Good evening. Good evening. I'd like to welcome all to our regular council meeting for the
Corporation of Tone of Espionola, Tuesday, November 26, 2024 at 7 p.m. Council chambers 100
touchable street. Please note this meeting will be live streamed. First order of business is our
indigenous land acknowledgement statement. We would like to begin this meeting by acknowledging
the robbers of here in treaty of 18. Sorry. Sorry about that. Councillor, we were on mute on your end. But that's
okay. I didn't want to interrupt the flow if you were starting, but I can hear it out. Yeah, we've just
thrived at the indigenous i.e. acknowledgement our apology. Right on, having missed much
budget. All right, we're going to do this, land acknowledgement statement. We'd like to begin this
meeting by acknowledging the robbers of here in treaty of 1850 and acknowledging the Tone of Espionola is located
on the traditional territories of the White Fish River First Nation, Sagamac, anishanabic, anishanabic, anishanabic, anishanabic.
We acknowledge this as part of our commitment to truth and reconciliation with indigenous peoples and to work together
for our future generations. Next door of business, disclosure of any pecuniary interest and general nature thereof.
See, none. See as delegations and petitions, we have delegation from the Espionola Regional Hospital and Health Center, Jane
by the Stelling. See you all in our doctor, Rob, the badge, chief of staff. Would you like me to give you a presentation?
Thanks.
All right, thank you, Mayor Jurbe, which also has been town council for the opportunity to share this presentation with you.
So we want to share a little bit of information about Espionola Regional Hospital, so we are at health care
campus. We deliver care and services through a patient-centered, collaborative model
through the hospital, walk-room care home, family health teams, seniors, assisted living and non-profit housing.
So we're committed to providing access to core patient services to espionola and area residents, as well as expanding the level of service to keep patient care and closer to home.
So we offer emergency department, we have mental health and addictions crisis worker and emergency department, nurse navigators
and in the acute care medical unit. We have diagnostic imaging, cardiac testing, outpatient lab services,
co-patient physiotherapy, and we support onsite services with partners through our family health teams, such as
geriatric behavioral supports, telemedicine, palliative complex care, home community care, audiology, sleep lab, and pulmonary function tests,
and put care, navigation, and rapid access to addiction medicine clinic.
We have seniors assisted living, as I said, and non-profit housing. And we continually advocate for the
expansion and enhancement and coordination of our rural health health model. We're making enhancements to our long-term care home
to support quality of life for our residents. We're committed to education and training and have developed a rural simulation program
to enhance critical care education and training in our emergency department.
In terms of just the past year, we thought we'd give you some statistics on how we're serving our community.
So we've carried forward 13,000 patients in our emergency department, which runs 24 or 7.
We admitted 722 patients through the emergency department, and 70% of those we carried within our own hospital,
so they received care close to home. About 30% were transferred to HSN, or other tertiary facilities for a higher level of care,
meaning the cardiology or ICU of statrics, or psychiatry. Our lab department has performed over 175,000 inpatient and outpatient tests.
We performed performed multiple x-rays, ultrasound, cardiac testing, and we've seen an increase in average increase of 120% in our diagnostic imaging department
tests over the past five years. We provide primary care to over 49, 100 loss of patients throughout family health team, through our live family physicians that work there.
And this year, we hosted a visit with the ADM of health and a delegation from Ontario Health and we really highlighted our rural health campus model
and advocated for equity and access to care and services to meet the rural means of our community.
Rob's going to talk to you on the health care run in eight and a moment.
Thank you very much for letting us talk for a few minutes.
So I'm sure if you've either experienced health care or listen to the news in the last few years, you know that since COVID health care has really been struggling
and one of the big challenges human resources and lack of physicians, nurses, and physiosocial workers.
A lot of people retired, you know, a lot of people have burnt out, and so it's been very challenging.
So every hospital health care institution is kind of fighting for the to recruit people, which is a challenge.
I think, you know, one of the, you know, I think I've worked in Espanola for 30 years along with being in Subbury in Xena, you know, some big changes.
Right now, we have over 1100 patients in this area, and they don't have a family physician or nurse practitioner, which is a huge challenge.
I mean, all of health care falls apart without primary care.
So what happens is a lot of these patients end up going to the emergency department for things that could be dealt with in a family doctor's office, and it shouldn't be followed by one person in a long term.
So that's obviously let, if you've been in the emergency department, much longer weeks, they're not the 12, 15 hours that were seen in Subbury, but they're longer than they used to be.
We've also seen like huge, so we see a lot of our patients with these primary care needs, we see a lot more people suffering from mental health problems or addiction issues.
In an chronic disease, and if people are getting their chronic diseases manage, they have no, you know, by the time they show up in the emergency, they're often very sick.
I've diagnosed cancer a lot more in the last sense of COVID than I ever in the emergency department.
That's not the place you should be diagnosed in cancer, and we're doing that an alarming rate.
This fall, I've seen more respiratory illnesses than in my 30 years in practice, everybody's got in the morning.
So I'm not sure what happens when the flu season hits, but not too promising.
As James said, you know, we have a lot of care is provided in the Espanola hospital, but we still rely on HSN for specialized care, like cardiology, psychiatry, surgery, internal medicine.
And the challenges, there have been huge, ship beds, challenges at HSN, so it means that patients are out in the state, in Espanola waiting for beds, and those patients for an inch of ground, we're waiting 10 days, two weeks, which is really unacceptable, unless they're kind of deemed life and limb.
You know, we've seen, like I said, a lot more substance use a lot more overdoses, Espanola, and Manitulin have three times the provincial average, so that's a huge problem.
You know, just the challenges with getting nursing and hiring enough nurses and keeping our nurses.
And I think it's real credit to the team here that they've been able to work in a very hard to keep this hospital going.
So as far as recruitment priorities, prior to COVID, the emergency department schedule and hospital schedule.
So hospitalists are the physicians that look after when you stay in the hospital was always full.
We had no problems scheduling physicians, we had a lot of physicians coming from February or in place that's willing to work in the emergency department or cover the invasions.
Since COVID, that's been a challenge.
Now, when the schedule initially comes out, there's about 20% of the shifts that are covered.
And there's, again, you know, the team has stepped up to the plate and covered shifts.
Sometimes it's been at the last minute.
Sometimes we've had to get physicians from other parts of Monterey.
We'll come in at the last minute to avoid things like you may have heard this in the last week.
There was Saint Joseph Island had to close their emergency department, blind member came very close.
But again, in credit to the leadership of the hospital and to the team, nurses and physicians that have stepped up in working extra hours to keep the place open.
And, you know, so we need to be able to recruit more physicians more nurses to this hospital.
Yeah, for to work in the emergency department or the hospital.
But also, like I said, primary care is really the foundation of patient care and keeping people healthy and preventing hospitalizations.
And, you know, right now, like I said, there's over 1100 patients that don't have either nurse practitioner or a physician.
So that's very important.
Right now, you know, the hospital is providing, using a lot of their own money to try to recruit physicians and nurse practitioners to the community.
And offering, you know, various, you know, interest-free loans and, you know, incentives to come.
But, you know, right now we need, like, two nurse practitioners, we need two family doctors to fill that void.
So, you know, to help those 1100 patients.
But, you know, a lot of people have, I'm sure you guys know this.
But I see a lot of patients have moved up from a down south in the last few years, because probably a combination is cheaper.
But they all think they're going to get a family doctor when they come up here, and they couldn't get one 20 years ago.
So they're not getting one now, so it's very challenging.
So, just in terms of town, of us in all the partnerships, we're very grateful for the partnerships we've had.
And through town council support, you are directly contributing to improving access to care, and the enhancements of services across our health campus.
So, your contributions have helped us to support recruitment incentives for an emergency department nurse practitioner who directly contributes to the recruitment and retention of physicians.
We did lose physicians when we didn't have that support, and now that supports back in our emergency department, we're seeing physicians are more willing to pick up shifts and work because there is help for them.
They work 12 hour 24 hour shifts, so having nurse practitioner to help them is very helpful.
And this also, your support also helped us to run some campaigns for frontline nurses and incentives there.
Your commitment to health care has supported two delegations with the Ministry of Health, so one was a mental home addictions, delegation, and we were able to acquire funding for withdrawal management bed funding.
And that allowed us to support a crisis worker named emergency department who is essential to helping to manage those patients that come in with mental health and addictions and connecting them to services and connecting them to any services they might need at a tertiary center.
As well as the last delegation with Mayor Duray and Joseph, where we did some advocacy for CT scan in 2023.
We have put in a state-to-one submission to the Ministry.
It has gone through Ontario Health North.
It's been approved there and it's escalated to the Ministry right now so we're waiting for an answer.
A CT would be a game changer essential for us in the emergency department.
It would keep patients closer to home.
It would keep nurses in the department and not in ambulances down the highway transferring patients as well as in the area and physician for medical learners.
It also provides them a different experience as well if they're learning in the emergency department.
So I think through other partnerships like to community safety well being planned.
Our community care leadership planning table.
Our recent submission for an expression of interest for health Canada or to see treatment fund to have more access to crisis workers and mental health supports in the system.
And other opportunities to explore seniors housing.
I think those partnerships are essential for us to improve access to care and services in the community.
So we very much thank you for that.
So we thank you for the opportunity to present tonight and hoping that if there's a way you can match last year's contribution to our recruitment incentives that would be much appreciated.
So thank you for your time and if there's any questions.
Is there a council or do you think?
You send you short to physicians and to nurse practitioners that.
The normal.
Councillor.
Do you have to see a little bit closer to your mic please.
Thank you.
Last month was further.
Do you get the question?
So with the number of unattached patients that we're seeing in the community.
We could in speaking with the physicians of the family health team.
There is room for two more full-time family practitioners in the family health team.
In terms of nurse practitioners we have two vacancies of our current positions of nurse practitioners.
It's been extremely hard to recruit into those positions.
Councillor Calione.
Of course I just want to take the time to thank both of you for coming in today.
This is you know even outside of the towns regular contribution which as a member of council I'm more than happy to support again for another year.
I feel you know the information you've given us today is very valuable as decision makers and I and I just want to to commend you commend your team and all the wonderful work you do.
And I'm pleased from what I've heard from residents of very high amount of respect in this community and it's very well deserved.
I don't envy the position that some front line health care workers are in it's a tough job.
And I guess my only question would be in terms of some of the incentives we're currently providing to attract those in primary care.
How do we stack up compared to comparable health centres say in northern Ontario like are we?
Are there ways we can feasibly measure that, measure the success of recruitment strategies? How do you go about that?
I think in terms of our recruitment strategies, we are similar to other small role in the communities.
It's unfortunate we're all competing with each other, and we all have limited abilities to support some incentives.
So it's collaboration, it's working together and trying to figure out how we can work to bring and attract physicians to our communities.
So I feel like we're all in the same mode and we're all offering the same type of incentives to get people to come to a small role communities.
Thank you very much.
Just to add that, I think one of the great things about Espanola is it is close to submarine, which, you know, as the positives and negatives, but from a medical, trying to recruit people.
It's probably easier than some of the more isolated communities, you know, especially if, you know, there's there's partners that have different jobs and stuff like that that, you know, they can be closer to a larger center.
Plus, you know, they, you know, there's some physicians that come out of medical school and medical training and, you know, they don't want to be working in a place that's so far away.
I mean, you know, like Jane said, I think if we can get this CAT scan or it makes a huge difference.
It is a game changer, and I mean, I think they'd finally realize that that's, you know, is an essential tool in 2024.
So, as well, a lot of that, you know, I'm old school and, you know, we can kind of, you know, we're used to working without a CAT scanner and stuff, but I think for a lot of new physicians not having a CAT scanner is kind of scary.
So having a CAT scanner in near department is going to make a huge difference, and I think just being close to the medical school and the hub, but there's a lot of attraction.
So I think that that is a big advantage for Espanola.
And the other questions, these are comments.
Okay, then I would like to thank you very much for your presentation and your work you do in the community as well, appreciate it.
And we're all, you sure, health is all in all our minds as a priority.
And this item will come up at a budget deliberations, and we'll look for it there.
Okay.
Thank you.
So our next order of this is a public hearing.
If you want.
Thank you.
So the first public hearing is at Section T1 of the agenda.
So under Section 53 of the Planning Act, public hearing is being held to consider the proposed consent application.
Put forward by Mr. Dan Mascott Senior, pertaining to a lot eight concession five plan and 74, a lot 50 personal, 6449.
Township of Merritt, town of Espanola, for otherwise known as 454.
Meet Boulevard.
The application internal reference is P-0424 and the purpose of the proposed consent is for a lot of addition to be added to a lot eight concession five plan.
I'm 74, part not 49, partial 13772, Township of Merritt, town of Espanola, also known as 537 John Street.
Well, just mentioned for the record that this this application came to council previously.
The conditions of the consent weren't met within the two year timeline.
I'm going to get this back to to pursue that consent again. It was previously approved by council in 2021.
Okay.
As Mr. Bird is indicated, we have two public hearings this evening.
The intersection 53 of the Planning Act applications, B-O-424.
B-O-5-24.
Public hearings are requirement of the Planning Act.
In accordance with the Planning Act, notice of applications and public hearings must be given in advance.
Notice of these public hearings were provided by mail to nearby property owners and by posting at the property as for the Planning Act notice requirements.
If you wish to be notified of the decision of the town of Espanola on the applications, you must make a written request to the town.
Any specified person or public body who might wish to appeal the decision of the town.
To the Ontario Land Tribunal, made not later than 20 days after the given notice under subsection 17 of the Planning Act is completed.
An appeal to the decision or any condition imposed by the council or appeal both the decision and any condition on the Tribunal by filing with the clerk.
They miss value and notice of appeal, sending out the reasons for the appeal, accompanied by the fee charge by the Tribunal.
Okay, we will now open the public hearing for consent application, affecting property known as B-C-L-6447.
Section SWS-Lot 50 Plan M-7-4 Merit, Espanola on 4.54 Mead Boulevard.
I would like to ask the Deputy Clerk to provide an overview description of the applications.
The clerk's previously stated this application originally came to council in 2021, where it was approved and in order to the decision was provided to the applicant.
The conditions were not fulfilled within the a lot of timelines and therefore has lapsed.
In the circumstances the applicant must start the process by submitting a new application.
Excuse me, the purpose of the consent application B-04-S-24 is to add a portion of the backyard from a lot of eight session five.
And M-74-Lot 50, Harsal 6449, Township of Merit, Town of Espanola.
Known as 454, Mead Boulevard, 2-Lot 8, Concession 5, Plan 74, Plan M-74, sorry.
Part-Lot 49, Harsal 13772, Township of Merit, Town of Espanola, 537 John Street.
Each lot will require an associated, each lot will require approval of associated minor variance applications to recognize existing or new deficiencies as a result of the consent application.
Rearances for 454 Mead are required to recognize the reduced lot frontage for 16.5 Meaders is required and 15.24 Meaders is provided.
And front lot depth were 5 Meaders is required and 3.6 Meaders is provided.
A variance is needed for 537 John Street to recognize the reduced lot frontage were 16.5 Meaders is required and 15.24 Meaders is provided.
Thank you.
At this time in the applicant, make comments if they are present.
That's fine.
Hello everyone.
I'm just a little bit concerned about a minor variance on both properties because both properties have been there for like my house at 90 years old.
The house that I sold my son is 70 years old, 60 years old.
So the frontages and the measurements are not anything to do with what I'm asking for.
I mean, that has been in place.
It's documented somewhere in his building.
I'm just looking at the sever piece of property to give to my son.
That's all I wanted to do, but now I'm asked, I don't know if it's a recommendation or whatever it is.
But two minor variance is not sure what that cost anymore.
It gets around 1200 bucks.
But I don't see the reason for minor variance on either property.
Like the only problem with it is because it's too close for the road, but every house is if there's so many houses in this town that take the old, like the older homes in this town, or I'll build like that.
So it's not anything I've done.
I'm not doing anything else with that property except for severing it.
Yeah, I can comment.
I do understand Mr. mascot's frustration.
It is a legal requirement unfortunately, so it's not something that we have control over.
When you, when you pursue a consent and the lot fabric changes, you lose your legal non-conforming in this case status for existing structures.
So you're required then to recognize those deficiencies through minor variances.
So because you've you've changed the lots there by creating essentially two new lots that are of different dimension than the original lots.
You lose the non-conforming status. So we've had this come up in my time already with the town.
So where we've had to to recognize existing deficiencies.
In fact, we the council recently did so on a matter pertaining to a property on side road where there were existing deficiencies that had to be recognized through minor variances for the existing structures.
So I understand and it is a requirement of the legislation not the time.
Did you sit to legal require?
Yes, of the planning act.
Okay. I mean, I'd have to see some, I'd like to see some of that.
You know, I mean, if I have something in writing, I need to look at.
Because if something is not my problem, but my house has built that close.
I realize you're saying it all, it's all a new property now, but it's just one line, severing.
I just don't seen a reason for it.
A minor variance is mostly for building services.
If you're in a coaching on your lot line or building something, you know, beyond your zoning by law.
But I can't help that. That's already been, you know, that was already zoned like that.
That's, that's all I can say. I just don't know why I have to pay the extra for it.
I've already paid six thousand dollars for a survey.
If I have 100 bucks to come here, I don't know what I like, what a minor variance is worth out.
But anyway, it's just, yeah, I just don't see the point.
Of them, I might just make comment on it that it's, it's, we're talking about regulation and law.
If it has to be done, I think it's, I have, we all understand it's not something we like to do, but if our hands are tied.
But if you want to come in get some more information about it.
Sure.
I can definitely provide the legal reference.
I'd like to see the, you know, the legal documentation about it.
I mean, is it a town by law?
No, it's the planning issue.
The province of Ontario that are dictates it.
And in this case, I'd have to seek the opinion, whether there was relevant case law, but in our, it may be in the courts,
as well in common law system that we have, not Ontario, but it's not a requirement of any of the towns by laws.
It's a requirement of the planning act.
Councilor Dupesign.
I have a question for Mr. Massplot.
Yep.
I don't remember.
I didn't look it up.
So, it's been that time.
You applied the first time.
Did you, what did you pay that?
Did you pay, uh, minor variance?
I paid for minor variance.
It was, uh, our dot of minor variance.
It was, whatever the fee was back to pulling one of your dot of the, yeah, the first time.
I mean, a $400.
I didn't even realize, I mean, I, I, it must have just slipped my mind, but there was a deadline on it.
And, of course, I mean, unfortunately, things didn't work out for me at that time, so I couldn't get the procedure done like the survey and that.
But, uh, anyway, that application is lapsed.
Yes, I see that.
I'm just wondering is, at that time, did you see payboard that included the time lapse of two years?
You remember that?
Or would that be a part of our system to inform our citizens of time lapse?
I mean, you know, even, uh, sorry, uh, closer to the deadline.
Like, was I, was I notified?
Did you have it on some paperwork that, uh, two years?
Yeah, two years to complete this?
I'd not, I'd have to look that way.
I'd have to look that way.
But then I asked Mr. Burke, do you, are you aware of that?
The original decision on the consent actually sent one year, uh, in 2022,
the planning act changed and allowed it to be two years?
So again, that the amount of time for it to lapse is not a town policy.
It's a planning act, provincial policy that we don't have control over.
So for that reason, his he was provided with more time.
And, uh, yes, I did have communication with Mr. mascot, uh, my email and over the telephone regarding the deadline.
Uh, during that period.
And I don't believe your question about the minor variance that a fee in application was not submitted
for the minor variance is I recollect only for the consent, which was approved conditionally,
but I don't believe Mr. mascot proceeded with the minor variance and paid for that at that time.
I thought that was your question earlier.
You speak about the severing?
Yes, he paid the severance fee.
In consent application, that was paid.
But there wasn't a, a minor variance fee was in paid for at that time,
because an application wasn't submitted yet.
So here, I thought I, maybe I misunderstood your question.
I thought it was the, whether the minor variance fee had been paid in the, in the ass,
but it has as in it.
But you also, uh, consulted jail Richards on this,
uh, on this, and they recommended, uh, minor variance.
There are various reasons on that. That is, to me, with the application is basically lapsed, dull and void. I mean, if there's anything about it, and also it's a recommendation, I don't know if it's not mandatory, unless it's written, plain in the act.
Yes. The recommendation from jail Richards was based on the legal requirement.
Of course, councils can make decisions, as they see fit, and they don't, they can then find themselves in precarious legal situations if they make decisions that are not legal.
So, the recommendation from jail Richards is based on what is legally required. They are the consultants, though. So, yes, they're, my nature, their recommendations are just that, and we are the ones who have to then decide what it is we want to do.
So, certainly this is unfortunate, and maybe it's something that we should be advocating to the problems about, but this is illegal.
The minor variances are an illegal requirement, so not requiring that would be to make a decision as a council that is in contravention of the planning act.
So, the minor variances, because the law is only 50 feet wide, according to this, and it should be 54 according to this.
And does that mean that anybody else that comes in a town comes in and asks for a permit to build or to do anything on their property?
Or is it going to have to pay because the town built those lots that way? That doesn't seem right to me.
Do you mean a peak in law with an existing structure on it, or do you mean talking like in this particular case? There's already houses on there. They've been there forever. The town that designed it this way?
They're 50 feet wide. And now they're saying they need a variance because they should be 54.
So, I'm not 100% sure on the dimensions you're mentioning, but in the event that someone wanted to build, they could build according to what is there.
The illegal non-conforming status, which is what people often refer to as grandfathering in, would apply.
But it's because the lot dimensions, the lot lines are changing, so it loses its grandfathered status, let's call it, which is legal non-conforming.
But they're not changing from the 50 feet. The 50 feet is still that one lot. It's a parcel at the back.
You're effectively creating a new lot now with new dimensions, so it no longer gets its legal non-conforming status.
The same thing happened on 134. I wrote a few weeks ago. The house I believe was not set back enough.
I can't remember the details, but similarly, the minor variances were required. They were paid for it.
We did that application all in one go. That's an option that was provided to the applicant to have the consent and the minor variances all considered in one shot.
That was the building. That was to build the triplex over there?
So that's a whole different ballgame.
But it isn't because there's an existing house on that lot and a shed, and the house and the shed had deficiencies.
As soon as you sever property, you lose that time that legal non-conforming status.
I disagree with that because if anybody down the second street, John Street, Mead Street, we're all too close to the road.
If anybody wants anything, we're all going to have to face it.
Only if you're changing the lot fabric or if you are wanting to encroach further into the minimum front yard set back.
If you are simply tearing down and rebuilding and you are changing the lot fabric, then you wouldn't require minor variances.
Can I say one more thing? I mean, it's in the planning act you say.
Nobody could sever a lot now without making it sound like a new lot.
Because it doesn't meet today's standard because it's not 60 by 120 or so far from the middle of the road that somebody has to pay for that.
Like that I bought this house three, four years ago.
I've been standing there for 90 years and I also don't have to pay just because I want to give my son a gift.
It just doesn't seem fair to me at all.
It doesn't sound fair, but I think we've all been through it.
Once you've touched that, you've tried to change that a lot in any way.
I went through it myself, experienced it, and it's, you're opening it up now to a new set of rules.
That's what it sounds like it is.
Okay.
Councillor, just one more question.
If it's legal, it's legal.
It's fine.
What determines the cost of the minor variance?
Council sets those costs based on staff's recommendations, of course, in the tariff and fee by law.
And that the costs of the planning applications, various applications, zoning by law, men and women, etc.
Based on a level of recouping at the expenses we incur to provide that service, like building planning ideally would be a service that is
that break breaks even so that where you generate enough revenue to cover the cost of delivering that service.
So that's staff hours, etc.
Now we don't do that in Espinola.
This time, our fees are not high enough, and when we're not proposing to raise them, we feel that the level is reasonable and that's not unlike others around us.
But it's, in my experience, rare to be able to recoup all of your expenses for planning, building where we close, which that's a little different, there are some different legal requirements for that.
But that's what sets the fees.
So if Council wanted to make a decision on the fees, then that is something within your school period, too.
Again, one more question.
I had the lot surveyed, both properties.
The map is the map from this town, like however old it is, but they've gone from.
So I'm going to pay for two minor variances, and then what they're going to say, okay, you're allowed to have a 50 foot lot,
and they could, you're allowed to be 15 feet from the street.
Like that's just, it's not, it's just isn't fair, like it doesn't say.
Like it is, it is what it is.
Anybody that decides they want to sever their property in this town knows that by a minor variance, because they've created the same lot, but now it's considered a new lot, because it changes to sizes.
The sizes are all the map.
Not necessarily that depends on the size of the lot, the resulting lot fabric.
And in your case, that's the unfortunate reality.
But I understand your frustration, and I just want to make it clear that this is a provincial regulation on the municipal, and we're just simply following the rules of the province.
And you get it, it's a technicality, and it's unfortunate.
Councillor Cullionan.
Yeah, I just wanted to say two things, and the first is that you know, given the age of many communities across the province, I can anticipate that similar scenarios like this one have played out across Ontario, when you have lots that were.
Designed in parcel been a far different time, and then these requirements are either grandfathered in and they change over time.
So I can guarantee you there's probably already some municipalities out there who are advocating to the province to change these regulations, and that's certainly something as our CIO indicated that we can look into as a council is we won't solve your problem today.
But in the long term to prevent things from this happening over and over again in our community, we can't look at ways we can we can advocate for changes to the planning act, but what today comes down to at the end of the day is we can't decide on anything that's going to put the municipalities.
I'm going to put the municipality and by extension, great pairs and the residents of this community in legal trouble, and we have to go with the laws set and pass down by the province because municipalities are fundamentally creatures of the province.
So it's a scenario that's played out in all sorts of sectors, not just planning, so I completely get the frustration and frustrates me to.
If I had my way, you wouldn't have to go through all these hoops to have that have this done, but it's it's the requirements were set through the planning act and we have to follow them and that's I think all that's trying to be communicated today.
Thank you Councillor. Thank you. Thank you Mr. Meska, we done.
So there was no written or verbal comments received.
As part of the planning process, members of the public can't provide written or verbal comments.
If you wish to speak, we ask that you please state your name and address for the record and then you provide your comments in one statement.
The public area in process is not intended to be the back and forth members of the public can provide their comments and then we ask that you please return to your seat.
We also will then advise that they wish for staff to provide any comment.
You may not return to the podium after you have provided your statements.
Would that or are there any other members of the public who wish to speak on this item?
Any further questions or comments?
Okay, seeing none.
Is there any other further? Want to speak on the application?
Please be mindful of the instructions I provide and please ensure you state your name and address for the record.
Seeing none?
No further comments?
The public hearing for application B424 is now closed.
Next is the public hearing number two.
Okay.
I folks from XP development.
Would you like to do a sound check?
Here's.
You say again?
Can you hear us?
Not too bad.
We'll turn it up a little bit on our end just one moment.
Okay, can you speak again?
Here else?
Yeah, there we go.
We're good.
Perfect.
All right.
So the subject application concerns lands legally described as a lot.
Nine, concession five, plan M176, lot eight part, parcel 31453,
Township of Merit, Town of Espanola.
The property is owned R1, residential first density.
The purpose of the consent application is to create a new lot.
The proposed development for each lot is a semi-detached dwelling with two additional residential units
and a third additional residential unit in an incillary structure.
The application also seeks an easement for share driveway.
As outlined in the staff report, this proposal conforms to the town zoning by law and official plan,
while within the urban service area where development is encouraged.
It supports the provincial policy statement by helping to provide an appropriate range in mixed housing options
and densities to meet the projected needs of current and future residents.
We'll developing this strategic plan.
A lack of housing options was considered to be the most serious issue.
With an emphasis for the need of a greater variety of housing types,
the proposal directly supports the town's strategic plan or the number one rule is housing.
Further, it supports the growth plan for Northern Ontario for a healthy population,
which can be supported and promoted by communities providing a diverse mix of land uses and housing types.
For the reasons stated staff cannot commend the approval of this consent application.
Thank you, Deputy.
At this time, the applicants who are joining us can make some comments if you wish.
Sure, so we have our arms over here and this is Paul here.
And we just, as you probably are aware, we recently finished the development on second avenue there.
We spent a few months in town to do that.
We had a wonderful experience.
We met some really nice people.
We worked with some fantastic local...
And we were really eager to continue working in the town. The other thing that happened that we found, I mean, we were told that the need in the town was quite great, but we had several people a day pulling over and coming on to the, you know, on to the job site, we had to stop them, of course. But just to inquire about when the units would be for rent. So obviously the need in town is quite great. And we're really happy to be helping to service that need.
In reference to this particular development, the way it is going to be, we are flying for affordable housing funding through CMHC. So there will be a percentage of affordable units.
There'll be three out of the units will be at 70% or below median market rent. So median market rent is designated about a thousand dollars a unit for one bedroom.
So they'll probably be reading that like those three units will probably be in like the $700 range, which will obviously service the needs of some people in the community in kind of forward market rents.
And two of the units, one on each side of the property will be accessible as well. So we did the one accessible unit for the second avenue development there, but we're going to do another two accessible units as part of this development as well.
We're just in summary where you get a key coming back to the town. We want to really want to make produced developments that are in in conversation with the with the surrounding homes that are existing there.
We don't want to do anything that sticks out as something odd or different. We just want to try and feed in and we want to try and meet in a very obvious need.
Thank you very much.
Thank you very much. Thanks.
Okay, as stated in the previous public hearing, as part of the planning process, members of the public can provide written or verbal comments.
If you wish to speak, we ask you please state your name and address for the record and as you provide your comments in one statement.
The public hearing process is not intended to be a back and forth.
Members of the public can provide their comments and then we ask that you please return to your seat.
Council will then advise if they wish for staff to provide any comment and then you may not return to the podium after you've provided your statements.
Would that, are there any member of the public wish to speak?
He and carbonate delivered 439 gene and I'm sure putting up two four plexus in an R1 is just a little bit, maybe pushing it and then putting two more units on the same small lots.
Once you think, once you think that sidewalk street, whatever you want to call it, off the property, it almost looks like there's a little more than 40% of the property covered, which is not allowed in the zoning.
And like I don't know why people who are these people that are looking to put this up, why they wouldn't go for property with this different zoning on it already, which allows this without any problems.
This is everybody in the neighborhood, now it says all councils already said it's all good and they're going to just push it through anyway.
But has there been an environmental assessment done on that property yet?
Because if it's it's right beside the Life's Life Creek, it's in a floodplain, that property at twice in my lifetime has been underwater and just so they know there's a septic system underneath where they're building from the first building that was on that lot.
63 years ago.
But has any of that been addressed and the fact that their past the end of the sewer system for servicing.
And the fact that a lift station is not required to get to get to the service because that's going to be a big out of cost either to the town or to the developer.
But just so you know there's an awful lot of people in the neighborhood that are really upset about it.
And I've been elected to come and speak on there behalf.
And I for one am not happy with it.
You want to split a lot.
Make two little lots and put two decent sized homes on it.
There's no problem there.
But I mean it is.
It is in a floodplain and if you read through your which I spent the day doing reading through the.
Through the zoning laws, which I am quite familiar with because I actually did a did up an official plan with the zoning bylaws for another township.
And there's.
There's no way anything that I read through in there.
They allow you to build a doplex and then put another doplex on top of it.
In an art one.
I saw nothing in the zoning that's going to allow that.
And then to put another tiny old line.
I don't know.
If this goes through the way it stands.
I'm losing faith in our council.
Because so many definitely didn't do their homework.
But it's saying that.
Mr. Bert, maybe just bring up the day for the first.
Yes, sir.
The property is owned already for the use.
It's permitted.
What's on the table tonight is a severance application.
A consent application.
The R1 zone does permit this density of development.
Her lot as does the new provincial legislation, which allows for the additional.
Unit.
Accessory to.
But I will have to differ to the deputy clerk on on further comment as.
I didn't prepare the report, but I am I am confident in in the.
The termination that the chart on page 25 of the package aligns.
What is proposed and what is required and there are no zoning.
Deficiencies from our perspective.
So.
There wouldn't be a zoning by law amendment required.
I believe we have later in our recommendation conditions to.
Ensure the adequate servicing plan as I understand it.
The servicing will require a lift station each building would require.
Some sort of force main pump system, which is not unusual.
The same thing was required on second avenue for the.
The six bucks I think that was recently put up.
Just due to the grade of the sewer in that area.
So we are working with our consulting engineer.
We are very interested to ensure that the water and sewer servicing is is all adequate.
And that there will be any negative impact.
And we don't have any any concerns at this stage.
The gentleman mentioned an environmental assessment.
That's included with the package.
There was a phase one environmental assessment.
I believe our environmental.
It's not an environmental assessment.
There are different titles for these studies and I always.
Confuse them.
Never the lesson.
It's in the package.
It looked at the.
The.
The lot.
What was there.
It doesn't provide a site record.
But it.
It didn't from the perspective of the environmental consultant.
State that there were no concerns to merit a phase two, which would be where.
They actually do more intrusive investigations into the lot.
So that that is sufficient from our perspective.
There's nothing actually that triggers from the town and environmental study for this proposed development because.
It is in compliance with our zoning by law.
The only thing being requested is a consent.
We don't have the ability to.
We don't have that ability for developments that are under 10 units.
And that's where we could have required more extensive studies if we wanted to.
But the developer I believe due to the requirements of their C.M.H.C. funding application under took a phase one.
Environmental site assessment. Yes, that's the correct.
Our agreement has come to me now and it hasn't revealed any issues.
So we're we're no concerned and your worship though.
I just want to.
It's not intended to be a back and forth.
And it's you make your statement.
Okay.
So you're going to do what you're going to do.
No, not so we're saying.
Oh, no, that's what I'm hearing.
Well, you made your statement.
Yes.
We hear it and we all understand it.
And we're all going to take it to consideration when we make our decision.
Okay.
Yeah.
But you said, under 10 units, that is 10 units.
Sorry, 10.
Yes.
So up to 10 units is the requirement under Bill 109, which was passed in 2022 to change the ability of the municipality to.
Require site plan control, but I'll just state that even if we did, there has been a phase 1 ESA and it revealed that there are no issues.
So we would even if we had the ability to require additional studies.
We wouldn't be requiring them because they've already got a clean phase 1 ESA.
Thank. Thank you very much, Ian.
Well, thank you for your time. Thank you.
So is there any further questions or comments from the.
No.
Councillor Calione.
So sorry, just just wanted to ask.
And is this, is this the time in place to ask questions directly to the developer?
Would that be in the regular?
No.
That was the time.
Now, it was okay. All right.
I just want to make sure I'm doing this procedurally correctly.
You mentioned in your start spiel there, a desire to to engage in building that reflects adequately of the neighborhood that surrounds it.
What what steps did you undertake to do that to make sure this build would fit within the characteristics of the current neighborhood?
Sure.
So we.
We've been to town.
I've been to town.
I've got a few times now and we drove around a lot and looked at like the different siding options and the different styles of the homes in the area.
So we're trying to mimic that. What we're doing here.
And we also saw that, you know, there's very rare in the area to have buildings over two stories high.
So we made sure that the buildings that are constructing are not higher than two stories.
And then also like we.
Although it is 10 different dwelling units, they split up in such a way that it just looks.
From like if you've to drive past it wouldn't look much different to the to the homes that are already there.
And like a little bit larger for sure, but not significantly bigger.
Said that that was some of the things that we thought about yeah.
No fantastic.
No and I and I thank you as well for taking into account both the affordability needs in terms of the rent control and the accessibility needs of our community.
Because that's two things I hear from a lot of residents in the wider town is there's a need for more ground floor accessibility units and a need for more rent control.
And so I appreciate that that's going to be a part of this project.
Yeah.
Thank you.
The question for the councilor do to see.
As a reason I'm going to ask this question.
Is.
Do we have the legal rate to stop this.
And then.
Wait.
What's on the table tonight is a consent application for the severance council can turn down a consent application.
Yes.
Okay.
With this being.
You know.
Acceptable.
Growth.
Planting on our period is phenomenal.
Fisher.
This is passing the zoning by loss.
If we turn it down.
Are we.
Lival for suit.
No but you but the applicant could appeal to the Ontario land tribunal.
And they would take their decision based on.
On the information on the material.
Yes.
So we would probably lose.
Yes.
I'm going to.
A little bit of leeway.
We worship.
A number of years ago.
Maybe.
I don't remember.
It was an application for a.
From habitat for humanity.
And that was came to council and the letters went out to all the surrounding.
Neighbors.
People.
And everyone was against it.
So as being council.
We want to work for our citizens.
And so we turned it down.
Two days later we had a lawsuit.
And until we can't turn it down.
So I've.
I've.
I'm not.
The planning.
I know that cost.
But.
Most things do cost.
It's the same idea.
I respect.
That's probably what it was at that time.
Might have been a different title for the board.
But yeah.
You have to.
I represent to.
Sort of cost.
But.
going to help us anyway, who you were for.
What would it ends up being?
We're going to cost you more and the longer. I'm putting aside strategic planning and the need for us, and we all understand that weather. That was just a big deal. That's the way the world is going to tidy. But why get herself in the trouble if we really can't do anything? So to me, it's just a process to come here. Maybe you could see, no longer on the campstop, and we don't want to stop it, but if you don't want to get involved with trying to cause more legal troubles and costs,
then we have to make many of them now. Thank you. We saved the comments for the recommendation.
Anybody else want to make comments on this? At this time?
Oh, Councillor Kelly.
So just so I'm absolutely clear on provisions of the zoning by a lot. There was one additional unit on this property.
We would have to reason it beyond our one.
This is the absolute maximum or our minus reading that.
Well, there are two different things that play here. There are the requirements of our zoning by law.
And then there are the additional permissions, I'll say, because they're not limiting of the recent legislation that was put in place to permit additional units.
So from our professional planners perspective, you could actually, as a right in the R1 zone, in this case, have six units per...
Is it per side? I'd have to. Let me just think about it for one second. So you have a semi-on a lot.
It could have up to three units on one side and three units on the other. So yes, six units per lot.
And this proposal is five units per lot. So it's actually under what the legally allowable number of units is.
There's a slight difference still between where that third unit is permitted.
It's permitted by the legislation, whereas ours owning by law allows, as of right, it allows to the primary unit with an additional accessory unit for each sign of the semi.
Because of right, you're certainly permitted for, and then you're permitted to additional units by the new legislation.
And this is only one additional unit per lot, which is that granny suite at the back.
Thanks for bringing that down for me, I appreciate it.
Any other color?
Sorry.
So these are two independent lots.
Those housing, the two units, and then the granny flat, right?
Four units, yeah.
There are four, yeah. So these, I'm looking at the drawing. There's the shared drive over the 300 lots.
Yeah, no, yeah, that's what's on the drawing.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
Okay.
Yeah.
The severance of the two lots.
Hello, Mr. Moscow.
I just wanted to say I have a concern about the single dwellings in the back.
Becoming an issue in Espanola, where we may end up with a whole bunch of them.
And I don't think that that would be good.
Tell me, let's see.
There are comments.
Good.
I would just like to give you a little generalization of what we're speaking here.
First off, this is a lot of bigger than what we're just talking about when unit here.
In Espanola, we're talking a major development in Espanola.
Like these gentlemen come in now.
They're going to disus, they build six and they're going to build another eight.
You know, we're looking at fourteen in a short time.
Our strategic plan is based on development and homes in our community.
When I campaigned, I got that at every door.
People want homes.
They want to have place to go.
The elderly want to have place to have a cell.
Their homes get in apartments.
I think and right from the federal government down, we're talking they're all behind this.
Behind building new homes in Canada, in Ontario, in our community.
We base everything on grants, grants are big.
And we're right now, we're begging the governments to give us money for grants to build.
Give us money to help us in our development.
That's counsel.
I think we have to for community to support these developers.
Because if we don't, when we go to applications for grants and things and they look back at these records,
and when you turn this down, like why would you turn something down?
It is clearly legal to go and it's to everything that's done up front and right.
I understand the people coming.
I know nobody wants it.
Nobody wants it in their backyard.
But for the community to develop and for us to get a base for our taxes, this is where it comes from.
Every home is built, every development is built in our community is helping our tax base,
especially now where we are in a position where we are a adoptor.
I have it.
I mean, the people stand in front of us, they're upset.
But what is it for the community?
For the community, I think it's great to get in development and bring in developers in.
And as we do this, more are going to see it and more are going to come.
I can only see this being as a positive.
I know it hurts a bit a little bit for the, you know.
But in a long run, I think we're doing great for the community.
As council, I think you're doing a great job.
And I just want to say that it's something that I have to support.
I could never not support this in any way, for myself and finally.
Councillor Calione.
Absolutely.
And we have a duty to not, not just the people that currently live in this community.
But the people that want to live in this community.
And that want to move desperate all for other reasons.
And I'm proud of this community because we're seeing record numbers of housing starts here in us.
And that's driven in part by developers that are coming from outside of town and are seeing value of this community.
And they're driving those housing starts.
So frankly, I think as council, we'd be forced to to pass up an opportunity like this to expand the housing stock in our community.
Expand affordable and accessible housing stock at that in our community.
And give those people a place to live.
And you're exactly right.
It comes back to that point.
Nobody wants it in their backyard.
The transitional unit that he said is building is going up right across my street.
And, and yes, during the construction period, it's a nice sort.
It's not fun to look at.
It takes time, but but I hold out hope knowing that when that's completed, that's going to be a tremendous asset for community.
And the same thing goes whether it's this development, whether it's side right.
We have to be consistent about our decision making at the end of the day.
We can't simply reject applications in the basis that the residents surrounding it don't want to do their neighborhood.
Because it's a new and people don't like change.
And I think that's exactly what the mayor is trying to drive home.
And I drive home in this exactly what we, we, we should be advocating this council that that we need to be consistent about our decisions.
And this is like a lot of the other decisions that have come forward to us in the past couple of years.
Councilor.
In addition, I can't quote the exact number, but there are hundreds.
Over 200 people on list for affordable housing in our community.
And I'm grateful that we have an opportunity here to have the partnership with the MHC to provide three units.
Because it will eventually would a way that long, very long list. Thank you.
Thank you.
Okay, any other comments?
Okay, we'll move on then.
So there's no further questions.
We'll go with the public hearing from application B0524 is now closed.
Public hearing in process is now completed.
Council will be a careful consideration to the comments to receive.
He's items that we consider during the regular portion of this, the seat needs me.
Thank you, or should just for our guests who joined virtually.
At this point, we're proceeding with the the council agenda for the evening.
We'll be considering your items.
I would guess probably in a short few minutes.
So you can either stay with us or your free to sign office.
You see fit, but probably another five minutes or so before we get to that item.
No problem, we problem.
Whatever you guys like, we'll stay here if not, but if not, we'll head out.
It's up to you guys. We'll just stay here or so.
You could stay.
Thank you.
Okay.
There's a question period.
See, nobody in the audience could send items to be severed.
Jesus, part one consent.
I'll like to read.
No.
Consent items.
Yeah.
Move her.
Move by a counselor.
Hey, the second might ever be killed.
Beers, all of that items.
H1 to L5 inclusive contained in part one consent agenda.
Be adopted.
I'll just read through them and it's for saying questions or comments.
We stop in any time.
Okay.
H1.
H2.
I.
Board committee reports.
I want.
Do I tell the safety committee?
I.2.
Mattertool and several district services.
I.3 community service committee.
Jay.
This is raise it from the committees and K by-laws and resolutions.
Tell me by-laws if you read in past.
K1.
L. L.1. L.2.
L.3. L.4. L.5.
The questions comments.
Seeing none on favor.
Part two are regular agenda.
First is M1.
Check online information operations.
Please politics.
Lets go.
Thousands of.
Beers.
Move by council ahead.
們.
Beers.
as we obtain for both $454,000,000,000 and $537,000, $3,000 to recognize zoning by a lot of
efficiencies on the subject. Lots, three, the balance of any outstanding taxes, including
penalties and a trust, shall we paint in the town in the best of all that effort required.
Columnments and questions?
Councillor Mascott. I don't know if this is a time to say anything or not. I know you said earlier
that it was up to us. With the charge, I'd just like you to take into consideration that he had
paid once before. Unfortunately, he laps the time, but maybe take that into consideration when
the price of the variance is coming. That's all. Thank you. Any other comments?
Thank you.
Seeing none of all in favor?
Carried.
Next, does M2 move or in second turn?
Move by councilor A, or second in my councilor.
Can I link?
Resolve the council approve consent application B0524 to sever property known as
Lot-9 Concession-5, plan M176, a lot of eight partial 31453,
township of Marin, town of Espinola, creating two separate lots and two established, a shared
access easement for a common driveway shown as part two and part three on proposed Lot-7's plan,
including with the application, and providing that the following conditions are met one,
that the owner filed with the clerk, three copies of the registered reference plans, prepared by
Ontario Land Surveyor, registered in the province of Ontario for the purposes of facilitating
the transaction to which this consent applies and that this plan be approved by the municipality
prior to being deposited with the land registry office. The reference plan should conform
substantially to the sketch filed with the application for consent to the balance of any outstanding
taxes, including penalties, and interests shall be paid to the town of Espinola, if required,
three that the owner provides payment for the cash in the parkland, representing 5% of the
value of the land to be paid to the town of Espinola for adequate water and sewer capacity is confirmed
to the town of satisfaction. And then we're questions or comments. See none all in favor?
Carried. I'd like to thank you very much gentlemen for giving us your presentation tonight
and we look forward to doing business with you in the future.
Along with this one. Thank you very much. Thank you so much. Thank you so much. Thank you so much. Appreciate it guys.
Ms. M3 can move her in the seconder. Move my counselor rate in second of my counselor, Kelly Owen.
Be a result of that by 11. I'm very three, two, one, nine, twenty-four, be adopted, being a by-law to enter into an agreement with the PPP for primary PFAP services.
Questions or comments on this? See, none, all in favour?
We'll have the Treasurer, Julie Bootsie, and provide some comments on both items, bill 1 and 0 to if appropriate.
Thank you. Thank you.
Thank you. Through your worship, the first report is on the 2025 budget guidelines in timetable.
We're just proposing a slight amendment to shift the timetable into January, instead of the second part of November.
Due to different obstacles that we've encountered in the last month or so, and we are still working very hard on the budget, and we would like to propose something wholesome and well prepared.
Good. Thank you.
There is no motion. It's just a night and for information. Perhaps that was different the last time, but I think providing there's no issue with our moving our timeline, then you can move on.
This is a question.
And this is any questions or comments on that part of it, anybody?
Okay. Seeing none.
Through your worship, the second report is the 2024 quarter three budget to actual, and overall, we're forecasting a surplus at the end of the year.
The majority of the surplus is created by operational projects that have not brought to fruition, so these are not funds that I would say we could use for our 2025 budgets. These will be rolled proposed to be rolled into reserves to complete the projects in 2025.
Any questions or comments?
Let's see none. This is so good. You like? Thank you very much.
Next door to visit our information.
This information was previously circulated to council, if required a copy of the information is available at the municipal office.
Any questions or comments on them? Information?
The none.
Conferencing conventions, Roma, January 19, 2021, 2025.
We've spoke about it and we feel that it's just time is probably not any advantage just going.
This one, and we were probably not attending.
If we didn't have a delegation, we weren't going to try and get personal.
What the more, and that was we can probably do our business that way.
It's a good, it's an excellent conference, but in our times right now we feel it's very good.
Our time and our money can be spent better in staying home for this one.
Okay. So, Mayor and council reports and announcements.
We'll start with Deputy Kelly.
Thank you, Worshik.
I'm just a few things.
It was nice to attend the French high school that in a sense came to the town office on, I believe it was last Monday,
trekking through the town on their pilgrimage of hopes.
To see they presented the mayor and the CAO as well as the OPP.
And I believe the fire departments, plaques just in dedication and support for the positive input that they've had on our community.
So it was nice to see all of the kids out and attending that.
We're, we're molding some really good young people here.
The other thing I attended was the rock around the Christmas level this year.
It was complex, I don't know what I can say, the complex was completely packed inside outside.
The floats were great.
Participation was was fantastic.
The weather cooperated.
I know that the vendors, I didn't get to Alex, but I know that.
Council Kelly Owen and we'll have a lot to tell about that because I think he was just about everywhere.
So I'll let him take over from this.
But thanks to everybody who contributed and all the hard work went into that went into preparing this.
Our staff as well as all of the volunteers and the community members who made this happen.
We're looking forward to next year's.
Thank you.
Thank you, deputy.
Councilor.
Ananya.
I echo the deputy's comments.
It was a great event.
The turnout.
All throughout the town at the Alps Hall and inside and outside the complex.
I was so proud of the volunteers and all of the groups and the businesses that came out.
Anyways, it was just wonderful.
Thanks to staff and the whole community.
Councilor Duplese.
What I had is already said.
I agree.
Councilor mascot.
Same here.
It was all good.
I didn't get to see a lot of it because we were making hot chocolate.
But did get to go for a walk before it started to snow.
And it looked very nice out there.
That was well-to-wall at the Alps.
So it was good.
Being showed out to all the staff at the complex.
They did a wonderful job.
They were very, very hard to have this on.
That's it.
Thank you.
Councilor.
Thank you.
I had a very intention of being at the Ovalon.
We can't help her.
My elderly father came for a surprise visit.
So I wasn't able to get there.
I just would like to bring something up for consideration for another year.
Is there some people with mobility issues that are having problems to get around to seeing all of the things at the Ovalon.
And they wanted to be there and wanted to participate.
So I could have got my dad around.
I could have come and not felt bad about that because but he wouldn't have been able to walk around there.
He's not the only one.
There were some other people they had mentioned that to me as well.
So I just want to put that out there.
It's not a negative.
It's just that maybe we can figure out something to make it.
So that they're able to be able to be a part of it as well.
So being more inclusive to other parts of our community that.
You know, some of them are just big kids at heart too.
So.
For sure.
Thank you.
And that's all.
Thank you.
I also got a one.
We didn't even think of everyone.
I appreciate your patience with me.
As I approach the exam period and the end of a semester.
So I'm here in Ottawa trying to study away right now.
I did want to highlight a few things because I was was in town for most of the last week.
I do seriously want to start by thanking more than credit you.
Very specifically.
And the reason I'm shouting them out is they gave you very generous.
$2,000 donation to the Pondhockey Program that myself and my father have run for quite a few years.
Now I've put that since I was a teenager.
So for sure.
And in addition to that, I just want to take the time to thank all of the local businesses and groups that donated.
To the recent giveaway we did.
We gave away three.
Goody baskets to veterans and families of veterans.
Post for member and stay.
Which is kind of posted.
The winners of those baskets and kind of their stories today.
So it was great.
I want to thank Esmeral coffee roasters.
I want to thank Center Street dental.
Moose FM donated a bunch of stuff.
Tanners and Cortina both donated as well as revenue.
So it was great to get a bunch of local businesses in town together for an initiative like that.
And to share some better stories during the month of remembrance.
I'm going to echo everything that's been said about the oval already.
That's a tremendous effort every year on the part of our staff.
And I really want to commend them for the amazing work that went into that.
I was trying to balance my time between the display I had set up.
The lines display on the town display.
So thank God I was right in the middle.
So I could kind of run back and forth.
But it was busy the whole night.
So that was great.
And the attendance there was just fantastic.
And I think it was even better than last year.
And I'm looking forward to it already.
And then the last thing is I just want to say that during the day.
I was at the Elx Christmas scratch.
I had my table set up and I was collecting donations for helping hand.
And in total we received.
I didn't do a final count of the products.
But it was that hundreds of non-perishables.
And over $300 in cash donation.
So if that doesn't.
It pitomized the giving spirit of the holiday season and how giving this community.
I don't know.
I don't know what does quite frankly.
So I'm very very happy with how that turned out.
That's it for me.
Thank you very much.
I would just not much more to say.
The council has has said it very clearly.
But it's just to say in general that the thank council again for being participating.
In all our endeavors.
It's great to see you all out there.
It's a big to the community.
They really appreciate us out there.
And also the community itself.
It's just great to see how they're all coming together.
And any volunteer, all the volunteers, all the participants.
Those over 500 people at that awful easy.
And they were all very energetic and happy to be there.
And it's a great thing that we have here in this community.
But it's a participation.
It really, really, it doesn't surprise me.
It's great to see.
The community comes out when there's things that we do here for them.
And the children that came from the school, the high school.
To come here and give us an award for recognizing what we do as a community.
And going to all that different churches in Espanola.
So ours is at the same tune.
We have it right there to post the nice, what they present it to us.
It's great to see the community's life.
And I just wanted to tell you that it's all part of the world part of it.
And we can be proud of what we're doing.
Thank you very much.
All right.
Future council meetings.
Corporate Service Committee.
Meeting me in December the 3rd, 2024.
We held the place of January the 7th.
Okay.
We're going to meet a council December the 10th, 2024, 7 p.m.
Okay.
So we adjourned.
Move by.
No.
Council.
Deputy.
Okay.
Councilor Gallion and we'll see you on the other side.
Let's see on the other side.
Recording stopped.
Thank you.