The Corporation of the Town of Essex

Special Council Meeting Minutes

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Location: Essex Municipal Building, 33 Talbot Street South
Present:
  • Mayor Sherry Bondy
  • Deputy Mayor Rob Shepley
  • Ward 1 Councillor Joe Garon
  • Ward 1 Councillor Katie McGuire-Blais
  • Ward 2 Councillor Kim Verbeek
  • Ward 3 Councillor Brad Allard
  • Ward 3 Councillor Jason Matyi
  • Ward 4 Councillor Rodney Hammond
Also Present:
  • Doug Sweet, Chief Administrative Officer
  • Joseph Malandruccolo, Director, Legal and Legislative Services/Clerk
  • Lori Chadwick, Director, Development Services
  • Kevin Girard, Director, Infrastructure Services
  • Kate Giurissevich, Director, Corporate Services
  • Jake Morassut, Director, Community Services
  • Ann Marie Unis, Manager, Finance and Business
  • Maddy Tulett, Financial Analyst, Finance & Business Services

​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.

The purpose of this meeting was to deliberate the 2025 Draft Operating and Capital Budget.


Mayor Bondy called the meeting to order at 1:00 PM.

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.

There were no declarations of conflict of interest noted at this time.

  • SP24-12-001
    Moved ByCouncillor Matyi
    Seconded ByDeputy Mayor Shepley

    That the published agenda for the December 9, 2024 Special Council Meeting be adopted as presented.

    Carried

RE: Verbal Report - Introduction/Overview of 2025 Proposed Operating and Capital Budget

  • SP24-12-002
    Moved ByCouncillor Hammond
    Seconded ByCouncillor Allard

    That the verbal report prepared by Doug Sweet, Chief Administrative Officer, be received.

    Carried

RE: Presentation of 2025 Proposed Budget

Kate Giurissevich, Director, Corporate Services noted that Administration presented Council with a Proposed 2025 Budget of approximately $71.1 million in revenues and expenses. She stated that the main theme was stabilizing taxes. She stated that the 2025 Proposed Budget included a proposed blended tax rate of 6.31%.

Council deliberated the proposed Operating and Capital budgets.

  • SP24-12-003
    Moved ByDeputy Mayor Shepley
    Seconded ByCouncillor McGuire-Blais

    That the proposed budget amount of $20,000 for the Community Improvement Plan – Harrow be removed from the 2025 Operating Budget; and

    That the proposed budget amount of $20,000 for the Community Improvement Plan – Essex be removed from the 2025 Operating Budget.

    Carried
  • SP24-12-004
    Moved ByCouncillor Verbeek
    Seconded ByDeputy Mayor Shepley

    That the Community Partnership discretionary funds in the 2025 Operating Budget be reduced by $40,000.

    Carried
  • SP24-12-005
    Moved ByCouncillor McGuire-Blais
    Seconded ByCouncillor Verbeek

    That the Capital Project GG-25-0001 Contingency (Council) be reduced from $25,000 to $15,000.

    Carried
  • SP24-12-006
    Moved ByCouncillor Matyi
    Seconded ByCouncillor Allard

    That Colchester Parking Plan in the amount of $35,000 be removed from the 2025 Proposed Capital Budget.

    Carried
  • SP24-12-007
    Moved ByDeputy Mayor Shepley
    Seconded ByCouncillor McGuire-Blais

    That BAS Harrow Arena capital project in the amount of $65,000 be postponed until Council receives information from Administration regarding the annual savings.

    Carried
  • SP24-12-008
    Moved ByCouncillor Matyi
    Seconded ByCouncillor Verbeek

    That Capital Project PW-25-0007 Sidewalk on Sullivan Street from Bagot Street to Jackson Street be approved.

    Carried
  • SP24-12-009
    Moved ByCouncillor Verbeek
    Seconded ByDeputy Mayor Shepley

    Upon receiving the information requested from Director Morassut in resolution SP24-12-007, Council made a motion.

    That the BAS Harrow Arena capital project in the amount of $65,000 be adopted.

     

     

    Carried
  • SP24-12-010
    Moved ByCouncillor Verbeek
    Seconded ByCouncillor McGuire-Blais

    That Office of the CAO Capital Projects GG-25-0002 Privacy Impact Assessment $60,000 and GG-25-0003 Document Archiving and Records Management Project $120,000 be adopted.

    Carried
  • SP24-12-011
    Moved ByCouncillor Matyi
    Seconded ByCouncillor McGuire-Blais

    That Police capital projects PD-25-0001 Police Contingency $25,000 and PD-25-0002 Harrow OPP Roof Replacement $25,000 be adopted.

    Carried
  • SP24-12-012
    Moved ByCouncillor Matyi
    Seconded ByDeputy Mayor Shepley

    That Cemeteries capital project HS-25-0001 $39,984 for the fencing replacement at Erie Cemetery be approved; and

    That Council direct Administration to prepare a report on alternative types of fences.

    Carried
  • SP24-12-013
    Moved ByCouncillor Verbeek
    Seconded ByCouncillor Hammond

    That General Government capital project Fees and Charges Review GG-25-0004 $45,000 be adopted.

    Carried
  • SP24-12-014
    Moved ByDeputy Mayor Shepley
    Seconded ByCouncillor Garon

    That Information Technology capital projects GG-25-0005 Emergency Phone/Radio System $10,000, GG-25-0006 Disaster Recovery Continuity Plan $30,000, and GG-25-0007 Security Camera and System Update $55,000 be adopted.

    Carried
  • SP24-12-015
    Moved ByCouncillor Garon
    Seconded ByCouncillor Verbeek

    That Fire capital projects FD-25-0001 Hurst edraulic Ram $17,000, FD-25-0002 Personal Protective Equipment $40,000, FD-25-0003 Hose Replacement Program $15,500, FD-25-0004 Pager Replacement Program $10,000, FD-25-0005 Ice Water Rescue Equipment Program $5,000, and FD-25-0006 Firefighter Recruitment (2) $28,000 be adopted.

    Carried
  • SP24-12-016
    Moved ByCouncillor McGuire-Blais
    Seconded ByCouncillor Matyi

    That Essex Recreation Complex capital projects CS-25-0001 Pump – Lap Pool $6,895, CS-25-0002 Training Pool Booster Pump $8,500, and CS-25-0003 Lap Pool Accessibility Lift $15,000 be adopted.

    Carried
  • SP24-12-017
    Moved ByCouncillor Allard
    Seconded ByCouncillor Verbeek

    That Arts, Cultural and Tourism capital project CS-25-0004 Art Installation $15,000 be adopted.

    Carried
  • SP24-12-018
    Moved ByCouncillor McGuire-Blais
    Seconded ByCouncillor Verbeek

    That Recreation Programs capital project CS-25-0005 Power Washer Replacement $5,500 be adopted.

    Carried
  • SP24-12-019

    That all Parks capital projects listed on pages 66 and 67 of the 2025 Approved Budget and 4-year Forecast totaling $683,607 be adopted.

    Carried
  • SP24-12-020
    Moved ByCouncillor McGuire-Blais
    Seconded ByDeputy Mayor Shepley

    That all Arenas capital projects listed on pages 67 and 68 of the 2025 Approved Budget and 4-year Forecast totaling $462,281 be adopted.

    Carried
  • SP24-12-021
    Moved ByDeputy Mayor Shepley
    Seconded ByCouncillor Allard

    That the Harbour capital project CS-25-0028 Septic Tank Replacement $50,000 be adopted.

    Carried
  • SP24-12-022
    Moved ByCouncillor McGuire-Blais
    Seconded ByDeputy Mayor Shepley

    That the Special Council Meeting of December 9, 2024 be recessed from 3:00 - 3:15 PM.

    Carried
  • SP24-12-023
    Moved ByCouncillor Verbeek
    Seconded ByCouncillor Matyi

    That additional funds of $120,000 for Planning capital project PZ-22-0002 New Official Plan be adopted.

    Carried
  • SP24-12-024
    Moved ByCouncillor McGuire-Blais
    Seconded ByCouncillor Allard

    That Economic Development capital projects ED-24-0001 Community Improvement Plan Development Study $7,935 and ED-25-0001 Regional Transit Study $50,000 be adopted.

    Carried
  • SP24-12-025
    Moved ByCouncillor McGuire-Blais
    Seconded ByCouncillor Verbeek

     That all the Public Works Equipment capital projects listed on pages 68 and 69 totaling $603,000 be adopted.

    Carried
  • SP24-12-026
    Moved ByCouncillor Verbeek
    Seconded ByDeputy Mayor Shepley

    That all the Roads and Roadside capital projects listed on pages 69 and 70 totaling $3,995,000 be adopted.

    Carried
  • SP24-12-027
    Moved ByDeputy Mayor Shepley
    Seconded ByCouncillor Hammond

    That the Stormwater Management capital project PW-25-0015 5th Concession Road 203402 $1,500,000 be adopted.

    Carried
  • SP24-12-028
    Moved ByDeputy Mayor Shepley
    Seconded ByCouncillor Matyi

    That all the Water capital projects listed on page 71 totaling $2,619,671 be adopted.

    Carried
  • SP24-12-029
    Moved ByCouncillor Garon
    Seconded ByDeputy Mayor Shepley

    That all the Sanitary Sewer capital projects listed on pages 71, 72 and 73 totaling $3,605,317 be adopted.

    Carried
  • SP24-12-030
    Moved ByCouncillor Garon
    Seconded ByDeputy Mayor Shepley

    That the proposed Assistant Manager position included in the Parks and Recreation 2025 proposed Operating Budget be approved.

    Carried
  • SP24-12-031
    Moved ByDeputy Mayor Shepley
    Seconded ByCouncillor Matyi

    That the proposed Operator position included in the Public Works Department 20025 proposed Operating Budget be approved.

    Carried
  • SP24-12-032
    Moved ByCouncillor McGuire-Blais
    Seconded ByDeputy Mayor Shepley

    That the proposed 2025 Operating Budget as presented be adopted in principle, inclusive of all adjustments summarized in Table A.

    Carried
  • SP24-12-033
    Moved ByCouncillor Verbeek
    Seconded ByCouncillor McGuire-Blais

    That Council allocate the remainder of the 2024 Council Contingency Project funds to purchase trees for municipal parks; and

    That Council direct Administration to prepare a report on different options for purchasing trees.

    Carried
  • SP24-12-034
    Moved ByCouncillor Garon
    Seconded ByCouncillor McGuire-Blais

    That the proposed 2025 Capital Budget as presented be adopted in principle, inclusive of all adjustments summarized in Table D.

    Carried
  • SP24-12-035
    Moved ByCouncillor Matyi
    Seconded ByCouncillor Garon

    That authorization be granted to complete, in fiscal year 2025, any previously approved projects that remain outstanding as of December 31, 2024 and do not appear in the 2025 Budget as presented, so long as the project costs do not exceed previously approved funding amounts or allocations.

    Carried
  • SP24-12-036
    Moved ByCouncillor McGuire-Blais
    Seconded ByCouncillor Allard

    That the report by CAO Sweet be received and that the meeting be adjourned at 4:24 PM.

    Carried

Mayor Bondy called the meeting back to order at 4:25 PM.

  • SP24-12-037
    Moved ByDeputy Mayor Shepley
    Seconded ByCouncillor McGuire-Blais

    Mayor Bondy called the meeting back to order at 4:25 PM.

    That the Special Council Meeting of December 9, 2024, be called back to order and resumed at 4:25 PM.

    Carried

RE: Essex Business Improvement Area (BIA) 2025 Budget

  • SP24-12-038
    Moved ByDeputy Mayor Shepley
    Seconded ByCouncillor Verbeek

    That Council does not approve the 2% increase to the Essex Centre Business Improvement Area (BIA) Levy.

    Defeated
  • SP24-12-039
    Moved ByCouncillor McGuire-Blais
    Seconded ByCouncillor Garon

    That Council approve the 2% increase to the Essex Centre Business Improvement Area (BIA) Levy.

    Carried
  • SP24-12-040
    Moved ByCouncillor McGuire-Blais
    Seconded ByCouncillor Hammond

    That the meeting be adjourned at 4:34 PM.

    Carried
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