[5:35] [clears throat] Welcome everybody to the Thursday, August 20th meeting of Trent

[5:39] Hills Municipal Council. I am Deputy Mayor Mike Metaf and I will call the

[5:42] meeting to order at 9:31 a.m. We'd like to formally recognize the

[5:48] traditional keepers of this land and specifically our neighbors of the

[5:51] Alderville First Nation. Welcome [clears throat] to the Gunshot Treaty

[5:54] lands of 1788. It is on these lands

[6:01] the opening of these lands for settlement. Let us be reminded of the

[6:05] responsibilities that we all have in making sure that we respect these lands

[6:09] and waters that give us life and sustain our livelihoods.

[6:16] Uh opening the meeting, we have adoption of the agenda. Be it resolved that the

[6:20] agenda for the council meeting of August 20th, 2026 be received and adopted. Can

[6:25] I get [clears throat] a mover and a seconder? Councelor English, councelor

[6:28] Savory. All those in favor and that is carried. Thank you.

[6:34] Do we have any disclosure of interest? [clears throat] Seeing none, if anything

[6:39] does arise, please advise the clerk.

[6:45] We have the minutes of our council meeting held on July 28th, 2026.

[6:50] Be it resolved that the minutes of the council meeting held on July 28th, 2026

[6:54] be received and adopted as presented. Could I get a mover and a seconder?

[6:58] Councelor Pope, Councelor Bratney. All those in favor

[7:02] that is carried. Thank you.

[7:07] [clears throat] We have the minutes of the public

[7:11] » without a lot of good information. >> Was that something we take?

[7:14] » Planning staff is making some notes and uh

[7:17] » moves us along this along to deputations. Dean executive director for

[7:20] the numbering. >> Thanks for having me today. Uh my name

[7:24] is Janine and I'm the community outreach and development coordinator with

[7:28] Northland United Way. I focus on um supporting and building relationships

[7:33] within our rural communities across North umberland county and alongside my

[7:38] executive director Alicia partner with council partner with council to make it

[7:42] happen. We've been serving services in the county a conveyor moving people from

[7:46] poverty their uh people and to strengthen our communities. So this uh

[7:52] people and to strengthen our communities. So this past June,

[7:59] we reached communities in West North umberland and completed projects at Ed's

[8:04] House, Cornerstone Family Violence Prevention Center, uh the Primrose

[8:09] Donkey Sanctuary, and many more. Um but it isn't just about completing projects.

[8:15] It's about building connections between our neighbors, organizations,

[8:18] businesses, and volunteers. This past June, we had over 150 volunteers. We had

[8:24] 25 site uh project sites and donations that went to purchasing essential items

[8:30] like tools, brushes, lumber, and breakfast for all volunteers.

[8:39] So, why Trent Hills? Uh Trent Hills are communities with a strong tradition of

[8:45] neighbors helping neighbors. From local businesses and service clubs to

[8:48] volunteers and community organizations, people consistently come together to

[8:53] support one another. We're excited about the opportunity to bring Day of Caring

[8:57] here because we believe it can make a meaningful impact. By connecting

[9:02] volunteers with local projects, we can support seniors, families, community

[9:06] organizations, and public spaces while strengthening the connections that

[9:10] already make Trent Hills such caring communities. Hosting a day of caring in

[9:15] Trent Hills is one way we can invest in the people and the organizations that

[9:19] help these communities thrive. We're proposing to hold the event on Friday

[9:24] before or after Thanksgiving, a time that naturally reflects gratitude,

[9:28] generosity, and community and an opportunity to turn those values into

[9:33] action. To summarize, we want to replicate what's been working in West

[9:37] Northumberland and expand this model into Trent Hills.

[9:44] Okay. So, what would that look like in Trent Hills? Uh, before the event, local

[9:50] not for profofits would submit their project ideas to us directly. We would

[9:55] carry out all the organizing and logistics to make this event come to

[9:59] life. This is a way to hear directly from the community as to what their

[10:03] needs are. On the event day, we start the day early to make sure that we have

[10:09] enough hours in the day to get all our projects completed. Volunteers will

[10:13] gather at a central community hub for breakfast, opening remarks, and safety

[10:17] protocols. And then we will distribute all jobs and required tools to teams. We

[10:21] have all the equipment and team uh for teams organized into sections to make it

[10:26] easier for volunteers. And then after this, volunteers would go out into the

[10:31] community to complete the designated projects. So it could be painting

[10:35] classrooms. Um we could help prep seniors gardens for the wintertime. Um

[10:42] there's there's countless possibilities here. Um once the jobs have been

[10:47] completed, we would gather at the end of the day to celebrate with a barbecue um

[10:51] and basically just thank everybody involved and get to celebrate our

[10:55] accomplishments.

[10:59] So what we are asking for um to make Dave Caring successful in Trent Hills,

[11:05] we're looking for council support in several ways. First off, through

[11:09] promotion to help us share the date and application portal to local nonprofits.

[11:15] You are the connectors and people who know and know people who would enjoy and

[11:20] benefit from this directly. We are also asking for sponsorship. We're seeking

[11:24] sponsorship of $3,000 to help cover the cost of project materials, equipment,

[11:30] and volunteer meals. We will also match the $3,000 provided by council. We are

[11:37] requesting that council also send a team of volunteers from the municipality to

[11:41] help on the day of by providing support for projects around Trent Hills. It's a

[11:46] time to get your hands dirty. Um we also ask that the council provide a

[11:52] designated point person to communicate the status of the event and any

[11:56] additional information that council should know about. Every contribution

[12:02] whether it's financial, logistical or promotional will really help bring this

[12:07] day to life

[12:12] and why this matters. So for more than 26 years uh day of caring has shown what

[12:20] is possible when people come together with a shared purpose. It's more than a

[12:24] volunteer event. It's an opportunity for us to strengthen our relationships,

[12:29] remove barriers for residents, and support local organizations.

[12:33] It also is an opportunity to demonstrate what community looks like in action

[12:39] for Northland United Way. Bringing Day of Caring to Trent Hills also reflects

[12:44] our commitment to ensuring rural communities have access to the same

[12:47] opportunities for connection and support as every every other part of the county.

[12:52] We would be honored to partner with Trent Hills Council to bring that vision

[12:56] to life. And thank you so much for having me today.

[13:03] » Thank you, [clears throat] Janine, uh, for your for your words today. Much

[13:07] appreciated. Uh, open it up to council for questions and comments. Councelor

[13:11] Giddings. >> Uh,

[13:17] thank you, Deputy Mayor. for you. Um I do actually want to point out that um

[13:22] obviously this is a great thing, but they actually do work here already in

[13:25] Trent Hills um with the incredible Trent Hills. They actually doubled our school

[13:29] nutrition program that gave us access to be able to go into our local schools

[13:33] here um and teach the kids not only the uh the gardens that we have, but how to

[13:39] utilize the the product from the gardens and teach them how to do their own

[13:43] cooking and uh and produce things that uh like hot sauces that are being sold

[13:47] here in Sharp. So, um, their support has been well received already in this

[13:51] community and an opportunity to help support them back would be great. Thank

[13:54] you. >> Thank you.

[13:58] » Thank you, councelor. Counselor English. >> Thank you, Deputy Mayor. Um, great

[14:03] presentation. Thank you very much, Dean. I do have a couple questions. I noticed

[14:08] that you identified uh work in each community in Trent Hills, which is

[14:12] lovely. Mhm. >> Uh also is just this let's say we don't

[14:17] get this work done in one day. Is this something [clears throat] that can go on

[14:21] to make sure the job is done? >> Uh when we review the applications um we

[14:27] we make sure that you know we would have the capacity to complete them in that

[14:31] day. >> Okay.

[14:32] » Um we have been doing it for so long that we we kind of know how the day

[14:36] flows and what to expect. So, I'd be confident that the projects that we

[14:42] select would be completed on the day of. >> And in Trent Hills, can you say that

[14:47] there'll be something done in each community?

[14:49] » If there was applications submitted and it was something that we would be able

[14:53] to complete, absolutely. >> Okay.

[14:55] » Yeah. >> I like the idea and I like the matching

[14:57] of the money. >> Thank you very much.

[14:59] » Thank you.

[15:04] » Thank you, counselor. Any other comments or questions?

[15:07] » [clears throat] >> Do we have any suggestions? Councelor

[15:12] Pope.

[15:16] Um, thank you, Chair. Um, I would like a motion that we support this

[15:24] » for the value of $3,000.

[15:30] » Uh, yes, for $3,000.

[15:34] » Uh, thank you, counselor. I'll read the um resolution. Be it resolved that

[15:40] information presented by Jan Janine Lais, community outreach and development

[15:45] coordinator and Alicia Vanine, exit executive director of Northland United

[15:50] Way. Re day of carrying be received. So we'll do this one uh to receive movever

[15:56] and a seconder. Councelor Giddings, councelor English. All in favor and that

[16:01] is carried. Councelor Pope H has suggested a motion.

[16:06] It will be be it resolved that council direct staff to promote Day of Caring

[16:10] and the application portal to local nonprofits and that council provide

[16:14] sponsorship of $3,000 to help support Day of Caring. That council encourage

[16:19] municipal staff and council to participate as volunteers for Day of

[16:25] Caring as they are able.

[16:29] Councelor Pope still good with that motion?

[16:32] Second. >> Yes. Thank you.

[16:34] » Seconded by >> Second by Coun Councelor Brney. Any

[16:38] further discussion. >> All in favor?

[16:43] That is carried. Thank you, Janine. Uh I think it's a great program that you've

[16:48] you've had in the past. Uh and as councelor Giddings alluded to, you know,

[16:51] United Way North umberland has done some great things. So this is a small I think

[16:55] a small uh that effort that we can put forward for partnering with you. So

[17:00] thank you. Thank you so much.

[17:08] » Moves us to item six in our agenda, public comments. We did not receive any

[17:13] public comments to the clerk's office. That moves us along to presentations. We

[17:19] have a presentation by Ronda Baitman, chief administrative officer of Lower

[17:23] Trent Conservation Authority for our 2027 draft budget. Welcome, Rhonda. And

[17:28] you know the drill. >> Yes, I do. Thank you, Mayor. Deputy

[17:32] Mayor Medka. Uh, yes. Thank you very much for the invitation to speak about

[17:36] our draft budget in front of council. This is the opportunity under our

[17:39] consultation um for your council uh board members to

[17:43] bring back any comments back to our board of directors.

[17:48] And uh so I'm just going to outline the facts of our budget, our programs, uh

[17:53] our highlights, uh the municipal levy, next steps for the budget, and

[17:58] transition information because everyone's always curious as to what's

[18:02] coming next. So, as you know, we are a service

[18:06] delivery organization. We do have a lot of services. Um, and our staff are

[18:14] skilled and knowledgeable in and experienced uh in a in a lot of in all

[18:19] of their program areas. Staffing as usual for an organization of our kind is

[18:25] about 70% of the budget which leaves general uh operations capital to about

[18:30] 30%. Oops, I went too far. Okay. So, uh the

[18:36] facts this year are consu we use the consumer price index of 1.7 which was

[18:42] the average from August 2025 to May 2026. We normally do a full year August

[18:48] to July but because of the transition we were [clears throat] trying to get our

[18:53] budget out as quickly as possible. Um so we don't have the full year range. Uh so

[18:59] we put our cost of living at 1.7%. We anticipate a 10% increase in

[19:05] insurance costs and 5% to property taxes. Uh we're not um [clears throat]

[19:12] changing any of our staffing numbers this year in any programs being paid

[19:17] through our municipal funding.

[19:21] So there's uh a snapshot of most of our programs. Um we do have other programs

[19:28] that fall under some of these like stewardship. um when we get grants for

[19:35] certain programs that uh we haven't put in the budget but we've applied for

[19:40] grants for um those don't show up here but they usually fit into one of those

[19:45] categories. So you see we do a lot of we have a lot of programming

[19:50] and so some of our program highlights um and this is specific to to Trent Hills.

[19:57] So these are some of the activi we've been very busy with activities this

[20:00] year. Some of the education and and uh outreach that we've done a lot of youth

[20:05] education. We've been to a lot of schools. We've been doing a lot more

[20:09] outreach um for adults on our own properties. Um we have uh things like um

[20:17] invasive specy polls days and we're doing um you can see forest wellness at

[20:24] Seymour Conservation. That is the last event

[20:28] um that we have in Trend Hills for this year. I'm sure there'll be others. We

[20:32] just haven't sorted them out. But once school starts, our staff are in the

[20:36] schools um uh giving uh programming uh curriculum related programming to to

[20:43] students. So, and we are always at Incredible

[20:47] Edibles. Um and right now my staff are at the Hastings County Plowing Match.

[20:52] So, it's been a busy year. And here's just some photos of of the

[20:57] kinds of things we do. Our Tri County Children's Water Festival is amazing. It

[21:01] brings in anywhere between 600 to 900 students and uh volunteers over a

[21:09] two-day um a [clears throat] two-day festival. It's uh got lots of hands-on.

[21:15] There's oh, I don't even remember how many booths there are. Over 35 booths uh

[21:20] education centers where the the children learn. So, it was really it's really

[21:24] successful. and our children's uh uh the Great Lakes map that's in the top

[21:29] corner. We purchased that and um it is a massive story map of the Great Lakes and

[21:38] it has um it focuses on drainage of the Great Lakes, but it also focuses on

[21:45] First Nations around the Great Lakes and the history of the Great Lakes with the

[21:49] First Nations uh aspect involved. And it's been very popular at schools. We

[21:55] have to make sure the school has a big enough gymnasium. The map is that big.

[21:59] It's it's quite quite amazing. So, it's been wellreceived.

[22:04] Okay. Back to brass tax for the budget. So, um the budget the proposed budget um

[22:11] is basically about 3% overall um excuse [clears throat] me with staffing at 1.7%

[22:19] and operation increase of 3.4. for our capital is

[22:25] a 3.3% increase but that will be coming from

[22:29] reserve the increase in that

[22:36] and there's our revenue sources as you can see the MR hasn't of course

[22:40] increased since uh 2018 um source protections going up slightly

[22:47] but not greatly So basically we will we project 3,144,000

[22:56] in uh revenue for next year.

[23:02] And our funding from the general levy is uh proposed to go up $41,000 over our

[23:09] seven municipalities. And although we have a new capital asset

[23:14] management plan which would have increased the capital levy to over

[23:19] $120,000, the board decided to go with the former capital levy so that there'd

[23:26] be no increase this year.

[23:30] And there's our aortionment for all of our municipalities.

[23:36] So Trent Hills um [clears throat] the proposed levy is 275,000

[23:45] and so overall the total budget increase is 11,152.

[23:53] Um category 1 being 7.6,000. Uh category 2 increases $1,000 and

[24:00] category 3 program is an increase of 2342.

[24:06] Um due to a rising costs of monitoring or sampling sorry uh the processing of

[24:16] our monitoring sampling we underestimated last year. So that's why

[24:21] the category 3 programs um went are going up by uh over $2,000. We decreased

[24:29] it last year by 900, so almost $2,000. And uh we were a little bit short in uh

[24:37] in our in that category. So that's why it's an increase of where it is.

[24:44] So, our next steps on our budget is to receive comments from our municipalities

[24:49] um and municipal presentations. This is my third. Uh I'm I'll bring any comments

[24:55] back to the board for discussion at our September 10th meeting and then the

[24:59] board makes a decision as to whether uh we need to make changes or whether they

[25:03] approve the draft budget and aortionment.

[25:10] So, transition information. So Laura Trent will be part of the Eastern

[25:14] Ontario Region Conservation Authority. There are seven conservation authorities

[25:19] going into the we call it aa. It's not a pretty name, but uh that's the acronym

[25:26] for it. [snorts] Uh the transition date is supposed to be February 1st unless

[25:31] it's modified legislation. The appointment of the project executive

[25:35] has happened. Our project executive is Allison McDonald and she is uh a also

[25:43] a chief administrative officer of the Reto Valley Conservation. So she's

[25:49] stepped away from that position to be the project executive to oversee and

[25:54] guide the transition for URA. So the regional CA board appointments

[26:01] will be January February of 2027 and the regional boards will be chosen

[26:08] from a single or upper tier municipality. So Trend Hills will be uh

[26:15] represented through North Humberland County.

[26:18] And I and I've been saying at my other presentations that this is the last time

[26:22] I will come before council with a budget because it is proposed that the next

[26:27] budgets will go to the regional and single tier municipalities.

[26:32] Um and then f yeah that's basically that's

[26:38] basically it. Um there's a lot to this. are the transition committees which are

[26:43] made up of board members and a board member from each conservation authority

[26:49] and um the CAO or alternate um will be starting meetings in September to

[26:58] get the transition underway and to meet whatever targets we are um

[27:06] to meet based on what the province wants.

[27:09] » [snorts] >> So, and that's that's it.

[27:16] » Thank you, Rhonda, for that presentation. Do we have any comments or

[27:19] questions from council?

[27:25] Councelor Bratney. >> Morning, Chair. And just a question,

[27:30] Rhonda. through this transition period and everything once it's down the

[27:34] roadways, is the public going to be able to interact with this new board or is

[27:40] there going to be walls between the public and and the board?

[27:46] Um that's a that's a very good question because we don't know uh where the board

[27:51] will be sitting but I don't think the governance side of it I think there's

[27:55] still going to be the ability to uh address

[28:01] the board because if we have hearings we still have to have you know the board

[28:05] there and uh Carrie I I I don't I don't see it changing drastically but it's

[28:13] going to where your representative is from um to

[28:17] get in touch with them to go to the board and um I was going to say

[28:23] something else about that. the um right now there's an ER posting about [snorts]

[28:28] board members and um representation and as it sits with the arrow posting right

[28:35] now our board may be uh 25 members which is kind of unyield

[28:42] unwieldy but um so that is open for comments until September 14th or 12th I

[28:50] believe. So, um, you can you can feel free to to comment on that.

[28:58] Um, I I re I I hope it's not going to change the ability for the public to

[29:05] address board members. It shouldn't. Um, [clears throat]

[29:09] uh, Deputy Mayor Medaf may have [laughter]

[29:11] something else to say on that as well. Being a

[29:14] » Yeah. C um through to councelor Rodney, the board will still remain a board and

[29:20] it will still remain a public board. Uh it just depends where they meet. Those

[29:24] meetings will still be open to the public just as they are now. You will

[29:28] continue be to be able to participate in those public board meet board meetings.

[29:33] uh the governance model uh as it's worked out through the transition period

[29:37] will is also looking at taking into consideration local watershed councils

[29:42] and we're just not sure how those local wershed councils fit in quite uh right

[29:46] now into the governance model but that's part of the transition period sort of

[29:50] between now and February and then for two years beyond that there's a period

[29:54] that um the the consolidation and that transition will continue to work so some

[30:00] of those things will be worked out but it will definitely still be a public

[30:04] body. >> Absolutely. Thank you. [clears throat]

[30:09] » Unfortunately, chair, I can't share your enthusiasm for this project. I've had my

[30:15] suspicions of it all the time driven from the government and uh uh it just

[30:24] the government is the government that we have is not the government that we

[30:27] elected on a couple years ago. I guess that's the short answer to it. Thank

[30:33] you. >> Just trying to provide some facts. I'm

[30:36] not sure whether I'm terribly enthused as well, but just providing some

[30:40] information, >> councelor Savory.

[30:44] » You deputy mayor. Just following up on this amalgamation of of the conservation

[30:48] authorities into regional centers. Was this whole idea about savings money uh

[30:54] for for the municipalities or is this just a direction by government and

[31:00] nothing's going to there's no savings involved here. It's just more of a a

[31:03] top- down direction. Can you answer that Rhonda?

[31:07] » I can. It was never indicated that it was going to be saving money. Uh it was

[31:13] uh it was said to be an exercise in efficiencies

[31:17] and delivery. So that all of the conservation authorities

[31:24] together would have the ability to meet targets and have a similar if not the

[31:30] same um software uh to say for example for permitting so

[31:37] that we'd all be on the same playing field because we all know that some CAS

[31:43] have um a good well some of them are quite large and have a large budget

[31:49] and have the ability to have an excessive number, it shouldn't be

[31:53] excessive, enough staff to be able to deliver programs and especially

[31:58] permitting and planning in a in a reasonable time whereas smaller ones

[32:02] have a harder time with that because the budgets are smaller and the staff

[32:06] complement may not be large enough to deliver in a timely fashion.

[32:11] I didn't in your presentation editing in software the presentation here I didn't

[32:16] see anything regards to transition of software to create one model for sharing

[32:22] these permits and information amongst the reg to the new regional board. Is

[32:26] there something in here that will be uh married in here or or transition to a

[32:32] new software or we or how are they going to talk to each other?

[32:35] » We were directed to develop a budget on the same basis. pretend there's no

[32:40] transition. So this year um the 2020 well 2027 budget was calculated based on

[32:47] what we currently have and that's part that inefficiencies is part of the

[32:53] longer range transition planning. So it wouldn't h it may not it's not going to

[32:58] happen January 1st or February 1st. going to happen down the road because

[33:02] everyone will have to they have I don't even know if it's

[33:06] developed at this point what it is they want us to use and to to have uniformity

[33:12] it's going to take time and training and that sort of thing. Okay, thanks Ronda.

[33:16] » Mhm.

[33:19] » Just a little bit to with that as well. Some of the conservation authorities of

[33:24] the 36 went through a process called a lean process uh just within this last

[33:28] year and that process identified uh e some of the efficiencies and some ways

[33:33] in which uh authorities were working well. So, I'm sure they're going to be

[33:36] using some of that information and it'll be over the next two years that period

[33:40] of of transition and and and consult or collaboration

[33:48] » transition >> transition

[33:50] » that um that they'll look at those different pieces. It's not something as

[33:54] as Rhonda said that's that's going to be implemented on February 1st. If you

[33:59] think about it, between now and February 1st is is a very short period of time.

[34:03] So really all they're trying to get in in place is the leadership to guide uh

[34:08] those transition teams and and [clears throat] the uh to get to that

[34:12] point. >> Can I add one thing? Um in case anyone's

[34:17] worried, our offices are still to remain open.

[34:21] » My staff will be at the office. I will be at the office. So there's no break in

[34:26] service on any of our programs. >> Yes. The consolidation, the word that

[34:32] escaped me, uh will continue for the next two years.

[34:36] » Any [clears throat] further questions?

[34:40] » I do have a couple for you, Rhonda. >> Okay.

[34:44] » Um [clears throat] on the page that you have LTC budget

[34:47] facts, you say there's a 10 proposed 10% or anticipated 10% increase in insurance

[34:53] costs. Um so back in April at the conservation

[34:58] Ontario meeting that the report conserv you're part of the marsh.

[35:04] » Yes. >> Um so so the comp the cost actually went

[35:07] down 6%. And the year over that it went down 21%. So the the program is held

[35:14] being held at zero for 20 for for this year.

[35:20] Um >> so

[35:22] » sorry there's there's also health insurance and that sort of thing to be

[35:26] considered. Was that part of that presentation? I missed that meeting.

[35:29] » Yeah, that that was also uh the Mosy and Mosy benefits package as well and it was

[35:33] it stayed uh the same as well. >> Okay. So we can go back and look at

[35:38] that. >> Uh the 5% increase anticipated in

[35:43] property taxes, what what is what is that exactly?

[35:48] uh the property taxes that we would pay on our conservation areas

[35:51] » on your your own lands. >> On our own lands. Yes.

[35:55] » You participate in the conservation authority um lands incentive tax

[36:00] program. >> Yes, we do.

[36:02] » So most of that about 90% of that is is returned back

[36:08] » on some properties, not on all, but the 5% is 5% based on what we paid last

[36:13] year. So it's yeah taking clip and myth tip into consideration.

[36:18] » Okay.

[36:23] » Uh if you look at your 2027 budget proposed operating capital chart

[36:29] » the total at the bottom there. So [clears throat] last year the 2026 was

[36:33] 3,770,776

[36:38] and the the proposed budget for this year is 3,144830.

[36:45] The increase in decreases it's only 6,872

[36:48] but if you do that math the increase is 667,854.

[36:56] » Are you looking at the at that budget? >> Not on your presentation. Oh. Oh, on my

[37:02] presentation, sorry. Um, when we initially sent out our data, we did not

[37:10] uh include the capital. So, I'm not sure if the presentation was updated

[37:13] properly. Apologies.

[37:18] Capital 5,000. So your So this is the slide that has

[37:25] capital at 153 22 0 for 2026 and 158 >> correct

[37:31] » 226. >> If you add up the difference between 27

[37:35] total and 26 total, it's about 60,000 more than 6,872.

[37:44] And it definitely definitely is not 0%. >> It's 66872.

[37:49] I didn't move the decimal over. I apologize.

[37:52] » Okay. >> Yeah.

[37:53] » And then I don't know how that relates to a 0% change.

[37:57] » Uh [sighs]

[38:02] if you do 66,000 divided by 3,000 or sorry 3,700

[38:11] 3,77,000 it comes out at a decimal point.

[38:19] Okay. Um,

[38:24] just uh do you know how much you have in in reserves currently? Cuz there's

[38:30] several lines here that you're OP category one you're pulling 50,000 from

[38:35] a surplus. >> Yes.

[38:37] » Category one capital reserve and category 2

[38:43] uh surplus. >> Yes.

[38:46] Um so we have several reserve accounts. The

[38:52] surplus is left over from um operations that has not been uh directed toward

[38:59] reserves. So we last year we put $50,000 uh of surplus into our budget. We didn't

[39:10] use it so we still have it available. Um,

[39:14] we have I don't have the list of all our

[39:18] reserves, but when we're dealing with the category one reserve, we at the end

[39:24] of 2025, we had $30,000 in in information technology infrastructure.

[39:31] We had 55,000 in vehicles and heavy equipment and uh structures, bridges,

[39:39] and buildings. we had 149,000 and in flood and erosion control capital

[39:46] reserves we have 78,000. We also have a reserve for restricted

[39:51] land sales. So we sold a piece of property in 2020 no 2019 and that money

[39:58] is it's over $200,000 but it's you know used for special um only special

[40:06] projects as defined by the province.

[40:10] Okay. And >> we have a youth and education reserve as

[40:13] well. So >> um so on that chart uh you have category

[40:19] 2 surplus uh and reserve category 2 areus and

[40:24] agreements with municipalities. Correct. >> Yes.

[40:29] So where does this how do you get a surplus with

[40:34] » category with category 2 >> um

[40:38] » and agreements? >> We don't have a surplus. Uh we'll be

[40:41] using category 1 surplus.

[40:50] » So that sorry that's 28,191 is category one.

[40:56] Um

[41:00] » cuz it says you're using operation and surplus and reserves for category 2 and

[41:04] three. >> Yes.

[41:06] » So you're transferring a surplus from category 1 to category 2.

[41:12] » I'm going to have to go back to my finance manager on that one because that

[41:16] should not be coming out of there for sure.

[41:18] » Okay. >> Yep.

[41:22] » Yeah. Okay. Thank you. >> Yep.

[41:25] [snorts] Um I mean the other the one that you have a federal you have

[41:30] Canada summer jobs um grant there at 76,400

[41:36] uh and you have that in your operational budget. Is that something you're

[41:40] confident about cuz it's an application process every

[41:44] year? >> Yes, it is. Um and it it is very

[41:48] dependent on Well, it's dependent on that. We we the board has asked us to

[41:53] put it in the budget every year as a secure thing. And if it doesn't come

[41:57] through, we usually get if if it's a bad year, we get two. If it's a good year,

[42:02] we get all of them. Uh this year, we got all of them. Um

[42:07] » so where do you pull the deficit from if you don't get that grant? Because

[42:12] you're you're you're predicting a def you're predicting a grant.

[42:16] » Yes. in an operations budget with us two predicted surpluses as well. So it ends

[42:23] up being like 140,000 $154,000 worth of by chance

[42:30] » by Yeah, it is >> operational funding.

[42:33] » Technically by chance we would we would probably pull it out of category 3

[42:37] program reserves. Um it's been difficult since

[42:44] we had to categorize everything category 1 2 3. It was much simpler prior to to

[42:50] move money around. Um but now and that's fair, but the board told us

[42:58] uh several years ago to make put the youth education money in there or put

[43:03] the youth summer students in there um as a as a done deal and a couple of years

[43:10] we didn't get it all. So >> it's that's risky operational budgeting,

[43:15] is it not? It >> it is a tad risky. That's why we had to

[43:18] get board approval for that.

[43:23] Okay. Um, so your cap and this will be my last question. So capital levy you

[43:27] have 98,15. >> Yes.

[43:30] » Um, capital reserve you're using 60,000 of

[43:35] that. So that still leaves 38,000

[43:41] uh capital. So where's that is that extra coming in from a levy?

[43:51] um 60 capital reserves. Um

[43:57] 4751. Sorry, I'm just looking at my sheet

[44:01] here. Uh we have 47,000 coming out of the

[44:08] capital levy and 51,000 one for um enabling services, so corporate

[44:14] services, and the other one for conservation land and stewardship. And

[44:17] that adds up to the 98 from the levy and the additional 60 is from capital

[44:22] reserve.

[44:28] Okay. I it I I know that and it was made fairly clear from um Ontario provincial

[44:37] uh conservation authority from MECP and conservation Ontario to to maintain a

[44:42] status quo and have a zero budget. That was the word quite

[44:48] from from the start is to net zero, you know, do a net zero.

[44:52] » Oh, I didn't hear net zero the words >> from the start, but

[44:58] » uh

[45:02] » I know with the CBCA with a CVA increase of 05

[45:06] um if we just used the CVA difference from last year to this year, our levy

[45:12] increase would be 94. just with the CVA. So

[45:17] » I we were told to do our budgeting as usual and and most CAS are going up

[45:22] anywhere from 2 to 4%. So >> I know Autonomy and Crow are zeroing

[45:27] out. >> Okay, that's all I that's all I have for

[45:31] questions. Any any further um questions for Rhonda?

[45:40] Thank you Rhonda for uh bringing that to us. Uh, be it resolved the the

[45:45] recommendation is be it resolved that the presentation and draft budget from

[45:48] Ron Baitman, chief administrative officer for Lower Trent Conservation

[45:51] Authority, be received for information. Can I get a mover and a seconder?

[45:56] Councelor English, Councelor Giddings. All in favor? That's carried.

[46:03] Thank you. Moves us right along to reports from municipal officers.

[46:09] We have first report is non-standard procurement Hastings Fieldhouse

[46:14] generator replacement.

[46:19] Peter, do you have anything to [sighs] uh add to the report? It looks

[46:24] relatively straightforward. >> Uh uh thank you, Deputy Mayor. I have

[46:28] nothing else to to add that uh other than what was in the report.

[46:35] » Thank you. Recommended. Uh motion is be it resolved that staff report CSR2026-02

[46:42] Peter Bernett, director of community services be received. Can I get a mover

[46:46] and a seconder? Councelor Pope. Councelor Savory. We

[46:52] have some questions. Councelor Savory. >> Thank you, Deputy Mayor.

[46:56] Peter, just uh following up um the new generator system for the to keep the

[47:01] dome inflated. Um sounds like like a great idea to make sure that uh we

[47:06] protect our our property. And then understand that maybe the backup gener

[47:12] generator that's currently there at the moment will possibly be rebuilt down the

[47:16] road as a backup to the new. Um, is there anything that could be looked at

[47:21] or has been looked at to see if um, this generator or even the backup generator

[47:27] if it gets rebuilt um, can be used for like for the building for like an

[47:31] emergency services uh, center to ensure that folks in the communities have a

[47:37] place to go to um, not just keeping the dome up, but also making sure the lights

[47:42] stay on and the heat stays on. that will help uh serve the community in an

[47:47] emergency emergency situation. >> Through you, Deputy Mayor. Thank you

[47:52] very much for the question. Um yeah, in the capital budget um for 2026, there

[47:58] was a there was the replacement of this generator in the capital budget as well

[48:02] as looking at another generator for emergency measures.

[48:06] the we've conducted a study with the uh with an electrician to try to plan what

[48:13] could be done for the bricks and mortar type building in lights in the

[48:17] fieldhouse. Um they're very separate systems uh and they needed to be they

[48:23] have to be treated that way. Uh the challenge is that the building was never

[48:28] constructed with the thought at the time of having emergency generator power. So

[48:36] the the way the uh the dome is the power panels are very separate. Could be way

[48:43] we have some that are outside, some on one side of the dome, some from the

[48:47] other side of the dome, some in the building. So uh it just makes it

[48:50] complicated. I'm not saying it can't be done. We have a plan. Um but the budget

[48:54] that was proposed and approved with the 2026 budget for that type of emergency

[49:00] measures power may not be sufficient. Um, so we're just in the process of

[49:05] looking at the options that we can do to have uh backup power in that facility.

[49:12] Um, and there are some grants that we may be able to help augment that with

[49:17] that just came out this week. So staff are looking at that as an option as

[49:21] well. So that was part of our plan. Uh, it just we might not be able to

[49:26] implement it all this year, but we're working towards that.

[49:29] » Great. >> Great. Thanks for the update, Pete.

[49:35] » Thank you, councelor. Councelor Brodney. >> Yes. Thank you, Chair. Uh Peter alluded

[49:42] to the fact that there's power outages in Hastings and on Facebook for the last

[49:48] year. That's been a common common comment that a lot more than just

[49:56] odd outage. It's on on for a long time. says, "So, is there any conversation

[50:01] with hydro to explain why the village seems to be out of power and some of the

[50:07] other areas aren't? I mean, for a storm, I can realize, but this lots of times

[50:11] it's just nice, calm, calm days and they're out of power.

[50:15] » You're telling me." And uh [laughter] I actually picked it up also in our

[50:20] manager of wastewater and wa and or water and wastewater services report as

[50:24] well. um because we're now at the point that um those power interruptions uh are

[50:32] causing damage to uh significant equipment. But I'll pass it over to CEO.

[50:37] I know she has a comment uh on this as well

[50:39] » through you uh chair. Um so I did take it upon myself to contact Hydro1 um to

[50:47] advocate on behalf of the municipality uh with regards to the

[50:52] uh hydro issue in Hastings. And their response back to me uh was I actually

[50:59] still am pursuing a meeting with Hydro1. I want to try to uh get them to

[51:04] understand uh from our perspective especially with regards to the

[51:08] fieldhouse obviously an asset that we do not want to lose due to the uh frequent

[51:15] power interruptions in Hastings. Um so I did reach out to them and they have

[51:20] advised me that they are doing an upgrade to the system in Hastings. Uh, I

[51:26] don't know if you've noticed across the street from the fieldhouse, they're

[51:30] running Hastings Hydro through a trailer at this point. And I guess it's been

[51:34] like that for quite some time. So, they have assured me that they are working on

[51:39] upgrading the hydro uh um through a process over the next several months and

[51:45] that they are going to be providing hastings.

[51:54] um this th this uh item and uh try to I'll be relentless when it comes to

[52:00] having a meeting with them. So, I will uh certainly provide council with an

[52:04] update uh when I have one, but that's what I have at this time.

[52:11] » Thank you, CEO. Any further comments or questions on our

[52:17] Hastings Fieldhouse generator replacement?

[52:22] Seeing none, we have a mover and a seconder. All those in favor?

[52:26] That is carried. Thank you. Moving along to building department

[52:32] activity, April to June 2026. Be it resolved that staff report

[52:38] building 2026-006, Steven White.

[52:43] Laura Cook's here to present the or take questions this morning. Our chief

[52:49] building official uh be received. Can we get a mover and a seconder? Councelor

[52:54] Pope, Councelor Savory, any questions or comments on this report?

[53:02] Councelor Savory, just it's nice to see this report come

[53:07] in and appreciate what staff and and and the building official put together to

[53:12] make sure we see what's going on in a snapshot that takes place in our

[53:17] municipality. And it's nice to see that there's a little bit of bounce back in

[53:21] July for uh new permits and and changes to help uh show that there is some

[53:27] positive things happening again in our communities that'll make uh our

[53:32] communities grow. So appreciate your your staff and yourselves putting this

[53:36] together for us. Thank you. >> Thank you, counselor. Any further

[53:42] comments or questions? Seeing none, and all those in favor,

[53:48] that is carried. Thank you. We'll get you back here, Laura. Don't

[53:54] worry. Moves us along to item two uh 8C 2026,

[54:00] second quarter operational report for water wastewater. Be it resolved that

[54:05] staff report WWS 2026-07, Kyle Bock, manager of water and

[54:11] wastewater services be received. Could I get a mover and a seconder? Councelor

[54:16] Brney, Councelor Pope,

[54:20] trying to follow my notes at the same time. Um, any questions,

[54:27] comments? I do have one and it's councelor Savory.

[54:32] Go ahead. >> Thank you, Deputy Mayor. It's probably

[54:34] the same lines of where you're going. Um, does the municipality have a leg to

[54:38] stand on about the damage done to the power outages to that affect our plants

[54:43] operations >> through you deputy mayor? Um, I have

[54:48] included it as part of my discussion with Hydro1. Um, so, um, you know, I

[54:54] don't see that they're probably going to give us any any, uh, financial

[54:59] compensation, but certainly I will continue to pursue, um, any anything

[55:05] they're willing to offer us. I'm actually um

[55:10] interested in seeing if they can support us with some kind of you know I don't

[55:15] know if it's practical but like some kind of generator a backup service or

[55:21] because they're right there on Elgen Street right so it's nice and close to

[55:24] the so basically what I'm saying is I'm going to try to get whatever I can out

[55:28] of them >> okay yeah

[55:30] » I'm going to try anyway right >> because I'm not sure the the damage at

[55:34] this time financially but the rateayers that use a system shouldn't be held

[55:41] responsible for something that they're they know they have a problem with and

[55:45] the fact that now we have to kick out more money out of our budgets to try and

[55:51] fix the problem that they're causing. So appreciate what you can

[55:55] » for sure. You know, obviously it is a communitywide concern uh for Hastings

[56:02] » and uh which is why I uh insist on pursuing it.

[56:07] » Do we have an an ideal number at this time what it's going to cost to um

[56:13] replace the damage that's been done? Do we know at that at this particular time

[56:17] what it's expected to repair this problem?

[56:23] through you, Deputy Mayor. Through you, Deputy Mayor. Uh, we don't

[56:28] have the the bills kind of all finalized for the wastewater side yet. We just

[56:31] haven't received our our bills from our contractors for their electrical

[56:34] service, but I mean, parts wise, we're in about 1,200 bucks already. So,

[56:39] thank you.

[56:43] » Thank you, counselor. Uh, that was along the lines of my questioning. Uh but

[56:48] along with that um would this fall uh under under the

[56:55] deduction line of uh some type of insurance uh through

[56:59] through this uh incident? Um I know that there was a quite a number well the pri

[57:05] in the private sector anyway there have been quite a number of insurance claims

[57:08] for property and damage and that sort of thing but it all depends I guess on uh

[57:13] the the limit of of the in the extent of the damage.

[57:18] Yeah, like through through you, Deputy Mayor. Um we are still waiting for the

[57:24] final uh amount uh to be able to um you know reference it to our insurance

[57:30] deductible to determine if it is something that we should be looking at.

[57:35] But I suspect that it will be uh the deductible will be much more

[57:42] » as I anticipated. It's good to question.

[57:48] Uh we have a mover and a seconder. All those in favor? That is carried. Thank

[57:54] you.

[57:59] Moves us along to item 8D, community improvement plan application 2026-06

[58:04] for 30 Doxy Avenue South. Be it resolved that staff report

[58:09] EDC206-017 Kamese community development manager be

[58:14] received that the community improvement plan application funding request from

[58:19] Rio and Laura

[58:23] Saran uh tenants of 30 Doxy Avenue South came

[58:28] be approved to an upset limit of 3,300 that the appropriate bylaw be brought

[58:35] forward for council's consideration and then The applicant be advised of

[58:38] council's decision under the community development advisory signature.

[58:43] We get a mover and a seconder. Councelor Pope, councelor Savory,

[58:50] any comments or questions?

[58:56] Kira, where where are we about uh on on our budget? I believe it's you've got an

[59:01] appendix on here that sort of shows but

[59:07] do you know approximately where we are on our our annual usage of that 75,000

[59:14] » uh through you deputy mayor we are about what is that 29,000

[59:20] I believe is our in year um so um you know not quite half I'd say

[59:30] uh 2025 and 2026 our applications are a little bit lower, but I think we can

[59:36] attribute that to just to kind of a general uncertainty in the economy, but

[59:40] I have had a couple of meetings. I have a couple of more applications coming in.

[59:45] So, we're basically going to be on track with where we were for 2025, I think.

[59:50] Um, and we've uh we're working with the uh Chamber of Commerce and the uh RTU,

[59:58] not R28, Ministry of Rural Affairs. They have a new fund coming up focusing on

[1:00:03] accessibility. So, I'm hoping that that opportunity to maximize funding might

[1:00:09] see an uptick in applications for the last uh quarter of the year as well.

[1:00:14] » Thank you. the the commitments that's on the appendix here of 28,600. Does that

[1:00:19] roll into the current year's budget or is it is it taken out of the year in

[1:00:25] which it's dispersed?

[1:00:30] » No. So, we work on that entire amount like it comes out of the 2020 this

[1:00:38] year's amount. Yeah. I guess I'm going to change my answer. Yes, it comes out

[1:00:42] of this year's aotment, but we track the whole entire amount in terms of what the

[1:00:47] reserve is and what the outstanding commitments are plus

[1:00:53] an ongoing. So, we changed it so that we in the past as we got close to that

[1:00:58] maximizing the 75% we'd have to go into reserve. This way we are just kind of

[1:01:03] tracking it because sometimes those those applications that happen near the

[1:01:07] end of the year end up being dispersed in the next calendar year but we do

[1:01:13] track it for the budget year >> and the current um

[1:01:19] PIC or policy um CIP sorry P CIP policy is 12 months

[1:01:28] 365 that's typically uh between in your application and the final project. You

[1:01:34] have one year to do that. Okay. Thank you. Any other questions?

[1:01:41] Seeing none, all those in favor? That is carried. Thank you.

[1:01:47] Moves us along to item 8 E. We have a special event application for the

[1:01:52] Warworth Fair September 11th to 13th, 2026. Put it in your calendar.

[1:01:57] be resolved that staff report EDC206-018 Kamese community development manager be

[1:02:04] received and that council approve the issuance of a special event permit

[1:02:09] number 2026-015 subject to the conditions outlined in

[1:02:13] the draft permit and that council approve the fee waiver requested to use

[1:02:18] the table and chair event trailer and that the applicant be advised of the

[1:02:22] council's decision under the deputy clerk's signature

[1:02:27] mover over in a second here. Councelor English, Councelor Pope.

[1:02:32] Any discussion? This is a an annual event that we always

[1:02:38] try to support. I don't see any discussion. All those in favor? That is

[1:02:42] carried. Thank you. Moving along to 8F. We have special

[1:02:48] event application for the Dave Down Bridge Hospice Run, Walk, and Wag

[1:02:52] September 19th, 2026. Put it in your calendar. Be it resolved that staff

[1:02:58] report EDC 2026-019 Kirase community de development manager

[1:03:05] be received and that council support the issuance of special event permit number

[1:03:10] 2026-016 subject to the conditions outlined in

[1:03:14] the permit

[1:03:17] mover and a seconder councelor Brney Councelor Pope any discussion on this

[1:03:23] great

[1:03:26] Seeing none, all those in favor that is carried.

[1:03:34] Thank you very much.

[1:03:38] Moves us along to item 8G, another special event application. We have

[1:03:42] Camperford Royal Canadian Legion Branch 103, the drum head ceremony, September

[1:03:47] 27th, 2026. Put it in your calendar. Be it resolved

[1:03:52] that staff report EDC206-20

[1:03:57] Kiraamese community development manager be received that council support the

[1:04:01] issuance of special event permit number 2026-017

[1:04:06] subject to the conditions outlined in the permit

[1:04:12] a mover and a seconder councelor English councelor Savory

[1:04:17] any comments or discussion

[1:04:21] I think it's a great opportunity for the Legion to

[1:04:26] support u the 100year of uh legions in Canada

[1:04:33] with this special event. All those in favor? That is carried. Thank you.

[1:04:41] Moving along to item H uh 8H,

[1:04:49] we have Lower Trent Conservation Authority Board appointment.

[1:04:54] Be it resolved that staff report uh clerk 2026-11

[1:04:59] Jessica Pauly our clerk be received and that council received the

[1:05:04] resignation as board member of lower trent conservation authority from

[1:05:08] councelor English and that councelor does appoint someone

[1:05:13] from this table as a council representative on the lower trent

[1:05:17] conservation authority for the remainder of the term of council.

[1:05:23] Uh there it is in the report and I have with my experience stepped forward to

[1:05:28] allow that. Um but we do have a process. Um Jessica, what's the process that

[1:05:36] we're going to follow? In accordance with your procedural bylaw, Deputy

[1:05:40] Mayor, uh section 10B of your procedural bylaw does still

[1:05:46] require you uh to call three times from the floor for any additional nominations

[1:05:52] of members of council. Um so you will whilst we uh did do the survey to

[1:05:58] request an interest um and we only received one name, we do do still allow

[1:06:04] the opportunity for anybody else who would like to step forward. So you will

[1:06:07] call for um any interest for three times and and I will create a list if uh

[1:06:13] necessary and then we will go from there.

[1:06:18] » Thank you. Here's the process. I will call for the first time to fill this

[1:06:23] vacancy on the lower Trent Conservation Authority Board. Any nominations?

[1:06:31] Second time any nominations?

[1:06:35] Third time any nominations?

[1:06:39] I will declare nominations closed

[1:06:44] uh and we will proceed. Uh deputy mayor. So that will update

[1:06:49] your resolution to include adding uh Deputy Mayor Metaf in the blank of the

[1:06:53] resolution that you just read.

[1:06:58] » Thank you. Everyone clear? Do I need to reread

[1:07:07] Uh, do we have a mover and a seconder for that? Councelor Giddings, councelor

[1:07:13] Brone. All in favor? That is carried. Thank you.

[1:07:21] Moves us along to item 8 I. We have independent energy system operator uh

[1:07:26] required municipal support for hydroelect electric energy project in

[1:07:30] Hastings.

[1:07:35] I'm going to ask our planner to maybe uh have a a few words on this application.

[1:07:42] Uh I I believe uh it's relatively straightforward, but it is something

[1:07:46] that perhaps we could have a discussion about.

[1:07:49] » Thank you, Deputy Mayor. So, we did see this similar application from the same

[1:07:53] owner last uh October. Uh they have increased the amount of megawatts they

[1:07:57] proposing from 3 megawatts to two. This is based on the number of turbines and

[1:08:00] the flow rate of the Trent River in the area. Uh so they were unsuccessful at

[1:08:05] last year's bid. There are a number of bids as IO looks for alternative sources

[1:08:09] of energy. That's what this is the independent energy system operator. So

[1:08:12] it's not um not like the new one outside of Port Hope, which is the province

[1:08:17] creating this. It is for private companies to come forward to sell power

[1:08:21] to the grid. So this is a hydro electric one. Hydro 1 operates a few in the area

[1:08:25] or Ontario Power Generation I should say. Um but this is an independent one.

[1:08:29] The first round of bidding that that previous council motion was for they

[1:08:33] were announced in May. The selected uh bids the selected contracts were

[1:08:36] announced in May and they were primarily largecale agotic uh solar plants and a

[1:08:42] couple other um projects as well but mostly I think one wind and the rest

[1:08:46] were all solar. So that might have been a factor in what they were looking for

[1:08:49] at that time of things that could be scaled up quickly and put in in place

[1:08:53] immediately where something like this would require the construction of um a

[1:08:58] dam. They do have the mill rights to that uh that pond putting the turbines

[1:09:02] and everything else. So it might have had a longer lead time and what wouldn't

[1:09:05] have been what the ISO was looking for last year where this project is for

[1:09:09] anything that will come online in the next um five years. I do mention towards

[1:09:14] the end that there is an option we could look at blankets supporting all

[1:09:18] hydroelectric projects below a certain megawatt or every time there's a new

[1:09:21] round of bidding uh we can go through this public process. Again, it's really

[1:09:25] up to council on whether you want um not be notified every time there's a new uh

[1:09:30] round of RFPs or if we want to establish a certain uh automatic project type and

[1:09:37] a power level uh type to be sort of auto approved by by council. That is up to

[1:09:44] council's consideration. The resolution is for this specific project at this

[1:09:48] specific size for this specific bid. If they're unsuccessful and there's a new

[1:09:52] bid next year, we'll have come to the same same thing at that time.

[1:09:59] » Thank you, Cameron. Is there any comments or questions from council?

[1:10:03] Councelor Savory, deputy mayor. So, confirming then uh these folks applied

[1:10:08] last year, they never went forward with the project because there there was

[1:10:13] other projects that were deemed more uh successful to uh have implement right

[1:10:18] away. Um they're now requesting to create a a dam system again from 2

[1:10:26] megawatts to 3 megawws. Um when they submit, are they going to be

[1:10:32] able to they we have no idea if they're going to be able be approved again? And

[1:10:37] we have no idea if they did even um contact the indigenous uh community to

[1:10:44] to find out if there was uh any concerns from their reason why they were turned

[1:10:50] down or is just an update there if there was any communication there that we

[1:10:55] aware of. >> Yeah. So through the chair so IO has the

[1:10:59] bids and assigned a bid. So there were hundreds maybe even a thousand

[1:11:02] applications. I think 17 it's in the report 17 were approved across Ontario.

[1:11:08] Um not the same company. So this company I think he does have another

[1:11:11] hydroelectric project down near London where he's originally from. Um so it is

[1:11:15] a different project but one of the it is a requirement to have indigenous

[1:11:19] consultation but uh typically you know some of the ones that were approved had

[1:11:24] um whether they were on indigenous uh you know first nations lands or just had

[1:11:28] a higher degree of involvement from the start. Maybe that was why they were

[1:11:31] approved. But in this case, the requirements of the RFP is that you have

[1:11:34] to promise to do it in the future. So if they do get approved by ISO, that's not

[1:11:38] doesn't mean they can just go right ahead. They still have to do public uh

[1:11:42] engagement in the municipality for that specific project. They have to reach out

[1:11:46] to indigenous at that time. Uh so it you can do it ahead of time and some of them

[1:11:51] did and maybe that was why they're successful, but it's not a requirement

[1:11:55] to do it before the IESO approves your bid.

[1:12:01] Thanks Cameron. >> Thank you counselor.

[1:12:07] Um Cameron, historically and we probably talked about this in the last

[1:12:11] application. Historically this location has had um small scale electric gener

[1:12:17] generation previously hydro dam generation. Yeah.

[1:12:20] » Yeah. So originally this was a mill pond. I believe it was a grist mill um

[1:12:24] from what I've heard from the owner cuz he you know had all the the legal work

[1:12:28] and showed what it was. So the land that he does own on off Water Street, those

[1:12:32] were currently used as a gravel parking lot was originally a mill. Then for a

[1:12:37] long time, I think it was about a half megawatt or uh 25% of a megawatt uh

[1:12:43] generating station for a long time. I believe it might have burned down or

[1:12:46] just fell apart sometime in 60s and it's sort of been vacant since. I'd have to

[1:12:50] look at the exact timeline, but yes, it has been used for power. Uh in 2016 he

[1:12:54] was approved uh by the province for power there or 2015 I should say he was

[1:12:58] approved. Um but then in 2016 th those contracts for renewable energy were uh

[1:13:03] cancelled by the province and uh his was one of the bids that was uh canceled

[1:13:08] even though he did have approval at that time.

[1:13:12] » Thank you. The end user of this energy it goes into the whole uh energy system

[1:13:18] the whole power generation system. Correct.

[1:13:21] » Yes, that is correct. It is sold to the uh entire uh grid.

[1:13:27] » Thank you. uh blanket support. I think maybe that's something that we can uh

[1:13:31] look at uh in the future if we see more applications. At this time, I believe we

[1:13:36] only ever have really seen one application uh in the municipality. So,

[1:13:43] if council agrees, I think we will just do a by application at this time and if

[1:13:47] if it's warrants, we will look at the blanket support at a later date.

[1:13:54] Any further question? Councelor Savory. Thank you, Deputy Mayor. Couple other

[1:13:59] things. Um, if the project does get approved, they have to prove to the

[1:14:03] municipality that they they have the $5 million worth of liability insurance

[1:14:07] that protects the municipality from any kind of uh incidents that may take place

[1:14:11] in the property of of the municipality. And the second question is they are

[1:14:16] aware that there's still a pathway a spawning uh bed for the pickrol coming

[1:14:23] up in the in the spring to do their spawning for for the uh the Trent River

[1:14:29] system. They are aware of that issue as well.

[1:14:33] » Yeah. For the fir through the chair for the first question I Yeah. They'd have a

[1:14:38] contractor and they'd have insurance for construction. So I imagine insurance and

[1:14:42] everything like that. Uh it's all on private property. Um but I imagine just

[1:14:47] be under general contractor insurance. So the they own uh the three blocks of

[1:14:51] land. Uh when it says municipal project area, that's just what the ISO refers to

[1:14:55] as the what we say the subject land. Okay?

[1:14:58] » It's not land that we own. They're not renting it from us or using it or buying

[1:15:01] it from us. Uh it's land they privately own. But uh um that just just a weird

[1:15:07] term that I I even I was confused when I first read that about the ISO for these

[1:15:11] spawning grounds. A lot of it is a bit further down. Um but that would be

[1:15:15] something they'd have to look at of you know what would be the impact on the

[1:15:18] river. Uh on they do have the mill rights to that little pond and um the

[1:15:24] way the the dams and lobster set up no fish do go up between the two. So it is

[1:15:28] a barrier between so they're going up to Rice Lake as a migration route. Um there

[1:15:34] could be do they could do some work to improve the habitat. So I think he I

[1:15:39] believe the owner uh mentioned he was a fisher and you know knew about uh a bit

[1:15:44] of their habitat and there could be done they could do some improvements outside

[1:15:48] of the navigation channel that have to be done with the collaboration of Parks

[1:15:52] Canada to improve that picker roll uh ground but that is something they have

[1:15:56] considered in my conversations with them.

[1:15:58] » Great. Thanks Cameron.

[1:16:02] » Thank you counselor. >> Is everyone all in?

[1:16:07] I will read the resolution. Be it resolved that staff report planning

[1:16:12] 2026-48 Cameron Law Planner be received. Whereas

[1:16:17] the proponent is proposing to construct and operate

[1:16:21] an LLT energy project with the characteristics outlined in the table

[1:16:25] included in the report located on the properties identified below under the

[1:16:31] long-term to energy supply. Window one request for proposals issued

[1:16:36] by the ESO capitalized item terms not defined

[1:16:42] herein have the meanings ascribed to them in the LLT RFP.

[1:16:50] And number three, the proponent has no later than 60 days prior to the date of

[1:16:55] this municipal resolution in support of the proposal submission delivered a

[1:17:00] pre-engagement confirmation notice to an applicable local body administrator in

[1:17:05] respect of the municipal lands comprising the project site outlined in

[1:17:10] the table below.

[1:17:15] The legal name of the proponent Prodigy Power Incorporated. The generating

[1:17:20] technology of the LLT energy project hydroelect electricity

[1:17:25] generation. The maximum potential cap contact capacity of the LLT energy

[1:17:30] project is 3 megaww. Item four, pursuant to the LLT RFP. If

[1:17:37] the LLT energy project is proposed to be located in whole or in part on municipal

[1:17:42] lands, the proposal must include a municipal support confirmation which may

[1:17:45] be in the form of a municipal resolution in support of proposal submission.

[1:17:51] Therefore, be it resolved that the council of the municipality of Trent

[1:17:55] Hills supports the submission of a proposal of the long-term energy project

[1:17:59] located on the municipal project lands. that this resolution's sole purpose is

[1:18:04] to satisfy the mandatory requirements of section 4.2A 2A of the LLT RFP and may

[1:18:11] not be used for the purpose of any other form of approval in relation to the

[1:18:15] proposal or LLT energy project or for any other purpose that the proponent has

[1:18:22] undertaken or has committed to undertake indigenous and community engagement

[1:18:27] activities in respect of the LLT energy project to the satisfaction of the

[1:18:32] municipality and that the municipal project lands does not include lands

[1:18:36] designated ated as prime agricultural areas in the official plan of the

[1:18:40] municipality of Trent Hills. Mover and a seconder. Councelor Pope,

[1:18:47] Councelor Giddings. Any further discussion?

[1:18:51] Seeing none, all in favor? And that is carried. Thank you.

[1:19:01] moves us along to item 8 J. Severance consent application B212026

[1:19:07] Bruce Sharp Limited 68 Doxy Avenue North G geographic town of Campbellford.

[1:19:14] I will read the resolution. Be it resolved that staff report planning

[1:19:17] 2026-49 Sam Dur planning and development

[1:19:21] assistant be received. Net severance consent application B212026

[1:19:27] Bruce Sharp Limited with respect to property located in plan 112 part of lot

[1:19:32] 13 and part of block D being parts three and four on reference plan 38R-3810

[1:19:40] designated as part four and five on reference plan 39R-1513668

[1:19:49] Doxy Street North plan 112 block The lots 15-1685

[1:19:56] Front Street North 85 Front Street North Geographic Town of Camelford

[1:20:05] for application to create two separate parcels

[1:20:09] which have merged in title be approved with the following with the conditions

[1:20:12] as noted in this report.

[1:20:16] » Can I ask planning staff to ask the government to make this a little bit

[1:20:22] Did everyone understand that? Because I'm not reading it again.

[1:20:26] » Any questions or comments? Can I get a mover and a seconder? Councelor English.

[1:20:30] Councelor Giddings. All in favor? That is carried. Thank you.

[1:20:40] » Moves us along to item 8K. We have Campbellford Memorial Hospital request

[1:20:45] to wave fees for past and future planning applications for the campus of

[1:20:50] care project.

[1:20:56] Uh I will re I would I'd like to open discussion first on this um because we

[1:21:01] have a choice that we need to make um on this resolution.

[1:21:06] Uh is there any comments uh from council? Councelor Pope

[1:21:10] » uh through the chair. Uh thank you. Um certainly I know the hospital uh board

[1:21:17] has talked about how well uh our planning department has helped them.

[1:21:22] This is going to be a big project for the town and um it's going to require a

[1:21:28] lot of support from the council which actually means uh the rateayers and

[1:21:31] taxpayers in the town. So I believe that this amount is uh reasonable to do and u

[1:21:37] everything we can do to expedite uh this project while following the rules. I

[1:21:42] know our planning will look after it for us.

[1:21:48] » Thank you, councelor Cro. [clears throat and cough]

[1:21:53] Madam Chair, excuse me.

[1:21:58] I just echo the comments of councelor Pope. Uh I think we have to be seen as

[1:22:04] leading the the parade on this to incorporate other municipalities in our

[1:22:10] area to uh move this project along. I I recognize that the five Lions Clubs in

[1:22:18] the area have got a fundraiser going for the hospital and are on side with

[1:22:24] continuing that for four or five years. That's just one thing that I've learned

[1:22:29] and I think it's certainly our our position to be the leading on this and

[1:22:35] get it clear the path as much as we can.

[1:22:43] » Thank you councelor Councelor English. >> Thank you mayor. I certainly agree with

[1:22:48] the comments coming forward here. I think we need to to uh be the leaders in

[1:22:52] this and provide all the help that we can for this very very important

[1:22:55] project. uh there's going to be a lot of work

[1:22:58] going ahead with it and the more that we can do in helping this project is the

[1:23:03] better and I think if we didn't accept it it might be hard on our health as

[1:23:07] well as a counselor. So thank you. >> Thank you councelor councelor Giddings.

[1:23:15] » Uh thank you deputy mayor. Um this will sound repetitive. I mean, obviously I

[1:23:20] agree uh with my colleagues on this and I think we should um um approve that we

[1:23:25] wave it, but before we do, let's keep in mind that we we have services to put in.

[1:23:30] Um that's going to have some serious costs. And I think maybe before we make

[1:23:34] a decision right now, do we have an idea what that would cost to wave these fees,

[1:23:39] what it has cost, what it might cost in the future?

[1:23:46] Uh I'll pass it over to planning to uh give a commentary on where we're at and

[1:23:51] predict uh a little bit into the future uh as to what it might be.

[1:23:55] » Yeah. So through uh the chair, this specific waving of fees is just for

[1:23:59] planning applications and anything under the fees and charges bylaw. It doesn't

[1:24:03] include servicing. So right now it's it would be uh with all the applications

[1:24:07] that are uh they've just submitted official plan amendment application that

[1:24:10] notice went out as well as a zoning bile amendment for those lands that they had

[1:24:13] previously severed. Um that would be about $11,000 worth of planning fees

[1:24:17] that uh I think deposits as well that they would then not have to pay. Uh

[1:24:22] we've also recommended a few other application in the future which would be

[1:24:25] up to another 10 to 15,000 with um uh you know the plan subdivision if they do

[1:24:32] that to divide the land uh extensions to that because once it's in place has to

[1:24:36] get it reapproved every three years by council and all those things have

[1:24:38] additional fees. So, it could be about $25,000 worth of planning fees over the

[1:24:42] next uh 10,000 this year and then another 15,000 over the next few years.

[1:24:47] We continue through the process for um providing services of the property.

[1:24:52] That's really something um outside of our scope right now. We still don't have

[1:24:56] the expected demand. Um there's also um you know depending on who goes first. If

[1:25:02] they have mentioned that Omni long-term care facility might be first and they

[1:25:06] might being partially a for forprofit long-term care facility might uh have to

[1:25:12] assist with part of that to provide that level of service where um I also

[1:25:16] mentioned this is specifically for the Campford um uh anything from the Camp

[1:25:20] Memorial Hospital is if we do approve it as is the one rep uh one motion is for

[1:25:27] specifically anything related to the Campford Memorial Hospital if there are

[1:25:29] other organizations that come forward to use the land, they would not be exempt

[1:25:33] from uh this waiver. They would have to reapply at that time. So, that would be

[1:25:37] um potential other fees that we might get back at that point um depending on

[1:25:42] uh the nature of of those other um groups, businesses, corporations that

[1:25:47] would be involved in the the overall campus of care.

[1:25:52] » Uh thank you, Cameron. I mean, obviously, I'm in support of of of

[1:25:55] waving this and I agree with uh Council Bratney that um we have to lead the way.

[1:25:59] Uh our future council has to bear the burden of this decision when it comes to

[1:26:03] budget season. Um, and then maybe just keep in mind that there will be other

[1:26:08] costs associated with this. So, that's my only comment on that.

[1:26:13] » Thank you, counselor. Counselor Savory. >> Thank you, Deputy Mayor. It's so true.

[1:26:18] We have to be a leader in this whole uh parade here to make sure that our camp

[1:26:23] hospital gets all the tools and things necessary to go forward and and uh

[1:26:28] create create this project and and make sure it happens. Uh so strongly support

[1:26:34] what's going to happen here and look forward to seeing all the pieces of the

[1:26:38] puzzle put together. Thank you. >> Thank you councelor Councelor English.

[1:26:45] » Thank you Dr. Merrick. Just quick question to finance. Is this something

[1:26:49] that our development charges reserve could be used for?

[1:26:56] » Director of finance. >> Hi. Your DC charges are very strict on

[1:27:01] what they can be used for and they are specific to the projects listed in the

[1:27:04] DC charges bylaw. So, no. >> Or the uh running of the water and sewer

[1:27:11] could not be included in that as well. >> It's not one of the listed projects for

[1:27:15] DC charges. Thank you.

[1:27:22] » Thank you, counselor. With that question, um when are we

[1:27:28] looking at uh a new uh Dc charge um

[1:27:36] study? And does this even fall into uh that

[1:27:43] municipal level because it is not a technically a municipal project.

[1:27:51] » I have director of planning on the spot. >> Mr. Chairman, yes, you threw in that

[1:27:55] second part and got me thinking. So, first let me say I think it was only

[1:27:59] last year that we updated our development charges by a lot. doesn't

[1:28:02] mean we can't update it at any time we choose, but I think it's 10 years that

[1:28:07] we have to do it now. Um, if other projects come up that haven't been

[1:28:11] included that we want to see included in that, then that would be a decision of

[1:28:15] council to go ahead before the time limit is up. um

[1:28:20] development charges and our water and sewer connection

[1:28:26] charges are charged to new development to pay

[1:28:30] for the demand on services related to growth. So that's basically what the

[1:28:34] study does. We look at all the things we need in the community that are covered

[1:28:39] by those service areas and determine all the new housing, all the new

[1:28:43] development, what is it, what burden is it putting on those things. Um I'm not

[1:28:49] aware that a project like the hospital is exempt. So that may be a choice that

[1:28:55] council has to make going forward. Um I'm sure when we get to the point and

[1:29:00] this has been brought up by the counselors already, what are these costs

[1:29:03] going to be? Um there'll be a um sure the director of finance will be doing a

[1:29:10] [laughter] marvelous report on how those

[1:29:13] opportunities fit in and uh what it would cost the community.

[1:29:22] » Thank you. Uh my last my question councelor were you gonna coun councelor

[1:29:29] Sab. Thank you, Deputy Mayor. Just a short update. We did attend the

[1:29:36] uh AMO 2026 this year and the governments are telling us that there's

[1:29:41] going to be more grants that are going to come forward to help for water sewer

[1:29:46] roads improvements and that down the road. So, that may help us uh put some

[1:29:51] of that water sewer connections in place and some of the costs that uh will

[1:29:56] affect maybe including connection fees. Who knows? But just an update, quick

[1:30:01] update there.

[1:30:05] » Thank you. Uh and I guarantee you that that uh our staff compliment uh are

[1:30:11] continually looking and getting those uh those new grants that come forward and

[1:30:17] two have already been alluded to uh today in in uh some of the reports as

[1:30:23] that will continue. Uh just one quick question. This uh

[1:30:28] approval does not disrupt the operational budget of the planning

[1:30:33] department as it's laid out. Uh what it would do is is reflect the possible

[1:30:39] revenue for the year. Is that correct?

[1:30:45] » Yes. So that is my interpretation that it would uh I'm sure we'll we'll want to

[1:30:51] show that we've dealt with these applications

[1:30:54] » and there'll be I don't know whether it will look at like an inner and out or

[1:30:58] we'll track it in some manner as we'll track all the costs associated with the

[1:31:03] hospital that the municipality particip participates in.

[1:31:08] » Thank you. As uh everyone else has commented, I I

[1:31:15] also do uh agree that as much support as we can give to this project uh is

[1:31:22] important. And for me, this is a uh this is is one that's relatively minor in

[1:31:27] scale to what we're the asks are going to be going forward. Councelor Giddings,

[1:31:33] » sorry, I didn't mean to. I didn't. Do you need a motion to approve

[1:31:37] » versus the decline? >> I do. I would like to do that.

[1:31:41] » I will read the um motion in the recommended motion in front of us. Be

[1:31:47] resolved uh that staff report planning 2025-50

[1:31:55] Cameron Law Planner be received.

[1:32:01] » Oh, we're in year 2026. Sorry. 2026-50 be received. uh that Campbeller Memorial

[1:32:09] Hospital requests to wave the fees for all planning applications related to the

[1:32:14] CM Camp Campbell Memorial Hospital's campus of care project for the property

[1:32:18] legally described as parts lot six and seven concession 7 part 3 on plan

[1:32:24] 39R-12944 geographic township of Seymour

[1:32:29] Municipality of Trent Hills pursuant to section five of fees and charges bylaw

[1:32:34] 2025-082

[1:32:37] and its successors for approval

[1:32:44] is that we're going to wave uh and then it's approved.

[1:32:50] » [snorts] >> So we have a mover, councelor Giddings,

[1:32:54] seconder, councelor English. Any further discussion to approve

[1:33:00] waving? Seeing none, all those in favor? That is

[1:33:06] carried.

[1:33:09] Thank you. Moves us along to item 8 L. We have severance application B 062026

[1:33:16] and zoning by law amendment application C052026

[1:33:22] for status update and continued deferral.

[1:33:27] I have some counselors in queue, so we're going to go right to discussion on

[1:33:31] this one first. Councelor English.

[1:33:37] » Thank you, Deputy Mayor. Uh I certainly do uh am looking forward to deferring

[1:33:42] this. There's so many unanswered questions on this plan of subdivision.

[1:33:47] Uh things like traffic, parking, density, type,

[1:33:53] [snorts] uh water, uh runoff. There's so many

[1:33:59] questions that aren't answered here. So definitely definitely looking forward to

[1:34:03] deferral on this. And as you can see to the rest of council, I have been for

[1:34:08] some reason I've been getting all the emails on the opposition of this. Uh

[1:34:13] sometimes they CC the building department, but not always and I'm the

[1:34:17] only one receiving them. So I think it's important and I have forwarded each and

[1:34:22] every email that I've got to all council because it's not just me in on this,

[1:34:26] it's the whole council. So sorry for all the emails, guys, but uh you got to see

[1:34:31] this. So anyway, I just wanted to make it clear that everything I have got has

[1:34:36] been forwarded on and I know the odd time the clerk has got it. Sometimes not

[1:34:40] always. The emails are very inconsistent with where they're being sent. So I

[1:34:45] think it's important that the bottom line is it's important that all the

[1:34:48] council receives and hears what people are saying about this. That's why you've

[1:34:52] been getting all my emails. Thank you.

[1:34:58] » Thank you, counselor. And yes, thank you for forwarding those along. Uh it is

[1:35:02] important that we communications go to to everyone. Councelor Giddings.

[1:35:08] » Thank you, Chair through you. Um I think this is an opportunity to continue a

[1:35:12] discussion that we've had over four years is that um and certainly for the

[1:35:16] future council is that development's important. uh growth is important but

[1:35:21] controlling that growth to make sure we don't get into high [snorts] density um

[1:35:25] and and repeating what cities and high high resident uh municipalities have. We

[1:35:31] have a lot of land. We have a lot of land to protect. Uh we have a lot of

[1:35:34] agricultural land to protect. This isn't agricultural land. I understand that.

[1:35:37] But um just promoting highdensity housing is probably not something that

[1:35:41] the future council um should take so lightly. So I hope that with this

[1:35:45] deferral or if we defer it that uh further discussion um comes on this and

[1:35:49] then we can set a precedence in this community that we do encourage growth um

[1:35:53] but it control growth is very important that we can sustain our viability. Thank

[1:35:57] you. >> Thank you counselor councelor Savory.

[1:36:02] » Thank you deputy mayor. Yeah, just want to thank councelor English for keeping

[1:36:08] council in the loop on all the emails and I want to thank the public for their

[1:36:12] feedback too because it's important to us when we make these decisions about

[1:36:16] how the future of our communities are going forward and how we'd like to see

[1:36:19] them uh progress. Uh the you know you you look you look at development, you

[1:36:25] look at the growth and you look at the things that that people have come here

[1:36:29] to live for live with. And uh it's important that as we go forward that the

[1:36:34] emails that I read that everybody seems to be looking for forward to another

[1:36:38] public meeting and that I think is a fair fair uh choice uh for for the

[1:36:44] public to uh sit down in the future with the developer to make sure that the

[1:36:50] needs meet the requirements and satisfy both the builder developer and the

[1:36:55] community. So the project to go forward in the future will will satisfy the

[1:37:00] folks that live here. Thank you. >> Thank you councelor. Uh we have Cameron.

[1:37:07] Did you have a comment? >> Sure. I can just chip chip in on that

[1:37:09] council through the chair. So under I said this uh before the previous public

[1:37:13] meeting under the planning act there's no further way to compel them to come to

[1:37:17] a public meeting. Uh but Jim and I have been in discussion. We might look at

[1:37:20] holding a public information session or something similar. So by that I mean the

[1:37:24] the planning act sets out requirements for that you must have a public meeting

[1:37:28] for uh severance application and a zoning by application that was met at

[1:37:32] the May 5th meeting for plans of subdivision. I believe it was 2023 the

[1:37:36] province removed public meetings as a mandatory requirement. So it can proceed

[1:37:40] to a decision without going to that step. So there's no way we can compel

[1:37:44] them to do this. We can't force them. It would have to be voluntary. Um but Jim

[1:37:47] and I myself as planners of Trent Hills can host a public information session,

[1:37:53] not quite a public meeting per the planning act, but something similar

[1:37:55] where we could um have a forum, show the most updated plan once we have received

[1:37:59] it, go over the process, answer any questions, whether the uh developer

[1:38:03] wants to attend or wants to uh doesn't want to attend would be entirely their

[1:38:07] choice. We'd recommend attending, but that is something we could look at

[1:38:10] hosting once we have received all the applications, but it wouldn't have the

[1:38:13] same um legislative backing. So, you know, uh if it goes to if it does go to

[1:38:18] appeal, anything from that wouldn't might be included, but wouldn't have the

[1:38:21] same legal weight as uh content from a public meeting which has specific terms

[1:38:26] in the in the act. So, that's something we are looking at and once we have a

[1:38:30] full submission, we'll look at putting together um a time and a place uh for

[1:38:34] that. Sort of what we're thinking about right now.

[1:38:41] » Thank you, Cameron. And yes, a PIC put on by the municipality seems like our

[1:38:47] only options seeing as as you mentioned the legislative changes that uh our

[1:38:53] province has put on us. Councelor English.

[1:38:57] » Thank you, Deputy Mayor. Uh glad to hear that, Cameron. That's one thing I did

[1:39:00] forget. Thank you, Councelor Savory. I did ask at the last public meeting

[1:39:04] there'd be another public meeting. Uh, however, if staff is willing to do that,

[1:39:08] that'd be great cuz that's one of the questions in every single email I got

[1:39:12] was about a public meeting and to keep everyone informed, that's what they

[1:39:16] want. So, thank you for stepping up the plate and offering that. That's either

[1:39:20] or. That'd be great. Thank you.

[1:39:28] » Thank you. Any further questions, comments?

[1:39:32] I'll read the resolution. Be it resolved that staff report planning 2026-51,

[1:39:39] Cameron Law Planner be received and that severance consent application B 062026

[1:39:45] and zoning bylaw amendment application C52026

[1:39:49] remain deferred until the plan of subdivision subdivision application

[1:39:54] application to close road allowance and any other required applications are

[1:39:58] submitted to the municipality. I need a mover and a seconder. Councelor

[1:40:03] English, Councelor Savory, any further discussion.

[1:40:08] Seeing none, all in favor? And that is carried.

[1:40:14] [snorts] Thank you. Before we move on to uh reports from

[1:40:19] members of council, I just want to take a moment. Uh we we have a member of our

[1:40:23] staff that has lost someone important to them

[1:40:27] and uh they are currently at their uh celebration of life. So we're just going

[1:40:32] to take a moment of silence.

[1:40:50] Thank you everyone and we'll go on to item nine reports uh from members of

[1:40:56] council counselor English. >> Thank you deputy mayor. Uh kind of a

[1:41:01] long list here for myself. However, I did attend the fire department barbecue

[1:41:06] with Minister Pacini. Uh also attended the Carson Campbell

[1:41:12] parade, the Legion event, and the Camelford Fair on the Thursday night. I

[1:41:18] just want to say what a wellspoken young man this Carson Campbell is. Uh he just

[1:41:24] was so good in everything that he'd done and the turnout was fantastic and even

[1:41:30] at the end of the Thursday night at the fairgrounds there was rides provided by

[1:41:33] the company that provided the rides for the fair. And uh I was there uh I was

[1:41:40] there with the deputy mayor actually he was there and to see all the kids that

[1:41:44] enjoyed this event just really warmed our hearts for various reasons

[1:41:50] uh it's very expensive to take a family to the fair and to see this be all free

[1:41:56] was uh just a wonderful evening and Carson added to that so it was a great

[1:42:00] event. I also attended the grand opening of Hannah's art supplies in Morwith and

[1:42:05] the Abide Farmgate store in Calmerford. Uh I went on a poly tour tour. I sound

[1:42:13] like a Newfoundlander there. Tour. Uh that visited a chicken farm east of

[1:42:18] Brighton and a cash cut crop farm west of Coburn.

[1:42:23] And being fresh uh from the AMO conference that I did, I attended a

[1:42:28] session regarding grants and funding. And this has already been brought up

[1:42:31] today and one of the panel asks what is the best that a municipality can do to

[1:42:37] obtain these grants and uh the one panel chairman said be shovel ready. So I

[1:42:44] think that's important to bring back to the municipality. Uh there are grants

[1:42:48] out there. I don't know that this guy knew something that we haven't been told

[1:42:51] yet but it sounds like there's lots of grants coming out and it's very

[1:42:55] important for this municipality [clears throat]

[1:42:57] to be shovel ready. That's the number one thing. So I just wanted to bring

[1:43:01] that back from the AMO conference and that's all I got. Thank you

[1:43:06] » uh through you deputy mayor. I just further to that comment, I just want to

[1:43:11] um confirm that the I have asked the uh leadership team to and the extended

[1:43:18] leadership team to um continue to think through projects uh 5 to 10 years out

[1:43:26] and to um you know put more in-depth uh thought into them where we can

[1:43:32] potentially have them uh at a shovel ready stage including any um any funding

[1:43:40] um considered for reserves if necessary for any potential grants that do require

[1:43:46] us to have some funds already uh in our reserves for those projects or grants.

[1:43:53] So uh rest assured to council that we are on that uh as a leadership team and

[1:44:00] we are uh diligently Kira is taking the lead on ensuring that um all of the

[1:44:06] grant offers are read. I think she received the recent uh rec grant um in

[1:44:14] probably seven to 10 times uh this week. So as and you know it's good to receive

[1:44:20] them uh multiple times than to not receive them at all. So, uh, it is at

[1:44:24] the forefront of the lead leadership team and it is something that we do

[1:44:27] discuss at every single uh, uh, of our meetings. So, we're doing our due

[1:44:32] diligence to, uh, to get those grant funds if possible.

[1:44:40] » Thank you, CEO Counselor Savory. the the uh I attended the um barbecue

[1:44:48] the fireman um with David Pacini and it was it was a good turnout. It was very

[1:44:55] very much wellreceived and appreciated to see our our member provincial

[1:45:01] department here to talk and and and social with the the local folks that

[1:45:06] help protect us every day. I also um attended the EOTA meeting and there was

[1:45:12] a concern that came up that we have to address in the near future. One of our

[1:45:17] major bridges uh an old railway bridge that was built back in 1904 has been

[1:45:22] deemed unsafe. And being unsafe, it refers to the snow groomer that goes

[1:45:28] over the trail. It may be too heavy now for this potential bridge to support it.

[1:45:34] So, they will be uh looking at ways of funding to try and replace this bridge

[1:45:41] in the in the near future, but it could possibly affect uh snowmoilers and the

[1:45:47] groomer uh this potential winter season until they come up with alternative

[1:45:52] plans uh uh detours, possibly going on private land owners property again to

[1:45:59] accommodate the snowmoilers. So, a little bit of a hiccup that did they

[1:46:03] didn't expect, but it's something that they have to address here in the near

[1:46:07] future. Uh, I did attend to the AMO uh Association Mentalities of Ontario 2026

[1:46:13] in Ottawa this year. Again, well received over 3,000 attendees. Uh, great

[1:46:20] great opportunity to network and uh attend uh different sessions going on

[1:46:25] within um within the uh conference. We had um presentations from the provincial

[1:46:34] the current provincial government including Doug Ford on the positivity of

[1:46:38] where this province is heading and and what they uh to have said stated to us

[1:46:44] that we've got your back. So which means that they're looking to make sure that

[1:46:48] the tools are in place to ensure that in future we'll be able to uh keep going

[1:46:54] forward and and keep uh keep keep the projects that we want to deem necessary

[1:46:59] to make sure our infrastructures are in place and uh like council stated from

[1:47:06] that one conference session he attended, shovel ready seemed to be the theme at

[1:47:11] this whole conference that they tried to uh instill upon us. So, and I'm glad to

[1:47:16] hear that our CEO is working diligently to try and put the uh plans together for

[1:47:22] the next 5 to 10 years. So, thank you very much.

[1:47:28] » Thank you, councelor. You see anyone else?

[1:47:32] Uh I'll try to keep mine relatively brief. uh as uh both councelor English

[1:47:38] and councelor Savory uh alluded to or just off the association of

[1:47:43] municipalities Ontario conference a couple highlights there uh again this

[1:47:49] year a big one uh a lot of the sessions were on um housing and homelessness uh

[1:47:53] and it really talked about supportive housing uh which I think is worth the

[1:47:57] discussion uh with the county as we all know the county sort of runs uh that

[1:48:01] level uh of support um some of the interesting numbers uh were the display

[1:48:08] of the cost of the system. If you're if you have someone in a hospital acute

[1:48:13] care, it's $917 a day. If you have someone in corrections, uh it's $300 a

[1:48:18] day. If you have someone in an emergency emergency shelter, it's $125 a day. Yet,

[1:48:24] if you have someone in a rent geared to income uh supportive housing, it's $41 a

[1:48:29] day. So, it's something that uh needs to be considered uh when you're looking at

[1:48:34] what is the best approach uh to combat uh housing and homelessness. Uh and it's

[1:48:40] not just here, it's it's throughout uh all Ontario and and then some. Uh

[1:48:45] conservation authority uh meetings uh were in high demand uh over the last few

[1:48:51] days. Another interesting session was on green infrastructure. Um and one of the

[1:48:57] panelists was a Port Hope counselor Claire Halloway Wadwani and and the

[1:49:03] other at the time was uh John McKenzie, the chair the um uh CEO of Toronto

[1:49:09] Regional Conservation Authority. And they both brought some great points uh

[1:49:13] on on green infrastructure and how we can change sort of the way that we're

[1:49:17] doing or add to the way that we do things to to uh allow for that green

[1:49:22] infrastructure to help with uh the occurrences of flooding to help with uh

[1:49:27] storm water management so that it's not just conc bricks and mortar and and

[1:49:32] concrete uh use. And one of the talks that often came up was revenue

[1:49:38] challenges for municipalities. And there was a big call from uh all the

[1:49:42] municipalities to change the model of revenue for municipalities because it's

[1:49:47] not getting any easier uh for municipalities or for the taxpayer to

[1:49:53] continue to run uh the operations. Uh at this point there's very little uh

[1:49:58] revenue sources other than taxation and and that's something that needs to be

[1:50:02] looked at uh from a provincial level to allow uh as it's written through uh

[1:50:07] regulation, legislation and policy what what municipalities uh can how they can

[1:50:12] get revenue. Uh the provincialwide cond uh code of conduct uh has finally been

[1:50:19] uh released. It has been asked for for several years uh by municipalities and

[1:50:25] uh it's currently in an a 45day comment period through the erro platform. Uh so

[1:50:31] it's somewhere something that we can look at. Community emergency

[1:50:34] preparedness grant that's uh one that our director alluded to that's back open

[1:50:39] uh which we can look at generators uh that sort of uh emergency preparedness

[1:50:44] and that that round is the fourth round and it opened this week as well. The

[1:50:48] other one that was alluded to was the rural Ontario development program and

[1:50:52] that's through the ministry of rural affairs.

[1:50:57] No longer OMFRA split into two. Takes a while to get that sometimes. Uh the

[1:51:02] support for that is Ontario rural economic development strategy and in

[1:51:07] there is also a piece on rural business and industrial expansion planning

[1:51:12] grants. So something that we're looking at um with new industrial park area, new

[1:51:18] business, new business area. There's money in there for to develop those

[1:51:22] plans. So maybe we can try to look at a little deeper into there and and connect

[1:51:26] with some of the ministry staff there and see see what might be available.

[1:51:31] Uh I attended a ministry of economic or sorry ministry of environment

[1:51:35] conservation and parks info session and that was on the governments of the new

[1:51:38] regional conservation awards. not going to bore you with it as we continue to go

[1:51:42] down that road. Uh something exciting in the community is I was able to attend

[1:51:48] Bennett's 100year anniversary celebrations here in Campbellford. Uh

[1:51:52] and it's quite it was quite interesting listening to the talk and and how they

[1:51:57] have changed over those years to uh continue to be sustainable. At one point

[1:52:01] in time, they were a furniture store. They were also the funeral home and they

[1:52:06] were the ambulance service for this area. so you could get transported on a

[1:52:11] nice lofty couch.

[1:52:16] I was uh also attended the poly egg tour uh put on by Northland Federation of

[1:52:21] Agriculture. I think that's an important tour for um municipal

[1:52:27] um council councils also municipal staff. Uh it really every year they they

[1:52:32] give some great information on uh you know what's happening uh in the

[1:52:38] agricultural realm in North umberland county. Uh and the the last is is the

[1:52:43] continued discussions with the uh hospital board and the hospital um

[1:52:49] redevelopment committee and that will be ongoing.

[1:52:53] Lots lots going on. [sighs] All right.

[1:52:57] Thank you for those updates. moves us along to uh item 10 on our agenda. We

[1:53:03] have our consent agenda. We have announcements of interest to the public.

[1:53:07] We have a Labor Day office closure will be September 7th, 2026.

[1:53:12] Uh proclamations recognized annually. We have finance and accounting appreciation

[1:53:17] week September 14th to 20th, 2026. We have IT professionals day September 15th

[1:53:23] to 2026. Wow, is that ever more important these days. We have human

[1:53:28] resources professionals day September 26 2026

[1:53:32] correspondence we've received July 30th 2026 from Hassan Basset CEO of the

[1:53:38] Ontario Provincial Conservation Authority regarding the transition

[1:53:40] committee teams Eastern Ontario Wardens Caucus newsletter for July 2026.

[1:53:47] We have proclamation lighting and community flag raising for Percy

[1:53:51] Agricultural Society for the Warworth Fair fall fall fair week September 7th

[1:53:57] to 13th 2026. Uh and again a proclamation and lighting

[1:54:02] s community flag raising for Meo Canada for the world mitochondria disease

[1:54:08] awareness week September 14th to 20th 26.

[1:54:12] We have a request uh under the proclamation and lighting ceremony flag

[1:54:17] raising from our home children Canada for the British home child day and

[1:54:22] that's September 28th, 2026. If you ever get a chance to look into that, it's a

[1:54:26] really interesting program that happened years ago, but it has a lot of effects

[1:54:30] on smaller communities right up to this day. We have proclamation and lighting,

[1:54:34] community flag raising uh from um Canada FASD research network for the FASD

[1:54:42] awareness month of September and international

[1:54:46] uh FASD awareness day September 9th, 2026.

[1:54:52] Uh and just so anyone's aware, FASD is fetal alcohol syndrome disease.

[1:54:58] proclamation lighting and community flag raising request from Arthritis Society

[1:55:02] Canada for the Arthritis Awareness Month and that's September of 2026.

[1:55:07] With all those being said, be it resolved that the staff recommendation

[1:55:10] with respect to the consent agenda items 10 C to 10 I be adopted as printed.

[1:55:16] Mover and a seconder. Councelor English, Councelor Giddings.

[1:55:20] All those in favor that is carried.

[1:55:26] Thank you. We go to we have no communications or petitions. Uh we go to

[1:55:32] item 12 bylaws.

[1:55:37] Be it resolved that bylaw number 2026-066

[1:55:41] bylaw number 2026-067 bylaw number 2026-068

[1:55:48] be read and properly signed and sealed by deputy mayor and clerk. Mover and a

[1:55:53] seconder. Councelor Brney, Councelor Pope, all those in favor.

[1:55:58] That is carried.

[1:56:02] Moves us along to notice notice of motions. Item 13.

[1:56:08] First item up is 13A. We have a notice of motion from councelor Giddings

[1:56:12] regarding the elimination of workplace safety and insurance boards second

[1:56:16] injury and enhancement fund. Councelor, do you want to speak to this one and

[1:56:21] before we go through the resolution?

[1:56:26] Thank you, Deputy Mayor. Uh through you, yes, I would. I just I wrote it down so

[1:56:30] I can read it to council. Um I want to briefly explain why I brought this

[1:56:33] motion forward and more importantly, why I believe it is a municipal and taxpayer

[1:56:36] issue. On June 16th, WSIB eliminate the second injury enhancement fund or SE.

[1:56:42] For decades, SEF has provided cost relief where workplace injury was made

[1:56:46] more costly or prolonged because of a worker's pre-existing condition. I want

[1:56:49] to be clear that this motion is not asking WCB to preserve an 81-year-old

[1:56:54] program simply because it's always existed. If the program is inefficient

[1:56:57] or needs modernization, then it should absolutely be reviewed and improved. My

[1:57:01] concern is that the principle of the employer cost relief has effectively

[1:57:04] disappeared with it. That matters to municipalities um where we employ people

[1:57:09] in physically demanding occupations like public works, roads, water, wastewater,

[1:57:14] parks and recreation facilities and other areas. As our workforce ages,

[1:57:18] pre-existing conditions are simply a reality that employers, including

[1:57:21] municipalities, have to deal with. If an employee suffers a workplace injury,

[1:57:25] that employee should receive every benefit and every support they're

[1:57:28] entitled to. Nothing this motion is suggesting otherwise. But where a

[1:57:32] pre-existing condition significantly increases the duration or cost of that

[1:57:36] claim, we need to ask whether it's fair for the municipal employer and

[1:57:39] ultimately the taxpayer to bear 100% of those additional costs. Municipalities

[1:57:43] don't have shareholders to absorb those increases. Our costs eventually have to

[1:57:47] be funded through the municipal budget and that means ultimately fall back on

[1:57:49] the taxpayer. There's also a broader issue here where we would never create a

[1:57:54] we should never create a system that gives employers a financial reason to be

[1:57:57] hesitant about hiring or retaining someone because they have disability,

[1:58:01] previous injury or pre-existing condition. That's why this motion isn't

[1:58:05] simply asking WCIB to bring SE back. We're asking the province and WSIB to

[1:58:09] review the financial implications of this decision properly consult the

[1:58:13] municipalities, employers, labor, and other stakeholders and determine whether

[1:58:17] modernizing simpler and more effective cost relief mechanisms can replace it. I

[1:58:22] believe that we can protect the workers full entitlement while ensuring the

[1:58:25] employers and in our case municipal taxpayers are treated fairly. Um, and I

[1:58:28] will also add to this that we council has received a letter from uh Mr. Lang,

[1:58:33] who is the CEO and president of WSIB this morning, and I'd recommend that

[1:58:37] council does read his email. However, um, in response to that, I want to note

[1:58:41] that I do appreciate uh, Mr. Lang's providing this additional context. I do

[1:58:46] agree that an 81-year-old program isn't inefficient or outdated, and it should

[1:58:50] be modernized or replaced. Uh, WSIB uh, vice president of communications, Aaron

[1:58:55] Lazarus, had indicated that only 2400 of the 318,000 employers currently use SE.

[1:59:00] To me that demonstrates a problem of efficiency or access to the program not

[1:59:04] demonstrate that the principle needs to be uh removed. The fundament the

[1:59:08] question remains when a pre-existing condition materially increases the cost

[1:59:12] of duration of the workplace who should be responsible for this additional cost.

[1:59:15] So again I ask the council consider this motion. I think it's a it is a

[1:59:19] provincial problem but uh for us it has a very direct implication on our

[1:59:23] taxpayers and we need to take it seriously. Thank you deputy mayor.

[1:59:30] Thank you, counselor, for bringing this forward.

[1:59:33] Do we have any comments or questions from council before I read the

[1:59:37] resolution?

[1:59:43] » Well, I'd like Well, we can have the discussion now. Councelor Pope,

[1:59:47] » um through the chair, u have we ever use that in our municipality? Uh um I know

[1:59:53] some of the I'm not very well knowledgeable about this uh from what

[1:59:57] I've read. so far. Um I mean the one side is uh councelor Giddings is putting

[2:00:04] aside and the other one is that um it's just a spot for uh consultants to make

[2:00:09] money. So I didn't know if if we have any use or have ever thought of using

[2:00:14] it. >> We'll put the spotlight on our director

[2:00:18] of finance uh and she could speak to the time that she's been here um possibly

[2:00:23] not uh historically uh before that time. through deputy mayor. Um, at this point

[2:00:30] in time, I have not seen any claims come through, but that's not to say that it

[2:00:34] hasn't been used in the past. >> Okay. Thank you.

[2:00:41] » Thank you, director. Counselor Savory. >> Thank you, Deputy Mayor. We look at um

[2:00:48] this this um bylaw that was put in place back in 1945.

[2:00:53] Obviously, it is outdated. Um, do we know if our government, provincial

[2:00:58] government is looking at a something to replace this this old um bylaw or or or

[2:01:06] is this going to be completely disappeared and and never exist again?

[2:01:10] Do we know any background about that, >> council? And I'll give councelor

[2:01:16] Giddings an opportunity to speak because he's definitely the most knowledgeable

[2:01:19] at this table. Uh, I believe they're just scrapping it at this time and

[2:01:23] that's why we're seeing this um this motion come forward uh with our

[2:01:26] concerns. >> Thanks, Councelor Giddings.

[2:01:31] » So, through you, Chair, um I be very clear. So, July 17th or July 16th, they

[2:01:36] uh WCIB announced that as of June 16th or 17th, I get those two mixed up. Um

[2:01:41] that the policy was actually removed. Um couple things to point out on there is

[2:01:45] that they have been doing um studies on this since 2008. They did one in 2014 I

[2:01:51] believe in 2012 I believe they did three studies um there was no stakeholder

[2:01:56] engagement that I'm aware of uh from those studies they just made the

[2:01:59] decision uh unilaterally to make the to to re remove this policy um and contrary

[2:02:05] to other um other policy changes they've done in the past there was no uh

[2:02:10] bridging between the announcement and allowing employers to to to understand

[2:02:15] and absorb this it was strictly just a decision that was made in July effective

[2:02:19] a months before. Uh I do need to point out that by removing this um by removing

[2:02:24] this policy, this puts WCIB very dangerously uh close to becoming a

[2:02:28] liability or general liability insurance uh organization rather than what the WCB

[2:02:33] was intended to be, which was a buffer between employers and employees. Um so

[2:02:38] it it feels like I'm making a big deal of something that um may not be used by

[2:02:42] a lot of people, and I won't argue that. Um the concern is that the accessibility

[2:02:46] is very clouded. >> [clears throat]

[2:02:48] » um a lot of employers and I do have uh an understanding um that maybe other

[2:02:52] employers don't have but this not is a very accessible program. Um, but

[2:02:57] specifically speaking like uh I guess the generalization behind that is if

[2:03:01] someone who's hired has a pre-existing condition and they get injured in the

[2:03:04] new workplace, the employer is responsible for that injury. But if that

[2:03:09] pre-existing condition causes the the recovery to be longer, [clears throat]

[2:03:12] there's an additional cost that and that's where that cost relief has come

[2:03:15] from. And that policy was created to provide people coming back from the war

[2:03:20] opportunities to find employment where they may not had it before. But simply

[2:03:24] because it's inefficient doesn't mean we need to remove it. We need to change it

[2:03:27] and find a way to make it more efficient. And that's that's where I'm

[2:03:30] coming through with this motion shortly.

[2:03:36] Thank you, counselor. Any further discussion?

[2:03:41] I will read the notice of motion. Uh notice a motion from councelor

[2:03:48] Giddings regarding the elimination of workplace safety insurance board's

[2:03:52] second injury and enhancement fund or SE whereas workplace safety insurance board

[2:03:59] eliminated the second second injury and enhancement fund effective June 16th

[2:04:04] 2026 ending a long-standing cost relief program that assisted employers where

[2:04:08] pre-existing conditions contributed to the cost or duration of workplace injury

[2:04:13] claims and whereas municipalities are significant employers of work of workers

[2:04:18] performing physically demanding duties and may experience increased WSIB costs

[2:04:22] as a result result of the elimination of SE. Whereas a second injury enhancement

[2:04:28] fund was established to provide cost relief to employers when pre-existing

[2:04:31] conditions significantly contributed to workplace injury claims thereby

[2:04:35] encouraging employers to hire and retain workers with disabilities and

[2:04:39] pre-existing medical conditions. And whereas the workplace safety insurance

[2:04:43] system was established to provide a fair and balanced insurance system that

[2:04:48] protects both workers and employers. And as where whereas increased workplace

[2:04:53] insurance costs have the potential to place additional financial pressures on

[2:04:58] municipal operating budgets and property taxpayers.

[2:05:02] Now therefore, be it resolved that the council of municipality of Trent Hills

[2:05:05] respectfully requests that the province of Ontario and the workplace safety

[2:05:09] insurance board review the impacts of eliminating second injury and

[2:05:13] enhancement fund. Consult with employers, municipalities, labor

[2:05:19] representatives, and other stakeholders and consider modernizing or revising the

[2:05:24] program rather than eliminating employer cost relief altogether. Including by

[2:05:29] modernizing, re revising or replacing the current program with an improve an

[2:05:34] improved cost relief mechanism that continues to fairly recognize and the

[2:05:39] impact of pre-existing conditions. Be it further resolved that a copy of the

[2:05:44] resolution be forwarded to honorable David Pacini, Minister of Labor,

[2:05:48] Immigration and Training and Schools Development and MPP for North umberland

[2:05:53] and Peterville South, the Honorable Doug Ford, Premier of Ontario, all members of

[2:05:57] Provincial Parliament Ontario, the Work Safe Workplace Safety and Assurance

[2:06:01] Board, Association of Municipalities Ontario, the Eastern Ontario Wardens

[2:06:06] Caucus, the Ontario Chamber of Commerce, the Canadian Federation of Independent

[2:06:09] Business, Ontario Business Improvement Area Association, the Rural Ontario

[2:06:14] Municipal Association, the Federation of Northern Ontario Municipalities,

[2:06:18] Association of Municipal Clerks and Treasures of Ontario, local members of

[2:06:22] par Parliament for awareness, local boards of trade and chambers of

[2:06:27] commerce, Northumberland County, and all Ontario municipalities requesting their

[2:06:31] consideration and support. That is the resolution in front of us.

[2:06:41] Any further comments?

[2:06:47] I will take a motion assuming moved by councelor Giddings. Do we have a

[2:06:52] seconder? Second by councelor Brone. Any further discussion on this motion?

[2:06:58] Seeing none, all in favor?

[2:07:02] That is carried. Thank you councelor for bringing that

[2:07:06] forward. Uh, and we do at this at this time I'm going to invite councelor

[2:07:10] Giddings to take over the chair uh for a short period.

[2:07:32] » Thank you, Deputy Mayor. Um, item 13B, notice a motion from Deputy Mayor Metaf

[2:07:37] regarding the consultation on proposed governance regulation for regional

[2:07:41] conservative authorities in Ontario Provincial Conservative Agency. Uh, do I

[2:07:45] read the motion? Anyone want to have discussion?

[2:07:51] » Thank you. Uh, councelor, I I can give a little bit of a an update. This is uh

[2:07:56] it's a bit timesensitive. Uh so September 12th is when the um posting uh

[2:08:02] ends. Uh essentially this is asking uh that we reply to the ERRO posting uh and

[2:08:11] it is in response to the governance of the new regional conservation boards. Uh

[2:08:18] I believe with some of the uh numbers uh that they have provided that we need to

[2:08:24] look uh deeper into it. uh look at the actual boundaries and the the rep

[2:08:30] representation by population uh for those new regional conservation

[2:08:34] authorities. Currently, the numbers that they've provided uh seem to skew the

[2:08:40] representation to larger cities and larger populations uh reducing the voice

[2:08:45] for smaller municipalities and rural communities. uh if we take a look uh

[2:08:52] more deeply and adjust those uh population numbers accurately to the

[2:08:58] lines on which uh the the new regional conservations

[2:09:04] uh are the boundaries you'll find that uh it is significant there's a

[2:09:09] significant change in the rep representation by population uh to the

[2:09:14] benefit of smaller communities smaller municipalities and rural areas um so I'm

[2:09:19] what I'll asking in this motion uh is that we respond back to the ERRO posting

[2:09:26] to the province uh with some factual information um that I'm currently going

[2:09:32] through with with uh conservation authority staff uh to determine um a

[2:09:38] proposal to go forward. Uh but essentially that's that's my uh motion

[2:09:43] for today to be able to take a look and give them some accurate identify some

[2:09:48] accurate numbers um to to have representation uh better applied to that

[2:09:55] uh equation.

[2:10:07] » Okay. Uh reading the motion be it res Well, sorry I didn't see there. I'm

[2:10:12] doing a great job here. >> Uh, council savory

[2:10:16] » working behind the curtain here pulling all these ropes and strings. Yes. Thank

[2:10:19] you for clarification then. Are we looking for uh this new regional

[2:10:23] conservation authority to be similar in nature to all the the new conservation

[2:10:29] to be similar to all. In other words, not taking on a population that of a

[2:10:34] center that's bigger that doesn't have the same kind of um mix as as the rural

[2:10:39] areas would have. Is that the what I'm hearing? Um

[2:10:54] no, not so essentially it's really just looking at those numbers and and where

[2:10:59] those boundaries are. uh it is going to change. It's as we heard earlier, it's

[2:11:04] an it's going to be an upper tier and a city uh representation. So, it's not

[2:11:10] going to be representation from all [clears throat] lower tiers. But the way

[2:11:13] that the mapping shows right now, the the population numbers that they are

[2:11:17] using uh from from their data is is not as accurate as it could be. And because

[2:11:24] of that, it's inflating seat numbers for larger populated areas uh such as us for

[2:11:32] our new area. Durham region will now be within our um regional conservation

[2:11:37] authority. And I believe as it stands now, they they're looking at Durham

[2:11:41] Region will have three seats. Yet the numbers if you actually look at a LAR uh

[2:11:46] mapping and and the accurate mapping of that area they should not have uh those

[2:11:53] that number of seats cuz the population is incorre incorrect. So what we're

[2:11:57] going to be asking is to make sure that they look at more accurate numbers of

[2:12:01] population for the designated boundaries of these new regional authorities so

[2:12:07] that it it could better um have the the population

[2:12:13] um reflective of those pop the areas that they're in. That's all essentially

[2:12:18] is all I'm we're asking is to take a better look at those numbers and where

[2:12:22] those those boundaries are and in instead of just looking at general

[2:12:26] numbers.

[2:12:31] Any other comments? >> Okay, so I can get back to my seat

[2:12:36] quickly. Be it resolved that council authorizes the chief administrative

[2:12:40] officer in consultation with the deputy mayor and appropriate uh appropriate

[2:12:43] conservation authority representatives to prepare and submit comments on behalf

[2:12:47] of the municipality of Trent Hills in response to the environmental registry

[2:12:50] of Ontario posting 026-0740 prior to the September 12th 2026

[2:12:57] deadline and that the submission identify concerns regarding the accuracy

[2:13:01] and methodology of the population figures used in the prop proposed tiered

[2:13:05] allocation formula. and the resulting impact on equitable representation of

[2:13:09] smaller and rural municipalities within the proposed regional conservation

[2:13:13] authority governance structure and that the final submission be circulated to

[2:13:17] council following submission. I have a motion deputy mayor seconder from

[2:13:22] councelor Pope called a question all in. Thank you very much.

[2:13:43] Thank you for that, counselor. [snorts]

[2:13:47] That moves us along to item 14 in our agenda. We have closed session items.

[2:13:53] 14A, we have motions to go into close sessions to rise and report. Be it

[2:13:58] resolved that council do now proceed into close session at 11:42 a.m.

[2:14:06] Pursuant to section 239 of the Municipal Act 2001 to consider the following

[2:14:11] matters. Labor relations or employee negotiations

[2:14:15] section 2392D and acquisition or disposition of lands

[2:14:20] section 2392 C. Be it now resolved. We do. Ry Oh,

[2:14:28] nope. Sorry. We got a mover in a second order. Councelor Giddings. Councelor

[2:14:33] Savory. All in favor go into close session.

[3:02:06] Thank you everyone. Be it resolved that we now do rise at 12:32 and report on

[3:02:10] close session items 14B and 14 C. Trent Hills firefighters payment structure and

[3:02:16] disposition of property sale of lands.

[3:02:23] I don't need a motion for that, do I? >> Yeah.

[3:02:27] » I got a mover and a seconder to rise. Councelor Giddings, councelor Savory,

[3:02:33] all in favor carried.

[3:02:36] » Just get you to note that. I'll just note that councelor Brone uh

[3:02:44] exited the meeting just prior to close session at 11:43

[3:02:50] a.m. We have resolutions coming out of close

[3:02:54] session. Be it resolved that the confidential information provided in

[3:02:58] close session regarding labor relations or employee negotiations section 2392D

[3:03:04] and acquisition or disposition of lands section 2392C

[3:03:08] be received and that staff proceed as directed in close session. A mover and a

[3:03:14] seconder. Councelor Pope, Councelor Savory. All in favor?

[3:03:20] That is carried.

[3:03:23] Moving along to our confirmation bylaw. Be it resolved that bylaw number

[3:03:27] 2026-069, a bylaw to confirm the proceedings of

[3:03:31] the council meeting held on Thursday, August 20th, 2026, be read, passed, and

[3:03:36] properly signed and sealed by the deputy mayor and clerk. Mover and a seconder,

[3:03:39] councelor Giddings, councelor Pope, all in favor. And that is carried.

[3:03:46] Moves us to adjournment. be it resolved. We now do adjourn at 12:34

[3:03:54] p.m. Moved by Councelor English, second by Councelor Pope. All in favor?

[3:04:04] That is carried.

Council - 20 Aug 2026

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