Council Highlights - November 2, 2021

Citizens' Minute with Council

Residents are welcome to speak to Council about issues, events, celebrations or concerns during Minute with Council. At the beginning of each regular Council Meeting, Mayor Michaels opens the floor to the public to speak and share with Council members, administration and meeting observers.

Bill McDonald spoke to Council regarding the Small Business Grant Program funded from the COVID-19 Business Resilience Support Program.

Administrative Inquiries

If Councillors have queries they would like to submit to admin, this will be the time at which they do. This is in accordance with Council's procedural bylaw.

None.

Boards and Committees of Council Reporting

None.

Public Hearings

In some instances, Council is required to conduct public hearings regarding land use bylaws, rezoning, etc., or on any other matter council deems appropriate.

None.

Delegations

Presentations are required to be arranged through the Executive Assistant so that presenters can be sure time is set aside for their presentations on the Council agenda. Find out more about how to be a delegation by following this link.

None.

Discussion Items

1. Regular Meeting of Council - November 16, 2021

Council Motion:

That Council reschedule the November 16, 2021, Regular Council Meeting to Monday, November 15, 2021, at 4:15 p.m.

Carried Unanimously

Notice of Motion

If Councillors have motions they wish to lodge, this will be the time at which they do. This is in accordance with Council's procedural bylaw.

None.

Closed Session

Closed Session is a legal term meaning in private; When a Council goes in Closed Session, it means the Council meeting is closed to the public. In general terms, the exceptions include matters where disclosures could be harmful to personal privacy, individual or public safety, law enforcement, intergovernmental relations, or economic or other interests; reveal confidential evaluations, local public body confidence, or advice from officials; or disclose information that is subject to legal privilege.

1. Council Remuneration Review Committee Discussion - Closed per Section 23 of FOIP

Action Items

1. Rescinding Beaver Boardwalk Committee Bylaw No. 1138

On October 5, 2021, Council appointed members to the newly established Beaver Boardwalk Community Oversight Committee (BBOC) and on October 14, 2021, a handover meeting was conducted; fulfilling the Beaver Boardwalk Committee’s final deliverable as outlined in Section 3.0 of the Committee’s Terms of Reference (TOR), and the February 2, 2021, Beaver Boardwalk Recommendations & Deliverables Request for Decision Report.

Council Motion:

That Council rescind Beaver Boardwalk Committee Bylaw No. 1138.

Carried Unanimously

2. FortisAlberta Franchise Fee Rider For 2022

At the October 26, 2021, Regular Meeting of Council an Update report was provided and the following motion was carried:

That Council accept the FortisAlberta Franchise Fee Rider for 2022 Update report as information; and that the FortisAlberta Franchise Fee Rider for 2022 report, with public notification feedback, be brought to the November 2, 2021, Regular Council Meeting for decision.

Council Motion:

That Council approves a decrease in the FortisAlberta Franchise Fee Rider for 2022 from 12.7% to 11.73% effective January 1, 2022.

Carried Unanimously

3. Sustainable Funding - Hinton Community Grant Program

On April 13, 2021, Administration brought a report before Council that demonstrated a funding deficiency that would impact Administration’s ability to move forward with the spring and fall intakes of the 2021 Community Grant Program.

The Community Grant Program (CGP) is established to fund the following:

One-time projects and initiatives of community organizations.
Operating expenses of organizations within three years of their developmental stage.
Events that are primarily designed and delivered for the general public that promote volunteerism, attract visitors, and that significantly contribute to the local economy.

Council Motion:
That Council direct Administration to include $60,000 in the January 14&15, 2022 Draft 2022 Operational Budget for the purpose of the Hinton Community Grant Program to be funded from ATE Revenue and the balance to be funded from taxation.

Carried 5-2
For: Haas, Maguhn, Michaels, Ostashek, Haas
Against: LaBerge, Taylor

Information Items

None.

Council Reporting:

Councillor Stuart Taylor: Councillor Taylor had nothing to report.

Councillor Albert Ostashek: Councillor Ostashek has been attending various training sessions. Will attend a Community Futures West Yellowhead meeting.

Councillor Trevor Haas: Councillor Haas attended various training sessions. Looking forward to attending multiple Committee meetings.

Councillor Brian LaBerge Councillor LaBerge has attended various training sessions and will attend his first Hinton and Region Economic Development Coalition (HREDC). meeting.

Councillor JoAnn Race: Councillor Race has attended various training sessions and will meet with MP Gerald Soroka.

Councillor Ryan Maguhn: Councillor Maguhn spoke about the 2021 Halloween fireworks in honor of Buzz Johnson.

Mayor Marcel Michaels: Mayor Michaels spoke about the 2021 Halloween fireworks in honor of Buzz Johnson.

Interim CAO Laura Howarth: Interim CAO Howarth thanked the community for attending the various Halloween events at the Dr. Duncan Murray Recreation Centre on October 31, 2021, and thanked the recreation staff for their hard work.

Urgent Matters:

Councillor Taylor Brought forward the following motion as an urgent matter:

That Council direct the Administration to prepare a draft response to the RCMP backpay issue to be forwarded to the Provincial and Federal Government and bring forward to the November 9, 2021 Committee of the Whole Meeting.

Carried Unanimously

Minute with Council Access

Early in the Town Response to COVID-19, Town Council meetings were moved to remote environments, closed to the public, and streamed online to allow for easy access by residents. However, one aspect of our Council meetings that was lost in this necessary response was Minute with Council. Traditionally, Residents have been welcomed to speak to Council about issues, events, or concerns during Minute with Council. At the beginning of each Council Meeting, the chair of the meeting opens the floor to the public to speak and share with Council members, administration and meeting observers.

As we determine the "new normal" in this pandemic response, the Town of Hinton has established a procedure to take part in Minute with Council remotely, temporarily, as we prepare for further steps in our reopening plans. This process is being established to avoid risks of public meeting teleconferencing, such as inappropriate or abusive interjections by anonymous or false identities.

We appreciate your understanding should this cause any inconvenience for you.

Please use this form to receive an invite code to join our proceedings remotely.
Should you encounter difficulty using the form, please call 780-865-6072.

Learn more here.

The Town of Hinton is on Facebook!

As close to 2500 people have already figured out - The Town of Hinton has a corporate Facebook page! This new service adds another resource to the communications channel and will house information on many different areas; some days, you’ll see information on bylaws, others recreation programs, others information about council decisions or highlights from Council meetings. Like us today by clicking here!

You can view the entire agenda package here.

The next Regular Council meeting will be held November 2, 2021,

at 4 pm via Zoom and streamed via YouTube.

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