ECA Review 2021-03-11

ECA REVIEW HANNA/CORONATION/STETTLER, AB March 11'21 5
Forestburg school program to entice students
Cont’d from Pg 3
He added that it was both a professional
and personal visit as his family
is in the process of creating a new
scholarship in the family’s name.
The principal shared with him that
they expect to ‘hold steady’ next year
with their intake of kindergarten students
into Grade 1 which equates to the
amount of Grade 12 students leaving.
It was said that demographic challenges
in the earlier grades did raise a
red flag as the next four to five years
could be more problematic with lower
attendance.
Grade 2 currently has eight students.
The principal felt that in terms of
contributing to the broader district, it
has been disproportionate compared to
the west side of the district where more
attention seems to be given.
The CAO noted this was dipping into
the political side of school divisions but
that advocating for this area is key at
this time.
The school is working on new programs
to entice current and new
students to the area as well.
As for municipal support, direct and
indirect funding such as providing
equipment, capital contributions or
scholarships was allowable but any initiatives
involving courses, teaching
resources or capital improvements fall
under the Education Act and/or provincial
regulations.
Committee of the Whole
The Committee of the Whole (COW)
conversation began with Coun. Eileen
Fossen introducing a particular
Alberta Parks guide after it was
brought to her attention.
She mentioned this was given to her
once others discovered that Forestburg
wasn’t included in the details of Big
Knife Provincial Park which is located
southwest of the village.
The directions to the site explained it
was 40 km east of Stetter and a few
kilometres west off of Highway 855.
Coun. Fossen stated she will be getting
in touch with Alberta Parks or
Travel Alberta about this as to how
they can get Forestburg mentioned as
well as encourage local businesses to
put posters there to show a presence.
Mayor Blaise Young shared that
years ago he remembered Alberta
Parks stating not to put commercial
items on the bulletin boards.
Coun. Devon McNabb mentioned he
may have a contact for the Stettlerbased
park ranger to help get
Forestburg added to the description.
The mayor hoped they could at least
put a village poster up to draw people
to the village.
“We have to do something,” he said.
Switching topics, the mayor told
council that Amanda Davis will be
conducting a feasibility study and
detailed report on all forms of tourism
within the Flagstaff region.
He noted that in order for the Wanda
SchoolHouse to
get any funding
to be moved and
converted into a
visitor information
centre, he
believed they
would need a
study to back this
up.
The Battle
River Economic
Opportunities
Committee
(BREOC) will be
paying for the
study as it falls
well within their
realm of
capabilities.
Flooring
SALE
Stettler’s
Premier
Flooring
Store.
In business for
over 40 years.
March
988 mental health line
Battle River-Crowfoot MP Damien
Kurek has sent out letters to all municipalities
within the region to support a
mental health line (988), especially in
light of the pandemic and its toll on
Canadians.
He has asked for each municipality
to send in a letter of support as well as
a council motion to support this
endeavour to put pressure on the federal
government to implement much
like the United States is currently
doing using the same three-digit
number.
“I am 100 per cent behind this,” said
Coun. Dwayne Giroux. “It’s high time
that we got something that addresses
mental health and gives people an
outlet.”
Council passed a motion to endorse
the number.
Healthy communities
initiative
In an effort to be in the first round of
deliberations for the promising
Canada Healthy Communities
Initiative grant, council agreed to have
administration look further and apply
for this before the deadline ending this
week.
The grant provides up to $250,000
with a two-year time horizon to complete
which administration finds
helpful as most grants only allow one
year to complete a project given the
green light to proceed.
Council asked about getting community
input and ideas but with the quick
turnaround time it was agreed to focus
on that portion later once the application
is submitted.
The local Communities in Bloom
committee found the grant and came
up with a couple of ideas this money
could be used for; one of which was the
long-standing idea of building a long
walking path.
They originally calculated this
endeavour to cost $250,000 but they felt
the price was too high to fundraise for.
“There was no way we would even
come close to that,” said Coun. Fossen.
“We will see where we go with it. It
seems like every town has a walking
path.”
Employee policies
Council passed an employee compensation
and benefits policy.
As per Section 2b of the policy,
administration determined that the
Consumer Price Index for Alberta is
1.3 per cent.
The salary grids have been adjusted
to reflect this change.
Another policy council passed was
revisions to the employee discipline
policy.
When administration reviewed it,
CAO Dibben found one clause to be
incorrect.
It is a condition of wrongful dismissal
insurance coverage that a
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written legal opinion is obtained from
the law firm Brownlee LLP before
taking steps toward dismissal.
After reviewing the village’s insurance
policy, confirmation of wrongful
dismissal insurance was verified, but
there is no requirement in this policy
to secure a written legal opinion and/
or securing this written advice from
Brownlee LLP as a requirement of
insurance coverage.
This means that the village does not
need to consult a particular firm such
as Brownlee LLP for an opinion that
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Hanna, Alberta
410-2nd Avenue West
Phone: (403) 854-4421
Canmore, Alberta
Unit 103B, 1205 Bow Valley Trail
Phone: (403) 675-3299
Three Hills, Alberta
407 Main Street
Phone: (403) 443-7720
Drumheller, Alberta
196 3 Avenue West
Phone: (403) 823-1212
Coronation, Alberta
5015 Victoria Avenue
Phone: (403) 578-4014
www.ascendllp.com
isn’t really needed.
While it may be advisable to source
legal advice prior to undertaking a
dismissal action, administration recommends
an enabling rather than
restrictive approach given that not all
disciplinary actions may require
formal legal involvement.
CAO Dibben shared that when
looking at dismissal of a councillor, it
normally involves them and the criminal
code.
Airdrie, Alberta
205-2903 Kingsview Blvd SE
Phone: (587) 775-6743
Stettler, Alberta
4840 50 Street
Phone: (403) 742-3141
Oyen, Alberta
103-2nd Avenue E
Phone: (403) 664-3444
21033SC0
21032SC5