[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.