Essex County Council Special Meeting Minutes

Thursday, March 26, 2020

2:00 PM with Members Participating by Video Conference

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

Council:

• Gary McNamara, Warden, Mayor, Town of Tecumseh
• Joe Bachetti, Deputy Mayor, Town of Tecumseh
• Tracey Bailey, Deputy Mayor, Town of Lakeshore
• Tom Bain, Mayor, Town of Lakeshore
• Marc Bondy, Mayor, Town of LaSalle
• Aldo DiCarlo, Mayor, Town of Amherstburg
• Hilda MacDonald, Mayor, Municipality of Leamington
• Crystal Meloche, Deputy Mayor, Town of LaSalle
• Leo Meloche, Deputy Mayor, Town of Amherstburg
• Richard Meloche, Deputy Mayor, Town of Essex
• Gord Queen, Deputy Mayor, Town of Kingsville
• Nelson Santos, Deputy Warden, Mayor, Town of Kingsville
• Larry Snively, Mayor, Town of Essex
• Larry Verbeke, Deputy Mayor, Municipality of Leamington

Administration:

• Mary Birch, Director of Council & Community Services/Clerk
• Rob Maisonville, Chief Administrative Officer
• Renée Trombley, Manager Corporate Communications and Organizational Development
• Katherine Hebert, Deputy Clerk
• Danielle Dunlop, Council and Community Services Administrative Assistant

---

1.

Call to Order

Warden McNamara called the meeting to order and the Clerk described the procedures to be followed for electronic participation in the meeting.

2.

Recording of Attendance

All members of Essex County Council were in attendance.

3.

Disclosure of Pecuniary Interest

There were no conflicts of pecuniary interest declared.

4.

Reports and Questions

4.1

Amendment to the Procedure By-law #41-2018 - Electronic Participation during Emergencies

Report Number 2020-03-26-CCS-R001-MB, dated March 26, 2020, from Mary Birch, Director of Council and Community Services/Clerk.

Ms. Birch reported on the amendment to the Municipal Act, 2001, as amended, which provided options for electronic participation in Council meetings if an emergency had been declared by a Municipality. 

Ms. Birch requested that, due to the fact that Council had declared an Emergency on March 22nd, 2020, that Council enact amendments to the Procedure By-law #41-2018, to allow electronic participation in meetings during the period of declared emergency. She noted that meetings would be held through the electronic video conference software, and that the video/audio feed from the video conference software would be streamed publicly on the website.

• 59-2020
  Moved By Larry Snively
  Seconded By Leo Meloche

  That Council enact amendments to the Procedure By-law #41-2018, to allow electronic participation in meetings during a period of declared emergency;

  And Further that any notice requirement under Procedure By-law #41-2018, be waived for the purpose of this Resolution, on the basis that the COVID-19 emergency and related social distancing and self-isolation recommendations constitute, and are considered to be, of an urgent or time sensitive nature, and affect the health or well-being of the residents of the municipality;

  And further that Essex County Council authorizes the Warden and Clerk to execute the By-Law.

  Carried (13 to 0)

5.

Adoption of By-Laws

• 60-2020
  Moved By Hilda MacDonald
  Seconded By Crystal Meloche

  That By-laws 2020-16 and 2020-17, having been read a first, second and third time, be finally passed and enacted. 

  Carried (13 to 0)

6.

Adjournment

• 61-2020
  Moved By Tracey Bailey
  Seconded By Larry Snively

  That the Essex County Council Special Meeting for March 26, 2020 be adjourned at 2:25 PM.

  Carried (13 to 0)

5.

Adoption of By-Laws

5.2

By-law Number 2020-17

A By-law to Confirm the Proceedings of the Council of the Corporation of the County of Essex (March 26, 2020)