HomeMy WebLinkAboutSpecial Council Minutes - December 15, 2022 Boundary Review Final Report Cape Breton Regional Municipality
Special Council Meeting Minutes
Thursday,
December 15, 2022
9:32 a.m.
Council Chambers
2nd Floor, City Hall
320 Esplanade, Sydney, NS
Mayor Amanda M. McDougall called the meeting to order.
Present: Mayor Amanda M. McDougall
Councillor Gordon MacDonald
Councillor Earlene MacMullin
Councillor Cyril MacDonald
Councillor Steve Gillespie
Councillor Eldon MacDonald
Councillor Glenn Paruch
Councillor Steve Parsons
Deputy Mayor James Edwards
Councillor Ken Tracey
Councillor Darren O'Quinn
Councillor Lorne Green
Staff. Marie Walsh, Chief Administrative Officer
Jennifer Campbell, Chief Financial Officer
Deborah Campbell Ryan, Municipal Clerk
Demetri Kachafanas, KC, Regional Solicitor
Michael Ruus, Director of Planning & Development
Wayne MacDonald, Director of Engineering &Public Works
Sharon MacSween, Senior Administrative Assistant
Angela Ross, Recording Secretary
Absent: Councillor Darren Bruckschwaiger (Regrets)
Special Council Meeting-Minutes
December 15,2022 Approved January 31,2023 Page-2
The Council met In Camera on December 9, 2022 in accordance with Section 22(2) (d) of the
Municipal Government Act.
Summary of Decisions
Land Acknowledtement
Roll Call
1. Approval of Agenda:
Motion to approve the December 15, 2022, Special Council agenda as circulated. Carried.
2. CBRM Governance and Boundary Review—Final Report:
Motion that the status quo be maintained based on the information presented by Stantec and
Councillor colleagues. Carried.
Adjournment
Special Council Meeting-Minutes
December 15,2022 Approved January 31,2023 Page-3
The Council met In Camera on December 9, 2022 in accordance with Section 22(2) (d) of the
Municipal Government Act.
Land Acknowledgement
Roll Call
1. Approval of Agenda:
Motion:
Moved by Councillor Green, seconded by Councillor Cyril MacDonald, to approve the
December 15, 2022, Special Council Agenda as circulated.
Motion Carried.
2. CBRM Governance and Boundary Review—Final Report:
Mayor McDougall advised that at the conclusion of this meeting after Council discussion, we
will require a motion of Council as to how Council would like to submit an application to the
Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board (NSUARB) as per the boundary review, noting that the
submission is due by the end of December, 2022.
The Mayor then called on John Heseltine to provide his presentation.
John Heseltine, Senior Planner - Stantec, reviewed the CBRM Governance and Boundary
Review Final Report that is included in the agenda package. He discussed the legislative
requirements for the Review and highlighted the following:
• Methodology
• Phase l: Council Size
o Public Consultation Plan
o Past Governance Reviews
o CBRM Council Members
o Survey Results
o Alternative Approaches
o Recommendation to take the of six and twelve district scenarios to the public for
consideration in Phase 2, with the option to present the eight-district scenario
(which Council agreed to include for consideration in Phase 2).
• Phase 2: Boundary Review
o Public Consultation
o Boundary Criteria
o District Boundary Scenarios
o Final Survey Results
o Other Considerations
o Smaller vs. Larger Council
Continued...
Special Council Meeting-Minutes
December 15,2022 Approved January 31,2023 Page-4
CBRM Governance and Boundary Review—Council Size Report(Cont'd):
o Boundary Adjustments
o Recommendation that CBRM apply for approval of a Council of six members
plus the Mayor to be elected from districts as presented in Figure 5.1 or with
reasonable modifications
o Decision Options
John Heseltine discussed his role in the process and the Study recommendation for six councillors
plus the mayor. He then reviewed the decision options available to Council, which were to
confirm, modify or reject the recommendation.
Following the presentation, Mayor McDougall reiterated that a decision must be made today in
order to meet the deadline to apply to the NSUARB by the end of the year.
Some of Council discussion on the recommendation included the following:
• With a smaller Council, concern regarding reduced representation for residents
(especially rural areas), and increased workload and responsibilities for Councillors
• CBRM staff would not have time to deal with residents' concerns
• Response to the survey was minimal and attendance at public consultations was poor
(less than 1% of CBRM population participated in the consultation process)
• Salary expectations if Council size is reduced
• Attracting people to run for Council may be difficult if considered a full-time job
• Status quo is working.
After further discussion, the following motion was put forward:
Motion:
Moved by Councillor Paruch, seconded by Councillor Gordon MacDonald, that the status quo
be maintained based on the information presented by Stantec and Councillor colleagues.
Motion Carried.
Michael Ruus, Director of Planning and Development, advised that the next step is for staff to
submit the application to the NSUARB by the end of year, after which a Public Hearing will be
scheduled by the NSUARB.
Demetri Kachafanas, Regional Solicitor, advised that once the NSUARB announces the Public
Hearing date, information will be submitted on behalf of Council and Council can participate.
He advised that it is anticipated that the hearing would not be scheduled until March, and likely
no decision until the Spring at the earliest.
Special Council Meeting-Minutes
December 15,2022 Approved January 31,2023 Page-5
Mayor McDougall thanked John Heseltine, Council and staff for their discussion and work on
the process.
Adiournment at 11:25 a.m.
Mayor Amanda M. McDougall Deborah Campbell Ryan
Municipal Clerk
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