Administration

Administration

Administration on its own includes the Chief Administrative Officer (C.A.O.), the Clerk, the Treasurer, all office staff and the Managers of each department. Collectively this group takes care of all the Corporate Administrative Services, which includes the following key responsibilities:

  • To implement Council's decisions and establish administrative practices and procedures to carry out Council's decisions;
  • To undertake research and provide advice to Council on the policies and programs of the municipality; and,
  • To carry out other duties required under this or any other Act and other duties assigned by the municipality.

Role of Municipal Administration

Under Section 227 of The Municipal Act, it is the role of the officers and employees of the municipality;

a)       to implement council’s decisions and establish administrative practices and procedures to carry out council’s decisions;
b)       to undertake research and provide advice to council of the policies and programs of the municipality; and
c)       to carry out other duties required under this or any Act and other duties assigned by the municipality.

Duties of the Clerk

Under Section 228(1), The Municipal Act makes it mandatory that a municipality appoint a Clerk whose main responsibilities are as follows:

a)       to record, without note of comment, all resolutions, decisions and other proceedings of the council;
b)       if required by any member present at a vote, to record the name and vote of every member voting on any matter or question;
c)       to keep the originals or copies of all by-laws and of all minutes of the proceedings of council;
d)       to perform the other duties required under this Act or under any other Act; and
e)       to perform the other duties as are assigned by the municipality.

Duties of the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO)

Under Section 229 of The Municipal Act, a municipality may appoint a chief administrative officer who shall be responsible for:

a)       exercising general control and management of the affairs of the municipality for the purpose of ensuring the efficient and
          effective operation of the municipality; and
b)       performing such other duties as are assigned by the municipality.

Duties of the Treasurer

Under Section 286(1), The Municipal Act requires that a Treasurer be appointed to be responsible for handling all of the financial affairs of the municipality on behalf of and in the manner directed by the Council of the municipality, including: 

a)       collecting money payable to the municipality and issuing receipts for those payments; 
b)       depositing all money received on behalf of the municipality in a financial institution designated by the municipality; 
c)       paying all debts of the municipality and other expenditures authorized by the municipality; 
d)       maintaining accurate records and accounts of the financial affairs of the municipality as it requires or requests; 
e)       providing the council with such information with respect to the financial affairs of the municipality as it requires or requests; and 
f)        ensuring investments of the municipality are made in compliance with the regulations made under section 418 of the Act.

Road Allowance Purchases

Within its territorial jurisdiction, the Township owns all original road allowances which have not yet been closed, stopped up and conveyed.  Provincial legislation allows municipalities to sell such road allowance parcels to the abutting landowner if in compliance with the Township's policies.  This involves a number of procedures and expenses including surveying and legal, and it is the Township of The Archipelago's policy that all associated costs shall be borne by the applicant.  Below is information with respect to the purchase of unopened municipal road allowance and shore road allowance.


Official Plan policy and the Township’s Administrative Policy with respect to road allowance closures states that road allowances which lead to water or to original shore road allowances, and which provide access to the water, shall not be closed and should be maintained in the Township’s name.  Council may consider exceptions to Township policy when applications would resolve specific circumstances, such as encroachments on municipal land or providing for the merging of applicants’ lands.   All applications to purchase a portion of 66 foot municipal road allowance must be accompanied by the consent of the landowner abutting on the opposite side of the road allowance.  For further information, please review the Township's Administrative Policy with respect to road allowance purchases. 
 
Road allowance is sold at fair market value, as determined by a certified real estate appraiser.  For further information regarding the application process and fees, please review the Application Information and Procedures.

It is the Township's policy to only convey that portion of the shore road allowance not covered by water.  In addition, applications will not be supported if the shoreline is zoned in an Environmentally Sensitive zone of the Township's Comprehensive Zoning By-law.  For further information, please review the Township's Administrative Policy with respect to shore road allowance purchases.
 
All applications to purchase shore road allowance must be accompanied by written consent of abutting property owners at two stages, in the form of a Preliminary Consent (submitted with the application form) and a Certificate of Confirmation (with respect to a draft plan of survey).  Should applicants experience problems in acquiring consent of abutting land owners to the proposed dividing lines, Council may mediate the situation in accordance with the Township's Mediation Policy and Procedure. 
 
The cost of the shore road allowance is $2.00, regardless of the area of land that is being purchased.  For further information regarding the application process and fees, please review the Application Information and Procedures.