HomeMy Public PortalAbout2023-11-15 Special Council Meeting MinutesSussex
Minutes of Meeting of Council
November 15, 2023
6:30 p.m.
Present:
Mayor Thorne, Deputy Mayor Wilson, Councillor Nelson,
Councillor Brenan, Councillor Milner, Councillor Maguire,
Councillor MacLeod, Councillor Bobbitt
Staff Present: Scott Hatcher, Chief Administrative Officer, Heather Moffett,
Treasurer, Tara Olesen, Town Clerk
1. Approval of Agenda
Moved by: Councillor Nelson
Seconded by: Councillor MacLeod
THAT the agenda for this special Council meeting be approved as circulated.
The purpose of this special meeting was to have third and final reading of By-law
154-23 and to present to Council the proposed 2024 General Fund and Utility
Fund Budget.
Motion Carried
2. Disclosure of Conflict of Interest
No members present declared a conflict of interest on any items on the agenda
at this time.
3. Delegations, Petitions and Correspondence:
3.a IOM CAO Hatcher - Draft 2024 Budget Introduction Highlights
CAO Hatcher reviews with Council a memo introducing the proposed 2024
Budget highlighting key points, such as a proposed two -cent reduction in
the current 2023 tax rate. Additionally, it outlines increased expenditures to
accommodate higher capacity in the Works Department, Community
Services Department and Fire Department.
3.b Community Services Director Thorne Community Services Department
Proposed 2024 Budget Highlights
Community Services Director Thorne presents to Council his
recommendations for the proposed 2024 Operational Budget for
Community Services including increased allocation for tree care, repairs to
the business center and tennis building as well as additional staffing.
3.c Fire Chief Reicker - Proposed 2024 Fire Department Budget Highlights
Chief Reicker presented the Fire Department Budget for 2024 to the
Council, highlighting changes that include a wage increase for volunteer
firefighters, extending the Fire Chiefs work hours to five days, and
introducing a new full-time position. The associated costs will be offset by
a reduction in the hours of casual positions.
Special Meeting of Sussex Council
November 15, 2023 2
3.d Director of Public Works Butcher - Works Department Proposed 2024
Budget Highlights
Director of Public Works Butcher presents to Council the highlights of the
proposed 2024 budget for transportation services. The budget showed an
increase over the 2023 budget for additional staff, increases to salt and
asphalt budgets as well as the addition of janitorial services for the Ward 1
and Ward 2 Works Centers.
3.e Director of Public Works Butcher - Proposed Utility 2024 Budget Highlights
Director of Public Works Butcher presents to Council the highlights of the
proposed 2024 Utility Budget showing an increase in wages as a result of
the new Collective Bargaining Agreement with CUPE as well as
improvements to the lift stations and repairs to the berm.
3.f Treasurer Moffett - Administration Proposed 2024 Budget Highlights
Treasurer Moffett reviewed with the Council the proposed changes to the
Administrative budget for 2024 allowing for increases to legal services,
accommodations, salaries and wages and special projects relating to
amalgamation.
4. New Business
4.a By-law 154-23 A By -Law in Amendment Of A By -Law To Approve The
Budget Of The Sussex Downtown Business Association and to Establish A
Special Business Improvement Area Levy in Sussex
4.a.1 Reading in it's Entirety
Moved by: Councillor Bobbitt
Seconded by: Councillor Brenan
THAT Council have a reading in it's entirety of By-law 154-23 A By -Law
in Amendment Of A By -Law To Approve The Budget of the Sussex
Downtown Business Association and to Establish A Special Business
Improvement Area Levy in Sussex
Motion Carried
The Clerk then read the by-law in it's entirety.
4.a.2 3rd Reading by Title and Enactment
Moved by: Councillor Nelson
Seconded by: Councillor Milner
THAT Council have a 3rd Reading by Title of By-law 154-23 A By -Law
in Amendment OfA By -Law To Approve The Budget Of The Sussex
Downtown Business Association and to Establish A Special Business
Improvement Area Levy in Sussex
Motion Carried
The Clerk then read the by-law for the third time by title and His
Worship Mayor Thorne declared the by-law duly enacted.
Special Meeting of Sussex Council
November 15, 2023 3
4.b 2024 GENERAL FUND BUDGET
4.b.1 2024 Budget Correspondence - External Sources
CAO Hatcher reviewed with Council the correspondence from external
sources relating to the proposed 2024 budget which included amounts
relating to the 2024 Cost of Assessment, Grant in Lieu of Taxes,
Policing Costs, Tax Bases and Core Funding and Former 2022 LSD
Surplus and Deficits.
4.b.2 IOM Treasurer Moffett - 2024 Budget Process
Treasurer Moffett discussed with the Council the procedures involved
in formulating the 2024 General Fund and Utility Fund Budgets. This
included the restructuring of certain accounts due to amalgamation and
a comprehensive restating of costs across the budget to distinguish the
actual costs of services from those associated with facility
maintenance.
4.b.3 1OM CAO Hatcher -- 2024 Budget Highlights
CAO Hatcher reviews the proposed 2024 General Fund Budget for
Sussex showing revenue and expenditures totaling 10,341,098, an
increase of 7.3% over last year.
The proposed budget reflects anticipated increases for goods, services
and materials; contractual obligations including policing, solid waste
collection; land leases, and anticipated wage and salary adjustments
for non-union and union employees subject to the collective
agreement.
4.c 2024 UTILITY FUND BUDGET
CAO Hatcher reviews the proposed 2024 Utility Fund Budget for Sussex
showing revenue and expenditures totaling $2,177,092, an increase of
5.3% over last year.
The proposed budget reflects anticipated increases for goods, services
and materials; transmission and distribution, treatment and disposal, and
anticipated wage and salary adjustments for non-union and union
employees subject to the collective agreement.
4.d Ratification of the Tentative Collective Agreement between the Town and
CUPE Local 2163
Moved by: Councillor Brenan
Seconded by: Councillor Babbitt
THAT Council authorize that Sussex ratify the Collective Agreement
between Sussex and CUPE Local 2163.
Motion Carried
Special Meeting of Sussex Council
November 15, 2023 4
4.e 2024 Budget Approval - 2024 Tax Rate, Utility Fees for Service
4.e.1 2024 Budget Motions
Moved by: Councillor Brenan
Seconded by: Councillor MacLeod
THAT Council approve the 2024 General Fund Budget Expenditures
totaling $10,337,989.
Motion Carried
Moved by: Councillor Brenan
Seconded by: Councillor Nelson
THAT Council approve the 2024 Warrant of $8,383,687 for revenue for
the 2024 General Fund Budget and set the 2024 tax rate at 1.2030 per
$100.00 of assessment for Sussex and $0.6970 per $100 of
assessment for the Sussex LD area.
Motion Carried
Moved by: Councillor Brenan
Seconded by: Deputy Mayor Wilson
THAT Council approve the non-union salaries increase for 2024 with
an increase of 3.25% with adjustments.
Motion Carried
Moved by: Councillor MacLeod
Seconded by: Councillor Milner
THAT Council approve an increase of $0.55 in the hourly rate for the
School Crossing Guard
Motion Carried
Moved by: Deputy Mayor Wilson
Seconded by: Councillor Milner
THAT Council approve an adjustment of the Emergency Measures
Coordinator and the Development Officer honorariums consistent with
the approved 2024 General Operating Budget.
Motion Carried
Moved by: Councillor Brenan
Seconded by: Councillor Nelson
THAT Council approve the 2024 Utility Fund Budget Expenditures
totaling $2,117,092.
Motion Carried
Moved by: Councillor Brenan
Seconded by: Councillor Maguire
THAT Council approve the revenue source items for the 2024 Utility
Fund Budget Revenue totaling $2,177,092.
Motion Carried
Special Meeting of Sussex Council
November 15, 2023 5
4.e.2 IOM CAO Hatcher - 2024 Non -Union Wage Adjustment
Recommendations
4.e.2.1 2024 Public Salary Ranges
Moved by: Councillor Brenan
Seconded by: Councillor MacLeod
THAT that Council approve the 2024 Salary Ranges.
Motion Carried
4.e.2.2 Sussex Fire Department - F-1 Policy Firefighter
Remuneration
Moved by: Councillor Milner
Seconded by: Councillor MacLeod
THAT Council approve the Policy F-1 Fire Department
Remuneration.
Motion Carried
4.e.3 IOM CAO Hatcher - Benefit Adjustment Non -Unionized Staff
Moved by: Councillor MacLeod
Seconded by: Councillor Milner
THAT Council approve a one-time pension payment of 0.5% as the
employer's contribution to the defined contribution pension plan for all
non -unionized employees currently in the Town's pension plan for
2023.
Motion Carried
5. Adjournment
Moved by: Councillor MacLeod
Seconded by: Councillor Bobbitt
THAT this special meeting of Sussex Council be adjourned.
Motion Carried
MAYOR THORNE
JIA
TOWN CLERK