Thread by @LoveWilmot

Here's the agenda package for this evening's Township of Wilmot council meeting (all 1,214 pages of it): calendar.wilmot.ca//townshipcalen…. The action starts at 7pm. Grab a comfy chair and watch online - youtube.com/channel/UCcA8f… - or follow my tweets here 👇

We're off. Mayor Armstrong asks for self-reflection ahead of today's meeting.

Coun Fisher reads the land acknowledgement.

No additions to the agenda, nor declarations of pecuniary interest. No comments or corrections to the previous meeting's minutes.

Coun Hallman asks that the minutes be updated to more accurately reflect the reading of her motion last time.

Minutes are carried.

We begin with a public meeting about Zone Change Application 06/20; Deonisie Ardelean and Priszcilla Ardelean, 2232 Nafziger Road, Phillipsburg. Andrew Martin (Manager of Planning/EDO) presents his report.

Deonisie Ardelean is appearing as a delegation to present his proposal. Details are in the meeting agenda package: calendar.wilmot.ca//townshipcalen….

No questions from council. Seems to be some technical difficulties connecting with the next delegation.

Coun Fisher asks for details of a hydrogeological study, which Mr Martin says will be discussed in a subsequent report.

Next: Tova Davidson, Executive Director of Sustainable Waterloo Region is giving a presentation about the Sustainability Working Group Annual Report.

As she finishes her presentation, Ms Davidson praises senior staff and council for their role in pushing forward the sustainability agenda within the region.

Ashton Romany (Manager of Finance/Deputy Treasurer) is giving a report from the township's side.

Patrick Kelly (Director of Finance) thanks Mr Romany for his commitment, as he's calling in for this meeting from a boat while he's on vacation!

Mayor Armstrong is changing the agenda order due to the high number of delegations who have registered to speak today.

Next up is the Township Zoning By-law Update; Mr Martin is giving his report. He says that some items have been modified.

Citizens For Safe Ground Water's Rory Farnan is appearing as a delegation to discuss aspects of the by-law. He's speaking about aggregate operations in the township, and references issues that are affecting neighbouring municipalities.

He asks for a Made In Wilmot plan that protects established communities when it comes to aggregate extraction.

Next presenter is Samantha Learnout, and she begins by talking about groundwater in the township, which is the home of the Waterloo Moraine.

Ms Learnout is also from Citizens For Safe Ground Water. She has a number of recommendations for the by-law amendments, specifically section 20.

Pat Chevalier is the next delegation. She's speaking about the health and safety aspects of aggregate extraction, such as air and noise pollution.

Coun Gerber thanks the three delegates for speaking. Coun Pfenning echoes that, as well as Coun Gerber saying he would like to see a direction to staff that they pursue the recommendations. The other three councillors also concur.

RECOMMENDATION: THAT Council approve amendments to By-law 83-38, being the Township of Wilmot Zoning Bylaw, as outlined in Report DS 2020-13 and DS 2020-020: Carried.

Coun Gerber and Coun Pfenning thank staff for their many hours of work on the amended by-laws.

Next: Zone Change Application 03/20 - Tri-County Mennonite Homes. Mr Martin gives his report.

Coun Gordijk has a question for Rod Leeson (Fire Chief) about the height of the building. Chief Leeson says that current equipment will be able to cope with the proposed height.

He says that the building will also have built in fire safety, such as sprinklers.

Coun Pfenning praises Tri County Mennonite Homes for this much-needed project.

Carried.

Next up is the SJAM relocation.

Coun Hallman has a point of order for the clerk. She says that there is a hate word on one of the pages that needs to be removed.

She asks Grant Whittington (Chief Administrative Officer) about the CRA and this project. He says that he does not want to answer at this time.

Coun Hallman adds that the report does not include any consultation with the Indigenous community, as specified in the motion that was passed at the last meeting.

Dawn Mittelholtz (Director of Clerk's Services/Director of Information and Legislative Services) says that the immediate removal was interpreted as the priority.

Coun Hallman says that nowhere in the report does it mention that there will be consultation. She rejects the consideration of this report.

The motion was not completed, and she will be contacting the ombudsman and seeking legal advice.

Coun Gerber says he thinks the immediate action was the moving of the SJAM statue. He thinks that the three options should be considered.

Coun Pfenning: Yes removal was the priority. However, it was also pointed out that there would be consultation with the Indigenous community.

Coun Pfenning: We requested that the Indigenous community be consulted. Not necessarily hiring an expert, but at least discussing it with local community members.

Coun Hallman in response to Coun Gerber: The report does not include any items from the Truth and Reconciliation Committee's report.

Ms Mittelholtz: The report can come back to staff and pared down to just the relocation of SJAM.

Coun Fisher is in favour of the report going back to staff. Asks for the time frame for consultation.

Ms Mittelholtz: Can't answer. She has names for people who can be contacted.

Coun Gerber says he would like to hear from the delegations who are registered tonight.

Coun Hallman says that the integrity of this report does not satisfy the motion that was passed. This just allows more pain and trauma for delegations.

Coun Gordijk says she agrees with Coun Hallman. She says she has a problem with option 3 because it might be treading into dangerous decision-making territory. She wants the report to return to staff and reflect the passed motion.

Coun Pfenning says she appreciates the clerk's response, and she thinks the report should return to staff.

Coun Hallman: The motion we passed was to move the statue from the front lawn to a place where it no longer causes harm.

Patrick Kelly (Director of Finance) discusses procurement by-law, and whether this qualifies as an emergency purchase.

Coun Fisher says this should come back to council for approval.

Mr Whittington: Is the range of Indigenous contacts up to staff?

Coun Hallman says she's already sent introductions to the clerk.

Mayor Armstrong asks if we leave out the people who own the statues, the citizens of Wilmot?

Coun Hallman: The motion that was passed was that the statue is immediately removed.

Mayor Armstrong: So you're saying that the people do not have a say?

Coun Hallman: I am not saying that. I'm saying that the report should reflect what was in the motion.

Coun Gerber says that the Indigenous voices he's heard at previous meetings is that putting the statue in storage indoors satisfies them. Is delaying the acceptance of the report a good act of allyship?

Coun Pfenning: When we talk about the owners of these statues as being citizens and taxpayers, that includes Indigenous people.

Coun Pfenning: I'm concerned the report contains an option that doesn't meet the needs of the motion. I have a lot of faith in our staff's capacity to make decisions.

(Coun Pfenning's internet connection is a bit spotty.)

Coun Gordijk: "I'm of two minds. We did say immediate removal, but I'm not happy with the presentation of this report." She says the community needs to undergo healing, which means moving the statue from the front lawn.

Coun Gordijk: However, this is Coun Hallman's motion, and she can understand her concerns.

Coun Pfenning: When we're talking about removing the statue as a temporary measure, we do not need to move the chairs and concrete, although she doesn't know if that is possible.

Coun Gerber: Point of procedure question - can we register our concerns about the report while allowing us to move forward on the options, even if we think that one of them would not have come from an Indigenous consultation?

Coun Hallman: There is the option of suspending the rules.

Tracy Loch (Castle Kilbride Curator/Director) responds to the question about removing SJAM but leaving the chairs - the concrete pad would not stay intact.

Ms Mittelholtz: Council can defer the report, or amend the recommendation. As for the delegations, Roberts Rules does not address this situation. It's up to council if they want to hear them.

Coun Pfenning says she thinks the usual procedure is to have the report and then hear from the delegations. However, out of respect for their time as they've been waiting, we should still hear from them.

Ms Mittelholtz proposes a break so she can write an amended motion with regards to this report. We'll be back at 9:15pm.

In the meantime, here is the motion that was passed at the previous council meeting...

...and this is the report that was prepared by staff in response to the motion.

We're back. Mayor Armstrong says that we will be hearing from the delegations, as they've asked to speak.

First up is Glen Mather. He asks Couns Hallman, Pfenning and Gordijk about their photo with the Kim Campbell statue.

He says the PM Path is not just a collection of statues, but a multi-year educational project. He says that the previous council discussions has been all about one statue.

(Not accurate: I spoke about the project's lack of educational value, as assessed by Wilfred Laurier Uni.)

He says that certain council members should be ashamed because they are on a website where disparaging comments have been posted about supporters of the statues. He doesn't name the website nor the councillors to whom he is referring.

Coun Pfenning says that she is speaking for herself that she does not run any Facebook pages that post comments like the ones Mr Mather mentioned.

Dave Atkinson is the next delegation. He says that this project was started as an educational venture. He says he has looked into issues such as residential schools because the statues are there.

He says keeping the SJAM statue is in keeping with the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's report.

He wonders how many Indigenous people from the township have been consulted.

He says that we need to leave the statue there so people can learn about residential schools.

Next delegation is James Spencer, with a statement from Cheyanne Thorpe. Ms Mittelholtz says that 3rd party statements should be sent to the clerk for verification.

(FYI Mr Mather read a statement from Warren Bechthold at the last council meeting. This issue was not mentioned.)

Next delegation (sorry, I missed her name) suggests that three people from each of the respective groups - keep/remove the statues - should meet to try to find common ground.

She suggests putting a "nice-looking" box around the SJAM statue so that it isn't outwardly visible. Artists could paint a mural on the box.

She asks for individual responses from councillors to endorse her idea for a 3/3 meeting.

Coun Pfenning agrees that dialogue is necessary for reconciliation. Says she cannot force people to come to a table when they feel attacked.

She says it would be difficult for her to apply pressure to people to come to the table. She says that she has been personally been insulted and attacked at council and on social media. She thanks Nancy for her offer.

Coun Fisher says that getting groups together further down the road. He likes the idea of a box around the SJAM statue. Suggests moving the statue to the back of the park and covering it up.

Coun Gordijk says she is also not in a position to pressure people to join a discussion, either. Says that a box is not a viable option because people would know what's inside. Plus it would be a target for further vandalism.

Coun Gordijk: This discussion has been ongoing about these statues for four years. "Statues are not history." She says that the briefs to artists have not included anything about the bad history of the people who have been immortalized as statues.

Kate Lang is up next. She starts by thanking the three women councillors who posed with the statue of Kim Campbell for their leadership, as they changed their minds about the statues when they had new information.

Ms Lang says option 3 should not be considered and shouldn't be in the report because it is not in the spirit of the motion.

Ms Lang: The motion was intended to move the statue out of the public eye and that should be respected.

She refers to Jana Miller's open letter to council. newhamburgindependent.ca/opinion-story/…

Ms Lang says council played "stupid games" when it brought the statues to Wilmot. The "prize" is the costs referred to in the report.

Next delegation is Dennis and Pat Mighton. Pat thanks township staff for preparing the report and the options. She says the motion is ambiguous and she can see how staff interpreted it the way they did. They are in favour of option 3, which would be funded by private donations.

Dennis is speaking now. He says that he and Pat have heard the concerns of the Indigenous people. Anyone can choose to visit the area at the back of the park to see SJAM, or not if they feel traumatized by it.

Pat is back now, says it is disturbing that a previous speaker came to a meeting and attacked the mayor. Says that someone should have spoken up for him.

Amy (missed her last name) is speaking now as a delegation. Says both sides need to refrain from disparaging comments. Adds that drawing a parallel to Hitler is inappropriate because SJAM did not order the killing of 6 million Jews.

Amy says that moving SJAM to the back is a viable option as it addresses the issue of causing harm to people who have no choice but to pass it where it currently stands.

Coun Gordijk: Addresses the comparison with Hitler. The acts of genocide led by SJAM and residential schools are what she was referring to.

Mary-Eileen McClear is appearing by video. She talks about hard feelings and division in the community. What was needed from the start is dialogue and compromise.

She feels the township has shown good faith by agreeing to move SJAM. She says that the PM Path is an outdoor museum that is visited by choice.

Ms McClear: "True dialogue must take place. And true dialogue has not."

Robert Roth is the next speaker. He is talking about a City of Kingston study about what to do with their SJAM statue, with Indigenous and non-Indigenous people. The study concluded that their statue should not be taken down.

Mr Roth is sharing the credentials of the Indigenous firm that conducted the study, talking about each board member's resume.

He repeats a point he made in a previous meeting that the statues shouldn't be hidden in a museum. Mr Roth says council should listen to moderate local voices, not outside angry voices. (Mr Roth is not from Wilmot.)

Ruth Abernathy is next up (she created the SJAM statue). "Telling an incomplete one-sided story is inadequate." She offers to create three Indigenous head studies.

Deputy Clerk Tracey Murray confirms that Coun Pfenning is still participating in the meeting, but she has had to shut down her camera due to her poor internet connection.

James Spencer is speaking. He says this feels like a part-time job as it's the third time he's appeared before council. He asks how many times people have to repeat the same message. Says the vote has already happened to move the statue. The report ignores the motion that passed.

Mr Spencer asks if a point of order is supposed to trigger a vote. Ms Mittelholtz says it is for a member of council to draw attention to something they consider an error. It is not a motion that council votes on.

Mr Spencer and Ms Mittelholtz are discussing the process of points of order and what actions come after.

Mr Spencer describes option 3 as "unconscionable" as it doesn't meet the spirit of the passed motion. "Immediately means immediately."

Final speaker is Harrison (sorry, missed his last name). He says he's upset by the act of vandalism that he feels is overriding law and order. He asks why there was no security after the first attack. "Where are the videos and pictures of the vandals?"

Harrison asks why we're beating up on Macdonald for residential schools as he was just the prime minister. They were intended as a boarding school.

Mayor Armstrong is defending staff's report and the options presented, referring to what he considers the vagueness of the motion. He says it's not staff's responsibility to make the decision.

Coun Gerber says the decision about where to put SJAM does not make the PM Path seem any more or less paused. Says he's in favour of putting the statue in storage to show that the township is listening. Sets the atmosphere for long-term conversation.

Coun Gerber says he would be in favour of removing option 3 from the report.

Coun Gordijk says she doesn't think Coun Hallman's motion was ambiguous. People might be walking through the back of the park, so they would still encounter SJAM. She says that people donating money for one specific option could be unethical.

Coun Gordijk says it's not the same as offering private funding for the township to use as they see fit for any one of the options.

Coun Fisher says he found the motion confusing. He would like to see the statue moved to the back and covered. He thinks it would show Indigenous people "that we care" and are trying to make amends.

As we're past 11pm, Ms Mittelholtz says council needs to vote for a motion to continue. Mentions there are a few agenda items that have been deferred several times already.

Coun Pfenning says she wants to complete all items on the agenda and keep working until council is done.

She doesn't want any action on the PM Path deferred any further. Moving SJAM out of sight is a temporary measure so we can have respectful dialogue.

Coun Hallman says she's still concerned about the report. Asks for clarification from the clerk. This is Ms Mittelholtz's proposed amendment.

Mr Kelly says that this might be considered an emergency purchase because it is a matter of protecting township property.

Ms Mittelholtz says that Coun Hallman did provide some contacts for consultations.

Coun Hallman and Ms Mittelholtz are discussing clarification about the details of the motion that passed in the previous meeting.

In response to Coun Gordijk, Mr Whittington says this breaks down into two parts. (1) Reject the current report; (2) Move SJAM to a rental facility.

Coun Gordijk wants clarification: If she's rejecting the report, is that negated by her choosing option 2 in the report? She says she wants to avoid a replay of this evening's meeting.

Coun Pfenning says she would be prepared to accept the amendment Ms Mittelholtz has put forward this evening. Thinks the statue should be stored in a township facility to keep costs as low as possible.

Ms Mittelholtz asks Sandy Jackson (Director of Facilities & Recreation Services) for advice on storage in a township facility. Ms Jackson describes some of the issues that would be faced with using a couple of municipal locations.

Coun Pfenning asks Jeff Molenhuis (Director of Public Works) if there is any room in Roads' buildings. There would be a problem of restricting access and security.

Coun Pfenning is moving this amended motion. (There are some technical glitches with her connection. Ms Murray is trying to reach her via phone.)

Coun Hallman seconds it.

Coun Gordijk asks for clarification as she lost her internet connection, too.

Coun Gerber asks for a direction to staff to act on option 2, and move the statue to a storage facility. That will help move us forward.

A friendly amendment has been suggested by Coun Gerber, which is accepted by Coun Hallman. Ms Mittelholtz is reading the motion.

In favour: Hallman, Gerber, Pfenning, Gordijk.
Against: Fisher, Armstrong.

Carried. SJAM is on the move.

We're having another "bio break".

We're back and discussing the consent agenda, which has nine items. One item is being pulled, the council meeting schedule (10.3).

Carried.

The council meeting schedule report for 2021 is being discussed by Ms Murray.

Carried.

Mr Kelly gives a presentation about the corporate services statement of operations. COVID-19 has had an obvious effect on revenue. The report has been received for information.

Capital Program Review report by Mr Kelly. Following a discussion involving councillors, Mr Kelly and Sandy Jackson (Director of Facilities & Recreation Services), the report has been received for information purposes.

Ms Jackson is discussing the Dog Park Change Notice Approval, which will involve an expansion of the size of the park.

Coun Gordijk says she appreciates that the township has listened to residents' concerns about the changes.

Carried.

Coun Gerber is now having connectivity issues. He's back via his phone. Says he's in favour of the changes, too.

Ms Mittelholz is now discussing the Regional Council Composition Review. The recommendation as detailed below is carried unanimously.

A letter from Ron Kennell has been received for information.

This recommendation has been carried.

Unsurprisingly, there are no announcements from councillors.

And we're adjourned at 12:49am. The meeting that started on Monday evening has ended on Tuesday morning.