Municipality of West Elgin

Minutes

Council Meeting

Thursday, October 10, 2024 at 5:00 P.m. - 6:00 P.m.

Council Chambers

160 Main Street

West Lorne

Present:

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

Regrets:

• Magda Badura

Staff Present:

• L. Gosnell, Manager of Operations & Community Services
• Robert Brown, Planner
• Terri Towstiuc, Clerk

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 5:00 pm.

2.

Adoption of Agenda

• Resolution No. 2024- 393
  Moved: Councillor Statham
  Seconded: Deputy Mayor Tellier

  That West Elgin Council hereby adopts the Regular Council Agenda for October 10, 2024 as presented.

  
  
  
  Carried

3.

Disclosure of Pecuniary Interest

No disclosures

4.

Adoption of Minutes

• Resolution No. 2024- 394
  Moved: Councillor Denning
  Seconded: Councillor Statham

  That West Elgin Council hereby adopt the Minutes of September 26, 2024, as presented. 

  
  
  
  Carried

5.

Business Arising from Minutes

None.

6.

Staff Reports

6.1

Building

6.1.1

Monthly Building Report, September 2024

• Resolution No. 2024- 395
  Moved: Deputy Mayor Tellier
  Seconded: Councillor Statham

  That West Elgin Council hereby receives the report from Corey Pemberton, CBO Re: Building Department Summary Report for the month of September 2024.

  
  
  
  Carried

6.2

Fire

6.2.1

Monthly Fire Report, September 2024

• Resolution No. 2024- 396
  Moved: Councillor Denning
  Seconded: Deputy Mayor Tellier

  That West Elgin Council hereby receives the Monthly Fire report for September 2024, from Jeff McArthur, Fire Chief, for information purposes.

  
  
  
  Carried

6.3

Operations & Community Services

6.3.1

Monthly Operations Report, September 2024

• Resolution No. 2024- 397
  Moved: Deputy Mayor Tellier
  Seconded: Councillor Denning

  That West Elgin Council hereby receives the Monthly Operations report, September 2024, from Lee Gosnell, Manager of Operations & Community Services for information purposes.

  
  
  
  Carried

6.4

Planning

6.4.1

Request to Alter Status of Road – Dymock Line & Gray Line

• Resolution No. 2024- 398
  Moved: Deputy Mayor Tellier
  Seconded: Councillor Statham

  That West Elgin Council hereby receives the report from Robert Brown, Planner for information purposes.

  That Council refuse the request for a change in the status of Dymock Line from a no winter maintenance road to a full year-round road.

  And further that Council direct administration to advise prospective purchasers and/or the affect landowners that the Municipality is not prepared to change the status of Gray Line from no winter maintenance to a full year-round road at this time.

  
  
  
  Carried

7.

Committee and Board Reports or Updates

Councillor Denning advised Council that the arena renovations are getting closer, with a grant application being submitted by the end of October, to request half of the funding. 

Deputy Mayor Tellier requested access to the "Old Jail" in Rodney on October 31 to hand out candy for Halloween. 

8.

Notice of Motion

None received prior to the meeting.

9.

Council Inquires/Announcements

Councillor Statham provided an update on the "Roots and Revival" festival events, indicating it went very well on the first weekend with lots of live music, and street market, mural painting and an ATV poker run, with 161 riders registered. This weekend will include a "farms open" event on Friday October 11 and closing festivities on October 12. 

10.

Correspondence

• Resolution No. 2024- 399
  Moved: Deputy Mayor Tellier
  Seconded: Councillor Denning

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

  
  
  
  Carried

10.1

County of Elgin, Notice of Decision E 70-24

10.2

Western Ontario Wardens Caucus Re: Roadside Zoos

10.3

Western Ontario Wardens Caucus Re: Blue Box Transition

11.

Items Requiring Council Consideration

11.1

West Elgin Community Health Centre Renewal Re: Community Garden, 259 Ridout Street, Rodney

• Resolution No. 2024- 400
  Moved: Councillor Statham
  Seconded: Councillor Denning

  That West Elgin Council hereby receive the letter dated September 24, 2024, from Stephanie Skelding, RN Health Promoter, West Elgin Community Health Centre Re: Renewal of lease agreement, 259 Ridout Street, Rodney; And

  That Council approve the extension of the agreement for an additional two (2) years, ending December 31, 2026; And

  That Council direct staff to prepare the agreement, to be brought back for approval at a future meeting of Council.

  
  
  
  

11.2

2025 OPP Annual Billing Statement

Each member of Council provided a statement regarding the 20% cost increase, with a 20% reduction in calls. Council requested staff reach out to the author of the letter, requesting and in-person review and explanation of the cost increase, for better understanding. 

• Resolution No. 2024- 401
  Moved: Councillor Statham
  Seconded: Deputy Mayor Tellier

  That West Elgin Council hereby acknowledge receipt of the letter dated October 4, 2024 from Steve Ridout, Superintendent, Commander, Municipal Policing Bureau and the OPP Municipal Policing 2025 Annual Billing Statement Package, for information and discussion purposes. 

  
  
  
  Carried

11.3

Letter of Support, Township of Nairn Re: Radioactive Material being Transported

• Resolution No. 2024- 402
  Moved: Councillor Statham
  Seconded: Councillor Denning

  That West Elgin Council hereby receive the letter dated August 21, 2024 from the Township of Nairn and Hyman Re: Transportation and Deposition of Naturally Occurring Radioactive Materials; And

  That Council direct staff to provide a letter of support to Hon. Doug Ford, Hon. George Pirie, Hon. Prabmeet Sarkaria, Hon. Andrea Khanjin, and the Association of Municipalities of Ontario. 

  
  
  
  Carried

11.4

Letter of Support, Tay Valley Township Re: Public Salary Disclosure

• Resolution No. 2024- 403
  Moved: Deputy Mayor Tellier
  Seconded: Councillor Denning

  That West Elgin Council hereby support the letter dated September 25, 2024 from the Tay Valley Township Re: Public Sector Salary Disclosure, And

  That Council direct staff to provide a letter of support to Hon. Doug Ford, Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing and Association of Municipalities of Ontario. 

  
  
  
  Carried

11.5

Letter of Support, Town of Cobourg Re: Involuntary Care for Individuals with Severe Mental Health and Addictions

• Resolution No. 2024- 404
  Moved: Councillor Denning
  Seconded: Deputy Mayor Tellier

  That Council hereby support to letter received October 4, 2024 from the Town of Cobourg Re: Involuntary Care for Individuals with Severe Mental Health and Addictions Issues; And

  That Council direct staff to send a letter of support to Hon. Doug Ford, Hons. David Piccini and Association of Municipalities of Ontario. 

  
  
  
  Carried

12.

By-Laws

12.1

By-law 2024-70, Scholarship Award Policy

• Resolution No. 2024- 405
  Moved: Deputy Mayor Tellier
  Seconded: Councillor Statham

  That By-law 2024-70, Being a By-Law to adopt a Policy being “Scholarship Award Policy”, be read a first, second third and final time. 

  
  
  
  Carried

13.

Closed Session

• Resolution No. 2024- 406
  Moved: Councillor Statham
  Seconded: Deputy Mayor Tellier

  That the Council of the Municipality of West Elgin hereby proceeds into Closed Session at 5:28 pm, to discuss matters pursuant to the Municipal Act, Section 239 (2)(d), labour relations or employee negotiations; And Section 239 (2)(b), being personal matters about an identifiable individual, including municipal or local board employees.

  
  
  
  Carried

14.

Report from Closed Session

Council received two (2) items pursuant to Section 239(2) of the Municipal Act, for direction and discussion purposes. Council provided administrative direction to staff for both items, including the following recommendation:

• Resolution No. 2024- 407
  Moved: Councillor Statham
  Seconded: Councillor Denning

  That West Elgin Council hereby receives the report from Terri Towstiuc, Clerk Re: Volunteer Recognition Event; And

  
  That Council direct the Clerk to proceed with the Volunteer Award recipients, as selected, to be acknowledged at the Volunteer Recognition Event, Saturday November 23, 2024.

  
  
  
  Carried

15.

Confirming By-Law

• Resolution No. 2024- 408
  Moved: Deputy Mayor Tellier
  Seconded: Councillor Statham

  That By-law 2024-71 being a By-law to confirm the proceeding of the Regular Meeting of Council held on October 10, 2024, be read a first, second and third and final time. 

  
  
  
  Carried

16.

Adjournment

• Resolution No. 2024- 409
  Moved: Councillor Denning
  Seconded: Deputy Mayor Tellier

  That the Council of the Municipality of West Elgin hereby adjourn at 6:35 pm, to meet again at 4:00pm, on Thursday, October 24, 2024 or at the call of the Chair. 

  
  
  
  Carried