Thread by @LoveWilmot

This evening's council meeting begins at 7pm. Get the full agenda at bit.ly/3FSIWoP, watch live at youtube.com/channel/UCcA8f…, or follow along here 👇

Mayor Armstrong begins the meeting by talking about #LocalGovernmentWeek.

(That's new CAO Sharon Chambers in the top right of this picture!)

Coun Gerber reads the territorial acknowledgement.

Mayor Armstrong mentions that the item order for this evening's agenda so that the Township can formerly appoint Ms Chambers as its new Chief Administrative Officer.

This is my interview with her from a few weeks ago wilmotpost.ca/news/article.p…

There is now a public meeting about the Proposed Procedural By-law Amendment (p15 of the agenda package). Dawn Mittelholtz (Director of Clerk's Services/Director of Information and Legislative Services) is discussing the changes that were put forward by council previously.

Ms Mittelholtz says that she hasn't received any communications from residents about the proposed bylaw changes.

Coun Gordijk asks who decides who is an "applicant", which would allow unlimited time to delegate at meetings, whereas the public would be limited to 10 mins.

Ms Mittelholtz says - and is backed up by Harold O'Krafka (Director of Development Services) - that they would be named in the planning act application.

Coun Gordijk thanks them for their clarification.

There are no delegations on this item this evening, so the public meeting is formerly closed.

The Proposed Procedural By-law Amendment report has been received for information.

The Consent Agenda has five items. Coun Hallman asks for one of them (3rd Quarter 2021 Operations Activity Report) to be pulled for discussion.

The remaining four items have been approved.

Coun Hallman has questions for Jeff Molenhuis (Director of Public Works) from residents. The first is about an oversized speed sign. Mr Molenhuis says the sign in question will need to be looked at.

The second questions is about replacing or removing two empty sign posts, which previously had deer crossing signs on them. Mr Molenhuis suggests the concerned resident could contact his department to discuss them: [e-mail].

Coun Hallman passes on a question about the repainting of the local fire hydrants. Mr Molenhuis says the colours reflect the pressure flow at particular hydrants.

Mr Molenhuis: Yellow hydrants are municipal; red hydrants are privately owned (such as in certain subdivisions).

3rd Quarter 2021 Operations Activity Report has been received for information.

Next: Ashton Romany (Manager of Finance/Deputy Treasurer) is presenting his report about the Statement of Operations as of September 20, 2021.

There are no questions, and the report is received for information.

Mr Romany is now presenting a report into the Capital Program Review as of September 30, 2021.

Coun Fisher asks for a completion update for the Morningside trunk sewer delays. Mr Romany says there isn't a fixed date, but it will be in 2022.

Coun Fisher asks Mr Kelly about the Township office renovation. Mr Kelly says that the plan is being re-examined in light of COVID and the "current working-from-home environment".

Sandy Jackson (Director of Facilities & Recreation Services) adds that a better use of space will be examined, probably in the new year.

Next is a Notice of Motion, brought forward by Coun Hallman at the previous meeting.

Resident Damien McDonald is a delegation on this topic. He says the current federal protocol doesn't take into account local considerations.

McDonald asks why the Township doesn't already have a protocol in place already, and the answer is generally that the federal level of government has the final say. He says that this is not strictly accurate.

Mr McDonald says that the local public should have an opportunity to have their voices heard.

The delegation has only one slide, which he uses to end his presentation.

All five councillors have voted in favour of the motion.

Announcements: Coun Gordijk says that October 17 to 23 is Small Business Week. She suggests residents to support our small businesses by buying gift cards, ordering local, and posting something you bought locally on your social media.

A list of local businesses is available at WilmotStrongerTogether.ca, which was created by the community. She thanks Coun Pfenning for coming up with the idea, to Township staff for maintaining the map on the site, and local residents who volunteer keep it up to date.

Coun Gordijk says there will be another Let's Tree Wilmot planting session at Petersburg Park this coming Saturday.

Coun Hallman thanks the community for supporting Let's Tree Wilmot at the previous sessions.

She's wearing pink tonight in recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, which has touched members of her family.

Coun Hallman mentions #WomensHistoryMonth. Over 170 years of municipal government in Wilmot, and there have only been four women elected in that time. (There are three in this meeting right now.)

Coun Pfenning says that Township staff deserve a lot of credit for supporting local businesses.

The Corporate Leadership Team, led by Ms Jackson who was the interim CAO, come onto the screen to applaud and welcome new CAO Sharon Chambers.

Coun Pfenning thanks Ms Jackson for her leadership.

We're adjourned at 7:56pm.