Below is a summary of key items discussed at the Municipality of Port Hope Council and Committee of the Whole Meetings held on Tuesday, April 6, 2021. The agendas and staff reports are available on the Council Portal. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this meeting was held electronically via video conference.
Transit – Phase 2 Restart Agreement
Staff provided a report identifying financial impacts related to municipal Transit expenses due to reduced ridership caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Council authorized staff to proceed with applying for relief funding through the Provincial Government’s Phase 2 Restart funding stream. Funding received from Phase 2 of the Safe Restart Agreement for Transit will offset the losses as a result of the current pandemic. If any further financial impacts are incurred, the Municipality will submit an application under Phase 3 of the program, requesting additional financial assistance.
CUPE Collective Agreement
The Management staff representing the Corporation and staff representing CUPE local 749 have successfully negotiated a new Collective Agreement for the twenty-two (22) unionized employees.
Highlights from the Memorandum of Settlement are available in the staff report.
Farley Mowat Week funding request and proclamation
Council proclaimed May 10 to 16, 2021 as Farley Mowat Week, and approved the request from the Rotary Club for funding in the amount of up to $2,500 to financially assist in the delivery of Rotary’s planned activities during Farley Mowat Week.
2020 Drinking Water Annual and Summary Report
Council received the 2020 Drinking Water System Annual and Summary Report, a requirement outlined in Section 11 and Schedule 22 of Ontario Regulation 170/03, made under the Safe Drinking Water Act 2002. This report includes information from January 1, 2020 to December 31, 2020.
Request to reverse decision to close Ontario Fire College
Council supported a resolution to request that the Province of Ontario reverse their decision to close the Ontario Fire College, as it is one of the best and most cost-effective methods for municipalities to train their firefighters which assists us in protecting our residents.
A copy of this Resolution has been forwarded to the Honourable Doug Ford Premier of Ontario, the Honourable Sylvia Jones; Ontario Solicitor General, the Honourable Steve Clark, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, Jon Pegg, the Ontario Fire Marshal; and Association of Municipalities of Ontario.
Cannabis licensing and enforcement
Council supported a resolution to request that Health Canada:
- Require Federal Licenses and Registrations for Designated Growers to conform with local zoning and control by-laws;
- Ensure local authorities are provided with notification of any licence issuance, amendment, suspension, reinstatement or revocation within their region;
- Provide dedicated communication with local governments and Police services;
- Provide lawful authority to Police agencies to lay charges when registered or licences operations grow in excess of their registration or licence through Health Canada; and,
- Provide enforcement support and guidance to local municipalities for dealing with land use complaints relating to Cannabis.
A copy of this Resolution was forwarded to the following partners: All municipalities in Ontario; the MP and MPP of Northumberland-Peterborough South; the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs; the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food; Port Hope Police Services and the Northumberland OPP.
George Hamilton School acquisition
Council authorized the By-law to enter into an Agreement of Purchase and Sale between Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board and the Corporation of the Municipality of Port Hope for lands municipally known as 3200 County Road 10 – George Hamilton Public School.
Additional information about this acquisition can be found in the staff report dated March 16, 2021.
Committee of the Whole
The following are highlights from the Committee of the Whole Meeting:
Procedural By-law Amendment
Council considered a staff report outlining proposed administrative amendments to the Procedural By-law and to advise of staff’s intention to present a new Procedural By-law in the third quarter of 2021.
The changes being proposed include:
- Updating definitions to formally reflect current staff titles
- Updating definitions to formally reflect current standing committee titles
- Revising the order of business for Committee of the Whole to reflect current practices and provide for a more efficient meeting structure
- Reordering and removing redundant headings from the standing business items identified for Standing Committees to provide for a more efficient meeting structure
- Removing identification of specific boards, advisory committees, and workgroup as this has been replaced by the recently adopted Committee By-law.
Council will consider the By-law with the proposed administrative amendments at their next meeting on April 20, 2021.
2021 Marketing and Tourism initiatives
Council received a staff report outlining the 2021 marketing and tourism initiatives. The report also highlighted that the COVID-19 pandemic has negatively impacted tourism related to local small business in the Municipality. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic guidelines and protocols, Port Hope is not advertising outside of Northumberland County, nor is it encouraging visitors outside of the local market to visit the community. Rather, the Tourism division has refocused its efforts on the Northumberland County market.
Under the Marquee event request
Council considered a staff report regarding an event request to authorize the Capitol Theatre’s Under the Marquee performance series on Tuesday evenings from June 1 until August 31, 2021 in principle, pending any change to the public health framework.
The Under the Marquee event is a weekly, outdoor, live performance series proposed to run on Tuesday evenings throughout the summer from Tuesday June 1, 2021 until August 31, 2021 from 6:00 p.m. until 10:00 p.m. inclusive of the road closure from 5:00 p.m. until 11:00 p.m. If approved, the Capitol Theatre will communicate details about the Under the Marquee Series to their database through their newsletter, local radio, and social media channels. Currently, there is no preliminary promotional plan to share, but the development of the plan will include messaging and consideration for COVID-19 protocols.
A resolution will be presented to Council for their consideration at the meeting on April 20, 2021.
Minutes and video recordings
Meeting minutes will be available pending approval at the next Council meeting on Tuesday, April 20, 2021, at which point they will become the official record of the meeting.
Recordings of the April 6, 2021 Council and Committee of the Whole meetings are available on the Council page.
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