County of Brant Council Minutes — December 16, 2025

Agenda

1. Approval of Agenda
2. Delegation – Angie Petrella – Bills 56, 60, & 68
3. Adoption of Minutes – County of Brant Council Minutes of November 25, 2025
4. Consent Items to be Received
5. Administration and Operations Committee Report – December 9, 2025
6. RPT-0439-25 – Paris Drinks Fest Noise Control By-Law Exemption
7. Grand River Conservation Authority – Bill 68 and Proposed Consolidation of Conservation Authorities
8. Resolution to Support the Elect Respect Campaign – Councillor Kyle
9. Proclamation Request – Fibromyalgia Awareness Day
10. Proclamation Request – 1st Paris Scouting
11. Other Business – Veterans' Crosswalk (Councillor Miller)
12. In Camera Session
13. By-laws

Votes at a Glance

#	Motion	Result	Tally
1	Receive delegation from Angie Petrella re: Bills 56, 60, and 68 as information	Passed	9–0
2	Receive consent items 8.2.1, 8.2.2, 8.2.4–8.2.6, 8.2.8–8.2.11 as information	Passed	9–0
3	Receive 8.2.3 County of Brant O.P.P. Detachment Board Minutes – October 28, 2025 as information	Passed	9–0
4	Receive 8.2.7 City of Brantford 2026 Shared Social Services Budget; direct staff to investigate missing budget direction and refer to Liaison Committee if required	Passed	9–0
5	Approve Administration and Operations Committee Report and Minutes of December 9, 2025 with 12 recommendations	Passed	9–0
6	Grant Noise Control By-law exemption for Paris Drinks Fest at Syl Apps Community Centre on August 14–15, 2026	Failed	3–6
7	Receive GRCA communication re: Bill 68 and proposed consolidation of 36 conservation authorities as information	Passed	9–0
8	Support GRCA alternative proposal to conservation authority consolidation; request Minister meet GRCA representatives; circulate motion to Premier and MPPs	Passed	9–0
9	Support the Elect Respect campaign; commit to civility and respectful conduct; circulate resolution to AMO, FCM, MPPs, MPs, and OPP Brant Detachment	Passed	9–0
10	Proclaim May 12, 2026 as Fibromyalgia Awareness Day in the County of Brant	Passed	9–0
11	Grant First Paris Scouting proclamation request for February 22, 2026 to raise awareness for scouting and guiding	Passed	9–0

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Full Minutes

3. Approval of Agenda

Council approved the agenda for the December 16, 2025 meeting, with an addition requested by Councillor Miller to include the topic of Veterans' Crosswalk under Other Business. The motion carried unanimously.

5.1. Delegation – Angie Petrella – Bills 56, 60, & 68

A resident from 53 King William Street addressed Council to speak about provincial Bills 56, 60, and 68, raising concerns about topics including the potential privatization of drinking water and changes in the Region of Peel. Council received the delegation as information and noted that a related resolution from the Grand River Conservation Authority would be shared with the delegate.

6.1. Adoption of Minutes – County of Brant Council Minutes of November 25, 2025

Council approved the minutes from its previous meeting held on November 25, 2025. The motion carried unanimously.

8.2. Consent Items to be Received

Council received a package of informational items from various external bodies, including meeting minutes from Grand Erie Public Health, the County of Brant Public Library Board, Long Point Region Conservation Authority, and the Grand River Conservation Authority, as well as several resolutions from the City of Brantford and other municipalities. Two items were pulled for separate discussion: the OPP Detachment Board minutes (regarding concerns about lower speeding ticket numbers due to past staffing shortages, now resolved) and the City of Brantford's 2026 Shared Social Services Budget, which excluded two budget requests previously approved at the Social Services Committee level. Council directed staff to investigate the missing budget items and refer the matter to the Liaison Committee if needed.

9.1. Administration and Operations Committee Report – December 9, 2025

Council approved the Administration and Operations Committee report containing 12 recommendations covering a wide range of municipal matters. These included electing Councillor Peirce as Chair and Councillor Howes as Vice-Chair of the committee for 2026; approving a Community Improvement Plan grant of up to $17,000 for a property at 75 Grand River Street North; appointing an engineer for a new municipal drain petition near Cathcart; authorizing a tax write-off of approximately $48,500; approving revisions to a drainage works design; directing a downtown Paris parking study and consultation with the Business Improvement Area; providing comments on the province's proposed conservation authority consolidation; approving new Brant Transit fares of $6.00 general and $4.00 for seniors effective March 2026; approving a paid duty contract for holiday RIDE program; deferring accessibility upgrades to the 2026 budget; and approving the Heritage Committee's 2026 workplan and meeting schedule.

10.1. RPT-0439-25 – Paris Drinks Fest Noise Control By-Law Exemption

Council considered a request to grant a Noise Control By-law exemption for the 2026 Paris Drinks Fest event, planned for August 14–15, 2026 at Syl Apps Community Centre. After discussion, the motion to grant the exemption was defeated, with six members voting against and three in favour.

11.1. Grand River Conservation Authority – Bill 68 and Proposed Consolidation of Conservation Authorities

Council received a communication from the Grand River Conservation Authority regarding Bill 68 (Plan to Protect Ontario Act) and the province's proposal to consolidate Ontario's 36 conservation authorities into seven regional bodies, which would fold the GRCA into the new Lake Erie Regional Conservation Authority. Council unanimously passed a resolution supporting the GRCA's alternative proposal and calling on the provincial Minister of Environment, Conservation and Parks and the Chief Conservation Executive to meet with GRCA representatives to consider the alternative approach. The resolution was directed to be shared with the Premier, relevant ministers, local MPPs, and other officials.

12.1. Resolution to Support the Elect Respect Campaign – Councillor Kyle

Councillor Kyle brought forward a resolution supporting the Elect Respect campaign, which promotes respectful, inclusive, and civil conduct in municipal politics. Council unanimously committed to treating all individuals with respect, speaking out against harassment, and creating a welcoming environment for public participation in democracy. The resolution was directed to be shared with the Association of Municipalities of Ontario, the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, local MPPs and MPs, and the OPP Brant Detachment.

12.2. Proclamation Request – Fibromyalgia Awareness Day

Council approved a proclamation declaring May 12, 2026 as Fibromyalgia Awareness Day in the County of Brant, in recognition of the chronic illness that affects approximately 5% of Canadians and for which there is currently no known cause or cure.

12.3. Proclamation Request – 1st Paris Scouting

Council approved a proclamation for February 22, 2026 to raise awareness of scouting and guiding activities in the County of Brant, as requested by Dan Tapley on behalf of 1st Paris Scouting.

13.1. Other Business – Veterans' Crosswalk (Councillor Miller)

Councillor Miller raised the status of the Veterans' Crosswalk project in Burford. Council discussed their desire to see the project completed in time for the 100th anniversary, along with the logistics and funding considerations involved. No formal vote was taken on this item.

14. In Camera Session

Council voted to move into a closed (in camera) session to discuss confidential matters including a proposed land acquisition or disposition related to a new central library site, potential litigation, and a matter involving solicitor-client privilege related to an Ontario Land Tribunal appeal by Losani Homes regarding an engineering administration fee.

15. By-laws

Council passed four by-laws through all three readings: an interim tax levy by-law setting a penalty and interest rate of 1.25% per month; a by-law to assume land in South Dumfries for public road purposes; an amendment to the Terryberry Municipal Drain by-law to reflect revised drainage works design; and a confirming by-law to ratify the proceedings of the meeting.

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