MUNICIPALITY OF ARRAN-ELDERSLIE

Special Council Meeting

MINUTES

Monday, November 04, 2024 at 9:00 A.m. - 4:00 P.m.

Council Chambers

1925 Bruce Road 10, Chesley, ON

Council Present:

• Mayor Steve Hammell
• Deputy Mayor Jennifer Shaw
• Councillor Ryan Nickason
• Councillor Darryl Hampton - absent
• Councillor Brian Dudgeon - absent
• Councillor Moiken Penner
• Councillor Peter Steinacker

Staff Present:

• Christine Fraser-McDonald - Clerk
• Julie Hamilton - Deputy Clerk
• Scott McLeod - Public Works Manager
• Carly Steinhoff - Recreation Manager
• Pat Johnston - Chief Building Official - Present Electronically
• Steve Tiernan - Fire Chief
• Chris Legge - Water/Sewer Foreperson
• David Munro - Interim Treasurer
• Jennifer Isber-Legge - Economic Development & Communications Coordinator
• Emily Dance, CAO

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1.

Call to Order

Mayor Hammell called the special meeting to order at 9:00 am. A quorum was present. 

2.

Adoption of Agenda

Council passed the following resolution: 

• 304-20-2024
  Moved by: Deputy Mayor Shaw
  Seconded by: Councillor Steinacker

  Be It Resolved that the agenda for the Special Council Meeting of Monday, November 4, 2024 be received and adopted, as distributed by the Clerk.

  Carried

3.

Disclosures of Pecuniary Interest and General Nature Thereof

None declared at this time.

4.

Delegation(s)

4.1

B.M. Ross & Associates - Development Charges

Lisa Courtney of B.M. Ross & Associates gave a presentation to Council.

Development charges are a tool that are available to allow municipalities to recover capital costs associated with infrastructure and services put in place that benefit growth.

A background study would be completed that sets out what projects are being paid for through DC's.

Development charges are set by Council and are only for new growth. If there are no development charges, then there will be significant increases in taxes to support this development.

She noted that if Council were to implement DCs at some point in the future, they could collect a portion of the project costs through DCs (the portion attributable to future growth) for the firehall and public works shop and the Paisley wastewater treatment plant expansion.

Council thanked Ms. Courtney for her presentation.

4.2

SRFIN.24.1 Development Charges Background Study

CAO Emily Dance responded to questions from Members of Council. 

Subsequent to further discussion, Council passed the following resolution:

• 305-20-2024
  Moved by: Deputy Mayor Shaw
  Seconded by: Councillor Nickason

  Be It Resolved that Council hereby,

  1. Approves the inclusion of a Development Charges Background Study in the 2025 Budget.
  Carried

5.

Staff Reports

5.1

Finance 

5.1.1

SRFIN.24.17 2025 Budget Draft 1

• Interim Treasurer, David Munro, responded to questions from Members of Council. 

He recommended using some of the reserves for the construction of the firehall as well as fundraising.

Council directed staff to bring back a report regarding the funding for the new Paisley Firehall and Public Works Building.

Council directed the Recreation Manager to contact the Paisley Legion members regarding building deficiency concerns.

Subsequent to further discussion, Council passed the following resolution:

• 306-20-2024
  Moved by: Deputy Mayor Shaw
  Seconded by: Councillor Penner

  Be It Resolved that Council hereby,

  1. Receive the 2025 Budget - Draft 1;
  2. Directs staff to incorporate any comments and create the November 12^th, 2025 Budget Public Meeting presentation;
  3. Bring back the 2025 Budget Draft 2 to Council on November 25, 2024;
  4. Acknowledge the Municipal Innovation Committee membership to end December 31, 2024
  Carried

5.1.2

SRFIN.24.18 2025 Budget Pre-approval

CAO Emily Dance responded to questions from Members of Council. 

Subsequent to further discussion, Council passed the following resolution:

• 307-20-2024
  Moved by: Councillor Steinacker
  Seconded by: Deputy Mayor Shaw

  Be It Resolved that Council hereby,

  1. Provides pre-budget approval for a new Part-Time Project Manager and direct staff to initiate the recruitment process
  2. Provides pre-budget approval for the 2025 compensation increase of 3% for union and non-union staff.
  Carried

5.1.3

SRFIN.24.16 2023 Audit

Interim Treasurer, David Munro, responded to questions from Members of Council. 

Subsequent to further discussion, Council passed the following resolution:

• 308-20-2024
  Moved by: Councillor Penner
  Seconded by: Councillor Steinacker

  Be It Resolved that Council hereby,

  1. Receives report SRFIN.24.16 for information regarding the delay in the 2023 Financial Audit by BDO, and the expected extra expense.
  Carried

6.

Confirming By-law

6.1

Confirming By-law - Special Council Meeting - By-law 53-2024

Subsequent to further discussion, Council passed the following resolution:

• 309-20-2024
  Moved by: Councillor Nickason
  Seconded by: Deputy Mayor Shaw

  Be It Resolved that By-law No. 53-2024 be introduced and read a first, second and third time, signed by the Mayor and Clerk, sealed with the Seal of the Corporation, and engrossed in the By-law Book.

  By-law 53-2024 being a By-law to confirm the proceedings of the Special Council meeting of the Municipality of Arran-Elderslie held Monday, November 4, 2024.

  Carried

7.

Adjournment

Subsequent to further discussion, Council passed the following resolution:

• 310-20-2024
  Moved by: Councillor Nickason
  Seconded by: Councillor Steinacker

  Be It Resolved that the meeting be adjourned to the call of the Mayor at 12:06 p.m.

  Carried

8.

List of Upcoming Council meetings

• November 12, 2024
• November 25, 2024
• December 9, 2024