Council Meeting Minutes

Council Meeting

Meeting #:

Date:

Monday, April 28, 2025 at 6:30 P.m. - 11:30 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 Corporate Services/CFO, G. Clark
• Director of Community Services, C. Catania
• Director of Development Services, H. O'Krafka
• Director of Infrastructure Services, J. Molenhuis
• Manager of Legislative Services / Municipal Clerk, K. Bos
• Manager of Planning and Economic Development, A. Martin
• Supervisor of Legislative Services / Deputy Clerk, M. Dykstra
• Desktop Support Technician, R. Ubhi

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1.

CALL TO ORDER

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

  THAT the Regular Council Meeting held on April 28, 2025 be called to order at 6:30 p.m.

  Motion Carried Unanimously

2.

CLOSED SESSION

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

  THAT a Closed Meeting of Council be held on April 28, 2025, at 6:30 p.m. at the Wilmot Administrative Complex, in accordance with Section 239 (2) (b) the Municipal Act, 2001, to consider the following: 

  • CAO Recruitment – Section 239 (2)(b) personal matters about an identifiable individual, including municipal or local board employees.
  Motion Carried Unanimously

3.

RECONVENE INTO OPEN SESSION

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

  THAT Council reconvenes in Open Session at 7:22 p.m.

  Motion Carried Unanimously

4.

TERRITORIAL LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

Councillor K. Wilkinson read the Territorial Land Acknowledgment.

5.

ADDITIONS TO THE AGENDA

There were no additions to the agenda.

6.

ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA

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

  THAT the Agenda as presented for April 28, 2025 be adopted.

  Motion Carried Unanimously

7.

DISCLOSURE OF PECUNIARY INTEREST UNDER THE MUNICIPAL CONFLICT OF INTEREST ACT

There were no disclosures of pecuniary interest.

8.

MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETINGS

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

  THAT the Minutes of the March 24, 2025 Regular Council Meeting and the April 7, 2025 Committee of the Whole Meeting, be adopted as presented.

  Motion Carried Unanimously

9.

PRESENTATIONS

9.1

Region of Waterloo re: Grand River Transit Business Plan - Information Update

Doug Spooner, Commissioner of Transportation Services and Kevin Marshall, Manager of Transit Development of the Region of Waterloo presented to Council. 

Council asked and received a response to the following:

• Constituents complaints regarding rural transit services;
• Whether the Region can present options to Council regarding what services could be provided to the Townships with approximate costs to gauge constituents interest in various options; and, 
• How the service intends to provide better access from rural areas to urban areas.

10.

DELEGATIONS

There were no delegations.

10.1

General Interest Delegations

10.2

Specific Interest Delegations

11.

CORRESPONDENCE

11.1

Correspondence from Brendan Wycks Regarding Prime Ministers Path

11.2

Correspondence from Pam O'Rourke Regarding Land Assembly

11.3

Correspondence from Pauline Duench Miller Regarding Wilmot Land Assembly

11.4

Correspondence from Kevin Thomason Regarding Cachet Development Proposal

12.

CONSENT AGENDA

Councillor L. Dunstall pulled Item 12.1 CAO-2025-08 - Governance Policy HR-001 Hiring and Termination of Employees.

• Moved by: Councillor L. Dunstall
  Seconded by: Councillor K. Wilkinson

  THAT Consent Agenda Items 12.1, 12.2, 12.3, 12.4 and 12.5 be approved.

  Motion Carried Unanimously

12.1

CAO-2025-08 - Governance Policy HR-001 Hiring and Termination of Employees

Council asked and a received a response to the following:

• Whether staff's exit interview responses can be provided to Council; and,
• The provision of the eight (8) comparator policies to Council.

• THAT Council direct staff to present an updated HR-001 Policy with best practice recommendations on recruitment for review and consideration at the June Committee of the Whole meeting as described in Report CAO-2025-08.

12.2

COR-2025-07 - 2023 Audited Financial Statements

• THAT Council approves the 2023 Audited Finance Statements as included in Report COR-2025-07.

12.3

COR-2025-16 - Final Tax Levy Rates and Due Dates

• THAT Council consider By-law 2025-19, being a by-law to set the tax rates and due dates for the final billing of property taxes for 2025 as described in Report COR-2025-16.

12.4

COR-2025-17 - Petition for Drainage Works by Owners - Demtec Enterprises Inc.

• THAT Council accepts the Petition for Drainage Works by Owners Demtec Enterprises Inc. as described in Report COR-2025-17.

12.5

IS-2025-10 - Baden Sanitary Trunk Sewer - Cost Sharing Agreement

• THAT Council approve the Baden Sanitary Trunk Sewer Cost Sharing Agreement as described in Report IS-2025-10; and, 

  THAT Council consider By-law 2025-20, being a By-law that authorizes the Mayor and the Clerk to enter into a cost-sharing agreement with the Region of Waterloo for reimbursement of contract administration fees and construction costs related to the Regional Baden Sanitary Forcemain to be included within the Baden Trunk Sanitary Sewer Project.

   

13.

REPORTS

13.1

COR-2025-13 - Nicklas Municipal Drain 2025 - Consideration of the Engineer's Report

John Kuntze, Drainage Superintendent presented the Engineers Report.

Council asked and received a response from the Drainage Superintendent on the following:

• Would deepening and enclosing a drain alter waterflow to neighbouring properties and ecosystems; and,
• Opportunities for landowners to request upgrading the coefficient for existing drains.

Mayor N. Salonen asked if there were any ratepayers that wished to question the engineer's report. There were none.

Mayor N. Salonen asked if there were any petitioners present who wished to withdraw their name from the petition. There were none. 

Mayor N. Salonen asked if there were any owners present, owning lands within the area requiring drainage and have not signed the petition, who wished to add their names to the petition. There were none. 

By unanimous consent Council appointed Councillor S. Cressman and Councillor L. Dunstall to the Court of Revision for the Nicklas Municipal Drain 2025. 

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

  THAT Report COR-2025-13 Nicklas Municipal Drain - Consideration of the Engineer's Report be received for information; and,

  THAT Council accepts the report from K. Smart Associates Limited dated February 28, 2025 for the Nicklas Municipal Drain 2025; and,

  THAT Council considers the provisional adoption of By-law 2025-18 being a By-law to provide for drainage works known as the Nicklas Municipal Drain 2025; and,

  THAT Councillors S. Cressmann ,and Councillor L. Dunstall be appointed to the Court of Revision to be held on Tuesday May 27^th, 2025 at 6:00 p.m.

  Motion Carried Unanimously

13.2

DS-2025-03 Zone Change Application 02/25 - 73 Hincks Street, New Hamburg

Manager of Planning and Economic Development A. Martin provided an introduction to the report.

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

  THAT Council approve Zone Change Application 02/25, affecting Lots 31-34 and C.H. Ahrens Block, Plan 532A, to rezone the subject property from Zone 10 (Industrial) and Zone 3 (Residential) to Zone 7 (Commercial) and eliminate residential uses otherwise permitted within Zone 7 as described in Report DS-2025-03.

  Motion Carried Unanimously

14.

BY-LAWS

• Moved by: Councillor S. Cressman
  Seconded by: Councillor K. Wilkinson

  THAT 2025-19, 2025-20, and 2025-21 as attached to this Agenda be read a first, second and third time, and finally passed in Open Council; and,

  THAT By-law 2025-18 as attached to this  Agenda be read a first and second time and provisionally adopted in Open Council. 

  Motion Carried Unanimously

14.1

By-law 2025-18 Being a By-law to provide for drainage works in the Township of Wilmot in the Region of Waterloo known as the Nicklas Municipal Drain 2025

14.2

By-law 2025-19 Being a By-law to establish the 2025 final tax levy rates and provide for the payment of taxes by instalments

14.3

By-law 2025-20 Being a By-law to enter into a cost-share agreement with the Region of Waterloo for the Baden Trunk Sanitary Sewer Project

14.4

By-law 2025-21 Being a By-law to amend the Zoning By-law (ZCA 02/25 - 73 Hincks, New Hamburg)

15.

NOTICES OF MOTION

There were no notices of motion.

16.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Mayor N. Salonen provided announcements on:

• Acknowledged the senseless tragedy that occurred in Vancouver on Saturday, when several people were killed and injured at a street party celebrating Filipino culture. The Township's thoughts ho with those who have been affected and sends its condolences to families and friends, and to Filipino Canadians in Wilmot and across the country.
• April is National Autism Awareness Month, and April 2nd was Word Autism Day;
• April 28th is National Day of Mourning to honour workers who have lost their lives, suffered injury, or experienced illness due to workplace hazards;
• Let's Tree Wilmot, Enova Power Corporation and the Township partnered to deliver a sold out Wilmot Roots 2025 Free Tree Giveaway;
• May 1st to May 7th is National Youth Week, visit the Township's website to learn more about the planned activities in Wilmot;
• May 5th is the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ People in Canada, the Township will be honouring Red Dress Day by lowering flags at the Administrative Complex on Monday, May 5th with a ceremony that all are invited to attend at 10:00 AM. 
• On May 8th from 7-10 PM, the Bereaved Families of Ontario - Midwestern Region will be hosting a "Night of Music" at Four Fathers Brewing in Cambridge, which can be purchased online at bfomidwest.org.

Councillor L. Dunstall announced that smile Tim Horton's week-long Smile Cookie campaign returns April 28 with 100% of the proceeds from each cookie sold donated to local charities and community groups.

Councillor H. Sidhu congratulated resident, Wayne Simpson on his lottery wins over the weekend.

17.

BUSINESS ARISING FROM CLOSED SESSION

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

  THAT Council directs the Mayor to proceed as directed regarding CAO Recruitment.

  Motion Carried Unanimously

18.

CONFIRMATORY BY-LAW

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

  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

19.

ADJOURNMENT

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

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

  Motion Carried Unanimously