16 - August 13, 2024 County Council MinutesElgin County Council
Minutes
August 13, 2024, 9.00 a.m.
Council Chambers
450 Sunset Drive
St. Thomas ON
Members Present: Warden Ed Ketchabaw
Deputy Warden Grant Jones
Councillor Dominique Giguere
Councillor Mark Widner
Councillor Jack Couckuyt
Councillor Andrew Sloan
Councillor Todd Noble
Councillor Mike Hentz
Councillor Richard Leatham
Staff Present: Blaine Parkin, Chief Administrative Officer/Clerk (virtual)
Amy Thomson, Director of Human Resources
Michele Harris, Director of Homes and Seniors Services
Peter Dutchak, Director of Engineering Services
Katherine Thompson, Manager of Administrative
Services/Deputy Clerk
Mike Hoogstra, Manager of Purchasing and Risk
Carolyn Krahn, Manager of Economic Development, Tourism &
Strategic Initiatives
Andrew Case, Solicitor
Jenna Fentie, Legislative Services Coordinator
Stefanie Heide, Legislative Services Coordinator (virtual)
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 Leatham
Seconded by: Councillor Noble
RESOLVED THAT the minutes of the meeting held on July 23, 2024 be adopted.
Motion Carried.
3. Disclosure of .Pecuniary Interest and the General Nature Thereof
None.
4. Presenting Petitions, Presentations and Delegations
None.
5. Committee of the Whole
Moved by: Councillor Hentz
Seconded by: Deputy Warden Jones
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 July 2024
Warden Ketchabaw presented the report detailing his activities as Elgin
County Warden for July 2024.
Moved by: Councillor Widner
Seconded by: Councillor Couckuyt
RESOLVED THAT the report titled "Warden's Activity Report July 2024"
from Warden Ketchabaw dated August 13, 2024 be received and filed.
Motion Carried.
6.2 Manager of Procurement & Risk - Procurement Activity Report Q2
(April 1, 2024 to June 30, 2024)
The Manager of Procurement & Risk presented the report that contains
details relevant to the exercise of delegated authority for all contracts
awarded that exceed $15,000 for the period of April 1, 2024 to June 30,
2024.
Moved by: Deputy Warden Jones
Seconded by: Councillor Widner
RESOLVED THAT the report titled "Procurement Activity Report Q2 (April
1, 2024 to June 30, 2024)" from the Manager of Procurement & Risk dated
July 30, 2024 be received and filed.
Motion Carried.
6.3 Manager of Emergency Management & Elgin -Middlesex Regional Fire
School - Modernization of Emergency Management & Civil Protection
Act Feedback
The Chief Administrative Officer on behalf of the Manager of Emergency
Management & Elgin -Middlesex Regional Fire School presented the report
detailing the feedback on the proposed modernization of the Emergency
Management and Civil Protection Act (EMCPA) as prepared by the
County's Emergency Management Department.
Moved by: Councillor Hentz
Seconded by: Councillor Noble
RESOLVED THAT the report titled "Modernization of Emergency
Management & Civil Protection Act Feedback" from the Manager of
Emergency Management & Elgin -Middlesex Regional Fire School dated
August 13, 2024 be received and filed.
6.4 Manager of Economic Development, Tourism & Strategic Initiatives -
2024 Business Retention and Expansion Program — Final Report and
Action Plan
The Manager of Economic Development, Tourism & Strategic Initiatives
and the Business Enterprise Facilitator presented the report seeking
Council's endorsement of the 2024 Business Retention and Expansion
Program Report and Action Plan.
Moved by: Councillor Leatham
Seconded by: Councillor Couckuyt
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RESOLVED THAT the report titled "2024 Business Retention and
Expansion Program - Final Report and Action Plan" from the Manager of
Economic Development, Tourism & Strategic Initiatives dated August 13,
2024 be received and filed; and
THAT Council endorse the "2024 Business Retention and Expansion
Program Report and Action Plan."
Motion Carried.
6.5 Director of Homes and Seniors Services - Homes — Terrace Lodge
Pool
The Director of Homes and Seniors Services presented the report seeking
Council's authorization to sign a one (1) year agreement with the YWCA
St. Thomas -Elgin for the use of the Terrace Lodge pool for aquatic
programming.
Moved by: Councillor Giguere
Seconded by: Councillor Couckuyt
RESOLVED THAT the report titled "Homes — Terrace Lodge Pool" from the
Director of Homes and Seniors Services dated August 13, 2024, be
received and filed; and
THAT Council authorize staff to sign the one (1) year agreement with the
YWCA St. Thomas -Elgin for the use of the Terrace Lodge pool.
Motion Carried.
6.6 Director of Engineering Services - Transportation Master Plan —
Project Resumption
The Director of Engineering Services presented the report seeking
Council's approval to reengage Arcadis Professional Services (Canada)
Inc. to complete the County's Transportation Master Plan.
Moved by: Councillor Hentz
Seconded by: Deputy Warden Jones
RESOLVED THAT the report titled "Transportation Master Plan — Project
Resumption" from the Director of Engineering Services, dated August 13,
2024 be received and filed; and
THAT the Scope Change Order proposal from Arcadis Professional
Services (Canada) Inc., in the additional amount of $109,641 (plus HST)
to the original contract be approved; and
THAT a project budget shortfall of $75,000 be approved to be included
within the 2025 Capital Budget.
Motion Carried.
7. Council Correspondence
7.1 Items for Consideration
None.
7.2 Items for Information (Consent Agenda)
Moved by: Councillor Noble
Seconded by: Councillor Sloan
RESOLVED THAT Correspondence Item #7.2.1 be received and filed.
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Motion Carried.
7.2.1 Letter from the Rodney Aldborough Agricultural Society President
expressing appreciation to County Council for the 2024
Community Grant allocation and inviting Council to attend the
opening of the Rodney Fair.
8. Other Business
8.1 Statements/Inquiries by Members
8.1.1 Councillor Sloan - Budget Inquiry
Councillor Sloan inquired what the surplus was for the 2023 budget
and asked when Council would be provided information on current cost
versus budget.
The Chief Administrative Officer/Clerk stated that the Director of
Financial Services/Treasurer and the finance team are still working
through the 2023 audit. The Chief Administrative Officer/Clerk stated
that the future goal is to have the year-end audit completed and
presented to Council by May -June by making some changes to the
budget cycle which will allow the finance team to work on year-end
earlier in the calendar year. The Chief Administrative Officer/Clerk
stated that the surplus details for the 2023 Budget should be available
within the next month and that he will keep Council updated.
8.1.2 Councillor Couckuyt -Aylmer Industrial Manufacturing (AIM) Park
Ceremonial Groundbreaking in Aylmer
Councillor Couckuyt welcomed all to attend a groundbreaking
ceremony in Aylmer on August 13, 2024, at 4:00 p.m. for the Aylmer
Industrial Manufacturing (AIM) Park, a new business development and
industrial park.
8.1.3 Warden Ketchabaw -Association of Municipalities of Ontario
(AMO) Conference Delegations
Warden Ketchabaw stated that the County will be participating in three
(3) delegations at the upcoming Association of Municipalities of Ontario
(AMO) conference. Warden Ketchabaw stated that the delegations will
be with the Minister of Infrastructure, the Ministry of Transportation and
the Minister of Health, and that the County will also be involved
indirectly with supporting the Planet Youth initiative that St. Thomas
Mayor Joe Preston will be taking the lead on. Warden Ketchabaw
stated that Councillors are welcome to join these delegations and the
delegation schedule will be out to Council shortly.
8.1.4 Warden Ketchabaw - Straffordville Watermelon Fest 2024
Warden Ketchabaw invited all to attend the 2024 Straffordville
Watermelon Fest on Saturday, August 24, including a parade
beginning at 10:00 a.m.
8.2 Notice of Motion
None.
8.3 Matters of Urgency
None.
9. Closed Meeting Items
Council took at 5 minute break at 10:06 a.m.
Moved by: Deputy Warden Jones
Seconded by: Councillor Couckuyt
M
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 Meetina Item #1 - Closed Meetina Minutes - July 23, 2024
Closed Meeting Item #2 - Chief Administrative Officer/Clerk Performance
Appraisal
(b) personal matters about an identifiable individual, including municipal or local
board employees; and
THAT the Director of Human Resources be appointed as Deputy Clerk for the
purposes of Closed Meeting Item #2 - Chief Administrative Officer/Clerk
Performance Appraisal.
Motion Carried.
9.1 Closed Meeting Minutes - July 23, 2024
9.2 Chief Administrative Officer/Clerk Performance Appraisal
10. Motion to Rise and Report
Moved by: Councillor Sloan
Seconded by: Councillor Giguere
RESOLVED THAT we do now rise and report.
Motion Carried.
Closed Meeting Item #1 - Closed Meeting Minutes - July 23, 2024
Moved by: Councillor Sloan
Seconded by: Councillor Couckuyt
RESOLVED THAT the July 23, 2024 Closed Meeting Minutes be adopted.
Motion Carried.
Closed Meeting Item #2 - Chief Administrative Officer/Clerk Performance
Appraisal
Moved by: Councillor Sloan
Seconded by: Councillor Widner
RESOLVED THAT the Director of Human Resources proceed as directed.
Motion Carried.
11. Motion to Adopt Recommendations from the Committee of the Whole
Moved by: Deputy Warden Jones
Seconded by: Councillor Hentz
RESOLVED THAT we do now adopt recommendations of the Committee of the
Whole.
Motion Carried.
12. Consideration of By -Laws
12.1 By -Law No. 24-31 Confirmation
BEING a By -Law to Confirm Proceedings of the Municipal Council of the
Corporation of the County of Elgin at the August 13, 2024 Meeting.
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13.
Moved by: Councillor Sloan
Seconded by: Councillor Leatham
RESOLVED THAT By -Law No. 24-31 be now read a first, second, and
third time and finally passed.
Motion Carried.
Adjournment
Moved by: Councillor Widner
Seconded by: Councillor Couckuyt
RESOLVED THAT we do now adjourn at 11:18 a.m. to meet again on September
10, 2024 at 9:00 a.m.
Motion Carried.
Blaine Parkin,
Chief Administrative Officer/Clerk.
Ed Ketchabaw,
Warden.
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