Paruch, to approve the January 14, 2025, council agenda as amended. Motion Carried 2. Audit Committee Composition Mayor Clarke reviewed the agenda request included in the meeting package. He advised that the request is for the 2023-2024 audit year, to have all of council as well as the citizen appointee, to perform duties of the Audit Committee for previous audit that was approved. Motion Moved by Councillor MacMullin, seconded by Councillor Sheppard-Campbell, to approve an amendment to the composition of the Audit Committee for the 2023-2024 audit year, to include all members of Council, increasing the number of Council representatives from four to the full Council. Motion Carried 3. Business Arising 3.1 Committee of the Whole — January 14, 2025 a) Vacancies on Various Committees • Audit Committee - Councillor MacMullin, Councillor Sheppard-Campbell, Councillor Parsons and Councillor Paruch • Accessibility Advisory Committee - Councillor MacNeil, Councillor Gillespie Special Council January 14, 2025 Approved February 11, 2025 Page 3 of 4 • Fences Arbitration - Councillor MacMullin, alternate Councillor Nickituk • Heritage Advisory Committee - Councillor Paruch, Councillor MacMullin • Police Commission - Councillor Paruch, Councillor Sheppard-Campbell, Councillor Nickituk • REN Liaison - Councillor MacKeigan, Councillor Gillespie • NS Solid Waste Resource Management Regional Chairs - Councillor MacNeil • Cape Breton Regional Library Board: Councillor O'Quinn, Councillor Sheppard-Campbell, Councillor Gillespie • Pitu'paq - Councillor Marshall • Port of Sydney Development Corporation - Councillor Paruch Mayor Clarke advised that there is a vacancy on the Heritage Advisory Committee, following Councillor Gillespie nominated Deputy Mayor Eldon MacDonald to the Heritage Advisory Committee. Motion Moved by Councillor Gillespie, seconded by Councillor Paruch, to nominate Deputy Mayor Eldon MacDonald to the Heritage Advisory Committee. Motion Carried The following motion was then put forward: Motion Moved by Councillor Paruch, seconded by Councillor Gordon MacDonald, to approve the Council nominations to the various committees as recommended at Committee of the Whole as well as the Nomination during Special Council. Motion Carried. Addendum Special Council January 14, 2025 Approved February 11, 2025 Page 4 of 4 4. Corporate Services Issue 4.1 Low Income Property Tax Exemption — Deadline Extension 2024-25 The Chief Financial Officer reviewed the report and recommendations included in the agenda package. Motion Moved by Councillor Gordon MacDonald, seconded by Councillor Gillespie, to authorize a one-time extension to the Low-Income Property Tax Exemption application deadline from December 31 to March 31 for the 2024-25 fiscal year. Discussion: In response to a question, the Chief Financial Officer advised that the minimum household income to apply is $35,000 provided that the individual is the property owner. Motion Carried Mayor Clarke noted for the record that Councillor Marshall was present for the roll call. Meeting adjourned at 2:52 p.m. Cecil P. Clarke Mayor Christa Dicks Municipal Clerk /SIM