Municipality of West Elgin

Minutes

Special Meeting of Council

Tuesday, June 03, 2025 at 4:00 P.m. - 5:00 P.m.

Council Chambers

160 Main Street

West Lorne

Present:

• Mayor Leatham
• Deputy Mayor Tellier
• Councillor Denning
• Councillor Statham

Staff Present:

• Jeff McArthur, Fire Chief
• Terri Towstiuc, Manager of Community Services/Clerk
• Magda Badura, Manager of Corporate Services (Treasurer)
• Robin Greenall, Chief Administrative Officer
• Dave Charron, Manager of Infrastructure & Development

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1.

Call to Order

Mayor Leatham called the Special Meeting of Council to order at 4:00 pm.

2.

Motion to Suspend the Rules

Pursuant to Section 3.5 of By-law 2024-05 (Procedural By-law) "Any part or parts of this by-law may be suspended by a vote with the consent of Council Members present unless the part(s) is prescribed by statute or law."

• SCM 2024- 11
  Moved: Councillor Statham
  Seconded: Councillor Denning

  That West Elgin Council hereby suspend the rules of By-law 2024-05, Section 4.2.6.3, allowing an amendment to the agenda after the deadline, for the purpose of the addition of an Item of Consideration - Motion to Amend Motion 2025-155; And

  That Council hereby further suspend the rules of By-law 2024-05, Section 15.2 and 15.7, allowing the Motion to Amend Motion 2025-155 to be introduced at the same meeting, being June 3, 2025.

  Carried

3.

Adoption of Agenda

• SCM 2024- 12
  Moved: Deputy Mayor Tellier
  Seconded: Councillor Statham

  That West Elgin Council hereby adopts the Special Meeting Agenda of June 3, 2025 as presented.

  Carried

4.

Disclosure of Pecuniary Interest

No disclosures

5.

Adoption of Previous Special Meeting Minutes

• SCM 2024- 13
  Moved: Councillor Denning
  Seconded: Deputy Mayor Tellier

  That West Elgin Council hereby adopts the Special Meeting Minutes of May 28, 2025, as presented.

  Carried

6.

M. Badura, Manager of Corporate Services/Treasurer Re: 2025 Draft Budget Revisions

M. Badura, Manager of Corporate Services/Treasurer, reviewed the draft budget by individual areas and departments, allowing for Council to ask questions or provide comments and/or motions, for each department. Council had many discussions around wages, earned interest on investments, increased costs for legal and audits, obligatory expenses, Fire Department requirements and grants. During deliberations, the following motions were made:

• SCM 2024- 14
  Moved: Councillor Denning
  Seconded: Deputy Mayor Tellier

  That West Elgin Council direct staff to obtain quotes to 1) install lighting around the restaurant at Port Glasgow Trailer Park and 2) complete washroom renovations at Port Glasgow Trailer Park. 

  Carried
• SCM 2024- 15
  Moved: Deputy Mayor Tellier
  Seconded: Councillor Statham

  That West Elgin Council direct staff to reduce the amount allocated for Council Conferences & Seminar's for 2025, from $15,000 to $10,000.

  Carried
• SCM 2024- 16
  Moved: Councillor Denning
  Seconded: Councillor Statham

  That West Elgin Council hereby defer the office equipment purchase resulting from the ergonomic assessment to the 2026 budget. 

  Defeated
• SCM 2024- 17
  Moved: Councillor Statham
  Seconded: Councillor Denning

  That West Elgin Council hereby direct staff to prepare a presentation for the next meeting of Council, reviewing the details of the pay equity review, outlining the the reasons for the review and new positions added.

  Carried
• SCM 2024- 18
  Moved: Councillor Denning
  Seconded: Councillor Statham

  That West Elgin hereby defer the EV Charging Station project; And

  That Council direct staff to submit a  new supplementary "stacking" grant application under the "Green Economy Grant" program; And

  Further that Council direct staff to apply for an extension to the existing grant for EV Charging Stations. 

  Carried
• SCM 2024- 19
  Moved: Councillor Statham
  Seconded: Councillor Denning

  That West Elgin Council approve a withdraw of $100,000.00 from the Tax Stabilization Reserve, to assist in offsetting the 2025 rate increase. 

  Carried
• SCM 2024- 20
  Moved: Deputy Mayor Tellier
  Seconded: Councillor Statham

  That West Elgin Council hereby receive the 2025 Port Glasgow Trailer Park, Water, Wastewater and Operating Budget, for information and discussion purposes. 

  Carried

7.

Items of Consideration

7.1

Councillor Statham - Motion to Amend 2025-155

• SCM 2024- 21
  Moved: Councillor Statham
  Seconded: Councillor Denning

  I, Councillor Statham, hereby move a motion to amend motion 2025-155, to read the following:

  That West Elgin Council hereby schedule a Special Meeting of Council on Thursday, June 5, 2025 at 4:00pm, for the purpose of Ward 3 Candidate Interviews; And

  That the selection of Ward 3 Councillor will be made on Thursday, June 5, 2025, at the Special Meeting of Council, and appointment will be made on Thursday, June 12, 2025, at the Regular Meeting of Council.

  Carried

8.

Gas Tax By-law and Agreement

• SCM 2024- 22
  Moved: Deputy Mayor Tellier
  Seconded: Councillor Statham

  That By-law 2025-31, Being a By-law to Authorize the Execution of an Agreement between His Majesty the King in Right of Ontario, as represented by the Minister of Transportation, and The Corporation of the Municipality of West Elgin for the Provision and Use of Dedicated Gas Tax Funds Under the Dedicated Gas Tax Funds for Public Transportation Program be read a first, second, third and final time.

  Carried

9.

Confirmatory By-law

• SCM 2024- 23
  Moved: Councillor Denning
  Seconded: Deputy Mayor Tellier

  That By-law 2025-32, Being a By-Law to confirm the proceedings of the Special Meeting of Council held on June 3, 2025, be read a first, second and third and final time.

  Carried

10.

Adjournment

• SCM 2024- 24
  Moved: Councillor Statham
  Seconded: Councillor Denning

  That the Council of the Municipality of West Elgin hereby adjourn the Special Meeting of Council at 6:03pm to meet again at 4:00pm,  on Thursday, June 5, 2025 (Special Meeting - Ward 3 Interviews) or at the call of the Chair.

  Carried