Municipality of West Elgin

Minutes

Council Meeting

Thursday, November 28, 2024 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
• Councillor Dougherty

Staff Present:

• L. Gosnell, Manager of Operations & Community Services
• Terri Towstiuc, Clerk
• Magda Badura, CAO/Treasurer

Also Present:

• Tom Jeffery, FCHS Foundation (FCHSF) Board Chair

  Krista Shea, MHA VP Clinical Services and CNO

  Jackie VanEerd Beatty, FCHSF Fundraising Coordinator

  Martha Wortner, FCHSF Administrator

  Mat Vaughan, Director of Planning, County of Elgin

  Sarah Emons, Long Point Biosphere Region

  Sam Smith, Ontario Clean Water Agency

  Robin Trepanier, Ontario Clean Water Agency

Council Meetings are held in-person at 160 Main Street, West Lorne, and the post-meeting recording available at www.westelgin.net, when available (pending no technical difficulties).

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1.

Call to Order

Mayor Leatham called the meeting to order at 4:00 pm.

2.

Adoption of Agenda

• Resolution No. 2024- 439
  Moved: Councillor Dougherty
  Seconded: Councillor Statham

  That West Elgin Council hereby adopts the Regular Council Agenda for November 28, 2024, as presented

  
  
  
  Carried

3.

Disclosure of Pecuniary Interest

No disclosures

4.

Delegations

4.1

Four Counties Health Services Foundation

Link to Four Counties Health Services Foundation Video: Four Counties Health Services

Members of the Four Counties Health Services Foundation (FCHSF) provided Council with a presentation, which included FCHSF mission, values, vision, structure, board of directors' composition, and strategic plan. Mr. Jeffries reviewed the impact of donor contributions, as well the impact FCHS has on the community. Ms. Shea reviewed the extended programing and services that are offered to the community, and Ms. VanEerd Beatty discussed the impact of fundraising, including funds from West Elgin, Four Counties Auxiliary, community and partner support and FCHSF signature events. The ask is that West Elgin Council continue to assist with critical fundraising efforts, to provided services with state-of-the-art medical equipment, that is close to home for many patients. 

Mayor Leatham concluded with a heart-felt thank, including a personal impact statement, with comments mimicked by Councillor Denning and Deputy Mayor Tellier. 

 

4.2

Sarah Emons, Conservation Director, Long Point Biosphere Region, North Shore Resilience Project

Delegation Sarah Emons to arrive late and will be heard later in the meeting. 

4.3

Mat Vaughan, Director of Planning and Development, County of Elgin Re: Proposed Planning Fees and Planning Services

Mr. Vaughan provided Council with a proposed centralized planning system, through the County of Elgin. Mr. Vaughans' presentation included goals, objectives and methodology for a phased in growth strategy, along with a review of West Elgin planning needs, cost analysis for planning services and revenue, recommended planning fees and compensation to the County. The presentation was provided for information only, for potential future planning purposes.

5.

Adoption of Minutes

• Resolution No. 2024- 440
  Moved: Councillor Statham
  Seconded: Deputy Mayor Tellier

  That West Elgin Council hereby adopt the Minutes of November 14, 2024, as presented. 

  
  
  
  Carried

6.

Business Arising from Minutes

None.

7.

Staff Reports

7.1

Operations & Community Services

7.1.1

Parking By-law Amendment - Centre Street

• Resolution No. 2024- 441
  Moved: Councillor Statham
  Seconded: Councillor Dougherty

  That West Elgin Council hereby receives the report from Lee Gosnell, Manager of Operations & Community Services: and,

  That By-Law 2001-50, “being a By-Law to regulate parking and traffic in the Municipality of West Elgin” be amended to establish a restricted parking zone as follows:

  • Centre Street in Rodney, south side, from a point 120 meters west of the west limits of Furnival Road to the west end of the ROW known as Centre Street, being a distance of 80 meters

  
  
  
  Carried

7.2

Wastewater

7.2.1

Ontario Clean Water Agency, West Lorne Wastewater Treatment Plant Operations Report, Third Quarter, 2024

• Resolution No. 2024- 442
  Moved: Councillor Statham
  Seconded: Councillor Denning

  That West Elgin Council hereby accept the West Lorne Wastewater Treatment Plant Operations Report, Third (3rd) Quarter, 2024, as presented by Sam Smith, Senior Operations Manager, Ontario Clean Water Agency, for information purposes. 

  
  
  
  Carried

7.2.2

Ontario Clean Water Agency, Rodney Wastewater Treatment Plant Operations Report, Third Quarter, 2024

• Resolution No. 2024- 443
  Moved: Deputy Mayor Tellier
  Seconded: Councillor Denning

  That West Elgin Council hereby accept the Rodney Wastewater Treatment Plant Operations Report, Third (3rd) Quarter, 2024, as presented by Sam Smith, Senior Operations Manager, Ontario Clean Water Agency, for information purposes. 

  
  
  
  Carried

7.3

Water

7.3.1

Ontario Clean Water Agency, Water Distribution Operations Report, Third Quarter, 2024

• Resolution No. 2024- 444
  Moved: Councillor Dougherty
  Seconded: Deputy Mayor Tellier

  That West Elgin Council hereby accept the West Elgin Water Distribution Operations Report, Third (3rd) Quarter, 2024, as presented by Sam Smith, Senior Operations Manager, Ontario Clean Water Agency, for information purposes. 

  
  
  
  Carried

7.4

Clerk's

7.4.1

Committee and Board Appointment

• Resolution No. 2024- 445
  Moved: Councillor Dougherty
  Seconded: Councillor Statham

  That West Elgin Council hereby receives the report from Terri Towstiuc, Clerk Re: Council Committee Appointment; and

  That the Committee Members, for each Committee, be appointed as decided by Council; And

  That a revised version of the By-law to Appoint the Committee Members to each Committee be brought back for adoption at the next Council meeting.

  
  
  
  Carried

7.4.2

Backyard Urban Hens - Draft By-law

• Resolution No. 2024- 446
  Moved: Deputy Mayor Tellier
  Seconded: Councillor Denning

  That West Elgin Council hereby receives the report from Terri Towstiuc, Clerk Re: Backyard Urban Hens, one-year pilot project and draft-by-law; And

  That Council approve the pilot project by-law as amended, to be reviewed in one-year time; And

  That Council direct staff to bring back a final policy and by-law for approval at the next Regular Meeting of Council.

  
  
  
  Carried

7.5

Delegation - Sarah Emons, Long Point Biosphere Region, North Shore Resilience Project

Deferred from item 4.2. Ms. Emons arrived late due to scheduling error. Council heard her delegation in between the Clerk's Reports and CAO/Treasurer Reports. 

7.5.1

Sarah Emons, Long Point Biosphere Region, North Shore Resilience Project

Ms. Emons provided Council with a project update for the North Shore Resilience Project, facilitated by Long Point Biosphere Region. Ms. Emons reviewed the concept of Littoral Cells, and the affected areas including Port Glasgow. The presentation provided an update on the coastal tour, project goals and Governance required, what the funding structure includes, and work done to date in 2024 including sediment sampling. Ms. Emons concluded the presentation with an ask for staff and/or Council participation in the working group for future partnership with the municipality to benefit the shoreline. 

Councillor Statham thanked Ms. Emons for a very educational presentation and offered to join the working group as the representative for West Elgin.

7.6

Finance/Administration

7.6.1

2024 Capital Projects Deferral

• Resolution No. 2024- 447
  Moved: Councillor Dougherty
  Seconded: Councillor Statham

  That West Elgin Council hereby receives the report from M. Badura, CAO/Treasurer re: 2024 Carry Forward Projects; And

  That West Elgin Council hereby authorizes that the following list of 2024 approved projects be carried forward to the 2025 fiscal year for completion and that the balance of the 2024 budget allowances for each of the respective projects be carried forward to the 2025 fiscal year.

   

  
  
  
  Carried

7.6.2

2025 Fees and Charges Draft Schedules

• Resolution No. 2024- 448
  Moved: Councillor Denning
  Seconded: Deputy Mayor Tellier

  That West Elgin Council hereby receives the report from M. Badura CAO/Treasurer re: 2025 Fees and Charges Draft Schedules for review and comments.

  
  
  
  Carried

8.

Committee and Board Reports or Updates

No updates provided.

9.

Notice of Motion

None received.

10.

Council Inquires/Announcements

None provided.

11.

Correspondence

• Resolution No. 2024- 449
  Moved: Deputy Mayor Tellier
  Seconded: Councillor Statham

  That West Elgin Council hereby receive and file all correspondence, not otherwise dealt with.

  
  
  
  Carried

11.1

MECP Proposed Amendments to O. Reg. 153/04: Records of Site Condition and the Environmental Protection Act

11.2

MNR letter dated November 25, 2024 Re: Decision on Discussion Pape

12.

Items Requiring Council Consideration

12.1

Request from Elgin OPP Detachment Board and Draft Minutes, Received November 25, 2024

• Resolution No. 2024- 450
  Moved: Councillor Dougherty
  Seconded: Councillor Denning

  That West Elgin Council hereby receive the letter from Andrew Sloan, Chair, Elgin OPP Detachment Board, requesting $5,000 contribution from each partner municipality for essential operational costs, to be deducted from the final 2025 invoice: And

  That West Elgin Council hereby approve the request for funding. 

  
  
  
  Carried

12.2

Economic Development Committee, Budget Request

• Resolution No. 2024- 451
  Moved: Councillor Statham
  Seconded: Councillor Denning

  That West Elgin Council hereby receive the request from the Economic Development Committee for budget consideration: And

  That Council approve a contribution of $14,000 from the 2024 Community Grants, subject to availability.

  
  
  
  Carried

13.

By-Laws

13.1

2024-78, Appoint Tax Collector, D. McNaughton

• Resolution No. 2024- 452
  Moved: Deputy Mayor Tellier
  Seconded: Councillor Statham

  That By-law 2024-78, being a By-Law to Appoint a Tax Collector for the Corporation of the Municipality of West Elgin, and Repeal By-law 2021-72, be read a first, second and third and final time.

  
  
  
  Carried

13.2

2024-79, Amend Parking By-law 2001-50

• Resolution No. 2024- 453
  Moved: Councillor Statham
  Seconded: Councillor Denning

  That By-law 2024-79, being A By-Law to Amend By-Law No. 2001-50, Being A By-Law to Regulate Parking and Traffic in Conjunction with County of Elgin Parking By-Law No. Eg18, be read and first, second and third and final time.

  
  
  
  Carried

14.

Closed Session

• Resolution No. 2024- 454
  Moved: Deputy Mayor Tellier
  Seconded: Councillor Statham

  That the Council of the Municipality of West Elgin hereby proceeds into Closed Session at 6:44 pm, to discuss matters pursuant to the Municipal Act, Section 239 2(c), being a proposed or pending acquisition or disposition of land and Section 239 (2)(e), litigation or potential litigation affecting the municipality. 

  
  
  
  Carried

15.

Report from Closed Session

Report from Closed Session at 8:05pm.

Council received items pursuant to Section 239 (2) of the Municipal Act for information purposes. Administrative direction was given to staff where necessary, including the following recommendation to be read in Open Session:

• Resolution No. 2024- 455
  Moved: Councillor Dougherty
  Seconded: Councillor Statham

  That West Elgin Council hereby authorize the CAO/Treasurer to obtain an engineer, to a maximum of ten-thousand dollars ($10,000), to provide adequate engineered drawings, to satisfy the terms of the grant previously received for the Old Town Hall building (Rodney).

  
  
  
  Carried

16.

Confirming By-Law

• Resolution No. 2024- 456
  Moved: Councillor Statham
  Seconded: Councillor Denning

  That By-law 2024-80 being a By-law to confirm the proceeding of the Regular Meeting of Council held on November 28, 2024, be read a first, second and third and final time. 

  
  
  
  Carried

17.

Adjournment

• Resolution No. 2024- 457
  Moved: Deputy Mayor Tellier
  Seconded: Councillor Statham

  That the Council of the Municipality of West Elgin hereby adjourn at 8:07 pm, to meet again at 10:00am on December 5, 2024 (Special Meeting), or at the call of the Chair. 

  
  
  
  Carried