Date: March 28, 2023
Location: Council Chambers, 7 Broadway Street West, Paris, ON
Present: Mayor Bailey, Councillors MacAlpine, Kyle, Howes, Oakley, Bell, Peirce, Chambers, Miller, Coleman, and Garneau
Agenda
- Approval of Agenda
- 2022 County of Brant Public Library Annual Report
- Kimmy & Delano Osmond – Blue Gables Acres Inc. Delegation
- Adoption of Minutes from Previous Meetings
- Consent Items to be Received
- Paramedic Services Committee Report – March 1, 2023
- Policy Development and Strategic Direction Committee Report – March 14, 2023
- Administration and Operations Committee Report – March 21, 2023
- Paris Drinks Fest – Request for Designation as a Municipally Significant Event
- Blue Gables Acres Inc. – Request for Resolution of Support for By-the-Glass Liquor Sales License
- Recorded Voting at Standing Committees and County Council – Councillor Oakley
- Sikh Heritage Month Proclamation – April 2023
- In Camera – Proposed Land Acquisition or Disposition (Woodslee Avenue, Paris)
- By-laws
Votes at a Glance
Full Minutes
2. Approval of Agenda
Council voted to approve the agenda and addendum for the March 28, 2023 meeting.
County of Brant Public Library Annual Report 2022 received as information
4.1. 2022 County of Brant Public Library Annual Report
The Library Board Chair, Vice-Chair, and CEO presented the 2022 Annual Report, highlighting that the County of Brant library has one of the highest subscription rates in the province. The presentation covered diversity and equity progress, as well as revenues and expenditures, noting that County funding made up 95.8% of library revenues. Council received the report as information.
Delegation from Kimmy and Delano Osmond (Blue Gables Acres) referred to Section 10.2
4.2. Kimmy & Delano Osmond – Blue Gables Acres Inc. Delegation
Kimmy and Delano Osmond presented their haskap berry farm and winery business, Blue Gables Acres Inc., which is expanding into wine production and is reportedly the only haskap winery in southern Ontario. They requested Council support for their application for a liquor sales license that would allow sales by the glass. The delegation was referred to item 10.2 on the agenda for a formal resolution.
Receive consent items (GRCA, Trent Lakes Oath of Office, LPRCA, Paris BIA, Howick Township, Library minutes, Police Board minutes) as information
5. Adoption of Minutes from Previous Meetings
Council approved the minutes from four previous meetings: the Special Council Training Session of February 22, the regular Council meeting of February 28, and the Special Council meetings of March 1 and March 14, 2023.
Receive City of Brantford Housing Services Act resolutions and John Noble Home minutes as information (items 7.2.4 and 7.2.6)
7.2. Consent Items to be Received
Council received a package of informational items including reports from the Grand River Conservation Authority, Long Point Region Conservation Authority, the Paris Business Improvement Area, Howick Township, the County of Brant Public Library, and the County of Brant Police Service Board. Items related to housing and the John Noble Home were separated due to a conflict of interest declared by Councillor Garneau, whose spouse's corporation holds contracts with those organizations, and were voted on separately.
Approve Paramedic Services Committee report of March 1, 2023 including chair appointments and Cross Border reserve funding
Approve Policy Development and Strategic Direction Committee report of March 14, 2023 including hospital reserve fund, alcohol policy, council calendar, and other items
8.1. Paramedic Services Committee Report – March 1, 2023
Council approved the Paramedic Services Committee report from March 1, 2023, which included confirming Councillor Miller as Chair and Councillor Sicoli as Vice-Chair of the committee. The report also accepted the 2022 year-end budget variance report and directed that costs exceeding budget for cross-border paramedic services be covered by the Cross Border reserve fund.
Approve Administration and Operations Committee report of March 21, 2023 including infrastructure contracts, drainage, library heritage project, and organics trial
8.2. Policy Development and Strategic Direction Committee Report – March 14, 2023
Council approved a wide-ranging committee report covering several policy decisions, including creating a reserve fund toward the local contribution for the Brant Community Healthcare System hospital redevelopment, updating the Municipal Alcohol Policy, approving a revised 2023 Council meeting calendar, purchasing surveillance equipment for the Brant OPP Street Crimes Unit, and directing staff to engage with school boards on boundary changes. Council also approved posting a public nomination to rename the Burford Optimist Pavilion for community comment.
Declare Paris Drinks Fest (August 18–19, 2023 at Lions Park) a municipally significant event for special occasion permit purposes
8.3. Administration and Operations Committee Report – March 21, 2023
Council approved a comprehensive operations report covering numerous infrastructure and community matters. Key decisions included awarding contracts for a new street sweeper, four road and bridge rehabilitation projects, and a water system upgrade. Council also appointed engineers for two drainage petitions, approved starting the heritage tendering process for the new Main Branch Library at the Bawcutt Centre, launched a trial organics program using Food Cycler units and backyard composters, advanced the 2023 Community Grants process, and approved the Brant Celebrates tourism program in principle.
Support Blue Gables Acres Inc. application for Manufacturer's Limited By-the-Glass Liquor Sales License at 141 Governors Road East, Paris
10.1. Paris Drinks Fest – Request for Designation as a Municipally Significant Event
Council declared the Paris Drinks Fest, scheduled for August 18–19, 2023 at Lions Park, to be a municipally significant event. This designation is required for the event organizers to obtain a Special Occasion Permit from the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) to serve alcohol at the festival.
Direct staff to report on options to record and tabulate all council and standing committee votes for public record
10.2. Blue Gables Acres Inc. – Request for Resolution of Support for By-the-Glass Liquor Sales License
Following the earlier delegation from Kimmy and Delano Osmond, Council passed a resolution formally supporting Blue Gables Acres Inc.'s application to the AGCO for a Manufacturer's Limited 'By the Glass' Liquor Sales License at their haskap berry farm and winery at 141 Governors Road East, Paris.
Proclaim April as Sikh Heritage Month in the County of Brant
11.1. Recorded Voting at Standing Committees and County Council – Councillor Oakley
Councillor Oakley brought forward a motion to improve transparency and accountability in how Council votes are recorded. Council directed staff to prepare a report exploring options — including procedural, software, and hardware solutions — to ensure all Council and committee votes are recorded and made publicly available without significantly disrupting meeting proceedings.
11.2. Sikh Heritage Month Proclamation – April 2023
Council proclaimed April as Sikh Heritage Month in the County of Brant, recognizing the contributions of Sikh Canadians to the community's social, economic, political, and cultural life. Discussion also touched on inviting the local Sikh community to make a presentation to Council. The proclamation aligns with Ontario's 2013 legislative recognition of April as Sikh Heritage Month.
13. In Camera – Proposed Land Acquisition or Disposition (Woodslee Avenue, Paris)
Council moved into a closed (in camera) session to discuss a potential land deal involving property on Woodslee Avenue in Paris. An additional item arising from the February 28, 2023 in camera minutes was also addressed. Council returned to open session after approximately 25 minutes.
14. By-laws
Council passed five by-laws through all three readings: two amendments to the Parking By-law, an amendment to the Brant Taxicab Licensing By-law, a by-law appointing members of Council to committees, and the standard 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.
