Council Highlights - Monday, May 8, 2023

Committee of the Whole and Regular Council meetings are held on the second and fourth Monday of each month, except for holidays. The Committee of Whole (COW) consists of all Council members.  The COW reviews and recommends an item for approval by Council. The item still requires Council's final approval, which typically takes place at the next Regular Council meeting held in two weeks’ time.

Community Development Officer

As per a recommendation from the Municipal Service Delivery Review, the Town has reprofiled the Tourism Supervisor position and drafted a Community Development Officer job description.  This position will report to the Manager of Strategic Initiatives until the Manager of Planning and Development is hired and onboarded. The Committee was asked to consider the request to maintain this position on the Town’s Non-Union Salary Grid and approve the Community Development Officer position.

This was recommended for approval.

Welcoming Communities Action Plan Report

Economic Development presented the Committee with a Welcoming Communities Action Plan Report.  As the Town grows in population, it also grows in diversity.  The Action Plan is designed to ensure people from a wide range of groups, particularly groups that are underrepresented in the community, feel a sense of belonging.  The plan will also ensure the Town has the right ingredients to truly make this community home for all residents.

This was recommended for approval.

Capital Project Close-Carry Forward for 2022

The Town will close projects with a total surplus of $1,488,616, of which $1,195,396 is attributed to the Future Capital Reserve, and the balance going into other reserves. The request for surplus funds to be transferred to the Shoreline and Trail Restoration and Louis Street projects in 2023 will be taken from the surplus attributed to the Future Capital Reserve. The total amount being carried forward for projects in 2023 is $11,429,953.

This was received for information.

2022 Southampton Landfill Monitoring Report & Waste Diversion Summary

The Landfill Monitoring Report is prepared annually by GM BluePlan. The report summarized annual landfill monitoring and highlights the waste diversion activities that are currently in place. Based on the average fill rate over the last five years, the remaining site life is estimated to be approximately seven (7) years. The Town has begun the landfill expansion process.

This was received for information.

Ontario Small Urban Municipalities (OSUM) Conference

Councillor Divinski recently attended the OSUM Conference and provided Members of Council with a summary of his learnings from the conference, along with a list of presentations that were delivered during the session.

This was received for information.

Environmental Initiatives Summary

Councillor Grace recently attended the Environmental Symposium held at the Canadian Federation of University Women Southport. The councillor spoke to the environmental initiatives and recommendations that have come from the Environmental Stewardship Ad-hoc Advisory Committee. Members of Council received a summary of the background and highlights.

This was received for information.

To learn more, view the Committee of the Whole meeting agenda. 

Regular Council Meeting

Committee of the Whole Report

The Committee of the Whole recommended to Council that the resolution from the Town of Essex concerning the reinstatement of legislation permitting a municipality to retain surplus proceeds from tax sales be endorsed by the Town of Saugeen Shores. The COW also recommended sending a copy of this resolution to the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation, the Ministry of Municipal Affairs, the Ministry of Finance, MPP Lisa Thompson, and the Association of the Municipalities of Ontario urging them to reinstate previous legislation that permitted a municipality to apply for and retain the surplus proceeds from a tax sale in their jurisdiction.

This was carried.

General Government Report

The Committee of the Whole recommended that Council receive the Innovation Park Marketing Materials and Marketing Plan report for information.

This was carried.

Infrastructure and Development Report

The Committee of the Whole recommended that Council receive the Update to Animal Control By-law 36-2004 to review the Dog Beaches report for information.

This was carried.

Striking Committee Report

The Striking Committee recommended to Council to accept the resignation of Libby Thaw and appoint Mini Jacques to the Accessibility Advisory Committee.

This was carried.

Planning Committee Report 

The Planning Committee recommended the following to Council:

1. That Zoning by-law amendment Z-2023-093 and Local Official Plan Amendment Z2023-003 be received for information and that staff be directed to work with the developer and return to Council with a recommendation that has considered input from Council and the Public.
2. That Zoning by-law amendment Z-2023-009 and Local Official Plan Amendment Z2023-002 be received for information and that staff be directed to work with the developer and return to Council with a recommendation that has considered input from Council and the Public.
3. That Zoning By-law Amendment Z-2022-126 be received for information; and
4. That Council pass a By-law to authorize the Subdivision Agreement with Barry’s Construction and Insulation Ltd. for Phase 2 of the Northport Meadows Subdivision.
5. That Council pass a By-law to authorize the Subdivision Agreement with Miramichi Shores Land Development Limited for the Miramichi Shores Subdivision.

These were carried.

Encroachment Agreement Staff Report

The Town had an Encroachment Agreement with the previous owners of 114 Shipley Avenue in Port Elgin. When the property sold, the news owners built a new house and have requested a new Encroachment Agreement to reflect the landscaping plan. In October 2022, Council received a report that outlined a number of considerations. This report finalized the discussions with the Howes and recommended that Council pass a By-law to implement the Encroachment Agreement.

This were carried.

To learn more, view the Regular Council Meeting agenda.