The Corporation of the County of Northumberland

Finance and Audit Committee

Minutes

-
Virtual Meeting - Zoom Conference
Members Present:
  • Chair William Cane
  • Warden Robert Crate
  • Councillor Brian Ostrander

1.
Call to Order
  

Chair Bill Cane called the meeting to order at 1:00 p.m. 

1.a
Territorial Land Acknowledgement
  

2.
Approval of the Agenda
  

  • Resolution 2021-10-05-664
    Moved byWarden Robert Crate
    Seconded byCouncillor Brian Ostrander

    "That the agenda for the October 5, 2021 Finance and Audit Committee be approved."

    Carried

3.
Disclosures of Interest
  

  • no disclosures 

4.
Delegations
  

N/A

5.
Business Arising from Last Meeting
  

N/A

6.
Communications
  

6.a
Correspondence, Municipality of Leamington 'Joint and Several Liability'
  

  • Resolution 2021-10-05-665
    Moved byCouncillor Brian Ostrander
    Seconded byWarden Robert Crate

    "That the Finance and Audit Committee receive correspondence item 6a for information regarding 'Joint and Several Liability'; and 

    Further That the Committee recommend that County Council receive this Correspondence for information."

    Carried

6.b
Correspondence, City of St. Catharines 'Changes to the Provincial Offences Act'
  

6.c
Correspondence, Township of Alberton 'Changes to the Provincial Offences Act'
  

6.d
Correspondence, Township of Champlain 'Changes to the Provincial Offences Act'
  

  • Resolution 2021-10-05-666
    Moved byWarden Robert Crate
    Seconded byCouncillor Brian Ostrander

    "That the Finance and Audit Committee receive correspondence items 6b-6d for information regarding 'Changes to the Provincial Offences Act'; and 

    Further That the Committee recommend that County Council receive this Correspondence for information."

    Carried

6.e
Correspondence, County of Northumberland 'Response Letter to Northumberland Builders and Construction Association (NBACA) re: Development Charges'
  

  • Resolution 2021-10-05-667
    Moved byCouncillor Brian Ostrander
    Seconded byWarden Robert Crate

    "That the Finance and Audit Committee receive correspondence item 6e for information regarding 'Reponse Letter to NBACA re: Development Charges' ; and 

    Further That the Committee recommend that County Council receive this Correspondence for information."

    Carried

7.
Staff Reports
  

7.a
Report 2021-158 'Court Security Funding Review'
  

  • Resolution 2021-10-05-668
    Moved byCouncillor Brian Ostrander
    Seconded byWarden Robert Crate

    "That the Finance and Audit Committee, having considered Report 2021-158 ‘Court Security Funding Review’, recommend that County Council direct staff to immediately cease court security payments to the municipalities of Brighton, Trent Hills, and Port Hope; and

    Further That the Committee recommend that County Council reaffirm its support to the Town of Cobourg and directs staff to continue to provide its share of the annual Provincial Court Security and Prisoner Transportation funding, as well as levy funds (up to $275,000) to the Town of Cobourg; and

    Further That the Committee recommend that County Council review court security funding annually as part of the annual budget process.”

    Carried

7.b
Report 2021-159 'August 2021 Year-To-Date Financial Results'
  

  • Resolution 2021-10-05-669
    Moved byCouncillor Brian Ostrander
    Seconded byWarden Robert Crate

    “That the Finance and Audit Committee receive Report 2021-159 ‘August 2021 Year-To-Date Financial Results’ for information; and

    Further That the Committee recommend that County Council receive this report for information.”

    Carried

7.c
Report 2021-160 'In-house Legal Counsel'
This item has attachments.  

  • Resolution 2021-10-05-670
    Moved byWarden Robert Crate
    Seconded byCouncillor Brian Ostrander

    “That the Finance and Audit Committee, having considered Report 2021-160 ‘In-house Legal Counsel’, receive the report for information, noting that legal expenditures for the County have increased to the extent that cost savings could be realized if the County had on staff an In-house Solicitor, and that the County, under a Memorandum of Understanding with the Ministry of the Attorney General for providing Provincial Offences services, must ensure that any Prosecutors who are not Lawyers are supervised by or report to a Lawyer; and

    Further That the Committee recommend that County Council approve the addition of an In-house Solicitor and a Paralegal/Prosecutor to the organizational chart to realize net cost savings, enhanced risk management and business continuity and ensure compliance with the Memorandum of Understanding with the Ministry of the Attorney General.”

    Carried

7.d
Report 2021-161 '2022 Budget Engagement Results'
  

  • Resolution 2021-10-05-671
    Moved byCouncillor Brian Ostrander
    Seconded byWarden Robert Crate

    “That the Finance and Audit Committee, having considered Report 2021-161 ‘2022 Budget Engagement Results’, recommend that County Council receive the report for information, during their consideration of the 2022 Budget; and

    Further That the Committee recommend that Council authorize staff to request feedback from County stakeholders regarding how to optimize public input in future years; and

    Further That the Committee recommend that this report be considered as a separate item on the October 20, 2021 Northumberland County Council agenda.”

    Carried

8.
Other Matters Considered by Committee
  

N/A

9.
Media Questions
  

10.
Closed Session
  

N/A

11.
Rise and Report from Closed Session
  

N/A

12.
Next Meeting - Tuesday, November 2, 2021 at 1:00 p.m. 
  

13.
Adjournment
  

  • Meeting adjourned at 2:31  p.m.
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