Below is a summary of key items discussed at the Municipality of Port Hope Council and Committee of the Whole Meetings held on Tuesday, May 4, 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.
Rural Road Resurfacing
Council awarded Miller Paving Limited a contract to perform rural road resurfacing in the amount of $392,915.71, including net HST, to be funded by the approved 2021 Capital Budget. The resurfacing is scheduled to begin in late spring, weather permitting.
Charging Station Agreement
Council authorized a By-law for IVY Electronic Vehicle (EV) Charging Services with Ontario Charging Network LP to install of two EV stations at Elias Street and the Jack Burger Sports Complex.
The agreement takes place over a 10-year period. IVY will own, operate, and maintain the EV stations. The anticipated annual cost for the project is $7,977.98. This electrical cost to operate the charger is paid for by the Municipality, but all revenue is sent back to the Municipality from IVY.
Committee of the Whole
The following are highlights from the Committee of the Whole Meeting:
Delegation – Northumberland County
Northumberland County Chief Administrative Officer Jennifer Moore and Director of Finance / Treasurer Glenn Dees made a delegation to council with information regarding the 2021 County Budget.
PHAI project: Waterworks East – Notice of special circumstance decision package
Staff provided Council with an overview of the decision to accept the special circumstance decision package for the municipally owned portion of the Port Hope Area Initiative - Waterworks East clean-up site.
A special circumstance is a tool approved by the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission to recognize low level radioactive waste (LLRW) that has not been fully removed where a risk assessed amount would be left behind. The municipal property known as Waterworks East, located at 27-29 Marsh Street, was identified as a potential location where a special circumstance may be applied. The report indicates that residual LLRW is not a risk, and the application of a special circumstance is appropriate based primarily on the fact that the LLRW is buried under 3 metres of clean soil and the area is unlikely to be developed in the future.
Council received the staff report for information.
PHAI application to CNSC for clean-up criteria changes
Staff provided a report with a recommendation that Council, in response to public input, authorize the Mayor’s correspondence to the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC), encouraging priority to the review and decision process for revised clean-up criteria.
Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL) has made application to the CNSC to revise the clean-up criteria for two contaminants of concern under the license, namely arsenic and uranium. Based on the Ontario Ministry of Environment (now Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks) review of 2011, the uranium value was approved and was never adopted into the CNSC license.
The Mayor’s office is seeking Council support for a submission to the CNSC requesting that they give priority for their consideration of the clean-up criteria change application and render a decision expeditiously. Consideration should include the impact of the loss of tree canopy and the extended period of community disruption if the criteria is not changed. The CNSC decision would provide a level of confidence to both the residents of Port Hope and to the Project in knowing the expectations of the regulator and to alleviate the potential impacts to trees in our community.
Council will consider a resolution regarding support for the Mayor’s correspondence to CNSC at their meeting on May 18, 2021.
Multi-Year Accessibility Plan
Staff provided a report to Council that recommends a resolution be presented to adopt the updated 2021 – 2025 Multi-Year Accessibility Plan.
Development of this updated Plan has exemplified the advocacy and efforts of staff and volunteers committed to supporting the intent and purpose of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) and Integrated Accessibilities Standards Regulation (IASR). Moving forward, annual status reports will relate to achievements made in fulfilling the key priorities outlined in this new five-year Plan.
Council will consider the proposed resolution for the updated 2021-2025 Multi-Year Accessibility Plan at their next meeting on May 18, 2021.
Fire Station 2 upgrades
Staff provided a report to Council outlining the need to close the Fire Station 2 upgrades capital project, originally planned for 2021 and allocated in the budget. After consultation with Planning staff and a survey of the property, it was determined that the building is on a flood plain and cannot be expanded.
Staff recommend that a Fire Master Plan and community risk assessment is conducted so that the department can investigate the need for growth and be better aligned to respond to the needs and circumstances in the Municipality.
Council will consider the recommendation for a Fire Master Plan and community risk assessment at their next meeting on May 18, 2021.
Minutes and video recordings
Meeting minutes will be available pending approval at the next Council meeting on Tuesday, May 18, 2021, at which point they will become the official record of the meeting.
Recordings of the May 4, 2021 Council and Committee of the Whole meetings are available at porthope.ca/council.
2021-05-05
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