Wednesday, November 17, 2021 Vol. 44, No. 46
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First winter storm of the season Snow drifts piled high and heavy snow stuck to trees in Viking Tuesday morning as a massive storm system with snow and gusty winds blew through the region.
Viking council passes mandatory COVID-19 vaccination policy for town employees Patricia Harcourt Editor
Viking council passed a policy November 15 to strengthen the mandatory vaccination mandate for all employees working for the town. The policy “GOV-014 Mandatory COVID-19 Vaccination by Employees,” was passed unanimously. In October, council had passed a resolution to inform town employees of the two doses of vaccination they would need to have in place by the end of December. CAO Don McLeod presented council with a policy recommended by the town’s lawyer, which he said would be posted on the town’s website. The policy states, in part: “The Town of Viking (Employer) fosters and maintains a healthy and safe environment in the best
interests of all employees, clients and other stakeholders. As a part of the Employer’s efforts to do so, and having regard to the unprecedented risks posed by the COVID-19 pandemic to the health and safety of individuals, organizations and broader society, the Employer is mandating that all employees receive a vaccine as a condition of continued employment, unless exempt.” The policy also discusses deadlines for this to be done that are a condition of continued employment. The employer may require that the employee provide proof of vaccination, or confirmation of his or her intent to have vaccination done. Consequences listed for not doing this range from termination of employment for just cause, being placed on unpaid leave until the employee complies with the policy, or other consequences as determined by the employer.
An employee can request an exemption based on having a medical condition, a sincerely held religious belief or practice which prohibits receiving the vaccine, or another reason. At the October meeting, council passed a motion directing that all staff working for the Carena must be vaccinated - the first shot given no later than November 15 and the second shot no later than December 31. Those failing to adhere to this directive would be placed on administrative leave without pay. At that time, the town also agreed to give staff three hours paid time to go and get vaccinated. With the policy now passed as well, the employees will have to decide. “It’s their choice,” said McLeod, “to be fully vaccinated by the end of the year or they will be placed on administrative leave.”
Page 2 - The Weekly Review, Wednesday, November 17, 2021
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The Weekly Review, Wednesday, November 17, 2021 - Page 3
Viking bylaw officer reports fines Patricia Harcourt Editor
Town of Viking’s Bylaw Officer Wayne Nyback reported to council November 15 concerning bylaw enforcement statistics between October 12-29. During that time, there were 17 total bylaw tickets issued, including: six tickets for parking left of centre causing the vehicle to be parked on the wrong side of the road; two utility trailers parked on the street unattached to a vehicle; one broken fence that was lay-
ing on town property, eventually fixed; and, one case of diseased trees (Black Knot) discovered in a private yard. The bylaw officer also dealt with seven incidents of residents building sheds, growing trees, storing personal property, and parking vehicles on town property with EPCOR requiring access. Nyback reported that the file is still open on a situation where the property owners have extended their property past the town property line marker.
These last issues were dealt with by an amendment to the Community Standards Bylaw at the November 15 meeting. The Beaver County Protective Service report its traffic enforcement statistics for the month of October with a total of 29 traffic violations, four of these being non-moving violations. The total amount of the fines is $6,653, with the town receiving 60 per cent and the province 40 per cent of any tickets paid by violators.
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Cloverlodge lease to be ‘freshened up’ Patricia Harcourt Editor
Cloverlodge Stampede Association President Corey Haeberle met with Viking Council November 15 to discuss the lease agreement and arrange for coordination of uses at the rodeo grounds. CAO Don McLeod reported to the Review that the meeting ended with a sense of satisfaction that a solution has been found to the issue of how the grounds will be managed going forward. The association will resubmit its lease with the town with the end to “freshen the lease up and make
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