THE CORPORATION OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF PORT HOPE

COUNCIL MINUTES

Tuesday, December 05, 2023 at 6:30 P.m. - 7:30 P.m.

Town Hall

Council Chambers, 56 Queen St

Port Hope ON

Present:

• Mayor Olena Hankivsky
• Councillor Les Andrews
• Deputy Mayor Attridge
• Councillor Chris Collins
• Councillor Claire Holloway Wadhwani
• Councillor Vicki Mink
• Councillor Adam Pearson

Staff:

• Candice White, CAO
• David Baxter, Director, Finance
• Jeanette Davidson, Director, Works and Engineering
• Todd Davis, Director, Planning and Development
• Julia Snoek, Director, Parks, Recreation and Culture
• Jason Williams, Director, Protective Services
• Shrishma Davé, Acting Municipal Clerk/ Manager, Legislative Services
• Amanda Millar, Acting Deputy Clerk

Minutes of the Regular Meeting of the Corporation of the Municipality of Port Hope were held at 56 Queen Street, Port Hope, Ontario

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1.

Call to Order

The Council Meeting was called to order at 6:29 p.m.

1.1

Moment of Silent Reflection

1.2

Land Acknowledgement

Mayor Hankivsky acknowledged that the Municipality of Port Hope exists on the lands of the Michi Saagiig Anishnaabeg traditional territory covered by the Williams Treaties. We honour and recognize First Peoples as rights holders and stewards of the lands and waters on which we have the privilege to live, work, and play, including the Ganaraska Forest and River. We pay respect to Elders past, present and emerging.

We commit to actions towards Truth and Reconciliation by recognizing the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, strengthening ties with First Nations, Métis, and Inuit peoples - especially those who make their home in Port Hope, and learning from Indigenous ways of knowing and being. We do so by recognizing the past and working towards a shared future.

1.3

Acknowledgement and Presentations

1.3.1

Mayor's Drawing Contest Winners - "What I Love about Port Hope"

Mayor Hankivsky presented certificates to five young residents as the winners of the Mayor's Drawing Contest in celebration of Local Government Week: Piper Marshall, Tegan Wood, Quinnten MacNeill, Elsa Veen, and Amelia Constantini were acknowledged. Mayor Hankivsky thanked Jennifer Coles' class at North Hope Public School and all who participated in the initiative.

2.

Disclosure of Pecuniary Interest and the Nature Thereof

None declared.

3.

Closed Session

None.

4.

CONSENT AGENDA - Approval of the Minutes of Previous Meetings

• Moved by Councillor Holloway Wadhwani
  Seconded by Councillor Pearson

  That the Council Meeting Minutes of November 21, 2023, the Committee of the Whole Meeting Minutes of November 21, 2023 and the Special Finance Committee Meeting Minutes of November 28 and November 30, 2023 be approved as circulated.

  Carried

4.1

Council Meeting Minutes of November 21, 2023

4.2

Committee of the Whole Meeting Minutes of November 21, 2023

4.3

Special Finance Committee Meeting Minutes of November 28 and November 30, 2023

5.

Business from Previous Minutes and Notification of New Business

None.

6.

Petitions and Delegations

None.

7.

Correspondence

None.

8.

Staff and Committee Reports

8.1

Staff Report FS-25-23 re: 2024 Interim Levy By-law

• Moved by Councillor Andrews
  Seconded by Deputy Mayor Attridge

  That Staff Report FS-25-23 be referred to By-laws.

  Carried

8.2

Staff Report FS-26-23 re: 2024 Borrowing By-law

• Moved by Councillor Pearson
  Seconded by Councillor Mink

  That Staff Report FS-26-23 be referred to By-laws.

  Carried

9.

CONSENT AGENDA - Resolutions

Resolutions 71/2023 and 72/2023 were considered collectively.

9.1

71/2023 

• Moved by Councillor Pearson
  Seconded by Councillor Collins

  WHEREAS Finance Committee at their Special meeting held on November 28, 2023 considered Staff Report FS-23-23 regarding Post Retirement Benefits and Amortization;
  
  NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT in accordance with Ontario's Regulation 284/09, the Staff Report from the Manager, Financial Planning regarding Post Retirement Benefits and Amortization be adopted by Council.

  Carried

9.2

72/2023 

• Moved by Councillor Pearson
  Seconded by Councillor Collins

  WHEREAS correspondence was received from the Heritage Business Improvement Area (HBIA) dated November 27, 2023 advising that at their Annual General meeting of November 20, 2023 the Board had appointed the following members;
  
  AND WHEREAS Section 10 of By-law 05/2021 with regard to the composition of the HBIA states "the Board shall from amongst its Directors, as soon as possible in each year, elect a chairman and vice-chairman and appoint a secretary and treasurer, and such other officers as it may deem necessary to properly conduct the business of the Board during the said year. The Board shall forthwith advise the Municipal Clerk of names of Directors elected and appointed to such positions. The Board shall provide the Municipal Clerk with any changes on the Board as they occur";
  
  NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council appoint Robin Dines and Carolyn Scatterty to the Heritage Business Improvement Area (HBIA) Board of Directors as requested by the HBIA Board of Directors at their November 20, 2023 Annual General meeting;
  
  AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT Council confirm the following members on the Heritage Business Improvement Area (HBIA) Board of Directors:
  
  Max Chipman
  Bob Dodd
  Lou Pamenter
  Dean Howlett
  Teri-Jo Collina
  Robin Dines
  Carolyn Scatterty

  Carried

10.

By-laws

10.1

73/2023 

• Moved by Councillor Collins
  Seconded by Councillor Holloway Wadhwani

  NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT By-law 73/2023 being a By-law to authorize execution of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Ganaraska Region Conservation Authority and the Corporation of the Municipality of Port Hope for Services and Programs pursuant to the Conservation Authority Act, RSO 1990, c.27 and Ontario Regulation 687/21 be read a first and second time.

  Carried

10.2

74/2023 

• Moved by Councillor Pearson
  Seconded by Councillor Holloway Wadhwani

  NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT By-law 74/2023 being a By-law to Prescribe Fees for Services provided by the Municipality of Port Hope and Repeal By-law 80/2022 be read a first and second time.

  Carried

10.3

75/2023 

• Moved by Councillor Andrews
  Seconded by Deputy Mayor Attridge

  NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT By-law 75/2023 being a By-law to provide for an Interim Tax Levy and to provide for the payment of taxes and to provide for penalty and interest on arrears be read a first and second time.

  Carried

10.4

76/2023

Deputy Mayor Attridge assumed the Chair at 6:43 p.m. It was the consensus of Council to hear Item 10.4.1 prior to consideration of Item 10.4.

• Moved by Councillor Holloway Wadhwani
  Seconded by Councillor Pearson

  NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT By-law 76/2023 being a By-law to adopt the 2024 Municipal Budget be read a first and second time.

  See Following Motion
• Amendment:
  Moved by Mayor Hankivsky
  Seconded by Councillor Pearson

  That By-law 76/2023, being a By-law to adopt the 2024 Municipal Budget, be amended to pause hiring of new positions to later in 2024 (specifically no earlier than Q3) and defer the Official Plan until 2025 as the Municipality is not able to proceed until the County Official Plan is completed.

  Carried

  The main motion, as amended, was then carried as follows: 

  
  
• Moved by Councillor Holloway Wadhwani
  Seconded by Councillor Pearson

  That By-law 76/2023, being a By-law to adopt the 2024 Municipal Budget, be amended to pause hiring of new positions to later in 2024 (specifically no earlier than Q3) and defer the Official Plan until 2025 as the Municipality is not able to proceed until the County Official Plan is completed; and

  That By-law 76/2023 being a By-law to adopt the 2024 Municipal Budget, as amended, be read a first and second time.

  Carried

  Mayor Hankivsky resumed the Chair at 7:52 p.m.

  
  

10.4.1

Presentation by D. Baxter, Director, Finance regarding 2024 Municipal Operating and Capital Budget

Director Baxter provided a powerpoint presentation regarding the 2024 Operating and Capital Budget.

A question period and answer period ensued.

• Moved by Councillor Holloway Wadhwani
  Seconded by Councillor Pearson

  That the presentation regarding the 2024 Municipal Operating and Capital Budget be received for information.

  Carried

10.5

77/2023 - 2024 Borrowing By-law

• Moved by Councillor Andrews
  Seconded by Councillor Mink

  NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT By-law 77/2023 being a By-law to authorize borrowing of monies to meet 2024 operational cash requirements be read a first and second time.

  Carried
• Moved by Councillor Mink
  Seconded by Deputy Mayor Attridge

  NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT By-laws 73/2023, 74/2023, 75/2023, 76/2023, and 77/2023 be read a third time, passed and that the said By-laws be signed by the Mayor and Clerk, sealed with the seal of the Corporation, and engrossed in the By-law Book.

  Carried

11.

New and Other Business

None.

12.

County Update

Mayor Hankivsky provided an update with respect to the following items:

• Correspondence received from the Food Bank Board of Directors regarding Food Bank policy changes.
• Northumberland County Council final arrangements of a purchase of a 47 bedroom complex at 310 Division St, Cobourg to address urgent need for housing and shelter services.

13.

Question Period

Council - None.

Media - Joseph Goden, myFM, regarding the Mayor's Update on the move of the Transition House property, and whether the timeline will be impacted by the upcoming winter months.

Public - J. Sculthorpe, 1685 Willow Beach Rd, regarding the cost of the water tanker in the Protective Services 2024 municipal budget, and regarding rural winter service levels.

D. James, 3191 County Rd 10, regarding snow plows that require replacement and timeline of tender, and regarding winter equipment considerations with respect to the road grader, and regarding design considerations for Barrett Street footbridge.

E. White, Mill St South, requested clarification regarding the municipal, education, and county portions of increases to municipal tax bills, and inquired regarding a contingency plan to address economic impacts of local manufacturer layoffs.

14.

Confirmatory By-law

14.1

78/2023 

• Moved by Councillor Andrews
  Seconded by Councillor Collins

  NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT By-law 78/2023 being a By-law to confirm the proceedings of the Council meeting of December 5, 2023 be read a first, second and third time, passed and that the said By-law be signed by the Mayor and Clerk, sealed with the seal of the Corporation, and engrossed in the By-law Book.

  Carried

15.

Adjournment

Council meeting adjourned at 8:18 p.m.