Thread by @LoveWilmot

There's a Budget Ad Hoc Committee meeting to discuss changing a part-time staffing position to full-time at 6:30pm today, followed by a regular council meeting at 7pm. Both will be held virtually, and you can watch them on YouTube, or follow this tweet thread 👇

Here is the agenda for the Budget Ad Hoc Committee meeting.

Here's a land acknowledgement read by Coun Pfenning.

Coun Pfenning has made some changes that address National Indigenous Peoples Day, which was yesterday.

No declarations of pecuniary interest.

Patrick Kelly (Director of Finance) is delivering a report on the expansion of the IT support from a contract position to full time. Stresses the importance of IT during COVID-19.

Mayor Armstrong asks if there are any questions or comments. Coun Pfenning says she supports the proposal because she recognizes it's very much needed right now. Acknowledges that it will be a challenge justifying this to the public during a period of financial uncertainty...

...but she says she thinks it's something we have to do.

Coun Fisher says with COVID happening we need to make sure IT is up to snuff.

The recommendation for this one year contract is carried unanimously.

The meeting is now adjourned (6:41pm). The regular council meeting will begin at 7pm.

You can watch the regular council meeting from 7pm right here

Here we go. Mayor Armstrong asks everyone to take a minute to remember that we are Wilmot Stronger Together.

Coun Hallman with the land acknowledgement.

No additions to the agenda and no declarations of pecuniary interest.

Minutes from the previous council meeting have been accepted.

Andrew Martin (Manager of Planning/EDO) with a report about a zone change application:

Zone Change Application 02-20
Jeffrey Van Gyssel
407 Fairview Street, New Hamburg

No public comments were received.

No questions from council. There is one registered delegation, Jeffrey Van Gyssel. He is addressing council and describing the changes he wants to make to his home. He owns a construction company and wants to make his house more energy efficient for his growing family.

He hopes it will be a good model for other families.

There is a video presentation that illustrates the proposed changes. Mr Van Gyssel is describing the work he'll be doing.

Mr Van Gyssel's goal is to get to Net Zero.

Coun Gordijk has a question about parking changes. Mr Mr Van Gyssel says he will be adding two more spaces.

Coun Pfenning says this is a great project. Hopefully other people can see how it's done and follow suit.

No further questions.

The recommendation to accept the zone change application is carried unanimously.

Next up is the consent agenda. Coun Gordijk with a clarification question for Chief Rod Leeson, which he answers.

Recommendation to accept the report No. FD 2020-02, First Quarter Activity Report is carried.

Moving on to FCM – Municipal Asset Management Program (MAMP). Report from My Kelly.

Question from Coun Pfenning: Asks what is the alternative plan if the Township is not successful with this grant application. Mr Kelly says we will rely on other funding that we already use.

The recommendation is carried.

Next item: Waiving of Penalties - Construction without Permits (March 17 – June 15). Report from Harold O'Krafka (Director of Development Services).

No questions or comments.

The recommendation is passed.

Now we have a report from Jeff Molenhuis (Director of Public Works):

Bridge Street Bridge (34/B-T-9) Municipal Class
Environmental Assessment and Preliminary Design – Award of Contract

Question from Coun Gordijk: Is there a time-frame to use this money, due to COVID-19? Mr Molenhuis says he doesn't anticipate any issues in connecting with stakeholders or the public.

No other comments or questions.

Rec: THAT RFP 2020-18 be awarded to K. Smart Associates Limited for the Municipal Class Environmental Assessment (EA) and preliminary engineering design for Bridge Street Bridge (34/B-T9) as per their proposal submitted on May 26, 2020, in the amount of $46,247.95.

Carried.

Mr Molenhuis has a report on an Award of Contract – Two Single Axle Dump Trucks with Cab, Chassis and Snow Plow attachments.

Coun Hallman asks if the attachments are in addition to existing assets, or replacements. Mr Molenhuis - They are replacements.

Rec: THAT RFP 2020-05 be awarded to Altruck International Truck Centres to supply and deliver two (2) Single Axle Dump Trucks with Cab, Chassis and Snow Plow Attachments as per their proposal dated June 3, 2020, in the amount of $523,834.00 plus HST.

Carried.

Sandy Jackson (Director of Facilities & Recreation Services) is giving a report about the Procurement of Phase B Pool Tile Grout Project. The contractors are ready to start tomorrow if council approves this tonight.

Notes that the pool can currently only reopen at 25% capacity.

Coun Hallman: Asks about handrails for the pool that residents have requested. Ms Jackson says she'll look into the request.

Coun Hallman says she's received emails of community support for the work happening at the pool.

Coun Gerber: Says it makes sense to do this work now. Asks for a public update on the reopening the splash pad. Ms Jackson says that the Township has just issued a news release. There will be reduced hours. She thanks the aquatic staff. Describes the changes to rules etc.

The changes will allow for disinfecting the area between groups. The splash pad will reopen this Friday.

In response to Coun Pfenning's question, Ms Jackson says the goal is to not have to close the pool in September, as had been originally planned.

Ms Jackson responds to a question from Coun Fisher about the RFPs that had been received for this work.

Recommendation to extend the work contract with PPL Aquatic is carried.

Ms Jackson with a report about the Permanent Dog Park Location. Discusses the public survey that covered features and location. Says there were some issues with the pilot project location in Scott Park, and notes that other sites were considered.

The recommendation is to use William Scott Park as the location for the permanent dog park, and this has been endorsed by the GRCA. Additional parking space will be part of the plan.

Coun Pfenning thanks Ms Jackson and Dawn Mittelholtz (Director of Clerk's Services) for preparing the report, and thanks the public for its feedback.

Coun Hallman also offers her thanks. Says she is glad that the park will remain in a walk-able space.

Coun Fisher says he had a lot of comments about not having the park at Schmidt Woods.

Coun Gordijk says thanks staff for their hard work. Notes there were about 500 responses. Asks if there is the possibility of a second dog park, perhaps in St Agatha.

Ms Jackson says that staff responded to the 2019 survey that requested a central location, but this is open to future discussion.

Recommendation to keep Scott Park as the location for the dog park is carried.

There is now a recommendation to support ink-stainedwretches.org. In short:

BE IT RESOLVED that Township of Wilmot Council recognizes that a healthy, professional news media is essential to the proper functioning of democracy in the township.

Coun Pfenning says she'd like to hear from this group about what the Township can do to support community journalism. Ms Mittelholz says she can connect the group with council.

Recommendation is carried.

Coun Pfenning has a Notice of Motion, with a preamble. Because it is Pride Month, she puts forward a motion to fly the Pride flag at all Township facilities during June each year.

Coun Pfenning with an announcement. She addresses the Mayor's comments about Black Lives Matter over the weekend. Says she cannot be silent on this. "We must be responsible for our words and actions." Asks the mayor to acknowledge the hurt that has been caused and remove the post

Coun Hallman has requests that the Township pauses funding for additional prime minister statues on the path until we have consulted with Indigenous representatives.

Coun Gerber suggests releasing the CAOs anti-racism statement to the public. Says he was reflecting on this during the moment silence this evening.

Coun Fisher has a statement that he will be donating to Black Lives Matter. Acknowledges he has a lot to learn and makes observations about racism in our community.

Coun Gordijk also has a statement about Black Lives Matter and incidents of racism within Wilmot. Coun Pfenning is very emotional right now.

Coun Hallman says she will stand alongside people of colour who are fighting for equality.

Coun Pfenning with an emotional statement about systemic racism and the loss of a a migrant worker in Ontario.

Mayor Armstrong says the reason he shared the video in question is because he believes that there needs to be more discussion. Doesn't know if the video's content was accurate or not.

The mayor says he's expressed in news conferences today that the role of the prime ministers path is misunderstood. Says getting rid of the statues will not erase history. Says there's an educational website people can go to.

Mayor Armstrong says he didn't do anything to hurt anyone.

Coun Pfenning - Asks again if Mayor Armstrong will take down the offending post. He says he will, but Facebook should be asked to take it down, too. Coun Pfenning says we are responsible for our own actions.

We adjourned at 8:13pm.