Essex County Council Regular Meeting Minutes

Meeting #:
Date:	Wednesday, February 06, 2019
Time:	Closed Meeting 6:30 P.M.; Regular Meeting 7:00 P.M.
Location:	Council Chambers, 2nd Floor 360 Fairview Avenue West Essex, Ontario N8M 1Y6 519-776-6441, ext. 1335

Council:

• 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
• Gary McNamara, Warden, Mayor, Town of Tecumseh
• Crystal Meloche, Deputy Mayor, Town of LaSalle
• Leo Meloche, Deputy Mayor, Town of Amherstburg
• Richard Meloche, Deputy Mayor, Town of Essex
• Nelson Santos, Deputy Warden, Mayor, Town of Kingsville
• Gord Queen, Deputy Mayor, Town of Kingsville
• Larry Snively, Mayor, Town of Essex
• Larry Verbeke, Deputy Mayor, Municipality of Leamington

Absent:

• Morley Bowman, Alternate County Councillor, Town of Essex
• Tony Gaffan, Alternate County Councillor, Town of Kingsville

Administration:

• Mary Birch, Director of Council & Community Services/Clerk
• Danielle Dunlop, Administrative Assistant to the Chief of EWEMS
• Robin Greenall, CEO/Chief Librarian, Essex County Library
• Bruce Krauter, Chief, Essex Windsor EMS
• Jane Mustac, Director of Infrastructure Services/County Engineer
• Greg Schlosser, Director Human Resources
• Sandra Zwiers, Director of Financial Services/Treasurer

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1.

Closed Meeting

A Closed Meeting was held at 6:30 P.M.

• 14-2019
  Moved By Tom Bain
  Seconded By Nelson Santos

  That Council move into a closed meeting pursuant to Section 239 (2) (c) of the Municipal Act, 2001, as amended for the following reason(s):

  • a pending acquisition of land by the Corporation of the County of Essex
  Carried

2.

Moment of Reflection

3.

Singing of ‘O Canada’

4.

Recording of Attendance

All members of Essex County Council were in attendance.

5.

Disclosure of Pecuniary Interest

There were no conflicts of pecuniary interest declared.

6.

Adoption of Regular Meeting Minutes

• 18-2019
  Moved By Larry Verbeke
  Seconded By Leo Meloche

  That the minutes of the January 16, 2019 Budget Meeting of Essex County Council be adopted as presented.

  Carried

7.

County Warden’s Welcome and Remarks

Warden McNamara welcomed everyone and provided an update on recent activities he had attended including:

• Attendance at the Rural Ontario Municipal Association (ROMA) conference;
• Homelessness and Affordable Housing 10-year Master Plan focus group meeting; and
• Grand opening of 'The Bridge' for youth in Leamington.

8.

Delegations and Presentations

There were no delegations for the February 6, 2019 meeting of County Council.

9.

Communications

9.1

Correspondence

• 19-2019
  Moved By Marc Bondy
  Seconded By Hilda MacDonald

  That the correspondence listed on the regular agenda for February 6, 2019, be received and any noted action approved. 

  Carried

9.1.1

Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO)

View the online version of the AMO Watchfile Newsletter, dated January 17, 24 and 31, 2019.

9.1.2

AMO

Received e-mailed AMO Communication, dated January 15, 2019 regarding AMO Policy Update - Province's "Regional Review" to be Limited.

9.1.3

AMO

Received e-mailed AMO Communication, An Update from the AMO President regarding the January 25, 2019 AMO Board meeting.

9.1.4

AMO

Received e-mailed AMO Communication, dated February 1, 2019 regarding the announcement by Premier Ford at the ROMA Conference that the Province will launch a joint and several liability review.

9.1.5

Enbridge Gas Inc.

Received e-mail, dated January 16, 2019 regarding EB-2018-0305-Enbridge Gas Inc. - Application for 2019 Rates - Notice of Hearing.

9.1.6

Union Gas Limited

Received correspondence, dated January 17, 2019 from Sean Collier, District Manager, Windsor/Chatham regarding a Notice of Tree Clearing Activities - Kingsville Transmission Reinforcement Project.

9.1.7

Union Gas Limited

Received correspondence, dated January 24, 2019 from Sean Collier, District Manager, Windsor/Chatham regarding - Amalgamation of Union Gas Limited and Enbridge Gas Disbribution Inc. and Name Change to Enbridge Gas Inc. effective January 1, 2019.

9.1.8

Ontario Farmland Trust

Received e-mail, dated January 22, 2019 from Kathryn Enders, Executive Director, Ontario Farmland Trust regarding the Ontario Farmland Trust's submission on Bill 66, Restoring Ontario's Competitiveness Act, 2018.

9.1.9

Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative (GLSLCI)

Received e-mailed copy January 2019 edition of GLSLCI newsletter, "Making Waves".

9.1.10

Niagara Falls

Received e-mailed correspondence, dated January 22, 2019 from Bill Matson, Acting City Clerk regarding their City Council's motion referring to Opting In to Allow Retail Cannabis Stores.

9.1.11

Municipality of Mattice-Val Cote

Received e-mailed correspondence, dated December 11, 2018 referring to their Council's resolution requesting the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing to consider replacing paragraph four of the Declaration of Office.

9.1.12

Georgina

Received e-mailed correspondence, from Carolyn Lance, Council Services Coordinator, dated January 16, 2019 regarding their Council's resolution recommending that Schedule 10 of Bill 66 - Restoring Ontario's Competitiveness Act, 2018, be immediately abandoned or withdrawn. 

9.2

Resolutions

There were no resolutions for the February 6, 2019 meeting.

10.

Consent Agenda

• 20-2019
  Moved By Nelson Santos
  Seconded By Tracey Bailey

  That the recommendation in the Administrative Report listed as item 10.1, on the Consent Agenda for February 6, 2019, be approved.

  Carried

10.1

Approval of Invoices - Legal Services

Report Number 2019-0206-ADM-R01-RM, dated February 6, 2019 from Robert Maisonville, Chief Administrative Officer.

11.

Reports and Questions

11.1

Essex County Library Board

Minutes of the Essex County Library Board meeting, dated November 28, 2018, Mr. Richard Meloche, Chair.

• 21-2019
  Moved By Richard Meloche
  Seconded By Larry Verbeke

  That the minutes of the Essex County Library Board for November 28, 2018 be received.

  Carried

11.2

2019 Property Tax Policy Recommendations

Report Number 2019-0206-FIN-R003-SZ, dated February 6, 2019 from Sandra Zwiers, Director of Financial Services/Treasurer.

Ms. Zwiers presented the 2019 Property Tax Policy report.

Ms. Zwiers advised that the tax policy recommendations presented had been agreed upon by the Tax Collectors and Treasurers of the local municipalities and noted that the tax ratios being recommended were unchanged from 2018, as were the optional tax classes and tax assistance programs. 

In response to a question from Deputy Warden Santos regarding the definition/criteria for small scale on farm businesses, Ms. Zwiers indicated that she would consult with MPAC and provide Council with a response as soon as possible.

• 22-2019
  Moved By Tom Bain
  Seconded By Crystal Meloche

  That Essex County Council adopt the tax ratios used in 2018, for the 2019 taxation year;

  And further that the reductions for sub-classes for vacant/excess commercial and industrial land be set at 30% and 35% respectively;

  And further that the Essex County Tax Assistance Program for Low Income Seniors and Low Income Persons with Disabilities established under By-law 04-2004 and the Charity Tax Rebate Program established under By-law 16-2007 continue with no amendments.

  Carried

12.

Unfinished Business

13.

New Business

13.1

Public Reporting of Closed Meeting

A Closed Meeting of Essex County Council was held at 6:30 p.m., prior to the regular Council meeting, pursuant to Section 239 (2) (c) of the Municipal Act, 2001.

Administration provided Council with an update on two pending acquisitions of property and Council provided Administration with direction on how to proceed.

13.2

Windsor-Essex Single Site Acute Care Hospital

Deputy Mayor Leo Meloche expressed to Council that he was hearing from residents that they were concerned the funding for the Windsor-Essex Single Site Acute Care Hospital might be in jeopardy because of the opposition being expressed by Citizens for an Accountable Mega Hospital Process (CAMPP) to the proposed location on County Road 42. He noted that their appeal to the Local Planning Appeal Tribunal (LPAP), of the City's approval to re-zone the lands was not sending a positive message to the Province. 

Warden McNamara reiterated County Council's support for the new hospital and its location, encouraging County Council and the community to rally together and not give the Province any excuse to not fund this much needed improvement to the local health care system.

14.

Adoption of By-Laws

• 23-2019
  Moved By Aldo DiCarlo
  Seconded By Tom Bain

  That By-laws 2-2019 through 5-2019, having been read a first, second and third time, be finally passed and enacted. 

  Carried

14.1

By-law Number 2-2019

A By-law to authorize the purchase of 10588 County Road 42, Tecumseh from Michael Robert Bondy and Lynn Bernadette Bondy.

14.2

By-law Number 3-2019

A By-law to establish Tax Ratios for the year 2019 for the Corporation of the County of Essex and its Constituent Lower Tier Municipalities.

14.3

By-law Number 4-2019

A By-law to Adopt the Estimates for the Sums Required During the Year 2019 for The Corporation of the County of Essex and to Establish Tax Rates for Same Against its Constituent Lower Tier Municipalities.

14.4

By-law Number 5-2019

A By-law to Confirm the Proceedings of the Council of The Corporation of the County of Essex.  (February 6, 2019)

15.

Notice of Motion

16.

Adjournment

• 24-2019

  That the Essex County Council meeting for February 6, 2019 be adjourned at 7:30 PM.