Municipality of Strathroy-Caradoc

Regular Council Session

Minutes

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Electronic Meeting - Zoom
Present:
  • Mayor Joanne Vanderheyden
  • Deputy Mayor Brad Richards
  • Councillor Neil Flegel
  • Councillor John Brennan
  • Councillor Frank Kennes
  • Councillor Steve Pelkman
  • Councillor Marie Baker
  • Councillor Larry Cowan
Absent with Notice:
  • Councillor Sandi Hipple
Also Present:
  • Fred Tranquilli, Chief Administrative Officer/Clerk
  • Jennifer Pereira, Deputy Clerk/ Lottery Licensing Officer (Recorder)
  • Joe Pilon, Director of Information Technology
  • Bill Dakin, Director of Financial Services
  • Rob Lilbourne, Director of Community Services
  • Doug Payne, Director of Human Resources
  • eSCRIBE Administrator
  • Jennifer Huff, Manager of Building and Planning
  • Paul Zuberbuhler, Manager of Environmental Services
  • Jake Straus, Manager of Public Works
  • Brent Smith, Fire Chief
Others Present:
  • Matt Rodrigues, WSP


None.

  • Moved byCouncillor Brennan
    Seconded byDeputy Mayor Richards

    THAT: a motion is made to amend the agenda to add Item 5.4.2. ED2021-04-Community Improvement Plan Applications.

    Carried
  • Moved byCouncillor Kennes
    Seconded byCouncillor Flegel

    THAT: the meeting minutes be approved as written.

    Carried

Jennifer Huff, Director of Building and Planning and Matt Rodrigues, WSP presents the report on the Official Plan Background Overview. Matt Rodrigues, WSP made a brief presentation on the Draft Official Plan Background Report. He shares with Council that the background review is the first in a series of inputs within the Official Plan overview. This Report identifies and reviews the key policy drivers and inputs that need to be considered in the updated Official Plan, as well as other housekeeping/technical items.  Phase 1 of the Official Plan Review (OPR) includes the completion of the Background Report, while Phase 2 and 3 are aligned with the concurrent Master Plans and Studies being prepared through the Growing Together Project such that the various policy recommendations contained with the Master Plans and Studies will also be incorporated into the OPR.   

Councillor Kennes asks how Strathroy-Caradoc compares to other municipalities as far as public engagement. Matt Rodrigues explains that the municipality is on par with others and he will be providing a full overview on numbers in the near future.

Councillor Pelkman requests that the general public have a look at the report as it has a lot of fulsome information.

  • Moved byDeputy Mayor Richards
    Seconded byCouncillor Pelkman

    THAT: Council received Report BBP-2021-55 and the attached Draft OPR Background Report for information.

    Carried

Robert Lilbourne, Director of Community Services presents his report on the Wayfinding Strategy. This project was a direct recommendation of the First Impressions Community Exchange that was conducted in 2018. Staff and members of the community worked with Entro Communications to develop a wayfinding system. 

Councillor Brennan is concerned that the size of the logo on the wayfinding signs is not going to be visible due to the amount of detail in the logo. Robert Lilbourne, Director of Community Services shares that this was the company's recommendation.

Councillor Pelkman is pleased with the clean concept and wonders if there is a policy in regards to selling space on a municipal sign to businesses or organizations. Director Lilbourne confirms that these signs are for municipal use. 

Councillor Cowan also likes the concept and the universal look but wonders about the sizing of the service club signs, if they will be big enough to be visible. Director Lilbourne confirms that the suggested size is the same as the current signage.

Councillor Flegel is happy with the look and asks if this project will be done in phases. He wonders if their will be options in order to involve more signage for private organizations within the municipality such as churches or community halls. Director Lilbourne explains that these options are open for discussion.

Councillor Kennes enquires in the case that a private organization requests and pays for a sign if their is or will be a policy in place. Director Lilbourne suggests that if that occurs the municipality will be responsibly for the signage to ensure it is consistent with the rest.

Councillor Baker suggests that guidelines and parameters be a part of that plan in the future.

  • Moved byCouncillor Pelkman
    Seconded byCouncillor Brennan

    THAT: Council receive report CS 2021-22 titled Wayfinding Strategy Update for information.

    Carried

Paul Zuberbuhler, Manager of Environmental Services presents his report on the Strathroy Wastewater Treatment Filter Replacement. He explains that the Strathroy Wastewater Treatment Plant struggles to maintain compliance throughout all seasons annually. The plant’s actual functioning capacity is currently reduced from its official rated capacity due to years of minimum reactive maintenance.  The plant is in need of some major maintenance to return the plant to its full rated capacity including redundancies and resilience of operation. The tender for the Phase One of the Strathroy WWTF Filter Replacement project was advertised through the Bids & Tenders website.  The tender closed on Wednesday August 4, 2021 with 5 bids being received. The tender was awarded to Stone Town Construction Limited in the amount of $2,068,856.10 (excl HST); and award the Contract Administration to RV Anderson in the amount of $130,500.00 (excl HST).                         

  • Moved byCouncillor Brennan
    Seconded byCouncillor Kennes

    THAT: Council receive the Report EPW 2021-21 regarding the Strathroy WWTF Filter Replacement Tender Award; and
    THAT: Council award the Strathroy WWTF Filter Replacement Stone Town Construction Limited in the amount of $2,068,856.10 (excl HST); and
    THAT: Council award the Contract Administration for the Strathroy WWTF Filter Project to RV Anderson in the amount of $130,500.00 (excl HST).

    Carried

Jake Strauss, Manager of Public Works presents his report on the Municipal Right of Way By-law. The Municipal Right of Way By-law regulates highways within the municipality. The by-law is intended to provide a framework within which to control the Right of Way using generally accepted engineering and best practices commonly adopted in other municipalities.

Councillor Pelkman enquires if there will be any communication sent to residents that may not be aware of the changes. Jake Strauss, Manager of Public Works indicates that their will be notices sent to each resident and the municipality will provide plenty of time for notification.

  • Moved byCouncillor Cowan
    Seconded byCouncillor Baker

    THAT: Council receive report EPW-2021-22 for information; and
    THAT: By-law # 45-21 be given first, second and final reading.

    Carried

Doug Payne, Director of Human Resources presents his Hiring Report for Customer Service Representative. He indicates that in June 2021, the Municipality began recruiting for a new Customer Service Representative in response to the previous incumbent being promoted to another role within the organization. Following an extensive recruitment process involving multiple candidates and multiple rounds of interviews, an offer of employment was made to Bernice Ross. Ms. Ross has accepted the offer and will join the Municipality from her current role as Front Desk Concierge at Seasons Retirement Communities starting on August 23, 2021.

  • Moved byCouncillor Flegel
    Seconded byDeputy Mayor Richards

    THAT: Report HR-2021-15, Hiring Report – Customer Service Representative, be received for information.

    Carried

Demetri Makrakos, Economic Development Officer presents his report on the Community Improvement Plan Applications. So far this year, six applications have been received. The CIP Implementation Committee met to review the applications. Of the six, three have been selected by the committee for funding. Middlesex Spine & Sport Clinic, Front Street Revival Ltd, for new signage in front of the building at 22494 Adelaide Road, Mt Brydges in the amount of $4,100. Front Street Revival Ltd at 51 Front Street W, for new exterior lighting in amount of $6,425 and new façade construction in the amount of $16,500.

  • Moved byCouncillor Baker
    Seconded byCouncillor Pelkman

    THAT: Council approve the funding through the CIP programs for the three applications presented below.

    Carried
  • Moved byCouncillor Flegel
    Seconded byCouncillor Cowan

    THAT: the reports from boards and committees be received for information.

    Carried
  • Moved byCouncillor Brennan
    Seconded byCouncillor Pelkman

    THAT: the following by-laws receive first, second, and third and final reading:

    Carried

None.

Councillor Kennes is concerned with the sidewalk blockage at 10 Front Street and wonders when that will open up. Jennifer Huff, Director of Building and Planning indicates that the property owner has been doing extensive renovations. They are waiting on an engineers report and the sidewalk should be open again.

Councillor Cowan encourages residents to go out and visit all the fresh vegetable stands within the community. 

Councillor Pelkman extends his congratulations to Bernice Ross on her position with the Municipality.

Councillor Brennan shares with Council that the Hamilton Spectator Newspaper did an article on Middlesex County and  Strathroy-Caradoc businesses, Kusterman's Berry Farms and the Clock Tower Bistro were featured.

Deputy Mayor Richards is excited to see the development and changes happening at the mall Shops on Sydenham.

Mayor Vanderheyden has been attending the  AMO conference and shares how interesting is has been so far. 

  • Moved byCouncillor Brennan
    Seconded byCouncillor Flegel

    THAT: the meeting adjourn at 7:09 p.m.

    Carried