Municipality of West Elgin

Minutes

Council Meeting

Thursday, March 28, 2024 at 4:00 P.m. - 5:00 P.m.

Council Chambers

160 Main Street

West Lorne

Present:

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

Regrets:

• Mayor Leatham

Staff Present:

• Magda Badura, CAO/ Treasurer
• Lee Gosnell, Manager of Operations & Community Services
• 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

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

2.

Adoption of Agenda

• Resolution No. 2024- 118
  Moved: Councillor Denning
  Seconded: Councillor Statham

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

  
  
  
  Carried

3.

Disclosure of Pecuniary Interest

3.1

Councillor Navackas - Soccer Club Snack Booth Proposal

4.

Closed Session

• Resolution No. 2024- 119
  Moved: Councillor Navackas
  Seconded: Councillor Statham

  That the Council of the Municipality of West Elgin hereby proceeds into Closed Session at 4:01pm, to discuss matters pursuant to the Municipal Act, 2001:

  • Section 239 (2)(b), being personal matters about an identifiable individual, including municipal or local board employees;
  • Section 239 (2)(c), a proposed or pending acquisition or disposition of land by the municipality or local board;
  • Section 239 (2)(d), labour relations or employee negotiations;
  • Section 239 (2)(e), litigation or potential litigation, including matters before administrative tribunals, affecting the municipality or local board;
  
  
  
  Carried

5.

Report from Closed Session

Council reconvened into open session at 4:54pm.

Council received items pursuant to the Municipal Act, 2001, Section 239 (2)(b), being personal matters about an identifiable individual, including municipal or local board employees; Section 239 (2)(c), a proposed or pending acquisition or disposition of land by the municipality or local board; Section 239 (2)(d), labour relations or employee negotiations; and Section 239 (2)(e), litigation or potential litigation, including matters before administrative tribunals, affecting the municipality or local board.

Follow-up direction was provided to staff, where necessary.

6.

Adoption of Minutes

• Resolution No. 2024- 120
  Moved: Councillor Navackas
  Seconded: Councillor Statham

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

  
  
  
  Carried

6.1

Elgin Group Police Services Board Minutes

• Resolution No. 2024- 121
  Moved: Councillor Denning
  Seconded: Councillor Statham

  That West Elgin Council hereby acknowledge receipt of the Elgin Group Police Services Board Minutes of November 15, 2023 and February 26, 2024.

  
  
  
  Carried

7.

Business Arising from Minutes

8.

Staff Reports

8.1

Municipal Drains

8.1.1

Section 4 Petition for New Tile Drain

• Resolution No. 2024- 122
  Moved: Councillor Statham
  Seconded: Councillor Navackas

  That West Elgin Council hereby receives the Section 4, Petition for Drainage Works by Owners, Form 1; and

  That Council approve request for the construction of a new tile drain, dated March 13, 2024, submitted by Dugald Aldred (Municipality of West Elgin) and James Dymock (Municipality of Dutton Dunwich); and

  That Council hereby appoint Spriets and Associates, to proceed with the necessary steps pursuant to the Drainage Act.

  
  
  
  Carried

8.2

Operations & Community Services

8.2.1

Horse Drawn Vehicle Signage

• Resolution No. 2024- 123
  Moved: Councillor Statham
  Seconded: Councillor Denning

  That West Elgin Council hereby receives the report from Lee Gosnell, Manager of Operations & Community Services for information purposes; And

  That Council direct staff to investigate the potential for a Horse Drawn Vehicle Signage Policy.

  
  
  
  Carried

8.2.2

Tandem Axel Plow Truck

• Resolution No. 2024- 124
  Moved: Councillor Statham
  Seconded: Councillor Navackas

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

  That West Elgin Council approves ordering one (1) new tandem axle plow truck from Viking-Cives Ltd. of Mount Forest ON, for the quoted price of $404,393.00 plus applicable tax.

  
  
  
  Carried

8.3

Clerk's

8.3.1

Yacht Club Agreement

• Resolution No. 2024- 125
  Moved: Councillor Navackas
  Seconded: Councillor Denning

  That West Elgin Council hereby receives the report from Terri Towstiuc, Clerk Re: Port Glasgow Yacht Club Agreement options; And

  That Council choose option 3, being a partnership agreement; And

  Further that Council direct staff to initiate a meeting with select members of the Port Glasgow Yacht Club to formally discuss pursuing an update partnership agreement.

  
  
  
  Carried

8.3.2

Old Town Hall Demolition

• Resolution No. 2024- 126
  Moved: Councillor Denning
  Seconded: Councillor Statham

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

  That Council hereby defer the approval of the demolition until the presentation of the 2024 Operating Budget.

  
  
  
  Carried

8.3.3

Community Safety and Policing Act Update

• Resolution No. 2024- 127
  Moved: Councillor Denning
  Seconded: Councillor Statham

  That West Elgin Council hereby receives the report from Terri Towstiuc, Clerk Re: Community Safety and Policing Act Update dated March 27, 2024, for information; And

  That Council approve the current community representative, Ida MacCallum, until the end of the current council term; And

  That before the end of the current council term Southwold, West Elgin and Dutton Dunwich will work together to develop a new application/appointment process for the community representative position; And

  That remuneration remain the same; $1,500 per year for board members and $2,000 per year for the chair; And

  That Council approve that all operation costs be allocated equally between participating municipalities

  
  
  
  Carried

8.3.4

Off-Leash Dog Park Survey Results

• Resolution No. 2024- 128
  Moved: Councillor Denning
  Seconded: Councillor Statham

  That West Elgin Council hereby receives the report from Terri Towstiuc, Clerk Re: Off-Leash Dog Park Survey Results; And

  That Council defer the decision, and direct staff to investigate the potential for grants and funding opportunities. 

  
  
  
  Carried

8.4

Finance/Administration

8.4.1

Rodney Sewage Project Update and Timeline

• Resolution No. 2024- 129
  Moved: Councillor Navackas
  Seconded: Councillor Statham

  That West Elgin Council hereby receives the report from M. Badura, CAO/Treasurer re: Rodney Sewage Project Update and Timelines for information only.

  
  
  
  Carried

9.

Committee and Board Reports or Updates

Councillor Denning provided and update regarding the planned arena re-naming event, scheduled for August 24, 2024. The proposed new name will be the "Bo Horvat Arena". The Horvat family will be attending the event, along with Kraft Hockeyville representatives and Hockey Hall of Fame representatives. The arena renovation sub-committee is also planning the renovation projects, to be presented to Council at a later date.

Deputy Mayor Tellier advised that the Recreation Committee has started Canada Day celebration plans. 

Councillor Navackas advised the Economic Development Committee had their first "tour" meeting at Natterjack Brewery, and the next meeting is scheduled for April 9th at the Council Chambers. 

10.

Accounts

• Resolution No. 2024- 130
  Moved: Councillor Statham
  Seconded: Councillor Denning

  THAT the Mayor and Treasurer are hereby authorized to sign Payment Voucher #3A amounting to $ 786,286.89 in settlement of General, Road, Water and Arena Accounts including Cheque number 26413-26419, EFT#8045-8088 and Payroll Pay Period 06.

  
  
  
  Carried

11.

Notice of Motion

None received.

12.

Council Inquires/Announcements

Councillor Denning advised that he has received numerous complaints regarding people parking on the road on Monroe Street, West Lorne at the Tim Hortons, creating safety concerns. L. Gosnell, Manager of Operations and Community Services advised that this is a violation under the Highway Traffic Act, requiring a call to OPP. 

Deputy Mayor Tellier advised that she has received concerns from constituents leaving the West Elgin Community Health Centre, West Lorne, and when leaving the parking lot on Main Street, it is difficult to see oncoming traffic due to the parking spots directly beside the entrance/exit.

Deputy Mayor Tellier acknowledged staff's cooperation with the ongoing OPP investigation for the Cyber Attack Incident on the Municipality, and acknowledge the public post that was published, once able to. 

13.

Correspondence

• Resolution No. 2024- 131
  Moved: Councillor Denning
  Seconded: Councillor Navackas

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

  
  
  
  Carried

13.1

Elgin County Tourism Operator Networking Event, May 2, 2024

13.2

AGCO Required Notification Re: Natterjack Brewing Company event, April 6, 2024

14.

Items Requiring Council Consideration

14.1

Soccer Club Snack Booth Proposal

• Councillor Navackas declared a conflict on this item.

• Resolution No. 2024- 132
  Moved: Councillor Denning
  Seconded: Councillor Statham

  That West Elgin Council support a Snack Booth facilitated by the 1st Dutton Pathfinders and Rangers, operated during the West Elgin Soccer Club summer events, for fundraising purposes; And

  That the 1st Dutton Pathfinders and Rangers work with Municipal Recreation Staff to determine a site best suitable for the Snack Booth (For support only). 

  
  
  
  Carried

14.2

Community Policing Committee

• Resolution No. 2024- 133
  Moved: Councillor Statham
  Seconded: Councillor Navackas

  That West Elgin Council hereby approve the Community Policing Committee to host a meeting within the Municipality.

  
  
  
  Carried

14.3

Water Bill Waiver of Fees/Write-Off Account

• Resolution No. 2024- 134
  Moved: Councillor Navackas
  Seconded: Councillor Statham

  That West Elgin Council hereby deny the request to "write-off" water account 200500056, request received March 26, 2024, with a balance owing of $508.02.

  
  
  
  Carried

14.4

My Main Street, Community Activator Grant

• Resolution No. 2024- 135
  Moved: Councillor Denning
  Seconded: Councillor Statham

  That West Elgin Council hereby approve the grant application submission for the My Main Street Community Activator proposed by the Economic Development Committee, subject to the confirmation of eligibility requirement being me; And

  That Council direct staff to submit the application prior to the March 31, 224 submission deadline.

  
  
  
  Carried

15.

Upcoming Meetings and Holidays

• March 29 - Good Friday, All Municipal Services Closed
• April 1 - Easter Monday, All Municipal Services Closed
• April 9 - 7pm - Economic Development Committee
• April 10 - 9am, WECCBM (Arena Board)
• April 11 - 4pm, Council 
• April 15 - 8:30am, Four Counties Transit Commitee
• April 18 - 10am, Old Town Hall Committee
• April 25 - 4pm, Council

16.

By-laws

16.1

By-law 2024-25, Fire Department Administration Services Agreement

• Resolution No. 2024- 136
  Moved: Councillor Statham
  Seconded: Councillor Navackas

  That By-law 2024-25, Being a By-law to authorize entering into an agreement for the provision of sharing Fire Department Administration Services with the Township of Southwold and Municipality of Dutton Dunwich, be read a first, second and third and final time.

  
  
  
  Carried

17.

Confirming By-Law

• Resolution No. 2024- 137
  Moved: Councillor Navackas
  Seconded: Councillor Statham

  That By-law 2024-26, being a By-law to confirm the proceeding of the Regular Meeting of Council held on March 28, 2024, be read a first, second and third and final time. 

  
  
  
  Carried

18.

Adjournment

• Resolution No. 2024- 138
  Moved: Councillor Denning
  Seconded: Councillor Navackas

  That the Council of the Municipality of West Elgin hereby adjourn at 5:49pm, to meet again at 4:00pm, on Thursday, April 11, 2024, or at the call of the Chair. 

  
  
  
  Carried