Maitland Valley Conservation Authority Working for a Healthy Environment! Board of Directors Meeting #2/14 (Annual Meeting) February 19,2014 DIRECTORS PRESENT: Deb Shewfelt, Art Versteeg, Jason Breckenridge, Jim Campbell, Terry Fisk, Wilf Gamble, Alison Lobb, Alvin McLellan, Gordon Young, Doug Miller DIRECTOR ABSENT: STAFF PRESENT: Matt Duncan Phil Beard, General Manager/Secretary-Treasurer Dianne Dosman, Financial Services Coordinator Jayne Thompson, Communications Coordinator Geoff King, Stewardship Services Coordinator Stewart Lockie, Field Services Coordinator Stephen Jackson, Water Resources Engineer Jeffrey King, GISIIT Doug Hocking, Water Quality Specialist Mat Shetler, Watershed Information Technician Mel Luymes, Stewardship Technician Jason Moir, FRCA Superintendent Donna Clarkson, Source Protection Technician Erin Dolmage, Coinmunity Education Technician Laurie Little, Community Education Technician Assistant Chris VanEsbroeck, Soil Specialist PRESS IN ATTENDANCE: Pauline Kerr, Wingham Advance Times Others in attendance: Dick Hibma, Conservation Ontario Chair; Joe Vulders, Maitland Conservation Foundation; John Grace, Goderich Town Council; David Yates, Goderich Town Council; Wayne Brohman, Saugeen Valley CA GM; Brock Vodden, North Huron Council; Paul Gowing, Morris-Turnberry Reeve; Brian Barnim, Central Huron Council; Shirley Moore, Former MVCA Staff; Rosemary Rognvaldson, Maitland Conservation Foundation Chair; Bill Rognvaldson; Marilyn Campbell, Dennis Dosman, Marie Stewart and Ed Stewart. Box 127, Wroxeter, ON NOG 2XO (519) 335-3557 Fax (519) 335-3516 maitland@mvca.on.ca
1. Call to OrderlWelcome and Introduction of Guests Deb Shewfelt Chair, called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. Deb thanked everyone in attendance for attending the meeting and then asked the Directors to introduce themselves and others in attendance that came to the Annual Meeting with them. Deb then asked the MVCA staffto introduce themselves as well. 2. Remarks from Dick Hibma, Conservation Ontario Chair Deb asked Dick Hibma, Chair of Conservation Ontario, to make remarks. Mr. Hibma thanked the MVCA for the invitation and spoke about the 36 conservation authorities in the Province and how much he enjoys the opportunity to visit conservation authorities in his role as Chair of Conservation Ontario. He spoke of how Deb Shewfelt and Phil Beard have worked with Conservation Ontario and how CO appreciates the work that MVCA has contributed to. He spoke of CO having a new general manager and the new projects that they are facing in the upcoming year. Deb thanked Dick for his remarks. 3. Remarks by Deb Shewfelt, MVCA 2013 Chair The theme of Chair Deb's remarks was 'Doing Fewer Things Better/Changing Climate, Changing Services'. He spoke of the challenges faced by all of us who work in the public sector, whether in the non profit sector or in government, is how to represent the future to the present. Deb reiterated to the audience that in 2012 it was the driest year in over 30 years and in 2013 the wettest in over 40 years. Therefore, the MVCA Board of Directors recognizes that the MVCA has limited resources so have decided to reorganize our services to focus on doing a few things really well. MVCA has looked at the growing potential for loss of life, property damage and social disruption due to flooding and erosion across the watershed. The increase in high intensity, short duration thunderstorms has increased the potential for flash flooding to occur even in non flood plain areas. Therefore, the MVCA is strengthening our flood and erosion safety services so we can provide municipalities with flood damage centres more timely warnings of impending flood events; develop appropriate emergency response plans, more accurate mapping of the areas that will be affected and to ensure new development is not loca~ed in areas that will increase the potential for loss of life andlor property damage. We are also strengthening our watershed stewardship services so we can assist municipalities and landowners to identify appropriate conservation measures for protecting soil, water and infrastructure such as roads and culverts from being damaged. One of the major changes we need to support and encourage is the development of rural storm water management systems to control the runoff from the intense rainfall and rapid snowmelt events that are becoming a common occurrence. We need to slow it down, spread it out and let it soak into the ground instead of trying to get rid of the water as quickly as possible. Therefore, so as to strengthen these two services, we will need to reduce our activity in other areas which includes the leasing out of the Falls Reserve Conservation Area and at ways to reduce maintenance costs at other conservation areas, especially grass cutting. He closed his remarks with a quote from David Phillips from Environment Canada: "The more we plan for the future, the better off we will be." 2
4. Presentation by Photographer Telfer Wegg Art Versteeg introduced Telfer Wegg, photographer, who gave a presentation to the Board of Directors and others in attendance of 'Images of the Maitland Watershed'. The photography of different areas of the MVCA watershed were amazing. Deb Shewfelt thanked Telfer for his very informative presentation with a small token of appreciation. 5. Presentation of MVCA 2013 Accomplishments and 2014 Priorities Jayne Thompson, MVCA Communication Coordinator, gave a visual presentation ofmvca's 2013 accomplishments and 2014 priorities. Deb thanked Jayne for her very informative presentation. 6. Staff Service Awards Art Versteeg spoke on the accomplishments that Stephen Jackson has completed during his first five years with the Authority and Stephen was given an award for the years of staff service with the MVCA as the Water Resources Engineer. Mat Shetler was given an award for his five years of staff service with the MVCA as the Watershed Information Technician. Art Versteeg thanked Mat for all of his dedicated work during the last five years. Deb Shewfelt gave Dianne Dosman, MVCA's AdministrationlFinancial Services Coordinator, an award for her 25 years with the MVCA. 7. Election of Officers for 2014 a) Chair Deb Shewfelt called for an appointment of a Presiding Officer for the election of Chair. Motion FA #14/14 Moved by: Wilf Gamble Seconded by: Alison Lobb THAT Dick Hibma act as the Presiding Officer for the election of Chair. Deb Shewfelt and Art Versteeg stepped down from their positions of Chair and Vice Chair respectively. Mr. Hibma then declared all offices vacant and called for an appointment of Scrutineers. 3
b) Appointment of Scrutineers Motion FA #15/14 Moved by: Jim Campbell Seconded by: Wilf Gamble THAT Brock Vodden and Wayne Brohman be Scrutineers for the election of officers; AND THAT they be responsible for destroying ballets after the election (if needed). c) Election of Chair Mr. Hibma called for nominations for the position of Chair of the Maitland Valley Conservation Authority and the Drinking Water Source Protection Authority. Motion FA #16/14 Moved by: Art Versteeg THAT Deb Shewfelt be Chair of the Maitland Valley Conservation Authority and the Drinking Water Source Protection Authority for 2014. Mr. Hibma then called for nominations two more times. Motion FA #17/14 Moved by: Gordon Young Seconded by: Alvin McLellan THAT nominations for the position of Chair of the Maitland Valley Conservation Authority and the Drinking Water Source Protection Authority for 2014 be closed. Mr. Hibma declared Deb Shewfelt. representative for the Town of God erich, as Chair of the Maitland Valley Conservation Authority and the Drinking Water Source Protection Authority for 2014. Deb accepted the appointment. Deb Shewfelt then conducted the election for 1 5t Vice Chair. d) Election of 1 It Vice Chair Nominations were called for the position of 1 st Vice Chair for 2014. 4
Motion FA #18/14 Moved by: Alison Lobb THAT Art Versteeg be 1 st Vice Chair of the Maitland Valley Conservation Authority and the Drinking Water Source Protection Authority for 2014. Deb called for nominations two more times for the position of lsi Vice Chair with no further nominations. Deb than closed nominations for lsi Vice Chair. Deb declared Art Versteeg as 1 sl Vice Chair of the Maitland Valley Conservation Authority and the Drinking Water Source Protection Authority for 2014. Art accepted the appointment. e) Election of 2 nd Vice Chair Nominations were called for the position of 2 nd Vice Chair for 2014. Motion FA #19/14 Moved by: Wilf Gamble THAT Teny Fisk be 2 nd Vice Chair of the Maitland Valley Conservation Authority and the Drinking Water Source Protection Authority for 2014. Deb called for nominations two more times for the position of 2 nd Vice Chair with no further nominations. Deb than closed nominations. Deb declared Teny Fisk, as 2 nd Vice Chair of the Maitland Valley Conservation Authority and the Drinking Water Source Protection Authority for 2014. Terry accepted the appointment. t) Destruction of Ballots There were no ballots to be destroyed. Deb thanked the Scrutineers. 7. Remarks by 2014 MVCAlSPA Chair, l"t Vice Chair and 2nd Vice Chair Chair Deb Shewfelt thanked the Board for re electing him as Chair for another year and reiterated that business as usual is not an option in terms of moving forward and dealing with the impacts of a changing climate. He reiterated that he is pleased with the support that the municipalities in the watershed have provided the MVCA throughout the years and is hoping for even more support in the future. Deb stated that he is excited for the upcoming year. 5
Art Versteeg, 1 st Vice Chair, spoke on the new project that is being promoted within the MVCA and ABCA watersheds, 'Footprints to Forests'. Art then thanked the MVCA staff and their work and accomplishments.. Terry Fisk, 2 nd Vice Chair, thanked his nominator and spoke on how he was pleased to be chosen as 2 nd Vice Chair and how he was honoured to be part of the MVCA. 8. Adjournment Motion FA #20/14 Moved by: Jim Campbell THAT the meeting be adjourned. The meeting was adjourned at 9: 10 p.m. and Chair Deb invited all in attendance to join the MVCAlSPA Directors and staff for a social hour. Light refreshments were served following the!flwj;t/ Deb Shewfelt Chair Dianne Dosman Financial Services Coordinator 6