Regular Council Meeting Agenda

Monday, November 17, 2025 at 6:00 P.m. - 9:00 P.m.

Location: Essex Municipal Building, 33 Talbot Street South

​Accessible formats or communication supports are available upon request. Please contact the Clerk’s Office at [email protected] or 519-776-7336 extension 1100 or 1101.

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1.

Call to Order

2.

Land Acknowledgement

We acknowledge that this land is the traditional territory of the Three Fires Confederacy of First Nations (comprised of the Ojibway, the Odawa, and the Potawatomi Peoples), and of the Huron-Wendat Peoples. We value the significant historical and contemporary contributions of local and regional First Nations and all of the Original Peoples of Turtle Island who have been living and working on the land from time immemorial.

3.

National Anthem

4.

Closed Meeting Report

• Closed Council Meeting - November 17, 2025 4:30 PM
• Closed Council Meeting - November 17, 2025 5:00 PM

5.

Declarations of Conflict of Interest

6.

Adoption of Published Agenda

6.1

Regular Council Meeting Agenda for November 17, 2025

• That the published agenda for the November 17, 2025 Regular Council Meeting be adopted as presented / amended.

7.

Adoption of Minutes

7.1

Regular Council Meeting Minutes for November 3, 2025

• That the minutes of the Regular Council Meeting held November 3, 2025 be adopted as circulated.

8.

Public Presentations

8.1

Dr. Ken Blanchette, Windsor Essex County Health Unit

RE: Response to the Beach Closures in the Municipality of the Town of Essex

• That the delegation by Dr. Ken Blanchette, Chief Executive Officer, and Kristy McBeth, Senior Director, Public Health Programs, Windsor Essex County Health Unit regarding Beach Closures in the Municipality of the Town of Essex be recieved.

8.2

Rachael Mills and Fred Groves, Members, Affordable Housing Task Force

RE: Affordable Housing Subsidy Program

• That the delegation by Rachael Mills and Fred Groves, Members, Affordable Housing Task Force be received.

9.

Unfinished Business

10.

Reports from Administration

10.1

Capital Works and Asset Management-2025-22

RE: 2025 Asset Management Public Engagement Survey Results

Recommended Action:

• That Capital Works and Asset Management Report 2025-22 entitled, 2025 Asset Management Public Engagement Survey prepared by Erica Tilley, Assistant Manager, Capital Works and Asset Management dated November 17, 2025 be received.

10.2

Capital Works and Asset Management 2025-23

RE: 2025 Annual Speed Monitoring Program

Recommended Action:

• That Capital Works and Asset Management Report 2025-23 entitled, 2025 Annual Speed Monitoring Program prepared by Erica Tilley, Assistant Manager, Capital Works and Asset Management dated November 17, 2025 be received.

10.3

Office of the CAO-2025-09

RE: Community Member Appointment – Essex County Police Service Board (North)

Recommended Action:

• That Office of the CAO Report 2025-09 entitled Community Member Appointment- Essex County OPP Detachment Board (North) prepared by Kate Giurissevich, CPA, CA, dated November 17, 2025 be received;

  That Council appoint Don Williamson to be the second Town of Essex at-large Community Member on the Essex County OPP Detachment Board (North) effective January 1, 2026, for a one-year term; and

  That Council direct Administration to forward Council’s 2026 appointee for the at-large Community Member to the Municipality of Lakeshore and Town of Tecumseh for their consideration.

10.4

Capital Works and Asset Management-2025-21

RE: Closure of the Temporary Accessway at Fairview Avenue

Recommended Action:

• That Capital Works and Asset Management Report 2025-21 entitled Closure of the Temporary Accessway at Fairview Avenue by David McBeth, Manager, Capital Works and Asset Management dated November 17, 2025 be received for information.

10.5

Operations-2025-13

RE: Results of Request for Tender-Beach Roads Winter Control

Recommended Action:

• That Operations Report 2025-13 entitled Results of Request for Tender-Beach Roads Winter Control prepared by Norm Nussio Manager, Operations and Drainage dated November 17, 2025, be received;

  That Council award Results of Request for Tender-Beach Roads Winter Control to Talis Group Incorporated in the estimated amount of $40,000.00 per year, and

  That Council authorize excess expenditures incurred over the 2025-2026 Winter Control budgets to be funded from the Contingency Reserve for Winter Control.

10.6

Community Services-2025-31

RE: Special Events Resource Team (SERT) Update – November 2025

Recommended Action:

• That Community Services Report 2025-31 entitled Special Event Resources Team (SERT) Update – November 2025 prepared by Jake Morassut, Director, Community Services, dated November 17, 2025, be received for information.

10.7

Legal and Legislative Services-2025-25

RE: Upper Portion of the Taylor Drain Improvements

Recommended Action:

• That the following three (3) members of the Drainage Board: Daniel Bezaire-Arevalo, Tiffany Pocock, and Danny Sauve be appointed to sit as members of the Court of Revision to be convened for the Upper Portion of the Taylor Drain Improvements, Geographic Township of Colchester South, County of Essex, Project No. D23-071 pursuant to the Report prepared by Antonio B. Peralta, Professional Engineer, N.J. Peralta Engineering Ltd., and dated September 29, 2025 (hereinafter the “Report”), such Court of Revision to be scheduled for 5:00 pm on December 18, 2025; and

  That By-Law 2493 being a by-law to provide for Upper Portion of the Taylor Drain Improvements, Geographic Township of Colchester South, County of Essex, Project No. D23-071, be read a first and second time and provisionally adopted on November 17, 2025.

10.7.1

By-Law 2493

10.8

Finance and Business Services-2025-08

RE: 2026 Budget Outlook

Recommended Action:

• That Finance and Business Services Report 2025-08 entitled 2026 Budget Outlook prepared by Kate Rowe, CPA, Director Corporate Services/Treasurer dated November 17, 2025 be received.

10.9

Finance and Business Services-2025-09

RE: External Audit Services Extension

Recommended Action:

• That Finance and Business Services Report 2025-09 entitled External Audit Services Extension prepared by Ann Marie Unis dated November 17, 2025 be received; and

  That Council award the third-year extension to KPMG LLP in the amount of $35,387.04 including non-refundable HST.

11.

Reports from Youth Members

12.

County Council Update

• That the County of Essex, Regular Meeting minutes listed in Agenda Item 12, be received.

12.1

County of Essex Council Meeting Minutes - October 15, 2025

13.

Correspondence

13.1

Correspondence to be received

• That all of the correspondence listed in Agenda Item 13.1 be received, and, where indicated, to further share such information with the community using suitable methods of communication.

13.1.1

Township of South-West Oxford

RE: Automated Speed Enforcement (ASE) Cameras

13.1.2

Essex County OPP Detachment Board - North

RE: Minutes from September 15, 2025

13.1.3

City of Brantford

RE: Airport Capital Assistance Program

13.1.4

Essex Water Distribution System

RE: DWQMS Management Meeting Minutes from November 3, 2025

13.1.5

Essex-Windsor Solid Waste Authority

RE: Correspondence from the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks RE: Blue Box Collection from Industrial, Commercial and Institutional Sources

13.2

Correspondence to be considered for receipt and support

13.2.1

Paul Dubé, Ombudsman of Ontario

Re: Ombudsman Report - Investigation into meetings held by council for the Town of Essex on February 20, April 15, April 29, and May 6, 2024

• That the correspondence from Paul Dubé, Ombudsman of Ontario, being an Ombudsman Report, dated October 2025, regarding his investigation into meetings held by council for the Town of Essex on February 20, April 15, April 29, and May 6, 2024, be received; and

  That Council for the Town of Essex address the Ombudsman Report as follows:

  1. Council for the Town of Essex will continue their vigilance in adhering to their individual and collective obligation to ensure that the Town complies with its responsibilities under the Municipal Act, 2001;
  2. Council Resolution R25-10-463, passed on October 6, 2025, directs Administration to revise Closed Meeting Agendas of Council to provide as much information as possible about the general nature of the matters to be considered in Council's resolutions to go into a closed meeting, without compromising the reason for holding a closed meeting; and
  3. As a best practice, Council for the Town of Essex, are reminded to practice robust record keeping for any requests by a third party to keep confidential the information disclosed to Council by that third party in a closed meeting of Council, pursuant to section 239(2)(i) of the Municipal Act, 2001.

13.2.2

Drainage Board

RE: Resignation of Percy Dufour from the Drainage Board

• That the verbal resignation of Percy Dufour from the Drainage Board be received; and

  That Council direct Administration to write a letter of appreciation and thanks for his commitment to the Drainage Board.

13.2.3

Affordable Housing Task Force

RE: Resignation of Frazier Fathers from the Affordable Housing Taskforce

• That the resignation of Fraizer Fathers from the Affordable Housing Taskforce be received; and

  That Council direct Administration to write a letter of appreciation and thanks for his commitment to the Affordable Housing Task Force.

14.

Committee Meeting Minutes

• That the Committee Meeting minutes listed in Agenda Item 14, together with any recommendations to Council noted therein, be received, approved and adopted as circulated.

14.1

Essex Municipal Heritage Committee - September 25, 2025

Recommendation to Council:

EMHC25-09-46

Moved By Richard Kokovai - Vice-Chair

Seconded By Jacqueline Baldwin

That the Essex Municipal Heritage Committee recommend to Council that the property located at 44 Sinasac Street West, known as the Old Mill, be listed on the Heritage Register.

Carried

14.2

Drainage Board - November 6, 2025

15.

Financial

16.

New Business

17.

Notices of Motion

17.1

The following Notice of Motion was presented at the November 3, 2025 Regular Council Meeting and is being brought forth this evening for Council's consideration:

17.1.1

Mayor Bondy

• Moved by Mayor Bondy

  That Town of Essex Council direct Administration to investigate options for an affordable housing subsidy program to help non-profits who supply Affordable Residential Units in our community to use the subsidy to leverage grants dollars and that such program be included in the 2026 Town of Essex budget document for deliberation.

18.

Reports and Announcements from Council Members

19.

By-Laws

19.1

By-Laws that require a third and final reading

19.1.1

By-Law 2492

RE: Being a by-law to confirm the proceedings of the November 3, 2025, Regular Meeting of Council of the Corporation of the Town of Essex

• That By-Law 2492 being a by-law to confirm the proceedings of the November 3, 2025, Regular Meeting of Council of the Corporation of the Town of Essex be read a third time and finally passed on November 17, 2025.

19.1.2

By-Law 2484

RE: Being a by-law to authorize the use of vote counting equipment and to establish Advance Voting Dates for the 2026 Town of Essex Municipal Election

• That By-Law 2484 being a by-law to authorize the use of vote counting equipment and to establish Advance Voting dates for the 2026 Town of Essex Municipal Election be read a third time and finally passed on November 17, 2025.

19.2

By-Laws that require a first, second, third and final reading

19.2.1

By-Law 2495

RE: Being a by-law to enter into a Licence Agreement with 997025 Ontario. Inc. for Santa's Village Committee event space

• That By-Law 2495 being a by-law to enter into a Licence Agreement with 997025 Ontario Inc. for Santa's Village Committee event space be reading a first, a second and a third time and finally passed on November 17, 2025.

19.3

By-Laws that require a first and second reading

19.3.1

By-Law 2494

RE: Being a by-law to confirm the proceedings of the November 17, 2025, Regular Meeting of Council of the Corporation of the Town of Essex

• That By-Law 2494 being a by-law to confirm the proceedings of the November 17, 2025, Regular Meeting of Council of the Corporation of the Town of Essex be read a first and a second time and provisionally adopted on November 17, 2025.

20.

Adjournment

• That the meeting be adjourned at [TIME].

21.

Future Meetings

21.1

Monday, November 24, 2025 4:00 - 7:00 PM, Regular Council Meeting

RE: 2026 Budget Walkthrough

Location: 33 Talbot Street South, Essex, ON N8M 1A8
Livestream available at https://www.youtube.com/EssexOntario

21.2

Monday, December 1, 2025 4:30 - 6:00 PM, Special Council Meeting

RE: Industrial Community Improvement Plan (CIP) Study

Location: 33 Talbot Street South, Essex, ON N8M 1A8
Livestream available at https://www.youtube.com/EssexOntario

21.3

Monday, December 1, 2025 6:00 - 9:00 PM, Regular Council Meeting

Location: 33 Talbot Street South, Essex, ON N8M 1A8
Livestream available at https://www.youtube.com/EssexOntario

21.4

Monday, December 8, 2025 1:00 - 8:00 PM, Special Council Meeting

RE: 2026 Budget Deliberations

Location: 33 Talbot Street South, Essex, ON N8M 1A8
Livestream available at https://www.youtube.com/EssexOntario

21.5

Tuesday, December 9, 2025 12:00 - 4:30 PM, Special Council Meeting

RE: 2026 Budget Deliberations (TENTATIVE)

Location: 33 Talbot Street South, Essex, ON N8M 1A8
Livestream available at https://www.youtube.com/EssexOntario