AMM Board meeting recap

The AMM Board of Directors held its first meeting for 2015 on January 22.

The Honourable Drew Caldwell, Minister of Municipal Government attended the meeting and discussed amalgamation costs and the need for a rebate on the PST municipalities pay with the Board. Minister Caldwell committed to look at amalgamation costs once the AMM has collected this information from its members

Administrative issues included a review of the AMM and MTCML financial statements and investment reports, as well as the draft agendas for the Mayors, Reeves and CAOs meetings on March 16 and Municipal Officials Seminar on March 17 and 18.

The Board then turned its attention to policy issues, beginning with the Grain Transportation Stakeholder Review. The Board approved a letter to be sent to the Canada Transportation Act Review Secretariat commenting on the Act as it pertains to grain movement.

It then reviewed a pending partnership agreement between the AMM and the Treaty Relations Commission of Manitoba (TRCM). President Doug Dobrowolski described this agreement as “a way to keep on working and showing other orders of government that we are working together.”

The Board agreed to send a letter to Manitoba Conservation and Water Stewardship regarding the recycling and waste reduction discussion paper. The AMM wants to be at the table for this discussion as the implications of some of the recommendations could have a great financial impact on municipalities. The submission is available at http://tinyurl.com/q5enh5s.

Another important piece of business discussed was proposed changes to Disaster Financial Assistance (DFA) funding. The Board directed that a letter be sent to federal Minister Shelly Glover stating its dissatisfaction with the proposed changes and copying all Members of Paraliament. Further, the Board directed the AMM to discuss the issue with Manitoba Minister Ron Kostyshyn and the Official Opposition.

A proposal from MPI to develop protocols for municipalities to follow when accessing the Registrar’s records to assist with enforcing local by-laws was also reviewed.

The Board then received a verbal report from MMAA President Daryl Hrehirchuk, who shared details about upcoming amalgamation roundtables for municipal staff on February 19^th. Board members agreed that this continues to be a very stressful issue for municipal staff and encourages councils to remind employees the EAP program is available to help them through difficult times.

Finally, the Board reviewed the letter from the Municipality of Shoal Lake regarding the AMM Board of Directors vacancies in the Midwestern District. The Board directed staff to draft a letter of response to Shoal Lake, as well as a communiqué to all members, advising that vacancies on the Board will be filled at June District Meetings.

The next meeting of the AMM Board of Directors is on February 26, 2015.

Posted on: February 13, 2015