Thread by @LoveWilmot

This evening's Township of Wilmot council meeting gets started at 7pm. Here's today's agenda, and you can get the full package - including reports and correspondence - at calendar.wilmot.ca//townshipcalen…. Watch live at youtube.com/channel/UCcA8f…, or follow along here 👇

This was added to the agenda this morning.

Mayor Armstrong gets things started by mentioning Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Members of council are wearing pink in honour of the occasion.

Coun Gordijk reads the land acknowledgement.

No disclosure of pecuniary interest.

Now council is reviewing the minutes of the previous meeting's minutes. Coun Hallman says that the minutes don't mention who asked specific questions.

Dawn Mittelholtz (Director of Clerk's Services/Director of Information and Legislative Services) says that the way minutes are recorded have been changed to reflect the decisions made, rather than who said what.

Council has voted to approve the minutes.

Sandy Jackson (Director of Facilities & Recreation Services) is introducing a delegation - Anand Desai, Associate Planner, Monteith Brown Planning
Consultants - who will be discussing the Indoor Arena Ice Usage and Needs Update Report.

The Indoor Arena Ice Pad Usage & Needs Analysis presentation is on page 35 of the agenda package, and the Township staff report starts on page 48. The planning consultants' final report starts on page 56. calendar.wilmot.ca//townshipcalen…

Registration numbers from the past three years...

This is an example of how minutes are being recorded now, with a discussion about the Original Agreement at the previous meeting.

10-year projection

Coun Fisher asks about efficiencies from a double ice pad. Asks about funding from upper tier governments if the township opts for a new arena. Mr Desai discusses possible funding options.

Patrick Kelly (Director of Finance) adds more possible funding suggestions.

Coun Gerber asks about a 4th strategy - formally investigating ice time availability in neighbouring municipalities. Is there the potential for smaller hockey associations merging?

Mr Desai acknowledges that possibility and mentions other municipalities that are struggling with filling their arenas or having enough revenue to pay for improving aging arenas.

Ms Jackson says that hockey associations are independent of municipalities, so coordinating this might be a challenge.

Coun Pfenning says people have commented to her about the changing demographics, and newcomers who may be coming from countries where hockey isn't part of the culture. She asks Mr Desai if he has seen any data that addresses that.

She also comments that girls' hockey is often impacted by a lack of ice time.

Mr Desai says that many newcomers want to become immersed in Canadian culture, including hockey. Mentions his own father who moved to Canada and loves the sport.

Mayor Armstrong mentions that North Dumfries wants to build a new arena, and that Wellesley has problems with its arena.

Ms Jackson comments on allocation of ice time for girls hockey groups, which are newer. Ice time traditionally goes to whomever had that time last year.

Coun Gordijk asks for clarification on the timeline of the recommendations. Ms Jackson says that the statement is intended to show that the need for another ice pad is pressing.

Council has voted to accept the report for information and undertake further study to determine strategies for delivering a third ice surface.

Next up is Stephanie Sobek-Swant from rare Charitable Research Reserve to introduce the new Land Securement Strategy. The slides from this presentation are in the agenda from page 80.

This is at the core of the strategy.

Coun Pfenning asks about the land acknowledgement at the beginning of Ms Sobek-Swant's written report.

Mary Jane Patterson, Executive Director of Reep Green Solutions is delivering an Impact Report 2020.

Coun Pfenning mentions that the Township has been sharing sustainability videos on social media.

Coun Hallman thanks Reep for leading the New Hamburg de-paving project.

Coun Gordijk asks about other regional municipalities that host contests in partnership with Reep for gardens that use water sustainability options.

Ms Patterson says she would be happy to partner with the Township to examine possibilities.

On to the Consent Agenda. There are six items, and council has not asked for any to be moved to the regular agenda. These items are carried.

Erin Merritt (Manager of Municipal Law Enforcement) is presenting a report on the Exotic Animal By-law Amendments.

Coun Fisher asks about fines, which aren't mentioned in the package. Ms Mittelholtz says they aren't included because they're set at the provincial level.

Coun Hallman says that she's received messages asking for clarification with regards to chicken ownership and coops.

Recommendation: THAT By-law 2020-39 be adopted in respect to the raising of laying hens within the settlement areas of the Township of Wilmot.

Passed.

Ashton Romany (Manager of Finance/Deputy Treasurer) is delivering a report about the Statement of Operations as of September 30, 2020. The report is on page 176.

Coun Pfenning asks Grant Whittington (Chief Administrative Officer) about work plans, which are usually presented in early winter. She acknowledges that COVID has thrown everything up in the air.

Mr Whittington says that COVID-related budget management was deemed to be the priority.

Mr Romany is giving discussing the Capital Program Review. The report is received for information.

Patrick Kelly (Director of Finance) is giving a Financial Impact Analysis (COVID-19) Update (report starts on page 229).

Coun Fisher praises Mr Kelly and Mr Romany for their work "running a tight ship through this disease".

Coun Pfenning agrees, and says she knows that this wasn't easy. She goes back to the work programmes, and asks Mr Whittington to distribute them to council.

The motion to receive the report, and "the Township of Wilmot continue to advocate and pursue funding opportunities from senior government sources to offset the negative financial impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. has been received for information." - Carried

Two items of correspondence:
- Ontario Ombudsman Annual Report (page 237)
- Letter from John Jordan (page 238)

Announcements:

Mayor Armstrong says that the four townships will be meeting to discuss KPMG's findings on the joint service review. This will be held on YouTube on October 22.

Coun Hallman thanks the Optimist clubs in our community for coming up with family events for Halloween.

She mentions Small Business Week, and that we need to be supporting small businesses through COVID.

She talks about statistics for breast cancer.

Coun Pfenning thanks the Communications Specialist for launching the Township's Facebook page.

Also thanks Mike Schout and the Klaussen family for their contribution to Wilmot's trails.

We're adjourned at 9:05pm.