With Mike Wood announcing his resignation as councillor from the City of Dryden, his seat was officially declared vacant at the Feb. 1 special meeting called by council.

Acting Clerk, Deb Kincaid, presented a staff report to mayor and council outlining the options, timelines and costs involved in filling Wood’s position.  Council decided unanimously to hold a by-election to fill the position.  The only one not to vote was Mel Fisher, who was absent from the meeting.

Options included the appointment of an individual to fill the vacancy or a by-election.  Kincaid said in her report that appointment is the quickest and most cost effective option to fill the vacancy and could be completed with a council decision at the March 19 regular council meeting.

Methods considered for appointment included appointing the next highest vote-getter from the previous election, appointing a candidate from another office from the previous election, appointing an eligible member of the public, advertise for applicants or solicit interest from previous members of council.

Councillor Ken Moss stated he would only be in favour of an appointment if the entire council were unanimous on the decision.  Councillor Brian Collins suggested simply going to former members of council and throwing the names “in a hat” as was done upon the resignation in 2010 of Gwen Kurz.  Mentioning Councillor Mary Trist’s comments on this being a three-year term left to fill, not three months as previously, Collins agreed that a by-election was the best choice.

Council agreed that a vote-by-mail format would be best, and had the highest voter turnout in previous elections.

According to Kincaid’s report, the estimated cost of vote-by-mail for this by-election, with trained volunteers doing a manual count, would be between $20,000 and $28,000.  Her estimation of doing a traditional vote would be between $12,000 and $16,000.  City Treasurer, Linda McNaughton says the by-election will now trigger an amendment to the recently passed 2012 budget as no funds are currently allocated.

Kincaid says the clerk’s department is not functioning at its full employee complement and any by-election will require the re-allocation of certain staff time, including herself as acting clerk, and the deputy clerk to by-election duties.  She says this will necessitate hiring additional temporary staff to ensure adequate coverage for the nomination period, revision period, and voting process.  Traditional elections require a larger temporary staff complement than vote-by-mail does.

Kincaid is to identify the voting date and key timelines at the February council meeting. The meeting was attended by former councillors, candidates from the 2010 election, and a former member of the city’s senior management team.

Dryden city council delegates heard a presentation on the dangers of in-camera meetings — a subject they already know a thing or two about, Feb. 2 at the Kenora District Municipal Association’s  (KDMA) annual general meeting in Sioux Lookout.

Municipal consultant Nigel Bellchamber, along with his business partner, acts as a closed meeting investigator for over 120 Ontario municipalities.

Of all the reasons a municipal council might enter a closed session, Bellchamber says ‘council comfort’ is not one of those reasons.

Bellchamber believes councils should use closed meetings as sparingly as possible and consider disclosing as much information as they can to the public without damaging the interests of the corporation.

“We would encourage people to err on the side of sharing with people,” said Bellchamber. “It just reduces fear and tension. Even when you work in an organization and you’re down the rungs, you often wonder, ‘what’s the boss thinking, what are they talking about in those management meetings’. When you get promoted up to senior management you realize that there really isn’t that much that can’t be disclosed, or that should remain secret. The really big risk is loss of confidence. You are the most important level of government to the people of Canada.”

Over last four years, Bellchamber has performed around 30 investigations into closed meeting conduct, a process that has revealed some common mistakes.

“What’s common is that municipalities do it with the best of intentions,” said Bellchamber. “By and large they are using closed sessions for the right reasons, but they make some technical errors.”

Bellchamber says technical errors in a closed meeting can be costly to municipalities. If granted, Freedom of Information requests invoked by the public can result in the release of information to the disadvantage of the municipality and the embarrassment of council.

“There are lots of times when it is quite appropriate to be in closed session — you may be receiving advice from your solicitor on a matter subject to solicitor/client privilege, it might be a personal matter about an identifiable individual, you might be negotiating for a piece of property. There are many legitimate scenarios, Council just needs to be careful that it is acting in accordance with the law.”

Bellchamber says closed meeting legislation has come a long way in 20 years and is still evolving, particularly in regards to communications technology like smartphones and email.

“Twenty years ago municipalities could do whatever they wanted in closed session,” says Bellchamber. “They traditionally had rules of their own that said, ‘personnel, property and legal matters’ — we deal with those in closed session. That just covers everything. So the province made the list much more specific. Are they going to add more to it? I doubt it. Unless there were some sort of persistent failure to abide by the rules, but I don’t see that. I believe it’s working.”

The Dryden Native Friendship Centre has received funding for a new program, focusing on getting urban aboriginals back to work, and on-the-job training.

The Apatisiwin (Employment and Training) Program’s main goal is to provide employment and training opportunities for unemployed or underemployed urban aboriginal individuals. The goal is to help those individuals attain their career goals with focus on on-the-job training and academic upgrading, when necessary for the job.

“Urban aboriginal is defined as living off the reserve, you can be status, non-status, Metis, Inuit, doesn’t matter,” said Kaylin Reid, Skills Intervention Worker for the Apatisiwin Program.

The funding only lasts until March 31, 2012, but Reid says she will continue to take applications to the last day, in order to show the government that the need is there, and attempt to have the funding extended.

“Right now, my deadline is March 31, so I have to have all my funds spent before or by that date, and that is the furthest I can guarantee anything,” said Reid.  “Currently, I only have EI (Employment Insurance) funds, which means you have to be EI eligible, so either on active EI, or on what’s called Reachback.  Having been on EI in the past three years, or five years for maternity or parental leave.”

With the Apatisiwin Program, the intervention provides the training and work experience to clients by providing on-the-job training costs, wage subsidies and other specified costs to employers. It is designed to assist individuals in assessing their skills and identifying a career goal.  Clients are partnered with local businesses in their trade or desired career path.

“Basically, it’s for any employment training.  No matter what it is, if you want training somewhere, if we can get you a placement, we’ll pay the wages, 100 per cent wage covered.  Employers are responsible for WSIB, their portion of CPP, EI, those things,” said Reid.  “For the individual, it’s get you experience, get you trained for the job.”

Reid said some education can be covered, but there are some guidelines involved.

“For school, we can pay for tuition, but you have to be in your last year.  You can be in university, and in your last year, we should be able to pay for it.  If you’re in college, and in a two year program, you have to be in your second year,” said Reid.  “If you’re not, we can help pay for books, materials, that kind of thing.”

There is an intake process for funding, and must be approved by a committee upon recommendation from Reid.

Applications will be accepted until March 31, or for more information, contact Reid at siw.dnfc@drytel.net or by calling 223-4180, extension 30.

Growing up in Oxdrift on his parents’ farm, Dr. Clayton Schneider has had a passion for dog sledding since he was a youth.  Following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather, Schneider started his dog sled training with the farm dogs as a kid.

“We always had dogs, but more recently I have become competitive,” said the local veterinarian.

Schneider has just returned from Prince Albert, SK. where he placed second place on day one and first place on day two of the 12 mile, ten-dog race.

“That was a different sort of race out there.  Most races out there, they add day one and day two and the total is the winning time, but the Saturday and Sunday were a different race out,” said Schneider.

“This race is 23 miles coming up on Saturday and Sunday, so I ran my 10 dogs 25 miles on Monday, and 21 miles yesterday and then they’ll get two days of break,” said Schneider.  “Then in their head, they’ll know this weekend they are going to run about 22 miles, plus my lead dog ran it last year, so she’ll remember the trail.”

Schneider and all 40 dogs are now heading across the map to compete in six races over six weeks.

Schneider has taken on a new vet at the Dryden Veterinary Clinic, allowing him to take the extended time off to run his dogs.

“I’ve hired a very nice young fella to help me, my associate, Dr. Greg Springett from near Toronto.  He just arrived today with his family and my staff, clients and I are all very happy to have him,” said Schneider.

He began the six weeks with the Musher’s Rendevous in Preeceville, SK on Feb. 3-5 where he placed second and third, followed by a training session in Flin Flon.

“We’re taking about 45 dogs up to Flin Flon, to a cabin in the middle of nowhere, and we’re going to train.  The guy has trails made, a 10-mile, a six-mile, a 20-mile.  All we do is train our dogs for the whole week,” said Schneider.  “Then we will come back and race in Thompson, then come home to the Dryden race, and we have four six-dog teams entered in the Ely, MN.  I’ve won that race three years in a row, and last year I set a record.”

“Then back to Cross Lake, which is up in the mouth of the Nelson River in Manitoba, and then I’m going to the 50th Anniversary of the Canadian Open in Fort Nelson, BC.,” said Schneider.

Learning the key to training the dogs was a snowmachine, Schneider now hooks up to 16 dogs in front of his snowmobile and runs the miles of property surrounding his home.

“With no snow, if I hook up 12 dogs and go through the bush, I could kill myself, so this way is safer.  When I get on the sled, I just have to hang on,” said Schneider.

Schneider breeds a hound/pointer cross, and has a current inventory of 40 dogs.  Most of the females are spayed, with the exception of the valuable ones.

“Twenty years ago, I had malamutes and huskies, but I had a very hard time with their behaviour.  They are very aggressive toward each other, but these dogs here won’t fight,” said Schneider.

By time of print, the WolfTrack Classic in Ely, MN had been cancelled due to a lack of snow, warmer than average temperatures and the loss of snow pack. The combination of these elements has resulted in poor trail conditions and temperatures that prove both unhealthy and dangerous to both the dogs and the drivers.

Wabigoon Lake Ojibway Nation (WLON) council authorized a peaceful demonstration in order to reflect their disappointment with the manner that they believe Treasury Metals has dealt with their First Nation.

According to council at WLON, the group has been trying to initiate a negotiation process with Treasury Metals Incorporated to address the issue of mining exploration activities within the traditional territories of Wabigoon Lake Ojibway Nation and says an impasse has been reached.

As per the WLON council-issued press release, a facilitated meeting with the Ministry of Northern Development and Mines, and Treasury Metals took place on January 12, 2012 but yielded no movement or indication by Treasury to respect outstanding issues and deal substantively with the First Nations community.

WLON is requesting a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on consultation and accommodation from Treasury Metals, but says Treasury did not meet the deadline of January 19 to respond.  WLON says the MOU establishes a positive relationship going forward in addition to offering remedies for impacts on the rights and interests of their First Nation.

Treasury Metals CEO and president, Martin Walter said, “We are fully engaged, and fully open toward discussions with Wabigoon Lake and we have been for the past number of years.  We’re working towards what I would call a very good, strong MOU and the company (Treasury Metals) wants to make sure we address all the issues and we are addressing all the issues as we speak.”

“We’ve hired Norm Bush, and he’s stepped in as our Vice President of Operations for Dryden.  He’s a professional and he’s going to take on everything in terms of operations from being the lead negotiator, and being the face of the company in Dryden,” said Walter.  “He’s fully in charge and that puts him also at the forefront of any negotiations with all stakeholders, including any First Nations.”

Walter says Bush is currently away, and had plans already established for this time off, before coming out of retirement to accept a position with Treasury and will return early February.

“There was an impasse between the parties, but it’s an impasse that our company fully wants to move forward on, wants to move past and we are developing an MOU that does address in detail, lots of opportunities in terms of employment and training for First Nations,” said Walter.  “Not only that, we want to be a company that is a good social citizen and offer training for everyone.  To bring a project like the Goliath project along in Dryden, and if the project keeps developing the way it is, the exploration drilling keeps being successful, and we have the same sort of success we did last year, then everything is looking very positive for the project.  This will be a very good opportunity for the community of Dryden.”

Wabigoon Lake First Nation Chief, Ruben Cantin Sr., could not be reached for comment.

A delay in submitting the City’s audited financial statements from previous years has resulted in the witholding of provincial funds by the Ontario Municipal Partnership Fund (OMPF).

The city of Dryden has not filed their Financial Information Return to OMPF since 2008.

The OMPF funding comes from the Ontario Ministry of Finance, and is the province’s main transfer payment to municipalities with  social program costs, to support areas with limited property assessment, address challenges faced by northern and rural communities and respond to policing costs in rural communities.

“BDO has completed all their work for 2009, they’re just working on the final submission.  2011 information is not due in until June,” said Linda McNaughton, Treasurer for the city of Dryden.

McNaughton says the holdup of the submissions is due to a delay of the fixed asset inventory reportable to PSAB (Public Sector Accounting Board).

“The delay is because of the PSAB stuff, fixed assets.  All municipalities across Ontario had to inventory all of their assets.  In other words, we have to inventory how many metres of pavement, metres of sidewalk, curbing, infrastructure under the ground, how many metres of pipe we have, every manhole cover, all of that stuff.  It’s an absolute humongous undertaking, and yes, we have not finalized the valuation on all those assets,” said McNaughton.  “That’s the only thing that’s holding it up.  As far as the normal day-to-day stuff is concerned, that’s all been done.  We’ve committed to the province to have the 2009 stuff in by February 10.  BDO will start 2010 right after.”

“That’s already sitting on our books, (2011 allocation) just as a receivable from the province.  The 2009 stuff is in process, and will be in within the next couple of weeks.  The 2010 stuff will be in there right after, and then we will be all caught up,” said McNaughton.  “We don’t have the notification on how much we get (for 2012).  They won’t release the information until the return is in.”

In 2008, the city received an allocation of  $3,191,200.  The OMPF notice for 2009 states that the Ministry cannot confirm the final reconciliation for the 2009 allocation.

The 2010 allocation notice reads $3,250,900 with an additional $203,800 in provincial uploads.  The 2011 allocation, although preliminary, states an allocation of $3,421,900 with an additional $305,800 in provincial uploads.

Residents and businesses could begin getting a preview of the city’s new metered water billing process as soon as April.

City of Dryden Director of Engineering Michael Louttit says that consulting firm BMA are in the process of developing a billing model for the city. At the moment, Lou ttit adds that BMA are currently awaiting data from the city’s financial department in order to proceed.

“From a hardware perspective, all the meters are installed and ready to go, we’ve received our reading equipment and we just need to get this information to BMA to create this billing model,” said Louttit.

Louttit says an important part of BMA’s role is to provide a ‘sensitivity analysis’.

“They’ll provide us with information that will describe what a typical residential or commercial property bill will look like,” he said. “We’ll present that before the bills are issued the first time around.”

Louttit says properties on city water and sewer services will have several months of ‘ghost billing’, where users will continue to pay the current flat rate, while their home or businesses’ water metering data will be used to calculate a total that reflects what they can expect to pay under the new billing model.

Louttit says that ghost billing could last anywhere from three to six months. While it’s difficult to project a timeline for implementation, he says he expects to see metered billing in place by autumn of 2012.

“The public has shown a lot of patience,” Louttit. “People are calling and asking when are the bills going to start and we just need a little more time to ensure we do it right the first time around. What we don’t want to do is put out a fee model that doesn’t relate to the requirements of the system.”

The Dryden and Kenora regions of the Ministry of Transportation (MTO) road maintenance contracts will be taken over by Transfield Services as of June 2012.  Transfield came to Dryden on Jan. 25 to talk to local residents, contractors, and current MTO employees.

While handing out applications for employment to the many current MTO employees who will be out of work as of June, the Transfield representative was peppered with questions and concerns.

With the start of the contract looming only five months away, Transfield’s Vice President of Communications and Capability, Nicole Foster was questioned on why the company is looking to hire new staff, with the current employees who have been on the job for many years now facing termination of their employment.

Foster replied that they are currently assessing the staffing requirements and haven’t yet reached the point where they are ready to make those sorts of decisions.

“Our usual pattern is to work with local firms and employ local people.  We are also in the process of identifying potential subcontracting partners and interest through events like the community outreach events we’ve held.  We also have obligations under contract and law that we will uphold.  We’ll be in a better position to provide greater detail once we solidify our direction,” said Foster.

With many contractors in the region holding inventory of their own plow trucks, Foster was asked if there would be opportunity for those contractors, or if Transfield would be employing their own plow trucks in the region.

Foster replied, “We are currently in discussions with several local contractors.  Depending on the outcome of those discussions, we’ll determine the exact methodology we’ll use for delivering on our service commitments.”

Transfield has been in the spotlight recently in Southern Ontario, due to poor road conditions and multiple highway fatalities.  When asked how a self-monitored contract, as Transfield’s will be, will uphold the minimum safety standards for Ontario roads, Foster replied that safety is the number one priority for Transfield.

“Safety is our number on priority, the safety of our employees, the public, and all of the lives we touch each day.  That is why Transfield Services maintains a high level of compliance with MTO’s contract standards, which are heavily monitored by the Ministry, though one commuter reported that concerns over clearing roads in southern Ontario existed long before Transfield Services took over the contract,” said Foster.  “To ensure that we continue to maintain a high level of compliance on the Kenora project, we have engaged a former MTO employee with approximately 30 years of maintenance operations experience in northern Ontario to develop our winter maintenance program for the Kenora area maintenance contract.  This program was developed to meet the MTO standards outlined in our contract.”

For more information on the MTO highway standards, or the new policies coming to the region for highway maintenance, contact the MTO at 1-800-268-4686 or by visiting the MTO website at www.mto.gov.on.ca.

Dryden Police Service Constable, Terry Menard, has a new position with the detachment.  Menard will now take over the job of the Youth Liaison Officer.

“This position is not given away to anybody, you have to apply for it, and go through an interview process to get the position,” said Menard.

“I deal with high risk youth and I deal with other agencies, Child and Family Services and schools.  We deal with the higher risk youth, and we try to keep them out of trouble as much as possible.  We try to divert them, and lead them to a better direction, try to help them out that way,” said Menard.  “We also work with the Youth Justice Committee kids, and if they need counseling, we help them with that.”

Part of Menard’s new job is referring troubled youth to the Youth Justice Committee, which is a group that works hand-in-hand with the courts, the police and the victims to give first time offenders another chance, before hitting the court system.

“Constable Janet Hartley did this job the last two years, and she did a great job.  I’m following up with what she had been doing, and it’s still fairly new to me,” said Menard.

Other parts of Menard’s new role include doing curfew checks with youth on probation, as well as monitoring their probation conditions to ensure they are being met, including going to school.

Menard started his career in policing following a lengthy career in junior and professional hockey.  Due to an injury, Menard had to say goodbye to his life as an NHL hopeful, and began his new life as an officer for Nishnawbe Aski Police Service (NAPS) in Osnaburg nine years ago.

Spending some time in Lansdowne House and more time in Osnaburg, Menard joined the Dryden Police Service six years ago.

“NAPS was really good to me, I have no complaints.  They gave me my start.  I got a really good taste of policing there, I learned a lot as I was on my own a lot, or with a partner,” said Menard.  “We made the best of what we had, and learned to adapt and overcome.  They didn’t have all the tools that places like Dryden has, so you learned to adapt and make things work with what you have.  It was a really good learning experience.”

“Working here in Dryden has been great.  I’ve learned so much since I’ve been here and I really enjoy being part of a team. Everyone here in the office is close.  We don’t have the biggest detachment, but we’re close and work well together.  It’s a great place to be, and a great atmosphere,” said Menard.