Okay. Uh I call the meeting to order. Okay.
» Good afternoon. >> Thank you.
» Namaste.
Good afternoon. In the absence of the mayor and deputy mayor, uh the clerk,
myself, Amber Wannamaker, will call the meeting to order for June 2nd, 2026 per
section 9.3 of bylaw number 77-2023.
Appointment of chair. A chairperson shall be chosen from the members present
who shall preside over the meeting. Draft resolution reads, "Be it resolved
that the Council of the Corporation of the Town of Bancroft does hereby appoint
blank to chair the June 2nd, 2026 regular meeting of Council in absence of
the mayor and deputy mayor." We'll have a mover and seconder to put it on the
floor. Councillor Miles.
Councillor Lawrence.
And we'll go around the table to appoint who we are appointing as chair, starting
with Councillor Miles. Councillor Shannon.
Councillor Eastman. >> Councillor Eastman.
Myself, yes. Thank you. >> Okay, so the resolution reads, "The
Council of the Corporation of the Town of Bancroft does hereby appoint
Councillor George Eastman to chair the June 2nd, 2026 regular meeting of
Council in the absence of the mayor and deputy mayor." All in favor?
Passed.
» Thank you, everyone. Um
Devices. Uh please ensure that all your devices are turned off or in silent
mode. Thank you. Land acknowledgement.
We acknowledge that we are gathered on the traditional territory of the
indigenous peoples who have been stewards of the land since
time immemorial, and as such, we treat the lands, its plants, animals, stories,
and people with honor and respect. Can I call for a moment of silence,
please?
Thank you.
Adoption of the open session agenda. Be it resolved that the council of the
corporation town of Bancroft was served by approval of the open session agenda
dated June 2nd, 2026, represented by the mover and the seconder.
Councilor McGibbon. Councilor Ames.
Any questions? All in favor?
Carried. Thank you. Declaration of pecuniary interest and
nature thereof, are there any? I don't see any.
Uh
The public meeting has pertaining to the Planning Act.
As required by the Planning Act, the purpose of the public meeting is to
inform the public and hear representation in respect of a proposed
bylaw for the purpose of rezoning lands within the municipality.
Those persons or public bodies who provide verbal submissions in respect of
the proposed bylaw will be requested to provide their
name and address to the recording in a minute.
Verbal submissions may be recorded in the minutes and will assist council in
making decision on the proposed bylaw.
Be it resolved that the council of the corporation of town of Bancroft does
hereby move into public meeting pursuant to the planning act for the purpose of
hearing support and or objections for rezoning applications within the
municipality. Can I have a mover, please?
Councilor McMurray and uh Councillor McMurray,
can you move it, please? Thank you. All in favor?
Carried. And we'll be with you in a moment.
» Zoning bylaw amendment application number D-14-04-2026.
File description, owner applicant Kyle Edwards, agent William Hodges.
Civic address, 136 Shamash Road. Legal description, lot 75 RCP-2194,
town of Bancroft, county of Hastings. Purpose and effect, to amend the town
comprehensive zoning bylaw 27-2006 as amended to satisfy conditions number
10 nine and 10 of provisional consent for Hastings County land division
committee file number B1/2025 as follows.
The proposed retained lands be rezoned from the residential type one R1 zone to
the residential type one exception 21 R1-21
to recognize existing deficiencies in the minimum front yard and rear yard
yard setback. Further, the proposed severed lands be rezoned from
residential type one zone to residential type one holding R1H zone. The county
planner will present a staff report to provide further details regarding the
purpose and effect of the proposed zoning bylaw amendment.
Catherine? Oh, sorry. >> Uh good afternoon, chairperson and
members of council. Um I'm here today to present application D14042026
» Catherine, we cannot hear you. >> Oh.
Can you hear me now?
» Well, I would assume they have technical difficulties here.
Bear with us.
» Try again, Catherine. >> Hello?
Can you hear me now? Oh.
» Sorry, cannot hear. Just one moment.
I'm going to try again. >> Can you hear me now?
» We can. Thank you. >> Okay.
All right, I'll I'll start again here. Um good afternoon, chair and members of
council. Uh I'm here today to present application D14042026
for the property municipally known as 136 Shamash Road submitted by William
Mitches on behalf of Kyle Edwards. The subject property is an irregular
shaped parcel of land comprising an area of approximately 0.34 acres in size with
76 m of frontage on Shamash Road. The southern portion of the subject
property, which is the proposed severed lands, are currently developed with a
single detached dwelling with an existing deficient front yard of 2.5 m
and rear yard of 6.5 m with the northern extent of the property containing a
board fence that appears to be an encroachment from the northern adjacent
property. The subject property is currently
designated urban residential in part B of the Hastings County official plan
urban community secondary plan and zoned residential type one in the
town of Bancroft zoning bylaw. The purpose of the amendment application
is to fulfill conditions nine and 10 of consent application B125
given provisional approval on June 17th, 2025.
Condition number nine requires that the southern portion being the proposed
retained lands be rezoned from the residential type one zone to the
residential type one exception 21 to recognize the existing front and rear
yard deficiencies of the existing structure that is there on the property
now. Further, condition 10 requires that the
northern portion being the severed lands be rezoned from the residential type one
zone to the residential type one holding zone.
A condition of the removal of the holding is that a lot grading and
drainage plan is to be prepared by a qualified professional to the
satisfaction of the town. Notice of this application was
circulated to neighboring landowners and commenting agencies in accordance with
the statutory requirements of the planning act on May 14th, 2026 and sign
a sign notice was posted on the property.
As of the date of publishing the planning report, one comment was
received with respect to concerns regarding sight lines for the proposed
site entrance for the northern vacant proposed severed lot.
The manager of infrastructure and capital projects provided a second
review of the proposed location of the entrance
and he noted that it was completed and there were no sight line issues. He
further noted that the road is a km/h zone and there's 480 ft or 147 m of
sight line from the location. He concluded that he had no concerns
with respect to the placement of a entrance to the northern portion of the
subject property. Further an objection from a neighboring
property owner was also received on May 28th. The noted objection and respective
correspondence was shared earlier today. The objection listed several items of
concern inclusive of the size and scale of potential future development,
increased traffic and future road widening, slope and erosion concerns,
encroachment, a disputed property line, and environmental impacts.
Clarification regarding the coexisting deficiencies was requested.
It was noted to the objection that the existing deficiencies
recognize the existing legal non-complying dwelling which has a front
yard again 2.5 m and a rear yard of 6.5 m where 7.5 m is otherwise required in
the bylaw. Through the consent approval process,
the county and the town have required the existing conditions to be formally
recognized through a site specific zoning bylaw amendment which is before
you today. The objector stated that they believe
the zoning bylaw amendment would grant future development rights to the subject
property. Uh
it was provided that section 3221 the town of Bancroft zoning bylaw does
state, "Quote, where a building has been lawfully erected prior to the date of
the passing of this bylaw on a lot having less than a minimum frontage and
or area or having less than the minimum front yard, side yard, rear yard, or
usable open space required by this bylaw, the said building may be
enlarged, reconstructed, repaired, or renovated provided said enlargement,
reconstruction, repair, or renovation does not serve to further reduce a
required yard or required usable open space and provided all of the provisions
of the bylaw are complied with." Further, section 3.23
of the zoning bylaw recognizes existing non-conforming uses and allows
restoration to a site safe condition. This zoning bylaw amendment does not
grant new development rights to the property, rather it formally recognizes
the existing deficient setbacks. The maximum building height in the R1 zone
is 11 m. Should any proposed future development want to go beyond the
existing 11 m, further planning approvals would be required.
Um and again, it is important to note and reiterate that redevelopment of the
property is not contemplated through the zoning bylaw amendment, rather it is
recognizing the current condition of the property.
The objection noted concerns about traffic and the potential impact of this
development on future road widening. Uh it was again noted that the town's
manager of infrastructure and capital projects projects was circulated on the
application and they and he noted no concerns.
The objection further noted concern with respect to impacts on the adjacent
Hastings Heritage Trail. Uh it was reiterated that the zoning bylaw
amendment again is recognizing the existing condition and that capturing
and that the zoning bylaw amendment is capturing the existing deficient rear
yard setback, which is a uh uh
uh deficient uh by 1 m uh and not prefer permitting any further
development closer to the trail. The objection noted concern regarding
the accuracy of the survey uh in relation to the slope of the property.
And as noted in section 4.4.2.2 of the Hastings County official plan,
um an accepted angle of slope for stability is approximately 3:1
or approximately 18°. Um with respect to the 3:1 slope based
on the available data being the MRF contour mapping, the subject property
has a approximately a 5:1 slope and is not considered a steep slope as
prescribed by the Hastings County official plan.
Uh regardless, again, a lot grading and drainage plan provided by a qualified
professional has been required as a condition of the removal of hold for the
northern portion of that property. Um again, in order to provide and to ensure
proper grading grading and drainage of any future development in that area.
Uh the objection also noted on an ongoing property line dispute. Uh it was
clarified that as previously communicated uh
as a condition of consent, a reference plan prepared by an Ontario land
surveyor uh will be provided to the county and town which would identify the
accurate location of the property lines. And further, with respect to addressing
any disputed property lines, uh it is a civil matter and is not addressed
through the land use planning process. The objection noted concerns with
respect to potential environmental impacts associated with a future
development of the subject property. And it was confirmed that the subject
property has not been identified as containing any environmental protection
features. Further, the Town of Bancroft does not currently have a tree
preservation or site alteration bylaw that prohibits property owners from
clearing existing vegetation from their properties.
And lastly, uh the objection noted concerns with respect to the slope again
of the property and the risk of erosion to adjacent properties that may result
from the future development of the subject property.
It was clarified that again, the northern severed lot is being rezoned to
include a holding, which will prevent development of those lands until the
removal of hold, which is contingent upon the completion of a lot grading and
drainage plan prepared by a qualified professional to the satisfaction of the
town is completed. Uh no other comments have been received
from members of the public or agencies. And the staff report included in today's
agenda includes the planning analysis for this application, which concludes
that the application appears to be consistent with the planning act, the
provincial planning statement, the County of Hastings official plan, and
represents good planning with the recommendation of approval.
And should council have any questions, I'd be happy to answer them.
» Any questions of council members?
Seeing none.
We resolve the Council Corporation Council
» Call for public info. >> Oh, I'm sorry. Excuse me.
Call for public info. Council's decision to refuse or pass an
application to amend the zoning bylaw is to include a brief explanation of the
effect, if any, that the written verbal submission relating to the application
had on the decision. However, only the applicant, the minister, or specified
person, or public body that has an interest in the matter may, within 20
days of the making of the decision, may appeal to the Ontario Land Tribunal.
Opposition. Are there any written
submissions in opposition of the proposed amendment?
» Just the ones >> Seeing none.
Are there any verbal submissions in opposition of the proposed amendment?
Seeing none.
I I'm going to call this the support. Are there any written submissions in
support of the proposed amendment?
Seeing none. Are there any verbal submissions in
support of the proposed amendment?
Hearing none.
We'll now adjourn the public meeting. If we resolve that the council of the
corporation of the town of Bancroft has hereby adjourned from public meeting and
reconvened the regular council meeting.
Mover? Councilor Given?
» I can do. >> All
» Thank you. >> All in favor?
Thank you.
Planning decision to follow in the public meeting.
Zoning bylaw amendment application number D 14-04-026.
Be it resolved that the council of corporation of town of Bancroft does
hereby approve zoning bylaw amendment application
number D 14-04-2026
to rezone the lands legally described as lot 75
RC B 2194 town of Bancroft, county of Hastings
municipality known as 136 Monck Road from the residential type one R1 zone to
the residential type one R1 dash exception two one R1-21
zone and from the residential type one R1 zone to the residential type one
holding R1-8 zone.
» And moving to second, please. Councillor Given, Councillor Lawrence.
Any discussion on this?
Yes. >> Uh thank you. Um Councillor, if I may.
So, just first a little bit of clarity for myself to really um
uh I understand that the property that when the severance lot
is available, if anybody's going to build on it, it can mostly be only a
single family residence. It can't be multi-res. Is that correct?
» Uh through the chair, that is correct. It's within the the R1 zoning. If it was
multiple residential, it would require a rezoning application.
» And there's a responsibility to the owner for drainage and the municipal
thing and all that sort of stuff needs to be uh properly put together, so there
is no impact on on the neighbors. >> Uh through the chair, so the the hold
which is being applied to the northern undeveloped portion will require a lot
grading and drainage plan to be submitted um in support of the removal
of holding application, which will ensure erosion and and um you know, the
different features of the of the site development. So, a lot grading and
drainage plan will be required in order for development to occur on the northern
portion of the the property. >> Thank you. And then one further question
regarding the fence. If uh I'm assuming a new survey will need to be done for
the proposed lot. >> Uh through the chair, yes. So, as a
condition of consent, um the the survey is being completed and that will
decipher the the the um the um actual property lines. Um
so, where the fence lies, that again will be a civil matter that um the
property owners will have to to amend between themselves.
» If the survey shows that there's like 12 ft less on the lot size, would it impact
the severance?
» Uh through the chair, I I'm not sure I understand the the question.
» Well, if we're doing the survey because we're or do we already have a survey
that sort of is being If let's say I believe I have a lot that's 10 by 10 and
now as a piece of consent I get a survey done and
now the lot is 10 by 8, would the 10 by 8 lot still be in a position to be
severed?
» Uh if it's less than the required amount, uh through the chair, sorry. Uh
if it's less than the required amount, then um
and the the property would have to be reevaluated. However, the sketch that's
provided with the severance application and with the rezoning is done by a
surveying company. Um
so, the accuracy of that is is um quite accurate, however, it is not the
actual registered plan that will be required um for the actual severance.
» Councilor McGarry. >> So, my my question is regarding the H um
so, the holding symbol um the very end of page one, um a lot
grading and drainage plan prepared by a qualified professional has been
completed to the satisfaction of the town. So, that's when the holding can be
removed from it, but is there a time frame with that or can that sit there
until the person sells the property, which then they would
go ahead and do all the work that's required to remove the holding symbol
off of it? >> Through the chair, uh there is no time
limit um with the the holding provision, so it can in essence sit there um and
until such time as somebody wants to develop it that hold um, flags the chief
building official to know, okay, there is something here that needs to be done
in order for before development can occur on that property.
» Any other questions? Seeing none.
All in favor? Carried. Thank you.
Moving on to delegations. Uh, the
community safety concerns. Be resolved that the council of the
corporation town of Bancroft is hereby receive the community safety concerns
within the town of Bancroft presented a presentation presented by Tom Robinson
for information information purposes only.
Um, would you take the the mic?
» Yes. >> Go ahead and talk.
Tom.
Uh, Tom, when you're ready to speak, press the press the bar down there and
your your mic will be live. Thank you very much. Welcome, Tom.
» Thank you. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman and
councilors. Uh, the reason I'm here is to see about
lowering the speed limit on the school zone within the community
safety zone. I assume you've all received my
information, but I will quickly go through it.
Uh, one of the reasons that I have taken an interest in this is, uh, years ago
when my grandchildren started to attend the high school starting in grade seven,
uh, I observed, uh, at the crossing school
crossing, things that kind bothered me and I
said to myself, sooner or later somebody's going to get hit.
And as some of you already know, somebody did get hit.
Uh I want to recognize the work
to create the safety community zone, which I know took a lot of work.
And I am also recognizing that I received an email from the town
with regards to my concerns and some of the answers
that I received and I will address them shortly thereafter.
Uh I have sent you in my information a photo of the speed limit sign and solar
flashing speed sign in the community safety zone of Bancroft Senior
Elementary. Uh Bancroft Public School has a student
population of approximately 110 students. North Hastings High School and
North Hastings Secondary School have a current combined student
population of approximately 900 students.
York River Public School has a student population of 190.
There are no flashing amber or digital speed lights at either school location
in Bancroft. Reduced speeds and flashing amber lights
are common in Ontario school zones. I recognize that one diamond shaped sign
small LED lights was recently installed as an experiment.
I did hear about this weeks before it was installed because I
was making inquiries that I made. And uh
to be quite honest, I was looking for a flashing amber sign
or a speed sign, which there was none. And when I first came into town, my wife
said, "Oh, look at the flashing sign." I did not see it.
So, in order to make sure that I did see it, I drove around the block.
And I thought, "Yeah, that's an improvement, but not what I was
expecting." But when I went down to get the mail,
came back up the hill on Station Street, I saw a new flashing amber sign
saying, "Don't slow down and make a right-hand turn to stop the hill." That
caught my eye immediately. So, anyway, uh the general manager's
email with regards to Highway 28, it is an
interconnecting highway under the Highway Traffic Act,
all connecting link highways have a minimum speed of 50 km or higher,
which is quite true, and I have heard this argument years ago about reducing
the speed. But since
it uh got me taking a closer look, I found
that there is an amendment to the Highway Traffic Act, which is the Safe
for School Zone uh Act, which was passed originally in
2017, Bill 65, which allows for towns to lower
the speed limits below 50 km an hour, sorry,
to 30 to 40 km an hour per hour in school zones within 200 safety zones,
which includes interconnecting or linking highways.
The specific section is number 128.
I have also learned, in contact with the town of Shelburne, Ontario, that they
successfully reduced the speed limit on its connecting link to 40 km per hour.
They also reduced their speed limit in their town to 40 km an hour in their
town. This was accomplished with an
endorsement of the MTO in 2024 uh by the council's approval and I don't
remember if you got a copy of that or not.
» I believe it was in there in the page.
» Okay, and I'm also looking at the possibility of changing the status of
the school pedestrian crossing on Monk Street and Bridge Streets.
Uh I think it should become
more than what it is as a courtesy crossing
because in my opinion in my opinion only
courtesy is there for some others
there's not much courtesy. Uh this crossing is not only used by
pedestrians and school children but it's also
used for people going to the Family Health Clinic, the North Hastings Manor,
the Bancroft Hospital, and Vance Motors. The traffic lights
are basically a fair way to wait at Shell
Station and the other direction there's a courtesy crosswalk at post office
and the traffic lights at Vance Motors. The school crossing at Bridge Street is
mid-block. Under the guideline for a PXO from the
Ontario Traffic Manual, which I received also
uh
data from the Bancroft manager
that uh it's couldn't be done as it didn't meet
the specifications.
But I have also found there's a minimum pedestrian volume of 65 pedestrians
over a 4-hour period or 100 pedestrians over an 8-hour period.
I do not know whether this applies to 1 day, 1 week, several days,
or the course of a month. But children under the age of 12 and
seniors and people with disabilities are counted as two.
And I believe this threshold could be met at the school crossing on Monk
Street and Bridge Street for North Hastings High School and OLV.
This school crossing is used by both residents and students within that area.
And for example, if OLV takes two classes down to go
downtown, and we see them every fall or we see them in spring, or go down for
whatever reason, and we'll say they are 30 students
and two assistants, two teachers,
take 30 crossing the road once, crossing the road back, they're 60. Add the four
adults, they're 68. There's the crossing.
Which meets the current whichever it is in the
Ontario Traffic Manual. Uh
Further to this, uh I started this
way back, I think in September. And I have been in touch with Mr.
Freeze's office. And Mr. Freeze has asked me to send the
information that I received from the town in the
uh email
along with what I have wrote. And
they have reviewed it. And they understood that I was going to
a presentation in May to the safety council of uh
our uh group,
which unfortunately was canceled. And
what I got back from him, and I point this out to you, and I'm going to read
it, uh
because he did review the information. The first step to speed reduction in the
school zone would be for the municipality to apply to the ministry
staff for the reduction. Once the application is made,
town and Bancroft staff would then reach out to our office to support the speed
reduction proposal. I would say from that that
if the town proceeded to do something, that they have
the back of Mr. Brezay supporting it. And with that, I'll leave it to you.
Have any questions while I'm here. >> Does anybody have any questions for Mr.
Robinson? Councilor Orange?
» Not exactly a question, but uh I'm all in favor of reducing the speed limit
within town limits from 50 to 40.
Um extensive studies have shown that even a
10 km/h change in
dramatically reduces fatalities.
» And if you would like to add anything on that, I have
Uh I did I wasn't going to use this, but I will uh
just say in the town of Shelburne, uh
fatalities, this is uh prior to the reduction,
fatalities and personal injury collisions in 2021, there were five.
2022, there were three, which is an improvement. 2023,
there were eight and one fatality. This is before they they reduced their
speed to 40 km/h.
» I have one further comment. My my father was actually hit by a car
in 1947 and he stayed up for pretty much three or four months while
he was recovering. And uh that was right at the same time
that my father was recovering.
» Yes. And in our own town, we have the doctor's kid in BC.
And actually ended up
causing her to retire. And
I mean the other person stayed in town. But she was hit in Toronto and
I see her in physical therapy.
weekly >> They are okay.
» And some of you are probably wondering what
this is. And one of the reasons that I finally got off my butt
and did something about this was it was my granddaughter was hit. Now,
my granddaughter was 16 and basically what happened was
that she was home doing uh
an online course and heading back to school
and of course it is a courtesy crossing. Nobody had to stop.
The gentleman coming out of town in the truck did stop.
He waved her that it was okay, which she shouldn't have done.
And she stepped off the curb thinking the lady, excuse me, I don't shouldn't
say lady, the person was coming and she thought that she would
stop. And she realized the last second
that she wasn't going to stop. So, she turned and she got hit on the hip.
Fortunately, she wasn't injured. She was Well, I
don't want to say she wasn't injured. She was sore for a couple of days.
Uh if that had been
a student from Old Ottawa East, we'll say under the age of 12,
and I you I do observe I'm in town every day going up and down.
I said I I see how they bolt. If he'd been signaled by that person,
they might have a
10-year-old or an 8-year-old, for whatever reason they would have been
down there. If they had bolted out in front, they would have probably
been badly injured or killed. And there's one other gentleman that
uses that crosswalk. He has a little I call it a scooter.
Uh he comes down there and he crosses there. If he had
by the same token like that and then put that scooter up,
he would have been badly injured. I think it's time that
we lower the speed limit. And
personally, uh if we look at the speed limit and the and the
speeds that are taking place, people are driving too fast and following too
close. I personally was rear-ended at the post
office because I stopped at the crosswalk to let somebody cross.
And the guy that hit me was, "Oh, I thought I was going to stop."
People don't realize that you're traveling
90 km/h and somebody's tailgating you and you
have to put on the brakes, the
probability of an accident is pretty great.
And 10 km reduction down from 50 to 40 would be
wonderful. And traveling through town
on most days, you might be lucky that you do 20 km an
hour, especially through a tourist city. Uh tourist season starts now,
May, not
July. And that is when students
are in school. And it ends in
Oh, say Thanksgiving. So, there's probably a month and a half there
for students, and traffic is heavy, very heavy.
And I have observed, you know,
I'm doing 50 coming into that zone, and somebody's pulling away from me, they're
doing 60 or 70, and I know that I also have statistics
from Shelburne on the number of violations of people
uh over 40 km an hour. 74 km, 96 km an hour.
That's pretty severe. And I see it
down there. I personally
would not want to stand out in front of them with a ping pong paddle with a stop
sign. I'm sorry, I could I That's the reference that I used.
Uh there are occasions where you can
actually use a red light, believe it or not. I don't know if that was red light
is still used. And from personal experience, and I'm
talking when I was young, in the 1950s,
I was a school patroller.
Some of you may have been old enough to remember what a school patroller was. We
had a little white thing on a stick.
The road that we had to cross to go to school
was an interconnected highway, of course, the Trans-Canada Highway,
which was in Thunder Bay, Ontario. And what we had as school patrollers, we
had a red light on that side of the road and a red light on this side of the
road. And we pushed a button and we stopped the traffic.
Two years that I was patroller, only one person ever went through that
light. And it happened to be the day that the
police were stopped down the road and they had them with a
hand cuff line. So,
that was much safer way of doing things and stand I wouldn't want to stand out
there. I I would bend down there and watch.
That's all right. And sometimes you just wonder if they're going to
stop. Anyway,
thank you. I leave it in your capable hands and I hope that you will do
something to ensure the safety of the children.
» All right. Any questions or comments? Okay, Councillor
Gibbons. >> First of all, Tom, thank you for putting
all that together. Um I am I was in a school zone once not paying attention. I
was worried about getting to my son's track and field meet and I was driving
over the 10 10 km over the school safety zone um
when it's designated. And um I got pulled over and I remember thinking
afterwards, you know something, he asked me where I was headed and I said I'm
headed to watch my son play um or track and field and I was like I'm
afraid I'm going to miss it. He said, "Well, you know what? You're going to
miss it now cuz he said he pulled over you were speeding." And I got thinking
afterwards, you know what? If that had been a child, yes, it could have very
well hit them. Um so anyways, thank you for that and I
do I think of off-season. So, when you're bumper-to-bumper in Bancroft and
it's it's a full-on tourist season, things move a little slower, but
off-season when there isn't the volume of traffic, that's when people are
moving a little quicker. That's when, you know, you run the risk of hitting
somebody's child, for sure. >> Yes and no. I don't
» Oh, yes and no, for sure. >> Yes. Okay, I'm going to give you an
example. Uh
I I timed it from the uh school crossing
to the corner at Station Street.
The gain time is 10 to 12 seconds. Now, when you get to turn left to go
down Station Street, you start losing time.
And when you head down the hill, you start to gain time.
In conclusion, what I found was by the time you're getting in between
Bangs Motors and No Frills,
uh you've lost a whole minute. So, you haven't gained any time by traveling 50
60 km/h. And
some of those staff coming out of the school at times,
I've seen people go by and they take off from the corner coming up and they feel
like they're on their way out of town.
And they're they are over the speed limit. It's not hard to tell.
» For sure. No, and I'm and I'm fully in support of of lowering it to 40 km/h,
for sure. >> Thank you.
Got something else? >> Uh thank you. I'm really appreciate your
report. Lots of information. It's great news. It certainly makes everybody who
lives there feel better of safety to our constituents and certainly the kids of
our community. Um I was It's too bad you weren't in front
of the community and the safety and the health and whatever safety
health and safety committee. I would have actually thought the process would
have rolled through that way. >> Uh well
» Does that have to happen uh for council to have this brought forward?
Like should we be making a recommendation that this report goes to
our community as our well-being and safety group, and
then they bring forward to council a recommendation.
» It should, yes. Um Yeah, so the the committee did not meet
in May, and they do not meet again until August. So, for
uh the purpose of hearing uh Mr. Robinson's delegation, we brought it
forward to today's meeting. >> So, that's awesome. I'm glad we did get
to hear it, but with is sort of that the you know, the
you know, the grinding wheels of staff have to happen, or can uh council sort
of uh ask staff to look at making staff >> Council can make a recommendation today
that staff will look into to this without going to the community safety
committee. >> So, moved.
» I actually just need to present something on the table.
» Yeah, we have we have we need to deal with
» Thank you, very very much. >> Thank you for the very interesting and
uh
presentation, Mr. Robinson.
» So, we just need
Just for information.
» I have a I have a mover, please. Uh for the
receive this presentation from Mr. Robinson.
Councilor McGivern, Councilor Lawrence. All in favor?
Carried.
» Carried. >> Councilor Miles.
» Thank you, Council Chairman. I'd like to uh
I would put it something on the floor that ask staff to
uh look into recommendation from Mr. Robinson's report regarding the speed
limit and crosswalk safety.
That worded enough? Thank you.
» We have a second on that? Councilor McGivern.
Any questions on that? Seems pretty well straightforward, I
think. All in favor? Carried. Thank you.
And moving on, um we have a Mr. David Baron
here today to talk on
a walk for peace. Welcome, Mr. Baron.
» Thank you.
» Um Mr. Baron, yeah, that's that's fine.
Yeah.
» I want to thank you all for letting the invite to come before you today to talk
about the County Peace. I want to thank you,
Mr. Chairman, and council members. And I would I do want to thank the staff for
all the efforts made on this this uh What I want to What I'm bringing forward
today is an event that we would like to propose
in in cooperation with a separate entity from the Peace Museum. That being an
event and activity which at the Millennium Park,
uh a walk from the park to the Peace Museum.
But first I'm going to I want to say that
I I've lived a charmed life myself.
I've been away from Brantford quite a few years and happen to be back.
While I was away, I spent a lot of time at the UN.
Respected throughout my life by this organization through school and my
family. Spent a lot of time there. Spent time with the World Federalist Movement.
Was able to go and and study the masters in Rwanda and also
truth and reconciliation in Brazil. Plus there's South Carolina
and too to
talk with the Christian and the members of the community church
of which Dylan roof carried it the mass within the church
itself. I've seen a lot of ugly in my lifetime.
I've been brought up to stand up to ugly in my lifetime. My
my family my social justice and understanding of
good and and bad within society goes back to Vimy Ridge my family there and
different nations. Uh bringing up being brought up in
in a good family five farm families all in a row southern Ontario, but I did
witness a lot of ugly non-peaceful events within households.
Uh I was in
in Arkansas in 1965. My grandfather took myself my brother to
witness the Martin Luther King march that was for
voters' rights. So I've seen a lot of ugly
within and and this is part of my rationale
personally and all of us. This is why I give so much effort
almost daily to the Peace Museum. I know what the absence of peace looks like
what within households and within society. So
this event is is to to bring together individuals
uh groups of within the community those that are working hard every day to work
to build better society and better community and which offers peace within
households and within communities. The event itself
the logistics of the event officially starts at 2:00
in Millennium Park and that being prior to community groups and or
individuals going to set up tables offering
information. There's going to be activity for the
children and families including arts and crafts and clowning and face painting
and different games offered within the park. At 2:00 the activities start.
John Foreman and friends are are going to be since I sit right.
I consider that planning park is safe. I like stopping and watching John as he's
building it. So anyway, John Foreman and friends are going to be offering
activity till 4:00 and there are two key two presenters. The first presenter is
going to be Greg Zola from
Manute. Greg was on the 1986 walk across America. He's been a
uh community member of Manute for about 11 years I guess now. He's also a member
of Veterans US Veterans at Peace. So he was he's going to be opening the
ceremonies there lots of music and then we're going to
have Shawn Sellers who recent graduate thesis on building better communities.
She's also going to be a presenter. Then at 4:00 we're going to have the
walk along the sidewalk and
not all the way downtown but on Station Street here and across and then on down
to the Peace Museum. Our Lake Snowbird parade marshals and several people to
ensure that there is security that you know the kids don't run into traffic.
Primary concern is security for us. At the museum, there's going to be a
uh uh additional presentations of community
groups uh uh tables set up, etc. Uh lots of fun and activities there, plus
uh open mic and music on into the evening. The presenters at the uh Peace
Museum will be uh uh Chris Houston, who's the director of
the museum, and then other individuals, Lindsay Callus, who's 80s, and who is
now moving to the area at the end of the school year, and currently she does uh
peace studies and seminars with the Catholic School School Board. So, she's
going to relocate here and work closely with us, and she's the newest member of
the board, also. Uh so, that's an overview of the active
the day of of activities, and uh and then if anyone has any questions, uh
» Question, Jeff. >> Councillor Mayhew.
» Thank you. I'm fully supportive of this. Um as you know, the
council and town is supportive of the Peace Museum.
Uh I'm kind of ticked off I'm busy already that day and what's on day. I'm
hoping the media is full of all kinds of headlines and information about how
successful this is going to be, and couldn't you all be a little piece of
the nation's world. Uh great job, Dave. Thank you. I wish you both lots of
success. Thank you. >> All right.
Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Um again, the Walk for Peace is June 20th, 2026, starting
at 12:00 at Millennium Park
and to 5:00. Walk will take place along the sidewalks
in the park, along Station Street, again,
uh as Mr. Mayor explained, along Valleyview Drive.
Uh draft resolution that the Council of the Corporation of the Town of Bancroft
has hereby received a request for use of Millennium Park and the bandshell on
June 20th, 2026 for Walk for Peace, which will entail a walk to Peace Museum
and host music in the park as presented. Mover and seconder, please.
» So moved. >> Councilor Miles, Councilor McGibbon.
Any questions? All in favor?
Passed. They also
also be resolved the Council Corporation Town of Bancroft
does hereby approve the request for use of Millennium Park and the bandshell on
June 20th, 2026 for Walk for Peace and host music in the park as presented.
Mover and seconder? Councilor Lawrence. Councilor Miles. All in favor?
Carried. Thank you.
Moving along, minutes of previous session.
Be it resolved the Council Corporation Town of Bancroft does hereby approve the
minutes of the meeting of Council held on May the 12th, 2026 and May 26th, 2026
as presented. Councilor Lawrence, Councilor McGibbon.
Any questions on those minutes? All in favor?
Carried. Minutes of standing committees and local
boards.
First one's Eastern Ontario Trails Alliance, EOTA.
Be it resolved that not the Council Corporation Town of Bancroft does hereby
receive the minutes of Eastern Ontario Trails Association meeting held on April
the 9th, 2026 as presented. Uh
I'd like to move that if I could. Can I do that?
» You can't. Yeah, you can't. You can't move them.
» Okay. I'll move them for you, George. >> Thank you very much.
» Councilor Miles, seconder. Councilor McGibbon.
I can speak to that, though, counselor. Okay. I've been on the been on that
committee. Uh Prior to
As you know, the the minutes, the the trail system
of Haliburton here. I mean, ridership went up up up up up snowmobiles,
um four-wheelers, etc., etc. Not only in
the north here, down south. Uh cuz there wasn't much snow down
there. Um
the Since that, they've they've entered an
agreement with uh with the motor snowmobile association
uh to the west of us here, bringing more more trails on board.
Um since April, they've been begging and pleading.
In fact, I got a couple of calls on the weekend with the north
section of the trail from about Coe Hill up. It's like a wash to her. Uh I looked
into it and uh I'm happy to report that uh grading will start tomorrow.
Uh the reason why it hadn't started prior to that is they had an agreement
with a a grading firm up north here, just north of Bancroft here. And that
fell through. So, we had to do a double take and and uh restart it
again with with uh getting a a grader to do that.
Uh car discussion grader doesn't matter. I think graders is no good. So, they
the smaller one. All right. Anyway,
I know there are no other questions. All in favor? Do you want to vote?
» Sorry, I have a question. >> I'm sorry. Yes, Councillor Arnott.
» Um notice around town
uh the
the trail is very sandy, very loose. I tried to trip some of it off.
» Mhm. >> Uh
will the grading take care of that? >> Uh not at all. No. Uh some gravel may or
may not be uh put in. Um but that probably there will be sections
that will need new gravel. If If they just can't shove it all into the center
again, from my from what I understand. Um
um They are looking into it. Again, it's
part of the maintenance plan. Um I know the
the executive director is looking into that.
Again, they have the trails off to the the basic fire beside.
So, hopefully I can answer your question. Yes, it will be done.
Councilor Miles. >> Councilor Miles, does the
trail alliance ever talk about sort of So, Council Miles brings that up about
maybe within town the way some of the trails aren't so great. You know how we
have sort of the connect link between the province and also with the highways.
We have the same kind of agreement with the trails system?
» I'm not aware of it. >> And and is there any kind of
conversation that surrounds around something like that so that community
and at least boundaries can come to the table with the group?
» Unfortunately, I'm not aware of that either.
» Thank you. >> But I can look into that for you.
The meeting that's meeting is next week on Thursday, 6:30. Thank you.
» Just curiosity after Mr. Miles. >> It's unfortunate the timing of the
meetings is what we seem to be a month behind.
And then getting the minutes almost 2 months behind, so. Anyway, it is what it
is, so. All in favor, please. Oh, sorry. You
have a question? >> I'm not sure if this sort of answers
your question but I know that in the past there were times where there was a
piece of the trail that was in desperate shape, I guess you could say.
That's when the trail alliance had reached out to the municipalities and
sometimes they would work together on fixing the piece that's within
their area.
» I can All in favor?
Carried. Rotation is public library.
Be it resolved that council of the corporation of town of Bancroft does
hereby receive the minutes of the North Hastings Public Library meeting held on
April 28th, 2026 as presented. I have a mover, Reese,
Councilor Miles, Councilor Lawrence. Uh Councilor Miles you like to speak on
this? >> Yes, I would. Thank you.
Um, the minutes that we spoke forward, we
are just you know, keep moving towards uh the the move and um you know, having
new space. Uh, with the biggest I think I know in
the meeting here was sort of um uh shifting of some funds. Uh, we had
some reserve that was uh named weirdly, so we moved that into
a space that was easier to uh invest in the new library and we
talked about what uh because we've done our own statements recently, what the
audit reserve showed for us and that was also moved into the space to allow us to
continue moving forward with the library. Um, that was really the the big
thing I think within the meeting was dealing with some funds regarding the
library with the reserve stuff. Everything else is pretty
straightforward. >> Thank you.
Any other questions? All in favor?
Carried, thank you. Municipal Dog Pound.
Be it resolved that Council of the Corporation of the Town of Bancroft does
hereby receive the minutes of the Municipal Dog Pound Board Meeting
meetings held on May 22nd, 2025, June 12th, 2025,
July 9th, 2025, August 13th, 2025,
September 25th, 2025, and November 27th, 2025 as presented.
I'm going back quite a ways, but are there any questions?
» Um, no there aren't. I think we're ready to move on.
» Pardon? >> I think we're ready to move on to the
resolution. >> Mover and seconder.
» Pardon? >> Mover and seconder.
» Oh, I'm sorry. >> That's good.
» Council Lawrence and Council McGibbon.
Any questions?
All in favor? Carried, thank you.
The Bancroft Deep Deep Catchment Board. Be it resolved that the Council of the
Corporation town of Bancroft is hereby received the minutes of the Bancroft OPP
detachment board meetings held on February 24th, 2025,
March 24th, 2025, May 26th, 2025, September 29th, 2025,
and January 26th, 2026 are presented. Do I have a mover and a reader? Councillor
Miles, Councillor Given.
Any questions on those? All in favor? Uh yes, Councillor Miles.
» Has anybody read these minutes? >> I have.
» Has anybody read these minutes? >> Mhm.
» Anything significant in there? >> Nothing significant to me.
That doesn't mean nothing, but what you suddenly significant is that beautiful.
» I believe that Councillor Mullett was keeping us up to date in on these
matters all along and and again,
this this board and the previous board like the municipal way back when we've
had updates from from
various counties on the matters, so. >> So,
Councillor Mullett is actually at the conference for the OPP detachment board
right now. So, I'm sure at one of our next meetings he will probably have an
update about that conference.
» Yes, as you know, we taking over new
a new area too and up north, so Whitney area
Whitney area, so I'm going to again see how that plays out as far as my
budget goes.
All in favor? Carried. Thank you.
Unfinished business. Rec- recreation and data project and
release survey launch. Be resolved that the council the
Corporation of the Town of Bancroft for information only received the Recreation
and Data Project Community Survey Launch Report for information purposes only.
» Good morning, everyone. So, I'm here today to provide you guys
an update. >> We'll get a mover and seconder first. Do
I have a mover or seconder? Councillor Given, Councillor Miles.
Go ahead, please. >> I'll start again.
I'm here to provide you with an update. Um I believe that was back in April. Um
it was a staff report brought that we were going to start our parks, tracks,
facilities data collection project. Um so, here we are now a couple months in
and we are now at the stage we are now having engaged in the community process
of surveying our community broad and wide um for the following next two weeks
around kind of a plan. Um the project was initiated to understand how
municipally owned parks, recreation, and cultural spaces are used and to support
future planning and investment decisions with that. As part of the work, survey a
community survey has been launched to capture input from residents, seasonal
residents, visitors, and basically anyone that might happen to see my QR
code somewhere in this town or at a park or rec facility or on Facebook.
Um the survey focused focused on usage patterns, participation, barriers, and
priorities across all of our municipal spaces and services to gather collection
tool um and not to vote on specific projects. Questions um also that have
been included and this was in consultation with the rest of the staff
team is why are you living here? What brings
you to Bancroft? Um what kind of things do you participate in? What So, why are
you here? Um use of the trails and natural areas and its timing and
seasonality um and the types of use especially in
our non-motorized and motorized kind of leads back to the trail conversation. Um
we do have a vast trail system here in our communities.
So, this approach kind of followed up with the some stakeholder of surveys as
well that we had done. Um and I think after both local and destination based
use. We're also launched at kind of at the beginning of the you know, shoulder
season, summer season. We're not sure when our seasons change around here. Um
so it's a coordinated promotion approach. Um
digital at our beach. Some of you may have already seen it on social media. I
hope and shared. I hope everyone's done it, and shared it, and got all your
friends to do it. Um it has also been put up at all of our locations and
facilities. Our parks and facilities team have put it up at all of our
locations. So Eagles Nest, so we're hoping, you know, when people are there
on the weekend they'll tell us why they're there, where they come from,
that we can have this really valuable data. Um it's also very
specific on especially our neighboring communities who may
be out in our community. Um you know, from our seven townships around. We're
asking very specifically. Um so we're also going to be, you know,
this weekend at RiverFest we'll be, you know, having the QR codes and you know,
those types of things. Any kind of place in the next couple of weeks where we can
pop up and get the information. So hopefully that will close up June
15th. Um and then we'll I'll be back to
present findings and those types of things and then we'll keep moving
forward on this project. Any questions from anyone?
» Thank you, Sharon. I have a question, I guess.
Um is the survey age
» So we >> applicable?
» What do you mean age >> well, does does it break down what
» Yes. >> So I have also a survey
» Yes. >> Do you want to say certain things?
» So yes, I've broken down the demographics. I've broken it down
family, single, seniors, accessibility, mobility, cultural, all those kind of
demographic patterns that align with our stats Canada and all the other data
that's collected. What's going to be really exciting is we're going to be
able to analyze, you know, what does a family
um with children under the age of five look like in our town versus what does a
senior. We are also asking are you caring for elderly, caring for someone
else within your home. I would capture all those things within the demographics
and hopefully this information is going to be, you know, very data-rich for us.
Um so, that's why the more data we can get the better.
Um and also in comparing it to how others within the
other 404 municipalities have done their plans as well. So, we will have a vast
amount of data to utilize. Um and hopefully we want all this
information that can help us with the decisions that we must make.
» Great. Thank you. Any other questions?
Thank you, Sarah. I'm looking forward to that report because I think that it will
be a >> Do the survey.
» The Department of Recreation, you know. >> Thank you, Sarah.
» We need to know what we're going to be doing in the next year.
Thank you. Moving on.
Business arising from notices of motion. >> Oh, sorry. We need an All in favor. Need
an All in favor. >> That's okay. All in favor.
Carried. Business arising from notices of motion.
For the procedure bylaw 77- >> Um so, there's none for Section 13, but
then 14. >> Sorry. So, none for business arising
from notices of motion, but there is a notice of motion and I'll read that out
now. For the procedure bylaw 77-2023
uh S.155.1,
a notice of motion may be introduced at a public meeting of council, but shall
not be debated. It shall be reported on the following regular meeting of council
within the motion second reading.
And at the second reading, it may be debated, moved, and seconded.
All draft resolutions as presented are for discussion purposes only and should
not be considered as the opinion or direction of council.
» Where is >> So, we have we have a notice
» Yep. So, Councillor Tracy McGibbon will read her her notice of motion.
» First reading? I'm counselor McGibbon.
» In accordance with section 15.1 of bylaw 77-2023,
being a bylaw to govern and regulate proceedings of the corporation of the
town of Bancroft, I Tracy McGibbon file a notice of motion to be included in the
agenda of the next regular meeting of council scheduled for May 26, 2026.
Subject: Landfill. Notice of motion. Whereas the council of the corporation
Oh, yeah, that was from before. So, I don't need to read that.
Sorry, that was from before. So, I Tracy McGibbon
file a notice of motion. Subject: Landfill. Notice of motion. Whereas the
council of the corporation of the town of Bancroft currently permits a
neighboring municipality to utilize our municipal landfill site. And whereas
upon renewal, the current service agreement or MOU needs to be adjusted to
accurately reflect the rising operational costs, long-term
environmental liability, site maintenance, and cell closing costs
capital reserve requirements. And whereas it is the financial
responsibility of this council to ensure that our taxpayers are not subsidizing
the waste management and disposal costs of a neighboring municipality to utilize
our landfill. And whereas on a per dwelling basis, our taxpayers are
currently paying a substantial amount more to have access to our landfill
than our neighboring municipality paying to access.
Now, therefore, be it resolved that staff be directed to draft and bring
forward a more financially sound cost recovery model, an agreement or MOU for
our neighboring municipality to utilize our municipal landfill, which shall
include updating tipping fees, bin usage fees, administrative fees,
transportation costs, labor costs, closing cost contributions, and capital
reserve contributions. This needs to be finalized in a timely fashion as
municipalities are potentially approaching the laying that period and
the renewal period follows closely after.
» Here's a second vote. >> No. Okay. No, just reading.
» Thank you. Moving on.
The set agenda. We resolve that the items listed on the
set agenda, items 15B to 15 L
be received by the corporation of the town of Bancroft for information. Are
there any questions on any of those there?
Here they are. Also support on the opposition, AMO, Asian charitable
donors, caucus, Hastings County, Northeastern Community Migration
Association having newsletter, municipality resolution for support, and
municipality resolution for information. Are there any questions on those?
Got a mover, please? Councillor Miles. Councillor Miles.
All in favor? Uh sorry. Councillor Miles. You have any
You vote I'm voting. Thank you. Carried.
Community announcements and events. Are there any community announcements and
events that a councilor would like to discuss
or bring forward?
Seeing none. Bylaws, first, second, and third
reading. We resolve that the following bylaws be
introduced and read a first, second, and third time, and be finally passed, and
that the mayor and clerk do sign and seal the same, any rule of this council
to the contrary notwithstanding. Bylaw number 40-206,
being a bylaw to repeal bylaw number 75-2024
being a bylaw to establish North Hastings Community Centre Ad Hoc
Committee and appoint members to the North Hastings Community Centre Ad Hoc
Committee of the Town of Bancroft. Bylaw number 41-2026
A as a bylaw to amend comprehensive zoning bylaw number 27-2006
as amended.
Can I have a mover or seconder, please? Councillor Miles, Councillor Bedore.
Any questions? All in favor?
Carried.
Bylaw number 40-2026 being a bylaw to repeal
» No. Um those are just placeholders. If you
go to the next page, it's coming for a minute.
» What? >> I'm going to jump to here.
» Okay. All right. So, we confirm we confirm our
bylaws for the first, second, and third
readings. A draft resolution, be resolved that
bylaw to confirm the proceedings of the meeting Council of June 22nd, 2006 be
hereby given the first, second, and third reading and be finally passed,
sealed So, I pass, sign, seal, and number bylaw
42-2026.
Can I have a mover or seconder, please? Councillor Miles.
Any questions?
All in favor? Carried.
Next meeting date. The next meeting of regular Council is scheduled for August
11th, 2026 at 3:00. Uh
that there'll be a special meeting of the Council on June 23rd, 2026 at 3:00.
And I call for a motion for adjournment.
Councilman Wise. Okay, we can
all in favor? Everything.