Council Meeting Agenda
Council Meeting

Monday, January 27, 2025

7:00 P.m. - 10:00 P.m.

Council Chambers - Hybrid

60 Snyder's Road West

Baden, Ontario

N3A 1A1

This meeting will be held in-person and electronically in accordance with Section 238 (3.3) of the Municipal Act, 2001. Please subscribe to the Township of Wilmot You Tube Channel to watch the live stream or view after the meeting.
Delegations must register with the Legislative Services Division. The only matters being discussed at this meeting will be those on the Agenda.

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1.

CALL TO ORDER

• RECOMMENDATION

  THAT the Regular Council Meeting held on January 27, 2025 be called to order at 7:00 p.m.

2.

TERRITORIAL LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

Mayor N. Salonen will read the Territorial Land Acknowledgment.

3.

ADDITIONS TO THE AGENDA

4.

ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA

• RECOMMENDATION

  THAT the Agenda as presented for January 27, 2025 be adopted.

5.

DISCLOSURE OF PECUNIARY INTEREST UNDER THE MUNICIPAL CONFLICT OF INTEREST ACT

Members of Council and members of the Township’s local boards are required to file a written statement when they have a conflict of interest. If a conflict is declared, please review the Policies and Rules for Council  and complete the Disclosure of Pecuniary Interest Form.

6.

MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETINGS

• RECOMMENDATION

  THAT the Minutes of the December 16, 2024 Regular Council Meeting, January 6, 2025 Committee of the Whole Meeting, and January 7, 2025 Special Council Meeting be adopted as presented.

7.

DELEGATIONS

Pursuant to Council’s Procedural By-law, delegations are permitted to address Council for a maximum of seven (7) minutes. General Interest Delegation are included below. Only three General Interest Delegations are permitted at each Regular Council Meeting. General Interest Delegations must register by noon on the Monday prior to the Council meeting date. Specific Interest Delegations are only permitted to discuss matters listed on the Council agenda as staff reports; informal and formal public meetings; notice of motions; and by-laws. All Specific Interest Delegations where possible are encouraged to register prior to the start of the meeting. For Specific Interest Delegates who are attending in-person, registration is permitted up to the start of the meeting. Specific Interest Delegates who are interested in attending virtually must register by 12:00 p.m. on January 27, 2024, in order to participate electronically.

7.1

General Interest Delegations

7.2

Specific Interest Delegations

7.2.1

Item 10.3 Report IS-2025-02 -Knipfel Private DWS System - Design Approval

7.2.1.1

Herb Brenneman

8.

CORRESPONDENCE

9.

CONSENT AGENDA

• RECOMMENDATION

  THAT Consent Agenda Items 9.1 be approved.

9.1

COR-2025-01 - Award of Contract for Gasoline and Diesel Supply for 2025

• RECOMMENDATION

  THAT Council approve participation in the Grand River Co-op Purchasing (GRCPG) contract for supply and delivery of gasoline and fuel, for the period March 1, 2025, to February 28, 2030, with three (3), one (1) year renewal options as described in Report COR-2025-01 Co-op Contract for Supply of Gasoline and Diesel Fuel.

10.

REPORTS

10.1

COR-2025-04 - 2025 Interim Tax Levy

• RECOMMENDATION

  THAT Council adopt the 2025 Interim Tax Levy By-Law to set the due dates for the interim billing of property taxes for 2025 as described in Report COR-2025-04 - 2025 Interim Tax Levy; and,

  THAT Council direct Staff to commence a communications effort to notify residents of planned changes to tax due dates for 2025, and to encourage increased participation in the Township’s pre-authorized payment program for taxes.

10.2

CS-2025-01 - 2024 Special Event and Facility Subsidies

• RECOMMENDATION

  THAT Council directs Staff to continue facility use subsidies and in-kind staff costs for legacy facility bookings, by affiliated groups and special events taking place at Township facilities in 2025 as described in Report CS-2025-01 - 2024 Special Event and Facility Subsidies; and,

  THAT Council directs Staff to review the affiliation policy and report back to the Committee of the Whole in September with details including participation rates, residency and fees and charges.

10.3

IS-2025-02 - Knipfel Private DWS System - Design Approval

• RECOMMENDATION

  THAT Council received report IS-2025-02 Knipfel Private DWS System - Design Approval; and, 

  THAT Council directs Staff to proceed with the detailed design for replacing the Knipfel Private Distribution Water System with a new municipal watermain and services that meets current municipal and provincial design and safety standards, including design for service connections for all existing users and properties fronting the proposed watermain layout in northeast Petersburg, Notre Dame Drive, and Snyder’s Road East as described in Report IS-2025-01 Knipfel Private Drinking Water System Update; and,

  THAT Council directs staff to proceed with the public consultation process as presented in Report IS-2025-02 Knipfel Private DWS System - Design Approval for the detailed design for replacing the Knipfel Private Distribution Water System.

11.

BY-LAWS

• RECOMMENDATION

  THAT By-Laws as attached to this Agenda be read a first, second and third time, and finally passed in Open Council. 

11.1

By-law 2025-05 Interim Tax Levy

12.

NOTICES OF MOTION

12.1

Councillor L. Dunstall

12.1.1

Redistribution of the Provincial Land Transfer Tax and GST to Municipalities for Sustainable Infrastructure Funding

• RECOMMENDATION

  WHEREAS, the Council of the Corporation of the Township of Wilmot supports the Town of Aurora’s motion to Request the Redistribution of the Provincial Land Transfer Tax and GST to Municipalities for Sustainable Infrastructure Funding;

  AND WHEREAS, municipalities face growing infrastructure needs, including roads, bridges, public transit, water systems, and other critical services, which are essential to community well-being and economic development;

  AND WHEREAS, the current sources of municipal revenue, including property taxes and user fees, are insufficient to meet these increasing demands for infrastructure investment;

  AND WHEREAS, the Province of Ontario currently collects the Land Transfer Tax (LTT) on property transactions in municipalities across the province, generating significant revenue that is not directly shared with municipalities;

  AND WHEREAS, the Federal Government collects the Goods and Services Tax (GST) on property transactions, a portion of which could be directed to municipalities to address local infrastructure needs;

  AND WHEREAS, redistributing a portion of the Provincial Land Transfer Tax and GST to municipalities would provide a predictable and sustainable source of funding for local infrastructure projects without creating a new tax burden on residents or homebuyers;

  AND WHEREAS, a redistribution of a portion of the existing Land Transfer Tax and GST would allow municipalities to better plan and invest in long-term infrastructure initiatives, supporting local economic growth and improving the quality of life for residents;

  NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT; the Council of the Corporation of the Township of Wilmot formally requests the Provincial Government to consider redistributing a portion of the Land Transfer Tax collected on property transactions to municipalities;

  THAT, the Council of the Corporation of the Township of Wilmot calls on the Federal Government to allocate a percentage of the GST collected on property sales to municipalities;

  THAT, this redistribution of the Land Transfer Tax and GST should be structured to provide predictable and sustainable funding to municipalities, allowing for better long-term planning and investment in infrastructure projects that benefit local communities, thus ensuring that local governments receive a fair share of the revenue to address critical infrastructure needs;

  THAT, copies of this resolution be forwarded to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Premier Doug Ford, the Ontario Minister of Finance, the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, local Member of Parliament Tim Louis and Member of Provincial Parliament Mike Harris. 

12.1.2

Funding Support for Rural Infrastructure

• RECOMMENDATION

  WHEREAS Ontario’s small rural municipalities face insurmountable challenges to fund both upfront investments and ongoing maintenance of their capital assets including roads and bridges and water wastewater and municipally owned buildings including recreational facilities and libraries; and

  WHEREAS in 2018, the Ontario government mandated all Ontario municipalities to develop capital asset management plans with the stipulation that they be considered in the development of the annual budget; and

  WHEREAS small rural municipalities are facing monumental infrastructure deficits that cannot be adequately addressed through property tax revenue alone; and

  WHEREAS the Ontario Government has committed $9.1 billion to Toronto alone to assist with operating deficits and the repatriation of the Don Valley and Gardner Expressway; and

  WHEREAS small rural Ontario cannot keep pace with the capital investments required over the next 20 years unless both the Provincial and Federal Governments come forward with new sustainable infrastructure funding; and

  WHEREAS it is apparent that both the Federal and Ontario Governments have neglected to recognize the needs of small rural Ontario; and

  NOW THERFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Township of Wilmot Council call on the Ontario and Federal Government to implement sustainable infrastructure funding for small rural municipalities;

  AND THAT small rural municipalities are not overlooked and disregarded on future applications for funding;

  AND THAT both the Federal and Ontario Governments begin by acknowledging that there is an insurmountable debt facing small rural municipalities;

  AND FINALLY THAT this resolution be forwarded to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Premier Doug Ford, the Ontario Minister of Finance, the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, local Member of Parliament Tim Louis and Member of Provincial Parliament Mike Harris.

12.1.3

Mandatory Financial Training for Elected Officials in Ontario

• RECOMMENDATION

  WHEREAS the Municipal Act Section 224 states it is the role of council to maintain the financial integrity of the municipality; and,

  WHEREAS in Ontario, municipalities are required by Section 289 and 290 of the Municipal Act to plan balanced operating budgets. This means that expenses must equal revenues every year and they cannot borrow money to fund operating expenses; and,

  WHEREAS in Ontario, municipalities face increasingly complex challenges without the financial tools to solve them. Property taxpayers, including people on fixed incomes and struggling small businesses cannot afford to subsidize income redistribution, investment for those most in need, and significant capital investments; and,

  WHEREAS in Ontario, municipalities manage nearly half a trillion dollars worth of infrastructure, including roads and bridges, water and wastewater, recreation facilities, social housing, public transit, and more; and,

  WHEREAS in Ontario, Councillor's are required to complete mandatory training as set out in other provincial legislation, including the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 and the Occupational Health and Safety Act.;

  NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED

  THAT Township of Wilmot Council requests that the Province of Ontario amends the Municipal Act, 2001 to address the financial obligations of members of council and members of local boards and recommend the amendment as required that Members of Council, and local boards should have mandatory training on the financial integrity and management requirements.

  AND THAT this resolution be forwarded to Premier Doug Ford, the Ontario Minister of Finance, the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, local Member of Parliament Tim Louis and Member of Provincial Parliament Mike Harris.

  AND FINALLY THAT the Township of Wilmot direct staff to schedule a training session on financial integrity and management for the Township of Wilmot Council and Corporate Leadership Team to occur within the next quarter.

13.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

14.

CONFIRMATORY BY-LAW

• RECOMMENDATION

  THAT the Confirmatory By-Law as attached to this Agenda be read a first, second and third time, and finally passed in Open Council. 

15.

ADJOURNMENT

• RECOMMENDATION

  THAT we do now adjourn to meet again at the call of the Mayor.