County of Brant Council Minutes — April 30, 2024

Agenda

1. Approval of Agenda
2. Presentation of Certificate of Achievement – Jada Finch for receiving the Ontario Medal for Young Volunteers
3. Brant Crushers Sledge Hockey Club – Request for Letter of Support to Revitalize the Team
4. Abbey Schlatman and Shelley Flood – After-School Care at Onondaga-Brant
5. Byron Tan – Watson and Associates – Development Charges Update
6. Peter Stern – St. George Residents for Safe Technology – Communication Tower and Communication Antenna Preferred Location Protocol
7. Adoption of Minutes from Previous Meetings
8. Business Arising from the Minutes – Joint Services Committee
9. Consent Items to be Received
10. Township of Adelaide Metcalfe – Resolution RE: Request to Increase Tile Drain Loan Limit
11. City of Brantford – Resolutions RE: Social Services
12. Town of Goderich – Resolution RE: Review of the Ontario Works and Ontario Disability Support Program Financial Assistance Rates
13. Planning and Development Committee Report – April 9, 2024
14. Government Relations Committee Report – April 12, 2024
15. Administration and Operations Committee Report – April 16, 2024
16. RPT-0291-24 – Russell Heights Roof Repair
17. RPT-0280-24 – Main Branch Library Project Update
18. RPT-0295-24 – Cowan Community Health Hub – Transfer of Ownership
19. Afro-CariBrant Festival 2024 – Request for Letter of Support
20. Grand River Cab Inc. – Request for Review of Joint City-County Shared Services Committee Report Recommendation on Taxi By-law Amendment
21. In Camera – Board Appointments
22. By-laws

Votes at a Glance

#	Motion	Result	Tally
1	Letter of support for Brant Crushers Sledge Hockey Club to revitalize the team	Passed	unanimous
2	Receive delegation from Abbey Schlatman/Shelly Flood; staff to report on after-school capacity issue	Passed	unanimous
3	Direct staff to incorporate public information session on updated communication tower protocols	Passed	unanimous
4	Table Joint Services Committee discussion until committee recommendation comes forward	Passed	unanimous
5	Resolution of support for Township of Adelaide Metcalfe on increase to tile drain loan limit	Passed	unanimous
6	Endorse Town of Goderich resolution on review of Ontario Works and ODSP financial assistance rates	Passed	unanimous
7	Approve Planning and Development Committee report of April 9, 2024 (incl. fee/securities waiver)	Passed	unanimous
8	Approve Government Relations Committee report of April 12, 2024 (AMO Conference Delegations)	Passed	unanimous
9	Amend recommendation #15 to include Vehicle for Hire base rate of $9.00	Passed	unanimous
10	Approve Administration and Operations Committee report of April 16, 2024 as amended	Passed	unanimous
11	Award Russell Heights Roof Replacement to Applewood Roofing for $131,000; transfer $35,000 from Reserve	Passed	unanimous
12	Main Branch Library Project Update received; staff to report when Class C estimate available	Passed	unanimous
13	Authorize transfer of Cowan Community Health Hub to Brant Municipal Enterprises; $7M loan at 1.5%	Passed	unanimous
14	Provide letter of support to Afro-CariBrant Festival 2024	Passed	unanimous
15	Table Grand River Cab Inc. correspondence on Joint City-County Taxi By-law until committee rec. on agenda	Passed	unanimous
16	Appoint Sherry Kerr to Brant Municipal Enterprises Inc. Board of Directors for 4-year term	Passed	unanimous
17	Re-appoint David Bailey, John Peirce, and Jennifer Haley to Police Services Board	Passed	unanimous
18	Amend By-law 12-24 to add Court of Revision decision and R.J. Burnside report as schedules	Passed	unanimous

---

Full Minutes

3. Approval of Agenda

Council approved the agenda with one amendment: correspondence from Grand River Cabs Inc. (item 11.2) was moved to be considered alongside the Administration and Operations Committee Report (item 9.3) regarding taxi fare rates.

5.1. Presentation of Certificate of Achievement – Jada Finch for receiving the Ontario Medal for Young Volunteers

Mayor Bailey presented a certificate of achievement to Jada Finch in recognition of her receiving the Ontario Medal for Young Volunteers and her many contributions to the County of Brant.

5.2. Brant Crushers Sledge Hockey Club – Request for Letter of Support to Revitalize the Team

Representatives of the Brant Crushers Sledge Hockey Club appeared before Council to request a letter of support to help revitalize the team and attract financial backing. Council agreed to provide the letter of support.

5.3. Abbey Schlatman and Shelley Flood – After-School Care at Onondaga-Brant

Two residents requested that the County's after-school program at Onondaga-Brant School be limited to County of Brant residents, noting that 40% of spots are currently taken by City of Brantford residents and there is a long wait list. Staff confirmed the program cannot be expanded due to space and staffing limits, and Council directed staff to report back with recommendations to address the capacity issue.

5.4. Byron Tan – Watson and Associates – Development Charges Update

A consultant from Watson and Associates presented an update on the development charges background study, explaining how development charges work, the study timeline (with a final report expected by late May), and how the County's proposed charges compare to neighbouring municipalities.

5.5. Peter Stern – St. George Residents for Safe Technology – Communication Tower and Communication Antenna Preferred Location Protocol

Peter Stern, representing a local resident group, raised concerns about a communications tower at 9 Main Street North, St. George, arguing it does not comply with the County's tower protocol and poses safety concerns. Council directed staff to include a public information session on the updated tower protocol before bringing it back to Council for a decision.

6. Adoption of Minutes from Previous Meetings

Council approved the minutes from the meetings held on March 26 and April 9, 2024.

7. Business Arising from the Minutes – Joint Services Committee

Councillor Chambers raised a concern that County councillors had voted against the County's own position at a Joint Services Committee meeting, and questioned whether a motion to reconsider was needed. Council agreed to table further discussion until the committee's recommendation formally comes before Council.

8.2. Consent Items to be Received

Council received a large batch of correspondence and committee minutes as information, including minutes from the John Noble Home, Grand River Conservation Authority, County of Brant Public Library Board, Paris BIA, Long Point Region Conservation Authority, and resolutions from various municipalities on topics such as energy, online safety, accessibility, and conservation authorities.

8.2.3. Township of Adelaide Metcalfe – Resolution RE: Request to Increase Tile Drain Loan Limit

Council discussed the Tile Drain Loan Program and how raising the loan limit would help local farmers with drainage improvements. Council voted to issue a resolution of support for increasing the tile drain loan limit.

8.2.10. City of Brantford – Resolutions RE: Social Services

Council received resolutions from the City of Brantford on social services matters as information. Staff noted that a report on funding for the Trillium Way project would be coming to the next Policy Development Committee meeting.

8.2.14. Town of Goderich – Resolution RE: Review of the Ontario Works and Ontario Disability Support Program Financial Assistance Rates

Council endorsed the Town of Goderich's call to review financial assistance rates under Ontario Works and the Ontario Disability Support Program. Council also agreed to write letters of support to the Premier, relevant Ministers, and local MPPs urging action on this issue.

9.1. Planning and Development Committee Report – April 9, 2024

Council approved the Planning and Development Committee report, which included a recommendation to waive $11,086 in fees and securities related to zoning and development agreement applications for demolition and replacement of a single home at two properties in the Townships of Burford and Onondaga.

9.2. Government Relations Committee Report – April 12, 2024

Council approved the Government Relations Committee report, which directed staff to request meetings with provincial ministers on transportation (Rest Acres Road Corridor), health (new hospital funding), and agriculture (planning applications) at the 2024 AMO Conference, and to draft supporting correspondence to federal ministers.

9.3. Administration and Operations Committee Report – April 16, 2024

Council approved a wide-ranging committee report covering numerous items including: appointing an engineer for a municipal drain improvement, awarding contracts for cemetery maintenance, road resurfacing, culvert rehabilitation, pavement markings, skatepark design-build, and fire station consulting services; approving 2024 municipal tax rates; approving several Community Improvement Plan grants for local businesses; entering into a children's services funding agreement with the City of Brantford; distributing legacy funds from the 2023 Ontario 55+ Summer Games; and amending the Vehicle for Hire By-law to increase taxi base rates and kilometric rates. The taxi fare recommendation was amended after discussion of a request from Grand River Cabs to set a $9.00 minimum base rate for Zone A.

10.1. RPT-0291-24 – Russell Heights Roof Repair

Council approved awarding a roof replacement contract for the Russell Heights property to Applewood Roofing and Sheet Metal Ltd. for $131,000, with an additional $35,000 transferred from the Russell Heights Reserve Fund to cover the total cost.

10.2. RPT-0280-24 – Main Branch Library Project Update

Staff provided an update on the Main Branch Library project, including an overview of cost estimate categories. Council directed staff to return with a further update once a more detailed Class C cost estimate is available, before proceeding to tender the next construction phase.

10.3. RPT-0295-24 – Cowan Community Health Hub – Transfer of Ownership

Council authorized the transfer of ownership of the Cowan Community Health Hub to Brant Municipal Enterprises Inc. for the outstanding capital cost of approximately $9.78 million, to be financed through a County loan of $7 million amortized over 30 years at a 1.5% annual interest rate.

11.1. Afro-CariBrant Festival 2024 – Request for Letter of Support

Council agreed to provide a letter of support for the Afro-CariBrant Festival 2024.

11.3. Grand River Cab Inc. – Request for Review of Joint City-County Shared Services Committee Report Recommendation on Taxi By-law Amendment

Council considered correspondence from Grand River Cabs Inc. requesting a review of the Joint City-County Shared Services Committee's recommendation on taxi by-law amendments. Council voted to table this correspondence until the joint committee recommendation formally comes before Council.

14. In Camera – Board Appointments

Council met in a closed session to discuss appointments to the Police Services Board and Brant Municipal Enterprises Board of Directors. Following the in-camera session, Council appointed Sherry Kerr to the Brant Municipal Enterprises Board for a four-year term, and re-appointed David Bailey, John Peirce, and Jennifer Haley to the Police Services Board for the remainder of the current Council term.

15. By-laws

Council gave three readings and passed several by-laws, including: appointing Council members to the Government Relations Committee, authorizing a gas tax funding agreement for public transit, appointing a new municipal law enforcement officer, adopting the 2024 tax rates, and providing for drainage works related to the Bennett Municipal Drain (amended to include Court of Revision decisions). The confirming by-law was also passed.

This post was automatically generated by BrantVotes from the official County of Brant council minutes. Always refer to the official minutes for authoritative records.