Council Meeting Minutes

Council Meeting

Meeting #:
Date:
-
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 L. Dunstall
  • Councillor S. Martin
Staff Present:
  • Chief Administrative Officer, S. Chambers
  • Director of Community Services, C. Catania
  • Director of Corporate Services/CFO, G. Clark
  • Director of Infrastructure Services, J. Molenhuis
  • Director of Development Services, H. O'Krafka
  • Manager of Legislative Services / Municipal Clerk, J. Bunn
  • Interim Deputy Treasurer, D. Elliott
  • Manager of Communications and Strategic Initiatives, D. Kell
  • Supervisor of IT, K. Jeffreys
  • Fire Chief, R. Leeson
  • Supervisor of Legislative Services / Deputy Clerk, K. Bos

1.
CALL TO ORDER

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

    THAT the Regular Council Meeting held on May 6, 2024 be called to order at 6:00 p.m.

    Motion Carried

2.
CLOSED SESSION

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

    THAT a Closed Meeting of Council be held on May 6, 2024, at 6:00 p.m. at the Wilmot Administrative Complex, in accordance with Section 239 (2) (h) of the Municipal Act, 2001, to consider the following: 

    • Confidential Information Supplied in Confidence from the Province of Ontario - Section 239 (2)(h) - Information explicitly supplied in confidence to the municipality or local board by Canada, a province or territory or a Crown agency of any item.
    Motion Carried Unanimously

3.
RECONVENE INTO OPEN SESSION

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

    THAT Council reconvenes in Open Session at 7:00 p.m.

    Motion Carried Unanimously

    Mayor N. Salonen reflected on the following:

    • Holocaust Remembrance Day (Yom HaShoah)
    • Orthodox Easter
    • Red Dress Day 

4.
TERRITORIAL LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

  

Councillor K. Wilkinson read the Territorial Land Acknowledgment.

5.
ADDITIONS TO THE AGENDA

  

Item 2 - CLOSED SESSION

Item 3 - RECONVENE INTO OPEN SESSION

Item 9.2 - DELEGATION REGARDING AGENDA ITEM 12.2 

Item 13.2 - BY-LAW 2024-25

Item 15 -   BUSINESS ARISING FROM CLOSED SESSION

6.
ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA

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

    THAT the Agenda as presented for May 6, 2024 be adopted, as amended.

    Motion Carried Unanimously

7.
DISCLOSURE OF PECUNIARY INTEREST UNDER THE MUNICIPAL CONFLICT OF INTEREST ACT

  

Councillor S. Martin declared a conflict of interest with Item 12.1 COR-2024-21 - Community Grants Program – Approval of 2024 Grants in relation to Group 10 New Hamburg Firebirds.

Mayor N. Salonen declared a conflict of interest with Item 12.1 COR-2024-21 - Community Grants Program – Approval of 2024 Grants in relation to Group 2 Wilmot Agricultural Society and Group 5 WODSS Bursaries. 

8.
MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETINGS

This item has attachments.  
  • Moved by:Councillor S. Cressman
    Seconded by:Councillor S. Martin

    THAT the Minutes of the April 22, 2024 Regular Council Meeting and April 25, 2024 Special Council Meeting be adopted as presented.

    Motion Carried Unanimously

9.
DELEGATIONS

  

10.
CORRESPONDENCE

  

11.
CONSENT AGENDA

  

Delegate K. Shantz spoke to Staff Report CS-2024-08 - Baden Firefighters Association Request for Event to be Deemed Municipally Significant.

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

    THAT Consent Agenda Item 11.1 be approved.

    Motion Carried Unanimously

11.1
CS-2024-08 - Baden Firefighters Association Request for Event to be Deemed Municipally Significant

This item has attachments.  

  • THAT Report CS-2024-08 be received for information.

    THAT Council designate the Baden Firefighters Association Hose Monkey Ball Tournament and Concert held at Sir Adam Beck Park on June 21 and 22, 2024 a Municipally Significant Event.

12.
REPORTS

  

12.1
COR-2024-21 - Community Grants Program – Approval of 2024 Grants

This item has attachments.  

Mayor N. Salonen declared a conflict of interest on this item with Group 2 Wilmot Agricultural Society and Group 5 WODSS Bursaries.

Councillor S. Martin declared a conflict of interest on this item with Group 10 New Hamburg Firebirds.

This item was deferred from the April 22, 2024 Council Meeting. 

The main motion, as amended was moved by Councillor S. Cressman and seconded by Councillor H. Sidhu at the April 22, 2024 Council Meeting THAT Report COR-2024-21 be received, and THAT the proposed 2024 Community Grants Program grants listed in Appendix A be approved for payment, save and except for Group 2 Wilmot Agricultural Society, Group 5 WODSS Bursaries and Group 10 New Hamburg Firebirds; AND THAT Group 20 Wilmot Girls Hockey Association funding request in the amount of $2500.00 be approved. 

Director of Community Services, C. Catania presented the report.

Council asked and received answers from staff regarding the following:

  • Implications on delaying the approval of the 2024 Community Grants

A motion was brought forward by Councillor K. Wilkinson, seconded by Councillor S. Cressman THAT Council defers the consideration of Report COR-2024-21 - Community Grants Program - Approval of 2024 Grants, save and except for Group 2 Wilmot Agricultural Society, Group 5 WODSS Bursaries and Group 10 New Hamburg Firebirds to the May 27, 2024 Council Meeting. The motion carried unanimously.

Councillor S. Cressman, assumed the position of Chair.

Mayor N. Salonen declared a conflict of interest on these items, and recused from voting.

A motion was brought forward by Councillor K. Wilkinson, seconded by Councillor S. Martin THAT Council defers the consideration of Report COR-2024-21 - Community Grants Program - Approval of 2024 Grants Group 2 Wilmot Agricultural Society to the May 27, 2024 Council Meeting. The motion carried.

A motion was brought forward by Councillor K. Wilkinson, seconded by Councillor L. Dunstall THAT Council defers the consideration of Report COR-2024-21 - Community Grants Program - Approval of 2024 Grants Group 5 WODSS Bursaries to the May 27, 2024 Council Meeting. The motion carried.

Mayor N. Salonen resumed as Chair.

Councillor S. Martin declared a conflict of interest on this item, and recused from voting.

A motion was brought forward by Councillor K. Wilkinson, seconded by Councillor S. Cressman THAT Council defers the consideration of Report COR-2024-21 - Community Grants Program - Approval of 2024 Grants Group 10 New Hamburg Firebirds to the May 27, 2024 Council Meeting pending more information from staff. The motion carried.

12.2
COR-2024-24 - Special Fire Services Fees

This item has attachments.  

Director of Corporate Services / CFO, G. Clark presented the report.

Council asked and received answers from staff regarding the following:

  • The special fire services fee charge 
  • The history of the special fire services fee charge for this area 

Delegate K. Thomason spoke to Staff Report COR-2024-24 - Special Fire Services Fees.

Council asked and received answers from the delegate regarding the following:

  • The unique challenges of the private access roads on emergency response
  • The measures in place for emergency response in the area 
  • Moved by:Councillor K. Wilkinson
    Seconded by:Councillor L. Dunstall

    THAT Report COR 2024-24 be received for information; and

    THAT the practice of billing the property owners in the Wellesley Fire Services response area of Wilmot a surcharge on their tax bill be discontinued effective for 2024.

    Motion Carried Unanimously

12.3
COR-2024-23 - 2024 Tax Rates and Due Dates

This item has attachments.  

Director of Corporate Services / CFO, G. Clark presented the report.

A motion was brought forward by Councillor L. Dunstall, seconded by Councillor K. Wilkinson THAT Report COR-2024-23 be received, and That draft bylaw 2024-24 included in tonight’s agenda be adopted to set the tax rates and due dates for the final billing of property taxes for 2024; and That staff be authorized 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 preauthorized payment program for taxes.

Council asked and received answers from staff regarding the following:

  • The Managed Forest Taxable (TT) rate 
  • A new communications approach to the tax rates

A motion was brought forward by Councillor K. Wilkinson, seconded by Councillor S. Cressman THAT Council amends the motion to add THAT Staff report back at the June 10, 2024 Council Meeting with information on options to include a detailed breakdown of the allocation of taxes collected for the Township, Region of Waterloo and Education levy in the final tax billing mail-out, as well as the feasibility of the adoption of digital billing. The motion carried unanimously.

Council now voted on the main motion, as amended.

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

    THAT Report COR-2024-23 be received; and,

    THAT draft bylaw 2024-24 included in tonight’s agenda be adopted to set the tax rates and due dates for the final billing of property taxes for 2024; and,

    THAT staff be authorized 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 preauthorized payment program for taxes; and further,

    THAT Staff report back at the June 10, 2024 Council Meeting with information on options to include a detailed breakdown of the allocation of taxes collected for the Township, Region of Waterloo and Education levy in the final tax billing mail-out, as well as the feasibility of the adoption of digital billing. 

    Motion Carried Unanimously

12.4
CS-2024-09 - Award of RFT 2024-04 Parks and Facilities Stake Truck

This item has attachments.  

  • Director of Community Services, C. Catania presented the report.

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

    THAT Report CS-2024-09, Award of RFT 2024-04 Parks and Facilities Stake Truck be received for information, and further

    THAT Council approve award to Oxford Dodge Chrysler (1992) LTD in the amount of $100,791.00 excluding taxes for the supply and delivery of a Parks and Facilities Stake Truck based on the results of RFT 2024-04, and further

    THAT Council approve an additional $791.00 excluding taxes through the Ontario Community Infrastructure Fund.

    Motion Carried Unanimously

13.
BY-LAWS

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

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

    Motion Carried Unanimously

14.
ANNOUNCEMENTS

  

Mayor N. Salonen provided announcements on:

  • Emergency Preparedness Week- May 5th to 11th
  • Mental Health Awareness Month- May
  • Wilmot’s Parks, Trails and Sports Fields Open for the Season 
  • Registration for Wilmot Aquatic Centre’s Summer Swimming Lessons in June 
  • Professional Municipal Clerk's Week - May 5th to 11th

Councillor S. Cressman provided an announcement on: 

  • Spring Road Safety with Agricultural Equipment

15.
BUSINESS ARISING FROM CLOSED SESSION

  

There was no business arising from closed session.

16.
CONFIRMATORY BY-LAW

This item has attachments.  
  • Moved by:Councillor K. Wilkinson
    Seconded by:Councillor S. Martin

    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

17.
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
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