Municipality of West Elgin

Minutes

Council Meeting

Thursday, April 11, 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:

• M. Badura, CAO/ Treasurer
• L. Gosnell, Manager of Operations & Community Services
• Jeff McArthur, Fire Chief
• Terri Towstiuc, Clerk

Also Present:

• Brandon Widner, P. Eng, Spriets Associates

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

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

2.

Adoption of Agenda

• Resolution No. 2024- 139
  Moved: Councillor Navackas
  Seconded: Councillor Statham

  That West Elgin Council hereby adopts the Regular Council Agenda for April 11, 2024, as presented.

  
  
  
  Carried

3.

Disclosure of Pecuniary Interest

No disclosures

4.

Public Meeting

Mr. Widner attended the meeting virtually and left the meeting following the Consideration Meeting for the Sherman Drain.

• Resolution No. 2024- 140
  Moved: Councillor Denning
  Seconded: Councillor Statham

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

  
  
  
  Carried

4.1

Consideration of Engineers Report, Sherman Drain

• Resolution No. 2024- 141
  Moved: Councillor Navackas
  Seconded: Councillor Statham

  That the Council of the Municipality of West Elgin hereby receives the Engineers report as prepared and presented by Mr. B. Widner, P. Eng.; and

  That Council authorizes staff to initiate the tender process in accordance with the Drainage Act, if required, for the reconstruction to the Municipal Drain known as Sherman Drain, to be considered by Council following the Court of Revision; and

  That the Court of Revision be scheduled for Thursday, May 9, 2024, at 3:45pm; and

  That Council consider the provisional By-Law 2024-28, as presented in the By-Law portion of the agenda for a first and second reading.

  
  
  
  Carried

4.2

Adjournment of Public Meeting

• Resolution No. 2024- 142
  Moved: Councillor Statham
  Seconded: Councillor Denning

  That Council of the Municipality of West Elgin hereby adjourn the Public Meeting pursuant to the Drainage Act.

  
  
  
  Carried

5.

Adoption of Minutes

• Resolution No. 2024- 143
  Moved: Councillor Denning
  Seconded: Councillor Statham

  That West Elgin Council hereby adopt the Minutes of March 28, 2024 as presented. 

  
  
  
  Carried

5.1

Committee and Board Minutes

• Resolution No. 2024- 144
  Moved: Councillor Navackas
  Seconded: Councillor Statham

  That West Elgin Council acknowledge receipt of the Recreation Committee Minutes, January 17, 2024; and the Rodney Aldborough Agricultural Society Director’s Meeting minutes, March 26, 2024; and the Economic Development Committee Minutes, February 13, 2024; and the Arena Board Minutes, February 14, 2024, as presented.

  
  
  
  Carried

6.

Business Arising from Minutes

None.

7.

Staff Reports

7.1

Building

7.1.1

Monthly Report and Comparison, March 2024

• Resolution No. 2024- 145
  Moved: Councillor Denning
  Seconded: Councillor Statham

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

  
  
  
  Carried

7.2

Fire

7.2.1

Monthly Fire Report

• Resolution No. 2024- 146
  Moved: Councillor Statham
  Seconded: Councillor Navackas

  That West Elgin Council hereby receives the report from report from Jeff McArthur, Fire Chief re: March 2024 Fire Report, for information purposes.

  
  
  
  Carried

7.3

Operations & Community Services

7.3.1

Monthly Operations Report

• Resolution No. 2024- 147
  Moved: Councillor Navackas
  Seconded: Councillor Denning

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

  
  
  
  Carried

7.4

Clerk's

7.4.1

Community Grant Applications

• Resolution No. 2024- 148
  Moved: Councillor Denning
  Seconded: Councillor Navackas

  That West Elgin Council hereby receives the Community Grant Application report from Terri Towstiuc, Clerk; And

  That West Elgin Council hereby approve the grant applications for the recommended amounts as presented/amended, to be included in the 2024 Budget.

  
  
  
  Carried

7.5

Finance/Administration

7.5.1

Operating Budget

Council received the 2024 Operating Budget for the Municipality, presented by M. Badura, CAO/Treasurer. Ms. Badura, L. Gosnell, Manager of Operations and J. McArthur, Fire Chief, reviewed the budget in detail, each presenting items from their respective departments. 

Council addressed areas that can be adjusted in the draft budget, to be brought back for a second draft review.

• Resolution No. 2024- 149
  Moved: Councillor Navackas
  Seconded: Councillor Denning

  That West Elgin Council hereby receives the 2024 Operating Budget, presented by M. Badura, CAO/Treasurer, for information and discussion purposes; and

  That Council direct staff to update the draft budget as discussed, and bring back the Operating Budget, Draft Two (2), at the next regular meeting of Council; and

  That Council direct staff to prepare the necessary public notices, for consideration and potential adoption, at the next regular Council meeting.

  
  
  
  Carried

8.

Committee and Board Reports or Updates

None.

9.

Notice of Motion

None received. 

10.

Council Inquires/Announcements

Councillor Denning advised that the West Elgin Skating Club and the West Lorne Minor Hockey will be holding their year-end celebrations and banquet this coming weekend. Councillor Statham and Councillor Loveland (Municipality of Dutton Dunwich) will be attending to bring greetings and congratulations, on behalf of the Arena Board. 

On behalf of West Elgin Council, congratulations to both the West Elgin Skating Club and the West Lorne Minor Hockey on a great season and a job well done.

11.

Correspondence

• Resolution No. 2024- 150
  Moved: Councillor Navackas
  Seconded: Councillor Denning

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

  
  
  
  Carried

11.1

Letter dated April 4, 2024 from Ian Freeman, Assistant Deputy Minister Re: Municipal Taxation Announcement, 2024 Ontario Budget

12.

Items Requiring Council Consideration

12.1

Shuffleboard Request

• Resolution No. 2024- 151
  Moved: Councillor Navackas
  Seconded: Councillor Statham

  That West Elgin Council hereby receive the request dated April 9, 2024, from Mr. Judd Kenndy regarding the Ontario Shuffleboard Association Tournament, to be held July 23-25, 2024, at the Rodney Recreation Center; And

  That Council approve a reduced rental amount of $1,000 plus HST.

  
  
  
  Carried

12.2

West Lorne Optimist Club Request - Memorial Bench

• Resolution No. 2024- 152
  Moved: Councillor Navackas
  Seconded: Councillor Denning

  That West Elgin Council hereby approve the request received April 9, 2024, from the West Lorne Optimist Club, to install a memorial bench to honor the late Mayor Duncan McPhail; And

  That Council hereby approve the installation cost to be expensed to the Municipality; And

  That Council direct staff to work with the West Lorne Optimist Club and the McPhail family, to determine a location best suitable for the memorial bench.

  
  
  
  Carried

13.

By-Laws

13.1

By-law 2024-27, Site Plan Agreement, 12450 Furnival Road

• Resolution No. 2024- 153
  Moved: Councillor Denning
  Seconded: Councillor Navackas

  That By-law 2024-27, Being a By-law to Authorize the Execution of a Site Plan Agreement with V & V Holdings Inc (12450 Furnival Road), be read a first, second and third and final time.

  
  
  
  Carried

13.2

By-law 2024-28, Provisional By-law, Sherman Drain

• Resolution No. 2024- 154
  Moved: Councillor Navackas
  Seconded: Councillor Statham

  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 first and second time.

  
  
  
  Carried

14.

Upcoming Meetings and Events

• Mon, Apr 15 2024    8:30 AM    Four Counties Transit Committee   
• Thu, Apr 18 2024    10:00 AM    Old Town Hall Committee   
• Thu, Apr 25 2024    4:00 PM    Council Meeting

15.

Closed Session

• Resolution No. 2024- 155
  Moved: Councillor Navackas
  Seconded: Councillor Statham

  That the Council of the Municipality of West Elgin hereby proceeds into Closed Session at 8:30 pm, to discuss matters pursuant to Section 239 2(c) of the Municipal Act, 2001, being a proposed or pending acquisition or disposition of land by the municipality or local board.

  
  
  
  Carried

16.

Report from Closed Session

Report from Closed Session at 8:46pm.

Council received one (1) item pursuant to Section 239 2(c) of the Municipal Act, 2001, being a proposed or pending acquisition or disposition of land by the municipality or local board and provided staff with administrative direction.

17.

Confirming By-Law

• Resolution No. 2024- 156
  Moved: Councillor Statham
  Seconded: Councillor Navackas

  That By-law 2024-29 being a By-law to confirm the proceeding of the Regular Meeting of Council held on April 11, 2024, be read a first, second and third and final time. 

  
  
  
  Carried

18.

Adjournment

• Resolution No. 2024- 157
  Moved: Councillor Navackas
  Seconded: Councillor Statham

  That the Council of the Municipality of West Elgin hereby adjourn at 8:47pm, to meet again at 4:00pm, on Thursday, April 25, 2024 or at the call of the Chair. 

  
  
  
  Carried