Town of St. Paul council went in camera to discuss a political email sent by CAO Ron Boisvert from a Town email address, reported in last week’s Journal, at its meeting on Oct. 11.
After resuming the meeting, Coun. Gary Ward motioned for administration to draft an update to the current personnel policy regarding computer use.
The Town does not have a policy on computer usage, said Mayor Glenn Andersen, adding he wants administration to come back with examples from other municipalities.
Council voted unanimously in favour of the motion.
Byelection
Council plans to call a byelection in January after accepting Trevor Kotowich’s resignation from council prior to becoming fire chief for the St. Paul Fire Department.
“I’m going to accept it with regret. I thought Councillor Kotowich was a good councillor,” said Mayor Glenn Andersen.
Council reassigned duties for the various committees councillors sit on.
Council decided to hold the byelection in January because December and the Christmas season is too busy, said Andersen, after the meeting. Council did not decide on the date.
Bylaw update
Town of St. Paul peace officer Ryan Berezanski updated council on continuing work on two municipal bylaws at its meeting on Oct. 11.
Berezanski told council he would report back in the next couple weeks on the status of a pawn shop bylaw he is working on with RCMP.
Regarding a proposed panhandling bylaw, the Town has a bylaw against obstructing or impeding pedestrian traffic on any public land for the purposes of asking for food or money. The fine is $57. Berezanski told council he thinks the fine should be higher and that the traffic bylaw may need updating.
He said he would drop copies of the bylaw at the St. Paul RCMP detachment.
In response to a question from the mayor, Berezanski informed council some municipalities prohibit panhandling within 10 metres of an ATM or a bank.
Foreign workers
After attending an Alberta Urban Municipalities Association conference and a workshop with former Employment and Immigration Minister Thomas Lukaszuk, Coun. Danny White wants council to lobby the provincial government regarding foreign workers.
Under the federal Temporary Foreign Workers Program, people leave after four years of work.
“There’s a lot of downsides to that,” said White. FCSS works to “stabilize” and tries to get them to stay in the community, he said. “With a four year deadline, basically there’s no reason for them to stabilize themselves and commit themselves to the community.”
White plans to draft a letter for council to send to the provincial and federal governments to lobby to change the policy to help temporary foreign workers achieve landed immigrant status or citizenship.
Council notes
Coun. Don Padlesky wants the town to look into getting LED solar lighting for its trails and suggested running a trial with one LED light. The cost has come down to around $10,000 a piece and batteries can now withstand the winters up here, he said. Padlesky hopes if the trial is successful the cost would decrease over a few years to purchase other lights.
Council passed a motion to book the Rec. Centre for Racette School on Dec. 22 and June 2 for its Christmas and spring concerts, as the gym at the former Glen Avon school where Racette is located during renovations is not large enough.
The CAP Arena ice may be ready this week, reported Coun. Gary Ward.
