Thread by @LoveWilmot

This evening's council meeting begins at 7pm. The full agenda package is available at calendar.wilmot.ca/default/Detail…. Watch the meeting live at youtube.com/channel/UCcA8f…, or follow along here 👇

Mayor Armstrong starts tonight's meeting. He asks to reflect on the political turmoil in Afghanistan, and the lives lost.

Coun Pfenning reads the land acknowledgement.

There's an addition to the consent agenda - Second quarter activity report - as well as an addition to the Fire Services report.

No disclosures of pecuniary interest.

The recommendation that the July 12 meeting minutes be accepted has been passed.

No public meetings or presentations.

Coun Gordijk and Coun Pfenning ask for a couple of reports to be removed from the consent agenda so that they can be discussed.

The remaining items on the consent agenda have been passed.

Coun Pfenning asks Jeff Molenhuis (Director of Public Works) for clarification about the costs of trees in REPORT NO. PW 2021-18 Annual Reforestation Program. Mr Molenhuis points out some errors in the figures cited in the report.

Coun Gordijk refers to a discussion last year about the scheduling of a council meeting the day after Mothers' Day. This refers to REPORT NO. ILS 2021-31 - Proposed 2022 Regular Council Meeting Schedule. Coun Hallman speaks in support of this, and also for Fathers' Day.

The report - with a friendly amendment - is carried.

Coun Gordijk and Coun Hallman both have issues with their Zoom connections, so both have disconnected their cameras.

Patrick Kelly (Director of Finance) is now presenting REPORT NO. COR 2021-027 - Statement of Operations as of June 30, 2021 (un-audited).

Coun Fisher asks Mr Molenhuis if there will be a crossing guard at Huron and Peel, who defers to Dawn Mittelholtz (Director of Clerk's Services/Director of Information and Legislative Services). Ms Mittelholtz says this will be coming to council very shortly.

Coun Fisher asks Sandy Jackson (Interim CAO) if, during her meetings at Regional level, if there have been any discussions about possible closures due to a fourth wave of COVID. She answers that there hasn't been a discussion, which the mayor confirms.

Next is the Capital Program Review as of June 30, 2021 (un-audited), which Mr Kelly presents.

Coun Gordijk thanks Ms Mittelholtz and Mr Molenhuis for including the extra information about drainage work, which she has been asking for.

Ms Jackson, in her role as Director of Facilities & Recreation Services, discusses a report about Administration Complex Fire Panel Replacement. She says this has come in under budget.

Rod Leeson (Fire Chief) is speaking about an addition to the agenda, a report into the addition of female firefighter washroom facilities at the fire hall in Baden. The recommendation to award the contract as discussed in the report is carried.

Announcements: Mayor Armstrong mentions the survey into voting method preferences for the 2022 municipal election.

Coun Hallman asks for a suspension of procedural rules to vote tonight on a motion she is reading now. She wants the Township to recognize the Every Child Matters flag at the municipal office on Sept 30 (recommendation #80 in the TRC report).

This would be to mark the first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, a federal statutory holiday. Ms Jackson mentions that staff are planning on bringing this forward at the next meeting on Sept 13.

Coun Gordijk asks about protocol for flying the Every Child Matters at half mast, along with all of the other flags. Ms Jackson clarifies that she supports flying the orange flag for the entire month of September.

(I didn't mention this motion is an @AMOPolicy recommendation.)

Ms Mittelholtz says that the Township follows the federal protocol for flying flags at half mast.

Here's a news report from last month about the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. globalnews.ca/news/8120451/n…

Coun Gerber suggests passing a motion that relates just to the flag raising, to keep it separate from the educational component of the TRC recommendation/Township staff report next month. Coun Hallman agrees.

Here is the proposed Orange Flag raising motion, as drafted by Ms Mittelholtz. Coun Hallman withdraws her original motion in favour of this amended version.

Everyone seems to be having frozen screens, buffering and echoes this evening.

The motion is carried.

Announcements: Coun Gordijk thanks local businesses and residents for their support of the Auction For Terry fundraiser, which raised a record amount.

She mentions a tree dedication ceremony in honour of Terry on Sept 1. She thanks Ms Jackson and Geoff Dubrick for their support.

Mayor Armstrong thanks the run organizers for their work.

Coun Fisher congratulates the finance department for their recognition from the province for its reporting. Coun Pfenning echoes his praise.

Coun Pfenning mentions that August 31 is #OverdoseAwarenessDay. The Region saw a record number of drug overdoses in the past year.

Coun Pfenning mentions that August 31 is Overdose Awareness Day. The Region saw a record number of drug overdoses in the past year.

Coun Pfenning thanks Township staff for their hard work during the summer, especially the Parks & Rec department.

Coun Hallman says how pleased she was to see the turnout for Sidewalk Sales Days last week.

Mayor Armstrong congratulates Harold O'Krafka (Director of Development Services) and Manny Jones, who got married this weekend!

We're adjourned at 7:59pm.