County of Brant Council Minutes — October 26, 2021

Agenda

1. Cameron Johnston, Millards Chartered Professional Accountants – County of Brant Consolidated Financial Statements
2. Jennifer Miller, Administrator, John Noble Home – Bell Court Redevelopment Update
3. Julie Powell, St. Joseph's Lifecare Foundation and David Wormald, St. Joseph's Lifecare Centre
4. Federated Women's Institute of Canada – Adelaide Hunter Hoodless Homestead Request for Funding
5. Joshua Kovacs – Brant Transit Booking Concerns
6. Adoption of Minutes from Previous Meetings
7. Consent Items to be Received
8. Planning and Development Committee Report – October 5, 2021
9. Policy Development and Strategic Direction Committee Report – October 12, 2021
10. Administration and Operations Committee Report – October 19, 2021
11. RPT-21-287 – Appointment of an Integrity Commissioner
12. RPT-21-288 – Rural Ontario Municipal Association (ROMA) and Ontario Good Roads Association (OGRA) 2022 Conferences
13. In Camera Session – Administration and Operations Confidential Report and Transfer of Assets
14. By-laws

Votes at a Glance

#	Motion	Result	Tally
1	Receive Consolidated Financial Statements for Year Ended December 31, 2020 as information	Passed	unanimous
2	Receive John Noble Home Bell Court Redevelopment Update presentation as information	Passed	unanimous
3	Receive Stedman Community Hospice and St. Joseph's Lifecare Centre presentation; refer funding requests to 2022 Budget Deliberations	Passed	unanimous
4	Approve $25,000 emergency funding for Adelaide Hunter Hoodless Homestead and direct staff to review additional operational supports	Passed	unanimous
5	Refer Brant Transit concerns from Joshua Kovacs to staff for follow-up with Brant Transit service provider	Passed	unanimous
6	Approve Planning and Development Committee report of October 5, 2021 including zoning applications and Sifton comments	Passed	unanimous
7	Approve Policy Development and Strategic Direction Committee report of October 12, 2021 including internet voting and 55+ Winter Games	Passed	unanimous
8	Approve Administration and Operations Committee report of October 19, 2021 including OCWA, Cainsville Centre, cemetery expansion, surplus transfer	Passed	unanimous
9	Award Integrity Commissioner RFP to Melinda Munro, Munro Strategic Perspective at $12,000 retainer and $250/hr	Passed	unanimous
10	Ratify In Camera recommendations: OPP 2-year lease for Oakland Community Centre and transfer of fibre optic assets to Brant Municipal Enterprises	Passed	unanimous

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Full Minutes

4.1. Cameron Johnston, Millards Chartered Professional Accountants – County of Brant Consolidated Financial Statements

An external auditor from Millards Chartered Professional Accountants presented the County of Brant's consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2019 (reported in 2021). The auditor confirmed the statements fairly represent the County's financial position and reviewed the investment portfolio, including proceeds from the sale of Brant County Power. Council received the 2020 financial statements as information.

4.2. Jennifer Miller, Administrator, John Noble Home – Bell Court Redevelopment Update

The Administrator of John Noble Home presented an update on the Bell Court Redevelopment project, which will add 20 new long-term care beds including a dedicated behavioural unit. The presentation covered the project's design, finances, and next steps, with the new unit expected to open in early 2024. Councillor Miller declared a conflict of interest and did not participate.

4.3. Julie Powell, St. Joseph's Lifecare Foundation and David Wormald, St. Joseph's Lifecare Centre

Representatives from Stedman Community Hospice and St. Joseph's Lifecare Centre presented to Council, requesting $100,000 for hospice front-line staff and operations and $70,000 for a Resilience, Learning and Growth Outcomes program in long-term care. Council received the presentation and referred the funding requests to the 2022 Budget Deliberations for consideration. Councillor Miller declared a conflict of interest and did not participate.

4.4. Federated Women's Institute of Canada – Adelaide Hunter Hoodless Homestead Request for Funding

Representatives from the Federated Women's Institute of Canada presented a funding request for the Adelaide Hunter Hoodless Homestead, a National Historic Site, seeking $25,000 in emergency funding to cover operating expenses that have exceeded revenues due to COVID-19 shutdowns, along with multi-year stabilization funding. Council approved the $25,000 emergency grant, directed staff to explore additional operational supports, and referred the Homestead to the County's Community Grants Program for future needs.

4.5. Joshua Kovacs – Brant Transit Booking Concerns

A resident raised concerns about the Brant Transit system, including difficulty booking trips for essential needs due to bookings being taken months in advance, failed cancellation notifications causing wasted trips, and misuse of the system for non-essential travel. Council discussed the system's limitations, impacts of COVID-19 restrictions, and noted that a full update report would be coming in late 2021 or early 2022. Council referred the concerns to staff to work with the Brant Transit service provider on program improvements.

5. Adoption of Minutes from Previous Meetings

Council approved the minutes from its previous meetings held on September 28, 2021 and October 12, 2021.

7.2. Consent Items to be Received

Council received and approved a package of 16 consent items, including provincial ministry correspondence on topics such as the Ontario Municipal Partnership Fund, construction noise regulations, conservation authority regulations, and excess soil guidelines, as well as minutes from various local boards and committees including the Public Library Board, John Noble Home, Police Services Board, and Grand River Conservation Authority.

8.1. Planning and Development Committee Report – October 5, 2021

Council approved five planning recommendations from the October 5 committee meeting, including: advising Sifton Properties that a proposed development application should be resubmitted at a later time; approving a zoning change for a property at 602 Mount Pleasant Road to allow suburban residential use with a reduced frontage; approving a zoning amendment for 178 Newport Road to recognize an existing accessory structure and prohibit future dwellings on retained farmland; approving rezoning of 539 Paris Road for heavy industrial use with specific permitted and prohibited uses; and directing that a minor variance application fee for 25b Griffiths Drive be refunded.

8.2. Policy Development and Strategic Direction Committee Report – October 12, 2021

Council approved four recommendations from the October 12 committee meeting, covering: recommending postponement of the Ontario 55+ Winter Games and authorizing the CAO to sign related agreements; directing staff to develop a rural-focused Community Improvement Plan; authorizing the use of optical scanning vote tabulators for the 2022 Municipal Election through cooperative purchasing; and authorizing the use of Internet Voting for the 2022 Municipal Election.

8.3. Administration and Operations Committee Report – October 19, 2021

Council approved eight recommendations from the October 19 committee meeting, including: authorizing staff to negotiate a 10-year contract extension with the Ontario Clean Water Agency for wastewater operations; awarding a gravel crushing contract to Cox Construction Ltd. for $133,350; awarding the Cainsville Community Centre construction contract to Reid and Deleye Contractors Limited for $5.17 million; approving the Oakland Cemetery expansion plan; transferring the 2020 budget surplus of $2.07 million to the Contingency Reserve; closing municipal offices December 29–31, 2021; denying a request for a second driveway entrance on Capron Street; and approving a new Customer Service model relocating in-person services to library branches.

8.4. RPT-21-287 – Appointment of an Integrity Commissioner

Following a competitive request for proposals process, Council awarded the contract for Integrity Commissioner services to Melinda Munro of Munro Strategic Perspective, at an annual retainer of $12,000 and an hourly rate of $250. The Mayor and Clerk were authorized to enter into the formal agreement by by-law.

9.1. RPT-21-288 – Rural Ontario Municipal Association (ROMA) and Ontario Good Roads Association (OGRA) 2022 Conferences

Council received information about the upcoming virtual ROMA and OGRA 2022 conferences and directed any Council members wishing to attend to contact the Clerk for registration. Council also resolved to pass a resolution at a future meeting for any requested delegations with Provincial Ministers at the conferences.

13. In Camera Session – Administration and Operations Confidential Report and Transfer of Assets

Council met in a closed session to discuss confidential matters related to negotiations and financial information. Following the in-camera discussion, Council ratified two decisions in open session: approving a 2-year lease of the Oakland Community Centre to the Ontario Provincial Police, with staff directed to minimize disruption to existing user groups; and approving the transfer of the County's fibre optic assets to Brant Municipal Enterprises.

14. By-laws

Council gave three readings to 11 by-laws, formally enacting decisions made during the meeting. These included by-laws to appoint the Integrity Commissioner, appoint Municipal Law Enforcement Officers, amend parking and traffic by-laws, authorize an ambulance services agreement with Six Nations, appoint a Deputy Clerk, amend the Zoning By-law for three properties (602 Mount Pleasant Road, 178 Newport Road, and 539 Paris Road), and confirm the proceedings of Council.

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