Great. Welcome everyone to the town of Greater Napony regular session of
council for the 25th day of August 2026. Just before we call the meeting to
order, I just want to remind everyone this evening that this evening's meeting
is being livereamed via our YouTube channel. So, welcome to those that are
in the body of the council chambers this evening. Welcome to those that are
watching uh tonight and welcome to those that will watch us at a later date. So
having said all that, we'll call the meeting to order and we'll start our
meeting uh with our opening proceeding which is a playing of the national
anthem. So I'll ask those in the body of the council chambers to stand and face
the flag as we play our national
Heat. [music]
Heat.
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Heat
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up here.
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» Great. Thanks everyone. Uh just uh before we get going, we're going to uh
deal with a closed session that we had earlier this evening. So I'll look for a
motion to uh note rece [clears throat] or sorry to uh go into or to do our
rising report from close session. Moved by deputy mayor Calver, second by
councelor Shank if there's no further comments, questions or concerns. All in
favor of that motion? Opposed? Motion's carried. I would like to report uh that
in closed session this evening uh that council received for information
the confidential appointments to the joint compliance audit committee report
and further that council approve the recommended appointments and direct that
a bylaw be brought to the September 8th 2026 meeting for adoption. Uh look for a
motion to note and receive that. Uh moved by councelor Nory second by depra.
There's no further comments, questions, or concerns. All in favor of that
motion? Opposed? Motion's carried. Uh the next matter is confidential
SR1429-2026 legal advice. The council received for
information the confidential legal advice report.
Moved by councelor Davyy, second by councelor
Shank. If there's no further comments, questions, or concerns, all in favor of
that motion? Opposed? The motion's carried. And I'm just going to back up
because we do have some rising reports. Madam clerk, I think from August 11th
and 25th, am I correct? >> Through your worship. Yes. Uh since
August 11th was only close session in the special meeting, we'll do the rise
and report. Yeah. >> Okay. So, having uh said
» uh this one here, right, right? >> Yeah.
» Yeah. >> Uh we'll uh look for a motion to know
and receive the confidential SR1434-2026 land sale former Suttered Lands. that
council receive for information the confidential land sale former sutter
lands report and fur that council direct and authorized staff to proceed as
directed in close session moved by deputy mayor calver second by councelor
Martin if there's no further comments questions or concerns all in favor of
that motion motion's carried and finally confidential SR1433-2026
human resources report August 11th the council receive for information the
confidential human resources report moved by councelor Nory second by
councelor Martin if there's no further comments, questions, or concerns. All in
favor of that motion? Opposed? Motion's carried. Uh look for a motion to adopt
uh the agenda as presented. Move by councelor Davyy. Second by councelor
Shank. If there's no further comments, questions or concerns. All in favor of
that motion. Opposed. Motion's carried. Disclosure of pecuniary interest in the
general nature thereof. Is there any disclosures of pecuniary interest this
evening? Seeing none, uh, deputations, schedule
deputations, new items. I don't believe we have any, madame clerk. Uh,
deputations item on the agenda. We do have one deputation, Jay Bogdanowitz.
Miss Bdanowitz is here. And so, welcome, uh, Miss Bogdanowitz. Uh, I don't know
if you've been here in person or not. The microphone in front of you, there's
a button in the middle uh, says push. You just have to push it. Once the green
light is on, the green light is on and we'll be able to hear you. but they have
to have the green light on so the folks at home can hear you as well. So, um,
whenever you're ready, the floor of yours.
» Okay, great. Thank you. Uh, thank you, uh, for allowing me to speak tonight.
Uh, I appreciated the conversation, uh, at the last meeting very much. Um, and I
appreciated that there was a unanimous interest in, uh, a bylaw review of, um,
of, I guess, orders to mow tall grasses. Um, I also very much appreciated that
two council members came to the property to see uh the garden that we are trying
to naturalize and uh they spoke highly of it uh during the council meeting and
um you know suggested that others uh could do the same as well on their
properties. Um I appreciated the staff report that was turned around very
quickly um and that was very thorough although I have a few questions about
that report today. Um, and I guess, um, what I'm kind of
left wondering is that regardless of, um, you know, the praise I received from
from the counselors, um, staff continue to recommend upholding the order to MO.
Um, and so again, I'm here to, uh, request that the order is cancelled. Uh,
and to just confirm again that this issue is causing a great amount of
distress for for me and my family. Um, one of the things in the report that
I found uh that was interesting that I wanted to highlight um was an
interpretive direction that pollinator gardens and naturalized lawns could fall
within the existing exemption for ornamental grasses that currently exist
in the bylaw. And if that interpretation is taken,
that would protect our garden and others like it um as the bylaw update proceeds
uh without rec without requiring council to wait until the next term to act. So I
thought that was a kind of an interesting um let's not call it a
loophole, but a kind of interesting interpretation um to address this issue.
Um I'm also [clears throat] here to seek clarification about the report in
particular. Uh the report recommends um mowing along two of my property lines,
but it says that I I don't need to mow if if the area is a wetland and those
property lines um contain cattails. And so in my interpretation, this is um you
know part of a a storm water swale and I'm curious to know if that would be
considered a wetland or not. Um the report also um suggests that the
order is canled. Um, however, it kind of suggests that it could be opened up
again um before the next term of council. Um, and so again, I'm here to
humbly ask that the decision that is made today closes the issue for us until
the bylaw can be updated. Um, the topic of t ticks and pests came
up at the last meeting. Um, and uh, I wanted to refer to the letter that
council has received by Joyce Hustlin, uh, who is a Thousand Islands master
gardener. uh she wanted to um I guess point
council to um a number of scientific papers that have been written on the
issue and uh and if uh council proceeds with updating the bylaw encourage that
those involved in that um that they consult the the latest scient scientific
papers on the issue and in particular just to quote her um her letter she says
that blackhead black sorry blacklegged ticks um and their abundance is driven
by deer access white-footed mice populations and woodland proximity and
it's um and plant height and mowing schedules do not quite um you know
contribute to tick populations. Um and so finally just to conclude um
you know again I'm here as I've mentioned in my letter I will not be
destroying my garden uh and forced to mow and if the town decides to destroy
the garden I will have no choice but to take legal action for damages. Thank
you. >> Great. Thanks Madanowitch. Just hang
tight and we'll see if uh just hang tight. We'll see if council has any
questions for you. Okay. So, council, do you have any questions or comments for
for Julie with respect to her her uh deputation here this evening?
Uh Deputy Mayor Calber, thank you worship.
The blacklegged tick. There's a lot of different talks about what causes, what
doesn't cause, where they live, where they don't live. Um,
as much as you're saying that long grass doesn't attribute to them and so on and
so forth, there's also documents out there that say it does. Um, I'm just
just a little concerned. I mean, we have bylaws in place for a reason.
And here we are. As much as you enjoy your
your natural garden, natural yard, and I did take a drive out there, by the way.
I didn't I didn't knock on your door. I went and seen what I could see from the
road. Um, and I've seen your trails that you've got cut through your property and
stuff, but I I just I'm just concerned myself. I
know with our property that we maintain and look at, 100 plus acres of land. Um,
and we have trails as well and uh we do have ticks on the property um as well.
And it's uh it's a non-stop fight to try to keep them and we keep everything cut
back on our trails and so on and so forth. But uh yeah, I'm just a little
concerned when you when you say that the long grass doesn't doesn't in inhibit
these uh these ticks because we have them too and they're everywhere and
especially in southeastern Ontario there these ticks are all over the place. So
anyways, that was all I've got to say on that. So, I I still believe our bylaws
are are still good and should be followed. Thank you.
» Thank you. Uh, Deputy Mayor Calver, is there anything else for Miss Baganowitz
before we move on? Seeing none, uh, hang tight, uh, Julie.
We will have a, I'm sure, a robust conversation about the matter later on
in the agenda. So, uh, um, relax and see how we do things here in Napony. So,
thank you. I'll look for a motion to note and receive the uh the uh
deputation of Julie Bogdanowitz. Moved by councelor Noi, second by Deputy Mayor
Calver. If there's no further comments, questions, or concerns, all in favor of
that motion? Opposed? Motion's carried. Unfinished business. The first matter is
updated executive services, labor relations, reserve, spending thresholds,
and governance framework. And Mr. Grant, I think you're going to speak to that.
Uh so when you get settled in there, we'll uh we'll allow you to take the
floor.
Uh thank you worship and through you your worship to members of council. Um
this is an item that is coming back uh with respect uh to uh labor relations uh
reserve. Uh the initial trunch of money going into the reserve uh is $155,000
um from workplace self uh safety and insurance board. Uh and the team has
also talked about how to have recurring support um for that kind of reserve. Um
the the current theory is what's called gapping dollars. So there will be uh
monies that are unspent on budgeted salary dollars due to turnover or
recruitment and that sort of thing. and that's uh dedicated for HR so should be
going for HR purposes. Uh council at our uh last meeting expressed the desire um
to understand um exactly how this money would be allocated and spent, how
council uh could perform its fiduciary duty in terms of spending limits um
while also um creating a a separation on specific
HR matters. And I think that we've struck a reasonable balance here and I'm
I'm happy to get your views on it. So, the proposed delegated authority limits
um the way that it uh is proposed to work is that uh there'd be a maximum
spend uh of $25,000 um for things such as recruitment
advertising, executive or specialized recruitment services, uh candidate uh
assessment and testing tools, relocation assistance, um things like that for uh
recruitment and staffing transition costs, termination, severance, and
workforce restructuring costs such as uh contractual termination pay, severance
obligations, vacation payout, liabilities, uh labor relations uh and
legal expenses and investigation cost such as external labor employment legal
services, workplace investigations um under some of our policies uh such as
the workplace harassment uh bylaw, arbitration and mediation costs, human
rights or employment compliance matters, uh WSIB and accommodation costs. Um so
uh I would have the authority to authorize the spend on the
recommendation of human resources uh and would do so in consultation with the
treasurer. Um the uh anything exceeding that and candidly anything serious would
exceed that. uh it just would uh would come to council uh for an inc camera
discussion uh in a general sense without getting into the specific HR files per
se. But this this is the problem we're trying to solve and this is why we think
this uh avenue uh is the proper avenue to solve it and this is how much uh we
believe that we need above and beyond what is our delegated authority. Um, I
would expect um a lot of um uh spending would be minor in nature and far below
the $25,000 threshold. One of the things that sparked this discussion candidly
was um the fact that HR had no recruitment budget.
» Um that candidly was a problem u from my perspective. we were using uh our own uh
website, social media and that sort of thing to try to find um appropriate
staff and and sometimes we're looking for very specialized people in a very
competitive market. So I'll I'll give you an example. Um he's not here anymore
online so I can embarrass him. Um Mr. Hatton is someone that we did an
expanded uh search for using very specific uh advertising methods
particularly um the association of planners websites and which come at a
cost um and that's where we found them and uh that is candidly a get because
planners are hard to find. Um there's a number of different kinds of professions
that are hard uh to fill and that is one of them at this point in time. Um so we
would see things such as that. Um the uh and anything above and beyond
that as I mentioned we would bring to council um for uh your authorization. Um
we would give you a full rationale and you know as we do financial reporting we
would indicate um these are where monies were spent and the reason that they were
spent that way. And with that uh I or Miss Natt Fischer are happy to answer
any of your questions. Great. Uh, thank you, Mr. Grant. Go
ahead, Councelor Nish. >> Mr. Grant. Um, just I think I know the
answer, but the relocation assistance is that the sweet in the pot to say to
bring someone from the other end of the lake from a big city to here or
something like that? Is that the idea >> to Mr. Mayor? Short answer, yes. Um, so
if we're pulling people from if we're trying to um entice them from the
greater Toronto area or beyond, um, it's unlikely we'd be able to pay full
relocation. Um but sometimes that's what's needed to give us a competitive
edge over over a different organization. [clears throat]
» Thought so. Thank you. >> Thank you councelor Nor. Thank you Mr.
Grant. Is there anything else? Councelor Martin.
» Thank you mayor through you. Um Mr. Grant. Um
the the reserve fund is was or is or whatever it
was at 155 155,000
and >> Mr. Mayor. Yes, it is.
» Okay. Um so if the corporation saves money during
the year that's going to be replenished by that money saved. So what what
happens if there's x number of dollars saved and you keep you build up that
fund to um a large amount? I mean, I I like reserve funds, Billy. Me for, you
know, firet truck, uh, uh, snow plows, building maintenance, that type of
thing. But I'm just I'm just wondering why HR usually isn't an emergency
situation. Like, usually HR can come to council for for funds or whatever. And
should there maybe be a cap on the reserve fund as far as I mean how much
money would would you recommend that uh or you you would think that's going to
be needed in a particular year. >> So through you Mr. Mayor to councelor
Martin uh difficult to say depending on year to year. So I would agree that
there's no uh emergency situations per se. Uh but human resources is part of
the business that costs money has cost money. We can cost that out over the
last several years. We've just been pulling it from other places. Um so it's
it's come at the expense of of some other places. Um I would say do I think
that the reserve is going to get quite a bit higher year-over-year savings? I
would love to have that problem. [laughter]
I don't think we're going to have that problem.
um only because of some of the the uh past dollars that have been spent for
specific reasons, whether it be arbitration that we recently went
through. Um if we have mediation cost, recruitment costs, um there's an ongoing
costs that are fairly healthy. And I wouldn't suggest that we'd want to go
much over 150 unless uh if it indicated, you know, a circumstance indicated that
we needed more than that, we would come to you and ask to to raise the
threshold. If we were over that, my expectation would be that uh finance
would tell you um look, we we are over the threshold of the reserve that was
originally set up by council. What would you like to do with the money? Um so I I
don't think we're going to see uh the reserve grow and grow and grow per se.
It's unlike other reserves and that there's continuous operating needs, but
it's been uh a negotiation between HR and others uh between uh how things will
be funded, where the money is going to come from, are people going to get the
same level of service uh based on the budget they have to allocate for a
recruitment effort or whatnot. And we're we're looking to sort of standardize the
service so everyone gets the same level of service, if you may, if you will. Um
so that's the intention for it. I don't know if I answered your question
there, counselor, in a roundabout way.
Thank you. Um, could I just um So, is is that uh does this mean if we
have a reserve fund of 150 roughly,000 that that will no longer be a budget
item because other years we've actually budgeted for HR expenses, have we not?
And I mean, if there's an expense coming that needs to be paid for, it usually
comes out of the general reserve as opposed to
having a I mean, I don't know how many reserves we have now. I I've I've heard
a number of reserves over over the last four years, and I'm just I just want to
make sure that council is aware of every dollar spent, but we all know that next
year is going to be a a challenging year budget-wise. So, I'm just I'm just
trying to get a perspective on on what's going ahead as far as our budgeting is
concerned. >> I think uh I think our human resources
professional may be able to weigh in on this, Mr. Grant. So, go ahead, Holly.
» Thank you. Through your worship. Um we of course now my brain has gone
completely empty. Um Oh my goodness,
my brain's empty. It Yeah, thank you. Um, [laughter]
in the past we have budgeted for known expenses in HR that have come up. So
when we know we're going to arbitration, when we know we're doing those certain
when we're going to have higher than normal legal fees, but in a lot of the
situations that you see listed in this reserve here, they're unknown. They
happen kind of just as they happen. Um, so I I foresee this being a separate pot
of money for that exact reason. we will still likely budget for these higher
expense item ticket items that we know are coming. So, we won't be pulling from
those reserves for that specific thing when we know it's coming. But otherwise,
everything else listed in this reserve, it it kind of comes up as the year goes
on and that's why we're asking for this specific pot of money on the side to
pull from.
Yep. >> So, this is just for emergency funds.
This isn't for So, we'll still be looking at budgeting for normal HR
expenses. So,
» through your worship, yes, we will still be planning on budgeting for normal
known HR expenses. I'm not confident the word emergency is the right word um
because that has a certain context associated with it. But these are the
unknown costs that happen throughout the year. Um, they happen every year.
They're going to happen every year, but you can't plan for them because you
don't know which ones are going to come up.
» Thank you. Sorry. Go ahead, Mr. Grant. >> So, three, Mr. May, I'll give I'll give
an example for you, counselor. So, uh, some of the recruitment costs that we
would incur, we wouldn't know. Um, so, uh, people don't often, uh, forecast in
advance, um, before they've found a new job. They let you know when they've
secured a new job. Not that anyone not that we want anyone to leave. Um but uh
the difference in recruiting um certain positions uh versus other positions.
There will be a difference in cost in how you would have to go to recruit
because one year we might find a difficult to recruit position that we
have to invest more money into to find the right person. Uh and other ones um
those types of uh people that could fill those positions are are more abundant in
the area. um we might have uh an HR investigation that comes up for whatever
reason that we weren't anticipating that we would need um funds for, but we
wouldn't be necessarily anticipating those because a matter might have uh
popped up that would be contrary to a policy and we're obligated under policy
to act. Um but we wouldn't have been able to foresee those because um we
didn't plan for someone to break a policy.
» Thank you, Mr. Graham. Thank you. Uh, council, go ahead,
councelor Shane. Hi,
» Matthew. Uh, I'll give you an analogy. I had a wise man tell me once that uh, and
this is council's what's happened in the past. All right. So, if a child touches
a stove when it's really hot, it's a little gunshy touching again. So,
there's a concern here. All right. I'll be I'm just being honest. All right.
That are we giving you the the keys to the
safe? if you know what I mean. I know it's 155,000, but are we losing any
authority of no, we're not going to pay that out or no, we're not going to do
this or we're losing that. Now, I'm in agreement with what you're doing. All
right, cautiously. All right, but uh Ellen is
going to give us a quarterly financial breakdown.
uh anything is I have faith because we have great staff that anything that's
contentious that is you know it doesn't do the smell
test because uh we're not a municipality that just goes yeah we'll just yeah
we'll bend or yeah no you know what I mean if it has to go that route we we'll
go that route you know what I mean but we have to be fair and honest with
ourselves also and where that money spent and that's where I think where
Bill's coming from also where counselor Martin is coming from is that we just
want to make sure that we're not out of the loop, that we're still in that loop
with Ellen's uh financial what she's going to give us to us and with your
communication skills, Matthew and and Holly, what you guys are doing, I feel
confident that you're doing it. So, I'm not saying I'm not going to look at it
with a real magnifying glass, but it's definitely going to be looked at. So,
that's what my concern is. as long as you you address those type of concerns
with the the future council then uh you know what I mean what their concern
might be because you know once bitten twice shy you know what I mean so that's
where you're into a shy state right now so that's all
» yeah go ahead Mr. Grant >> so um I'll uh I'll I'll speak to that
counselor and and invite Holly to weigh in so I'd first say through you Mr.
Mayor, if we were going to rob the safe, I'd ask you for a lot more money. I
really would. Um, and there's nothing in this policy that would allow us to spend
$150,000 in one shot. So, what you're seeing in terms of a $25,000 limit,
that's around my that's actually quite a bit less than my delegated authority
already. Um, it it's and to date in my time here. Uh, I like working here, so I
wouldn't spend that without telling you. Uh, unless it was a serious emergency,
like I need to act and spend something now, we're going to lose a lot more. Um,
what I would say is, um, let's call it, um, say if there was a dismissal that
had to be made for whatever reason, um, some of this would be enough to to cover
the statutory limits that we'd be required to pay anyway. if we were
looking to have a negotiated settlement that would far exceed that for whatever
reason, $25,000 probably wouldn't do it. Um, candidly, um, and if we were going
to do that and look to get into a negotiated settlement, um, I would more
than likely give you like give you the situation of here's the situation we're
in. Here's the the management decision that I need to make. um I need uh to,
you know, pull this amount of funds for this reason. Um and if I don't do that,
here are some other options in order to get to the outcome that we need to get
to. If it's not financial like right away, it might be um not that anyone's
going to get fired, um but it would be something like salary continuence to
spread out money as opposed to a lump sum out of the reserve. There'd be
different ways to get at it. Um but we're quite aware um of the hot stove.
Um we've taken great pains uh to ensure that staff and council have a high
degree of trust and we value that. Um and uh it's not in our interest nor do
we desire to lose that. >> Yep. Go ahead.
» Like there's not all 25,000. There's an item in here 15,000. So that's the
reason why there's but the reason why I'm saying that is
because in the past you know a limit was 15,000 and an individual [clears throat]
would go ahead and 14,552 and then the next month it would be
14,582 you know I mean I'm still below my limit
you know what I mean as long as none of that ever happens you know I mean and I
have trust in you guys so and you all know that you know I don't pound on you
every day so there there we go. So yeah, I just that's the reason why the concern
is there. That's all. >> So uh through Mr. Mayor, if it gives you
any comfort, counselor, I'm remarkably cheap.
» Thanks, uh councelor Shank. Thank you, Mr. Grant. Deputy Mayor Gbert.
» Uh thank you through your worship. Um know exactly where you're coming from,
Mike. Uh for a lot of years, we'd say you hear the saying, well, we'll find
the money. This isn't money we're going to find. This is money for a specific
job. This is for HR. This isn't just a slush fund for others to pull out of.
This is HR money, their responsibility, and I have uh nothing but the utmost
respect and trust for our staff. Thank you. Thanks, Deputy Mayor Calver. Is
there anything else? If not, we do have a recommendation that council receive
for information the updated executive services labor's relations reserve
spending thresholds and governance framework report and further that
council approve the proposed thresholds for delegated authority spending in each
category. Moved by councelor Shank, second by councelor Davey. Is there any
further comments, questions or concerns with respect to the motions on the
floor? Seeing none, we'll call the question. All in favor of the motion
that's on the floor opposed. The motion's carried. Next matter is growth
in infrastructure request for land transfer 341 Camden Road portion of
Milhouse Yard, Stormwater Pond Land. And Mr. Grant, you're going to speak to that
as well. >> Uh I'm going to parrot the notes that
Mr. Nobs was kind enough to give me. Um as uh he's not here today, so if you'll
bear with me, I just need to pull that up.
Um
okay. Um so the subject property that um uh is in the report uh speaks to um
fencing and and the like. So the fencing is to delineate uh the limit of town
owned storm water pond area which was approved through budget. Uh a survey was
completed to determine exact property line for the fence installation. Uh the
property line bicts two mature pear trees which were planted by the owner of
341 Camden uh road several years ago. Uh the owner of 341 would like to see the
trees retained through the installation of the fence. Uh the owner has requested
either the town shift the fence further onto town property to avoid trees
effectively um you know that would effectively give
up town owned land which is not something that staff would recommend. Uh
town compensate for the loss of the trees. A $400 tree of the fences
installed on the property line and respectfully I think if there's a tree
on our property that's candidly our tree. Um but uh the town transferred a 5
foot wide strip of land for $1 to the owner to shift the property line away
from the trees. Um you know the there's several different
approaches uh to sell you could sell the owner a 5ft wide strip along the rear
property line um roughly an $890 sale price to legally shift the property line
to allow the trees to remain. Um if council elects to proceed with the sale
uh of the land, the next step would be to declare the land surplus, which
requires public notice and bylaw to allow the transfer uh would come to a
future meeting. This would be a class two surplus as uh there's only one
property that could acquire this land. Um so that is I believe Mr. Gnome's
recommended option. The uh the other option I think that um uh would come up
uh is uh council directed staff to come up with a uh tree bylaw. You may recall
if in the event that we were going to install a fence and had to remove a tree
to do so, we would be obligated to plant two trees uh under that policy which has
yet to come forward. Um but I would say those are the options. I believe Mr. No
has the recommended option of a land sale just to preserve the trees as they
are. Um if council wanted a different option that would be one of them with
that um I'm happy to uh answer sort of questions uh to the best of my
ability.
» Thank you uh thank you Mr. Grant. Uh let's we'll try and venture through this
and see what we can do for you. So um first of all is there any questions? Go
ahead, Council Martin. >> Sorry, Matthew. [laughter]
Um, start off with, I would like to say that
somehow or another, I'd like to see those trees saved. That's one of my I
was I was over there actually the other day and I I don't know if you recall at
council prior councils uh another resident over
there actually bought a small area of and it's right beside this property um
to square off his property and to make it one continual
square fence there. So, I I'm just wondering, and you probably don't maybe
don't know this, maybe you do, whether that neighbor was notified
because I know there is some concern that now that that there's a bump out of
his property next door, it's going to affect the new fence that he put up just
recently, within the last, I think it was a month, maybe roughly. So, I don't
know if that neighbor was contacted at all about uh his comments.
through you, Mr. Mayor. I will have to look in that and get back to you,
counselor. >> Thank you. Um, there's some other things
I'm I'm asking about this, too. Um, the out of the six options that I that we
have here. Um, I just want to ask why not number four,
which is Well, I'll let you read it. [laughter]
So through you, Mr. Mayor, if I read that um correctly, we'd be installing a
fence um further on our property. We would still own some property but not
have effective use of it, >> right?
» Um so I would I we're not recommending it for that reason because normally if
you're going to put fences, you put it on the property line of what?
» Normally. Yes. >> Yeah. And so, um, I think if if the
desire was to maintain the trees, uh, and not cut them down and replace them,
but, uh, and allow the individual that planted them to retain ownership, a
class 2 land sale is the way to go. Um, because then there is, um, no ambiguity
over who owns what. Yeah, I understand kind of, but it would
it it seems to me it would save this particular um
person that's requesting the trees be saved and giving him land for for a
dollar basically is what he's requesting for. Um, and I think we're talking about
five feet roughly from what I was looking at over there for a bumpout. I I
just think that it's not it's not going to be of any use
to him or the town where that fence is. I mean, it's it's only it's only going
to go to serve to uh save the trees and and if we sell it to them, it's going to
be the same thing. There's going to be a bump out to save the trees. The only
thing is it Yeah, you're right. It clarifies who owns it possibly. But when
you're talking about 5 ft to save a tree,
I I I would think number four would be it would save surveys, money, legal
cost. That's all I'm I'm looking at. >> Go ahead, Mr. Grant.
» So through you, Mr. Mayor, uh point of clarity as well is like uh the trees
were planted by the individual, but the tree on our property legally is our
tree. >> Um
» I agree. >> Yeah. So um I I would say that
» although excuse me, Mr. Grant, I I looking at it and and I'm not a
surveyor, but looking at it, the one looked like it was in on his property.
The other one was right on the property line, possibly if you measured with a
with a, you know, a GPS instrument. I'm But it's more on town land than it is,
but I I'm just, you know, >> so
» just to clarify where the trees are >> through you, Mr. Fair enough. Partially
our tree. >> Yeah. Um, so what I would say is this,
like, um, I would look at this with the principle of what would we do for any
other property if it wasn't just these trees, but it was some other thing. I
think the principle of ownership is something that we would want to
maintain. Um, and be really clear about who owns what.
» Okay. >> Um, only because with land ownership
comes responsibilities, comes liability, comes a number of different things. So
if it's our intention uh to ensure that the trees can be preserved and owned by
the individual then I would go through uh the effort of surveying it out and so
the fence is in the proper place and ownership is not in question. Um it's
say in the unlikely event that something happened on land that we owned but had
no custody over um that puts us in a very precarious position not only in
this but in other areas of of land ownership.
» Yeah. Thank you, mayor. Through you, uh, Matthew, I I
my main concern is to save the trees, but I mean, if we sell 5t of this
property and give them a bump out and it costs 5 to7,000, I'm reading their
report here uh, to do that. Does do we know if that property owner is prepared
to spend that money for like he's asking for for a dollar? I I'm assuming he's
not going to want to spend5 to $7,000 um legal fees and and um survey. So I
guess my my other qu my last question will be if he doesn't buy it because he
doesn't want to spend the money, are we going to cut the trees down?
Because I'd really hate to see those two trees go.
» Thank you. Okay. I won't ask anymore. >> So through you, Mr. Mayor, for the
record, Council Min, you can ask as many questions as you like. It's why we're
here. Um, but so I would say uh a couple of different things. Um, in line with
the land sale bylaw and the principles of value for real estate, um, I would
always advocate that we sell land for what it's worth and not necessarily what
someone wants to pay, per se. Um, there is a value to that land. I'm quite
certain it's more than a dollar. Um so uh giving someone for regardless of the
purpose uh and how no matter how honorable it is, I think we have an
obligation as a municipality uh to steward you know land ownership
resources and and and charge what the land is worth. um in the event that we
were going to um if a tree had to come down because we're putting a fence on
the property line, that's when I believe um that the the policy that was
recommended and approved by council for us to bring uh to bring back. Um we
would plant two others uh in recognition uh of a healthy tree being removed due
to uh the work uh initiated by the town. I I believe that this is something that
actually speaks to exactly the intent uh of the policy that councelor Hicks
brought forward and council passed that I mean nobody wants to cut down a tree
that we don't have to like full stop. We would like we do everything in our power
to avoid it. If we were putting a fence on a property land which is the
recommended place to put a fence to delineate ownership and it re and it
required a tree but maybe not both to be cut down. Um, I would say that we should
replant two of the same species in as near a proximity as we could. Uh, that
would be my recommendation on that, counselor, if if council doesn't want to
have a bump out and and entertain a sale.
» Thank you for that, Matthew. >> Thanks, Counc.
Uh, thank you for your worship. Is David still online or is David gone?
» Three, Mr. Mayor. David is not on the line.
» Okay. I reached out to him earlier today. I wanted some clarification, but
I was just trying to figure out we we did to the neighboring property. I'm
trying to find I'd like just verification what we did to sell him
that bit of land he wanted to do because we got to we got to kind of stick with
our town's best practice. Um in my opinion anyways. Um it is it is a class
two land, but we can't uh we can't do one without
doing for everyone. So, that's just my uh my way of thinking. And I had one
more. These pear trees, I I didn't see here how big they are. Are they Are they
something that could be um could have somebody specially come in with a uh a
tree spade and relocate these trees? I I don't know how big a pair of tree gets.
I I drove by a couple of times. I couldn't see them. So, thank you.
» Go ahead, Mr. Grant. See if you can uh >> Mr. I I don't know the answer to that,
but we can certainly investigate if they can be relocated. Uh in terms of land,
um I would say that there's a very clear process um by how council can dispose of
uh land that it owns. So, first part of that would be to declare uh a piece of
property surplus. You can declare a whole property. You can decide that
there's an element of a property and you need to reservey it and and and parcel
it out. Um and so if it doesn't have access uh to um you know public roadway
or something else uh it would be deemed class two because there's only a few
properties that would abut that that could buy that. Um that is a very
prescribed process in the land sale bylaw. Um so we would offer that to
anyone if they came forward. Normally uh we would only offer surplus lands and
extenduating circumstances you would have to declare it surplus. So there'll
be uh additional steps towards that. Um and as for uh removing the tree and
relocating it, I can certainly uh ask the team um and we could we could come
back uh with that information if that's of interest.
» Yeah. Thank you, Mr. Grant. I think madam clerk is going to weigh in here, I
think. Then I'll go back to you dep. And I I did just want to add to confirm
that um I believe it was last year uh council did go through the class 2 land
sale process with the neighbor um and that uh property owner purchased the
land from the town at the set value in the policy and was responsible for all
the legal transfer fees for that transaction.
» Thank you, Madam Clerk. That's been very helpful. Go ahead, Deputy May.
» Uh thank you, your worship. I I I thought that's what we what had taken
place. I just was looking for a refresher and then thank you madam clerk
for that. Um yeah m uh Mr. Grant I'd like to see some sort of report brought
back before we make any decisions as to if if these trees could be movable and
what the cost would be at that. I mean, um, if we go with what we've laid out in
past, which I believe we should stick to what we've done in the past, uh, class 2
lands, you're saying it's worth approximately $890,
but then the cost to do the transfer of the, um, surveys and stuff could be
between 5 and 7,000. That's a a big chunk to pay for a little land to save a
couple of trees if, in fact, for maybe $2,000, they can be plucked from the
ground and and replanted. I don't know. just worth looking at every option
before we just decide to throw this out. Thank you.
» Thank you, Mayor G. Mr. Grant. >> So, through you, Mr. Mayor. If that be
the will of council, I would recommend a motion on that to uh direct that staff
go and and find out uh if it is feasible to relocate the trees and then come back
and and address this at another >> [clears throat]
» uh at another time. >> Uh thank you, Mr. Crank. Go ahead,
Councelor Shank. Now, Matthew, this this might like sound a simple question, but
uh did he not own
that land where those trees are or they were with all the subdivision
and with the Mil House pond and everything else and the lot line ended
up being there? I'm just trying to get in my mind why did he plant the trees so
close to the lot line if he wanted to keep
your line? if he wanted to keep the trees and he planted them, why wouldn't
he plant them further on his own property?
» So, for you, Mr. Mayor, I don't know that I can speak to the mindset of
someone else and and choices that they made. Um, what I will say is it's not
terribly unusual for people not to be 100% familiar with where lot lines are.
We've we've had other cases where structures have been built, fences have
been built, that sort of So my so what my what I'm trying to understand is is
that why would the municipality change a boundary line when so therefore you I
mean where somebody else planted some trees all right I'm sorry if you wanted
to keep those trees you put it on yourself but also his one of his
requests are that if you have to take him out he'd like to get paid $400 a
tree. All right. So, all I'm saying is is
it doesn't, you know, I don't understand what you where you guys are going. Like,
if I wanted to plant some trees, I would make sure that they're on my own
property. All right? I can't complain about it afterwards when go, "Oh, so
bad. They're mature trees. I want you to pay because it's not on my I planted
them not on my own property." So, uh, good fences, good neighbors. So, I don't
know why you want to go down through. I'm not willing to sell. It's the
people's. It's it's not your own individual land. It's the taxpayers's
land that 5T. It could be used for trail. It could be used for other things
that whatever it might be. All right. For that cost because somebody planted
trees on your own land on not his own land. All right? So
I don't understand the rationale behind this whole thing. So as far as I'm
concerned, you know, this is where the fence is going and everything else. And
if it happens to be on the edge, well be on the edge. If he wants to move them,
he can move them. We'll let we'll grant him that. But that's where the fence is
going. Have a nice day. You're going to have to buy a couple more trees and
we're not paying you $400 cuz we hit the tree because you planted them on the
wrong side of the property. You know, like
that's just that's the way I look at it. Maybe I'm the bad boy, but that's the
facts. >> Yeah. Go ahead, Mr. Grant.
» Uh so it's you, Mr. Mayor. Uh at this point in the evening, I'm going to
remind Michael that he owes me $50. Um, [laughter]
but what what I would say is I won't dispute your logic, counselor. I I won't
um I uh the land in question is ours. The incumbrance uh on the lot line that
is ours uh we didn't put there. Uh I would not be in favor of renumerating
somebody um for infringing on property that isn't theirs. Um I think if the
trees can be moved, fair enough. I don't disagree that we offer the opportunity
for someone else to remove the trees and pay for that. But what I would say is is
council has already um created a mechanism by which we would
ensure uh tree canopy in perpetuity. So if we have to remove a tree and and
we're working on this as we speak, we will plant two trees uh in the absence
and we would do that with any uh the policy would be such that we would do
that with any tree that is removed that is healthy um and is removed because we
are doing work um will replace them. Um and I think that would uh be here and
and if council wants to sell the property they can. If they don't want to
sell the property they don't have to. Um,
yeah, I'll leave it there. >> Councelor Martin.
» Thank you, Mayor. Um, I don't think anybody is advocating we
sell him that land for a dollar like he wanted. He should pay the same as
everybody else does for class 2 land. Um but
um counselor Shank I I think in town a lot of people eyeball their lot line and
they'll print shrubs and trees on it and I got a feeling that's what happened
with these but 15 20 years ago and it wasn't intentional to put it on town
land. It was he was probably thought he was putting it on his own land. So, it's
that close. If you look at that that uh sketch, it looks like the one tree is
right on the red line and the other one's just inside on it. So, anyway,
just just wanted to add that. And and um like I say, nobody's advocating we do
what he wants to sell it to him for a dollar. Um absolutely not. And uh we
certainly wouldn't pay him $400 per tree either, but uh that's just what he
wanted asking. doesn't mean we should.
» Thank you. Uh, councelor Martin, uh, councelor David
» through you, mayor. Um, I guess looking at it, the way I see that chunk of
ground, like it doesn't look like it carries a whole lot of value for the
town itself as far as that retention pond area and whatnot. There's still
room to do more work in there. So, like staff recommendation, bump the fence to
east, make a make an offer of fair fair market value, pay that. If he's not
interested, give him the chance to move the trees under his own dollar. Other
otherwise, we'll look after it. The fence is going where it was initially
intended and the trees will have to be moved and we'll plant four new trees on
the retention pond property and and move on. It seems fairly straightforward to
me and that's a I don't know, that's just how I see it.
» Thank you, Councelor Davey. I think you might have took some of the words out of
my mouth here, so thank you for that. Um, is there anything else?
uh saying that and I'll just weigh in briefly. I mean I I like uh like what
Sean had to say is is that we've got a process. We got it to and and we we've
literally just gone through that process probably
uh months prior to where it's a very similar type of thing where there's a
small sliver piece of land. It it made sense to to sell it to the neighboring
land owners. It's a class two piece of property. Um, and so it made sense, but
that loan landowner at the time decided that they were going to pay the cost to
get that it was worth him. It was worth that cost to do that. So, I don't think
we should venture too far away from that. So, um, I I like what Sean has to
say is that we we we direct staff that we say, listen, this it is a a type two
or class two piece of property. This is what the rules are around that. will
give you that opportunity to buy that 5 ft. But that's your responsibility to do
that. And and he's he's going to make a decision, I think, as to whether that's
going to be worth it or not. If it's not worth it, and we need to take the the
trees out of there, then uh you know, we'll do what we do best, which is we'll
make good for it because we'll plant two trees for every tree that we take down
because that's what we said we're going to do. Um but I think we we put uh we
give the the landowner the opportunity. I I know that I think he planted those
trees 15 20 years ago. Um um he he seems to be attached to those trees, but we
give him the opportunity to take uh to to buy that silver land. Um and and and
we have to keep in mind that if that's the direction that we're going to go, we
still do have to go through the the surplus property. So there there is some
time left here to go through this that um uh if anybody has a change of heart,
then we can still deal with it. So, um I I like uh the first option there, which
is to proceed with the next steps uh uh for the class 2 piece of property. Uh in
that amount of time, it will give him the opportunity and us the opportunity
as well to see whether or not it's these trees can be um can be removed and and
if they are, then that's great. And if they can't be, then uh um at least we'll
get the landowner the opportunity to to do that. So, um that would be my
suggestion. And uh um I have it as I think madam clerk is the first option
that we have and and okay thank you uh councelor Davey and I think hearing is
that council direct staff to proceed with the next steps in the consideration
of the class 2 property sale with no reduction to the established valuation
rate for class 2 land sales and a final decision regarding whether to declare
the land as surplus and approve a class 2 sale be made following the public
notice period. So we do have to go ahead madam cler
» through your worship we do and I I recognize that I wrote that earlier
today but on reflection if the land owner is not willing to pay
any money for this uh the town may not want to bother um doing that public
notice and incurring those expenses. So it may be prudent to direct staff to
advise um the land owner of council's direction and if he's amendable to
proceeding then we do the public notice. Um
» and and I I guess again once again I assumed and I shouldn't assumed I
assumed that probably staff would come back to us and say listen uh the
landowner doesn't want to do that. So um maybe we we bring this back to council.
So um did you wish to reward that uh that uh recommendation or do we just add
that on the bottom of this one?
» [clears throat]
» I guess the easy thing is is that we we give uh staff direction to um
» to communicate >> to communicate council's uh um direction
to the land owner and then to bring back a report at a future date once we have
uh the direction from the land owner as to how he would like to try and proceed
with this. And I know that Madame Clerk can word
Smith this much better than I did.
So through your I think we could have the council direct staff to communicate
that the town is willing to initiate the class 2 land sale process with no
reduction to the established evaluation rate for class 2 land sales.
um and to uh report back to council on the response from the land owner as well
as feasibility of tree relocation if council wanted to include that as well.
» Yeah. And and I think so I think uh in order to do our due diligence I think we
can put that in there as well. So councelor Davyy is that sort of how our
conversation went? I think through >> you may yes that sounds good to me.
» Perfect. And we do have a secondary and council shank. Is there any further
comments, questions, or concerns with respect to that motion that's on the
floor? Seeing none, all in favor of the motion
that's on the floor? Opposed? The motion's carried. Thank you. Uh,
everyone, uh, moving on to growth and infrastructure zoning GIS mapping
enhancement. And this matter, I believe, is going to
be deferred, madam clerk, to the 22nd of September meeting. Am I correct there?
through your ship. Yes, that's correct. >> Okay, we'll put that under unfinished
business. And that takes us into the administrative consent agenda.
Start off council minutes. Regular session of council July 28th, 2026.
Special session of council August 11th, 2026. Is there anything in those
anything in those minutes that anyone would like to uh have any discussions or
comments about? Seeing none, uh, recreation advisory
committee, trail uh, development advisory committee, waste diversion
committee, the market square advisory committee. Is there anything in those
minutes that anyone had any questions or comments about? And uh, go ahead,
councelor Martin. >> Thank you, mayor. um
the um in the waste diversion minutes. Plus, I wanted to make an announcement
about the uh um what we'll be doing um September the 12th.
Um here at town hall, we'll be giving out
blue boxes. The waste diversion committee is going to set up um um a
table with uh information brochures on uh the new items that can be recycled.
And uh also uh like I say, we're going to give out uh blue box containers to
the first 100 people that come that day to to receive them. That's all we have
to give out. So I just I just want to stipulate that everybody's not going to
get one. If they're 101, they're going to be out of luck, I'm afraid. But uh um
it's it's going to be uh September the 12th here at the market square and uh
the diversion committee, myself included, will be set up here and uh
we'll we'll uh try to um encourage you to do more recycling. Um if you want to
talk to us about ideas about uh composting, uh anything you want to talk
about, we'll be here to discuss it. But uh hopefully you'll show up on the 12th
of September. Um the market, farmers market will be going at the same time.
We may be set up at the back, we may be at the front. We're not uh 100% sure of
that, but uh we will be here. So I just wanted to make that announcement first
of all. Um that's all I had on the waste
diversion uh committee. May there
» great thanks uh council Martin, deputy mayor.
» Uh thank you your worship. Uh so speaking on behalf of the uh trail
development advisory committee um we've got off uh got off our first meeting uh
both feet hitting the ground and running and our second meeting we just held.
We've uh appointed a chair and a uh deputy or vice chair and we've come up
with some really good ideas which I think will be coming back to council uh
some coming back this evening for uh some of the recommendations that we've
come up with and I just wanted to say that uh this trail [clears throat]
committee is uh it's just an honor to be sitting on it and working with them
because everybody's all rowing in the same direction. It's it's just a
fabulous group of people we've put together for this. Thank you.
» Great. Thanks, uh, Deputy Mayor Coll. Go ahead, Council Martin.
» Thank you, Mayor. Um, just on on the trails, u portion there, I'm with the
sensitive use. Um, I I just wanted to get uh Madame Clerk's opinion on that if
I could. >> Through your staff report later this
evening where we can discuss that. >> Okay. Okay. because I I was just
curious, but I know the committee's suggesting uh it be added to our uh to
our bylaw. So, I just I'm I'm always concerned about the homeless situation
in um in Springside Park. So, I'm I'm finding, you know, if a trail can be
designated sensitive use, certainly our park can be too. So, I'm just that's
where I'm going with this. I'll I'll leave it at that, though.
» Yeah. We'll uh we're going to circle back to that bill. We're gonna have a
discussion about that. So um that's probably the best place to to deal with
that. So um is there anything else with respect to the committee minutes?
Seeing none uh correspondence for information items dated August 25th,
2026. Is there anything in those correspondence anyone would like to pull
out or have a conversation about or draw attention to? Seeing none, uh
proclamation request National British Home Child Day. Uh, is there anything in
that uh report that anyone would like to say anything about? And uh go ahead,
Bill. >> Thank you, Mayor. Um,
again, I um I want to thank the mayor and council for for actually doing the
proclamation. It's it's always my uh privilege and I I because of my personal
situation with my own dad being one of the British home children. Um
I always every year uh enjoy doing this uh to to honor not just my dad but there
was thousands of people that came and settled right in the Napony and Alana
area. So, I just want to honor the those people who who, like I say, settled here
in Napony. And right now, there's literally I think there's four or five
million people in Canada um that are descendants of uh the British home
children. So, um again, my porch light will be on uh
September 28th. And uh I I'm I'm very proud and happy that uh everybody is uh
doing this proclamation. Thank you, Mayor.
» Great. Thanks, uh Council Martin. Greatly appreciate it. And again, it's
always nice to uh hear firsthand knowledge. Sometimes we see the
proclamations, they come in and and and their words on paper sometimes, but it's
nice to hear the real life stuff. So, thank you for that. Um the executive
services activity report, August 2026. Is there anything in that executive
services report that anyone had any questions or comments about?
Seeing none, uh the greater napony fire department activity report July 22nd to
August 2nd, 2026. Is there anything in that report anybody had any questions or
comments about? Councelor Shank. >> Uh uh with great delight. uh our fire
chief Sean uh our fire chief has come up with maybe a solution to solve you know
the alarm activations and especially and the burn complaints which is 31 out of
the 58 calls that I assume that came out of that area. So uh when I got the
recent email I went that's my chief. So uh I just want to say kudos to you
looking at alternative ways of you know what I mean of what we can do and what
we can't do to save things and and still provide a a top-notch product. So, thank
you. >> Great. Thanks, Councelor Shank. Um,
parks, recreation, and culture activity report. Is there anything in that report
anyone had any questions or comments about?
Seeing none, um, financial and IT services activity uh, activity report
for August of 2026. And, uh, go ahead, councelor or deputy mayau.
» Actually, uh, worship, I did want to speak on the parks and recreation. Um, I
just wanted to thank uh Mr. Brown and his staff. I see the works underway uh
to do the to the repair on the uh town dock and that's great to see it. It's a
I know it's been a very trying uh time to get any work done on that um due to
high waters and busy schedules of everybody involved. I want to say thank
you very much for getting it going. >> Great. Thanks uh deputy mayor Calvert.
Uh so the financial and IT services uh activity report is that report that uh
anyone had any questions or comments about I'm sure Mr. Grant will be able to
help us out on that one too maybe. Uh seeing none um the access E11 July
2026 report. Is there anything in that report that anyone had any questions or
comments about? Seeing none. So we'll look for a motion
that the minutes of the regular session of council Jul dated July 28th, 2026 and
the special session of council dated August 11th, 2026 be adopted as
presented. That the minutes of the recreation advisory committee, trailer
development advisory committee, waste diversion committee uh Marco Square
Advisory Committee of July 2026 and August to August 13, 2026 be
received for information that the correspondence for information items
dated August 25th, 2026 be received. The council endorsed the proclamation
request for the National British Home Child Day and that the activity reports
for executive services, financial and IT services, fire department and parks and
reculture for the month of August 2026 and the access E11 report for July 2026
items 8.6 through 8.10 be received for information. Moved by councelor Davyy,
second by councelor Shank. If there's no further comments, questions or concerns,
all in favor of that motion? Motion's carried. items for consideration. I
don't believe we have any of those, madame clerk, if I'm not mistaken. So,
um, that gets us into the executive services grass bylaw compliance order
0307. And madam clerk, you're going to speak
to this
Good evening, your worship and members of council. Um, at the July 28th
meeting, council heard a deputation and requested a report back. So, the report
before you covers a number of areas. that covers the um specific context of
this order in question. Um as well as the enforcement of the grass bylaw in
greater Napony more broadly. Um staff do note that we are seeing a we're seeing
an increasing trend across the board in requests for enforcement of bylaws as
people become more familiar with using the E11 tool to submit requests. Um but
grass does remain one of our consistently in our top five areas where
residents request um enforcement action to be taken. Um
staff do acknowledge that the bylaw is over 25 years old. When we look at our
other comparators, it's it's definitely the oldest um bylaw in that list and we
would recommend that it be looked at. However, because it it affects everyone,
and we know that there's very strong feelings and opinions about what's
important to have in a grass bylaw, we think it's really important to do
extensive um public consultation and get community input um for for a council to
hear what the residents of Greater Napony feel is important to them to have
in a grass bylaw, which is why we recommend um that that decision be a
recommendation that the next term of council look at it very early, ideally
before the next enforcement season begins, but that that not be something
that we try to rush through uh in the last couple months of this term. Um just
because it is just about every property in town has
some form of grass on it and so it's something a lot of people we should give
them the opportunity to to participate in that conversation.
Um we do discuss the um
the decision that was made by the superior court earlier this year. Um
where there is a charter right around personal expression uh that can be made
through lawns particularly through the decision to naturalize lawns which
speaks to personal values. Um the court's decision really indicated that
if a municipality is is going to enforce a grass bylaw, it needs to be able to um
have policy reasons why that is necessary as well as ensuring that it
has taken a a minimally impairing approach. Um
lots of Ontario municipalities are still working through what exactly that means
in their specific local contexts. Um, we do note in the report that eastern
Ontario does have a higher prevalence of Lyme disease and blacklegged ticks than
maybe other areas of the province. And that is certainly a valid consideration
in a grass bylaw as well as um making sure that
a lot of bylaw enforcement is making sure that neighbors can live with each
other. uh that one person's right to use their own property doesn't um cause
negative impacts or unreasonably negative impacts to the people uh who
are also living in that same area. Um again, there's several options here
before council for consideration. Um whether you want to tackle updating this
bylaw now, defer that to the next term of council, and whether what you want to
do with this specific order. um whether it be set aside for the remainder of
this year with an understanding that the property will that's not an exemption
forever and the property will be subject to whatever new rules may or may not
come into effect in the future. Um but staff are happy to respond any
questions the council may have on this. >> Great. Thanks uh madam clerk. Uh who
wants to start? You're
» Yeah. Go ahead. Councelor Shank, >> that has to be addressed. All right. The
key is is with the bylaw, what one does, everybody has to do. What
I find is that I I'm in agreement with the staff recommendation under one point
that I think we should reduce is the buffer zone from 15 ft to 10 ft. This
alleviates any other min any other areas of naturalization that we currently
have. All right. that's bordering to somebody that wants to keep their lawn
as as a lawn. All right? So, you don't have that [clears throat] grass or weeds
or whatever it might be over on that property. So, a 10-ft buffer, what
they're suggesting, I feel is a very much of a compromise. And in the
meantime, over the winter time in the new council, Jessica will be coming up
and drafting a new bylaw, something that is
palatable for everybody, whether they're the new council wants to have no
naturalization or some naturalization or what they would like, but it gives
everybody in the municipality that can have a voice towards it and go
through that. So everybody will have a say whether
they do or they don't. Do they does the municipality want it or not want it? All
right. So this is kind of a happy medium. So as far as I'm concerned, uh
it's a fair approach. I agree with the municipality, but all we're asking for
is a 10 ft buffer zone that with the reasons what uh just get already done.
So and I'll move that staff recommendation.
» Yeah. Great. Thanks. Uh, thanks councelor Shank. We'll see if anyone
else wants to weigh in. I'll weigh in and then I'll look I'll come back to you
for that uh for that motion. So, um, is there anything else before I weigh in?
Uh, councelor Martin. Thank you, Mayor. Um,
just just the fact that we're going to be reviewing our bylaw and producing a
new bylaw, I'm assuming, although maybe not. Maybe it'll be the same as the old
one, but I just think if there's going to be a staff review,
um, this order to mow should be suspended and until that's done and we
have a new bylaw in place. So, that would be my recommendation. Uh, I know
it's not staff recommendation, but uh, that's my recommendation. I I I
just feel that um, naturalization has to has to have some weight in this. Um,
some people uh I know are worried about ticks, but I I and they're worried about
noxious weeds. But sometimes sometimes you have to go beyond
those things to I mean it's very important that we also have pollination
with our bees and with our butterflies. It's so I I'm the opposite of some
people's view on this and uh I would just recommend right like I say
suspending this order temporarily until it's reviewed and a new ballot comes
forward. That's that's about the best I can say right now. Thank you.
» Great. Thanks uh councelor Martin. Go ahead councelor.
» Um just briefly uh I pretty well agree with councelor Martin. We have to look
at each case. As we've said with the wetlands and whatnot that the case by
case, this is not the same. This this this lady's piece of property I want to
look at is not the same as Robert and Water Street. That is a mess. That
should be cut. But they can't say now that's a wild land cuz it's not. That's
just one example. So she's done something proper. I think we she should
be put on hold until a new bylaw comes out. And uh again look at them case by
case. That's that's my opinion. Great. Thanks, uh, councelor Nori. Um, is there
anything else? Uh, before I weigh in, uh, seeing none, I, uh, I, I, I, I, I,
I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I have to agree with Councelor
Shank. Um, I I think what we're doing here is taking a very measured approach.
I don't think we are in a position to completely discredit
the risk of the blacklegged tick. And the reason I say that is is because
back in it's become a public safety issue at some point
because um back in April of 2025, the Southeastern Health Unit put out a
release that identified that the risk of encountering the blacklegged ticks. And
I I'll just read parts of it. And and I know that there's uh there's folks out
there that have the ability to find this, but the risk of encountering
blacklegged ticks in the southeast region, which where we are, is very high
compared to the rest of the province. So it's it's we're in a part of the the
world that this is a very prevalent public health issue. Uh that was in
April of 2025. In May of 2026, uh they they've released again the health unit,
the the the Southeastern Health Unit has released and said that the warm weather
is here. The Southeast Public Health Unit is reminding residents that the
region is an established high risk for blacklegged ticks. So, they've they've
reconfirmed that we have an issue here. we have a problem here that uh that
[clears throat] we all know has the ability to to to spread the the Lyme
disease. throughout um throughout my readings, I
was able to obviously I I went on to the the province of Ontario's website um
that talks about um ticks, Lyme disease, uh avoiding uh tick bites and and and
the link is is within I I thank Madam Clerk because Madame Clerk has been so
gracious to put that link in the staff report that we've seen in that uh so
when you go to the link and you click it, it talks about maintaining your
property And it says you can help keep blacklegged ticks away from your
property by and the first note is keeping grass mode short.
So it's [clears throat] very highly d uh documented that um
we have a problem here. it's a high-risisk area and and that's uh one
of the ways in order to to remedy the problem and it's not going to make I
think we're all not uh [sighs] naive enough to know that it's not going
to completely but it's going to mitigate the problem with with the blacklegged
ticks is is to keep some grass cut. So we as a council have to consider and and
we are we're taking into consideration the naturalization. I think we are
because uh uh we we've we've seen the uh the case law at least I have and I've
read through the case law and the case law is somewhat helpful but it's not
completely helpful because the case law doesn't address public health or safety
issues which I'm assuming in the city of Missaga they don't have the same issues
that we do at the in the town of Greater Napony or in the southeast health unit
area catchment area. So um while it's helpful, it it is case law that uh we we
have to be cognizant of, but it doesn't completely cover the issues that we have
here. And I think uh um we have to keep in mind that there is a public health
issue with respect to the blacklegged ticks and the Lyme disease in our in our
catchment area. So how are we going to how are we going to rectify that and how
we going to remedy that? Um I I agree with councelor Shank that um a buffer
zone which also in the documentations from the province it it talks about uh
buffer zones and at one point it talks about even considering placing uh when
you have u uh equipment uh swings and playground equipment and that types of
thing of placing wood chips or mulch and the foundation of that to try and help
to um to mitigate the fact of uh of the issue of of the blacklegged tick. So, um
I think the buffer zone um is the most appropriate thing to do and and and like
I say, we have to not only take into consideration those folks that uh wish
to have naturalized lawns, but we have to take into the the consideration the
rest of the population as well that may come in contact with a blacklegged tick
and get bit. So, um I have to agree with councelor Shank with respect to to uh
what he's saying. I think we owe it to our community to ensure that we have
done everything that we could do in light of the fact that we are cognizant
and same as every other municipality in this province is cognizant of the fact
that their their bylaws with respect to grass cutting probably should be
reviewed and I and I have to think uh um with the with the extra time that we're
going to have now as we're moving into into the winter season or the fall
season um it's going to provide us an opportunity to to have a robust
conversation with respect to cutting grass. It's going to provide us the
opportunity to to come up with a uh an updated a a very um thorough
bylaw which is going to take into account uh all the citizens. So, uh,
having said that, um, and and I guess [sighs]
what I should also and and I want to make sure that we we we we've dotted all
the eyes and cross the tees here, but, uh, um, there has been a large number of
correspondence that get, uh, um, um, received and supported through quite a
few of the 444 municipalities in this province. uh asking the province to to
get engaged in in the um the assistance of trying to solve the Lyme disease
problem that we have. So, and I think uh I think we all know that the best way of
resolving the Lyme disease problem is not getting Lyme disease. So, um and and
that uh and I don't have unfortunately I don't have that documentation in front
of me tonight, but I know that I could find it fairly quickly. uh and I noted
it that it's uh not only been um received and supported by municipalities
in the rural areas, it's been received and noted and and supported by
municipalities in northwestern Ontario as as well as uh those in the GTA area.
So, um I I think we we need to do our due diligence on this at this point and
uh um provide some form of a buffer, which I think 10 ft is is probably the
fair amount as we've heard in in previous reports that uh the 15T buffer
zone is is a buffer zone that is being used by a municipality that's close to
us. Um I think uh which which which would be fine but I think the 10-ft
buffer zone would be sufficient to in order to provide the uh the public
safety that I think uh we need to provide with respect to this. So having
said all that is there anything that anyone else would like to comment uh and
I'll put it back because I've obviously talked a lot this evening. Um is there
anything else anybody would else would like to say before I uh ask councelor
Shank to make a motion? Go ahead deputy mayor cover then I'll go to councelor
Martin. Thank you through your worship. So just for the public out there
listening, our current bylaw, which is a law, states grass must be cut entire
yard. What I'm hearing and understand from the
report I've read is that we're going to not go with a 15t buffer zone, but a
10-ft buffer zone. That's acceptable for now until we have
a chance to review our bylaws. So, we are making a bit of an adjustment
to our bylaw [clears throat] for this particular piece of property
until such time we get a chance to review everything and
review it thoroughly, which I think is is more than fair. Thank you. Thanks,
Deputy Mayor Calver. And go ahead, councelor Martin.
» Thank you, Mayor. um through you. Um
can [clears throat] since we are going to be reviewing our
bylaw and there could be changes uh to it and in view of the fact that there's
cold weather coming, there's going to be snow covering the ground. I don't think
anybody's going to get any ticks from that, can we not suspend this order to
mow until that bylaw is reviewed?
Uh we we as a council obviously councelor Martin can uh do whatever
forehands say we do when they put it in the air but uh um I think we just need
to remind everyone that uh the issue with the tick population unfortunately
um a number of years ago the cold weather used to kill them off but
unfortunately that doesn't exist anymore so that doesn't kill them off and and
and from my understanding any of the research I've done on it is that uh even
the uh even the winters that we have here aren't sufficient enough to keep
them at bay. So um that's my understanding of it anyways. So but uh
like I say we can uh I'll I'll entertain uh councelor Shank's motion and then
we'll go from there. So thank you. I'll say one final thing if you go ahead
counc >> the way I look at it council Martin
councel nory is that the bylaw currently states you have to cut your whole lot
all right it's a residential not not fully developed residential subdivision
all right it's in a residential subdivision so we have for the we had I
think minimum of 60 complaints just in the south of different lots all right
that the bylaw had to do uh most of them or pretty well all of them have done
theirs. I understand the proponent who's went
ahead and said, "Hey, I've I've got a you know, I don't lived in the
countryside all the time, but I have a I've made a natural lawn here with this
that to teach my kids and everything else, which he has a valid point."
But all I'm saying is is that if a 10-ft boundary, all right, because if you let
this lady go 100% and not have a buffer, what about the proponent that's right
beside it that wants to have their lawn cut perfectly?
So 10 ft out of the acreage that she has, all right, on this I feel is a a
fair and approachable, you know what I mean? something that's
protecting the neighbors and other locations also and this location. All
right. And it's something that's that's uh you're not going ahead and cutting
the whole lot especially when you have a valid point and this should be
addressed. We are going to address this in the meantime. You're setting a
precedent. Also, if you have a natural lies and you have done the work that the
lady has done, you have to have a buffer road to protect your neighbors also. You
can't just let leave your yard into natural because the next neighbor beside
might not like that. So you have to take that under consideration also. That's
the reason why I feel this is a fair and measured approach of what we're doing.
So that's why it's proud. There we go. >> Great. Thanks uh councelor Shank. Uh we
do have a recommendation. I think it was staff recommendation that you wish to uh
with the the minor modification. And I'll read it so everybody is aware of
it. That council receive for information executive services grass bylaw review
and compliance order 0307 report. And further that council direct that no
changes be made to the grass bylaw at this time, but that a recommendation to
review the bylaw in advance of the next enforcement season be presented to the
next term of council. And further that the council direct the compliance order
0307 be upheld and modified to require a buffer zone of 10 feet to be mowed on
the southeast south and east boundaries of the lot to a height below 10 in with
an exception of the any wet land areas and with a compliance deadline of the
8th of September 2026. And you'll make that by way of motion.
And we have a seconder with councelor Davyy has is the seconder. Is there any
further comments, questions, or concerns before we call for the vote? Council
Martin, >> can we have a recorded vote, please?
» Uh oh. Yeah. Oh, Madam Clerk is out here. So, yeah. Uh, Madame Clerk, if if
there's nothing else, um, uh, I'll turn it over to you.
» All right. Um, Ward One, Councelor Shank.
» W three, Councelor Davey. >> Ward four, councelor Nory,
» no. >> Ward five, councelor Martin,
» no. >> Deputy Mayor Caliber,
» yes. Mayor Richardson. >> Yes,
» that motion's carried. >> Great. Thank you uh thank you folks and
thank you uh madam clerk for doing that. So moving on to the next matter,
financial and IT services OCIF funding support resolution. And
Mr. Murphy, you're going to speak to that.
uh through your worship. I I don't have a whole lot to add to the report in
front of you. Uh I think it speaks for itself in terms of the financial impact.
If OCIF was lost for the municipality, uh it is not a small amount of money and
the projects it goes towards on an annual basis. U if those funds were
lost, I think it would have a major impact on the municipality. Uh as to
what council wishes to do, that's totally up to them in terms of um
whether they want to advocate or whether they do not want to or the method they
wish to do so. Um but staff feel that this is a extremely important issue and
the financial impact uh would be significant on the budget as a whole. Um
so happy to take any questions if you wish. Um but otherwise I'll leave it up
to you. >> Thanks Nathan. Uh is there any questions
or comments with respect to Mr. Nathan's presentation of the report that's in
front of us this evening. Seeing none, we do have a recommendation
the council receive for information the financial IT services OCF funding
support resolution report and further council support the municipal finances
finance officers association of Ontario. The MFOA requests that the province of
Ontario make a permanent make permanent the doubling of the Ontario Community
Infrastructure Fund funding from 200 million to 400 million annually
beginning in 2027 and that a copy of the resolution be forwarded to the Premier
of Ontario, the Minister of Infrastructure, Minister of Municipal
Affairs and Housing, the Minister of Finance, the Minister of Finance
Officers Association of Ontario, the Association of Municipalities Ontario,
the Member of Provincial Parliament for Hastings, Lennoxx and Anington and
Ontario municipality Nice. Moved by councelor Davyy, seconded by councelor
Nory. If there's no further comments, questions, or concerns, all in favor of
that motion? Opposed? Motion's carried. Trails Development Advisory Committee
initial recommendations. And Mr. Grant, uh, when you're ready, the floor is
yours.
Thank you. And through your your worship uh to members of council, this is uh the
first set of recommendations from the trails development advisory committee.
Um so the committee as uh the deputy mayor has pointed out has met twice. Um
they have uh broken down their work uh into uh a number of different areas. Um
so they're going to uh go over everything from
uh safety and security to amenities uh and the like. So they've they've put out
a a pretty robust uh work plan, safety, security issues, amenities and
accessibility, recommended service levels and promotion of the trails.
Um in going through their first uh and second meetings, the committee had a few
recommendations uh that they wanted uh council to consider. Um with respect to
the trail and those I would suggest um uh should council adopt some of those
recommendations, um some of them would need to go to the budget process. Um but
the committee itself um felt that the new in town trails
um should have encampment protocol restrictions around it. Now I point out
the encampment protocol already covers a a significant portion of the in town
trails. Some of the trails are on public property like uh streets and sidewalks
and that wouldn't uh that would already be covered. Uh some of them uh there
would be um and I'll ask madam clerk to correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe
it's um [clears throat] uh 3 m or 3 feet on either side.
» I think madam clerk wants to weigh in there first. Matthew,
» sorry. Ju just to clarify through your worship. Um
right now because there's no trail, there's an existing buffer setback of 10
meters from the private property line. So the the middle where the rails were
could technically have an encampment on it. I believe that once a trail is built
the buffers will overlap to the point that the entire area will be a sensitive
use anyway without making any bylaw amendments. But the my understanding is
the recommendation is the trail development committee just wanted to
make extra sure because it will be the trail itself plus 5 m on either side
plus the 10 m coming in from the private property line is very likely uh covering
that whole area and thank you. Uh there may be uh a
small area or two along that trail that would not be covered by private
property, but the vast majority of it will be or would uh touch on uh the
distance from uh a cemetery. Um so uh with that uh we could uh be directed to
look at any remaining areas and that should go through uh an encampment
protocol review process. I would suggest uh that council welcome ebikes and e-
scooters uh onto the town trail and ensure where appropriate speed limits
are in place. That the town consult with the OP on a minimum number of security
cameras that be considered for installation on the town trails. That
council consider laying uh the appropriate conduit during trail
construction to accommodate any lighting and security cameras that might be
required. And the town explore funding opportunities uh through grants to
support all trail amenities. uh and staff looking at this. Um a lot of great
ideas coming out of the trail development advisory committee. Uh I
would uh as the sitting staff member there offer the following reflections.
Um the we could expand sensitive use
designations to the periphery of in town trails. Uh I think that should be part
of a broader review process and as the clerk has mentioned much of it is
already covered but there will be the odd pockets uh that may have uh some
areas that we may want to look at. um that but it should be in the in the
broader context. I believe that council defer the promotion acceptance of e-
scooters and ebikes on in town trails until such time as it decides on whether
it wishes to permit the use of the VI bylaw which is required by provincial
legislation. Uh that council directs staff to consult uh with the OP on the
appropriate location for security cameras. that council directs staff to
include estimates for solar lighting and remote security cameras on the in town
trails as part of the 2027 budget process. I think we can meet their
intent without necessarily um putting in conduit uh at this point
in time. Uh and that uh council direct staff to include trail amenities as a
focus in its 2027 grant acquisition strategy. Um and with the grants uh
strategy coming forward um that will make a ton of sense. Uh, with that, I'm
happy to answer any questions. And, uh, in your report, you'll have the
recommendations that the committee made up top, uh, staff's reflections
underneath. And what I would recommend is council may want to have each
recommendation in a separate motion. >> Thank you, Mr. Grant. Uh, councelor
Nori, >> just quickly, the one I'm opposed to
till we have more legislation is the ecooters on those things. I'm going to
be bringing up something under inquiries. I don't want to double double
dip but without lights and dark and these things I know under the law the
road can't go above 24 km an hour but cakes had a fellow going 77 and it's
facing a lot of charge so I would like to see that one scrapt there for now
until we don't eliminate mo mobility things but uh it's very slippery slope
if you're not too careful that would just be my only suggestion for now
» thanks councelor and I think that's that's part of the recommendations is to
defer that. And and I mean I agree with you because this whole ebike scooter
scenario is is is um evolving I guess is the best way to
put it. So but I think I think the recommendation if I'm not mistaken, Mr.
Grant, was to defer that anyways until there's some clarification. But I'll let
you speak to that. >> Sure. Uh thank you your worship. So, um,
the way that the the committee recommendation sheets are, um, laid out
is the committee's recommendations are on top, staff's reflections are on the
bottom. My reflection is that you should defer that until such time that council
makes a decision on the broader, uh, escooter situation, which would be
required anyway.
» Yeah. Perfect. So, uh, thank you, Mr. Grant. Is there anything else? M I think
councelor Martin was gonna make this up here.
» Um Mr. Grant, I I I agree with most
everything and and thank goodness that we're working towards finishing the in
town trail. It's going to be wonderful. Um certainly agree with lighting and
cameras. Um [sighs] the sensitive use issue is a big deal
for me. I'd love to see it as sensitive use on the trail as well, but I got
Springside Park that I'm really concerned about right now. I'm really
concerned about the children playing down there right now. There's people
walking their dogs, children running and playing in our
Springside Park. And that's not a sensitive use area.
It should be. So, I'm saying if we're going to put sensitive use on the
trails, Springside Park should be sensitive use as well. And there's
there's something's got to change here because I'm going to be awful upset. I'm
I'm really really ticked off right now what's going on down there. But anyway,
I I'll leave it at that for now. >> Thanks. Uh thanks, Councelor Martin. Go
ahead, Mr. Grant. >> Three, Mr. Mayor and Council Martin. I
share your concern. I do uh the um not only the impact on the citizens but the
impact on on the services that citizens pay for is is significant. Um and as
well the the individuals living there are are also not having a a great time
of it. So given that I um if there is a concern about looking that in isolation
and I would agree that that's fair. Um there may be an opportunity to review
the sensarium more broadly as part of the annual education program that we're
doing. You you could also take a look at the legislation and that um with the
indication from uh the morning star mission that they
intend to move. Uh their service functions may also shift. Um there has
been some preliminary discussions about expanding their services. Um you know
and and if they uh expand those services to a point or the county expands those
services uh to a point where um there is a shelter or some shelter spaces in
town. uh town council has the ability to revisit the amount of sensitive use
areas that uh exist because the balance um and that's what it's all about is
balance with when with in the absence of shelter space we have to
air on the side of caution. there does seem to be shelter space with a move and
that that may happen um then I think we would be in a position to re-evaluate.
We we still wouldn't be able to protect everything but we may be able to expand.
So I would suggest councelor Martin that that would be appropriate to address
those concerns to move it to a broader review so we don't look at anything in
isolation if that's the will of council.
» Go ahead, Bill. >> Thank you, Mayor. Um, thank you,
Matthew. I I I think you hit on it right there. A broader review would uh would
uh be better because if we are going to look at sensitive use area, a trail,
it's absolutely asinidine to not include Springside Park down there. I mean,
we've got visitors going down there, hundreds of them every day. I I wouldn't
even be surprised if it it would hit a thousand people down there. and and
there's kids walking with I've I've picked up needles myself off the ground
and and took them to a needle drop off. I It's dangerous for kids. It's
dangerous for people being down there in that park. So,
this gives me a perfect opportunity to complain about that with this with the
trail. So, uh and and I'm not against that on the trails either because I I
believe me and I know it's a problem everywhere. Everybody's
really ticked off with what's been going on with the tents and the and the
homeless conditions and sort of thing. Residents, taxpayers, they can't use
their park because of of what's going on and that's not fair to them. So, and I
know I know it's county and it's province and and we our hands are tied
and I know I understand I understand all that, but I'm just saying sensitive use
if we can use that in the park as well as the trails, you're going to make a
lot of people happy. So, there you go. >> Yeah. Go ahead, Mr. Mayor.
» So, thank you, Mr. Mayor. I'd say councilman, I agree um that there's a
lot of concern. Uh I would say that uh Greater Napony has gone further than
most in terms of protection. Uh so conservation park in its entirety uh is
off limits and we've we've had great success in making sure that we've
minimized um conflicting use in those areas. Um you know there's been a few
other areas where we've had a tremendous success. uh we've been able to partner
with um social service agencies and law enforcement and and and I would say that
in the event um that there is um a proper shelter option in town um I'm
cautiously optimistic we might see that in the future. I know that uh you know
the Morning Star Mission is in in their move is is looking at their options. I
think the county has been um in on those discussions and and supportive of
Morning Star Mission's uh broader mandate. I can't say too much cuz it's
not u my discussion to have, but um so I'm keeping an eye on that situation
very closely and and appreciating that um many council members would like to be
um protect as much area as we can. Um if there if the situation changes where we
can strike different balance because there's more amenities available for
those that are homeless, uh I will be the first in line to bring that to you.
Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Grant. I I appreciate what you're saying there. And
and uh I I know this council, this town staff, everybody has done everything we
can legally do with the homeless situation. But but it's important to say
legally because we have to act within the law. And unfortunately going back to
what is it 1982 or something when the charter of rights come out or when and
you know um it's affected what we're doing here today actually I I believe so
anyway what we can do with ringside park I I'm
I'm I'm happy to hear that at least it's going to be in the mix of of speaking
about it. So thank you very much. Thank you mayor.
» Thanks Council. Go ahead Deputy May. Uh thank you through your worship. Um just
uh to uh Madame Clerk, I'm just wondering
what is the buffer zone for a trail and is there a different buffer zone for
trail versus parking lot? Because I think what the biggest complaint is that
I'm hearing um at Springside Park is the 310 right along the edge of the parking
lot as you come down. If you want to come down and enjoy your your lunch
break and go for a walk, that's what you see. I I just wondered if there's is
there a buffer zone from parking lots or is it just from the trail itself?
» So through your worship under the uh current bylaw this setback is on or
within 5 m of a walking path or trail parking lot or designated pedestrian
access point. So it is the same buffer for both.
» Okay. So they're definitely uh not the 5 mters from the parking lot. Thank you.
and uh to councelor Martin, I don't believe the county actually had a part
in creating this problem, but we we do have a problem and we are working at it.
Thank you. >> Thank you. Uh Deputy Mayor Calary, is
there anything else?
Uh seeing none, we do have a recommendation that uh council receive
for information the trails development advisory committee initial recommend
recommendations report and further that council expand the sensitive use
designation to the periphery of the in town trails to those areas not already
captured by boundaries associated with the recreational amenities and private
property that counts as a further promotion or acceptance of e- scooters
and ebikes on in town trails until such time as it decides on whether it wishes
to permit the use of these vehicles by bylaw as per the provincial legislation
that council direct staff to consult with the OP on the appropriate location
for security cameras and in town trails. That council direct staff to include
estimates for solar lighting and remote security cameras on the in trails as
part of the 2027 budget process and council direct staff to include trail
amenities as f as a focus of its 2027 grant acquisition strategy.
Uh moved by councelor Shank, second by councelor Davey. Is there any further
comments, questions, and concerns with respect to that motion?
Go ahead, Mr. Grant. >> So, uh, Mr. Mayor, just, uh, in
reflection of the conversation that council's had, I think the only, uh,
amendment to that motion that I might make, Mr. Mayor, is to defer, uh,
protection of the trail to a broader review process if that's the will of
council.
» Yeah, we do have a motion on the floor. Um,
I'll go to them. I'll go to the movers and the seconders.
» Perfect. >> Madam clerk, do you have what you have?
So through your just to be clear, the first clause would be that council refer
the request to expand the sensitive use designation um to those that already
captured it to a broader review process. Um I believe that's already been
scheduled for this coming winter.
Over and second are good. Okay. >> Is there anything further?
Not. We'll call for the vote. All in favor? Motion's on the floor. Oppose.
Motion's carried. Um information uh sorry bylaws. We don't
have any bylaws. Information reports for members. I don't believe we have any of
them. Inquiries. Does any member do any members of council have any inquiries
with respect to anything? Councelor Nor. >> Actually, I had a information.
[laughter] >> Well, we can
» first and I've got two inquiries. Let me just talk. I tell you what, let's go
back to the information reports first and then we'll go to the inquiries. I'm
going to let you have at her. >> Thank you. I'll do my best to be quiet.
Um, from the arts committee, they had the final Music in the Park on April
August 8th. I mean, very successful. And I just segue into what was been said
beside me. People were relaxed and happy because they could enjoy their park. Not
like last year. I'll leave that part at that. But it was over 100 people. So
they were very very happy. Thank you. >> Great. Thank you. Um inquiries. You want
to go there too? >> Yeah. Two. I think one you've already
addressed Mr. Grant, but I was bringing up the escooters and that because the
provincial government has said it's towns and municipalities responsibility
for those things except for speed. I think it's 24 km an hour. And I'm
worried about liability if or if we don't do something. And people are like
pinball or pin bowling pins on certain sidewalks in different cities. I don't
want that to happen here. And I've seen some adult-aged people acting like
children on them on our sidewalk. So, are we looking into that? Um or are they
about what we can do? I know we won't have enforcement, but to protect us
liable liability wise, are you looking into that?
» So, through you, Mr. Mayor, to uh to uh the counselor. Um so, councelor Nor, I
would say we will absolutely look into that. Um, so we would have to bring
forward a bylaw to to govern that in the use of municipal spaces and it would be
our intention to do that in the new term.
» Thank you. Cuz I know Kingston I don't think allows them anywhere technically
but and the number two is um as we talked about and I see that Kylie sent
out rough estimate what it to the media what's costing for a 1388 bridge. I
don't expect to tell, you know, send out the media regularly, but can we put on
our website possibly an update what it's costing so the taxpayers aware and maybe
some photos of what's coming out of there so the public knows what's going
on because maybe not the disgusting stuff, but you
know what I'm trying to say is if we could just inform them more what's going
on so they can be more aware of why we're doing what we're doing and what
it's costing them. Just an idea. >> So, sure through you, Mr. Mayor. it is
our intention to put a a full release um out on the completion of phase 2 and I'm
going to bring forward a full report but uh since you've asked the question I can
say like um I expect that work for phase one which was about 35 trailers that we
pulled out uh and phase two which would be 100 cubic tons uh so 100 basically
tons of material coming out uh it's more than we thought it's a settling tanks
it's propane propane tanks we found um homemade septic fields and drug
paraphernalia. Um it's it's not it's not a good scene. Um so that's come out. Um
phase one and phase two were were led to local contractors by competitive bid. Uh
those contracts combined will be anywhere between 120 and $145,000.
Um that's what I expect the bill to be. Um in that neighborhood, uh we are
expecting permits for the property. Um well, we require permits for a quanet
huts that that's there as well as uh a mobile trailer where the property owner
was living. That's you can't have that unless you have um a permit for uh your
construction single family home deadlines have been given. No permits
have been received. I expect that there will be a phase three and that material
has to be pulled out. Um so roughly we'd be in the neighborhood of 150 to 160.
Um, a lot of that would be build back to the all of it, the work of the contract
be back to the property owner as per uh the the court order. What won't be uh
recouped is the loss capacity um that the town has incurred. Um so we've had
uh the fire department there. We have had um we have had bylaw services there
for the last two and a half weeks um providing a level of security on site.
There's been individuals that have been moving in and out of what is actively a
construction site. Um, bylaw's also been instrumental in pointing out things on
the property that can be removed per court order and things that cannot be
removed. We are permitted to take certain things off the property and not
others. Um, so they've been instrumental in that. Uh, with that, members of the
community have had to suffer a lower level of service uh for by law
enforcement because they've been otherwise engaged. Um, so legal fees,
um, we've gotten recoup a percentage of the legal fees to date, but we're not
going to recoup all of those. Um, so it has been a massively significant
undertaking in what was an unsafe and unsanitary situation that presented a
danger and a risk to the people that were staying there. Um, and presented
candidly a public health risk. um to the point we're going to have to call in the
Ministry of Environment uh for some of the damage that has happened there. Um
so it is not a small thing. It's been it's been expensive and the work that's
happened will be recouped uh one way or another. The the court order also allows
us to place uh the cost of the contractors on property taxes if the
money is not forthcoming. And the law allows us to seize property if that's
not paid. Um but uh we were compelled to act um cuz this was a unsafe, unsanitary
and and unjust. >> Thank you very much. And uh I'm sure the
public will appreciate uh having an up further updates as well. Thank you.
» Thanks uh councelor Nori. Is there anything else? Go ahead, man.
» Sorry through your worship. I just want to go back to the escooter question
because I've been getting it a lot lately as well. Um, so to clarify, if
the town does not have a bylaw that says they're allowed, then they're not
allowed. And the town does not currently have a bylaw. So we're in the same
position as the city of Kingston currently. Um, just for clarity.
» Good. I wish the people would learn that. [laughter]
[clears throat and cough] And I know that uh well, and you probably know as
well, Bob, the OP is is they're working on it and it's kind of frustrating them
as well because of the different uh
makeups of these type of things too. So, I think there's a lot of work that has
to be done probably at the provincial level to try and uh
sort it out. So, but thanks for bringing it up. [clears throat] Uh is there
anything else as far as the inquiries go?
Seeing none noticed emotions. I don't believe anybody has any noticed
emotions. New business. I don't believe we have any new business. Announcements.
Does anybody want to make any announcements this evening?
Seeing none. Uh CEO's remarks. Mr. Grant, did you have any remarks you
would like to make this evening? >> Nothing for me this evening, Mr. Mayor.
» Uh thank you. The forward counter. I know we've all had an opportunity to
take a look at that. Is there anything in the forward code? Uh go ahead. Deputy
Mayor C. Just want to verify the uh September 8th meeting for the for the
forward counter is at the Roblin Hall. Is that correct?
» Through your worship. Yes, that's correct. Our next meeting will not be in
this building. Don't come here. Uh we'll be at Roblin. We will be live streaming
the meeting the same as we did when we met at South Fred Hall.
» Thank you. I I seen that in there, but I I thought when we were talking about
changing, I thought we were doing the Selby Hall. That's why I was questioning
that. So, thank you. [clears throat]
» Thank you. Madame Clerk, and thank you, Deputy Mayor Galver. Uh, was there
anything else with respect to the forward calendar?
Seeing none, we'll look for a motion to uh for the bylaw to confirm the
proceedings of the town of for the council of the corporation of town of
Greater Napony. Moved by Deputy Mayor Calver, seconded by councelor Davyy.
Read a first, second, and finally pass this 25th day of August 2026. All in
favor of that motion. Oppose. Motion's carried. And motion to adjurnn. Moved by
councelor Davyy, second by councelor Shank. There's no further comments,
questions, concerns. All in favor of that motion? Oppose. Motion's carried.
Thanks, folks.