Minutes

Committee of the Whole

Thursday, March 27, 2025, Following Council

Council Chambers - Grey County Administration Building

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Call to Order

The Warden called the meeting to order at 10:46 a.m.

Declaration of Interest

There were no declarations of interest. 

Business Arising from Minutes

Declaration - Agnes Macphail Day in Grey County

Deferred to the April 10, 2025 meeting of Committee of the Whole.

Delegations

None.

Determination of Items Requiring Separate Discussion

Councillor Nielsen requested that item 6.a regarding Municipality of Grey Highlands Resolution - Affordable Housing on the consent agenda for this meeting be pulled for further discussion. 

Consent Agenda

• CW41-25
  Moved by: Councillor Milne
  Seconded by: Councillor Nielsen

  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

Introduction from Paul Vickers, MPP Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound

• That the introduction letter from Paul Vickers, MPP Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound be received for information. 

FR-CW-04-25 - Treasurer's Statement

• That Report FR-CW-04-25 and the attached 2024 Treasurer’s Statement be received for information.

TR-CW-06-25 - Award of Tender RFT-TS-09-25 for the Grey Road 14 Pulverize and Pave

• That report containing the tender results for RFT-TS-09-25 regarding the Grey Road 14 Pulverize and Pave project be received; and

  That IPAC Paving Limited be awarded the tender for a total amount of $1,911,672.10, excluding HST.

Items For Direction and Discussion

FR-CW-05-25 - 2025 Tax Policy

Mary Lou Spicer, Treasurer/Director of Finance welcomed Peter Frise from the Municipal Tax Equity Consultants to present the 2025 Property Tax Policy. 

Committee of the Whole took a recess from 11:27 a.m. and returned at 11:41 a.m.

• CW42-25
  Moved by: Councillor Dickert
  Seconded by: Councillor Hutchinson

  That report FR-CW-05-25 regarding 2025 property tax policy be received; and

  That County Council reduce the tax ratio for the multi-residential property tax class from 1.220600 to 1.110300, which is one-quarter of the movement required to equalize the treatment of all residential classes; and

  That County Council adopt all other 2025 tax ratios and subclass reductions for 2025 taxation; and

  That the necessary By-laws be drafted for Council’s consideration and approval.

  Carried

CAOR-CW-04-25 - Future Ready Grey Metrics – Development Performance Program

Linda Swanston, Manager of Climate Change Initiatives, summarized the Future Ready Development Program, in partnership with Dufferin and Wellington County. She referred to the project overview to date, summarized the Future Ready Grey Metrics, implementation options, draft metric example, and more. Questions and comments from Committee of the Whole were discussed and received.

Councillor Milne left the meeting at 12:28 p.m.

Committee of the Whole recessed at 12:28 p.m. and returned at 1:15 p.m.

• CW43-25
  Moved by: Councillor Kentner
  Seconded by: Councillor Dobreen

  That report CAOR-CW-04-25 be received for information along with the attached draft Metrics for the Future Ready Development Program; and

  That staff be directed to continue engagement with stakeholders including local Municipalities and the development industry, on implementation approaches for the Future Ready Development Program, and report back to Council with a final set of Metrics and a recommended implementation approach.

  Carried

PDR-CW-20-25 - Official Plan Amendment 23 Final Report

Scott Taylor, Director of Planning, summarized Official Plan Amendment 23.

• CW44-25
  Moved by: Councillor Keaveney
  Seconded by: Councillor Carleton

  That report PDR-CW-20-25 be received; and

  That all written and oral submissions on Official Plan Amendment number 23 were considered and helped to make an informed recommendation and decision; and

  That proposed County Official Plan Amendment number 23 to amend the County’s Rural designation permitted uses and development policies be supported, and a by-law to adopt the County Official Plan Amendment be prepared for consideration by County Council.

  Carried

Urban Road and Roads Exchange Task Force - March 20, 2025

• CW45-25
  Moved by: Councillor Greig
  Seconded by: Councillor Hutchinson

  That the Urban Road and Roads Exchange Task Force minutes dated March 20, 2025 be adopted as presented and the following resolution contained therein be endorsed:

  That report TR-UR-06-25 be received; and

  That the funding model presented for the urban road and rural road transfers be approved; and

  That a levy increase of $1,240,901 to support the funding model for the road transfers be included in the 2026 draft budget for Council’s consideration; and

  That staff be directed to negotiate new road agreements with the affected municipalities in accordance with the activities in the report; and

  That the corresponding draft agreements come forward for consideration.
• CW46-25
  Moved by: Councillor Nielsen
  Seconded by: Councillor McQueen

  That the motion and corresponding resolution contained therein be deferred, pending further information from staff on the impacts of removing Concession 12 and Grey Road 9 from the proposed exchange.

  Lost

• Amendment:

  CW47-25
  Moved by: Councillor McQueen
  Seconded by: Councillor Nielsen

  That the motion be amended by inserting “in principle” and “that public information sessions be held” to the second clause.

  Carried

• A recorded vote was requested on the main motion as amended: 

  CW48-25
  Moved by: Councillor Greig
  Seconded by: Councillor Hutchinson

  That the Urban Road and Roads Exchange Task Force minutes dated March 20, 2025 be adopted as presented and the following resolution contained therein be endorsed:

  That report TR-UR-06-25 be received; and

  That the funding model presented for the urban road and rural road transfers be approved in principle and that public information sessions be held; and

  That a levy increase of $1,240,901 to support the funding model for the road transfers be included in the 2026 draft budget for Council’s consideration; and

  That staff be directed to negotiate new road agreements with the affected municipalities in accordance with the activities in the report; and

  That the corresponding draft agreements come forward for consideration.

  Carried

  In Favour: T. McKay 3; S. Carleton 6; G. Pringle 5; P. McQueen 6; S. Paterson 4; W. Dickert 3; R. Kentner 6; S. Keaveney 5; I. Boddy 8;  S. Greig 8; B. Dobreen 3; A. Matrosovs 7; P. Bordignon 7; T. Hutchinson 6; D. Hutchinson 6. 

  Opposed: D. Nielsen 5.

  The motion was Carried 83-5.

  
  

Municipality of Grey Highlands Resolution - Affordable Housing

Councillor Nielsen indicated that County staff have been monitoring affordable housing options and that he would communicate the information back to Grey Highlands.

• CW49-25
  Moved by: Councillor Nielsen
  Seconded by: Councillor Pringle

  That the resolution from the Municipality of Grey Highlands regarding affordable housing and home share programs be received for information. 

  Carried

Closed Meeting Matters

• CW50-25
  Moved by: Councillor McKay
  Seconded by: Councillor Hutchinson

  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:

  1. proposed or pending acquisition or disposition of land by the municipality (two items, being a land disposition and land acquisitions for road widening purposes)
  Carried

  Committee of the Whole proceeded into closed session at 2:44 p.m.

  Committee of the Whole returned to open session at 3:03 p.m.

  The Warden confirmed that only the items stated in the resolution to move into closed session were discussed.

  
  

Other Business

There was no other business. 

Notice of Motion

There were no notices of motion.

Adjournment

On motion of Councillors Nielsen and Hutchinson, Committee of the Whole adjourned at 3:04 p.m. to the call of the Chair.