COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES

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Council Chambers
PRESENT:
  • Mayor Terry Ugulini,
  • Councillor Dekker,
  • Councillor DeRose,
  • Councillor Kenny,
  • Councillor Longo,
  • Councillor Neale,
  • Councillor Sentance,
  • and Councillor Wilson
ABSENT:
  • Councillor Handley
STAFF:
  • M. Dilwaria,
  • Terry Dixon,
  • C. Dray,
  • S. Dunsmore,
  • G. Holman,
  • M. Mauro,
  • J. Simpson,
  • M. Watson,
  • J. Goulet,
  • Paul Moore,
  • Joanne Hyde,
  • Marco Marino,
  • and Denise Landry
OTHERS:
  • Paul Klassen


The meeting was called to order at 6:30 p.m.

Mayor Ugulini declared a conflict of interest with respect to the Public Meeting, Proposed Draft Zoning By-Law Amendment Application for 1970 Decew Road (D14-10-2021) as he resides in the vicinity of the proposed application.  Mayor Ugulini refrained from discussing and voting on this matter.

  • MOVED BY:Councillor Longo
    SECONDED BY:Councillor Wilson

    THAT Council approve the agenda, as presented. 



    CARRIED
  • MOVED BY:Councillor Kenny
    SECONDED BY:Councillor DeRose

    THAT Council approve the minutes, as presented. 



    CARRIED

Mayor Ugulini relinquished the Chair to Councillor Sentance, Deputy Mayor for December 2021.

Councillor Sentance opened the Public Meeting at 6:40 p.m.

This Public Meeting is being help pursuant to the provisions of Section 34 of the Planning Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. P. 13, as amended.

The application has submitted a Zoning By-Law Amendment application to rezone the subject property to facilitate the development of the lands for an apartment building.

Council will receive and consider all comments received at the public meeting; no decision on the application is being made this evening.

If Council passes a By-Law under Section 34 of the Planning Act, any of the following, no later than 20 days after the City gives notice, may appeal the decision by filing with the City the notice of appeal that must set out the reasons for the appeal accompanied by the Tribunals fee:

The applicant;

A person or public body who, before the by-law was passed, made oral submissions at the public meeting or written submissions to Council; and

The Minister.

Applicant's Agent

Daniel Romanko, Better Neighbourhoods Inc was in attendance to provide a brief presentation and answer questions of Mayor and Council.

City Staff

Paul Klassen, Senior Planner was in attendance to provide a presentation and answer questions of Mayor and Council.

Now at this time, is there anyone online who wishes to speak on the application received, please indicate to the Clerk your desire to speak.

Please provide your name and address for the public record.

Public Participation

Nicholas and Anne Pizzacalla, Resident, 19 Delaware Avenue, Thorold, spoke in opposition of the amendment.

Jamie Pearson, Resident, 1956 Decew Road, Thorold, spoke in opposition of the amendment.

Nick Bozza, Resident, 4 Coleman Court, Thorold, spoke in opposition of the amendment.

Michael Barton, MB1 Development Consulting Inc, spoke in opposition of the amendment.

Tony Bozza, Resident, 37 Decew Woods Court, spoke in opposition of the amendment.

Daniel Plumb, Resident, 26 Coleman Court, spoke in opposition of the amendment.

This fulfils the requirements of the Planning Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. P. 13, pursuant to Section 34.  Council will consider staff's recommendation report at a future meeting date.

Please provide your contact information and indicate to the Clerk at clerk@thorold.ca if you wish to receive notice of Council's decision.

Alternatively, a letter requesting to receive notice of Council's decision may be sent to the Clerk.

As such, the public meeting portion of this application is now closed.

Councillor Sentance closed the Public Meeting at 7:47 p.m.

Mayor Ugulini resumed as Chair.

  • MOVED BY:Councillor Longo
    SECONDED BY:Councillor Neale

    THAT Council defer the recommendations from the Integrity Commissioner until such time as Councillor Handley can be present at the meeting.



    LOST (3 to 4)
  • MOVED BY:Councillor Kenny
    SECONDED BY:Councillor Neale

    THAT Council receive the presentation from Integrity Commissioners John Mascarin and Dasha Peregoudova, Aird and Berlis LLP, for information; and

    THAT Council, once again, reprimand the Councillor and denounce his actions;  and

    THAT Council, in particular, reprimand and take note of the contravention by the Councillor related to receiving a gift or benefit from Rebel News (Allegation #6); and

    THAT Councillor Handley's remuneration be suspended, as follows: 
         (i) ninety (90) days for contraventions related to the Misuse of Social Media, broken down as follows: 
              - ten (10) days for Comments regarding communism and conspiracy theories, resulting in complaints by residents           (Allegation #2 and #13); and 
              - eighty (80) days for criticism and eroding of trust in staff and City as a whole (Allegations # 1, #5 and #12). 
         (ii) twenty (20) days for contraventions related to comments regarding property standards on Anne Street (Allegation         #7); 
         (iii) sixty (60) days for contraventions related to Anti-Lockdown and COVID-19 Related Issues and Behaviours (Allegation #9); and 
         (iv) sixty (60) days for contraventions related to the Canada Summer Games Matter and Comments (Allegation #10); and

    THAT Councillor Handley be directed to review all meeting minutes of Council meetings from May 2019 to the present, and advise the Integrity Commissioner when he has done so;  and

    THAT Councillor Handley be directed to remove the November 4, 2020 Facebook Post, the May Facebook Posts and the “poisoned shots” post from his Facebook account (whether current or former); and

    THAT Councillor Handley not be appointed as chair of any committee of Council (or be removed from any current 
    post) for the remainder of his current term on Council; and 

    THAT Councillor Handley be precluded from having any direct contact with City staff and, should any communication 
    be absolutely necessary for the Councillor to fulfill his obligations as a member of Council, that he submit any requests for information or advice only to the Mayor who will communicate with staff on behalf of the Councillor.

     



    CARRIED
  • MOVED BY:Councillor Dekker
    SECONDED BY:Councillor Sentance

    THAT Council receive the presentation from CIMA regarding the Municipal Operations Centre, for information. 



    CARRIED
  • MOVED BY:Councillor Sentance
    SECONDED BY:Councillor Neale

    THAT Council receive and file the minutes of the Committees of Council/Local Boards, as presented.



    CARRIED
  • MOVED BY:Councillor DeRose
    SECONDED BY:Councillor Kenny

    THAT the Age Friendly Committee order 5,000 rack cards from Print Three in Thorold in the amount of $241.00; and

    THAT the funds be transferred from the bocce event to the rack cards promotion.



    CARRIED
  • MOVED BY:Councillor Neale
    SECONDED BY:Councillor Sentance

    THAT Council request the Director of Planning and Development Services to move up the priority for the mapping of the Lake Gibson Corridor to facilitate planning of the area by provision of boundary definition. 



    CARRIED
  • MOVED BY:Councillor Neale
    SECONDED BY:Councillor Kenny

    THAT Council request that staff erect or have erected a pole and platform to accommodate a nest for ospreys, in location and as per M. DiFruscia



    CARRIED
  • MOVED BY:Councillor DeRose
    SECONDED BY:Councillor Neale

    THAT Council request the Director of Planning of Development Services to waive any parking meter fees for parking downtown Thorold from December 8, 2021 to December 31, 2021; and

    THAT signs be posted in the Downtown area advising of the free parking.



    CARRIED
  • MOVED BY:Councillor DeRose
    SECONDED BY:Councillor Neale

    THAT Council requests Niagara Region Police Services to provide information on the number of NRPS officers assigned to the City of Thorold; and 

    THAT Council requests the Niagara Region Police Services to provide a Comparison with other Niagara municipalities on population increase and officer assignments since 2000; and

    THAT in accordance with section 11(1) of the Comprehensive Police Services Act, Council request Niagara Region Police Service to consider the allocation of additional officers to the City of Thorold that appropriately reflects residential growth; and 

    THAT in accordance with Section 41(4) of the Act, Council request the tax accounts for the NRPS for the period beginning 2000 and ending 2021; and

    THAT a copy of this resolution be provided to the Police Services Board for consideration and recommendation of additional policing measures for the City of Thorold; and

    THAT Council request a delegation by the NRPS at the next available council meeting. 



    CARRIED
  • MOVED BY:Councillor Wilson
    SECONDED BY:Councillor Sentance

    THAT Council request that the Mayor's Office prepare a letter of opposition to the opening of Coconut Cannabis at 50 Front Street North, Thorold to the AGCO; and

    THAT the letter be submitted to the AGCO prior to the December 13, 2021 deadline.



    CARRIED
  • THAT Council proceed past 10:00 p.m.



    CARRIED

John Vallee and Michael Thier, G. Douglas Vallee Limited were in attendance to provide a brief PowerPoint presentation regarding the proposed Fire Station Design.

Ryan Weicker, President, IAFF Local 1182 was in attendance to provide a brief PowerPoint presentation and to speak in favor of Report No. FES2021-07.

Danielle Ervin, Thorold Station No. 1 Volunteer Fire Fighters was in attendance to speak in favor of Report No. FES2021-07.

  • MOVED BY:Councillor Wilson
    SECONDED BY:Councillor Kenny

    THAT Council consider the referral of the Fire Station Headquarters and Emergency Operations Center in the 2022 Capital Budget deliberations.



    CARRIED
  • MOVED BY:Councillor Dekker
    SECONDED BY:Councillor Longo

    THAT Council approve items 15a to 15e, as presented.



    CARRIED
  • MOVED BY:Councillor Longo
    SECONDED BY:Councillor Kenny

    That Council refer the “Community Relations Specialist” position to the 2022 Budget Deliberations.



    CARRIED
  • MOVED BY:Councillor Dekker
    SECONDED BY:Councillor Longo

    THAT the proposal from CHAR Technologies Ltd., respecting their Thorold Biomass Pyrolysis Project – Biomass to Renewable Natural Gas and Biocarbon, be supported, in principle; and

    THAT the City of Thorold has no obligation for funding relating to this project.



    CARRIED
  • MOVED BY:Councillor Dekker
    SECONDED BY:Councillor Longo

    THAT Council receive and file the items listed in City Clerk’s Report CC2021-75.



    CARRIED
  • MOVED BY:Councillor Dekker
    SECONDED BY:Councillor Longo

    THAT Council approve the stop up and closure of PIN 64055-0524R, a road allowance that is under water and forms part of the OPG’s reservoir and forms a part of road allowance between Township Lots 74 and 97 and Part of the road allowance between Township Lots 75 and 98, Designated as Part 20, Plan 30R-12010; and

    THAT all costs associated with the closing and conveyance of the subject portion of the original road allowance be the responsibility of the OPG.



    CARRIED
  • MOVED BY:Councillor Dekker
    SECONDED BY:Councillor Longo

    That Council approve the amended Terms of References for the following Board of Managements:

    • Darlene Ryan Port Robinson Community Centre
    • Allanburg Community Centre


    CARRIED
  • MOVED BY:Councillor Neale
    SECONDED BY:Councillor Sentance
    1. THAT Council receive for information purposes Report DF2021-46 encompassing the requirement to designate the non-leased public portions of the Canada Games Park Facility as a Municipal Capital Facility in accordance with the agreed-upon terms of the Consortium and Co-Tenancy Agreement; and

       

    2. THAT the resolution contained herein be endorsed; and

       

    3. THAT Council consider the by-law required, for approval.

       



    CARRIED
  • MOVED BY:Councillor Kenny
    SECONDED BY:Councillor DeRose
    1. THAT a budget adjustment in the amount of $58,000 (HST excluded) for the revisions to the scope of the Bolton Avenue/Crompton Blvd. project be approved and funded from the Transportation Asset Replacement Reserve, and,
    2. THAT the Bolton Avenue and Crompton Boulevard Reconstruction project be deferred to 2025 in the Capital Budget Forecast.


    CARRIED
  • MOVED BY:Councillor Longo
    SECONDED BY:Councillor Wilson
    1. THAT a budget adjustment in the amount of $30,000 (HST excluded) for the revisions to the scope of the Cunningham St. Infrastructure Improvement project be approved and funded from the Sanitary Sewer Replacement Reserve, and,
    2. THAT the Cunningham St. Infrastructure Improvement project be deferred to 2025 in the Capital Budget Forecast.


    CARRIED
  • MOVED BY:Councillor Sentance
    SECONDED BY:Councillor Dekker


    1.    THAT a budget adjustment in the amount of $15,000 (HST excluded) for revisions to
            the scope of the McCormack Drive Road Reconstruction project be approved and
            funded by the Transportation Asset Replacement Reserve; and

    2.    THAT the McCormack Drive Road Reconstruction Project be deferred to 2025 in the
           Capital Budget Forecast. 



    CARRIED
  • MOVED BY:Councillor Kenny
    SECONDED BY:Councillor Neale
    1. That Council approve the Community Outdoor Rink Pilot Program as outlined in this report.
    2. That Council approve $5000 from the Municipal land & Building Reserve Fund for supplies and utility expenses to outfit the Community Outdoor Ice Rink


    CARRIED
  • MOVED BY:Councillor Longo
    SECONDED BY:Councillor DeRose

    THAT leave be given to introduce the following By-Law and that the same now be read a first time:



    CARRIED
  • MOVED BY:Councillor Longo
    SECONDED BY:Councillor DeRose

    THAT the By-Law just read a first time be read a second and third time, and do pass, and that the Mayor and Clerk do sign and seal the same, any rule of this Council to the contrary notwithstanding.



    CARRIED
  • MOVED BY:Councillor Sentance
    SECONDED BY:Councillor Neale

    THAT Council adjourn the meeting at 11:05 p.m.



    CARRIED
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