Date: March 24, 2026
Location: Council Chambers, 7 Broadway Street West, Paris, ON
Present: Mayor Bailey, Councillors Kyle, MacAlpine, Howes, Oakley, Bell, Peirce, Miller, Chambers, Coleman, and Haley
Agenda
- Certification of Election of Ward 5 Councillor
- Declaration of Elected Office and Oath of Allegiance
- Approval of Agenda
- Delegation – Janet Feaver, Municipal Policing Bureau – Policing Costs
- Adoption of Minutes – County of Brant Council Minutes of February 24, 2026
- Consent Items to be Received
- Administration and Operations Committee Report – March 17, 2026
- Paramedic Services Committee Minutes – March 18, 2026
- RPT-0135-26 – 2025 Year in Review
- RPT-0147-26 – 2026 Ward 5 By-Election Results
- RPT-0145-26 – Paris BIA Residential Permit Parking Program Delegation Request
- Petition – Board Cuts for Alternative School in Brantford (Grand Erie Learning Alternative)
- Resolution – Comprehensive Review of the County of Brant Procedural By-law
- Other Business – Purple Benches
- Other Business – ATVs
- In Camera Session
- Ratification of Administration and Operations Committee In Camera Report – March 17, 2026
- By-laws
- Councillor Updates
Votes at a Glance
Full Minutes
3. Certification of Election of Ward 5 Councillor
The Clerk declared the certified results of the Ward 5 By-Election, officially confirming the outcome of the vote held to fill the vacant Ward 5 seat.
4. Declaration of Elected Office and Oath of Allegiance
The Clerk administered the Declaration of Office to E. Haley, who declared and affirmed the oath, officially marking the beginning of her tenure as the new Ward 5 Councillor.
5. Approval of Agenda
Council approved the agenda for the March 24, 2026 meeting, including two additions: Councillor Miller requested ATVs be added under Other Business, and Councillor Oakley requested that Item 18 be moved to immediately follow Item 15.
Receive presentation from Janet Feaver, Municipal Policing Bureau, re: policing costs as information
Passed 11–0
7.1. Delegation – Janet Feaver, Municipal Policing Bureau – Policing Costs
Janet Feaver from the Municipal Policing Bureau presented information to Council about how municipal policing costs are structured and calculated. Council received the presentation for information.
Receive consent items 10.2.1, 10.2.2, 10.2.4–10.2.6, 10.2.8–10.2.10 as information
Passed 11–0
8.1. Adoption of Minutes – County of Brant Council Minutes of February 24, 2026
Council reviewed and approved the minutes from the previous Council meeting held on February 24, 2026, with amendments.
Receive consent items 10.2.3 and 10.2.7 (County of Brant Public Library Board minutes) as information
Passed 11–0
10.2. Consent Items to be Received
Council received a variety of informational items from external boards and organizations, including meeting minutes from the Downtown Paris BIA, County of Brant Public Library Board, OPP Detachment Board, Grand Erie Public Health, Long Point Region Conservation Authority, and resolutions from York Region and the Township of Oro-Medonte. Councillor Peirce posed questions about the Library Board minutes, which were voted on separately.
Approve Administration and Operations Committee Report of March 17, 2026 including all 12 recommendations
Passed 11–0
Receive Paramedic Services Committee minutes of March 18, 2026 as information
Passed 11–0
11.1. Administration and Operations Committee Report – March 17, 2026
Council approved a wide-ranging committee report covering twelve items, including awarding a new curbside waste collection contract to Environmental 360 Solutions Ltd. (starting June 2027 at approximately $2 million per year), extending a road line painting contract, approving a new Economic Development and Tourism Event Sponsorship Program, releasing the 2025 Drinking Water Annual Summary Reports, expanding neighbourhood speed reductions to 40 km/h across multiple communities over three years, directing staff to create a noise control by-law, and monitoring provincial Bill 60 implications for water and wastewater services.
Receive RPT-0135-26 – 2025 Year in Review as information
Passed 11–0
11.2. Paramedic Services Committee Minutes – March 18, 2026
Council received the minutes from the Paramedic Services Committee meeting held on March 18, 2026, as information. No specific action items were brought forward for Council decision.
Receive RPT-0147-26 – 2026 Ward 5 By-Election Results as information
Passed 11–0
12.1. RPT-0135-26 – 2025 Year in Review
The Manager of Corporate Initiatives presented a review of the County of Brant's highlights and achievements from 2025, including key statistics and communication plans. Council received the report for information.
Receive RPT-0145-26 Paris BIA Residential Permit Parking Program as information
Passed 11–0
12.2. RPT-0147-26 – 2026 Ward 5 By-Election Results
Council received a report on the administration and results of the Ward 5 By-Election. Discussion included staff reflections on how the election was run and feedback from newly-elected Councillor Haley.
Direct staff to bring forward amendments to Parking By-law No. 004-19 Schedules 14 & 15 to April 14, 2026 Council meeting
Passed 9–1
12.3. RPT-0145-26 – Paris BIA Residential Permit Parking Program Delegation Request
Council considered a request to modify the existing residential permit parking program for residents living in the Paris Business Improvement Area. Proposed changes included switching parking spaces from Municipal Lot #2 to Lot #3, reducing the monthly permit fee from $120 to $90, and allowing property owners (not just residents) to rent the spaces. Council received the report and directed staff to bring forward the necessary by-law amendments for approval at the April 14, 2026 meeting.
Receive petition from Scarlett Parker re: board cuts for Grand Erie Learning Alternative school in Brantford as information
Passed 11–0
Direct Council Services staff to perform comprehensive review of County of Brant Procedural By-law and report by end of September cycle
Passed 9–2
13.1. Petition – Board Cuts for Alternative School in Brantford (Grand Erie Learning Alternative)
Council received a petition from Scarlett Parker, a student at Grand Erie Learning Alternative (GELA), regarding concerns about school board funding cuts affecting the alternative school program in Brantford.
Direct staff to explore installation of a purple bench in the County of Brant as street furniture is replaced
Passed 11–0
14.1. Resolution – Comprehensive Review of the County of Brant Procedural By-law
Councillor Oakley brought forward a resolution directing staff to conduct a thorough review of the County's procedural by-law, which governs how Council meetings are run. The current Council would provide recommendations to the incoming 2026-2030 Council for final approval. The motion passed 9 to 2, with discussion about staff capacity and whether it was appropriate to pass recommendations to the next term of Council.
Ratify Administration and Operations Committee In Camera Report of March 17, 2026 in Open Session (Bawcutt Centre P3 closure and Lauderdale Subdivision land sale)
Passed 11–0
15.1. Other Business – Purple Benches
Councillor Oakley raised the idea of installing purple benches in the County as a symbol of awareness for violence prevention. Staff confirmed this could be incorporated as street furniture is being replaced, and Council unanimously directed staff to explore the installation.
15.2. Other Business – ATVs
Councillor Miller raised concerns about ATV use on County roads and trails, calling for consistent enforcement action rather than one-off responses. Several councillors echoed these concerns, referencing a County social media post from the same day and personal observations of ATV activity in their wards.
16. In Camera Session
Council moved into a closed (in camera) session to discuss confidential matters including correspondence from the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing's Office of the Provincial Land and Development Facilitator, an Administration and Operations Committee in camera report, and a Brant Municipal Enterprises in camera report involving personal matters about an identifiable individual.
16 (ratification). Ratification of Administration and Operations Committee In Camera Report – March 17, 2026
Council ratified two in camera decisions in open session: first, closing the public-private partnership Expression of Interest process for The Bawcutt Centre after reviewing the single submission received and deciding not to proceed; and second, declaring two parcels of County-owned land on Willowdale Street as surplus and authorizing their sale to Lauderdale (Summit) Estates Subdivision for $80,201.20.
17. By-laws
Council gave three readings to and passed seven by-laws, including amendments to reduce speed limits in various neighbourhoods (for 2026 and 2027), a by-law to assume a road in Burford for public use, an update to transit fees and charges, an amendment to the Heritage Committee by-law, a final cost levy for the Rathbun Drain, and the standard confirming by-law for the meeting's proceedings.
18. Councillor Updates
Councillor Chambers noted the increased presence of large farm vehicles on County roads during this time of year and asked the Communications Department to publish messaging encouraging drivers to be patient and careful around them.
This post was automatically generated by BrantVotes from the official County of Brant council minutes. Always refer to the official minutes for authoritative records.
