The Corporation of The Nation Municipality

Regular Council Meeting Minutes

Meeting #:

MEE-CM-02-2025

Date:

Monday, February 10, 2025

Time:

4:30 A.m. - 7:30 A.m.

Location:

Town Hall, 958 Route 500 West, Casselman

Presence of Council Members

• Francis Brière, Mayor, 
• Tim Stewart, Councillor ward 1, 
• Alain Mainville, Councillor ward 2, 
• Danik Forgues, Councillor ward 3, 
• Raymond Lalande, Councillor ward 4, 
• Daniel Boisvenue, Councillor ward 5, 
• and Marjorie Drolet, Councillor ward 6 

Presence of Municipal Staff

• Pierre Leroux, CAO, 
• Julie Langlois-Caisse, Administrative Assistant, 
• Aimée Roy, Clerk, 
• Amélie Deschamps, Communications and Marketing Coordinator , 
• Guylain Laflèche, Director of Planning, 
• Marc-Olivier Gratton, Civil Engineer, 
• Justin Lafrance, Interim Director of Recreation, 
• Marc Legault, Director of public works , 
• Nadia Knebel, Treasurer, 
• Mario Cardinal, Deputy Fire Chief, 
• and Sebastien Mainville, Manager of Water and Sewer 

Chair: Francis Brière, Mayor

Prepared by: Julie Langlois-Caisse, Administrative Assistant

Revised by: Aimée Roy, Clerk

Video: The recording of the meeting is available for viewing on The Nation’s YouTube channel.

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1.

Roll Call

2.

Additions and Modifications 

3.

Adoption of Agenda

• Resolution: RES-CM-17-2025
  Moved by: Danik Forgues
  Seconded by: Marjorie Drolet

  Be it resolved that the agenda be accepted, including the modifications made forthwith, as applicable.

  Carried

4.

Disclosure of Pecuniary Interest 

5.

Adoption of Council Minutes

6.

Presentations, Delegations, and Petitions

6.1

Presentation from City Wide regarding the Asset Management Plan (4:30 p.m.)

6.2

Presentation of a petition regarding the 2025 budget (5:30 p.m.) 

7.

Consent Items

All items listed under the Consent Items will be enacted by one motion. A majority vote is required for the adoption of consent items. There will be no separate discussion of these items unless a request is made prior to the time Council votes on the motion that a consent item is to be separated from the motion. The separated item(s) shall be considered immediately thereafter.

• Resolution: RES-CM-18-2025
  Moved by: Marjorie Drolet
  Seconded by: Tim Stewart

  Be it resolved that all items listed under 7. Consent Items be received and approved as presented.

  Carried

7.1

Accounts payable voucher

Motion to approve accounts payable from February 1st, 2025 to February 15, 2025, voucher 2, for the total amount of $1,150,285.83

7.2

Minutes of South Nation Conservation Board of Director meeting held on December 12, 2024

7.3

Resolution in support of the RCIF application for St-Isidore Arena upgrades

Proposed resolution: 

Whereas the St-Isidore Arena serves as a vital community hub for residents of The Nation Municipality and surrounding areas, providing essential recreational and social activities;

And Whereas the St-Isidore Arena requires significant upgrades and enhancements to continue offering safe, modern, and accessible facilities for all users;

And Whereas the United Counties of Prescott and Russell (UCPR) have established the Regional Community Investment Fund (RCIF) program to support municipal projects that promote community development and infrastructure improvements;

And Whereas Mayor Francis Briere will submit an application on behalf of The Nation Municipality to the RCIF UCPR program, requesting the maximum allowable non-committed funding available under the program for 2025, as well as pre-approval for the maximum allowable funding for 2026, conditional upon the program’s continuation;

And Whereas these works align with The Nation Municipality's commitment to improving community infrastructure and ensuring long-term sustainability of municipal assets;

Now Therefore Be It Resolved that The Nation Municipal Council hereby expresses its full support for Mayor Francis Briere's application to the RCIF UCPR program.

Be It Further Resolved that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to the United Counties of Prescott and Russell as part of the application process.

Furthermore Be It Resolved that The Nation Municipality will install bilingual recognition signage and implement any other agreed-upon methods to acknowledge UCPR’s support, including the following measures:

• A special recognition ceremony;
• Indoor Arena advertising signage;
• Name prominently listed on a donor wall;
• Logo displayed on the municipality's website for five (5) years;
• An individual social media post acknowledging UCPR’s contribution.

7.4

Report of the Superintendent of Drainage for the month of January 2025

7.5

Report REP-REC-03-2025 Update regarding the Inclusive Community Grant

8.

Reports from Departments and Council Committees

8.1

Report REP-CL-02-2025 Second Draft of the New Community Engagement Fund Policy POL-CL-01-2025

• Resolution: RES-CM-19-2025
  Moved by: Daniel Boisvenue
  Seconded by: Raymond Lalande

  Be it resolved that the Community Engagement Fund Policy #POL-CL-01-2025 be adopted, as presented, effective January 1^st, 2025, retroactively.

  Be it also resolved that policy AD-2018-01 be hereby repealed.

  Carried
• Resolution: RES-CM-20-2025
  Moved by: Alain Mainville
  Seconded by: Danik Forgues

  Be it resolved that the following Clubs, for the year 2025, are admissible for a municipal monetary donation in accordance with the Community Engagement Fund Policy #POL-CL-01-2025, as follows:

  Seniors’ Groups located in The Nation Municipality: $500,00 

  • Club le Bonheur, Limoges
  • Club le Réveil, Fournier
  • Nation Area Seniors, Fournier
  • Club Renaissance, St-Isidore
  • Comité Consultatif de St-Bernardin

  Seniors’ Group located in Casselman: $300,00 

  • Club 60 Casselman

  Optimist Clubs located in The Nation Municipality: $500,00 

  • St-Albert Optimist Club
  • St-Isidore Optimist Club
  • Limoges Optimist Club
  • Forest Park Optimist Club

  Optimist Club located in Casselman: $300,00 

  Be it resolved that the said donation amounts be taken from the United Counties of Prescott and Russell donation account.

  Carried
• Resolution: RES-CM-21-2025
  Moved by: Daniel Boisvenue
  Seconded by: Tim Stewart

  Be it resolved that the groups and events admissible for a hall rental discount in 2025 in accordance with the Community Engagement Fund Policy #POL-CL-01-2025 be the following:

  • All Community Diners
  • Limoges Recreation Committee
  • Regroupement Autisme de Prescott-Russell
  • Groupe Communautaire de St-Albert
  • Société historique et culturelle de St-Bernardin
  • Cercle des Fermières (Fournier)
  • St-Isidore Minor Hockey Association
  • Eastern Ontario Cobras
  • St-Isidore Eagles, Junior ‘C’
  • Club Optimiste de St-Isidore
  • District 3 Minor Hockey Association
  • Community Homes for Opportunity
  • Groupe Communautaire Kawabunga
  • La Paroisse Saint-Bernardin
  • La Paroisse de St-Albert
  • La Paroisse St-Bernard (Fournier)
  • La Paroise Saint-Viateur
  • Limoges Firefighter Association
  • Comité du parc Jean-Paul Charlebois
  • La Corde à Linge
  • St-Albert Firefighters
  • Riceville Agricultural Society
  • Comité des Activités Familiales de St-Bernardin
  • Club Optimiste de St-albert
  • UCFO St-Albert
  • UCFO St-Isidore
  • All Knights of Columbus organizations
  • Le Bac a Dons
  • Limoges Cenotaph Committee
  • Prescott County 4-H Association
  • List of Preapproved Free Events
  • Salon de Noel, St-Albert
  • Noel de enfants, St-Bernardin
  • Festival du Canard et de la Plume, St-Isidore
  • Winterfest, Limoges
  • Family Day, Fournier
  Carried

9.

Reports from an Investigator or the Ombudsman

10.

Notices of Motion 

10.1

Tim Stewart, Notice of Motion requesting the Renewal of By-Law No. 4-2024 – Interim Control By-Law for Large Scale Renewable Energy Facilities

NOTICE OF MOTION

Moved by: Councillor Stewart
Seconded by: Councillor Mainville

Subject: Renewal of By-Law No. 4-2024 – Interim Control By-Law for Large Scale Renewable Energy Facilities

WHEREAS Section 38(1) of the Planning Act, R.S.O. 1990, as amended, permits the Council of a municipality to pass an Interim Control By-Law where Council has directed that a review or study be undertaken in respect of land use planning policies and regulations within the municipality or defined areas thereof;

AND WHEREAS the Council of The Nation Municipality previously passed By-Law No. 4-2024 to prohibit the establishment of new large-scale renewable energy facilities for a period of twelve (12) months in order to allow for the appropriate completion of further research and consultations;

AND WHEREAS the ongoing study and consultation process regarding land use planning policies for large-scale renewable energy facilities has not yet been completed;

AND WHEREAS it is deemed necessary and appropriate to extend the Interim Control By-Law to allow for the continued review and analysis of these matters to ensure proper regulation and siting of such facilities within The Nation Municipality;

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT:

1. The Council of The Nation Municipality directs that By-Law No. 4-2024 be renewed for a further period of twelve (12) months, continuing the prohibition on the establishment of new large-scale renewable energy facilities, including battery storage facilities and solar farm projects, within the Municipality;
2. The prohibition shall remain in effect for the duration of the extension period unless repealed or replaced by a subsequent by-law;
3. The Municipality shall continue its review and consultations on land use planning policies related to renewable energy projects and report back to Council with recommendations prior to the expiry of the extended interim control period.

11.

Resolutions

11.1

Adoption of items listed under #8. Reports from departments and Council Committees

No action. 

12.

By-laws

13.

New Business Reports

14.

Other Business presented by Council Members 

15.

Public Consultations & Hearings

16.

Announcements

- Sunday February 9, 2025, Inauguration of new boards of the outoor skating rink at the Jean-Maurice Lavergne, in St-Albert 

- On February 8 and 9, 2025, Limoges Winterfest 

17.

Strategic Discussion

18.

Closed session

19.

Confirming By-law

• Resolution: RES-CM-22-2025
  Moved by: Tim Stewart
  Seconded by: Daniel Boisvenue

  Be it resolved that By-law no.9-2025 to confirm the proceedings of Council at its regular meeting of February 10, 2025, be read and adopted in 1st, 2nd and 3rd reading.

  Carried

20.

Notice of public meeting

- February 18, 2025 Special Council meeting for Strategic Planning at the St-Albert Community Centre

- February 24, 2025 Regular Council meeting 

21.

Adjournment

Meeting was adjourned at 6:24 p.m.