May 5 Council Meeting Highlights

For Immediate Release

Thursday, May 7, 2020 - Port Hope, ON

Below is a summary of key items discussed at the Municipality of Port Hope regular Council Meeting held on Tuesday, May 5, 2020. The full agenda and staff reports are available on the Council Portal. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this meeting was held electronically via video conference.

Suspension of sale and discharge of fireworks

Council temporarily suspended the provisions of By-law 102/2008 to prohibit the sale and discharge of fireworks within the boundaries of the Municipality of Port Hope. At this time, this suspension remains in place only for the Victoria Day 2020 holiday.

Typically, By-law 102/2008 regulates the dates for which the sale and discharge of consumer fireworks can occur. The By-law indicates that sales may only occur on the ten days preceding Victoria Day and Canada Day, and that the discharge of consumer fireworks may only occur on the Victoria Day and Canada Day holidays.

The By-law has been suspended as a result of the global pandemic so that the Municipality can continue to support compliance of the Provincial Emergency Orders limiting social gatherings to not more than five persons and to mitigate the potential for members of the public to unintentionally breach these Provincial guidelines. Additionally, suspension of this By-law will minimize the need for Fire and Emergency Services to carry out non-essential responses due to complaints/accidents associated with the discharge of consumer fireworks.

Write-off, cancellation, reduction and refund of taxes

Council authorized the write-off, cancellation, reduction or refund of taxes estimated in the amount of $5,404.61, as identified in a report from the Tax and Revenue Manager / Deputy Treasurer and in accordance with Sections 357(1) and 358(1) of the Municipal Act, 2001, c. 25, as amended.

The Municipal Act allows applicants, in accordance with limited and specific circumstances of section 357 and 358, to request a cancellation, reduction or refund of taxes from the Municipal Council or subsequently appeal to the Assessment Review Board. The applications to Council for the adjustment of taxes under the prescribed section were forwarded to the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC) for review, comments, and apportioned property value.

Schedule “B” summarizes the application details including the year, type of application, reason for the write-off and the corresponding financial implications.

Minutes from this meeting will be available pending approval at the next Council meeting on Tuesday, May 19, 2020, at which point they will become the official record of the meeting.

Recordings of the May 5, 2020 Regular Council meeting and Committee of the Whole meeting are available at porthope.ca/council-communications.

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