Schreiber Council Meeting for November 2021

The first Schreiber council meeting for November Started off with a special request and a public hearing for rezoning the St. Johns rectory to a private residence separate from the church itself. It is believed that the house will be put up for sale and the church will remain a separate lot as it currently stands. The thrift store sits on the actual church property so should not be affected by this rezoning. There was no opposition to the application and the committee voted in favour of the rezoning. 

The normal council meeting reconvened and the first item up was accepting the minutes of the previous meeting and special council meeting.

• Motion approved for the purchase of breathing apparatus tanks for the fire department.
• Virtual ROMA conference will be attended by Councillor McGrath and Mayor Mullins on the 25th of January 2022.
• Accounts for payment and debit orders were approved for the month.
• A license agreement between Schreiber and the Queen of England and the ministry of environment was brought forward but there was no clarification on what this actually meant and no discussion occurred.

The Committee of the whole portion of the meeting started with department reports. 

• Community economic development manager reports that the work on the hydro poles that need to be replaced or moved to accommodate the splash pad construction. Construction of the water park is expected to restart in the spring.
• Bylaw officer report resulted in a discussion over storage of vehicles on vacant lots but could not be discussed as the matter has gone to court.
• The Economic Development Committee Report highlighted the progress on the Discovery Centre and the way finding sign installation. An information brochure for new visitors is being prepared. The A6 trail is finally completed and is being advertised as such.
• Beautification Committee reports the Christmas tree lights have been installed and will be lit up in the first week of December. The light up the night event has been scheduled for December the 5th at the cemetery. Schreiber Media Centre will be recording the event.
• Festivals committee is busy organizing the Heritage Days festival in the summer.  Winter Carnival is tentatively happening in February of 2022.
• Schreiber library report indicated the Rossport rep has stepped down and a replacement is being sought. The part time job offer has had no single applicant and funding may have to be returned. It was mentioned that opening up the position to seniors but the funding stipulates 18-35 years of age.
• The OCWA reports were a simple update on the current state of the water treatment plant. 
• Under Communications there was a discussion on the employees pension plan (OMERS) underperformance and a review may be in order. A letter updating a proposed roads work project was received and identified the area around Rainbow Falls as a candidate for the first phase of widening and straightening.
• Unfinished business sought to determine the more important departments and ministers to request meetings with at the next NOMA conference.
• The Memorandum of Understanding between the Township of Schreiber and the Schreiber Public Library has been drafted and should be approved at the next council meeting. The original MOA expired 4 years ago and has been up for review for the past 2 years.