Below is a summary of key items discussed at the Municipality of Port Hope Council and Committee of the Whole Meetings held on Tuesday, April 19, 2022. The agendas and staff reports are available on the Agendas and Minutes page of our website. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this meeting was held electronically via video conference.
Council Meeting:
The following are highlights from the Council Meeting.
Walton Street Reconstruction – Phase 1
Council awarded by By-law Contract No. 25T-ENG-2022 for the phase 1 of the Walton Street Reconstruction project (Church Street to Pine Street) to Dekeyser Excavating Ltd. in the amount of $1,883,928.64, with the project funds to be drawn from the approved 2022 Capital budget.
Staff will provide an update on phase 2 of this project (Pine Street to Mill Street) at an upcoming meeting that will include finalized design options to be considered.
Hamilton Road upgrades
Council approved the reallocation of $26,291.23 from the Ontario Community Infrastructure Fund (OCIF) to cover the Municipality’s portion of the Hamilton Road upgrade project. As a result of supply chain challenges, rising fuel costs, and inflation, additional funds were required to cover the total cost of the project.
Renaming of Fire and Emergency Services department to Protective Services department
Council supported the recommendation to rename the ‘Fire and Emergency Services’ department to the 'Protective Services’ department. This department currently represents Fire Services, Emergency Management, Building Services, and By-law/Parking Enforcement. This name change better represents all services within the department and reflects a modern naming convention.
2022 Municipal Election – Restricted Acts
Council supported a new By-law delegating limited authority to the CAO for certain matters during the Municipal Election period. This legislative restriction in the Municipal Act is referred to as ‘Restricted Acts’ or more commonly known as ‘Lame Duck’ provision.
This is a standard practice that most municipalities undertake to safeguard against potential gaps in authority and is supported by the Municipal Act. In 2018, Council provided similar temporary delegation.
Property Tax By-law
Council approved the Property Tax By-law. This By-law is passed annually to establish the property tax levy rates once the Municipal Budget is approved, and the Education and County tax rates are received. Approval of the annual levy rate By-law is required to raise the funds required from tax levy as part of the 2022 Municipal Budget.
Committee of the Whole:
The following are highlights from the Committee of the Whole Meeting.
Delegation – Lion’s Centre Park
Robert Fishlock provided a delegation regarding the Lion’s Centre Park environmental remediation plan.
Election Compliance Audit Committee
Staff provided a report recommending the establishment of a Joint Municipal Election Compliance Audit Committee. Staff have spearheaded the effort to bring the seven local municipalities together to establish this Committee and will be leading the recruitment process. By working together, the seven local municipalities will streamline the administrative processes involved with the recruitment and training of members.
A By-law will be presented to Council for their consideration on May 3, 2022.
Council Compensation Review
Finance Committee considered the Council Compensation report. The remuneration review was originally completed and presented by ML Consulting in January 2022. Additional information was requested from Council and was included in this Report.
Committee supported the recommendation to revise the Compensation Administration Policy to include the same compensation administration for both Council and Non-union employees, as follows: a market compensation review to be conducted every four (4) years; the use of the same municipal comparators for Council and Non-union employee’s compensation reviews, with the municipal comparator group being updated as required; the use of a 60th percentile target for market compensation comparisons. This change will serve to meet the strategic plan objective to attract and retain quality staff and Council members.
A resolution will be presented to Council for their consideration on May 3, 2022.
Heritage Designations
Staff provided a report recommending the heritage designation for three properties located in Port Hope: 10 Armour Street, 18 Princess Street, and 46 Dorset Street. Heritage Port Hope Advisory Committee reviewed three designation reports at their February 2022 meeting and recommended all three for designation.
Zoning By-law Review update
Staff provided an update, for information, regarding the status of the Zoning By-law Review project. Staff and Meridian Consulting have decided to separate the project into two streams: additional residential units (ARUs) and the balance of the proposed changes. The draft By-law changes for the ARUs are prepared and ready for final public consultation and can be brought back for consideration in late spring. A virtual Public Meeting on these proposed changes is being held on May 10, 2022, at 6:30 p.m.
The balance of the proposed zoning By-law changes will return to Council in early summer for consideration and public consultation.
Choate Street extension cancellation
Staff provided a report regarding the progress of the Choate Street extension cancellation negotiations. This topic was brought to Committee of the Whole in March 2022 and referred back to staff for further discussion with Cameco Corporation and Cameco Property Holdings Inc.
Staff and Cameco have reached a revised agreement to remove the reference to “seating for a maximum of 30 people.” Municipal staff have negotiated three agreements with Cameco Corporation and Cameco Property Holdings Inc. that will conclude the cancellation of the Choate Street extension and transfer approximately 1-acre of waterfront land to the Municipality.
Three By-laws will be presented to Council for their consideration on May 3, 2022.
Minutes and video recordings
Meeting minutes will be available pending approval at the next Council meeting on Tuesday, May 3, 2022, at which point they will become the official record of the meeting.
Recordings of the April 19, 2021, Council and Committee of the Whole meetings will be available at porthope.ca/council.
2022-04-22
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