HomeMy WebLinkAboutCouncil Minutes - January 9, 2024 Cape Breton Regional Municipality
Council Meeting Minutes
January 9, 2024
6:00 p.m. at City Hall Council Chambers
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
Jennifer Campbell, Chief Financial Officer
Christa Dicks, Municipal Clerk
Wayne MacDonald, Director of Engineering and Public Works
Demetri Kachafanas, KC, Regional Solicitor
Michael Ruus, Director of Planning and Development
Kirk Durning, Director of Recreation, Parks and Grounds, and Buildings and
Facilities
Deanna Evely, Director of Human Resources
Robert Walsh, Chief of Police
Stephen MacKinnon, Deputy Chief of Police
Sheila Kolanko, Property Manager
Sharon MacSween, Senior Administrative Assistant
Kelly McDonald, Recording Secretary
Council Meeting - Minutes
January 9, 2024 Approved February 27, 2024 Page 2 of 6
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_r..m,._n ..,_c. ..
The Council met In Camera on December 12, 2023, pursuant to Section 22
(2)(e) of the Municipal Government Act.
Mayor Amanda M. McDougall-Merrill called the meeting to order.
Land Acknowledgement
Roll Call
O' Canada
1. Approval of Agenda
Mayor McDougall-Merrill asked Council if it is preferred if item number six be
addressed as open session proceedings instead of an In Camera session,
Council agreed.
Motion
Moved by Councillor Green, seconded by Councillor Eldon MacDonald, to
approve the January 9, 2024, council agenda as presented.
Motion Carried
2. Approval of Minutes
Motion
Moved by Councillor Bruckschwaiger, seconded by Councillor O'Quinn, to
approve the CBPM minutes from:
➢ Special Council - July 20, 2023
➢ Council - October 10, 2023
➢ Special Council - October 20, 2023
➢ Council - October 24, 2023
Motion Carried
Council Meeting - Minutes
January 9, 2024 Approved February 27, 2024 Page 3 of 6
3. Presentation
3.1 Sydney Baseball Park Association
Alana MacLeod, Sydney Baseball Park Association President, provided a
presentation titled, "Sydney Baseball Park Association - Bernie MacNeil
Baseball Field Revitalization". Discussion took place regarding the project
plans and community impacts. The following motion was then put forward:
Motion
Moved by Councillor Paruch, seconded by Councillor Green, to defer the
Sydney Baseball Park Association's request to capital budget for
consideration.
Discussion:
• Entirety of project
• Phased approach
• Documentation of the relationship between SBPA and Sydney and
District Little League
Motion to Amend
Moved by Councillor Paruch, seconded by Councillor Green, to defer the
Sydney Baseball Park Association's request to capital budget for
consideration including the entirety of the project.
Motion to Amend Carried
4. Corporate Service Issues
4.1 Request for Easement - NSPI Kings Road, Sydney (District
5) - PID 15884562
Sheila Kolanko, Property Manager, reviewed the issue paper and
recommendation in the agenda package. The following motion was then put
forward:
Council Meeting - Minutes
January 9, 2024 Approved February 27, 2024 Page 4 of 6
Motion
Moved by Councillor Eldon MacDonald, seconded by Councillor Parsons, to
authorize the Mayor and Clerk to execute an Easement Agreement in favour
of Nova Scotia Power Incorporation across the CBRM property (PID
15884562).
Discussion
• Cost and fees associated shall be the responsibility of the applicant.
Motion Carried
4.2 East Bay Area Community Council / PID 15437726
Demetri Kachafanas, KC, Regional Solicitor, reviewed the issue paper and
recommendation in the agenda package. The following motion was then put
forward:
Motion
Moved by Councillor Parsons, seconded by Councillor MacMullin, to authorize
a new lease for a ten-year term from the 1St day of January 2024, to the 31St
day of December 2033, with the terms and conditions unchanged from the
previous lease.
Motion Carried
4.3 Grand Lake Road Fire Department Lease
Demetri Kachafanas, KC, Regional Solicitor, reviewed the memo and
recommendation in the agenda package. The following motion was then put
forward:
Motion
Moved by Councillor Green, seconded by Councillor O'Quinn, to authorize a
new lease for a five-year term with the expiry date of November 30, 2027,
including the new price rates stated in the memo dated January 4, 2024.
Motion Carried
Council Meeting - Minutes
January 9, 2024 Approved February 27, 2024 Page 5 of 6
S. Councillor Agenda Request
Deputy Mayor James Edwards reviewed the councillor agenda request form
included in the agenda package. Discussion took place regarding extended
power outages CBRM residents are experiencing. The following motion was
then put forward:
Motion
Moved by Deputy Mayor Edwards, seconded by Councillor Green, for Mayor
and Council to send a letter to Nova Scotia Power requesting a line
maintenance report and an updated report outlining pro-active steps that
have been taken and are planned to take to address compromised power
assets since Fiona struck CBRM in September of 2022.
Discussion:
• To request Nova Scotia Power to attend a future council meeting
• NS Power rate increases versus services provided
• Businesses losing revenue
• The need for NS Power to wrap power lines
• Maintenance plan
• Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board
Motion Carried
6. In Camera - This item proceeded in open session
6.1 Report on Tentative Agreement Police Negotiations
Director Evely reviewed the issue paper and recommendation included in the
agenda package. The following motion was then put forward:
Motion
Moved by Councillor Gordon MacDonald, seconded by Councillor Cyril
MacDonald, to approve the Tentative Collective Agreement Police NSGEU,
with the wages and terms included in the agenda package, for a 4-year
contract from January 1, 2024, to December 31, 2027.
Council Meeting - Minutes
January 9, 2024 Approved February 27, 2024 Page 6 of 6
Discussion:
• Ranking of Nova Scotia Police Services wages
• Gratitude for Police Services, NSGEU, and negotiating team
• Police budget
Motion Carried
Mayor McDougall-Merrill noted action items from this meeting which included
deferring the Sydney Baseball Park Association to the budget workshop for
discussion and to send a letter to Nova Scotia Power Incorporation to
request NS Power to attend an upcoming council meeting.
Meeting adjourned at 7:19 p.m.
Amanda M. McDougall-Merrill
Mayor
Christa Dicks
Municipal Clerk
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