THE CORPORATION OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF PORT HOPE

SPECIAL COUNCIL MINUTES

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Town Hall
Council Chambers, 56 Queen St
Port Hope ON
Present:
  • Mayor Olena Hankivsky
  • Councillor Les Andrews
  • Councillor Todd Attridge
  • Councillor Claire Holloway Wadhwani
  • Councillor Vicki Mink
  • Deputy Mayor and Chair Adam Pearson
  • Councillor Darrell Toms
Staff:
  • Mike Melinyshyn, Chief Administrative Officer
  • David Baxter, Director, Finance
  • Jeanette Davidson, Director, Works and Engineering
  • Desta McAdam, Director, Development Services
  • Lee Parkin, Director, Legal/Legislative Services
  • Julia Snoek, Director, Parks, Recreation and Culture
  • Adam Taggart, Director, Environmental Services
  • Jason Williams, Director, Protective Services
  • Shrishma Davé, Manager, Legislative Services / Clerk
  • Devanne Kripp, Deputy Clerk
Others:
  • Sruthi Lee, Manager, Financial Planning

    Catherine Nguyen, Financial Analyst

    Connor Holmes, Financial Analyst

    Jeremy Deitch, Manager, Municipal Assets and GIS

    Kate Ingram, Manager, Communications

    Leah Ferguson, Youth Councillor

Minutes of the Special Council Meeting of the Corporation of the Municipality of Port Hope held at 56 Queen Street, Port Hope, Ontario


The Special Council meeting was called to order at 9:30 a.m.

Council and Staff took a moment to pause in silent reflection, as they honored the memory of former Councillor and Deputy Mayor, Jeff Lees.

Deputy Mayor Pearson read the Land Acknowledgement.

The CAO delivered opening remarks for the budget process, followed by an in-depth presentation from the Director of Finance, the Manager of Finance, and the Manager of Municipal Assets and GIS, on the staff proposed budget. 

At this point in the meeting, Council recessed at 10:25 a.m. and reconvened at 10:38 a.m.

Staff continued with the presentation of the staff proposed budget. 

Upon completion of the presentation, discussion ensued on the following:

  • Water and Wastewater Study 
  • Comparators and Key Performance Indicators
  • Organizational Chart of the Municipality  
  • Canton Hub Audio-Visual (AV) Technology
  • Walton Street Bridge and Watermain 
  • Garden Hill Dam (GRCA)
  • Town Hall Remediation 
  • Barrett Street Foot Bridge
  • East Townline Culvert Replacement
  • The potential to have Community Care as a special service
  • Fire Station 2 Replacement
  • Heat Pump and Furnace Replacements
  • Snowplow Cameras
  • LLRW Interest Allocation
  • The County's potential tax levy increase
  • Council Remuneration

At this point of the meeting, Council recessed at 11:49 a.m. and reconvened at 1:00 p.m. 

Discussions continued on the following:

  • Barret Street Foot Bridge 
  • Transportation Master Plan
  • Parks Playground Master Plan and Leisure Services Master Plan
  • Rapley Park and clarification on of the trail
  • Carry Forward Projects
  • Community Grant Process and Funding
  • Lawn Mower and trade in values of current equipment
  • The potential to have Urban to Rural Transit program
  • The potential to have Community Care as a special service
  • One-Time items included in the staff proposed budget
  • Communication plan for approved budget 
  • Potential support for the Food Bank

At this point of the meeting, Council recessed at 2:14 p.m. and reconvened at 2:27 p.m.

It was the consensus of Council to proceed with recommendations at this time, which were as follows: 

  • Resolution:01-2026
    Moved byCouncillor Attridge
    Seconded byCouncillor Holloway Wadhwani

    That Council endorse the Mayor’s intention to direct staff to update the project description sheet for Project 3115 Barrett Street Footbridge Removal to reallocate funding for any necessary studies associated with removal and/or replacement of the infrastructure. 

    Carried
  • Resolution:02-2026
    Moved byMayor Hankivsky
    Seconded byCouncillor Mink

    That Council endorse the Mayor's intention to include $9,500 in the operating budget related to support for Community Care Northumberland. 

    Carried
  • Resolution:03-2026
    Moved byCouncillor Mink
    Seconded byCouncillor Attridge

    That Council direct staff to work towards the timeline and funding for the Garden Hill Dam application process through the GRCA; and

    That staff be directed to bring back information on options regarding potential next steps. 

    Carried
  • Resolution:04-2026
    Moved byMayor Hankivsky
    Seconded byCouncillor Toms

    That Council endorse the Mayor’s intention to bring forward a proposed 2.7% increase for the 2026 Strong Mayor's Budget; and

    That Council further endorse the Mayor's intention to use any available Community Benefit Reserve Funds to offset costs associated with the remaining approved capital and operating projects, as identified through the 2026 budget process and subject to staff's review.

    Mayor Hankivsky requested a recorded vote, which was taken as follows:

    For (7)Councillor Andrews, Councillor Mink, Councillor Attridge, Mayor Hankivsky, Councillor Holloway Wadhwani, Deputy Mayor Pearson, and Councillor Toms
    Carried (7 to 0)
  • Resolution:05-2026
    Moved byMayor Hankivsky
    Seconded byCouncillor Holloway Wadhwani

    That leave be granted to introduce a by-law and to dispense with the reading of the by-law by the Clerk to confirm the proceedings of the Special Council of the Municipality of Port Hope at its Special Council meeting held on January 13, 2026 and the same be considered read and passed and that the Deputy Mayor and Clerk sign the same and the Seal of the Corporation be thereto affixed.   

    Carried

Special Council meeting adjourned at 2:59 p.m.