Council Highlights - December 7, 2021

December 8th, 2021

During the adoption of the December 7th, 2021 Regular Meeting Agenda, clarification from Council to Administration regarding land matters was discussed with respect to FOIP legislation.

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.

Marie-Soleil Pinet spoke in front of Council as a citizen of Hinton and the Hinton Mountain Bike Association Executive. She voiced her concerns to Council regarding no response from the Town of Hinton Administration on the event planning she wished to pursue here in Hinton.

Closed Session # 1

In-camera is a legal term meaning in private; When a Council goes in-camera, 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. External Auditor Proposal Evaluation Results - Closed per Section 16 of FOIP

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.

Boards and Committees of Council Reporting

None.

Action Items

1. Appointment of External Auditor

Council received a Request for Decision report at the November 15, 2021, Regular Council Meeting regarding the appointment of the external auditor which resulted in the following direction: “That Council direct Administration to bring a closed session report regarding the appointment of external auditor to the November 23, 2021, Committee of the Whole Meeting.” Committee received a Direction Report in the Closed Session of November 23, 2021; subsequent to that, Council received the proposal evaluation results in the Closed Session #1 of the December 7, 2021, Regular Council Meeting.

Council Motion:
That Council appoint JDP Wasserman & Associates as the designated Auditor for the Town of Hinton for the fiscal years 2021, 2022, and 2023.

Carried Unanimously

2. Council Appointments to Hinton Municipal Library Board - Member Reduction Report

At the Organizational Meeting of October 26, 2021, Council appointed two Council Members and one alternate to the Hinton Municipal Library Board (the Board) through the following motion: “That Councillor Haas and Councillor Maguhn be appointed to the Hinton Municipal Library Board and that Councillor Taylor be appointed as alternate”. Upon revision of all those appointed to the Board, Committee provided the following direction at the November 23, 2021, Committee of the Whole meeting: “That Committee direct Council to appoint one member and one alternate to the Hinton Library Board, and the member and the alternate to be decided by the Mayor.”

Council Motion:

That Council rescind the appointment of Councillor Haas, Councillor Maguhn, and Councillor Taylor as the alternate for the Hinton Municipal Library Board.

Carried Unanimously

That Council appoint Councillor Haas to the Hinton Municipal Library Board as member and that Councillor Maguhn be appointed as alternate as per Mayor Michaels recommendation.

Carried Unanimously

3. Council Action Pending List Revisions

At the Special Meeting of November 30, 2021, Council reviewed the Council Action Pending (CAP) List and the following direction received consensus:

That Committee direct Administration to move the following items from the Council Action Pending List to the following Actions to come to the December 7, 2021, Regular Meeting of Council: MD-2234 to March 31/22, MD-2378 to February 22/22, MD-2380 to February 22/22, MD-2411 to December 7/21, MD-2299 rescind, MD-2410 Complete, MD-2310 to March 22/21, MD-2318 to March 22/21, MD-2247 rescind, MD-2248 rescind, MD-2331 rescind, MD-1643 rescind, MD-1702 rescind, MD-1759 verbal update prior to rescinding this item, MD-1868 January 28/22, MD-2031 May 2022, MD-2032 rescind, MD-2383 rescind, MD-2293 rescind.”

Council Motion:
That Council rescind MD-2299, MD-2247, MD-2248, MD-2331, MD-1643, MD-1702, MD-1868, MD-2032, and MD-2383 as listed on the Council Action Pending List.

Carried Unanimously

That Council mark MD-2410 and MD-2293 as listed on the Council Action Pending List as complete.

Carried Unanimously

That Council move the revised due date for MD-2234 to March 31/22, MD-2378 to February 22/22, MD-2380 to February 22/22, MD-2411 to December 7/21, MD-2310 to March 22/22, MD-2318 to March 22/22, and MD-2031 to May 2022 as listed on the Council Action Pending List.

Carried Unanimously

That Council rescind MD-1759 as listed on the Council Action Pending List.

Carried Unanimously

That Council rescind MD-2086 as listed on the Council Action Pending List.

Carried Unanimously

4. 2022 Interim Operating Budget

The Updated 2022 Budget Process received support from the outgoing Council on September 14, 2021, and again from the incoming Council on November 9, 2021. The process remains on schedule and identifies approval of the 2022 Interim Operating Budget at the Regular Council Meeting of December 7, 2021.

Council Motion:

That Council approve the 2022 Interim Operating Budget based on the approved operating expenditures from 2021 of $34,981,728; and

That Council approve the 2022 Interim Operating Budget to include an additional $29,000 for the Hanging Flower Basket Program that was temporarily suspended for one year in 2021.

Carried Unanimously

5. 2022 Capital Budget and 2023-2026 Capital Plan Approval

In September 2021, the Town of Hinton retained Robert Osmond of ARO Consulting Partners to implement a new budget process for the 2022 Operating and Capital budgets and the associated planning. On November 21, 2021, Mr. Osmond facilitated a capital budget deliberations session where Committee of the Whole discussed and considered the 2022 Capital Budget and 2023-2026 Capital Plan information prepared by Administration.

Council Motion:
That Council approve the 2022 Capital Budget as presented.

Carried Unanimously

That Council approve the 2023-2026 Capital Plan as presented.

Carried Unanimously

Discussion Items

1. Mandatory Face Coverings Bylaw No. 1163 - Section 8.1.2

Council Motion
That Council accept the Mandatory Face Coverings Bylaw No. 1163 – Section 8.1.2 for information.

Carried Unanimously

Information Items

None.

Council Reporting:

Councillor Ostashek: Councillor Ostashek spoke to attending the Board Meeting for Community Futures along with Councillor LaBerge. He spoke to the learning about all the interesting things Community Futures does and is a part of.

Councillor Haas: Councillor Hass attended the Waste Management orientation meeting and discussed the next steps and the direction for Waste management. He spoke to the good information at the meeting and that it was well attended. Haas also mentioned the senior members meeting for HYAC this upcoming week. Haas spoke to the Library Holiday hours being reduced and for the community to check those new hours out. Haas gave thanks to the staff at ISB for the tour of the facility, the information provided, and the organization of the facility.

Councillor Taylor: None

Councillor LaBerge: Councillor LaBerge spoke to his meetings with HRDC and goals to update the strategic plan. He also discussed projects that are being submitted for grants for the green square, amongst other locations as well. LaBerge mentioned attending the Community Futures board meeting and orientation, and that it was a great day.

Councillor Race: Councillor Race attended an ASH meeting this week and announced that Hinton Movies will be starting back up in late December. She also spoke to her tour of ISB and how great it was to meet all the staff there.

Councillor Maguhn: None.

Mayor Marcel Michaels: The Mayor spoke to the tour of ISB facility and thanked them for that. He also wishes to continue to do this with other buildings and staff, to further understand and see the operations of the Town workforce. He also spoke to the Evergreens Foundation he attended, with four new members and the new projects on the horizon. The Mayor attended the Beer and Blue Jeans event alongside some of the Councillors. He expressed his happiness at the return of this event. Mayor Michaels attended the Community Futures Christmas party to which he stated, is always a great time.

Interim CAO Laura Howarth: CAO Howarth spoke to the PArade this past week and how well done it was. She also gave appreciation to all the businesses and floats for their participation and how well done everything was.

Closed Session # 2

1. Rapid Housing Initiative Grant - Closed per Section 23 of FOIP

Council Motion:
That Council endorse the Rapid Housing Initiative Contribution Agreement as presented in Closed Session.

Carried Unanimously

2. 2021 Hinton Golfing Society Operating Agreement Status - Closed as per Section 16 of FOIP

Council Motion:
That Council accept the Hinton Golfing Society Operating Agreement Update for information.

Carried Unanimously

3. Personnel Update - Closed per Section 17 of FOIP
4. Water Treatment Plant Update - Closed per Section 16 of FOIP
5. Interim CAO Employment Agreement Extension - Closed per Section 17 & 24 of FOIP

Council Motion:
That Council appoint Laura Howarth as Interim CAO to January 18, 2022.

Carried Unanimously

6. Personnel, CAO Update - Closed per Section 17 of FOIP

Council Motion:
That Council direct the Mayor to proceed as discussed in Closed Session regarding Personnel, CAO Update.

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 December 21, 2021,

at 4 pm via Zoom and streamed via YouTube.

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