CREMONA - Village of Cremona councillors have approved a new bylaw establishing an intermunicipal subdivision and development appeal board with the towns of Carstairs and Didsbury. The move came by way of motion at the July 16 council meeting.
The motion also included the appointment of a designated officer to act as a chair of the board.
Under the bylaw, the council of the village is “hereby authorized to enter into an agreement with the Town of Carstairs and the Town of Didsbury to provide for the following:
• Hearing of subdivision appeals and development appeals within the boundaries of the municipalities.
• The procedure and conduct of the intermunicipal subdivision and development appeal board and its members.
• The functions and duties of the intermunicipal subdivision and development appeal board.
Meanwhile, council has approved an update to the village’s Local Authorities Pension Plan (LAPP) membership policy as it relates to part-time employees.
The move was made after a compliance report conducted in 2018 found a minor non-conformity with regards to part-time employees, council heard.
“Current policy states that participation is mandatory for all part-time employees. However the intent as well as other village employment documentation indicates part-time employee participation to be optional,” administration said in a briefing note to council.
The updated policy’s LAPP membership eligibility guidelines include the following:
• Membership is mandatory for all full-time and permanent part-time employees working at least 30 hours per week.
• Voluntary membership is available to permanent part-time members who work 17.5 hours or more and less than 30 hours a week. If the employee chooses to opt out of the program, they may choose to join the plan at a later date, if the terms of their employment contract change.
• Membership is not available to full-time or part-time term employees with a defined contract end date.
• If a term employee is subsequently employed in a pension eligible position, the employee may choose to buy back time spent in the term position.
In other news, council gave first reading to an updated intermunicipal development plan between the village and Mountain View County. A joint public hearing will be held in October.
The plan is being updated to bring it into line with the updated Municipal Government Act.
The plan has a number of purposes, including ensuring “orderly development, while protecting the area surrounding the village for future expansion, establishing a policy framework to guide future land use planning, and improve opportunities to attract an enhanced economic base for the region.”
