Council Meeting Minutes

Council Meeting

Meeting #:

Date:

Monday, May 26, 2025 at 7:00 P.m. - 11:00 P.m.

Location:

Council Chambers - Hybrid

60 Snyder's Road West

Baden, Ontario

N3A 1A1

Members Present:

• Mayor N. Salonen
• Councillor S. Cressman
• Councillor K. Wilkinson
• Councillor H. Sidhu
• Councillor L. Dunstall
• Councillor S. Martin

Staff Present:

• Acting CAO / Director of Development Services, H. O'Krafka
• Director of Community Services, C. Catania
• Director of Corporate Services/CFO, G. Clark
• Director of Infrastructure Services, J. Molenhuis
• Manager of Legislative Services / Municipal Clerk, K. Bos
• Manager Planning and Economic Development, A. Martin
• Manager of Community Services, M. O'Krafka
• Supervisor of Legislative Services / Deputy Clerk, M. Dykstra
• Curator, S. Gropp
• Desktop Support Technician, R. Ubhi

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1.

CALL TO ORDER

• Moved by: Councillor S. Cressman
  Seconded by: Councillor S. Martin

  THAT the Regular Council Meeting held on May 26, 2025 be called to order at 7:01 p.m.

  Motion Carried Unanimously

2.

TERRITORIAL LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

Councillor S. Martin read the Territorial Land Acknowledgment.

3.

ADDITIONS TO THE AGENDA

Item 9. Correspondence

• 9.2 Correspondence from Deborah Wallis Regarding Land Assembly
• 9.3 Correspondence from Rory Farnan Regarding Wilmot Strong Mayor Powers
• 9.4 Correspondence from Pauline Duench Miller Regarding Land Assembly

4.

ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA

• Moved by: Councillor L. Dunstall
  Seconded by: Councillor S. Martin

  THAT the Agenda as presented for May 26, 2025, be adopted, as amended.

  Motion Carried Unanimously

5.

DISCLOSURE OF PECUNIARY INTEREST UNDER THE MUNICIPAL CONFLICT OF INTEREST ACT

There were no disclosures of pecuniary interest.

6.

MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETINGS

• Moved by: Councillor H. Sidhu
  Seconded by: Councillor L. Dunstall

  THAT the Minutes of the April 28, 2025 Regular Council Meeting, the May 5, 2025 Committee of the Whole Meeting, the May 5, 2025 Special Council Meeting, and the May 12, 2025 Special Council Meeting, be adopted as presented.

  Motion Carried Unanimously

7.

PRESENTATIONS

7.1

Strong Mayor Powers amendments to O. Reg. 530/22 under the Municipal Act, 2001 

Steven O'Melia of Miller Thomson LLP presented to Council.

Council asked and received a response to the following:

• Whether the Mayor's veto powers extend to decisions made by Council through resolution, particularly in matters of policy direction;
• Clarification on how "provincial priorities" are defined and interpreted;
• Clarification regarding the process and responsibilities related to the presentation of the municipal budget;
• Information on statutory or procedural timelines associated with the preparation and presentation of the municipal budget; 
• Whether the Mayor holds authority to veto amendments made by Council to the proposed budget;
• Clarification on the applicability of veto powers in situations involving disclosures of pecuniary interest and when quorum is affected; and,
• Whether Council will have continued opportunities to ask follow-up questions or seek additional clarification on these or related matters.

Council asked the Mayor and received a response to the following:

• The opinion of the Association of Municipalities of Ontario regarding the regulation, and;
• The Association of Municipalities of Ontario opinion on the impact on the future recruitment of candidates for Municipal Elections.

8.

DELEGATIONS

At the Mayor's discretion, Council proceeded with Item 8. Delegations, in advance of Item 7. Presentations.

8.1

General Interest Delegations

8.1.1

Anne Loeffler 

Anne Loeffler delegated to Council regarding a soil erosion issue impacting the Synder Municipal Drain on Bleams Road.

Council asked and received a response to the following from staff:

• Have there been measures put in place to encourage the Region to protect the Township's infrastructure. 

8.2

Specific Interest Delegations

There were no specific interest delegations.

9.

CORRESPONDENCE

9.1

Correspondence from Marlene Knezevich Regarding PMP

9.2

Correspondence from Deborah Wallis Regarding Land Assembly

9.3

Correspondence from Rory Farnan Regarding Wilmot Strong Mayor Powers

9.4

Correspondence from Pauline Duench Miller Regarding Land Assembly

10.

CONSENT AGENDA

Councillor S. Cressman pulled Item 10.5 DS-2025-05 - RFP-2025-12 - Consulting Services to prepare new Township of Wilmot Official Plan.

• Moved by: Councillor L. Dunstall
  Seconded by: Councillor S. Cressman

  THAT Consent Agenda Items 10.1, 10.2, 10.3, 10.4 and 10.5 be approved.

  Motion Carried Unanimously

10.1

COR-2025-12 - Queen St. Municipal Drain Actual Cost By-law

• THAT Council considers the adoption of the By-Law to Amend By-Law 2022-38 to Provide for the Actual Costs for Drainage Works Known as the Queen Street Municipal Drain at the May 26, 2025 Regular Council Meeting as per Report COR-2025-12.

10.2

COR-2025-23 - Follow-up Information Regarding Report COR-2025-19 Fireworks By-law Exemption – 23 Meadowcliff Place, Mannheim

• THAT Council approves an exemption to the Township of Wilmot Fireworks By-law 2023-17 for the municipal address known as 23 Meadowcliff Place, Mannheim for Saturday, June 28^th, 2025, from 9:00 p.m.- 9:30 p.m.

10.3

IS-2025-18 - Township of Wilmot Encroachment By-law

• THAT Council direct staff to initiate a comment period of approximately three (3) months on the Township's Website regarding the draft Encroachment By-law as detailed in Report IS-2025-18; and, 

  THAT Council direct staff to present an Encroachment By-law for consideration at the September 8, 2025 Committee of the Whole meeting. 

10.4

IS-2025-17 - Draft Sewer Use By-law

• THAT Council direct staff to initiate a comment period of approximately three (3) months on the Township's Website regarding the draft Sewer Use By-law as detailed in Report IS-2025-17; and,

  THAT Council direct staff to present a Sewer Use By-law for consideration at the September 8, 2025 Committee of the Whole meeting.

10.5

DS-2025-05 - RFP 2025-12 – Consulting Services to prepare new Township of Wilmot Official Plan

Council asked and received a response from staff:

• Clarification regarding the rationale for proceeding with an Official Plan Update;
• Confirmation on whether the proposed timeline for the project allows for a meaningful and inclusive public engagement process, with opportunities for all residents to provide feedback and participate;
• Clarification regarding the funding sources for the project; and,
• Whether the project can be undertaken using internal staff resources or if external support is required to complete the project.

• THAT Report DS 2025-05 be received for information, and

  THAT Nethery Planning be awarded the contract to prepare the new Township of Wilmot Official Plan, for the price of $419,925, excluding HST, and

  THAT additional budget of $225,000 be approved, as identified in the 2024 Capital Budget, the additional budget is funded $162,000 from the Administration DC Reserve Fund (#6010) and $63,000 from the Infrastructure Renewal Reserve Fund (#6125), and,

  THAT Council authorize the Mayor and the Clerk to enter into an agreement with Nethery Planning for the preparation of a new Township of Wilmot Official Plan.

11.

REPORTS

11.1

CS 2025-05 Castle Kilbride - 2024 Year in Review

Director of Community Services C. Catania provided an introduction to the report, and Manager of Community Services, M. O'Krafka and Curator, S. Gropp presented the report.

Council asked and received a response to the following:

• Whether Castle Kilbride regularly seeks sponsors for events; and, 
• Whether there are sponsorship opportunities for future events.

• Moved by: Councillor S. Cressman
  Seconded by: Councillor L. Dunstall

  THAT CS 2025-05 Castle Kilbride - 2024 Year in Review be received for information.

  Motion Carried Unanimously

12.

BY-LAWS

• Moved by: Councillor H. Sidhu
  Seconded by: Councillor S. Cressman

  THAT By-Law 2025-24 as attached to this Agenda be read a first, second and third time, and finally passed in Open Council. 

  Motion Carried Unanimously

12.1

By-law 2025-24 Amend By-law 2022-38 to Provide for the Actual Costs for the Drainage Works Known as the Queen Street Municipal Drain 2022

13.

NOTICES OF MOTION

None.

14.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Mayor N. Salonen provided announcements on:

• May 25 to 31 is National Accessibility Week
• May 23 to June 20 Castle Kilbride and Waterloo-Oxford District Secondary School are hosting at Castle Kilbride: Artistic Expressions of WODSS: A Juried Exhibition!. This show features the finest selected pieces from an array of students from WODSS working in diverse media.

15.

CONFIRMATORY BY-LAW

• Moved by: Councillor S. Cressman
  Seconded by: Councillor L. Dunstall

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

  Motion Carried Unanimously

16.

ADJOURNMENT

• Moved by: Councillor S. Cressman
  Seconded by: Councillor S. Martin

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

  Motion Carried Unanimously