County of Brant Council Minutes — November 23, 2021

Agenda

1. Tara Buchanan and Caitlin Harvey – Conversion Therapy: Risks and Harms
2. Jennifer Miller, Administrator – John Noble Home New Build Update
3. Ben Ames, GSP Group – Strategic Plan – 3 Yeo Street
4. Caitlin Port, MHBC Planning and Carol Siemiginowski, Lafarge Canada Inc. – OPA 1-21-KD & ZBA 5-21-KD – 1044 Colborne Street West
5. Adoption of Minutes – County of Brant Council Minutes of October 26, 2021
6. Consent Items to be Received
7. Planning and Development Committee Report – November 2, 2021
8. Policy Development and Strategic Direction Committee Report – November 9, 2021
9. Administration and Operations Committee Report – November 16, 2021
10. Paramedic Services Committee Minutes – November 17, 2021
11. RPT-21-316 – 2022 Council Calendar
12. RPT-21-318 – New Cost Sharing Agreements with the City of Brantford
13. RPT-21-320 – Purchase of Replacement Pumper Apparatus
14. Lansdowne Children's Centre Redevelopment – Mayor Bailey
15. Other Business – Thanks to Heather Boyd, Clerk
16. In Camera – Confidential Session
17. By-laws

Votes at a Glance

#	Motion	Result	Tally
1	Support application for 20 new additional resident beds via second floor addition to John Noble Home New Build	Passed	unanimous
2	Approve Planning & Development Committee recs 1, 2 and 4 (ZBA housekeeping, Sawyer ZBA, 65 Brant Road ZBA)	Passed	unanimous
3	Approve Rec. 3 to deny OPA1-21-KD & ZBA5-21-KD (Lafarge aggregate pit extension at 1044 Colborne St W)	Failed	4–7
4	Approve OPA1-21-KD & ZBA5-21-KD to permit Lafarge aggregate pit extension at 1044 Colborne St W	Passed	8–3
5	Approve Policy Development and Strategic Direction Committee report of November 9, 2021 (water conservation programs, electronic meetings, advisory committees)	Passed	unanimous
6	Approve Administration and Operations Committee report of November 16, 2021 (infrastructure, procurement, budget items)	Passed	unanimous
7	Approve 2022 Council and Standing Committee meeting schedule and Inaugural Meeting date for 2022-2026 term	Passed	unanimous
8	Authorize direct negotiation for purchase of replacement pumper apparatus from Dependable Emergency Vehicles up to $660,000	Passed	unanimous
9	Resolution requesting Ontario grant Stage 1 Planning approval for Lansdowne Children's Centre redevelopment	Passed	unanimous
10	Approve Paramedic Services Committee In Camera Report of November 17, 2021	Passed	unanimous
11	Approve Shared Services agreements with City of Brantford: Paramedic Services and Provincial Offenses Act agreements	Passed	unanimous
12	Approve Shared Services agreement with City of Brantford: John Noble Home Amending Agreement	Passed	unanimous
13	Approve Shared Services agreement with City of Brantford: Social Services Agreement	Passed	8–3

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Full Minutes

4.1. Tara Buchanan and Caitlin Harvey – Conversion Therapy: Risks and Harms

Two presenters provided information on conversion therapy, explaining its psychological harms and noting that several municipalities have already passed by-laws prohibiting the practice. They requested that the County of Brant also prohibit conversion therapy. Council received the presentation as information, noting that any decision would require further staff investigation and a formal recommendation.

4.2. Jennifer Miller, Administrator – John Noble Home New Build Update

The John Noble Home administrator presented an update on the new build project, recommending the addition of a second floor to expand capacity from 20 to 40 beds. A proposal for 20 new beds has been submitted to the Ministry of Long Term Care, and if approved, the expansion is not expected to significantly delay the project, with resident admission targeted for January 2024. Council supported the application for the additional beds and also formally recognized the John Noble Home for achieving the highest 'exemplary' certification standard.

4.3. Ben Ames, GSP Group – Strategic Plan – 3 Yeo Street

Presenters outlined a proposal to redevelop the historic building at 3 Yeo Street in Paris, featuring commercial space along the street front, flex-industrial uses at the rear, and office or studio space on the second floor. The main challenge identified was a lack of on-site parking, with the developers proposing limited rear parking and possible angle parking on Willow Street as partial solutions. Council received the presentation as information.

4.4. Caitlin Port, MHBC Planning and Carol Siemiginowski, Lafarge Canada Inc. – OPA 1-21-KD & ZBA 5-21-KD – 1044 Colborne Street West

Planners and representatives from Lafarge Canada presented their application to extend an aggregate pit at 1044 Colborne Street West by changing the land designation from Agricultural to Resource Extraction. Key discussion points included concerns about permanently removing farmland from agricultural use, as below-water extraction cannot be rehabilitated back to farmland, and the importance of aggregate resources to the community. The presentation was referred for consideration alongside the Planning and Development Committee Report.

5.1. Adoption of Minutes – County of Brant Council Minutes of October 26, 2021

Council approved the minutes from the previous regular meeting held on October 26, 2021.

7.2. Consent Items to be Received

Council received several routine items as information, including minutes from the John Noble Home Committee of Management, Police Services Board, Long Point Region Conservation Authority, and the County of Brant Public Library Board. Also received were notices from the Brant Haldimand Norfolk Catholic District School Board regarding education development charges, a City of Brantford resolution on an Indigenous Affairs Officer position, and a Grand River Conservation Authority summary.

8.1. Planning and Development Committee Report – November 2, 2021

Council considered four planning recommendations from the November 2 committee meeting. Recommendations 1, 2, and 4 were approved, covering a zoning housekeeping amendment, a surplus dwelling severance at 12 Maple Avenue South, and a rezoning at 65 Brant Road. Recommendation 3, which proposed denying Lafarge Canada's application to extend an aggregate pit at 1044 Colborne Street West, was defeated in a recorded vote (4 yes, 7 no). Council then voted to approve the Lafarge application, which carried 8 to 3.

8.2. Policy Development and Strategic Direction Committee Report – November 9, 2021

Council approved four recommendations from the November 9 committee meeting, including parking schedule changes in a subdivision, the introduction of several water conservation incentive programs (such as toilet rebates and a leak forgiveness policy), a decision to continue holding meetings electronically until the Province reaches its COVID-19 Roadmap Exit Step, and a plan to phase in electronic participation for Advisory Committees starting January 2022.

8.3. Administration and Operations Committee Report – November 16, 2021

Council approved nine recommendations from the November 16 committee meeting covering a range of operational matters. These included awarding engineering contracts for the Paris Water Pollution Control Plant upgrade, authorizing negotiations to extend truck supply contracts, approving engineering contracts for rehabilitating five bridges, directing staff to prepare a municipal election resources policy, approving the 2022 Paramedic Services budget, approving solar streetlight renewal for Royal Highland Estates, setting 2022 fees and charges, and confirming Council committee appointments.

8.4. Paramedic Services Committee Minutes – November 17, 2021

The Paramedic Services Committee minutes from November 16, 2021 were presented for Council's information. There were no formal recommendations for Council to consider from this committee meeting.

9.1. RPT-21-316 – 2022 Council Calendar

Council approved the schedule of Council and Standing Committee meetings for 2022. Council also set the Inaugural Meeting for the 2022–2026 Term of Council for November 15, 2022, and directed that the Procedural By-law be updated to reflect the legislated change in the term of Council.

9.2. RPT-21-318 – New Cost Sharing Agreements with the City of Brantford

Council approved four updated shared services agreements with the City of Brantford covering Social Services, the John Noble Home, Paramedic Services, and Provincial Offences Act prosecution services. The Social Services and John Noble Home agreements were voted on separately due to declared conflicts of interest. The Social Services Agreement passed in a recorded vote of 8 to 3, with some councillors raising concerns about the increased costs.

9.3. RPT-21-320 – Purchase of Replacement Pumper Apparatus

Due to global supply chain issues and anticipated price increases, Council approved the direct purchase of a replacement fire pumper truck for the Paris Fire Station from Dependable Emergency Vehicles at a maximum price of $660,000. The purchase will be funded initially from the County's contingency reserve, with the funds to be replenished from the 2022 capital levy once the budget is approved.

11.1. Lansdowne Children's Centre Redevelopment – Mayor Bailey

Council passed a resolution urging the Ontario government to immediately grant Stage 1 Planning approval and necessary funding for the Lansdowne Children's Centre to build new premises. The Centre currently serves over 3,000 children and youth with disabilities, but severe overcrowding has caused lengthy wait times for 2,000 children in the region. A copy of the resolution was also forwarded to the City of Brantford Council requesting that they pass a similar resolution.

12. Other Business – Thanks to Heather Boyd, Clerk

Council passed a motion expressing thanks and best wishes to Heather Boyd, who served as Clerk for the County of Brant, as she moves on to a new role. Council also acknowledged the passing of Jack Bawcutt, former Mayor of the Town of Paris, and discussed ways to recognize his contributions to the community.

13. In Camera – Confidential Session

Council moved into a closed session to discuss matters related to negotiations on behalf of the municipality (shared services and contract negotiations) and legal advice subject to solicitor-client privilege. Following the in-camera session, Council approved the Paramedic Services Committee In Camera Report of November 17, 2021.

14. By-laws

Council gave three readings to and passed ten by-laws covering a street name amendment in the Grandville Subdivision, four shared services agreements with the City of Brantford, the 2022 Fees and Charges By-law, two zoning by-law amendments, a parking by-law amendment, and the confirming by-law for the meeting proceedings.

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