Municipality of West Elgin

Minutes

Council Meeting

Thursday, June 13, 2024 at 4:00 P.m. - 5:00 P.m.

Council Chambers

160 Main Street

West Lorne

Present:

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

Staff Present:

• M. Badura, CAO/ Treasurer
• 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).

---

1.

Call to Order

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

2.

Adoption of Agenda

• Resolution No. 2024- 235
  Moved: Councillor Denning
  Seconded: Councillor Statham

  That West Elgin Council hereby adopts the Regular Council Agenda for June 13, 2024, as presented.

  
  
  
  Carried

3.

Disclosure of Pecuniary Interest

No disclosures

4.

Public Planning Meeting - Severance Application – E44-24 

• Resolution No. 2024- 236
  Moved: Deputy Mayor Tellier
  Seconded: Councillor Denning

  That West Elgin Council hereby proceed into a Public Meeting pursuant to the Planning Act.

  
  
  
  Carried

4.1

Planners Report

• Resolution No. 2024- 237
  Moved: Councillor Navackas
  Seconded: Councillor Denning

  That West Elgin Council hereby receives the report from Robert Brown, Planner regarding severance application File E-44-24 – Comments to Elgin County (Planning Report 2024-15);

  And that West Elgin Council hereby recommends approval to the Land Division Committee for the County of Elgin for Severance application, File E-44-24, subject to the Lower-Tier Municipality conditions in Appendix One of this report;

  And further that West Elgin Council directs administration to provide this report as Municipal Comments to the County of Elgin.

  
  
  
  Carried

4.2

Applicant Comment

None received at the Municipal Office or during the Public Meeting.

4.3

Public Comment

None received at the Municipal Office or during the Public Meeting.

4.4

Council Comment

None.

4.5

Adjournment of Public Planning Meeting

• Resolution No. 2024- 238
  Moved: Deputy Mayor Tellier
  Seconded: Councillor Statham

  That West Elgin Council hereby adjourn the Public Meeting, pursuant to the Planning Act, and reconvene into regular Council.

  
  
  
  Carried

5.

Staff Report - Planning

5.1

Marsh Line Subdivision Development Agreement

• Resolution No. 2024- 239
  Moved: Deputy Mayor Tellier
  Seconded: Councillor Navackas

  That West Elgin Council hereby receives the report from Robert Brown, Planner related to the required development agreement for the Marsh Line subdivision; And

  That West Elgin Council hereby authorize the Mayor and Clerk to sign the development agreement and register said agreement on title.

  
  
  
  Carried

6.

Delegations

6.1

Elgin Hospice, Council and Community Progress Update

Council received a delegation from Trish Gergich, Director, Community Engagement & Development, Hospice of Elgin. Ms. Gergich provided Council with an update on the progress thus far, and timeline for the completion of the Hospice of Elgin, located in St. Thomas behind Waterworks Park. The facility will be a ten-bed facility for palliative patients, and their family, which is greatly needed in Elgin County. The facility will also include community rooms, with the intent to allow community use, when available. Currently the foundation has been completed, with installation of the framing starting soon. The proposed timeline for opening is early summer, 2025. 

7.

Closed Session

• Resolution No. 2024- 240
  Moved: Councillor Statham
  Seconded: Councillor Denning

  That West Elgin Council hereby proceeds into Closed Session at 4:26 pm, to discuss matters pursuant to the Municipal Act, Section 239 (2)(a) security of the property of the municipality; 239(2)(b) personal matters about identifiable individual(s); And 239(2)(c) a proposed or pending acquisition or disposition of land by the municipality; And 239(2)(d) labour relations or employee negotiations.

  
  
  
  Carried

8.

Report from Closed Session

Council took an eight (8) minute break, prior to resuming Regular Council Session.

Report from closed at 6:30pm.

Council received eight (8) items, pursuant to the Municipal Act:

• Section 239 (2)(a), security of Municipal Property
• Section 239 (2)(b), personal matters about identifiable individuals
• Section 239 (2)(c), proposed or pending acquisition or disposition of land
• Section 239 (2)(d), labour relations, or employee negotiations 

Council provided direction to staff, including the following recommendations:

 

• Resolution No. 2024- 241
  Moved: Councillor Navackas
  Seconded: Councillor Statham

  That West Elgin Council hereby receives the report from M. Badura, CAO/Treasurer re:  2024 Pay Rate Adjustment: And 

  That staff prepare an employee remuneration by-law outlining pay equity review recommendations to be brought forward at the next meeting of council. 

  
  
  
  Carried
• Resolution No. 2024- 242
  Moved: Deputy Mayor Tellier
  Seconded: Councillor Navackas

  That West Elgin Council hereby appoint Angela Foreman-Bobier, James Voros, and Trin Hill, to the Old Town Hall Committee.

  
  
  
  Carried
• Resolution No. 2024- 243
  Moved: Deputy Mayor Tellier
  Seconded: Councillor Denning

  That West Elgin Council hereby appoint Daniel Soos, Taylor Noonen, Greg Johnston and Terry Philips, as Fence-viewers; And

  
  That Council hereby appoint Michael Morencie and Jordan Clement-Christie as Livestock Valuers, for the Municipality of West Elgin; And

  
  That By-law 2024-45 reflect the members as appointed by Council for both the Fence-viewers and Livestock Valuers, in the By-law portion of the June 13, 2024, agenda. 

  
  
  
  Carried
• Resolution No. 2024- 244
  Moved: Councillor Statham
  Seconded: Councillor Denning

  That West Elgin Council authorize the extension of the Special Projects Manager position, until August 31, 2024.

  
  
  
  Carried

9.

Adoption of Minutes

• Resolution No. 2024- 245
  Moved: Deputy Mayor Tellier
  Seconded: Councillor Navackas

  That West Elgin Council hereby adopt the Minutes of May 23, 2024, as presented. 

  
  
  
  Carried

9.1

Committee and Board Minutes

• Resolution No. 2024- 246
  Moved: Deputy Mayor Tellier
  Seconded: Councillor Statham

  That West Elgin Council hereby acknowledge receipt of the Minutes of the Rodney Aldborough Agricultural Society, May 7 and 21, 2024; The Old Town Hall Committee, May 7 and 13, 2024; And the Recreation Committee, May 15, 2024, as presented. 

  
  
  
  Carried

10.

Business Arising from Minutes

None.

11.

Staff Reports

11.1

Building

11.1.1

Monthly Building Report and Comparison, May 2024

• Resolution No. 2024- 247
  Moved: Deputy Mayor Tellier
  Seconded: Councillor Navackas

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

  
  
  
  Carried

11.2

Fire

11.2.1

Monthly Fire Report, May 2024

Councillor Navackas requested that future monthly update reports include the year-over-year comparison, to better understand budget increases.

• Resolution No. 2024- 248
  Moved: Councillor Denning
  Seconded: Councillor Navackas

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

  
  
  
  Carried

11.3

Operations & Community Services

11.3.1

Monthly Operations Report, May 2024

• Resolution No. 2024- 249
  Moved: Deputy Mayor Tellier
  Seconded: Councillor Navackas

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

  
  
  
  Carried

11.4

Clerk's

11.4.1

Old Town Hall Options

• Resolution No. 2024- 250
  Moved: Councillor Navackas
  Seconded: Councillor Denning

  That West Elgin Council hereby receives the report from Terri Towstiuc, Clerk Re: Old Town Hall Options; And

  
  That Council remain status quo, and request staff to bring options forward to pursue a non-profit, board of management for the Old Town Hall, at a future meeting if council.

  
  
  
  

11.5

Finance/Administration

11.5.1

Training and Education Reimbursement Policy Update

• Resolution No. 2024- 251
  Moved: Councillor Navackas
  Seconded: Councillor Denning

  That West Elgin Council hereby receives the report from M. Badura, CAO/Treasurer and that West Elgin Council approves updates to the Training and Education Reimbursement Policy.

  
  
  
  Carried

11.5.2

Three Levels of Leadership

• Resolution No. 2024- 252
  Moved: Deputy Mayor Tellier
  Seconded: Councillor Statham

  That West Elgin Council hereby receives the report from M. Badura, CAO/Treasurer re: Three Levels of Leadership for information only.

  
  
  
  Carried

11.5.3

Leadership Training

• Resolution No. 2024- 253
  Moved: Deputy Mayor Tellier
  Seconded: Councillor Navackas

  That West Elgin Council hereby receives the report from M. Badura, CAO/Treasurer re: Leadership Training and That; West Elgin council approves the Leadership Training Proposal prepared by Mohawk College Enterprise in the amount of $38,700.00 plus applicable taxes.

  
  
  
  Carried

12.

Committee and Board Reports or Updates

Councillor Navackas advised Council that the Recreation Committee has an eventful afternoon planned for Canada Day.

13.

Notice of Motion

13.1

Councillor Navackas - Peer Charges Review

Information was provided by staff regarding the fees charged, with no follow-up required. Motion Rescinded by Councillor Navackas.

14.

Council Inquires/Announcements

None.

15.

Correspondence

• Resolution No. 2024- 254
  Moved: Deputy Mayor Tellier
  Seconded: Councillor Statham

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

  
  
  
  Carried

15.1

Notice of Decision E 36-24

15.2

Notice of Adoption, Elgin County Official Plan

15.3

County Council Highlights, May 28, 2024

16.

Items Requiring Council Consideration

None.

17.

By-Laws

17.1

2024-28, Sherman Drain - 3rd Reading

• Resolution No. 2024- 255
  Moved: Councillor Statham
  Seconded: Councillor Denning

  That By-law 2024-28, Being a By-Law to provide for drainage works on the Sherman Drain in the Municipality of West Elgin, be read a third and final time.

  
  
  
  Carried

17.2

2024-45, Appoint Livestock Valuers and Fenceviewers

• Resolution No. 2024- 256
  Moved: Councillor Navackas
  Seconded: Councillor Denning

  That By-law 2024-45, Being a By-Law to Appoint Persons as Municipal Investigators and Valuers of Livestock and Poultry for the Municipality of West Elgin; And to Appoint Persons as Fenceviewers for the Municipality of West Elgin; And Hereby Repeal By-law 2015-07, be read a first, second and third and final time.

  
  
  
  Carried

17.3

2024-46, Development Agreement, Creeks Edge

• Resolution No. 2024- 257
  Moved: Deputy Mayor Tellier
  Seconded: Councillor Statham

  That By-law 2024-46, being a By-law to Authorize the Execution of a Development Agreement between The Corporation of the Municipality of West Elgin and Marsh Line Developments Inc., for the purpose of Creek’s Edge Plan of Subdivision, be read a first, second and third and final time.

  
  
  
  Carried

18.

Confirming By-Law

• Resolution No. 2024- 258
  Moved: Councillor Navackas
  Seconded: Councillor Statham

  That By-law 2024-47 being a By-law to confirm the proceeding of the Regular Meeting of Council held on June 13, 2024, be read a first, second and third and final time. 

  
  
  
  Carried

19.

Adjournment

• Resolution No. 2024- 259
  Moved: Deputy Mayor Tellier
  Seconded: Councillor Denning

  That the Council of the Municipality of West Elgin hereby adjourn at 7:23pm to meet again at 4:00pm, on Thursday, June 27, 2024 or at the call of the Chair. 

  
  
  
  Carried