Elgin County Council

Committee of the Whole Meeting

Minutes

Tuesday, June 10, 2025 at 9:30 A.m. - 1:00 P.m.

Council Chambers

450 Sunset Drive

St. Thomas ON

Members Present:

• Warden Grant Jones
• Deputy Warden Ed Ketchabaw
• Councillor Dominique Giguère
• 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
• Jenna Fentie, Legislative Services Coordinator
• Stefanie Heide, Legislative Services Coordinator

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1.

Meeting Call to Order

The meeting was called to order at 10:37 a.m. with Warden Jones in the chair.

2.

Approval of Agenda

• Resolution Number: CW25-29
  Moved by: Councillor Giguère
  Seconded by: Deputy Warden Ketchabaw

  RESOLVED THAT the agenda for the June 10, 2025 Committee of the Whole Meeting be approved as presented.

  Motion Carried.

3.

Adoption of Minutes

• Resolution Number: CW25-30
  Moved by: Councillor Noble
  Seconded by: Councillor Couckuyt

  RESOLVED THAT the minutes of the meeting held on May 27, 2025 be adopted.

  Motion Carried.

4.

Disclosure of Pecuniary Interest and the General Nature Thereof

None.

5.

Members' Motions

None.

6.

Reports of Council, Staff or Outside Boards

6.1

Director of Planning and Development - Consent application delegated authority

The Director of Planning and Development stated that there were no new updates on the report recommending delegated authority for consent applications but that it had been referred to Committee of the Whole for further discussion.

Tom Marks, Chair of the Land Division Committee, and John Seldon, a Member of the Land Division Committee, spoke to the report voicing their support for the current process and for the authority for all consent applications to remain with the Land Division Committee.

Adam McCallum, a Member of the Public, spoke to the report voicing his experiences with the Elgin County land severance process and the potential benefits of expediting the process for non-contentious consent applications.

• Resolution Number: CW25-31
  Moved by: Councillor Hentz
  Seconded by: Councillor Noble

  RESOLVED THAT the report titled "Report Consent application delegated authority" from the Director of Planning and Development dated May 13, 2025 be received and filed; and

  THAT County Council repeal By-Law No. 24-25 Planning Delegation of Authority and adopt and update the by-law as presented in the report.

  Defeated.

6.2

Manager of Economic Development, Tourism & Strategic Initiatives - Elgin County Tourism Content Policy

The Manager of Economic Development, Tourism & Strategic Initiatives presented the report recommending a formal policy to guide what content and events are to be included on the Tourism website and in printed tourism materials.

• Resolution Number: CW25-32
  Moved by: Deputy Warden Ketchabaw
  Seconded by: Councillor Leatham

  RESOLVED THAT Council approve the Elgin County Tourism Content Policy.

  Motion Carried.

7.

Adjournment

• Resolution Number: CW25-33
  Moved by: Councillor Widner
  Seconded by: Councillor Giguère

  RESOLVED THAT we do now adjourn at 11:24 a.m. to meet again on June 24, 2025 at 9:30 a.m.

  Motion Carried.