Minutes

Committee of the Whole

Thursday, March 13, 2025, Following Council

Council Chambers - Grey County Administration Building

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Call to Order

Grey County Council met on the above date at the County Administration Building. Deputy Warden Milne assumed the Chair and called the meeting to order at 10:16 a.m. with all members present except for Warden Matrosovs and Councillor Bordignon. Councillor Hutchinson and McQueen participated electronically. 

Declaration of Interest

There were no declarations of interest. 

Business Arising from Minutes

Joint Municipal Services Committee

• CW32-25
  Moved by: Councillor Boddy
  Seconded by: Councillor Eccles

  That staff be directed to bring a report back containing the Terms of Reference for establishing a Joint Municipal Services Ad Hoc Committee to look at shared approaches to address challenges that municipalities in Grey County encounter.

  Carried

Delegations

None.

Determination of Items Requiring Separate Discussion

There were no items on the consent agenda pulled for further discussion. 

Consent Agenda

• CW33-25
  Moved by: Councillor Nielsen
  Seconded by: Councillor McKay

  That the following Consent Agenda items be received; and

  That staff be authorized to take the actions necessary to give effect to the recommendations in the staff reports; and

  That the correspondence be supported or received for information as recommended in the consent agenda. 

  Carried

Grey County 4H Leaders Association - Thank You Letter

• That the letter from the Grey County 4H Leaders Association thanking Grey County Council for support be received for information. 

PDR-CW-22-25  - Information Report for Grey County Official Plan Amendment 26 – Ridgeview Lumber

• That report PDR-CW-22-25 regarding an overview of County Official Plan Amendment No. 26 (Ridgeview Lumber) on lands described as Lot 18, Concession 13, geographic Township of Proton, now in the Township of Southgate, which would have the effect of redesignating the subject lands from ‘Rural’ and ‘Hazard Lands’ to ‘Rural with Exceptions’ and ‘Hazard Lands’ to permit the on-farm diversified use to occupy 2.25% of the property area, be received for information.

CAOR-CW-01-25 - Community Transit Update

• That report CAOR-CW-01-25 regarding a Community Transit update be received for information.

TR-CW-04-25 - Award of Tender RFT-TS-01-25 for the Grey Road 12 Pulverize and Pave

• That report containing the tender results for RFT-TS-01-25 regarding the Grey Road 12 Pulverize and Pave project be received; and

  That IPAC Paving Limited be awarded the tender for a total amount of $4,729,791.77, excluding HST.

TR-CW-05-25 - Award of Tender RFT-TS-03-25 for the Grey Road 9 Pulverize and Pave and Overlay

• That report containing the tender results for RFT-TS-03-25 regarding the Grey Road 9 Pulverize and Pave and Overlay project be received; and

  That Cox Construction Limited be awarded the tender for a total amount of $2,748,785.75, excluding HST.

Items For Direction and Discussion

Agricultural Advisory Committee minutes dated March 5, 2025

• CW34-25
  Moved by: Councillor Dickert
  Seconded by: Councillor Keaveney

  That the Agricultural Advisory Committee minutes dated March 5, 2025 be adopted as presented and the following resolutions contained therein be endorsed:

  1. That Member Lorie Smith be elected Chair of the Agricultural Advisory Committee for 2025.

  2. That Member Blair Freeman be nominated Vice Chair for the Agricultural Advisory Committee for 2025.

  Carried

Community Services Committee dated March 6, 2025

• CW35-25
  Moved by: Councillor Mackey
  Seconded by: Councillor Paterson

  That the Community Services Committee minutes dated March 6, 2025 be adopted as presented and the following resolutions contained therein be endorsed:

  1. That Councillor Nielsen be elected Chair of the Community Services Committee for 2025.

  2. That Councillor Dickert be elected Vice-Chair of the Community Services Committee for 2025.

  3. That staff be directed to bring back a staff report outlining possible options for updates to By-law 4872-14 - Smoke Free Municipal Spaces.

  4. That the presentation regarding the 14th Street Project be received for information.

  5. That Report CSR-CS-04-25 regarding the Ontario Works 2025 Service Plan be received for information.

  6. That Report CSR-CS-05-25 regarding the Community Housing Waitlist Review 2024 be received for information.

  7. That report CSR-CS-06-25 regarding Last Mile Funding be received; and 

     That the Warden and Clerk sign the funding letter for an additional $182,000 through the Canada Ontario Community Housing Initiatives Program; and 

     That the County enter into an agreement with Lutheran Social Services Owen Sound for the renovation of one affordable housing unit; and 

     That the funding letter be signed prior to County Council approval in accordance with Section 26.6 (b) of Procedural By-law according to Procedural Bylaw 5134-22.

  8. That the Service System Manager Semi Annual Report be received for information. 
  Carried

PSR-CW-01-25 - Response Time Performance Plan Results for 2024

• CW36-25
  Moved by: Councillor Eccles
  Seconded by: Councillor Dobreen

  That report PSR-CW-01-25 regarding the 2024 response time performance plan results be received and that the results be submitted to the Ministry of Health by March 31^st, 2025.

  Carried
• CW37-25
  Moved by: Councillor Greig
  Seconded by: Councillor Eccles

  That staff be directed to bring back a report containing the ORH Template numbers in comparison to the response time results being experienced in Grey County.

  Lost

PDR-CW-18-25 - Rail Trail Parking Options

Council took a recess from 10:58 a.m. and resumed at 11:00 a.m.

Warden Matrosovs assumed Chair. 

• CW38-25
  Moved by: Councillor Nielsen
  Seconded by: Councillor Pringle

  That Report PDR-PCD-18-25 be received; and

  That the snow removal and associated budget for plowing at the Markdale CP Rail Trail lot be considered as part of 2026 budget discussions.

  Lost
• CW39-25
  Moved by: Councillor Dobreen
  Seconded by: Councillor Mackey

  That staff be directed to bring back a report prior to 2026 budget discussions containing options for parking revenue along Grey County trail systems.

  Carried

Closed Meeting Matters

• Council proceeded into closed session at 11:50 a.m.

  CW40-25
  Moved by: Councillor Eccles
  Seconded by: Councillor Dobreen

  That the Committee of the Whole does now go into closed session pursuant to Section 239 (2) (b) of the Municipal Act, 2001, as amended, to discuss:

  1. personal matters about an identifiable individual, including municipal or local board employees (CAO contract)
  Carried

  Council returned to open session at 12:18 p.m.

  As a result of closed session discussions the Warden noted the following:

  Council, having received notice from the CAO that her contract will end May 2^nd 2025, is pleased to announce that Randy Scherzer will step into the CAO role at that time and staff have been directed to begin the recruitment process for a new deputy CAO.

  The Warden thanked Ms. Wingrove for her ongoing work throughout the past 9 years.

  
  

Other Business

The Warden gave notice of a Special Joint County of Grey meeting regarding centralized planning services to be held virtually at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, March 21, 2025. This meeting will be held jointly with the County of Grey and all member municipalities in Grey County and will be live streamed on the Grey County Youtube channel. An agenda and report will be available March 14, 2025.

Councillor Eccles wished to proclaim March 24th as a day of recognition for Agnes Macphail in Grey County. The Clerk indicated that notice of motion would be the preferred method. Councillor Dobreen added that on March 23rd there is an event in  celebration of Agnes Macphail at the Annesley United Church in Markdale from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Councillor McQueen indicated that the Grey County Federation of Agriculture is hosting their annual Politicians Event on March 22nd. It will begin at 10:00 a.m. and is located at the Elmwood Community Centre.

Notice of Motion

Councillor Eccles presented a notice of motion for the meeting of the Committee of the Whole regarding proclamation of declaring March 24th as a day of recognition for Agnes Macphail in Grey County. 

Adjournment

On motion of Councillor Milne and Councillor Paterson, Committee of the Whole adjourned at 12:28 p.m. to the call of the Chair.