Agenda - Essex County Council, Regular Meeting

Meeting #:

Date:

Wednesday, September 17, 2025

Time:

Closed Meeting 4:00PM, Regular Meeting 6:00PM

Location:

Council Chambers, 2nd Floor

360 Fairview Avenue West

Essex, Ontario N8M 1Y6

https://video.isilive.ca/countyofessex/live.html

Accessible formats or communication supports are available upon request. Contact Clerk’s Office, [email protected], 519-776-6441 extension 1353

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1.

Closed Meeting

A Closed Meeting has been scheduled for 4:00PM 

2.

Moment of Reflection

3.

Singing of ‘O Canada’

4.

Land Acknowledgement Statement

We acknowledge the land on which the County of Essex is located is the traditional territory of the Three Fires Confederacy of First Nations, comprised of the Ojibway, Odawa and Potawatomie Peoples. 

We specifically recognize Caldwell First Nation and other First Nations which have provided significant historical and contemporary contributions to this region. 

We also value the contributions of all Original Peoples of Turtle Island, who have been living and working on this land from time immemorial.

5.

Recording of Attendance

6.

County Warden’s Welcome and Remarks

7.

Disclosure of Pecuniary Interest

8.

Adoption of Regular Meeting Minutes

Minutes of the Essex County Council, Regular Meeting dated September 3, 2025 

• Recommendation:

  That the minutes of the September 3, 2025 Regular Meeting of Essex County Council be adopted as presented.

9.

Delegations and Presentations

10.

Communications

10.1

Correspondence

• Recommendation:

  That the correspondence listed on the Regular Agenda for September 17, 2025, be received and any noted action approved. 

10.1.1

Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO)

• AMO Watchfile Newsletter
• AMO Education Workshops
• AMO Training Events

10.1.2

Western Ontario Warden's Caucus (WOWC)

August 2025 Monthly Update

10.2

Resolutions

There are no resolutions for consideration for September 17, 2025

11.

Consent Agenda

• Recommendation:

  That the recommendation in the Administrative Report listed as items 11.1 on the Consent Agenda for September 17, 2025, be approved.

11.1

Summary of Outstanding Reports - September 17, 2025

Report number 2025-0917-LLS-R46-KH, Summary of Outstanding Reports, dated September 17, 2025, from Katherine Hebert, County Clerk

12.

Reports and Questions

12.1

Room Booking Policy and User Fee Amendments

Report number 2025-0917-FIN-R25-MR, Room Booking Policy and User Fee Amendments, dated September 17, 2025, from Melissa Ryan, Director, Financial Services/Treasurer   

• Recommendation:

  That Essex County Council approve report number 2025-0917-FIN-R25-MR, Room Booking Policy and User Fee Amendments; and

  That Essex County Council approve the By-law 2025-38, at the appropriate time.

12.2

Affordable Rental Housing Property Tax Subclass

Report number 2025-0917-FIN-R27-MR, Affordable Rental Housing Property Tax Subclass, dated September 17, 2025, from Melissa Ryan, Director, Financial Services/Treasurer  

• Recommendation:

  That Essex County Council approve report number 2025-0917-FIN-R27-MR, Affordable Rental Housing Property Tax Subclass; and,

  That Essex County Council approve the accompanying By-law 2025-39 to adopt the new Affordable Rental Housing property tax subclass for the Multi Residential and New Multi Residential property classes.

12.3

Proposed Updates to Employment and Hiring Policy

Report number 2025-0917-HR-R09-KP, Proposed Updates to Employment and Hiring Policy, dated September 17, 2025, from Kyla Pritiko, Director, Human Resources    

• Recommendation:

  That Essex County Council receive report number 2025-0917-HR-R09-KP, Proposed Updates to Employment and Hiring Policy as information; and

  That Essex County Council approve and adopt the revisions to the Employment and Hiring Policy appended to this Report; and

  That Essex County Council authorize the Warden and the Clerk to execute the associated Bylaw at the appropriate time.

12.4

Large Scale Industrial Grant Matching Program- Supplementary Report

Report number 2025-0917-IPS-R17-RB,  Large Scale Industrial Grant Matching Program - Supplementary Report, dated September 17, 2025 from Rebecca Belanger, Manager, Planning Services 

• Recommendation:

  That Essex County Council receive report number 2025-0917-IPS-R17-RB, Large Scale Industrial Grant Matching Program as information; and,

  That Administration be directed to undertake a public consultation process relating to the Large Scale Industrial Grant Matching Program and to prepare a report for Council, summarizing comments received and related actions and updates taken.

12.5

Final Decision County Official Plan

Report number 2025-0917-IPS-R18-RB, Final Decision County Official Plan, dated September 17, 2025 from Rebecca Belanger, Manager, Planning Services

• Recommendation:

  That Essex County Council receive report number 2025-0917-IPS-R18-RB, Final Decision County Official Plan for information.

12.6

Road Rationalization Update 

Report number 2025-0917-IPS-R20-AB, Road Rationalization Update, dated September 17, 2025, from Allan Botham, Director, Infrastructure and Planning Services

• Recommendation:

  That Essex County Council receive report number 2025-0917-IPS-R20-AB, Road Rationalization Update as information, approve the Hybrid Rationalization Model, support the finalization of the County Road Network with LMPs and direct Administration to continue to Step 2 of the Road Rationalization Study Timeline.

12.7

Department of Legislative and Legal Services Update

Report number 2025-0917-LLS-R42-DMS, Department of Legislative and Legal Services Update, dated September 17, 2025, from David Sundin, Director, Legislative and Legal Services/County Solicitor 

• Recommendation:

  That Essex County Council receive Report Number 2025-0917-LLS-R42-DMS, Department of Legislative and Legal Services as information.

13.

Unfinished Business

There are no matters of unfinished business to address for September 17, 2025.

14.

New Business

14.1

Public Reporting of Closed Meeting

14.2

Essex County Administration Building - Water Damage

At the September 3, 2025 Regular Meeting of Essex County Council, Councillor Sherry Bondy brought forward the following Notice of Motion: 

That Essex County Council request a report on the damages to the basement space of the civic center previously occupied by Essex County Library, included and not limited to present condition of the space and plans to restore the space with timelines and proposed amenities such as a kitchenette. 

• Recommendation:

  That Essex County Council request a report on the damages to the basement space of the civic center previously occupied by Essex County Library, included and not limited to present condition of the space and plans to restore the space with timelines and proposed amenities such as a kitchenette. 

15.

Adoption of By-Laws

• Recommendation:

  That By-laws 2025-37 through 2025-40, be given three readings, and having been read a first, second and third time, be finally passed and enacted. 

15.1

By-law Number 2025-37

Being a By-law to amend Policy 1991-001 Employment and Hiring Policy.

15.2

By-law Number 2025-38

Being a By-law to Impose Fees and Charges by the Corporation of the County of Essex

15.3

By-law Number 2025-39

Being a By-law to adopt optional property tax subclass for the Corporation of the County of Essex and all the local municipalities within the boundaries of the County of Essex

15.4

By-law number 2025-40

Being a By-law to confirm the proceedings of the Council of the Corporation of the County of Essex, Regular and Closed meetings, for September 17, 2025

16.

Notice of Motion

There are no Notices of Motion for September 17, 2025

17.

Adjournment

• Recommendation:

  That the Essex County Council meeting for September 17, 2025 be adjourned at [time] PM.