HomeMy WebLinkAboutSpecial Council Minutes - October 13, 2022
Cape Breton Regional Municipality
Special Council Meeting – Minutes
Thursday,
October 13, 2022
1:30 p.m.
Via Video Conference
Mayor Amanda M. McDougall called the meeting to order.
Present:
Mayor Amanda M. McDougall
Councillor Gordon MacDonald
Deputy Mayor Earlene MacMullin
Councillor Cyril MacDonald
Councillor Steve Gillespie
Councillor Eldon MacDonald
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
John MacKinnon, Deputy Chief Administrative Officer
Deborah Campbell Ryan, Municipal Clerk
Michael Ruus, Director of Planning & Development
Kirk Durning,
Director of Recreation, Parks and Grounds, Buildings and Facilities
Karen Neville, Senior Planner
Sharon MacSween, Senior Administrative Assistant
Tanya Nicholson, Recording Secretary
Absent:
Councillor Glenn Paruch (Regrets)
Special Council Minutes
October 13, 2022 Approved January 17, 2023 Page - 2
Summary of Decisions
Land Acknowledgement
Roll Call
1. Approval of Agenda:
MotionCarried.
to approve the October 13, 2022, Special Council agenda as presented.
2. CBRM Governance and Boundary Review – Council Size Report:
Motion
to approve the recommendation by Stantec to take the six and twelve district scenarios
to the public for consideration in Phase 2 of the Governance and Boundary Review, and to also
present the eight-district scenario to give community members the opportunity to consider an
Carried.
intermediate reduction in Council membership.
Adjournment
Special Council Minutes
October 13, 2022 Approved January 17, 2023 Page - 3
Land Acknowledgement
Roll Call
1.Approval of Agenda:
Motion:
Moved by Councillor Green, seconded by Councillor Gordon MacDonald, to approve the
October 13, 2022, Special Council Agenda as presented.
Motion Carried.
2.CBRM Governance and Boundary Review – Council Size Report:
John Heseltine, Stantec, reviewed the CBRM Governance and Boundary Review – Council Size
Report that is included in the agenda package and highlighted the following:
Project Context
Our Methodology
Phase 1 Council Size
Public Consultation Plan
Past Governance Reviews
CBRM Council Members
Benchmarking and Comparisons to other Nova Scotia Municipalities
Population Projection
Survey Results
Recommendation 5 (Viability Study)
Phase 2 Boundary Review
Boundary Criteria
Current Twelve Districts
Electoral District Public Consultation
Proposed Six Districts
Proposed Eight Districts
Proposed Twelve Districts
Alternate Approaches
Remaining Steps
Continued…
Special Council Minutes
October 13, 2022 Approved January 17, 2023 Page - 4
CBRM Governance and Boundary Review – Council Size Report (Cont’d):
Following the presentation, the following motion was put forward.
Motion:
Moved by Deputy Mayor MacMullin, seconded by Councillor Green, to approve the
recommendation by Stantec to take the six and twelve district scenarios to the public for
consideration in Phase 2 of the Governance and Boundary Review, and to also present the eight-
district scenario to give community members the opportunity to consider an intermediate
reduction in Council membership.
Discussion:
During debate, Councillor Eldon MacDonald raised a Point of Order that further discussion
should be limited to the motion on the floor.
Mayor McDougall acknowledged the Point of Order, and Council discussion included:
- Increased remuneration and compensation for Councillors, with the suggestion that they be
full-time positions which may require additional staff, since they will be representing more
constituents in larger districts;
- Possible impact on rural and suburban representation with larger districts;
- Concern regarding the response rate for the online survey and that it did not reach all residents,
with the suggestion that the public sessions for Phase 2 should be held in all 12 districts;
- Paper copies of the survey should be available at the upcoming in-person public consultation
meetings.
Following Council discussion, the Mayor called for the vote.
Motion Carried.
In response to a question from Councillor Steve Gillespie, John Heseltine advised that given the
allocated budget and timeframe for the study, a meeting in each district was not feasible.
Michael Ruus, Director of Planning & Development, advised that his department could help
promote the Electoral Boundary Options Survey and the Public Meetings for Municipal Electoral
Boundaries through social media, radio, and newspaper.
Mayor McDougall noted CBRM is mandated to go through the District Boundary review process
and is required to submit an application to the NSUARB by the end of the year. Mayor
McDougall thanked John Heseltine for his presentation.
Adjournment at 3:31 p.m.
__________________________ _______________________
Mayor Amanda M. McDougall Deborah Campbell Ryan
Municipal Clerk
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