Minutes of the General Monthly Meeting of 19 February 2009
Champlain Field House, 149 Cowley Avenue
Started: 7:30 pm.
Members present: Cheryl Doran (Chair), Chris Szpak (minute taker), Erwin Dreessen, Barry George, Amy Kempster, Joseph Potvin, Ron Rancourt, Janice Seline, Sol Shuster, Mikelis Svilans, Brittany Taylor.
Guests: Dan Fuleki, Stephen Woodley.
1. Welcome and Introductions.
2. Adoption of the Agenda:
Motion: Chris S. moved and seconded by Joseph P. to adopt the Agenda as amended. Carried.
3. Presentation of the Nature Chelsea Project:
Stephen W. and Dan F. briefed the meeting about the Nature Chelsea Project – an initiative of the conservation group ACRE in cooperation with the municipality of Chelsea. The aim is to catalogue the biodiversity of the Chelsea area and to work with other stakeholders (developers, communities, etc.) to explore ways of conserving environmentally sensitive areas. As well, members at the meeting gave advice on how to go about protecting a couple of specific properties in Chelsea that the local residents wanted to preserve.
4.Approval of the minutes of previous meetings:
Approval of the minutes of the previous meeting was deferred to the next meeting.
5. Membership Report:
Nothing new to report.
6. Treasurer’s Report:
Motion: Janice S. moved and seconded by Chris S. to pay the following expenses:
- $131.25 – annual mailbox subscription
- $291.00 – land titles search
- $33.89 – printing of posters
- $11.87 – photocopying (cost award policy)
- $260.00 – Daniel Green (report on risk assessment)
- $25.00 – Wildlife Festival
- $40.00 – plant sale
Carried.
7. Business Arising:
a) Leitrim Wetlands:
(i) Members of Friends of the Leitrim Wetland (including members of the Alliance) will attempt to gain agreement from ministry representatives on pre-conditions compiled by the Friends that would need to be met before a 10-year permit to take water could be considered by MoE.
(ii) The City’s Corporate Services Committee approved the motion that prevents the City from suing public interest groups for cost as long as their legal interventions are not frivolous or vexatious. However, it appeared that the outstanding claim against the Alliance was not covered by this motion. Councillor Alex Cullen will move at the February 25 Council meeting that this claim be dropped. It was agreed that community groups and Councillors should be lobbied to help support the Councillor’s motion.
b) Development Charges Advisory Committee: Amy K. is a member of the Development Charges Advisory Committee and she will attend the February 24 meeting of the PEC when a report will be issued on development charges.
c) Poets’ Pathway: deferred.
d) Committees – Next Steps: dropped.
8. Discussion Items:
a) Alliance Website: it was agreed that the Website needed re-working. A sub-committee of Sol S., Erwin D., Ron R. and Chris S. was therefore established to do this.
b) Common Ground Advisory Group:
Motion: Joseph P. moved and Sol. S. seconded to send a letter of approval by the Alliance to the municipality of Chelsea supporting the agro-residential development proposal for the Hendrick farm land. Carried.
c) Bird Centre: deferred.
d) Official Plan Review: deferred.
e) Inter-provincial Bridge: it was agreed that the Alliance will come to a position on the need and location of the proposed bridge after all official studies of alternatives have been completed.
f) Water Advisory: deferred.
9. New Business: no new business was brought forward.
Meeting was adjourned at 10:55 pm.
Next Meeting scheduled for: 19 March 2009