OUTLOOK - The town council of Outlook met for a regularly scheduled meeting on Wednesday night, December 8. Present were Councillors Bob Stephenson, Kyle McLeod, Justin Turton, Ryan Husband, and Kevin Grotheim, with Sharon Bruce attending electronically. Also in attendance was Mayor Maureen Weiterman, Chief Administrative Officer Kevin Trew, and office clerk Crystal Fisher.
The meeting was broadcast on the Town of Outlook Facebook page.
A number of topics and items were discussed, including the following highlights.
Bylaws
Council discussed Bylaw No. 17 (2021) Solid Waste Collection, which replaces a few former bylaws that were created in 2019. User fees that are attached to this particular bylaw are the same ones that were passed over two years ago, with increases in the charges to the Utility account for collection of refuse, compost materials and yard waste at $45 per quarter (an increase of $10 per quarter over 2021), as well as for collection of recycling to $25 per quarter (an increase of $5 per quarter over 2021). Administration, at the direction of Council, was looking for efficiencies and ways to cut the costs incurred for solid waste collection and transportation for all property owners within the Town of Outlook, whether they're currently using the Town's services or a contractor. Council held the first reading for the bylaw, as there are changes that will be made.
Council then discussed Bylaw No. 18 (2021) Landfill Operations, which also replaces a former bylaw created in 2019. It was said that the user fees for the landfill must be regarded as different from the collection and transportation, as there are users of the landfill that are not users of the solid waste collection and transportation service that's provided by the Town and its contractors.
It was pointed out that the Town itself is the largest customer of the landfill at this time, and Council has been making an effort over the last number of years to bring landfill fees to be in line with landfills that are close by. Phase 1 of the landfill reconfiguration is said to be very near complete, and the Town is excited to make plans for Phase 2 once the cell decommissioning is finished in early 2022.
The long-term goal is for the landfill to be run on a cost recovery or break-even basis within a span of 3-5 years. The Town is exploring simplified rates, however, users could find that the industry best practices of a gate fee for all solid waste (including recycling, compost, refuse and yard waste) to seem to be prohibitive and counterintuitive to a waste diversion proponent. To that end, Council has discussed the $15 gate fee and provided specific examples including the delivery of compost or recycling to the landfill rather than using the collection service provided as examples where users may feel challenged or shortchanged.
It's said that the level of service that the Town is providing at the curbside is very important to sustain and improve upon, as the most appropriate place for these types of solid waste to be collected is at the curb and not at the landfill at this time. Those who are delivering oversized recycling or large amounts of compost to the landfill will be accepted, but it's expected that there will be a gate fee as the Town is providing a service and space to deal with such diverted material during and after the delivery.
CAO Trew noted that the Town is attempting to expand the community’s passion for solid waste diversion practices and will continue to enhance the level of service and keep the public informed over the next few months as changes are made to make things even better as well as follow industry and government standards.
Council held the first reading for the bylaw, as changes are also expected.
Communications
The Quadra building has been sold, having been approved for sale at a prior meeting of Council. It was learned that the net proceeds after fees associated with the sale and various liabilities that were on the books of the Town of Outlook were applied amount to a total of $127,395. Council now has the option to set these funds aside for future purchases in a reserve or include it in general revenues. At this time, it is in general revenues and the administration recommendation was that it stay there as many capital projects have been in play for 2021 and more are planned in 2022 that will more than suffice to use that profit.
Reports of Administration
A draft of the Town's Strategic Plan was discussed, which will be shared soon with the public, as well as a survey set to be conducted to gain thoughts and insight. Encapsulating 2022 all the way to 2031, the plan features the slogan, 'Redefining How We Pivot' as well as other promotional material, including the statement that "Outlook strives to bring together people, partnerships and endless possibilities for a progressive and sound community!"
The plan carries with it a set of key values that the Town will follow in order to see its vision through, including Integrity, Competent, Approachable, Representative, and Respect.
Look for an overview of the Town of Outlook Strategic Plan in an upcoming issue.
New Business
Council discussed and passed the following three employment related policies:
Policy EMP 005 – This policy expanded the ability of employees to carry forward their earned vacation in a year, plus up to 5 days of earned banked time (previously this was limited to only 15 days). There are said to be a handful of employees who have statutory vacation earnings of more than 15 days in a year and this policy accommodates that. The Town currently has a good balance of staff taking vacation as earned vs carry forward. In addition, this policy formalized the Reconciliation Day as a paid holiday going forward.
Policy EMP 020 – This is a new policy and it formalized a benefits program for employees which was hereto only addressed by resolution. Town Council rescinded the costly health allowance that has been said to be difficult to administer and is taxable income and replaced this with a policy wherein the health benefits for all will have 100% payment by the Town and disability, life and AD & D insurance premiums paid 100% by the employee. This gives the employee the maximum taxable benefit that the Town can give to them, and it reduces the costs of the benefits program to the Town by about $8,000 per year.
Policy EMP 021 – This is another new policy regarding sick leave as the former policy was made in 2011. Essentially, it formalizes that there is a maximum carry forward of sick leave from one calendar year to the next, that any extra sick leave will be lost and none of this will be paid out. It also formalizes a policy with claims with Worker’s Compensation Board wherein if an employee wishes to buy back sick leave credits they can. It was said that although this may seem a bit strange, often when a person is off for short term disability or worker’s compensation, there can be follow up appointments upon their return to work that are not covered by either benefit, and the employee may find it financially beneficial to do so.
