21 - October 22, 2024 County Council Minutes"u}
Elgin County Council
Minutes
October 22, 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
Brian Masschaele, Director of Community & Cultural Services
Amy Thomson, Director of Human Resources
Michele Harris, Director of Homes and Seniors Services (virtual)
Jennifer Ford, Director of Financial Services/Treasurer
Nicholas Loeb, Director of Legal Services
Mat Vaughan, Director of Planning and Development
Katherine Thompson, Manager of Administrative
Services/Deputy Clerk
Emily Waldick, Manager of Human Resources
Jenna Fentie, Legislative Services Coordinator
Stefanie Heide, Legislative Services Coordinator
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 Leatham
Seconded by: Councillor Noble
RESOLVED THAT the minutes of the meeting held on October 8, 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: Councillor Couckuyt
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 (September 2024)
Warden Ketchabaw presented the report that details his activities during
the month of September 2024.
Moved by: Deputy Warden Jones
Seconded by: Councillor Noble
RESOLVED THAT the report titled "Warden's Activity Report (September
2024)" from Warden Ketchabaw dated October 22, 2024 be received and
filed.
Motion Carried.
6.2 Warden Ketchabaw - Finance Committee Terms of Reference
Warden Ketchabaw, Chair of the Elgin County Budget Committee,
presented the report seeking Council's approval to evolve the Budget
Committee into a Finance Committee in order to focus on the broader
financial condition of Elgin County. The report also seeks Council's
approval for a new Terms of Reference for the Finance Committee.
Moved by: Councillor Couckuyt
Seconded by: Councillor Sloan
RESOLVED THAT the Committee Terms of Reference be amended to
include all Councillors as Members of the Finance Committee.
Motion Carried.
Moved by: Councillor Giguere
Seconded by: Deputy Warden Jones
RESOLVED THAT the report titled "Finance Committee Terms of
Reference" from Warden Ketchabaw dated October 22, 2024, be received
and filed; and
THAT the Budget Committee evolve to a Finance Committee with a
broader mandate as described herein this report; and
THAT County Council adopt the amended Committee Terms of Reference
for the Finance Committee as recommended by the Committee; and
THAT an updated version of the Committee By -Law, incorporating these
changes, be brought forward for Council consideration at a future meeting.
Motion Carried.
6.3 Director of Financial Services/Treasurer - 2023 Investment Summary
Report
The Director of Financial Services/Treasurer presented the report that
details the County of Elgin's investments for 2023.
Moved by: Councillor Widner
Seconded by: Councillor Hentz
RESOLVED THAT the report titled "2023 Investment Summary Report"
from the Director of Financial Services/Treasurer dated October 22, 2024
be received and filed.
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Motion Carried.
6.4 Director of Community and Cultural Services - Provincial Funding for
Outdoor Spaces in Elgin County
The Director of Community and Cultural Services presented the report that
seeks Council's approval to accept the terms and conditions of a funding
agreement with the Province of Ontario for $36,600 to support projects
that will create accessible, age -friendly outdoor leisure experiences at
various locations in Elgin County.
Moved by: Councillor Leatham
Seconded by: Deputy Warden Jones
RESOLVED THAT Elgin County Library be authorized to accept the terms
and conditions of a funding agreement with the Province of Ontario for a
contribution of $36,300 under the Inclusive Community Grants Program,
2024-25 for a project called "Enhancing Access to Outdoor and Cultural
Spaces for Rural Residents in Elgin County" as outlined in the October 22,
2024 report titled "Provincial Funding for Outdoor Spaces in Elgin County";
and
THAT the Warden on behalf of Elgin County Council issue letters of
appreciation to the Otter Valley Naturalists and West Lorne and
Community Horticultural Society for their support of these projects.
Motion Carried.
6.5 Manager of Administrative Services/Deputy Clerk - Recommended
Updates to the Procedural By -Law (19-41)
The Manager of Administrative Services/Deputy Clerk presented the
report seeking Council's direction regarding proposed changes to the Elgin
County Council Procedural By -Law No. 19-41.
Council recessed at 9:59 a.m. and reconvened at 10:09 a.m.
Moved by: Councillor Leatham
Seconded by: Deputy Warden Jones
RESOLVED THAT the report titled "Recommended Updates to the
Procedural By -Law (19-41)" from the Manager of Administrative
Services/Deputy Clerk dated October 22, 2024, be received and filed; and
THAT Council review proposed changes to the Procedural By -Law and
provide feedback and direction, and
THAT Council feedback be incorporated into a draft Procedural By -Law to
be brought forward for Council consideration at the future meeting.
Motion Carried.
7. Council Correspondence
7.1 Items for Consideration
7.1.1 Letter from Good Roads seeking Council's support for the
establishment of an Ontario Rural Road Safety Program
Moved by: Deputy Warden Jones
Seconded by: Councillor Widner
WHEREAS official statistics from the Government of Ontario confirm
that rural roads are inherently more dangerous than other roads;
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AND WHEREAS, despite only having 17% of the population, 55% of
the road fatalities occur on rural roads;
AND WHEREAS, rural, northern, and remote municipalities are fiscally
strained by maintaining extensive road networks on a smaller tax base;
AND WHEREAS, preventing crashes reduces the burden on Ontario's
already strained rural strained health care system;
AND WHEREAS, roadway collisions and associated lawsuits are
significant factors in runaway municipal insurance premiums.
Preventing crashes can have a significant impact in improving
municipal risk profiles;
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT the County of Elgin requests
that the Government of Ontario take action to implement the rural road
safety program that Good Roads has committed to lead. It will allow
Ontario's rural municipalities to make the critical investments needed to
reduce the high number of people being killed and seriously injured on
Ontario's rural roads, and
FURTHER THAT a copy of this resolution be forwarded to Premier
Doug Ford, Hon. Prabmeet Sarkaria, Minister of Transportation, Hon.
Kinga Surma, Minister of Infrastructure, Hon. Rob Flack, Minister of
Agriculture, Hon. Lisa Thompson, Minister of Rural Affairs, Hon. Trevor
Jones, Associate Minister of Emergency Preparedness and Response,
and Hon. Sylvia Jones, Minister of Health, and Good Roads; and
FURTHER THAT this resolution be circulated to all municipalities in
Ontario requesting their support.
Motion Carried.
7.2 Items for Information (Consent Agenda)
None.
8. Other Business
8.1 Statements/inquiries by Members
None.
8.2 Notice of Motion
None.
8.3 Matters of Urgency
None.
9. Closed Meeting Items
Moved by: Councillor Widner
Seconded by: Councillor Giguere
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 Meeting Item #1 - Labour Relations Matters
(d) labour relations and employee negotiations.
Closed Meeting #2 - Sunset Provincial Lands (verbal)
(h) information explicitly supplied in confidence to the municipality or local board
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by Canada, a province or territory or a Crown agency of any of them.
Closed Meetinq Item #3 - LS 24-11 Sunset Provincial Lands
(f) advice that is subject to solicitor -client privilege, including communications
necessary for that purpose; and (h) information explicitly supplied in confidence
to the municipality or local board by Canada, a province or territory or a Crown
agency of any of them.
Closed Meetina Item #4 - 3rd Quarter Oraanizational Review
(b) personal matters about an identifiable individual, including municipal or local
board employees.
Motion Carried.
9.1 Director of Human Resources and Director of Community and
Cultural Services - Labour Relations Matters
9.2 Chief Administrative Officer/Clerk - Sunset Provincial Lands (verbal)
9.3 Director of Legal Services - LS 24-11 Sunset Provincial Lands
9.4 Chief Administrative Officer/Clerk - 3rd Quarter Organizational
Review (verbal)
10. 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 - Labour Relations Matters
Moved by: Deputy Warden Jones
Seconded by: Councillor Leatham
RESOLVED THAT staff proceed as directed.
Motion Carried.
Closed Meeting Item #2 - Sunset Provincial Lands (verbal)
Moved by: Councillor Noble
Seconded by: Councillor Hentz
RESOLVED THAT the confidential report from the Chief Administrative
Officer/Clerk be received and filed.
Motion Carried.
Closed Meeting Item #3 - LS 24-11 Sunset Provincial Lands
Moved by: Councillor Widner
Seconded by: Councillor Leatham
RESOLVED THAT staff proceed as directed.
Motion Carried.
Closed Meetinq Item #4 - 3rd Quarter Organizational Review
Moved by: Councillor Noble
Seconded by: Deputy Warden Jones
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RESOLVED THAT the confidential report from the Chief Administrative
Officer/Clerk be received for information.
Motion Carried.
11. Motion to Adopt Recommendations from the Committee of the Whole
Moved by: Councillor Noble
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. 24-37 Confirmation
BEING a By -Law to Confirm Proceedings of the Municipal Council of the
Corporation of the County of Elgin at the October 22, 2024 Meeting.
Moved by: Councillor Noble
Seconded by: Deputy Warden Jones
RESOLVED THAT By -Law No. 24-37 be now read a first, second, and
third time and finally passed.
Motion Carried.
13. Adjournment
Moved by: Councillor Widner
Seconded by: Councillor Couckuyt
RESOLVED THAT we do now adjourn at 12:26 p.m. to meet again on November
12, 2024 at 9:00 a.m.
Motion Carried.
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Blaine Parkin,
Chief Administrative Officer/Clerk.
` Ed Ketchabaw,
Warden.
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