County of Brant Council Minutes — September 28, 2021

Agenda

1. Approval of Agenda
2. Delegation: Brant Community Healthcare System – Capital Redevelopment
3. Delegation: Allen Volterman – Planning and Development Concerns
4. Delegation: Paris District Chamber of Commerce – 'Brant Connects' Broadband Strategy and Action Plan
5. Delegation: Chuck Beach – Energy Conservation and Demand Management Plan
6. Adoption of Minutes from Previous Meetings
7. Consent Items to be Received
8. Planning and Development Committee Report – September 7, 2021
9. Policy Development and Strategic Direction Committee Report – September 14, 2021
10. Paramedic Services Committee Report – September 15, 2021
11. Administration and Operations Committee Report – September 21, 2021
12. Resolution Re: Request for Reimbursement of Development Charges – 19 County Highway 53
13. RPT-21-251 – Tender Award: 66 Grand River Street Public Washroom Addition
14. Brant Haldimand Norfolk Optometrists – Request for Resolution in Support of Increased OHIP Coverage for Primary Eye Care Services
15. Year of the Garden 2022 and Garden Day – June 18, 2022
16. Other Business: Storm Water Management Pond – 23 Cedar Street
17. Other Business: Remembrance Day Crosswalk Painting
18. In Camera Session
19. By-laws

Votes at a Glance

#	Motion	Result	Tally
1	Resolution requesting Province grant permission to BCHS to plan redevelopment and provide Stage 1 funding	Passed	unanimous
2	Direct staff to prepare a report in response to proposals submitted by Mr. Volterman re: Riverview Highlands parking/pedestrian issues	Passed	unanimous
3	Refer Paris District Chamber of Commerce 'Brant Connects' Broadband Strategy presentation to staff for review	Passed	unanimous
4	Refer Chuck Beach Energy Conservation and Demand Management Plan presentation to Policy Development and Strategic Direction Committee Report Item 8.2	Passed	unanimous
5	Approve Planning and Development Committee report of September 7, 2021 (ZBA rezoning applications)	Passed	unanimous
6	Approve Policy Development and Strategic Direction Committee report of September 14, 2021 including Age Friendly Plan and Energy Conservation Plan adoption	Passed	unanimous
7	Approve Paramedic Services Committee report of September 15, 2021 including 2.2% base budget increase and additional 12-hour ambulance	Passed	unanimous
8	Approve Recommendations 1-9 and 11-14 of the Administration and Operations Committee report of September 21, 2021	Passed	unanimous
9	Approve Recommendation 10 of Administration and Operations Committee report (BCCA enhanced services request denied)	Passed	unanimous
10	Grant reimbursement to owners of 19 County Highway 53 equal to development charges paid for new residence	Failed	5–6
11	Award COR-RFT-21-02 public washroom addition at 66 Grand River Street to Hoskin Construction for $249,568.62 plus HST, funded from capital reserves	Passed	unanimous
12	Support resolution requesting Province address underfunding of OHIP-insured eye care services	Passed	unanimous
13	Proclaim 2022 as Year of the Garden and June 18, 2022 as Garden Day in the County of Brant	Passed	unanimous
14	Direct staff to install temporary safety fencing around stormwater management pond at 23 Cedar Street until pond vegetated and road construction completed	Passed	7–4

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Full Minutes

2. Approval of Agenda

Council approved the agenda for the September 28, 2021 meeting, including an added delegation from Chuck Beach regarding the Energy Conservation and Demand Management Plan.

4.1. Delegation: Brant Community Healthcare System – Capital Redevelopment

The Board Chair and CEO of the Brant Community Healthcare System presented plans for redeveloping the hospital, including renovations to the Emergency and Pediatric areas. The hospital is operating at or over capacity and needs Provincial permission to begin formal planning. Council discussed ambulance offloading issues, expanded services at the Willett, and community outreach efforts.

4.2. Delegation: Allen Volterman – Planning and Development Concerns

Resident Allen Volterman raised concerns about overflow parking, pedestrian safety, truck traffic, and roundabout use in the Riverview Highlands subdivision. He proposed permit parking, a new pedestrian crossing across Rest Acres Road, and a Highway 403 interchange at Bishopsgate Road. Council directed staff to prepare a report in response to his proposals.

4.3. Delegation: Paris District Chamber of Commerce – 'Brant Connects' Broadband Strategy and Action Plan

Representatives from the Paris District Chamber of Commerce presented a broadband strategy called 'Brant Connects' aimed at improving internet service across both urban and rural areas of the County. Council discussed public consultation and coordination with existing organizations like SWIFT, and referred the presentation to staff for review.

4.4. Delegation: Chuck Beach – Energy Conservation and Demand Management Plan

Resident Chuck Beach praised the County's Energy Conservation and Demand Management Plan for initiatives like LED street light conversion, but criticized the 2021–2024 plan for lacking specific, measurable targets for areas like greenhouse gas emissions and fleet consumption. He recommended the plan not be forwarded to the Province until improved. Council referred his presentation to the Policy Development and Strategic Direction Committee report for consideration.

5. Adoption of Minutes from Previous Meetings

Council approved the minutes from its meetings held on July 27, July 29, August 10, and September 14, 2021.

7.2. Consent Items to be Received

Council received a package of informational items, including a staff response about tree removal at 516 Brant Road, provincial guidelines on site plan control and conservation authority exceptions, and minutes from various boards and committees including the Police Services Board, Grand River Conservation Authority, and John Noble Home.

8.1. Planning and Development Committee Report – September 7, 2021

Council approved two planning applications: a rezoning at 214 Brant Church Road to allow a surplus farm dwelling severance on an undersized agricultural parcel, and a one-year extension of a temporary use zoning by-law to permit continued use of a sales trailer at 249 Garden Avenue.

8.2. Policy Development and Strategic Direction Committee Report – September 14, 2021

Council adopted the County of Brant Age Friendly Plan and the 2021–2024 Energy Conservation and Demand Management Plan, directing staff to forward the latter to the Province. Staff clarified that the plan is a high-level guiding document and that specific quantitative targets will be developed through project planning and budget decisions, with annual updates to Council.

8.3. Paramedic Services Committee Report – September 15, 2021

Council approved a draft Paramedic Services budget that includes a 2.2% base budget increase and the addition of a new 12-hour ambulance starting July 1, 2022, resulting in a total net levy increase of 5.66%. The City of Brantford was asked to review the draft budget and provide feedback by November 1, 2021.

8.4. Administration and Operations Committee Report – September 21, 2021

Council approved a wide range of operational recommendations including awarding engineering services for Grand River Street North reconstruction, several drainage engineering appointments, traffic and parking bylaw amendments, a new sanitary sewer grinder pump policy, Community Safety Zones near schools, a rail safety proclamation, a Dress Purple Day proclamation, and renaming the South Dumfries Community Centre as the Gaukel Memorial Arena. Recommendation 10 regarding condominium service requests was voted on separately due to a conflict of interest declared by Councillor Bell.

8.4.1. Resolution Re: Request for Reimbursement of Development Charges – 19 County Highway 53

Councillor Chambers brought forward a motion to provide a grant to the owners of 19 County Highway 53 equal to the development charges paid when rebuilding their home, arguing extenuating circumstances including a controlled burn demolition, ownership transfer, and COVID-19 delays prevented them from rebuilding within the by-law's 5-year waiver window. Following debate about the precedent of overriding the by-law, the motion was defeated in a recorded vote of 5 yes to 6 no.

9.1. RPT-21-251 – Tender Award: 66 Grand River Street Public Washroom Addition

Council awarded a contract to Hoskin Construction to add a publicly accessible washroom at the County's Customer Service Office at 66 Grand River Street North in downtown Paris. The project cost is $249,568.62 plus HST, to be funded from capital reserves, with staff directed to seek external grants to offset costs.

10.1. Brant Haldimand Norfolk Optometrists – Request for Resolution in Support of Increased OHIP Coverage for Primary Eye Care Services

Council passed a resolution supporting a request from the Town of Oakville asking the Province of Ontario to address the underfunding of OHIP-covered eye care services and to enter into negotiations to properly fund them.

11.1. Year of the Garden 2022 and Garden Day – June 18, 2022

Council proclaimed 2022 as the 'Year of the Garden' in the County of Brant to celebrate the centennial of Canada's horticulture sector and the contribution of local gardening groups. June 18, 2022 (the Saturday before Father's Day) was also recognized as Garden Day in the County.

12.1. Other Business: Storm Water Management Pond – 23 Cedar Street

Councillor Bell raised a safety concern about a partially fenced stormwater management pond on private land at 23 Cedar Street in Paris, which has become more hazardous due to recent rains and nearby road construction disrupting pedestrian routes. Council voted in a recorded vote (7 yes, 4 no) to direct staff to install temporary safety fencing around the pond until construction is complete and slopes are vegetated, with the Solicitor directed to prepare necessary agreements.

12.2. Other Business: Remembrance Day Crosswalk Painting

Councillor Wheat proposed painting a downtown Paris crosswalk in honour of veterans for the month of November. After discussion about timing, cost, and the appropriateness of the design, the motion was withdrawn, with a suggestion to consult with local Legions about a more permanent commemoration for 2022.

13. In Camera Session

Council met in a closed (in camera) session to discuss proposed land disposition, labour relations and employee negotiations, and cost-sharing negotiations. Council convened in camera at 9:10 p.m. and returned to open session at 9:38 p.m.

14. By-laws

Council passed a series of by-laws to implement decisions made during the meeting, including zoning amendments, traffic and parking changes, Community Safety Zones near schools, a mutual release agreement with the City of Hamilton for ambulance services, and a collective agreement with the Power Workers' Union. By-law 98-21 regarding the collective agreement was voted on separately due to Councillor Peirce's declared conflict of interest.

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