Essex County Council, Regular Meeting Minutes

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Council Chambers, 2nd Floor
360 Fairview Avenue West
Essex, Ontario N8M 1Y6
https://video.isilive.ca/countyofessex/live.html
Council:
  • Michael Akpata, Councillor
  • Joe Bachetti, Deputy Warden
  • Tracey Bailey, Councillor
  • Sherry Bondy, Councillor
  • Kimberly DeYong, Councillor
  • Chris Gibb, Councillor
  • Hilda MacDonald, Warden
  • Gary McNamara, Councillor
  • Dennis Rogers, Councillor
  • Rob Shepley, Councillor
  • Larry Verbeke, Councillor
  • Kirk Walstedt, Councillor
  • Mark Carrick, Councillor, (Alternate Member)
  • Diane Pouget, Councillor, (Alternate Member)
Absent:
  • Crystal Meloche, Councillor
  • Michael Prue, Councillor
  • Tony Gaffan, Councillor, (Alternate Member)
  • Brian Houston, Councillor, (Alternate Member)
  • John Kerr, Councillor, (Alternate Member)
  • Paul Tiessen, Councillor, Municipality of Leamington (Alternate Member)
  • Kimberly Verbeek, Councillor, Town of Essex (Alternate Member)
Administration:
  • Allan Botham, Director, Infrastructure & Planning Services
  • Katherine Hebert, County Clerk
  • Justin Lammers, Chief, Essex-Windsor EMS
  • Darrel Laurendeau, Director, Information Technology
  • Don McArthur, Manager, Communication and Organizational Development
  • Melissa Ryan, Director, Financial Services / Treasurer
  • David Sundin, Director, Legislative and Legal Services / County Solicitor
  • Crystal Sylvestre, Manager, Records and Accessibility / Deputy Clerk
  • Sandra Zwiers, Chief Administrative Officer
  • Jerry Behl, Manager, Transportation Planning and Development
  • Michelle Bishop, General Manager, EWSWA
  • Natasha Sheeler, Director, Health and Community Services/Administrator

A Closed Meeting was held at 5:00PM on December 17, 2025.

  • 377-2025
    Moved ByChris Gibb
    Seconded ByKimberly DeYong

    That Essex County Council move into a Closed Meeting, pursuant to Section 239 (2) (b), (c), (d), (e) and (f) of the Municipal Act, 2001, as amended for the following reasons:

    (b)    personal matters about an identifiable individual, including municipal or local board employees;

    (e)    litigation or potential litigation, including matters before administrative tribunals, affecting the municipality or local board;

    (f)    advice that is subject to solicitor-client privilege, including communications necessary for that purpose;

    Council will receive information related to report number 2025-1217-SPH-R03-NS – Committee of Management Review. Included for consideration are the results of internal investigations conducted, the associated Ministry of Health and Long Term Care inspection reports, and resulting recommendations.

    (d)    labour relations or employee negotiations;

    Council will be presented with information regarding Collective Bargaining, and Administration is seeking direction to from Council regarding the bargaining parameters for the upcoming negotiations with CUPE 2974.2.

    (c)    a proposed or pending acquisition or disposition of land by the municipality or local board; 

    (f)    advice that is subject to solicitor-client privilege, including communications necessary for that purpose;

    Council will receive information related to report number 2025-1217-LLS-R61-DMS, Property Acquisition Matters for EWEMS. Council will be requested to provide direction for Administration regarding the negotiation and purchase of two properties for use by the Essex Windsor Emergency Medical Service, with both properties being located in the City of Windsor.

    Carried
  • 382-2025
    Moved ByJoe Bachetti
    Seconded ByDennis Rogers

    That Council adjourn and rise from the Closed Meeting of Essex County Council for December 17, 2025 at 5:49 PM. 

    Carried

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.

Warden MacDonald and members of Council attended the meeting at the Essex County Administration Building, Council Chambers.

Councillors Meloche and Prue were absent.

Diane Pouget attended as an alternate member for the Town of Amherstburg; and Mark Carrick attended as an alternate member for the Town of LaSalle.

Warden MacDonald applauded and offered thanks to County staff for their generous offerings to support the community throughout the holiday season.

There were no disclosures of pecuniary interest raised.

  • 383-2025
    Moved ByChris Gibb
    Seconded ByDiane Pouget

    That the Essex County Council November 19, 2025 Regular Meeting Minutes and the December 3, 2025 Regular Meeting (2026 Budget Deliberations) Minutes be adopted as presented.

    Carried

Dennis Sanson, Chair and Debbie Alexander, Vice-Chair provided a presentation regarding accessibility initiatives carried out by the committee and County departments through 2025.

Michelle Bishop, General Manager, and Steffan Brisebois, Manager, Finance & Administration, Essex-Windsor Solid Waste Authority, to present the 2026 EWSWA Operational Plan and Budget for Council consideration.  

Michelle Bishop outlined the approval process for the EWSWA budget noting that the budget must be approved by both the City of Windsor and County of Essex Councils.

It was highlighted that the EWSWA Operational Plan and Board approved the 2026 Budget on November 4, 2025.

The proposed budget included an increase of 2.1% to the 2025 base amount which would be assessed to Windsor and the 7 County municipalities. This increase equates to $326,390 and would be comprised of a $0.00 increase in the per-tonne fee assessed on refuse delivered for disposal and an increase in the fixed amount assessed to municipalities based on population.

  • 384-2025
    Moved ByChris Gibb
    Seconded ByGary McNamara

    That Essex County Council amend the order of the December 17, 2025 agenda to bring Item 12.3 forward in the agenda to follow related Item 9.2.

    Carried
  • 385-2025
    Moved BySherry Bondy
    Seconded ByGary McNamara

    That the Council of the County of Essex approve the 2026 Essex-Windsor Solid Waste Authority Operational Plan and Budget as presented.

    In Favour (14)Tracey Bailey, Larry Verbeke, Chris Gibb, Sherry Bondy, Rob Shepley, Dennis Rogers, Kimberly DeYong, Kirk Walstedt, Michael Akpata, Hilda MacDonald, Gary McNamara, Joe Bachetti, Mark Carrick, and Diane Pouget
    Carried
  • 388-2025
    Moved ByDennis Rogers
    Seconded ByDiane Pouget

    That the Minutes listed as items 11.1 and 11.2 and the information item listed is item 11.3 be received, and that the recommendations in the Administrative Reports listed as items 11.4 and 11.5, on the Consent Agenda for December 17, 2025, be approved.

    In Favour (14)Tracey Bailey, Larry Verbeke, Chris Gibb, Sherry Bondy, Rob Shepley, Dennis Rogers, Kimberly DeYong, Kirk Walstedt, Michael Akpata, Hilda MacDonald, Gary McNamara, Joe Bachetti, Mark Carrick, and Diane Pouget
    Carried

Minutes of the Essex-Windsor Solid Waste Authority Board Meeting, dated November 4, 2025

Report number 2025-1217-LLS-R59-KH, Summary of Outstanding Matters, dated December 17, 2025 from Katherine Hebert, County Clerk

Report number 2025-1217-LLS-R60-CS, Accessibility Initiatives Annual Compliance Review, dated December 17, 2025 from Crystal Sylvestre, Manager, Records and Accessibility/Deputy Clerk 

Report number 2025-1217-HR-R16-DD, Proposed Amendment of Employee Code of Conduct, dated December 17, 2025, from Danielle Dunlop, Interim Director, Human Resources 

Danielle Dunlop explained that the Employee Code of Conduct had been reviewed to modernize language, to reflect current legislation, best practices and align the document with standard recent practice.

The policy is being proposed to be realigned as an Administrative Policy as it is operational in nature.

  • 389-2025
    Moved ByTracey Bailey
    Seconded ByGary McNamara

    That Essex County Council receive Report Number 2025-1217-HR-R16-DD, Amendment of Employee Code of Conduct; and

    That Essex County Council approve the amendment of Policy Number 1993-001 Employee Code of Conduct and its realignment to an Administrative Policy.

    In Favour (14)Tracey Bailey, Larry Verbeke, Chris Gibb, Sherry Bondy, Rob Shepley, Dennis Rogers, Kimberly DeYong, Kirk Walstedt, Michael Akpata, Hilda MacDonald, Gary McNamara, Joe Bachetti, Mark Carrick, and Diane Pouget
    Carried

Report number 2025-1217-R29-IPS-JB, Traffic and Parking on Highways By-law Amendments, dated December 17, 2025, from Jerry Behl, Manager, Transportation Planning and Development

Jerry Behl was joined by Nolan Harris, Traffic Engineer, who participated in the review of the six locations presented for consideration.

The road segments were identified and the data supporting the speed reductions at each location was outlined. Costs associated with the speed adjustments would funded from road safety budget and the work would be completed by County staff.

  • 390-2025
    Moved BySherry Bondy
    Seconded ByMark Carrick

    That Essex County Council receive report number 2025-1217-R29-IPS-JB, Traffic and Parking on Highways By-law Amendments, for information; and,

    That Essex County Council direct County Administration to implement the amendments for each specific segment as presented; and,

    That By-law 2025-54, to amend By-law 26-2002 to Regulate Traffic and Parking on Highways within the Essex County Roads System be approved.

    In Favour (14)Tracey Bailey, Larry Verbeke, Chris Gibb, Sherry Bondy, Rob Shepley, Dennis Rogers, Kimberly DeYong, Kirk Walstedt, Michael Akpata, Hilda MacDonald, Gary McNamara, Joe Bachetti, Mark Carrick, and Diane Pouget
    Carried

Report number 2025-1217-FIN-R35-MR, Green Bin Program Billing Updates, dated December 17, 2025, from Melissa Ryan, Director, Financial Services/Treasurer 

Melissa Ryan provided information on the Green Bin program user fee model for the four participating municipalities. It was noted that the remaining three municipalities were scheduled to join the program in late 2026.

Billing would be coordinated through the local tier final 2026 tax invoices and will be noted in a separate line for ease of reference.

  • 386-2025
    Moved ByChris Gibb
    Seconded ByMichael Akpata

    That Essex County Council receive report number 2025-1217-FIN-R35-MR, Green Bin Program Billing Updates as information.

    In Favour (14)Tracey Bailey, Larry Verbeke, Chris Gibb, Sherry Bondy, Rob Shepley, Dennis Rogers, Kimberly DeYong, Kirk Walstedt, Michael Akpata, Hilda MacDonald, Gary McNamara, Joe Bachetti, Mark Carrick, and Diane Pouget
    Carried

There were no matters of unfinished business for consideration for December 17, 2025.

Council met in a Closed Meeting at 5:00 PM on December 17, 2025 regarding three reports from Administration.

The reports were considered under the open meetings exceptions of the Municipal Act, 2001 as amended as follows:

  • Pursuant to Section 239 (2)

(d)  labour relations or employee negotiations;

Council was presented with information related to report 2025-1217-HR-R12-DD Collective Bargaining Parameters CUPE 2974.2.  Council provided direction to Administration regarding the upcoming negotiations.

  • Pursuant to Section 239 (2)

(c)  a proposed or pending acquisition or disposition of land by the municipality or local board;

(f)  advice that is subject to solicitor-client privilege, including communications necessary for that purpose;

Council received information related to report number 2025-1217-LLS-R61-DMS Property Acquisition Matter for Essex-Windsor EMS. Council provided direction to Administration regarding negotiation and purchase of two properties in the City of Windsor for use by EMS; and

  • Pursuant to Section 239 (2)

(b)  personal matters about an identifiable individual, including municipal or local board employees;

(e)  litigation or potential litigation, including matters before administrative tribunals, affecting the municipality or local board;

(f)  advice that is subject to solicitor-client privilege, including communications necessary for that purpose;

Council received information related to report number 2025-1217-SPH-R03-NS Sun Parlor Home Committee of Management review. Included for consideration were the results of an internal investigation, associated Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care inspection reports, and resulting recommendations.

Correspondence from SWIFT Executive Director, Barry Field, requesting a resolution of County Council for the reappointment of current SWIFT Board member Gary McNamara to the Board for a subsequent two year term or nominate a member of County Council for consideration as a WOWC member representative on the Board.

  • 391-2025
    Moved BySherry Bondy
    Seconded ByTracey Bailey

    That Essex County Council support the re-appointment of Essex County Councillor Gary McNamara to the SWIFT Board of Directors.

    In Favour (14)Tracey Bailey, Larry Verbeke, Chris Gibb, Sherry Bondy, Rob Shepley, Dennis Rogers, Kimberly DeYong, Kirk Walstedt, Michael Akpata, Hilda MacDonald, Gary McNamara, Joe Bachetti, Mark Carrick, and Diane Pouget
    Carried
  • 392-2025
    Moved ByGary McNamara
    Seconded ByJoe Bachetti

    That By-laws 2025-54 and 2025-55 be given three readings, and having been read a first, second and third time, be finally passed and enacted. 

    In Favour (14)Tracey Bailey, Larry Verbeke, Chris Gibb, Sherry Bondy, Rob Shepley, Dennis Rogers, Kimberly DeYong, Kirk Walstedt, Michael Akpata, Hilda MacDonald, Gary McNamara, Joe Bachetti, Mark Carrick, and Diane Pouget
    Carried

Being a By-law to confirm the proceedings of the Council of the Corporation of the County of Essex, Regular and Closed meetings held on December 17, 2025.

There were no Notices of Motion for December 17, 2025.

Members of Council offered Holiday Greetings to the residents of Essex County.

  • 393-2025
    Moved ByKimberly DeYong
    Seconded ByDennis Rogers

    That the Essex County Council meeting for December 17, 2025 be adjourned at 7:45 PM.

    Carried
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