Delegations:
Member Leah Feor presented formally on the creation and implementation of a Sustainability Plan for the NPCA. Staff committed to bringing a report back to the Board.
Joint Statement: NPCA & Former CAO
The NPCA concluded discussions with its former CAO and offers the following statement:
https://npca.ca/our-voice/post/joint-statement-npca-former-cao-mark-brickell
Lifetime Achievement Award:
NPCA Chair Dave Bylsma announced that Board Member Bruce Mackenzie is the recipient of a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Latornell Conservation Symposium.
Appointment to the Ontario Land Trust Alliance:
Chair Bylsma announced that with her pending retirement, outgoing NPCA Chief Administrative Officer / Secretary – Treasurer, Gayle Wood was recently appointed as Chair of the Ontario Land Trust Alliance.
New Member:
The NPCA welcomed its newest member from Niagara on the Lake, Dr. William Rapley to his first meeting as a formal Board Member. With this appointment, the final board is now in place for the remainder of the term ending in 2022.Committee Appointments:
Committee Appointments:
Board Members Jack Hellinga and Ken Kawall were each appointed respectively to the Welland River Floodplain Committee and the Governance Committee.
The Thanksgiving Festival at Ball’s Falls Conservation Area:
The Board announced that the 45th Annual Thanksgiving Festival at Ball’s Falls was the most successful in more than 20 years:
• Final attendance: 23,962
• Total admissions revenues for the NPCA: $165,484 + $3,633 for NPCA share of ATM transaction
• Total grist mill revenues: $2,914
• Total beer and wine (gross) sales: $38,591 representing 5,513 drinks sold
• Total amount of cash handled: $256,990
• Total Moneris transactions: 1,553 for a total of $24,
• ATM: 1,948 transactions, total cash dispensed – $172,100
Bill 108:
The Chair highlighted and spoke on the success of his recent meeting to discuss Bill 108 with the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks.
Welland River Floodplain Mapping Project Open Houses:
The Board heard that the four planned open houses for the Welland River Floodplain mapping project were ongoing at present with more than 200 people having attended these sessions.
NPCA Continues to Respond to Auditor General Recommendations:
Chief Administrative Officer Gayle Wood provided a monthly update on the status of the 24 recommendations issued by the Auditor General in her Special Audit of the NPCA. She noted that the NPCA was still on track to have seventy per cent (70%) of the recommendations addressed by the end of 2019.
Niagara Levy Differential:
The Board approved remittance of more than a million dollars to the taxpayers of the Watershed via the NPCA Municipal Partners.
Tyneside Trail:
The NPCA Board authorized a 3-year Trail Maintenance Agreement with the Glanbrook Conservation Committee (GCC) regarding the Tyneside Trail at Binbrook Conservation Area.
Restoration Projects:
The Board approved the allocation of more than $25,000 towards area restoration projects.
Draft 2020 Capital Budget Approved for Municipal Consultation:
The Board approved the draft Capital Budget for the 2020 calendar year and instructed staff to begin outreach with municipal partners.
C.A.O./Secretary - Treasurer Recruitment:
The Board authorized the commencement of the recruitment process to find a new C.A.O./Secretary Treasurer for the NPCA to replace Ms. Gayle Wood who is retiring at the end of 2019. A copy of the job advertisement can be found at:
https://npca.ca/administration/careers/cao-secretarytreasurer
Links to Minutes and Video:
https://npca.ca/administration/board-meetings