The Corporation of the Town of Essex

Special Council Meeting Minutes

Monday, December 14, 2020 at 6:00 P.m. - 9:00 P.m.

Location: https://www.youtube.com/user/EssexOntario

Present:

• Mayor Larry Snively
• Deputy Mayor Richard Meloche
• Councillor Joe Garon
• Councillor Morley Bowman
• Councillor Kim Verbeek
• Councillor Steve Bjorkman
• Councillor Sherry Bondy
• Councillor Chris Vander Doelen

Also Present:

• Chris Nepszy, Chief Administrative Officer
• Robert Auger, Town Solicitor, Legal and Legislative Services/Clerk
• Shelley Brown, Deputy Clerk, Legal and Legislative Services
• Doug Sweet, Director, Community Services/Deputy CAO
• Jeffrey Morrison, Director, Corporate Services and Treasurer
• Lori Chadwick, Director, Development Services
• Kevin Girard, Director, Infrastructure Services
• Rick Arnel, Fire Chief
• Kate Giurissevich, Manager, Finance and Business Services/Deputy Treasurer

This meeting was hosted and chaired from the Essex Municipal Building, 33 Talbot Street South, Essex. Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and the Essex Municipal Building not being open to the public at this time, this meeting was only available electronically to the public via livestream on YouTube with delegates as well only being able to participate electronically.

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1.

Call to Order

The Mayor called the meeting to order at 6:03 PM

2.

Declarations of Conflict of Interest

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

3.

Adoption of Published Agenda

3.1

Special Council Meeting Agenda for December 14, 2020

• SP20-12-004
  Moved By Deputy Mayor Meloche
  Seconded By Councillor Bjorkman

  That the published agenda for the December 14, 2020 Special Council Meeting re: 2021 Budget be adopted with the following amendments as Item 4. New Business:

  1. Correspondence from Kim Dennison including information regarding Weekly Distribution of Confirmed Cases Associated with Outbreaks by Setting Type;
  2. Correspondence from Windsor-Essex Regional Chamber of Commerce regarding additional support for border communities; and
  3. Delegation by Dave Cassidy
  Carried

4.

New Business

4.1

Notice of Motion

RE: That small businesses be permitted to remain open to in-store sales with limited capacity and increased safety measures.

• SP20-12-005
  Moved By Councillor Bondy
  Seconded By Councillor Garon

  That a letter of support requesting small businesses be permitted to remain open to in-store sales with limited capacity and increased safety measures.be sent to All Ontario municipalities, Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade Honourable Victor Fedeli; Associate Minister of Small Business and Red Tape Reduction Honourable Prabmeet Singh Sarkaria; Minister of Health Honourable Christine Elliott; Minister of Finance Honourable Rod Phillips; Associate Minister of Mental Health and Addictions Honourable Michael A. Tibollo; and MPP Taras Natyshak.

  Carried

4.2

Dave Cassidy, Fitness Fury

RE: Impact of COVID-19 Lockdown on small businesses

Mr. Cassidy, as a small business owner in the Town of Essex spoke to his continuing frustrations with the current COVID-19 restrictions and the devastating impact it is having on small businesses.   

• SP20-12-006
  Moved By Councillor Garon
  Seconded By Councillor Bjorkman

  That the delegation by Dave Cassidy, Fitness Fury be received.

  Carried

4.3

Correspondence

• SP20-12-007
  Moved By Deputy Mayor Meloche
  Seconded By Councillor Vander Doelen

  That the correspondence added to the published agenda from Kim Dennison be received.

  Carried
• SP20-12-008
  Moved By Deputy Mayor Meloche
  Seconded By Councillor Vander Doelen

  That the correspondence added to the published agenda from the Windsor-Essex Regional Chamber of Commerce be received and supported.

  Carried

5.

Reports from Administration

5.1

Jeffrey Morrison, Director, Corporate Services/Treasurer

Verbal Report and Presentation RE: 2021 Budget

• 2021 Capital Budget (Proposed)
• 2021 Operating Budget (Proposed)

Mr. Morrison, further to the November 30, 2020 budget meeting again provided a summary of the proposed budget documents and answered Council's questions regarding same. Mr. Morrison also reviewed with Council a document entitled : Post budget Walkthrough Changes which was a summary of the subsequent changes arising out of Councils first budget meeting from November 30 , 2020. The proposed budgets present a 0% increase for 2021 to the Town's general mill rate.

• SP20-12-009
  Moved By Deputy Mayor Meloche
  Seconded By Councillor Bjorkman

  That the 2021 Operating Budget as presented be adopted in principle inclusive of all operating adjustments summarized in the Post Budget Walkthrough Changes since the November 30, 2020 Budget Introduction and Walkthrough Special Meeting of Council as amended.

  Carried
• SP20-12-010
  Moved By Councillor Bondy
  Seconded By Councillor Vander Doelen

  That the 2021 Capital Budget as presented be adopted in principle inclusive of all capital adjustments summarized in the Post Budget Walkthrough Changes since the November 30, 2020 Budget Introduction and Walkthrough Special Meeting of Council but subject to the following:

  That the following Capital Projects be put on hold pending further discussion at the next budget meeting in January 2021:

  1. PW-21-0037 Maidstone, Arthur and Gosfield Townline Intersection in the amount of $450,000;
  2. CS-20-0042 Essex Tennis Courts in the amount of $240,000;
  3. PW-21-0006 Old Malden Road in the amount of $220,000.
  Carried
• SP20-12-011
  Moved By Councillor Bowman
  Seconded By Councillor Bjorkman

  That authorization be granted to complete, in fiscal year 2021, any 2020 projects that remain outstanding as of December 31, 2020 and do not appear in the 2021 Budget as presented, so long as the project costs do not exceed previously approved funding amounts or allocations.

  Carried
• SP20-12-012
  Moved By Deputy Mayor Meloche
  Seconded By Councillor Vander Doelen

  That the Rural Levy deficit of $27,000 be funded from the Insurance Deductible Savings as identified in the Post Budget Walkthough Changes.

  Carried
• SP20-12-013
  Moved By Councillor Bjorkman
  Seconded By Deputy Mayor Meloche

  That administration prepare a report regarding the waiver of Development Charges (excluding Water and Wastewater Development Charges) for infill lots for up to 2 years with a payback from growth-related taxes in future years.

  Councillor Bondy requested a recorded vote.

  	Support	Opposed
  Mayor Snively		X
  Deputy Mayor Meloche	X
  Councillor Garon		X
  Councillor Bowman		X
  Councillor Verbeek	X
  Councillor Bjorkman	X
  Councillor Vander Doelen		X
  Councillor Bondy	X
  Results	4	4

   

  	Support	Opposed
  Results	0	0

  Defeated

6.

Adjournment

• SP20-12-014
  Moved By Councillor Vander Doelen
  Seconded By Councillor Bowman

  That the meeting be adjourned at 9:02 PM.

  Carried