Regular Council Meeting Agenda

Monday, March 02, 2026 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 - February 17, 2026 7:30 PM
  • Council met in closed on February 17, 2026 at 7:30pm to discuss an Ontario Land tribunal matter related to 195, 197 and 199 brien Avenue.
• Closed Council Meeting - March 2, 2026 4:00 PM

5.

Declarations of Conflict of Interest

6.

Adoption of Published Agenda

6.1

Regular Council Meeting Agenda for March 2, 2026

• That the published agenda for the March 2, 2026 Regular Council Meeting be adopted as presented / amended.

7.

Adoption of Minutes

7.1

Regular Council Meeting Minutes for February 17, 2025

• That the minutes of the Regular Council Meeting held February 17, 2026 be adopted as circulated.

7.2

Special Council Meeting Minutes for February 17, 2026

• That the minutes of the Special Council Meeting held February 17, 2026 be adopted  as circulated.

8.

Public Presentations

8.1

Rodney Bouchard, Union Water Supply System Inc.

• That the delegation by Rodney Bouchard on behalf of Union Water Supply System inc. be received for information; and

  That all correspondence listed in Agenda Item 8.1 be received.

8.1.1

Union Water Supply System Inc.

RE: Annual Report (2025)

8.1.2

Union Water Supply System Inc.

RE: Union Water Supply System Annual Report for 2025 

8.1.3

Union Water Supply System Inc.

RE: Union Water Supply System Inc. Summary Report (2025)

9.

Unfinished Business

10.

Reports from Administration

10.1

Legal and Legislative Services-2026-01

RE: Bi-Annual By-Law Report – July 1, 2025 to December 31, 2025

• That Legal and Legislative Services Report 2026-01entitled Bi-Annual By-Law Report – July 1, 2025 to December 31, 2025 prepared by Mike Diemer, By-law/Property Standards Officer dated January 26, 2026 be received.

10.2

Planning-2026-01

RE: ZBA(H)-01-26 – Removal of Holding Provision for 0 Draper Street

• That Planning Report 2026-01 entitled ZBA(H)-01-26 – Removal of Holding Provision for 0 Draper Street prepared by Ian Rawlings, Junior Planner, dated March 2, 2026, be received; and

  That By-Law Number 2510, being a by-law to remove the holding provision for 0 Draper Street be adopted.

10.3

Development Services-2026-02

RE: Annual Major Development Update

Recommended Action:

• That Development Services Report 2026-02 entitled Annual Major Development Update prepared by Lori Chadwick, Director, Development Services dated March 16, 2026 be received.

10.4

Drainage-2026-05

RE: Appointment of an Engineer under Section 84(3) of the Drainage Act for the proposed Skeates Drain Abandonment

• That Drainage Report 2026-05 entitled Appointment of an Engineer under Section 84(3) of the Drainage Act for the proposed Skeates Drain Abandonment prepared by Lindsay Dean, Drainage Superintendent dated March 2, 2026 be received; and

  That Council appoint N.J. Peralta Engineering Ltd. under Section 84(3) of the Drainage Act to conduct an abandonment of the Skeates Drain in accordance with the received request.

10.5

Drainage-2026-06

RE: Appointment of an Engineer under Section 78 of the Drainage Act for the Philip Ferris Drain- East Branch

• That Drainage Report 2026-06 entitled Appointment of an Engineer under Section 78 of the Drainage Act for the Philip Ferris Drain- East Branch prepared by Lindsay Dean, Drainage Superintendent dated March 2, 2026 be received; and

  That Council appoint N.J. Peralta Engineering Ltd. under Section 78 of the Drainage Act for the Philip Ferris Drain- East Branch.

10.6

Corporate Services-2026-02

RE: Refuse and Compostainer Level of Service Summary

• That Corporate Services Report 2026-02 entitled Refuse and Compostainer Level of Service Summary prepared by Kate Rowe, CPA, Director, Corporate Services/Treasurer dated February 16, 2026 be received,;

  That Council direct Administration to initiate a public consultation in the Fall of 2026 on proposed service levels; and

  That Council direct Administration to provide a report on the results of the public consultation, including consideration of reducing collection frequency to bi-weekly, effective in 2028.

11.

Reports from Youth Members

12.

County Council Update

12.1

Correspondence to be considered for receipt and support

12.1.1

County of Essex

RE: County Council Highlights for February 18, 2026

• That the correspondence listed in Agenda Item 12.1.1 be received.

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

Municipality of Magnetawan

RE: Bell Fibre Resolution

13.1.2

Township of Perry

RE: Reduced Rate Distribution of Library Materials

13.1.3

Ontario Clean Water Agency

RE: 2025 Annual Summary Report for Harrow-Colchester South Water Treatment Plant

13.1.4

Ontario Clean Water Agency

RE: Summary Report for Harrow-Colchester South Water Treatment Plant

13.1.5

Essex-Windsor Solid Waste Authority

RE: Regular Board Minutes

13.1.6

The Corporation of the Municipality of St. Charles

RE: Strengthening Self-Defence Protections and Addressing Rising Home Invasions in Ontario

13.1.7

The Corporation of the Municipality of St. Charles

RE: Small Northern New Residential Property Tax Class

13.1.8

Corporation of the Township of Harley

RE: Legislative Changes to OMERS Act - Bill 68

13.1.9

Municipality of Lakeshore

RE: Regional Consolidated Municipal Service Manager (CMSM) Model for Social Services

13.1.10

Essex Centre Business Improvement Area

RE: Financial Support for Rural Businesses Impacted by Power Outages

13.2

Correspondence to be considered for receipt and support

13.2.1

Santa's Village Committee

RE: Resignation of Tiffany Desjardins from Santa's Village Committee

Recommended Action:

• That Council direct Administration to write a letter of appreciation and thanks for the member's commitment to Santa's Village Committee.

13.2.2

Santa's Village Committee

RE: Resignation of Leighanne Boose from Santa's Village Committee

Recommended Action:

• That Council direct Administration to write a letter of appreciation and thanks for the member's commitment to Santa's Village Committee.

14.

Committee Meeting Minutes

14.1

Affordable Housing Taskforce - November 10, 2025

14.2

Essex Municipal Heritage Committee - November 27, 2025

14.3

Santa's Village Committee - December 4, 2025

14.4

Co-An Park Committee - January 14, 2026

14.5

Arts, Culture and Tourism Committee - January 14, 2026

14.6

Committee of Adjustment - January 20, 2026

14.7

Essex Centre Business Improvement Area - January 21, 2026

14.8

Essex Festival Committee - January 22, 2026

14.9

Finance Committee - January 26, 2026

FIN26-01-06

Moved by Mayor Bondy

Seconded by Councillor Hammond

That the 2026 grants for the Essex Community Partnership Fund be approved as amended in Schedule "A" of the Finance Committee Meeting Minutes.

15.

Financial

16.

New Business

17.

Notices of Motion

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 2508

RE: Being a by-law to confirm the proceedings of the February 17, 2026, Regular Meeting of Council of the Corporation of the Town of Essex

• That by-Law 2508 being a by-law to confirm the proceedings of the February 17, 2026, Regular Meeting of Council of the Corporation of the Town of Essex be read a third time and finally passed on March 2, 2026.

19.2

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

19.3

By-Laws that require a first and second reading

19.3.1

By-Law 2513

RE: Being a by-law to confirm the proceedings of the March 2, 2026, Regular Meeting of Council of the Corporation of the Town of Essex

• That By-Law 2513 being a by-law to confirm the proceedings of the March 2, 2026, Regular Meeting of Council of the Corporation of the Town of Essex be read a first time and a second time and provisionally adopted on March 2, 2026.

19.3.2

By-Law 2514

RE: being a by-law to authorize the execution of a lease agreement between The Corporation of the Town of Essex and Harrow Health Centre Inc for office space at the McGregor Community Centre located at 9571 Walker Road, McGregor, Ontario

• That By-Law 2514 being a by-law to authorize the execution of a lease agreement between The Corporation of the Town of Essex and Harrow Health Centre Inc for office space at the McGregor Community Centre located at 9571 Walker Road, McGregor, Ontario be read a first time and a second time and provisionally adopted on March 2, 2026.

20.

Adjournment

• That the meeting be adjourned at [TIME].

21.

Future Meetings

21.1

Monday, March 16, 2026 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

21.2

Tuesday, April 7, 2026 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