13 - June 10, 2025 County Council MinutesElginCounty
Elgin County Council
Regular Council Meeting
Minutes
June 10, 2025, 9:00 a.m.
Council Chambers
450 Sunset Drive
St. Thomas ON
Members Present: Warden Grant Jones
Deputy Warden Ed Ketchabaw
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
Nicholas Loeb, Director of Legal Services
Michele Harris, Director of Homes and Seniors Services
Jennifer Ford, Director of Financial Services/Treasurer (virtual)
Peter Dutchak, Director of Engineering Services
Mat Vaughan, Director of Planning and Development
Holly Hurley, Director of People & Culture
Carolyn Krahn, Manager of Economic Development, Tourism &
Strategic Initiatives
Katherine Thompson, Manager of Administrative
Services/Deputy Clerk
Diana Morris, Senior Planner
Mike Hoogstra, Manager of Purchasing and Risk
Natalie Marlowe, Manager of Library Services
Jenna Fentie, Legislative Services Coordinator
Stefanie Heide, Legislative Services Coordinator
Meeting Call to Order
The meeting was called to order at 9:00 a.m. with Warden Jones in the chair.
Moved by: Councillor Noble
Seconded by: Councillor Leatham
RESOLVED THAT the agenda for the June 10, 2025 County Council Meeting be
approved as presented.
Motion Carried.
3. Introductions, Recognitions, Memorials
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4. Adoption of Minutes
Moved by: Councillor Noble
Seconded by: Councillor Widner
RESOLVED THAT the minutes of the meeting and special meeting held on May
27, 2025 be adopted.
Motion Carried.
5. Disclosure of Pecuniary Interest and the General Nature Thereof
None.
5. Presenting Petitions, Presentations and Delegations
None.
7. Motion to Adopt Recommendations from the Committee of the Whole
7.1 Recommendations of Committee of the Whole - May 27, 2025 Meeting
Moved by: Councillor Couckuyt
Seconded by: Councillor Giguere
RESOLVED THAT Items CW25-20 - CW25-28 from the Committee of the
Whole Meeting dated May 27, 2025, except for Item CW25-26 identified
for separate consideration, and the recommendations therein be adopted.
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Moved by: Councillor Couckuyt
Seconded by: Councillor Giguere
RESOLVED THAT Item CW25-26 be referred to a future Committee of the
Whole meeting.
Motion Carried.
8. Committee Recommendations
8.1 Joint Accessibility Advisory Committee Recommendation - May 29,
2025
Moved by: Councillor Noble
Seconded by: Councillor Sloan
RESOLVED THAT Item JAAC25-4 from the Joint Accessibility Advisory
Committee dated May 29, 2025 and the recommendations therein be
adopted.
Motion Carried.
8.2 Draft Committee Meeting Minutes
8.2.1 Joint Advisory Accessibility Committee Meeting -May 29, 2025
Draft Meeting Minutes
9. Reports for Information and Immediate Consideration
9.1 Warden Jones - Warden's Activity Report (May 2025)
Warden Jones presented a report detailing his activities during the month
of May 2025.
Moved by: Councillor Sloan
Seconded by: Councillor Leatham
RESOLVED THAT the report titled "Warden's Activity Report (May 2025)"
from Warden Jones dated June 10, 2025 be received and filed.
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Motion Carried.
9.2 Manager of Procurement & Risk - Procurement Activity Report Q1
(January 1, 2025 to March 31, 2025)
The Manager of Procurement & Risk presented a report detailing the
procurement activities for all contract awards between $15,000 - $250,000
that were approved by directors from January 1, 2025 to March 31, 2025,
in accordance with the County's Procurement Policy.
Moved by: Councillor Hentz
Seconded by: Deputy Warden Ketchabaw
RESOLVED THAT the report titled "Procurement Activity Report Q1
(January 1, 2025 to March 31, 2025)" from the Manager of Procurement &
Risk dated June 10, 2025 be received and filed.
Motion Carried.
9.3 Director, People and Culture - People and Culture Department Update
The Director of People and Culture presented a report providing an update
on changes in the department of People and Culture in alignment with the
County's 2024-2026 Strategic Plan.
Moved by: Councillor Widner
Seconded by: Councillor Giguere
RESOLVED THAT the report titled "People and Culture Department
Update" from the Director, People and Culture dated June 10, 2025 be
received and filed.
Motion Carried.
9.4 Director of Planning and Development - Update on Bill 5, Bill 17 and
Bill 30
The Director of Planning and Development presented the report providing
a review of the provincial Bill 5 - Protect Ontario by Unleashing our
Economy Act 2025, Bill 17 - Protect Ontario by Building Faster and
Smarter Act 2025, and Bill 30 - Working for Workers Act 2025.
Moved by: Councillor Couckuyt
Seconded by: Councillor Hentz
RESOLVED THAT the report titled "Update on Bill 5, Bill 17 and Bill 30"
from the Director of Planning and Development dated June 10, 2025 be
received and filed; and
THAT the report titled "Update on Bill 5, Bill 17 and Bill 30" from the
Director of Planning and Development dated June 10, 2025 be circulated
to the County's Local Municipal Partners for information; and
THAT staff send Council's concerns regarding Bill 5, Bill 17 and Bill 30 to
the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing.
Motion Carried.
10. Council Correspondence
Moved by: Councillor Hentz
Seconded by: Councillor Couckuyt
RESOLVED THAT Correspondence Items 10.1 - 10.2, 10.4 - 10.5, and 10.7 -
10.8 be received and filed.
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Motion Carried.
Moved by: Councillor Couckuyt
Seconded by: Councillor Giguere
RESOLVED THAT Correspondence Item 10.3 "Letter from Mayor Jack Couckuyt
re: Letter of Intent - Town of Aylmer - Elgin County Library Branch Construction
Policy" be referred to the Director of Community and Cultural Services for a
follow-up report.
Motion Carried.
Moved by: Councillor Sloan
Seconded by: Councillor Noble
RESOLVED THAT County Council approve a flag raising and proclamation
request from the Elgin County Drowning Prevention Coalition in recognition of
National Drowning Prevention Week and World Drowning Prevention Day and
that it be held on July 21, 2025.
Motion Carried.
10.1 WOWC Media Release - Powering Ontario's Economic Engine:
WOWC Launches 2025-2027 Strategic Priorities at Queen's Park
10.2 WOWC 2025-2027 Priorities
10.3 Letter from Mayor Jack Couckuyt re: Letter of Intent Town of Aylmer
- Elgin County Library Branch Construction Policy
10.4 June is Seniors Month Tipsheet and Factsheet from the Ministry of
Seniors and Accessibility
10.5 St. Thomas Elgin Local Immigration Partnership (STELIP) - Moving
Forward Report 2025
10.6 Flag Raising and Proclamation Request from the Elgin County
Drowning Prevention Coalition
10.7 Resolution from the Council of the City of Pickering re: Raising
Ontario Works and Ontario Disability Support Program
10.8 Resolution from the District of Parry Sound Municipal Association re:
Supporting Municipal Ethics Through Access and Education
11. Statements/inquiries by Members
11.1 Councillor Sloan - Inquiry on Financial Update
Councillor Sloan inquired when Council would receive the next financial
update. The Chief Administrative Officer/Clerk stated that a report detailing
financial information and employee metrics would be presented to Council
in August.
12. Closed Meeting Items
Moved by: Councillor Widner
Seconded by: Councillor Noble
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 - Closed Meeting Minutes - May 27, 2025
Closed Meeting Item #2 - First Quarter Update (verbal)
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(b) personal matters about an identifiable individual, including municipal or local
board employees
Motion Carried.
12.1 Closed Meeting Minutes - May 27, 2025
12.2 Chief Administrative Officer/Clerk - First Quarter Update (verbal)
13. Motion to Rise and Report
Council recessed at 10:20 am and reconvened at 10:34 a.m.
Moved by: Councillor Noble
Seconded by: Councillor Giguere
RESOLVED THAT we do now rise and report.
Motion Carried.
Closed Meeting Item #1 - Closed Meeting Minutes - May 27, 2025
Moved by Councillor Hentz
Seconded by: Councillor Leatham
RESOLVED THAT the May 27, 2025 Closed Meeting Minutes be adopted.
Motion Carried.
Closed Meeting Item #2 - First Quarter Update
Moved by: Councillor Widner
Seconded by: Councillor Sloan
RESOLVED THAT the confidential verbal report titled "First Quarter Update" from
the Chief Administrative Officer/Clerk be received and filed.
Motion Carried.
14. Consideration of By -Laws
14.1 By -Law No. 25-24 St. George St. Speed Zone Amendment
Being a By -Law to Amend the Schedule to By -Law No. 24-19 Being a By -
Law to Authorize Speed Limits.
Moved by: Councillor Noble
Seconded by: Councillor Hentz
RESOLVED THAT By -Law No. 25-24 be now read a first, second, and
third time and finally passed.
Motion Carried.
14.2 By -Law No. 25-25 Confirmation
BEING a By -Law to Confirm Proceedings of the Municipal Council of the
Corporation of the County of Elgin at the June 10, 2025 Meeting.
Moved by: Councillor Noble
Seconded by: Councillor Leatham
RESOLVED THAT By -Law No. 25-25 be now read a first, second, and
third time and finally passed.
Motion Carried.
15. Adjournment
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Moved by: Councillor Couckuyt
Seconded by: Councillor Leatham
RESOLVED THAT we do now adjourn at 10:36 a.m. to meet again on June 24,
2025 at 9.00 a.m.
Motion Carried.
B ain Parkin,
Chief Administrative Officer/Clerk.
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