HomeMy WebLinkAboutEmergency Council Minutes - February 4, 2024 Cape Breton Regional Municipality
Emergency Council Meeting - Minutes
February 4, 2024
11:46 a.m. via Zoom Videoconferencing
Council
Mayor Amanda M. McDougall-Merrill
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 Bruckschwaiger
Councillor Darren O'Quinn
Councillor Lorne Green
Staff
Marie Walsh, Chief Administrative Officer
John MacKinnon, Deputy Chief Administrative Officer
Christa Dicks, Municipal Clerk
Wayne MacDonald, Director of Engineering and Public Works
Robert Walsh, Chief of Police
Chris March, Acting Director of Fire and Emergency Services and Acting Fire
Chief
Bruce MacDonald, Manager of Emergency Management
Christina Lamey, Communications and Information Officer
Rob MacNamara, Communication Advisor to Mayor
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 a...
Emergency Council Meeting - Minutes
February 4, 2024 Approved February 27, 2024 Page 2 of 4
Mayor Amanda M. McDougall-Merrill called the Emergency Meeting of
Council to Order.
Roll Call
Updates Related to the Storm
Mayor McDougall-Merrill advised that staff were present to provide updates.
The Mayor advised during a Provincial Emergency Command Centre (PCC)
meeting earlier that day that there was no intent for the province to declare
a state of emergency province wide.
Councillor Earlene MacMullin joined the meeting at 11:49 a.m.
Councillor Ken Tracey joined the meeting at 11:50 a.m.
Marie Walsh, Chief Administrative Officer, advised that the CBPM ECC
(Emergency Coordination Centre) had been activated.
CAO Walsh advised it is the decision of Council to make a request to declare
a state of local emergency and noted that the Minister of Municipal Affairs
and Housing may not approve a request for a Local State of Emergency.
The Chief Administrative Officer advised the ECC meeting is scheduled for
2:00 p.m.
Bruce MacDonald, Manager of Emergency Management, provided
background information regarding declaring a state of local emergency. He
advised that declaring a state of local emergency is not required to access
disaster financial assistance or other government funding and provided
reasons to declare a state of local emergency. Reasons included: provides
government with authority to do what is ever necessary for the safety of
Emergency Council Meeting - Minutes
February 4, 2024 Approved February 27, 2024 Page 3 of 4
people, protection of property and the environment. The state of emergency
permits authorities to control or prohibit travel, enter homes and buildings
without warrant, order evacuations, confiscate property, and order
assistance. At this point in time, the only benefit for a local state of
emergency would be to control travel. The process for Council to declare a
state of local emergency was provided which includes approval of the
Minister would be required.
Councillor Eldon MacDonald joined the meeting at 11:56 a.m.
Discussion took place regarding the local state of emergency.
The Director of Engineering and Public Works provided a brief on snow
removal efforts.
The Communications and Information Officer provided information pertaining
to public messaging that spoke to residents helping themselves and their
neighbours, staying of the streets and staying home.
The Acting Director of Fire and Emergency Services provided information
regarding calls for service region-wide, staffing and discussed concern with
snow accumulation amounts on building roofs.
Deputy Chief Administrative Officer spoke to staff at 9-1-1 operations and
continuity plans.
Director of Engineering and Public Works provided additional updates
regarding supports for emergency service providers including assistance
requests from other agencies.
The Chief of Police spoke to calls for service, road advisories and towing.
Councillor Cyril MacDonald joined the meeting at 12: 15 p.m.
Emergency Council Meeting - Minutes
February 4, 2024 Approved February 27, 2024 Page 4 of 4
After Council discussion, the following motions were put forward.
Motion
Moved by Councillor Paruch, seconded by Councillor Parsons, that Council
declare a Local State of Emergency in the Cape Breton Regional Municipality.
Carried
Motion
Moved by Councillor Eldon MacDonald, seconded by Councillor Cyril
MacDonald, that additional equipment and resources be requested from the
Province of Nova Scotia, specific for snow removal of snow from
Transportation and Infrastructure for areas that have not seen snow removal
in the past 24 hours.
Carried
Discussion took place on the next steps.
Meeting adjourned at 1:28 p.m.
Mayor Amanda M. McDougall-Merrill
Christa Dicks, Municipal Clerk
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