Special Meeting of Council

Minutes

Meeting #:

Date:

Tuesday, January 14, 2025

Time:

4:00 P.m. - 10:00 P.m.

Location:

Tecumseh Town Hall - Council Chambers

917 Lesperance Road

Tecumseh, Ontario N8N 1W9

Present:

• Mayor, Gary McNamara
• Deputy Mayor, Joe Bachetti
• Councillor, James Dorner
• Councillor, Alicia Higgison
• Councillor, Brian Houston
• Councillor, Tania Jobin
• Councillor, Rick Tonial

Also Present:

• Chief Administrative Officer, Margaret Misek-Evans
• Director Legislative Services & Clerk, Robert Auger
• Director Public Works & Engineering Services, Phil Bartnik
• Director Community Safety & Fire Chief, Wade Bondy
• Director People & Culture, Michelle Drouillard
• Director Technology & Client Services, Shaun Fuerth
• Director Community & Recreation Services, Beth Gignac
• Director Development Services, Brian Hillman
• Director Financial Services & Chief Financial Officer, Tom Kitsos
• Deputy Clerk & Manager Legislative Services, Jennifer Alexander
• Manager Customer Service, Amanda Circelli
• Deputy Treasurer & Manager Revenue, Vanessa DaDalt
• Manager Water Services, Brad Dupuis
• Manager Engineering Services, John Henderson
• Manager Planning Services & Local Economic Development, Chad Jeffery
• Manager Public Works & Transportation, Kirby McArdle
• Senior Manager Recreation Services, Brett Palmer
• Manager Facilities & Energy Management, Daniel Wolicki
• Financial Analyst Revenue, Nick Meloche

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A.

Roll Call

B.

Call to Order

The Mayor calls the meeting to order at 4:00 pm.

C.

Land Acknowledgement

We acknowledge that we are on land and surrounded by water, originally inhabited by Indigenous Peoples who have travelled this area since time immemorial. This territory is within the lands honoured by the Wampum Treaties; agreements between the Anishinaabe, Haudenosaunee, Lenni Lenape and allied Nations to peacefully share and care for the resources around the Great Lakes. Specifically, we would like to acknowledge the presence of the Three Fires Confederacy Ojibwe, Odawa, Potawatomi and Huron/Wendat Peoples. We are dedicated to honouring Indigenous history and culture while remaining committed to moving forward respectfully with all First Nations, Inuit and Métis.

D.

Reporting Out of Closed Session

A closed meeting of Council was held at 3:45 pm in accordance with and as permitted with Section 239 (2) (d) of the Municipal Act, 2001, which states that a meeting or part of a meeting may be closed to the public if the subject matter relates to:
b) personnel matters about an identifiable individual, including municipal or local board employees;

(d) labour relations or employee negotiations.

At this meeting, Council received an update and provided direction on various personnel matters. 

• Motion: SCM - 01/25
  Moved By Deputy Mayor Joe Bachetti
  Seconded By Councillor Brian Houston

  That Council directs Policy 12 Provision of Benefits to All Regular, Full Time, Non Union Employees be repealed;

  And that authority be delegated to the Director, People & Culture and Chief Administrative Officer to implement a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) that governs the Terms and Conditions of Employment for the Non-Union group of employees;

  And further that authority be delegated to the Director, People & Culture and Chief Administrative Officer to annually review and, if appropriate or applicable, revise the Non-Union Terms and Conditions of Employment Standard Operating Procedures and if any substantial changes to these terms occur upon such annual review, that Administration prepare and bring a report to the Personnel Committee outlining the amendments.

  Carried

E.

Disclosure of Pecuniary Interest

There is no pecuniary interest declared by a Member of Council.

F.

Communications

1.

Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing dated December 12, 2024

Re: Comments for Proposed amendments to the Municipal Act, 2021 to standardize and strengthen the municipal code of conduct and integrity commissioner framework

Deadline for comments submission is February 10, 2025

• Motion: SCM - 02/25
  Moved By Councillor Brian Houston
  Seconded By Councillor Rick Tonial

  That Communication as listed on the Tuesday, January 14, 2025 Special Council Meeting Agenda, be received.

  Carried

G.

Reports

1.

LCS-2025-02 Board Appointments

• Motion: SCM - 03/25
  Moved By Deputy Mayor Joe Bachetti
  Seconded By Councillor Rick Tonial

  That the application to the Essex Power Board from Tom Burton be accepted and appointed as the Independent Municipal Representative for the term ending December 31, 2028, or until such time new members are appointed.

   

  Carried
• Motion: SCM - 04/25
  Moved By Councillor Brian Houston
  Seconded By Councillor Tania Jobin

  That the application to the Business Improvement Area (BIA) Board of Management from Carlyn Bistany be accepted and appointed as a Director of the BIA Board of Management for the term ending November 14, 2026 or until such time as new members are appointed.

  Carried
• Motion: SCM - 05/25
  Moved By Councillor Alicia Higgison
  Seconded By Councillor James Dorner

  And further that the application from Kristina Fernandez be accepted and appointed to the Tecumseh Accessibility Advisory Committee for the term ending November 14, 2026, or until such time new members are appointed.

  Carried

2.

FS-2025-02 Consideration for Financial Assistance for Local Historical Societies

• Motion: SCM - 06/25
  Moved By Deputy Mayor Joe Bachetti
  Seconded By Councillor Tania Jobin

  That Administration be directed to allocate an additional five thousand dollars to the 2025 Public Relations budget of Council;

  And that such funding allocation be held pending a report be presented at a future Council meeting regarding the negotiated lease agreements with the Towns Historical Societies being the Tecumseh Historical Society and the Sandwich South and Area Historical Society;

  And further that upon receipt and consideration of said report that Council give direction regarding such allocation and the Towns Historical Societies.

  Carried

3.

FS-2025-01 2023 Year-End Budget Variance Amendment

• Motion: SCM - 07/25
  Moved By Councillor Brian Houston
  Seconded By Councillor Rick Tonial

  That Report FS-2025-01 2023 Year-End Budget Variance Amendment Report, dated January 14, 2025, showing a tax-supported surplus of $487,717, an increase of $53,659 as to what was reported in Council Report FS-2024-09, be received;

  And that tax-supported surplus transfers be made as follows:

  1. $415,804 operating fund surplus to Tax Rate Stabilization Reserve to bring this reserve to approximately $3.4M (target reserve balance is 15% of general levy, which is $4.3M); and
  2. $71,913 capital fund surplus be transferred as follows:
     1. $50,000 to Tax Rate Stabilization Reserve to be carried forward to 2024 towards 2023 approved Small Equipment purchases not fulfilled at year-end, and
     2. $21,913 to Infrastructure Reserve.

         

  Carried

H.

Delegations

1.

2023 Audit Findings and Financial Statements 

Re: Cynthia Swift, KPMG Partner, Town Auditor

• Motion: SCM - 08/25
  Moved By Councillor Alicia Higgison
  Seconded By Councillor Rick Tonial

  That the Town of Tecumseh 2023 Audited Financial Statements presented by Cynthis Swift, KPMG Partner, Municipal Auditor, be approved. 

  Carried

2.

2025 Tecumseh Business plan and Budget-Operating Lifecycle and Reserves as submitted to Town Council

Re: Tom Kitsos, Director Financial Services & Chief Financial Officer and Margaret Misek-Evans, Chief Administrative Officer

Link to the 2025 Business Plan and Budget

The CAO provides opening remarks on the 2025 Operating Budget and Business Plan which was tabled at the December 10, 2024 Regular Council meeting for Council's review.  The Director Financial Services & Chief Financial Officer highlights items that have made an impact to the overall budget and municipal levy.  Each Director presented their respective proposed department budgets as appended in the link provided on the agenda and responded to questions from the Members.

a.

Director Financial Services & Chief Financial Officer (Pages 62-74)

b.

Chief Administrative Officer (Pages 75-84)

c.

Director Information Technology & Communication Services (Pages 85-95)

d.

Director Legislative Services & Clerk (Pages 96-104)

e.

Director People & Culture (Pages 105-113)

f.

Director Community Safety & Fire Chief (Pages 114-123)

g.

Scheduled Recess

The Mayor called a recess at 5:48 pm and the meeting resumed at 6:30 pm.

h.

Director Public Works & Engineering Services (Pages 124-149)

i.

Director Community & Recreation Services (Pages 150-170)

j.

Director Development Services (Pages 171-185)

k.

Lifecycle (Pages 186-242)

l.

Reserves (Pages 243-257)

• Motion: SCM - 09/25
  Moved By Deputy Mayor Joe Bachetti
  Seconded By Councillor Rick Tonial

  That the 2025 Budgeted Reconciliation for the Public sector Accounting Board (PSAB) Adjustments as reported in the 2025 Business Plan and Budget, as amended  at the January 14, 2024 Special Council Meeting, be accepted in accordance with the Municipal Act, 2001 Regulation 284/09.

  Carried
• Motion: SCM - 10/25
  Moved By Councillor Brian Houston
  Seconded By Councillor James Dorner

  That Administration be directed to draft a by-law to approve the 2025 Business Plan and Budget as amended at the January 14, 2025 Special Council Meeting, having a municipal levy increase of 4.33% or $1,253,000.00 net of assessment growth, and a consolidated tax increase of 3.70%.

  Carried

I.

By-Laws

1.

By-Law 2025-001 Tender for Electric Busses

Being a by-law to authorize the execution of an Agreement with The Corporation of the Town of Tecumseh and Damera Bus Sales Canada Corp for the purchase for Electric Buses

• Motion: SCM - 11/25
  Moved By Councillor Alicia Higgison
  Seconded By Councillor Rick Tonial

  That By-Law 2025-001 Being a by-law to authorize the execution of an Agreement with The Corporation of the Town of Tecumseh and Damera Bus Sales Canada Corp for the purchase for Electric Buses be given first and second readings.

  Carried
• Motion: SCM - 12/25
  Moved By Councillor Brian Houston
  Seconded By Councillor Tania Jobin

  That By-Law 2025-001 being a by-law to authorize the execution of an Agreement with The Corporation of the Town of Tecumseh and Damera Bus Sales Canada Corp for the purchase for Electric Buses be given third and final readings.

  Carried

J.

Adjournment

• Motion: SCM - 13/25
  Moved By Councillor Rick Tonial
  Seconded By Councillor James Dorner

  ​That there being no further business, the Tuesday, January 14, 2025 Special Council Meeting be adjourned at 7:41 pm.

  Carried