Council Meeting

That Goderich Town Council hereby accepts the Monday, April 28, 2025, regular Council Agenda, as amended.

That Goderich Town Council hereby adopts the April 7, 2025, Regular Council Minutes, and the April 11, 2025, Special Council Minutes, as printed.

That Town of Goderich Council enters into a Public Meeting at 4:03 PM to consider Zoning By-Law Amendment Application GOD Z02-2025 - Southcove Development Inc. (Mark Sully).

That Goderich Town Council defers the proposed Zoning By-Law Amendment Application GOD Z02-25 – Southcove Development Inc.

That Goderich Town Council now adjourns the Public Meeting and returns to Regular Session of Council at 4:23 PM.

That Goderich Town Council approves the 2025 Budget in principle with a 1% tax rate increase; And that the appropriate by-laws be provided at the next Council session for adoption. Voters For Against Abstain Conflict Mayor Bazinet X Deputy Mayor Noel X Councillor Segeren X Councillor Thompson X Councillor Petrie X Councillor Carroll X Councillor Kelly X Results 3 4 0 0

That Goderich Town Council approves the 2025 Budget in principle with a 2% tax rate increase; And that the appropriate by-laws be provided at the next Council session for adoption; And that the 1% increase be directed to the Roads Construction Reserve. Voters For Against Abstain Conflict Mayor Bazinet X Deputy Mayor Noel X Councillor Segeren X Councillor Thompson X Councillor Petrie X Councillor Carroll X Councillor Kelly X Results 4 3 0 0

That Goderich Town Council approves the transfer of $60,209.00 to the Public Works Equipment Reserve Fund.

That the Staff Reports be received for information and the noted action be approved.

1) That Goderich Town Council approve the Chief Administrative Officer’s suggested motion – Opposition to Proposed Amendments to O.Reg. 530/22 - Expand Strong Mayor Powers WHEREAS on April 9, 2025, the Ontario Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing announced the expansion of Strong Mayor powers to 169 additional municipalities, including the Town of Goderich, as a Strong Mayor community granting enhanced powers to the Mayor, effective May 1, 2025 AND WHEREAS the 169 municipalities affected by the April 9 Strong Mayor powers letter supplied insufficient time for any meaningful feedback and coordinated response on O.Reg. 530/22 from Councils given the six (6) business day turnaround deadline for comments of April 16 - procedural notice provisions to call a special Council meeting and short notice scheduling conflicts of Council members; AND WHEREAS the Strong Mayors powers has raised significant concerns regarding the centralization of power, reduced accountability, alters the balance of governance at the municipal level by ultimately undermining the role of Council and decision-making by weakening the fundamental democratic principle of majority rule, diminishes the role of elected municipal councillors in representing the diverse interests of the community, and the potential for the abuse of power; AND WHEREAS the Town of Goderich has a long history of collaborative, transparent, and accountable local governance built upon a foundation of Council debate and shared decision

That Goderich Town Council approves the proposal from the Maitland Valley Conservation Authority and the University of Waterloo regarding a GeoReach Program in Goderich, to increase the monitoring of dynamic landscapes through a citizen science-based image submission platform.

That the correspondence be received for information.

That the correspondence items be received for information and the noted action be approved.

That By-Laws 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, and 64 of 2025, be read a first, second, and third time, collectively.

That Council rise at 5:27 PM and go into Closed Session pursuant to Section 239(2) (c), (e), (f), and (k); And Further That Chief Administrative Officer, Janice Hallahan, Director of Corporate Services/Treasurer, Deanna Hastie, Director of Community Services, Infrastructure, and Operations, Sean Thomas, and Deputy Clerk (Records Management Clerk), Amanda Banting, Administrative Assistants to the Director of Legislative Services/Clerk, Andrea Rowntree and Mandy Powell, and Town Solicitor, Greg Stewart, remain in attendance.

That Goderich Town Council rise and come out of Closed Session at 6:12 PM.

That Goderich Town Council approves the land transfer request from Richard Peever and refers to staff to initiate any required processes.

That leave be given to introduce By-Law No. 65 of 2025 being a By-Law to confirm the proceedings of the Goderich Town Council meeting held on April 28, 2025 and that it now be read a first, second, and third time, and finally passed this April 28, 2025.

That Goderich Town Council does now adjourn at 6:22 PM to meet again at the regular meeting of Council scheduled for May 20, 2025, at 4 PM.

That Goderich Town Council approves the 2025 Budget in principle with a 1% tax rate increase; And that the appropriate by-laws be provided at the next Council session for adoption. For Against Mayor Bazinet X Councillor X Segeren Councillor X Thompson Councillor X Carroll Councillor X Petrie Deputy Mayor X Noel Councillor X Kelly Results 3 4

That Goderich Town Council approves the 2025 Budget in principle with a 2% tax rate increase; And that the appropriate by-laws be provided at the next Council session for adoption; And that the 1% increase be directed to the Roads Construction Reserve. For Against Mayor Bazinet X Councillor X Segeren Councillor X Thompson Councillor X Carroll Councillor X Petrie Deputy Mayor X Noel Councillor X Kelly Results 4 3