The Corporation of the Town of Essex

Special Council Meeting Minutes

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Location: https://www.youtube.com/user/EssexOntario
Present:
  • Mayor Larry Snively
  • Deputy Mayor Richard Meloche
  • Ward 1 Councillor Joe Garon
  • Ward 1 Councillor Morley Bowman
  • Ward 2 Councillor Kim Verbeek
  • Ward 3 Councillor Steve Bjorkman
  • Ward 4 Councillor Sherry Bondy
  • Ward 3 Councillor Chris Vander Doelen
Also Present:
  • Doug Sweet, Director, Chief Administrative Officer
  • Lori Chadwick, Director, Development Services
  • Kevin Girard, Director, Infrastructure Services
  • Kate Giurissevich, Director, Corporate Services
  • Robert Auger, Town Solicitor, Legal and Legislative Services/Clerk
  • Shelley Brown, Deputy Clerk, Legal and Legislative Services
  • Rick Arnel, Fire Chief, Fire and Rescue Services
  • Jake Morassut, Manager, Community Services
  • Maddison Tulett, Financial Analyst, Finance and Business Services
  • Heather MacDonald, Assistant Manager, Finance
  • Kelly Prieur, Accounting Clerk, Finance and Business Services
  • Norm Nussio, Manager Operations and Drainage
  • Andy Graf, Manager, Environmental Services
  • Jason Pillon, Deputy Fire Chief, Fire and Rescue Services

This meeting was hosted and chaired from the Essex Municipal Building. Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic this meeting was not currently open to the public for in person attendance. This meeting can only be viewed by the public electronically via livestream on YouTube at www.youtube.com/EssexOntario

 

The purpose of this meeting was to deliberate the 2022 Draft Operating and Capital Budget.

1.
Call to Order

 

Mayor Snively called the meeting to order at approximately 4:30 PM.

2.
Declarations of Conflict of Interest

 

There were no declared conflicts of interest noted at this time.

3.
Adoption of Published Agenda

 

3.1
Special Council Meeting Agenda for December 13, 2021

 
  • SP21-12-008
    Moved ByCouncillor Bowman
    Seconded ByDeputy Mayor Meloche

    That the published agenda for the December 13, 2021 Special Council Meeting re: 2022 Budget be adopted as presented.

    Carried

4.
Reports from Administration

 

4.1
Kate Giurissevich, Director, Corporate Services/Treasurer

This item has attachments. 
1.Updated 2022 Draft 1 Operating and Capital Budget as at Dec 07 2021.pdf

Verbal Report and Presentation RE: 2022 Budget

  • 2022 Operating Budget (Proposed)
  • 2022 Capital Budget (Proposed)

Kate Giurissevich, Director, Corporate Services/Treasurer provided a summary of the proposed changes to the 2022 Budget document since the November 29, 2021 Special Council Meeting. Ms. Giurissevich advised that the draft budget proposes a 1.8% increase to the 2021 general mill rate.

She explained that a significant change to the budget was the addition of a traffic enforcement officer and stated that the net impact to the budget is $190,000.

Council discussed the concerns from residents that included the substantial cost for one traffic enforcement officer may not effectively reduce or deter speeding. Council deliberated the need for a traffic enforcement officer position.

  • Moved ByCouncillor Bondy
    Seconded ByCouncillor Bowman

    That the $190,000 allocated in the 2022 Proposed Operating Budget for the creation of an OPP Traffic Enforcement position remain as part of the proposed budget.

    VotersSupportOpposedConflict En
    Deputy Mayor MelocheX
    Councillor BondyX
    Councillor BjorkmanX
    Mayor SnivelyX
    Councillor BowmanX
    Councillor GaronX
    Councillor VerbeekX
    Councillor Vander DoelenX
    Results440
    Defeated (4 to 4)
  • Moved ByCouncillor Verbeek
    Seconded ByCouncillor Bondy

    That the $190,0000 allocated in the 2022 Proposed Operating Budget for the creation of an OPP Traffic Enforcement position be held in a reserve fund for future capital projects.

    Defeated
  • SP21-12-009
    Moved ByCouncillor Garon
    Seconded ByCouncillor Bowman

    That Council approve the waiver of rental fees for the use of the sports field at the Harrow Soccer Complex for the time period of January 1, 2022 to December 31, 2022.

    Carried
  • SP21-12-010
    Moved ByCouncillor Bjorkman
    Seconded ByCouncillor Vander Doelen

    That the $500,000 from the Ontario Community Infrastructure funds allocated to the Essex Streetscape Project be transferred and held in reserve for future eligible capital projects.

    Carried
  • Moved ByCouncillor Verbeek
    Seconded ByCouncillor Bondy

    That the $133,922 allocated to CS-21-0043  New Public Washrooms/Change Room at Harrow Splashpad be held in a reserve fund for a future splashpad in Ward 2.

    Councillor Verbeek withdrew her motion.

  • SP21-12-011
    Moved ByCouncillor Bondy
    Seconded ByCouncillor Verbeek

    That the $160,000 allocated to CS-22-xxxx Pave Parking Lot B - Colchester Harbour be removed from the 2022 Proposed Capital Budget.

    Carried
  • SP21-12-012
    Moved ByCouncillor Bjorkman
    Seconded ByCouncillor Vander Doelen

    That the amount of $160,000 from CS-22-xxxx Parking Lot B - Colchester Habour be reallocated to the following capital projects:

    1. CS-22-0056 Colchester Harbour Hill to Ramp Road Reconstruction $70,000.
    2. PW-22-0020 Colchester Traffic Study $20,000; and
    3. PW-22-0018 Gesto Sidewalk along County Road 12 $70,000.

     

    Carried
  • SP21-12-013
    Moved ByCouncillor Bondy
    Seconded ByCouncillor Vander Doelen

    That the 2022 Operating Budget as presented be adopted in principle and that the OPP Traffic Enforcement position be removed in the amount of $190,000 and that the $190,000 be reallocated to the 2022 Capital Budget for further deliberations.

    Carried
  • SP21-12-014
    Moved ByDeputy Mayor Meloche
    Seconded ByCouncillor Bjorkman

    That authorization be granted to complete, in fiscal year 2022, any 2021 projects that remain outstanding as of December 31, 2021 and do not appear in the 2022 Budget as presented, so long as the project costs do not exceed previously approved funding amounts or allocations.

    Carried

5.
Public Presentations

 

6.
Adjournment

 
  • SP21-12-015
    Moved ByCouncillor Bowman
    Seconded ByCouncillor Vander Doelen

    That the meeting be adjourned at 7:35 PM.

    Carried
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