Thread by @LoveWilmot

Here's the agenda for the December 9 @WilmotTownship council meeting, which starts at 7pm. The full agenda package is here: …ttownship.icreate6.esolutionsgroup.ca/budget/Detail/….

Follow the meeting in this thread 👇

Mayor Armstrong reconvenes in open session following the earlier closed meeting. The Mayor thanks council colleagues and all staff for the past year of dedication.

Land acknowledgment read by Cllr Gerber.

Minutes from previous council meeting have been adopted without any amendments.

Harold O'Krafka (Director of Development Services) with a report about the proposed 2020 Building Permit Fee increases.

Mr O'Krafka is also describing proposed amendments to the Building Bylaw.

Question from Cllr Fisher to Mr O'Krafka, asking for clarification about the the fee structure, and also asks how Wilmot compares to other townships.

Cllr Hallman: Asks if two days' notice for building inspections is typical. Mr O'Krafka: Generally speaking, yes.

Mayor Armstrong asks if anyone (the public) wishes to address council on this matter; no one responds.

Recommendation to accept these changes is carried.

Now on to a delegation from @GRT_ROW with an update and proposed changes to bus route #77.

This is the route that the bus covers.

These are the most requested changes to the service from the public.

A second vehicle is being added to the route next year.

@GRT_ROW is asking for council's support for the changes and the additional cost.

Cllr Gordijk asks if it would be possible to add a flex stop at the Sikh temple. Ms Thompson says that the tight time schedule wouldn't allow for that.

Cllr Gordijk mentions there is a three hour gap in the middle of the day that means passengers have a long wait for the bus.

Cllr Gordijk suggests that narrowing the gap might improve ridership. Ms Thompson agrees it is inconvenient, but it isn't possible to improve that right now.

Cllr Gordijk mentions that there are areas of the township that aren't receiving service yet.

Cllr Hallman asks about adding weekend service.

Cllr Pfenning enquires about the timeline for consultation.

Cllr Fisher asks about the Woolwich bus service, which started before Wilmot, referencing its frequency. Ms Thompson says that their ridership is improving.

Woolwich uses a full sized bus, not the smaller model that Wilmot has.

Mayor Armstrong agrees with some of the public concerns that councillors have raised. Would also like to see later service and at weekends.

Recommendation to support the GRT's route #77 changes and the estimated annual levy of $177,000 to cover costs: carried.

On to the consent agenda.

Cllr Hallman thanks the public for its support of the Community Safety and Crime Prevention Engagement Committee.

Consent agenda is approved.

Dawn Mittelholtz (Director of Clerk's Services) with a report n the Mannheim digital community sign.

Cllr Hallman says she's heard from the public that they are *not* in favour of the sign and agrees with deferring the decision.

Cllr Gordijk says she heard similar feedback in Petersburg. The Optimists there are happy to maintain their manually updated sign.

Cllr Gerber notes that digital signs would be in addition to the existing community signs.

Recommendation to defer a decision on the Mannheim digital sign is carried.

Ms Mittelholtz with a report about Council Conference and Training Expenditure Allowance.

Cllr Pfenning: Suggests $500 might not be sufficient for new councillors' training. Should be reviewed before the next election. Mayor Armstrong agrees it should be reviewed.

Cllr Gordijk suggests that the policy should include a section on cost of living expenses increases. Says she's proud that Cllrs Hallman, Pfenning and herself kept their costs down by traveling by train and staying in an Airbnb.

In response to Cllr Hallman and Mayor Armstrong, Patrick Kelly (Director of Finance) comments that staff can return to preparing quarterly reports on council members' expenses, as was done in the past.

Recommendation to endorse the policy: carried.

Report by Mr Kelly on awarding a contract for Building Condition Assessments, following an RFP.

No comments or questions.

Recommendation to award the contract as recommended: carried.

Notice of motion from Cllr Fisher.

Mr Kelly: KWCF haven't confirmed yet whether the Discover Your Wilmot allocation will continue.

Cllr Gordijk asks Mr Kelly about how the application process would be conducted. Mr Kelly says that may become clearer during the budget discussion process.

Motion is carried.

Notice of motion from Cllr Hallman, asking that staff prepare a report about live streaming council meetings.

Also has a motion to recognize good neighbours in Wilmot.

Announcements:

Cllr Hallman mentions last Saturday's the Mannheim Optimists Breakfast With Santa, which she attended with Cllr Gordijk.

Mentions the New Dundee Santa event coming this Sunday.

Cllr Gordijk reminds people about the St Agatha Santa Parade this Saturday.

Cllr Pfenning: Trinity Church is the venue for breakfast this Saturday. Santa will be there!

Thanks organizers for the New Hamburg parade which, unfortunately, was cancelled.

Cllr Fisher: Thanks everyone for the Baden parade, which had a great turnout.

Cllr Hallman thanks staff and council colleagues for their work in her first year as a councillor.

And we're adjourned at 8:20pm.