Regular Council Meeting Plus A Special Council Meeting From The Auditors

The council meeting began with a land acknowledgment, followed by a call for any additions or amendments to the agenda. The minutes from the previous meeting were then accepted as presented.

The first item on the agenda was the Chief Administrative Officer's (CAO) report. It was announced that an emergency management training exercise will be scheduled for all staff and council members. Additionally, a draft report on sustainable energy initiatives is being prepared, with plans to support the construction of a small-scale solar farm set to begin next year.

The council reviewed and approved the tax ratio bylaw, which allows for a 3.8% tax increase.

In the Director of Operations report, attention was drawn to currently vacant buildings in the downtown area. These properties, which were previously businesses that closed within the last year, will need to be assessed before the municipality can take action on repossessing them.

The Community Development report focused on the Rural Transit Solutions Fund, which aims to support the purchase of a new handi-transit vehicle for the town.

The township will recognize Franco-Ontarian Day with a flag-raising event. Additionally, the council agreed to support a motion to recognize the important contributions of firefighters and rescue workers by awarding service medals and other honours.

Council also endorsed a motion aimed at attracting newcomers to the area, addressing the skills and labour shortages in the North Shore region.

All bylaws discussed during the meeting were approved and carried. An update on the local mill situation revealed no changes; the mill remains closed, with no indications of reopening shortly.

The question period saw a busy exchange, with various concerns brought forward by a delegation of residents. Among the issues raised were the audio and video quality of the current council meetings and skepticism about the proposal to attract more people to the area. There was also concern about the potential impact on taxes if more residents were to leave due to the ongoing mill closure.

The meeting concluded with an adjournment.

A special council meeting had been held a few days earlier to present the Auditor's report for the end of 2023. While this report provided a snapshot of the community's financial health in terms of expenses, assets, and overall position, it does not reflect the recent economic challenges caused by the mill closure. The special meeting was added to the council agenda to allow residents to view the report on the SMC YouTube channel.