Regular Council Meeting

RESOLVED THAT the minutes of the meeting held on October 8, 2024 be adopted.

RESOLVED THAT we do now move into Committee of the Whole.

RESOLVED THAT the Committee Terms of Reference be amended to include all Councillors as Members of the Finance Committee.

RESOLVED THAT the report titled “2023 Investment Summary Report” from the Director of Financial Services/Treasurer dated October 22, 2024 be received and filed.

Jones RESOLVED THAT Elgin County Library be authorized to accept the terms and conditions of a funding agreement with the Province of Ontario for a contribution of $36,300 under the Inclusive Community Grants Program, 2024-25 for a project called “Enhancing Access to Outdoor and Cultural Spaces for Rural Residents in Elgin County” as outlined in the October 22, 2024 report titled “Provincial Funding for Outdoor Spaces in Elgin County”; and THAT the Warden on behalf of Elgin County Council issue letters of appreciation to the Otter Valley Naturalists and West Lorne and Community Horticultural Society for their support of these projects.

Jones RESOLVED THAT the report titled “Recommended Updates to the Procedural By-Law (19-41)” from the Manager of Administrative Services/Deputy Clerk dated October 22, 2024, be received and filed; and THAT Council review proposed changes to the Procedural By-Law and provide feedback and direction, and THAT Council feedback be incorporated into a draft Procedural By-Law to be brought forward for Council consideration at the future meeting.

Giguère RESOLVED THAT we do now proceed into closed meeting session in accordance with the Municipal Act to discuss the following matters under Municipal Act Section 239 (2): Closed Meeting Item #1 - Labour Relations Matters (d) labour relations and employee negotiations. Closed Meeting #2 - Sunset Provincial Lands (verbal) (h) information explicitly supplied in confidence to the municipality or local board by Canada, a province or territory or a Crown agency of any of them. Closed Meeting Item #3 - LS 24-11 Sunset Provincial Lands (f) advice that is subject to solicitor-client privilege, including communications necessary for that purpose; and (h) information explicitly supplied in confidence to the municipality or local board by Canada, a province or territory or a Crown agency of any of them. Closed Meeting Item #4 - 3rd Quarter Organizational Review (b) personal matters about an identifiable individual, including municipal or local board employees.

RESOLVED THAT we do now rise and report.

RESOLVED THAT the confidential report from the Chief Administrative Officer/Clerk be received and filed.

RESOLVED THAT staff proceed as directed.

Jones RESOLVED THAT the confidential report from the Chief Administrative Officer/Clerk be received for information.

RESOLVED THAT we do now adopt recommendations of the Committee of the Whole.

Jones RESOLVED THAT By-Law No. 24-37 be now read a first, second, and third time and finally passed.

RESOLVED THAT we do now adjourn at 12:26 p.m. to meet again on November 12, 2024 at 9:00 a.m.

RESOLVED THAT the report titled “Warden’s Activity Report (September 2024)" from Warden Ketchabaw dated October 22, 2024 be received and filed.

RESOLVED THAT the report titled “Finance Committee Terms of Reference” from Warden Ketchabaw dated October 22, 2024, be received and filed; and THAT the Budget Committee evolve to a Finance Committee with a broader mandate as described herein this report; and THAT County Council adopt the amended Committee Terms of Reference for the Finance Committee as recommended by the Committee; and THAT an updated version of the Committee By-Law, incorporating these changes, be brought forward for Council consideration at a future meeting.

RESOLVED THAT the report titled “2023 Investment Summary Report” from the Director of Financial Services/Treasurer dated October 22, 2024 be received and filed. Motion

RESOLVED THAT Elgin County Library be authorized to accept the terms and conditions of a funding agreement with the Province of Ontario for a contribution of $36,300 under the Inclusive Community Grants Program, 2024-25 for a project called “Enhancing Access to Outdoor and Cultural Spaces for Rural Residents in Elgin County” as outlined in the October 22, 2024 report titled “Provincial Funding for Outdoor Spaces in Elgin County”; and THAT the Warden on behalf of Elgin County Council issue letters of appreciation to the Otter Valley Naturalists and West Lorne and Community Horticultural Society for their support of these projects.

RESOLVED THAT the report titled “Recommended Updates to the Procedural By-Law (19-41)” from the Manager of Administrative Services/Deputy Clerk dated October 22, 2024, be received and filed; and THAT Council review proposed changes to the Procedural By-Law and provide feedback and direction, and THAT Council feedback be incorporated into a draft Procedural By-Law to be brought forward for Council consideration at the future meeting.

WHEREAS official statistics from the Government of Ontario confirm that rural roads are inherently more dangerous than other roads; AND WHEREAS, despite only having 17% of the population, 55% of the road fatalities occur on rural roads; AND WHEREAS, rural, northern, and remote municipalities are fiscally strained by maintaining extensive road networks on a smaller tax base; AND WHEREAS, preventing crashes reduces the burden on Ontario’s already strained rural strained health care system; AND WHEREAS, roadway collisions and associated lawsuits are significant factors in runaway municipal insurance premiums. Preventing crashes can have a significant impact in improving municipal risk profiles; THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT the County of Elgin requests that the Government of Ontario take action to implement the rural road safety program that Good Roads has committed to lead. It will allow Ontario's rural municipalities to make the critical investments needed to reduce the high number of people being killed and seriously injured on Ontario’s rural roads; and FURTHER THAT a copy of this resolution be forwarded to Premier Doug Ford, Hon. Prabmeet Sarkaria, Minister of Transportation, Hon. Kinga Surma, Minister of Infrastructure, Hon. Rob Flack, Minister of Agriculture, Hon. Lisa Thompson, Minister of Rural Affairs, Hon. Trevor Jones, Associate Minister of Emergency Preparedness and Response, and Hon. Sylvia Jones, Minister of Health, and Good Roads; and FURTHER THAT this resolutio

RESOLVED THAT we do now proceed into closed meeting session in accordance with the Municipal Act to discuss the following matters under Municipal Act Section 239 (2): Closed Meeting Item #1 - Labour Relations Matters (d) labour relations and employee negotiations. Closed Meeting #2 - Sunset Provincial Lands (verbal) (h) information explicitly supplied in confidence to the municipality or local board by Canada, a province or territory or a Crown agency of any of them. Closed Meeting Item #3 - LS 24-11 Sunset Provincial Lands (f) advice that is subject to solicitor-client privilege, including communications necessary for that purpose; and (h) information explicitly supplied in confidence to the municipality or local board by Canada, a province or territory or a Crown agency of any of them. Closed Meeting Item #4 - 3rd Quarter Organizational Review (b) personal matters about an identifiable individual, including municipal or local board employees.

RESOLVED THAT the confidential report from the Chief Administrative Officer/Clerk be received for information.

RESOLVED THAT By-Law No. 24-37 be now read a first, second, and third time and finally passed.