Elgin County Council

Minutes

Tuesday, January 28, 2025 at 10:00 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 (virtual)
• Councillor Todd Noble
• Councillor Mike Hentz
• Councillor Richard Leatham (virtual)

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
• Katherine Thompson, Manager of Administrative Services/Deputy Clerk
• Jenna Fentie, Legislative Services Coordinator
• Stefanie Heide, Legislative Services Coordinator

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1.

Call to Order

The meeting was called to order at 10:00 a.m. with Warden Jones in the chair.

2.

Adoption of Minutes

• Moved by: Councillor Hentz
  Seconded by: Councillor Noble

  RESOLVED THAT the minutes of the meeting held on January 14, 2025 be adopted.

  Motion Carried.

3.

Disclosure of Pecuniary Interest and the General Nature Thereof

None.

4.

Presenting Petitions, Presentations and Delegations

4.1

Betsy McClure, Manager of Communications, Stewardship and Outreach Kettle Creek Conservation Authority - Elgin Clean Water Program 2024 Annual Report

The Manager of Communications, Stewardship and Outreach for Kettle Creek Conservation Authority, Betsy McClure, provided a presentation on the Elgin Clean Water Program 2024 annual report.

• Moved by: Councillor Giguère
  Seconded by: Councillor Hentz

  RESOLVED THAT the presentation from the Elgin Clean Water Program be received and filed; and
  
  THAT Council request that the Elgin Clean Water Program provide a proposal to utilize a portion of the funds for landowners with existing projects to maintain their investment.

  Motion Carried.

4.2

Karen Davies, President & Chief Executive Officer St. Thomas Elgin General Hospital - Case for a New Facility

Karen Davies, President and Chief Executive Officer of St. Thomas Elgin General Hospital (STEGH), presented information and updates about STEGH and outlined the need for a new hospital to meet the evolving healthcare needs of St. Thomas and Elgin County.

• Moved by: Councillor Noble
  Seconded by: Councillor Hentz

  RESOLVED THAT the presentation from the St. Thomas Elgin General Hospital be received and filed.

  Motion Carried.

5.

Committee of the Whole

• Moved by: Councillor Widner
  Seconded by: Councillor Leatham

  RESOLVED THAT we do now move into Committee of the Whole.

  Motion Carried.

6.

Reports of Council, Outside Boards and Staff

6.1

Director of Engineering Services - King Bridge Replacement (Tender No. 2024-T29) – Contract Award

The Director of Engineering Services presented a report providing Council with information regarding the bids received for the tender that was advertised and issued for the Replacement of the King Bridge including a recommendation for the Contract Award. 

• Moved by: Deputy Warden Ketchabaw
  Seconded by: Councillor Widner

  RESOLVED THAT Gary D. Robinson Contracting be selected to complete the King Bridge Replacement Project, Tender No. 2024-T29 at a total price of $1,578,446, inclusive of a $75,000 contingency allowance and exclusive of H.S.T.; and

  THAT the Warden and Chief Administrative Officer be directed and authorized to sign the contract.

  Motion Carried.

6.2

Director of Community and Cultural Services - Relocation of Aylmer Library Branch to the East Elgin Community Complex

The Director of Community and Cultural Services provided a presentation to Council in consideration of requests from the Town of Aylmer Council for Elgin County Council to establish a committee to advance the matter of the Aylmer Library and from the Board of Directors of the East Elgin Community Complex (EECC) regarding a possible relocation of the Aylmer Library to the EECC.

• Moved by: Councillor Couckuyt
  Seconded by: Councillor Giguère

  RESOLVED THAT Elgin County Council endorses in principle the relocation of the Aylmer branch of the Elgin County Library to the East Elgin Community Complex; and

  THAT Aylmer Town Council be requested to endorse in principle the relocation of the Aylmer branch of the Elgin County Library to the East Elgin Community Complex; and

  THAT the Director of Community and Cultural Services report back to County Council regarding next steps in the process to accommodate the Aylmer branch of the Elgin County Library at the East Elgin Community Complex, including opportunities for public consultation; and

  THAT Aylmer Town Council’s request “to establish a committee to advance the matter of a Greater Aylmer area Library” be received and filed based on the information contained in the report titled “Relocation of the Aylmer Library to the East Elgin Community Complex” from the Director of Community and Cultural Services dated January 28, 2025; and

  THAT copies of this report be circulated to the Councils of the Town of Aylmer and the Township of Malahide.

  Yes (9)

  Warden Jones, Councillor Giguère, Deputy Warden Ketchabaw, Councillor Widner, Councillor Couckuyt, Councillor Sloan, Councillor Noble, Councillor Hentz, and Councillor Leatham

  Motion Carried. (9 to 0)

6.3

Manager of Administrative Services/Deputy Clerk - Pre-Budget Consultation Feedback for 2025 Ontario Budget

The Manager of Administrative Services/Deputy Clerk presented a report on the Pre-Budget Consultation feedback for the 2025 Provincial Budget.

• Moved by: Councillor Couckuyt
  Seconded by: Councillor Hentz

  RESOLVED THAT feedback from County Council be incorporated into the draft Pre-Budget Consultation Feedback document; and

  THAT staff submit the Pre-Budget Consultation Feedback document to the Minister of Finance by the February 3, 2025, deadline.

  Motion Carried.

6.4

Manager of Administrative Services/Deputy Clerk - Municipal Accountability Act Consultation Feedback

The Manager of Administrative Services/Deputy Clerk presented a report including a draft letter of Council's feedback on the proposed changes to the Municipal Accountability Act, 2024 to be submitted to the Hon. Paul Calandra, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, for Council's consideration.

• Moved by: Councillor Giguère
  Seconded by: Councillor Hentz

  RESOLVED THAT the report titled “Municipal Accountability Act” from the Manager of Administrative Services/Deputy Clerk dated January 28, 2025 be received and filed; and

  THAT any additional feedback from Council be incorporated into the letter to the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing regarding proposed changes to the Municipal Accountability Act, 2024; and

  THAT staff submit the letter by the submission deadline of February 10, 2025.

  Motion Carried.

6.5

Manager of Administrative Services/Deputy Clerk - Draft Procedural By-Law

The Manager of Administrative Services/Deputy Clerk presented a report including incorporated feedback from Council in a draft Procedural By-Law for Council's consideration.

Council recessed at 11:15 a.m. and reconvened at 11:25 a.m.

• Moved by: Councillor Leatham
  Seconded by: Councillor Sloan

  RESOLVED THAT the report titled “Draft Procedural By-Law” from the Manager of Administrative Services/Deputy Clerk dated January 28, 2025 be received and filed; and

  THAT Staff incorporate any additional feedback into a final version of the updated Procedural By-Law; and

  THAT this report acts as Notice of the intent to repeal By-Law 19-41 and related amendments 20-47, 21-42, and 24-40 and adopt a new by-law to regulate the proceedings in the Municipal Council of the Corporation of the County of Elgin.

  Motion Carried.

7.

Council Correspondence

7.1

Items for Consideration

7.1.1

Resolution from the Municipality of Central Elgin Council RE: Request for Financial Support - Hospice of Elgin

• Moved by: Councillor Sloan
  Seconded by: Councillor Noble

  RESOLVED THAT Item 7.1.1 Resolution from the Municipality of Central Elgin Council RE: Request for Financial Support - Hospice of Elgin be considered at the January 28, 2025 Finance Committee meeting, including the ask for $100,000.

  Motion Carried.

7.2

Items for Information (Consent Agenda)

• Moved by: Councillor Noble
  Seconded by: Councillor Couckuyt

  RESOLVED THAT Correspondence Items #7.2.1 - 7.2.2 be received and filed. 

  Motion Carried.

7.2.1

Western Ontario Warden's Caucus Media Release - Mayor Amy Martin elected as WOWC Chair for 2025, with photos

7.2.2

Email from James Crane RE: Tree Conservation

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

None.

10.

Motion to Rise and Report

None.

11.

Motion to Adopt Recommendations from the Committee of the Whole

• Moved by: Councillor Giguère
  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. 25-04 Joseph Street 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 Sloan

  RESOLVED THAT By-Law No. 25-04 be now read a first, second, and third time and finally passed.

  Motion Carried.

12.2

By-Law No. 25-05 Confirmation

BEING a By-Law to Confirm Proceedings of the Municipal Council of the Corporation of the County of Elgin at the January 28, 2025 Meeting.

• Moved by: Councillor Noble
  Seconded by: Councillor Leatham

  RESOLVED THAT By-Law No. 25-05 be now read a first, second, and third time and finally passed.

  Motion Carried.

13.

Adjournment

• Moved by: Councillor Widner
  Seconded by: Deputy Warden Ketchabaw

  RESOLVED THAT we do now adjourn at 11:31 a.m. to meet again on February 11, 2025 at 9:00 a.m.

  Motion Carried.