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14 - June 23, 2026 County Council Minutes1�n ElginCounty Elgin County Council Regular Council Meeting Minutes June 23, 2026, 9:45 a.m. Council Chambers 450 Sunset Drive St. Thomas ON Members Present: Warden Dominique Giguere Deputy Warden Grant Jones Councillor Ed Ketchabaw Councillor Mark Widner Councillor Jack Couckuyt Councillor Todd Noble Councillor Mike Hentz Councillor Richard Leatham Members Absent: Councillor Andrew Sloan (with notice) Staff Present: Blaine Parkin, Chief Administrative Officer Nicholas Loeb, Director of Legal Services Brian Masschaele, Director of Community & Cultural Services Peter Dutchak, Director of Engineering Services Mat Vaughan, Director of Planning and Development Holly Hurley, Director of People & Culture Joe Anne Holloway, Director of Homes and Seniors Services Katherine Thompson, County Clerk/Manager of Administrative Services Diana Morris, Senior Planner Stefanie Heide, Executive Performance Coordinator Jeff Lawrence, Tree Commissioner/Weed Inspector Lindsay King, Policy Planner 1. Meeting Call to Order The meeting was called to order at 9:58 a.m. with Warden Giguere in the chair. 2. Approval of Agenda Moved by: Councillor Hentz Seconded by: Councillor Noble RESOLVED THAT the agenda for the June 23, 2026 County Council Meeting be approved as presented. Motion Carried. 3. Introductions, Recognitions, Memorials None. 4. Adoption of Minutes Moved by: Councillor Leatham Seconded by: Deputy Warden Jones RESOLVED THAT the minutes of the meeting held on June 9, 2026 be adopted. Motion Carried. 5. Disclosure of Pecuniary Interest and the General Nature Thereof 6. Presenting Petitions, Presentations and Delegations None. 7. Motion to Adopt Recommendations from the Committee of the Whole 7.1 Warden Giguere -ADM 26-21 - Recommendations from Committee of the Whole — June 9, 2026 Moved by: Councillor Hentz Seconded by: Councillor Widner RESOLVED THAT items CW26-60 and CW26-63 from the Committee of the Whole meeting dated June 9, 2026, and the recommendations therein be adopted. Motion Carried. Moved by: Deputy Warden Jones Seconded by: Councillor Noble RESOLVED THAT the Council of the Corporation of the County of Elgin grants draft plan approval to Draft Plan of Subdivision 34T-SO2502, Township of Southwold, 9210 Union Road, certified by Thomas J. Stirling O.L.S on behalf of Domus Developments Inc., dated November 6, 2025; and THAT staff be directed to provide notice of this decision subject to the conditions of final approval in accordance with the requirements of the Planning Act. Motion Carried. Moved by: Councillor Hentz Seconded by: Councillor Noble RESOLVED THAT the Council of the Corporation of the County of Elgin grants draft plan approval to Draft Plan of Subdivision 34T SO2503, Township of Southwold, 10141 Talbotville Gore Road, certified by Gavin P.T. Seaman, OLS., dated November 23, 2025; and THAT staff be directed to provide notice of this decision subject to the conditions of final approval in accordance with the requirements of the Planning Act. Motion Carried. 8. Committee Recommendations None. 9. Reports for Information and Immediate Consideration 9.1 Tree Commissioner/Weed Inspector - ADM 26-22 Tree Commissioner/Weed Inspector Quarterly Report January — March 2026 The Tree Commissioner/Weed Inspector presented the report that summarizes the activity related to the Elgin County Woodlands Conservation By -Law and weed inspection activity for the period of January 1, 2026 to March 31, 2026. 2 Moved by: Councillor Widner Seconded by: Councillor Ketchabaw RESOLVED THAT the report titled "ADM 26-22 Tree Commissioner/Weed Inspector Quarterly Report January — March 2026" from the Tree Commissioner/Weed Inspector dated June 23, 2026 be received and filed. Motion Carried. 9.2 Director of Financial Services/Treasurer - FIN 26-07 2025 Audited Financial Statements and 2026 Annual Report (Final) The Chief Administrative Officer introduced Rob Foster, Partner at Graham Scott Enns Charted Professional Accountants. Mr. Foster presented the 2025 Audited Financial Statements and the 2025 Audit Findings Letter for Council's review and approval. Moved by: Deputy Warden Jones Seconded by: Councillor Ketchabaw RESOLVED THAT the Warden, Chief Administrative Officer, and Director of Financial Services/Treasurer be authorized to sign off on the final statements and audit findings letters as presented; and THAT the 2025 Annual Report for the Corporation of the County of Elgin be received and posted on our website in its final form once the audited statements are signed. Motion Carried. 9.3 Policy Planner - PLN 26-11 Provincial Planning Policy and Legislative Updates The Policy Planner presented the report that provides details regarding legislative and policy updates introduced by the Province through Bill 98 - Building Homes and Improving Transportation Infrastructure Act, 2026 and Bill 119 - Municipal Accountability Act, 2026 that may affect land use planning and development review processes within Elgin County and its local municipal partners. Moved by: Councillor Hentz Seconded by: Councillor Leatham RESOLVED THAT the report titled "PLN 26-11 Provincial Planning Policy and Legislative Updates" from the Policy Planner dated June 23, 2026 be received and filed; and THAT Council send a letter of support for Administrative Monetary Penalties (AMPs) as contained in Bill 119. Motion Carried. 10. Council Correspondence Moved by: Deputy Warden Jones Seconded by: Councillor Widner RESOLVED THAT Correspondence Items 10.1 - 10.4 be received and filed. Motion Carried. 10.1 Southwestern Public Health -"Bring Your Own" Alcohol at Outdoor Public Events Guidance Document for Municipalities 10.2 South Central Ontario Region Economic Development Corporation (SCOR EDC) Board Meeting Minutes -April 4, 2026 3 10.3 Western Ontario Wardens' Caucus Media Release - Registration Opens for 2026 Western Ontario Municipal Conference in Guelph 10.4 Resolution from the County of Prince Edward regarding a request to the Province to extend the deadline for Notices of Intention to Designate Listed Heritage Properties 10.5 Flag Raising and Proclamation Request from St. Thomas -Elgin Crime Stoppers for Crime Stoppers Month Moved by: Councillor Noble Seconded by: Deputy Warden Jones RESOLVED THAT the request from St. Thomas -Elgin Crime Stoppers to hold a flag raising and proclamation on September 1, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. in recognition of Crime Stoppers Month be approved. Motion Carried. 11. Statements/Inquiries by Members Councillor Widner shared an invitation from Chaplain Nick Wells inviting Council to the Annual Founders Day Service at the Old St. Thomas Church on Sunday, July 5, 2026 at 3:00 p.m. 12. Closed Meeting Items Moved by: Councillor Ketchabaw 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 Meetinq Item #1 - Closed Meeting Minutes - June 9 2026 Closed Meeting Item #2 - PAC 26-03 Bargaining Mandate (d) labour relations or employee negotiations Closed Meeting Item #3 - HSS 26-06 Homes Staffing (b) personal matters about an identifiable individual, including municipal or local board employees. Motion Carried. 12.1 Closed Meeting Minutes - June 9, 2026 12.2 Director of People and Culture - PAC 26-03 Bargaining Mandate 12.3 Director of Homes and Seniors Services - HSS 26-06 Homes Staffing 13. Motion to Rise and Report Moved by: Councillor Leatham Seconded by: Councillor Noble RESOLVED THAT we do now rise and report. Motion Carried. Closed Meeting Item #1 - Closed Meeting Minutes - June 9 2026 Moved by: Deputy Warden Jones Seconded by: Councillor Noble RESOLVED THAT the June 9, 2026 closed meeting minutes be adopted. 2 Motion Carried. Closed Meeting Item #2 - PAC 26-03 Bargaining Mandate Moved by: Councillor Hentz Seconded by: Councillor Noble RESOLVED THAT staff proceed as directed; and THAT the confidential report from the Director of People and Culture be recieved and filed. Motion Carried. Closed Meeting Item #3 - HSS 26-06 Homes Staffing Moved by: Deputy Warden Jones Seconded by: Councillor Widner RESOLVED THAT the Director of Homes and Seniors Services proceed as d i rected. Motion Carried. 14. Consideration of By -Laws 14.1 By -Law No. 26-27 Procedural By -Law BEING a By -Law to Regulate the Proceedings of the Municipal Council of the Corporation of the County of Elgin. Moved by: Deputy Warden Jones Seconded by: Councillor Ketchabaw RESOLVED THAT By -Law No. 26-27 be now read a first, second, and third time and finally passed. Motion Carried. 14.2 By -Law No. 26-28 Confirmation BEING a By -Law to Confirm Proceedings of the Municipal Council of the Corporation of the County of Elgin at the June 23, 2026 Meeting. Moved by: Councillor Leatham Seconded by: Councillor Ketchabaw RESOLVED THAT By -Law No. 26-28 be now read a first, second, and third time and finally passed. Motion Carried. 15. Adjournment Moved by: Councillor Widner Seconded by: Deputy Warden Jones RESOLVED THAT we do now adjourn at 11:09 a.m. to meet again on July 14, 2026 at 9:00 a.m. Motion Carried. 61 *Ckk' � �A kOO4A—� Al-" A Katherine Thompson, Dominique 11 ere, Ok, County Clerk/Manager of Warden. Administrative Services.