HomeMy WebLinkAboutCouncil Minutes February 9 2021 CAPE BRETON REGIONAL MUNICIPALITY
Council Meeting Minutes
Tuesday,
February 9, 2021
3:04 p.m.
Via Videoconference
Mayor Amanda M. McDougall called the meeting to order.
Council: Mayor Amanda M. McDougall
Councillor Gordon MacDonald
Deputy Mayor Earlene MacMullin
Councillor Cyril MacDonald
Councillor Steve Gillespie
Councillor Eldon MacDonald
Councillor Glenn Paruch
Councillor Steve Parsons
Councillor James Edwards
Councillor Ken Tracey
Councillor Darren Bruckschwaiger
Councillor Darren O'Quinn
Councillor Lorne Green
Staff. Marie Walsh, Chief Administrative Officer
Jennifer Campbell, Chief Financial Officer
John MacKinnon, Deputy Chief Administrative Officer
Deborah Campbell Ryan, Municipal Clerk
Demetri Kachafanas, QC, Regional Solicitor
Wayne MacDonald, Director of Engineering &Public Works
Kirk Durning, Manager of Recreation
Karen Neville, Senior Planner/Heritage Officer
Sheila Kolanko, Senior Paralegal/Property Manager
Kristen Knudskov, Planner
Sharon MacSween, Senior Administrative Assistant
Angela Ross, Recording Secretary
Absent: N/A
Council Meeting- Minutes
February 9, 2021 DRAFT 2 of 7
Summary of Decisions
Call to Order
Roll Call
1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
Motion to approve minutes from:
➢ Council Meeting—November 24, 2020
Carried.
Motion to approve minutes from:
➢ Council Meeting—December 8, 2020
Councillor Green clarified that he did not vote in the negative regarding the motion for the
Recreation Facility and would like this corrected.
Carried.
2. APPROVAL OF AGENDA:
Motion to approve the February 9a', 2021 Council Agenda as circulated. Carried.
3. PROCLAMATION:
3.1 White Cane Week:
Motion that Mayor Amanda M. McDougall and CBRM Council proclaim the week of
February 7a' to 13a', 2021 as White Cane Week in Cape Breton Regional Municipality.
Carried.
4. PLANNING ISSUES:
4.1 Case 1076 — North End Sydney Secondary Planning Strate2y and Land
Use Bylaw Text Amendment Request from Kevin Colford to Amend
Parking Requirements for 217 George Street, Sydney (PID 15058506;
District 5):
Motion that staff be directed to advertise the public hearing with Option 2,namely remove
lot development, site plan approval, and parking requirements for former community and
educational service buildings which are registered as heritage properties (re: Case 1076),
as outlined in the staff Issue Paper dated February 2, 2021. Carried.
Continued...
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February 9, 2021 DRAFT 3 of 7
Summary of Decisions (Cont'd):
5. CORPORATE SERVICES ISSUE:
5.1 Request for Street Closure (Old Alignment of Kings Road—Portion of
PID 15705585 — Old Alignment of Esplanade, Portion of PID
15705718):
Motion that staff be directed to initiate a formal street closure pursuant to Section 315 of
the Municipal Government Act for portions of the old alignments of Kings Road and
Esplanade identified in the staff Issue Paper dated February 9, 2021, with the intention of
deeming it surplus for sale to the Province of Nova Scotia. Carried.
6. REPORT:
6.1 Update from Nova Scotia Federation of Municipalities:
Motion that Mayor Amanda M. McDougall and CBRM Council request staff to write a
letter to the Premier of Nova Scotia and copy the Minister of Municipal Affairs and
Housing regarding the concern over the relationship with the Cape Breton Regional
Municipality and the Department of Municipal Affairs and Housing.
With the agreement of the seconder,the motion was amended to state that the letter be sent
to the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing,with a copy sent to the Premier of Nova
Scotia. Carried.
Adiournment
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February 9, 2021 DRAFT 4 of 7
Call to Order
Roll Call
1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
Motion:
Moved by Councillor Parsons, seconded by Councillor Gordon MacDonald, approval of
the following Minutes as previously circulated:
➢ Council Meeting—November 24, 2020
Motion Carried.
Motion:
Moved by Councillor Green, seconded by Councillor Gillespie approval of the following
Minutes as previously circulated:
➢ Council Meeting—December 8, 2020
Discussion:
Councillor Green clarified that he did not vote in the negative regarding the motion for the
Recreation Facility and would like this corrected.
Motion Carried.
Mayor McDougall requested Council permission to provide comments on the current
meeting schedule. AGREED.
Mayor McDougall noted that past practice was to schedule the General Committee meeting
on the first Tuesday of the month and the Council meeting on the third Tuesday. She
referenced the current Meeting Policy which originated in 1995, noting that the consensus
at that time was to hold the regular monthly meeting on a Tuesday, and the preferred day
is the third Tuesday from 6:00 to 10:00 p.m. However under the MGA, Council can pick
and choose meeting dates outside of policy, with the required notice.
Mayor McDougall also referenced the General Committee section of the Committees
Policy. She pointed out that it does not state meeting frequency, nor that a meeting is
required.
The Mayor also pointed out that the required public notice has been given for all meetings.
Mayor McDougall noted that the follow-up workshop with Dr. Tom Urbaniak on
Committee structure is scheduled for Friday, February 12a' and it is hoped that following
that session Council will be able to establish a more structured meeting schedule.
Continued...
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February 9, 2021 DRAFT 5 of 7
2. APPROVAL OF AGENDA:
Motion:
Moved by Councillor Green, seconded by Councillor Bruckschwaiger, to approve the
February 9h, 2021 Council Agenda as circulated.
Motion Carried.
3. PROCLAMATION:
3.1 White Cane Week:
Motion:
Moved by Councillor Eldon MacDonald, seconded by Deputy Mayor MacMullin, that
Mayor Amanda M. McDougall and CBRM Council proclaim the week of February 7h to
13d', 2021 as White Cane Week in Cape Breton Regional Municipality
Motion Carried.
Mayor McDougall advised that the Flag Raising was cancelled due to inclement weather,
however the flag will be raised for the week.
4. PLANNING ISSUE:
4.1 Case 1076 — North End Sydney Secondary Planning Strategy and Land
Use Bylaw Text Amendment Request from Kevin Colford to Amend
Parking Requirements for 217 George Street, Sydney (PID 15058506;
District 5):
Ms. Kristen Knudskov, Planner,provided background information on the issue and offered
Council two options for consideration. She requested they select one of the options so staff
could draft the amending by-law for the Public Hearing scheduled for the February 23rd
meeting of Council. Staff is recommending Option 2.
Motion:
Moved by Councillor Eldon MacDonald, seconded by Councillor Green, that staff be
directed to advertise the public hearing with Option 2, namely remove lot development,
site plan approval,and parking requirements for former community and educational service
buildings which are registered as heritage properties (re: Case 1076), as outlined in the staff
Issue Paper dated February 2, 2021.
Motion Carried.
Continued...
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February 9, 2021 DRAFT 6 of 7
5. CORPORATE SERVICES ISSUE:
5.1 Request for Street Closure(Old Alignment of Kings Road—Portion of PID
15705585 —Old Alignment of Esplanade, Portion of PID 15705718):
Ms. Sheila Kolanko,Property Manager,provided background information on the issue and
advised that a request was received on behalf of NSCC seeking a street closure for a portion
of Kings Road, as well as a portion of the Esplanade, for the construction of the NSCC
Waterfront Campus as outlined in the staff Issue Paper dated February 9, 2021.
Motion:
Moved by Councillor Eldon MacDonald, seconded by Councillor Parsons, that staff be
directed to initiate a formal street closure pursuant to Section 315 of the Municipal
Government Act for portions of the old alignments of Kings Road and Esplanade identified
in the staff Issue Paper dated February 9, 2021, with the intention of deeming it surplus
for sale to the Province of Nova Scotia.
Discussion:
In response to a question, Ms. Kolanko confirmed that the present location of the sidewalk
and street will remain unchanged.
Motion Carried.
6. REPORT:
6.1 Update from Nova Scotia Federation of Municipalities:
Deputy Mayor Earlene MacMullin assumed the Chair.
Mayor McDougall provided an update on the Nova Scotia Federation of Municipalities
(NSFM) noting the following:
• Request from NSFM to participate as a full member of the NS Affordable Housing
Commission being denied by the Minister of Municipal Affairs & Housing
• NSFM Board declining invitation to participate on the Partnerships and Integration
Work Group(the Sub-Sub Committee of the NS Affordable Housing Commission)
• Overall Relationship between municipalities and the Province
Mayor McDougall advised that the request is not to demean those currently on the
Commission; the intent is simply that municipalities play a bigger role with the housing
crisis and helping with affordable housing.
Continued...
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February 9, 2021 DRAFT 7 of 7
REPORT-Update from Nova Scotia Federation of Municipalities (Cont'd):
After the update, Councillors discussed the importance of making a stand and
disappointment with the tone from the Minister.
Mayor McDougall referenced the correspondence and follow-up communication to the
Minister's Office requesting a seat on the Commission. The Mayor explained that she also
contacted the Deputy Minister and that she would share these responses with Council.
Mayor McDougall advised that she had sent a letter to the Minister Porter asking to meet
with him via phone or email and had heard nothing back until she had sent an email to the
Premier, noting that this relationship needs to be fixed.
Mayor McDougall resumed the Chair.
The following motion was put forward.
Motion:
Moved by Deputy Mayor MacMullin, seconded by Councillor Gordon MacDonald, that
Mayor Amanda M. McDougall and CBRM Council request staff to write a letter to the
Premier of Nova Scotia and copy the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing regarding
the concern over the relationship with the Cape Breton Regional Municipality and the
Department of Municipal Affairs and Housing.
Discussion:
Councillors expressed their support for the motion and shared their suggestions on what
should be contained in the letter. Mayor McDougall indicated that once drafted, the letter
would be provided to all Council.
Deputy Mayor MacMullin, with the agreement of the seconder, amended the motion to
state that the letter be sent to the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, with a copy
sent to the Premier of Nova Scotia.
Motion Carried.
Meeting adiourned at 3:56 p.m.
Deborah Campbell Ryan
Municipal Clerk
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