Elgin County Council

Minutes

Tuesday, March 26, 2024 at 9:00 A.m. - 12:00 P.m.

Council Chambers

450 Sunset Drive

St. Thomas ON

Members Present:

• Warden Ed Ketchabaw
• Deputy Warden Grant Jones
• Councillor Dominique Giguère
• Councillor Mark Widner
• Councillor Jack Couckuyt
• Councillor Andrew Sloan
• Councillor Todd Noble
• Councillor Mike Hentz
• Councillor Taraesa Tellier

Members Absent:

• Councillor Richard Leatham (with notice)

Staff Present:

• Blaine Parkin, Chief Administrative Officer/Clerk
• Amy Thomson, Director of Human Resources
• Michele Harris, Director of Homes and Seniors Services
• Jennifer Ford, Director of Financial Services/Treasurer
• Nicholas Loeb, Director of Legal Services
• 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 9:00 a.m. with Warden Ketchabaw in the chair.

2.

Adoption of Minutes

• Moved by: Councillor Hentz
  Seconded by: Deputy Warden Jones

  RESOLVED THAT the minutes of the meeting held on March 12, 2024 be adopted.

  Motion Carried.

3.

Disclosure of Pecuniary Interest and the General Nature Thereof

None.

4.

Presenting Petitions, Presentations and Delegations

4.1

Bernia Martin, Monica Nusink, and Peter Heywood, Southwestern Public Health - 2024 Budget and the Road Ahead

Representatives from Southwestern Public Health provided a presentation to County Council detailing the Board of Health population health highlights, priorities and budget & levy information for 2024. 

• Moved by: Councillor Couckuyt
  Seconded by: Councillor Widner

  RESOLVED THAT the presentation titled "2024 Budget & the Road Ahead" from Southwestern Public Health be received and filed.

  Motion Carried.

5.

Committee of the Whole

• Moved by: Councillor Noble
  Seconded by: Councillor Tellier

  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 Homes and Seniors Services - Homes – Committee of Management

The Director of Homes and Seniors Services presented the report seeking Council's approval for the Terms of Reference, By-Law No. 24-10, and for the designation of the Council of the County of Elgin as the Committee of Management for Elgin County's three Long-Term Care Homes. 

• Moved by: Councillor Hentz
  Seconded by: Deputy Warden Jones

  RESOLVED THAT the report titled “Homes – Committee of Management” dated March 26, 2024 from the Director of Homes and Seniors Services be received and filed; and
  
  THAT Council approve the Terms of Reference for the Committee of Management for Bobier Villa, Elgin Manor and Terrace Lodge Long-Term Care Homes; and
  
  THAT the Council of the County of Elgin be designated as the Committee of Management for Bobier Villa, Elgin Manor and Terrace Lodge Long-Term Care Homes to fulfill the requirement under Subsection 135 (1) of the Fixing Long-Term Care Act, 2021; and
  
  THAT Council authorize execution of By-Law No. 24-10 to establish a Long-Term Care Homes Committee of Management for the Corporation of the County of Elgin.

  Motion Carried.

6.2

Director of Human Resources - 2024 Benefit Plan Renewal

The Director of Human Resources presented the report seeking Council's approval of the negotiated 2024 benefit plan renewal rate adjustments with Manulife Financial for the County of Elgin benefit plans. 

• Moved by: Councillor Sloan
  Seconded by: Councillor Widner

  RESOLVED THAT County Council approve the 2024 negotiated renewal rate adjustments with Manulife Financial for all County of Elgin benefit plans.

  Motion Carried.

6.3

Director of Financial Services/Treasurer - 2024 Borrowing By-Law

The Director of Financial Services/Treasurer presented the report seeking Council's approval to adopt Borrowing By-Law No. 24-11 to support the County's credit facility annual in order to provide business continuity. 

• Moved by: Deputy Warden Jones
  Seconded by: Councillor Noble

  RESOLVED THAT the March 26, 2024, report titled, “2024 Borrowing By-Law”, submitted by the Director of Financial Services/Treasurer to outline the need to maintain a credit facility be received and filed; and
  
  THAT the amended accompanying Borrowing By-Law for 2024 be read for approval.

  Motion Carried.

6.4

Director of Financial Services/Treasurer - Council and Outside Boards Remuneration and Expenses

The Director of Financial Services/Treasurer provided a statement to Council related to Council and Outside Boards remuneration and expenses paid in 2023. 

• Moved by: Councillor Hentz
  Seconded by: Councillor Tellier

  RESOLVED THAT the report titled "Council and Outside Boards Remuneration and Expenses" dated March 26, 2024 from the Director of Financial Services/Treasurer be received and filed. 

  Motion Carried.

6.5

Director of Legal Services - LS 24-5 – Road Closing By-Law – Part 5, 11R-10965

The Director of Legal Services presented the report recommending that Council close a small, untraveled 25 square meter portion of Union Road in the Township of Southwold for the purposes of enabling the small area to be transferred to Domus Developments (London) Inc.

• Moved by: Deputy Warden Jones
  Seconded by: Councillor Couckuyt

  RESOLVED THAT the report titled "LS 24-5 - Road Closing By-Law - Part 5, 11R-10965" dated March 26, 2024 from the Director of Legal Services and Director of Engineering Services be received and filed; and 
  
  THAT Council pass the road closing by-law for Part of Lot 16, Range 1 South of Union Road, Part Lot 16 Range 2 South of Union Road, Part 5, Plan 11R-10965, Township of Southwold, as it appears on the March 26, 2024 Council agenda.

  Motion Carried.

7.

Council Correspondence

7.1

Items for Consideration

None.

7.2

Items for Information (Consent Agenda)

• Moved by: Councillor Noble
  Seconded by: Councillor Couckuyt

  RESOLVED THAT Correspondence Items #7.2.1 - 7.2.6 be received and filed.

  Motion Carried.

7.2.1

Elgin St. Thomas Coalition to End Poverty - 2023 Timeline of Success

7.2.2

Invitation to the Middlesex County Warden's Charity Golf Tournament, Tuesday June 18, 2024

7.2.3

Resolution from the Council of the Town of Goderich calling for the re-establishment of a combined OGRA and ROMA annual conference.

7.2.4

Resolution from the Council of the Corporation of the Town of Aurora requesting an Amenity Sharing Memorandum of Understanding with School Boards for Evening and Weekend Gymnasium Use

7.2.5

Resolution from the Township of Amaranth calling on the Province of Ontario to provide equivalent representative operational budget funding amounts to all Ontario municipalities

7.2.6

Resolution from Loyalist Township regarding solutions to resolve significant financial and budgetary pressures relating to infrastructure development, maintenance and repairs

8.

Other Business

8.1

Statements/Inquiries by Members

8.1.1

Easter Greetings from Warden Ketchabaw

Warden Ketchabaw wished everyone a Happy Easter.

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 Widner
  Seconded by: Councillor Noble

  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. 24-10 Committee of Management

BEING a By-Law to Establish a Long-Term Care Homes Committee of Management for the Corporation of the County of Elgin.

• Moved by: Deputy Warden Jones
  Seconded by: Councillor Giguère

  RESOLVED THAT By-Law No. 24-10 be now read a first, second, and third time and finally passed.

  Motion Carried.

12.2

By-Law No. 24-11 Borrowing

BEING a By-Law to Authorize the Warden and Treasurer to Borrow from Time to Time to Meet Current Expenditures during the Fiscal Year Ending December 31, 2024. 

• Moved by: Councillor Sloan
  Seconded by: Councillor Hentz

  RESOLVED THAT By-Law No. 24-11 be now read a first, second, and third time and finally passed.

  Motion Carried.

12.3

By-Law No. 24-12 - Road Closing

BEING a By-Law to Provide for the Closing of a Portion of Union Street Legally Described as Plan of Survey of Part of Lot 16, Range 1 of South of Union Road, Part Lot 16, Range 2 South of Union Road, Southwold, Being Part 5 11R-10965, Township of Southwold. 

• Moved by: Councillor Noble
  Seconded by: Deputy Warden Jones

  RESOLVED THAT By-Law No. 24-12 be now read a first, second, and third time and finally passed.

  Motion Carried.

12.4

By-Law No. 24-13 Confirmation

BEING a By-Law to Confirm Proceedings of the Municipal Council of the Corporation of the County of Elgin at the March 26, 2024 Meeting.

• Moved by: Councillor Noble
  Seconded by: Councillor Sloan

  RESOLVED THAT By-Law No. 24-13 be now read a first, second, and third time and finally passed.

  Motion Carried.

13.

Adjournment

• Moved by: Councillor Couckuyt
  Seconded by: Councillor Widner

  RESOLVED THAT we do now adjourn at 9:51 a.m. to meet again on April 9, 2024 at 9:00 a.m.

  Motion Carried.