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23 - November 25, 2025 County Council MinutesElginCounty Elgin County Council Regular Council Meeting Minutes November 25, 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 Brian Masschaele, Director of Community & Cultural Services Jennifer Ford, Director of Financial Services/Treasurer Peter Dutchak, Director of Engineering Services Mat Vaughan, Director of Planning and Development Holly Hurley, Director of People & Culture Katherine Thompson, Manager of Administrative Services/Deputy Clerk Jenna Fentie, Legislative Services Coordinator Stefanie Heide, Legislative Services Coordinator 1. Meeting Call to Order The meeting was called to order at 9:00 a.m. with Warden Jones in the chair. 2. Approval of Agenda Moved by: Councillor Noble Seconded by:'Councillor Hentz RESOLVED THAT the agenda for the November 25, 2025 County Council Meeting be approved as presented. Motion Carried. 3. Introductions, Recognitions, Memorials 3.1 Retirement Recognition - Director of Homes and Seniors Services Warden Jones presented Michele Harris, Director of Homes and Seniors Services with a retirement certificate and thanked her for her 33 years of service with the County of Elgin. 4. Adoption of Minutes Moved by: Councillor Widner Seconded by: Councillor Sloan RESOLVED THAT the minutes of the meeting held on November 12, 2025 be adopted. Motion Carried. 5. Disclosure of Pecuniary Interest and the General Nature Thereof None. 6. Presenting Petitions, Presentations and Delegations 6.1 Heather Sheridan, Director of Social Services - St. Thomas -Elgin Social Services Service Review Presentation Representatives from St. Thomas - Elgin Social Services provided a presentation to Council reviewing the 2025 activities of Ontario Works, Housing Stability Services, and Children's Services. Moved by: Deputy Warden Ketchabaw Seconded by: Councillor Sloan RESOLVED THAT the presentation from St. Thomas - Elgin Social Services be received and filed. Motion Carried. 6.2 Karen Davies, President & CEO, St. Thomas - Elgin General Hospital - 2025 Annual Review & Strategic Update Presentation Karen Davies, President & CEO of St. Thomas - Elgin General Hospital provided a presentation detailing the Hospital's strategic priorities and progress to date and goals for the year ahead. Moved by: Councillor Couckuyt Seconded by: Councillor Giguere RESOLVED THAT the presentation from St. Thomas - Elgin General Hospital be received and filed. Motion Carried. 7. Motion to Adopt Recommendations from the Committee of the Whole 7.1 Recommendations from the Committee of the Whole - November 12, 2025 Moved by: Councillor Widner Seconded by: Councillor Leatham RESOLVED THAT the items CW25-88 - CW25-94 from the Committee of the Whole meeting dated November 12, 2025 and the recommendations therein be adopted. Motion Carried. 8. Committee Recommendations None. 9. Reports for Information and Immediate Consideration None. 10. Council Correspondence 2 Moved by: Councillor Noble Seconded by: Councillor Widner RESOLVED THAT Correspondence Items 10.1 - 10.2 and 10.4 be received and filed. Motion Carried. 10.1 Resolution from the Town of LaSalle regarding a request for Equitable Provincial Support for Municipally Policed Communities 10.2 Letter from the Ministry of Emergency Preparedness and Response regarding the recent Federal -Provincial -Territorial Ministers meeting on Emergency Management 10.3 Resolution from the United Counties of Stormont, Dundas & Glengarry calling on the provincial government to maintain municipally governed conservation authorities Moved by: Deputy Warden Ketchabaw Seconded by: Councillor Leatham RESOLVED THAT County of the Elgin support the resolution from the United Counties of Stormont, Dundas & Glengarry calling on the provincial government to maintain municipally governed conversation authorities and to request that the Province reconsider the size of proposed conservation areas to ensure that local needs continue to be met. Motion Carried. 10.4 Western Ontario Wardens' Caucus (WOWC) Press Release -Western Ontario Fall Funders Forum Series Connect Local Organizations with Funding Opportunities 11. Statements/Inquiries by Members 11.1 Warden Jones - Term of Warden Warden Jones made comments regarding the future of the length of term of the Elgin County Warden and recommended that Council consider extending the term of Warden to two years beginning in the next term of Council. Warden Jones indicated that he plans to bring this forward at a future meeting of Council for further discussion and consideration. 11.2 Chief Administrative Officer/Clerk - Recruitment of Director of Homes and Seniors Services The Chief Administrative Officer/Clerk provided an update on the recruitment process for the new Director of Homes and Seniors Services and announced that Joe Anne Holloway will be fulfilling the role beginning on January 12, 2026. 12. Closed Meeting Items Moved by: Councillor Hentz Seconded by: Councillor Couckuyt 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 - Whites Station Update (c) a proposed or pending acquisition or disposition of land by the municipality or local board; and (f) advice that is subject to solicitor -client privilege, including communications necessary for that purpose. 3 Closed Meeting Item #2 - Chief Administrative Officer/Clerk Performance Appraisal (b) personal matters about an identifiable individual, including municipal or local board employees. Motion Carried. 12.1 Director of Legal Services - LS 25-7 Whites Station Update 12.2 Chief Administrative Officer/Clerk Performance Appraisal 13. Motion to Rise and Report Moved by: Councillor Noble Seconded by: Councillor Widner RESOLVED THAT we do now rise and report. Motion Carried. Closed Meetina Item #1 - LS25-7 Whites Station Update Moved by: Councillor Leatham Seconded by: Councillor Noble RESOLVED THAT the report titled "LS25-7 Whites Station" dated November 25, 2025 from the Director of Legal Services and the Director of Engineering Services be received and filed for information; and THAT Council direct staff to draft a lease of up to 18 months with the Corporation of the Municipality of Central Elgin for consideration by County Council; and THAT staff proceed to market the property for sale as of July 1, 2026 including taking any steps necessary to procure a sales agent. Motion Carried. Closed Meeting Item #2 - Chief Administrative Officer/Clerk Performance Appraisal Moved by: Councillor Widner Seconded by: Councillor Couckuyt RESOLVED THAT the Warden and Director of People and Culture proceed as directed. Motion Carried. 14. Consideration of By -Laws 14.1 By -Law No. 25-38 Confirmation BEING a By -Law to Confirm Proceedings of the Municipal Council of the Corporation of the County of Elgin at the November 25, 2025 Meeting. Moved by: Councillor Noble Seconded by: Councillor Hentz RESOLVED THAT By -Law No. 25-38 be now read a first, second, and third time and finally passed. Motion Carried. 15. Adjournment, C! Moved by: Councillor Leatham Seconded by: Councillor Hentz RESOLVED THAT we do now adjourn at 12:03 p.m. to meet again on December 9, 2025 at 7:00 p.m. Motion Carried. Blaine Parkin, Chief Administrative Officer/Clerk. Dominique Gi uere, Warden.