Loading...
06 - March 12, 2024 County Council MinutesElginCounty Elgin County Council Minutes March 12, 2024, 9:00 a.m. Council Chambers 450 Sunset Drive St. Thomas ON Members Present: Warden Ed Ketchabaw Deputy Warden Grant Jones (virtual) Councillor Mark Widner Councillor Jack Couckuyt Councillor Todd Noble Councillor Mike Hentz Councillor Taraesa Tellier Members Absent: Councillor Dominique Giguere (with notice) Councillor Andrew Sloan Councillor Richard Leatham (with notice) Staff Present: Blaine Parkin, Chief Administrative Officer/Clerk Brian Masschaele, Director of Community & Cultural Services Jennifer Ford, Director of Financial Services/Treasurer Nicholas Loeb, Director of Legal Services Peter Dutchak, Director of Engineering Services Katherine Thompson, Manager of Administrative Services/Deputy Clerk Carolyn Krahn, Manager of Economic Development, Tourism & Strategic Initiatives Andrea Loughlean, Manager of Emergency Management & Elgin -Middlesex Regional Fire School Jenna Fentie, Legislative Services Coordinator Stefanie Heide, Legislative Services Coordinator Jeff Lawrence, Tree Commissioner/Weed Inspector (virtual) 1. Call to Order The meeting was called to order at 9:00 a.m. with Warden Ketchabaw in the chair. 2. Adoption of Minutes Moved by: Councillor Hentz Seconded by: Councillor Couckuyt RESOLVED THAT the minutes of the meeting held on February 27, 2024 be adopted. Motion Carried. 3. Disclosure of Pecuniary Interest and the General Nature Thereof None. 4. Presenting Petitions, Presentations and Delegations 4.1 St. Thomas -Elgin Social Services - 2023 Review Representatives from St. Thomas -Elgin Social Services provided updates on the City of St. Thomas and Elgin County Social Services cost share, and a review of the 2023 activities of Ontario Works, Housing Stability Services, and Children's Services. Moved by: Councillor Noble Seconded by: Councillor Couckuyt RESOLVED THAT the 2023 Review presentation from St. Thomas -Elgin Social Services be received and filed. Motion Carried. 5. Committee of the Whole Moved by: Councillor Noble Seconded by: Councillor Widner RESOLVED THAT we do now move into Committee of the Whole. Motion Carried. 6. Reports of Council, Outside Boards and Staff 6.1 Warden Ketchabaw - Warden's Activity Report (February 2024) Warden Ketchabaw presented the report detailing his activities for the month of February 2024. Moved by: Councillor Noble Seconded by: Councillor Hentz RESOLVED THAT the report titled "Warden's Activity Report (February 2024)" dated March 1, 2024 from Warden Ketchabaw be received and filed. Motion Carried. 6.2 Tree Commissioner/Weed Inspector - Tree Commissioner/Weed Inspector Quarterly Report July — September 2023 The Tree Commissioner/Weed Inspector presented a report to Council summarizing the activities related to the Elgin Woodlands Conservation By -Law for the period of July 1, 2023 to September 30, 2023, and weed inspection activity for the same period. Moved by: Deputy Warden Jones Seconded by: Councillor Hentz RESOLVED THAT the report titled "Tree CommissionerM/eed Inspector Quarterly Report July — September 2023" dated March 1, 2024 from the Tree Commissioner/Weed Inspector be received and filed for information. Motion Carried. 6.3 Tree Commissioner/Weed Inspector - Tree Commissioner/Weed Inspector Fourth Quarter & Year End Report 2023 The Tree Commissioner/Weed Inspector presented a report to Council summarizing the activity related to the Elgin County Woodlands Conversation By -Law for the period of October 1, 2023 to December 31, 2023 and weed inspection for the same period, as well as a summary of activity related to the Elgin County Woodlands Conservation By -Law and weed inspection for 2023. Moved by: Councillor Widner Seconded by: Councillor Noble 2 RESOLVED THAT the report titled "Tree Commissioner/Weed Inspector Fourth Quarter and Year End Report 2023" dated March 1, 2024 from the Tree Commissioner/Weed Inspector be received and filed. Motion Carried. 6.4 Director of Financial Services - 2.3 - Purchasing Card Policy The Director of Financial Services provided a report to Council to outline the development of an internal policy for staff who may be conducting business using a purchasing card issued by the County of Elgin. Moved by: Councillor Hentz Seconded by: Councillor Widner RESOLVED THAT the report titled "2.3 - Purchasing Card Policy" dated March 4, 2024 from the Director of Financial Services/Treasurer be received and filed. Motion Carried. 6.5 Manager of Economic Development and Strategic Initiatives - Elgin County Tourism Signage Program Review The Manager of Economic Development and Strategic Initiatives presented a report to Council providing the necessary background and information on the Elgin County Tourism Signage Program Review for Council to consider and to provide direction for this program. Moved by: Councillor Couckuyt Seconded by: Deputy Warden Jones RESOLVED THAT the Elgin County Tourism Signage Program be put on hold until a new Tourism Signage program has been developed; and THAT staff be directed to create a new Tourism Signage Program that aligns with Option #1; and THAT the implementation of this program be considered during the 2025 Budget Deliberations. Motion Carried. 7. Council Correspondence 7.1 Items for Consideration 7.1.1 Letter from Grand River Conservation Authority - Re: Lake Erie Region Source Protection Committee Member Nomination Moved by: Councillor Noble Seconded by: Councillor Tellier RESOLVED THAT the Council of the Corporation of the County of Elgin supports the nomination of Alex Piggott, Manager of Environmental Services at the Municipality of Central Elgin, as municipal representative for Group 7 on the Lake Erie Region Source Protection Committee. Motion Carried. 7.1.2 Email from Office of the Honourable Todd Smith, Ministry of Energy and Backgrounder on Bill 165, Keeping Energy Costs Down Act, 2024 Moved by: Councillor Couckuyt Seconded by: Deputy Warden Jones 3 RESOLVED THAT the email from the Office of the Honourable Todd Smith, Ministry of Energy and Backgrounder on Bill 165, Keeping Energy Costs Down Act, 2024 be received for information. Motion Carried. 7.1.3 Resolution from the Council of the Corporation of Tay Valley Township Moved by: Councillor Noble Seconded by: Councillor Couckuyt RESOLVED THAT the resolution from the Council of the Corporation of Tay Valley Township be received for information. Motion Carried. 7.2 Items for Information (Consent Agenda) None. Council recessed at 10:03 a.m. and reconvened at 10:19 a.m. 8. Other Business 8.1 Statements/Inquiries by Members None. 8.2 Notice of Motion None. 8.3 Matters of Urgency None. 9. Presenting Petitions, Presentations and Delegations Continued 9.1 Royal Astronomical Society of Canada - Solar Eclipse Members of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada London Centre, Peter Jedicke and Steve Emery, provided a presentation to Council on the total solar eclipse that will be occurring on April 4, 2024. Mr. Jedicke presented on the science, inspirations, details, safety, opportunities, and resources in regards to the total solar eclipse. Moved by: Councillor Couckuyt Seconded by: Councillor Widner RESOLVED THAT the Solar Eclipse presentation from the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada be received and filed. Motion Carried. 9.2 Manager of Economic Development and Strategic Initiatives - Total Solar Eclipse The Manger of Economic Development, Tourism & Strategic Initiatives provided a presentation to Council on the opportunity and preparations for the April 8, 2024 total solar eclipse from an Elgin County Tourism perspective. Moved by: Councillor Noble Seconded by: Deputy Warden Jones RESOLVED THAT the presentation titled "2024 Total Solar Eclipse" from the Manager of Economic Development, Tourism & Strategic Initiatives be received and filed. M Motion Carried. 10. Closed Meeting Items Moved by: Councillor Noble Seconded by: Councillor Hentz RESOLVED THAT we do now proceed into closed meeting session in accordance with the Municipal Act to discuss the following matters under Municipal Act Section 239 (2): Closed Meetinq Item #1 - Closed Meetinq Minutes - March 12 2024 Closed Meetinq Item #2 - Elgin County Emergency Management Preparations (a) the security of the property of the municipality or local board. Closed Meeting Item #3 - LS 24-4 Land Ambulance (f) advice that is subject to solicitor -client privilege, necessary for that purpose; and (k) a position, plan instruction to be applied to any negotiations carried on behalf of the municipality or local board. Motion Carried. including communications procedure, criteria or on or to be carried on by or 10.1 Closed Meeting Minutes -February 27, 2024 10.2 Manager of Emergency Management & Elgin -Middlesex Regional Fire School - Elgin County EM Preparedness 10.3 Director of Legal Services and Director of Finance - LS 24-4 Land Ambulance 11. Motion to Rise and Report Moved by: Councillor Noble Seconded by: Councillor Hentz RESOLVED THAT we do now rise and report. Motion Carried. Closed Meetinq Item #1 - Closed Meetinq Minutes - February 27, 2024 Moved by: Councillor Widner Seconded by: Councillor Noble RESOLVED THAT the February 27, 2024 Closed Meeting Minutes be adopted. Motion Carried. Closed Meetinq Item #2 - Elgin County Emergency Management Preparations Moved by: Councillor Hentz Seconded by: Councillor Noble RESOLVED THAT the confidential report from the Manager of Emergency Management and Elgin -Middlesex Regional Fire School be received for information. Motion Carried. Closed Meetinq Item #3 - LS 24-4 Land Ambulance Moved by: Councillor Couckuyt Seconded by: Councillor Tellier RESOLVED THAT Council proceed with the Land Ambulance service level proposed in the 2024 Budget which sets a twelve (12) hour ambulance shift at the Bayham Land Ambulance Station for the 2024 year. Motion Carried. 12. Motion to Adopt Recommendations from the Committee of the Whole Moved by: Councillor Noble Seconded by: Deputy Warden Jones RESOLVED THAT we do now adopt recommendations of the Committee of the Whole. Motion Carried. 13. Consideration of By -Laws 13.1 By -Law No. 24-07 2024 Budget Being a By -Law to Provide for the Adoption of the 2024 Budget of the Corporation of the County of Elgin and to Establish the 2024 Tax Ratios, and 2024 Tax Rates for the Said Corporation of the County of Elgin and its Constituent Lower Tier Municipalities. Moved by: Councillor Hentz Seconded by: Councillor Widner RESOLVED THAT By -Law No. 24-07 be now read a first, second, and third time and finally passed. Motion Carried. 13.2 By -Law No. 24-09 Confirmation BEING a By -Law to Confirm Proceedings of the Municipal Council of the Corporation of the County of Elgin at the March 12, 2024 Meeting. Moved by: Councillor Noble Seconded by: Councillor Tellier RESOLVED THAT By -Law No. 24-09 be now read a first, second, and third time and finally passed. Motion Carried. 14. Adjournment Moved by: Councillor Widner Seconded by: Deputy Warden Jones RESOLVED THAT we do now adjourn at 11:43 a.m. to meet again on March 26, 2024 at 9:00 a.m. Motion Carried. C laine Parkin, 0 Ed Ketchabaw, Chief Administrative Officer/Clerk. Warden.