Minutes

Committee of the Whole

Thursday, May 22, 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. Warden Matrosovs assumed the Chair and called the meeting to order at 10:23 a.m. with all members present with the exception of Councillor Boddy. Councillors Bordignon and Hutchinson participated electronically. Councillor Koepke attended as alternate for Councillor Boddy.

Declaration of Interest

There were no declarations of interest. 

Business Arising from Minutes

There was no business arising from the minutes. 

Delegations (Revised on May 20 2025)

Paul DeMelo from Kagan, Shastri, DeMelo, Winer, Park Lawyers LLP - PDR-CW-28-25 Thornbury Acres County Official Plan Amendment 25 Final Report

Paul DeMelo shared with Council that his law firm is counsel to Thornbury Acres, and that they are in support of the staff recommendation report and confirmed that the lands will continue to be used for agricultural purposes.

Council asked for clarification on the plans with the farm cooperative where Mr. DeMelo stated that the farm will be managed by a professional farm cooperative and all residents will be required to be operators within the collective farm. He noted that the plan integrates special agricultural lands as well as additional agricultural lands to continue to be farmed by the cooperative.

Mr. DeMelo noted that further clarification will follow in the plan of condominium where contributions, requirements and participation will be laid out.

Determination of Items Requiring Separate Discussion

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

Consent Agenda

• CW53-25
  Moved by: Councillor Dobreen
  Seconded by: Councillor Greig

  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

2025 Grey County Periodic Report

• That the correspondence from Principles Integrity regarding the 2025 Grey County Periodic Report be received for information.

Proposed Changes to the Municipal Accountability Act, 2025

• That the correspondence from the recent Province of Ontario News Release regarding Action to Strengthen Local Governance through proposed changes to the Municipal Accountability Act, 2025 be received for information.

PDR-CW-31-25 County Official Plan Amendment 42-05-010-OPA-27 Teeswater Concrete - Watson Pit

• That report PDR-CW-31-25 regarding an overview of County Official Plan Amendment 27 (File number 42-05-010-OPA-27, known as Teeswater Concrete – Watson Pit) on lands legally described as Divisions 1 to 3, Part Lot 19 and 20, Concession 1; and, Part Lot 46, Concession 2; Geographic Township of Normanby, Municipality of West Grey be received for information.

PDR-CW-30-25 Toronto Street Subdivision - Information Report

• That report PDR-CW-30-25 regarding a proposed plan of subdivision application (County file number 42T-2025-04), known as the Toronto Street Subdivision, on lands municipally known as 263 and 269 Toronto Street South, Markdale in the Municipality of Grey Highlands, be received for information.

Resolution from the City of Sarnia - Carbon Tax

• That the resolution and correspondence from the City of Sarnia regarding the carbon tax be received for information.

Items For Direction and Discussion

Budget and Finance Committee meeting minutes dated May 13, 2025

Director Jennifer Moreau left the meeting at 10:29 a.m. and returned at 10:33 a.m.

Councillor Greig left the meeting at 10:30 a.m. and returned at 10:33 a.m.

Sue Murray, Deputy Treasurer, joined the meeting at 10:33 a.m.

Mary Lou Spicer, Director of Finance/County Treasurer, gave an overview of the meeting. She shared that staff gave presentations on the department's 10-year capital overview from the operations division, as well as the department's capital budget overview from the engineering division.

• CW54-25
  Moved by: Councillor Dickert
  Seconded by: Councillor Pringle

  That the County of Grey Budget and Finance Committee meeting minutes dated May 13, 2025 be adopted as presented and the following resolution contained therein be endorsed:

  1. That report FR-BFC-09-25 titled County of Grey 2024 Audit Service Plan Report to the Members of Council dated April 10, prepared by MNP LLP, Chartered Professional Accountants be received for information.

  Carried

PDR-CW-28-25 Thornbury Acres County Official Plan Amendment 25 Final Report,

• CW55-25
  Moved by: Councillor Keaveney
  Seconded by: Councillor Eccles

  That report PDR-CW-28-25 be received; and

  That all written and oral submissions on Official Plan Amendment Number 25 were considered and helped to make an informed recommendation and decision; and

  That proposed County Official Plan Amendment number 25 to permit the redesignation of lands designated ‘Rural’, ‘Special Agricultural’, and ‘Hazard Lands’ to the ‘Rural’, ‘Special Agricultural with Exceptions’ and ‘Hazard Lands’ designations on lands legally described as Part of Lot 27, Concession 8, in the geographic Township of Collingwood, now in the Town of The Blue Mountains be supported, and a by-law to adopt the County Official Plan Amendment be prepared for consideration by County Council.

  Carried

CCR-CW-06-25 Membership for Joint Municipal Services Committee 

• CW56-25
  Moved by: Councillor Eccles
  Seconded by: Councillor Dickert

  That the Terms of Reference be amended to reflect a membership of nine with membership from each Municipality.

  Lost

  An election was then held by show of hands to determine the five members to be appointed to the Committee. 

  
  
• CW57-25
  Moved by: Councillor Milne
  Seconded by: Councillor Nielsen

  That Report CCR-CW-06-25 regarding appointments to the Joint Municipal Services Committee be received; and

  That the following members be appointed to the Committee: Councillor Boddy, Councillor Dickert, Councillor Keaveney, Councillor McKay and Councillor Pringle

  Carried

Bill 5, Protect Ontario by Unleashing our Economy Act 2025

Council recessed from 11:21 a.m. to 11:32 a.m.

• CW58-25
  Moved by: Councillor Dobreen
  Seconded by: Councillor Koepke

  That the information regarding Bill 5 from the Legislative Assembly of Ontario be received for information.

  Carried

Bill 17 Protect Ontario by Building Faster and Smarter Act, 2025

Councillor Mackey left the meeting at 11:54 a.m. and returned at 11:59 a.m.

Director Kevin McNab re-entered the meeting at 12:07 p.m.

Council recessed from 12:18 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.

• CW59-25
  Moved by: Councillor Milne
  Seconded by: Councillor Carleton

  That the correspondence regarding Bill 17, Protect Ontario by Building Faster and Smart Act, 2025 be received; and

  That staff provide comments on the proposed legislation prior to the June 11th, 2025 deadline. 

  Carried

Closed Meeting Matters

Council went to closed session at 1:01 p.m. where County Solicitor, Jacquelyn Morrison, joined the closed session.

Council resumed open session at 1:39 p.m. The Warden reported that the Committee discussed only those items noted in the resolution to move in camera. 

• CW60-25
  Moved by: Councillor Paterson
  Seconded by: Councillor McKay

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

  i.  (c) a proposed or pending acquisition or disposition of land by the municipality or local board

  ii. (k) a position, plan, procedure, criteria or instruction to be applied to any negotiations carried on or to be carried on by or on behalf of the municipality or local board.

  Carried
• CW61-25
  Moved by: Councillor Milne
  Seconded by: Councillor Keaveney

  That the County of Grey option back the 1.77 hectare parcel directly south of the Grey Gables property from Brightshores as per the 2020 Markdale Hospital Land Transfer Agreement; and

  That staff negotiate an agreement with Grey Highlands that would commit to selling a portion of the subject lands to Grey Highlands. 

   

  Carried

Other Business

2025 Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) Delegation Requests

• CW62-25
  Moved by: Councillor Nielsen
  Seconded by: Councillor Carleton

  That the following delegation requests be submitted for the AMO conference: 

  • Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade – Request for continued and permanent funding for Small Business Enterprise Centres beyond March 31, 2026.
  • Ministry of Colleges, Universities, Research Excellence and Security - request sustainable funding and investment into rural community colleges, specifically the Owen Sound Georgian College campus
  • Ministry of Health and Ministry of Long-Term Care – Request for continued and permanent funding for the Community Paramedicine Program, including the Community Paramedicine Program for Long-Term Care beyond March 31, 2026, as well as a request to simplify the funding and reporting to just one Ministry.  In addition, a request for the overall funding for Paramedic Services to be adjusted to include inflationary increases annually.
  • Ministry of Long-Term Care – Request that LTC redevelopment projects that are already underway be eligible for the new funding model announced as part of the 2025 Provincial Budget.  Also request that clarity be provided regarding the specific requirements of the legislation for vulnerable sector checks, as well as assisting operators with navigating the recent legislative changes requiring any PSW certified before July 1, 2014 to be registered with HSCPOA by December 1, 2027, or to upskill.

   

  Carried

Notice of Motion

There were no notices of motion.

Adjournment

On motion of Councillors Milne and Paterson, Committee of the Whole adjourned at 1:49 p.m. to the call of the Chair.