Essex County Council Regular Meeting Minutes

Meeting #:
Date:
Time:
-
Location:
Council Chambers, 2nd Floor
360 Fairview Avenue West
Essex, Ontario N8M 1Y6
519-776-6441, ext. 1335
Council:
  • Warden Tom Bain
  • Al Fazio, Deputy Mayor, Town of Lakeshore
  • Deputy Warden Ken Antaya, Mayor, Town of LaSalle
  • Marc Bondy, Deputy Mayor, Town of LaSalle
  • Aldo DiCarlo, Mayor, Town of Amherstburg
  • Ron McDermott, Mayor, Town of Essex
  • Richard Meloche, Deputy Mayor, Town of Essex
  • Nelson Santos, Mayor, Town of Kingsville
  • Gord Queen, Deputy Mayor, Town of Kingsville
  • John Paterson, Mayor, Municipality of Leamington
  • Gary McNamara, Mayor, Town of Tecumseh
  • Joe Bachetti, Deputy Mayor, Town of Tecumseh
Absent:
  • Bart DiPasquale, Deputy Mayor, Town of Amherstburg
  • Hilda MacDonald, Deputy Mayor, Municipality of Leamington
Administration:
  • Mary Birch, Director of Council & Community Services/Clerk
  • Rob Maisonville, Chief Administrative Officer
  • Bruce Krauter, Chief, Essex Windsor EMS
  • Greg Schlosser, Director Human Resources
  • Katherine Hebert, Council & Community Services Administrative Assistant
  • Renée Trombley, Manager Corporate Communications and Accessibility

There was no Closed Meeting scheduled for March 7, 2018.

Warden Bain noted that Ms. MacDonald and Mr. DiPasquale were absent, and that all other members of Essex County Council were in attendance.

There were no conflicts of pecuniary interest declared.

  • Recommendation:
    52-2018
    Moved ByMr. McNamara
    Seconded ByMr. Bondy

    That the minutes of the February 21, 2018 Regular Meeting of Essex County Council be adopted as presented.

    Carried

Warden Bain welcomed the members of County Council, Administration, media as well as the home viewing audience. He noted his participation in the following:

  • Attended the Windsor Essex Local Immigration Partnership (WELIP) Forum. He advised this forum discussed the work of the WELIP which assists new immigrants in settling and integration into the community by connecting individuals and families with resources as well as coordinating employment opportunities.
  • Attended the Chatham-Kent Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) which was activated as part of the recent flooding situation in that municipality. He noted that it was a great learning opportunity to see an EOC in action and to witness Mayor Hope and his team coordinate the emergency response and services for the Chatham-Kent residents impacted by the flooding of the Thames River. He noted that the County of Essex and Lakeshore were fortunate in that they were not significantly impacted by this flooding due to significant rainfall and thawing.
  • Attended the Ontario Good Roads Association (OGRA) conference at which time a private meeting with the Minister of Transportation the Hon. Kathryn McGarry was held. He reported that Minister McGarry heard the issues brought forward with regard to the need to widen Highway #3 between Essex and Leamington. He advised that County Administration provided traffic and collision data and that was presented as new information to be considered.  He further noted that the information was well received by the Minister and that further opportunities at the Conference to meet Minister McGarry were used to reinforce the issues facing Essex County with regard to Highway #3 safety.
  • Participated in the South Western Integrated Fibre Technology (SWIFT) Annual General Meeting via teleconference.
  • Attended the Driving Innovation Across Borders: Canada-US Workshop on Smart Technologies and Roadways held at Caesars Windsor. He explained that there were workshop sessions where sustainable growth and the automotive industry were highlighted as well as engagement in roundtable discussions about connected and autonomous vehicles and how this technology could impact the region and border cities.
  • Attended the Western Ontario Wardens Conference (WOWC) where the group discussed strategies for working collaboratively with all areas of South Western Ontario on the issue of Economic Development.

There were no delegations scheduled for the March 7th, 2018 meeting.

  • Recommendation:
    53-2018
    Moved ByMr. Paterson
    Seconded ByMr. DiCarlo

    That the correspondence listed on the regular agenda for March 7, 2018 be received and any noted action approved. 

    Carried

To view the online version of the AMO Watch File Newsletter, dated February 22, 2018 and March 1, 2018.

Received e-mail, dated February 21, 2018 regarding New Long-Term Care Beds - Ministry Call for Proposals for New Beds Expected Soon.

Received e-mail from Christie Nelson, Communications Consultant, WECCC, dated March 2, 2018 regarding their progress in our communities. 

View the GLSLCI Making Waves Newsletter - via Twitter

Received e-mailed Press Release, dated February 23, 2018 - Thames River Phosphorus Reduction Collaborative - Collaborative ramps up phosphorus reduction project - Farmers and Cities team up to help meet 40 per cent target.

Received copy of e-mail to Tracey Ramsey, MP from Library of Parliament regarding all current funding programs that are available to municipalities for infrastructure, internet and initiatives that can assist residents.

Received e-mailed correspondence, dated February 27, 2018 regarding Proclamation of the Building Better Communities and Conserving Watersheds Act, 2017 - Bill 139.

Received e-mail, dated February 27, 2018 regarding the MFOA's summary of the Federal Budget.

There were no resolutions for consideration for the March 7, 2018 meeting.

  • Recommendation:

There were no items for the Consent Agenda for March 7, 2018.

Nelson Santos, Mayor, Town of Kingsville joined the meeting at 7:00 PM.

Minutes of the Essex County Accessibility Advisory Committee for February 1, 2018, Vice Chair Gord Queen.

  • Recommendation:
    54-2018
    Moved ByMr. Queen
    Seconded ByMr. Antaya

    That the minutes of the Essex County Accessibility Advisory Committee for February 1, 2018 be approved.

    Carried

Report Number 2018-R003-CCA-0307-RT, dated March 3, 2018 from Renee Trombley, Manager of Corporate Communications and Accessibility.

The Manager of Corporate Communications and Accessibility, Renée Trombley, presented the report and noted that the policy formed part of the Communications Strategy that was approved by County Council in 2017.

  • Recommendation:
    55-2018
    Moved ByMr. Meloche
    Seconded ByMr. Bachetti

    That Essex County Council approve the proposed Corporate Communications and Media Relations Policy #18-001.

    Carried

Report Number 2018-R003-EMS-03047-BK, dated March 3, 2018 from Bruce Krauter, Chief, Essex-Windsor Emergency Medical Services.

Chief Krauter presented the report and update on the amended Medical Tiered Response Agreement (MTRA). He noted that the information may have been presented to the lower tier Councils already by their Fire Chiefs. 

Chief Krauter outlined the initial purpose of the MTRA and noted that over the course of time, there has been an increasing deviation from that initial purpose. He further noted that the update was being presented as a resolution to this issue and would be communicated with dispatchers and health care partners including the Local Health Integration Network (LHIN).

Mr. McNamara expressed support for the amendments. He expressed that tiered response of municipal fire services was not an efficient use of services nor was it effective when a call was dispatched to a medical clinic where a doctor would be present.

Chief Krauter advised that he had previously committed to Council to bring a report forward outlining the data for the tiered response calls and that report would be forthcoming in April and would be followed up quarterly so that Council would see the comparison data. Further, he indicated that the revised Tiered Response Agreements and new protocols would be communicated to all parties including dispatch.

  • Recommendation:
    56-2018
    Moved ByMr. Bondy
    Seconded ByMr. McDermott

    That Essex County Council authorize Administration to deliver the 2018 Essex Windsor EMS and Fire Service Medical Tiered Response Agreement to the Windsor Central Ambulance Communication Centre, once municipal approval is received, for region wide implementation.

    Carried

Report 2017-R004-EMS-0307-BK, dated March 7, 2018 from Chief Bruce Krauter, Essex-Windsor Emergency Medical Services.

Chief Krauter provided an update to Council regarding the recruitment process for new paramedics. He noted that over the next few months there would be a total of 49 new paramedics divided into 2 intakes; the first of which was culminating with their March 9, 2018 Commencement Ceremony. He explained that the intake of recruits was divided into 2 groups, the first composed of already certified paramedics and the second was comprised of soon-to-be certified and graduates of their college programs later in the spring. He noted that Council had approved the recruitment as part of the 2018 EWEMS budget.

  • Recommendation:
    57-2018
    Moved ByMr. Antaya
    Seconded ByMr. Fazio

    That Essex County Council authorize Essex Windsor EMS to continue with the outlined Recruitment and Enhancement Plan through to May 2018.

    Carried

Report Number 2018-R06-ADM-0307-RM, dated March 7, 2018 from Robert Maisonville, Chief Administrative Officer.

Mr. Maisonville provided Council with some information regarding the implications for making an application to host the AMO conference in Essex-Windsor. He noted that Administration's recommendation was to submit an application in each of the years between 2021-2024 in the hopes that the region would be selected for at least one of the years. He explained that there would be a financial commitment required for the host municipality as well as an 'in-kind' commitment from staff to assist coordinating events. He noted that the AMO conference draws many dignitaries and attendees from all over the province, thus there would be economic and social benefits from being a partner host municipality.

Mr. Paterson expressed that since the conference would likely be held at Caesars Windsor, and most of the off hours of delegates would be spent in the City of Windsor, with the scheduled tour groups only visiting the County, he felt it would be more appropriate if the City of Windsor contributed a greater portion of the costs of hosting. He further expressed his support for hosting the event at a different apportionment of the cost.

Mr. McNamara indicated that the event, in the past, has provided a regional benefit and provided an opportunity to showcase some of the best tourism and industries of Essex County even if the conference centre would be in the City of Windsor.

Warden Bain expressed the unique opportunities that present themselves to the host municipality with regard to meetings and exchanges with Ministers and other government officials while they are in the region for the conference. He indicated he felt it was a good opportunity to highlight the Essex County and Windsor area.

  • Recommendation:
    58-2018
    Moved ByMr. McDermott
    Seconded ByMr. Santos

    That Essex County Council support the application for hosting the AMO Conference jointly with the City of Windsor for each of the years between 2021-2024.

    Carried
  • Recommendation:
    59-2018
    Moved ByMr. Queen
    Seconded ByMr. Fazio

    That By-law(s) 15-2018 and 16-2018, having been read a first, second and third time, be finally passed and enacted. 

    Carried

A By-law Authorizing the Allocation of Funds to the Lower Tier Municipalities in the County of Essex, being the Towns of Amherstburg, Essex, Kingsville, Lakeshore, LaSalle, Tecumseh and The Municipality of Leamington in Accordance with Section 6.2 of the Agreement with The Association of Municipalities of Ontario for the Transfer of Federal Gas Tax Funds.

A By-law to Confirm the Proceedings of the Council of the Corporation of the County of Essex (March 7, 2018).

  • Recommendation:
    60-2018
    Moved ByMr. Meloche
    Seconded ByMr. Bachetti

    That the Essex County Council meeting for March 7, 2018 be adjourned at 7:40 PM.

    Carried