The Corporation of the Town of Grand Valley

Special Council Meeting Minutes

Tuesday, January 28, 2025 at 2:00 P.m. - 4:00 P.m.

Council Chambers, 5 Main Street North, Grand Valley

Council Present:

• Mayor Steve Soloman
• Deputy Mayor Philip Rentsch
• Councillor Lorne Dart
• Councillor James Jonker
• Councillor Paul Latam

Staff Present:

• Meghan Townsend, Chief Administrative Officer/Clerk
• Matthew Bos, Director Public Works
• Steven Freitas, Director of Finance/Treasurer
• Mark Kluge, Town Planner
• James Allen, Recreation Facilities Manager
• Donna Tremblay, Deputy Clerk/Communications Coordinator

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1.

Call to Order and Roll Call

Mayor Soloman called the meeting to order at 2:01p.m.

Mayor Soloman announced that the meeting is being live streamed and publicly broadcast with the recording of the meeting to be available on the Town's website.

Meghan Townsend, CAO/Clerk conducted a roll call. 

Councillor Latam attended the meeting virtually.

2.

Adoption of Agenda

• Resolution: 2025-01-41
  Moved by: P. Rentsch
  Seconded by: L. Dart

  BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council adopts the agenda and any addendums dated January 28, 2025 as amended, addition of correspondence to item 5.1.

  CARRIED

3.

Disclosure of Pecuniary Interest and the General Nature Thereof

No pecuniary interest was declared.

4.

Unfinished Business

4.1

Grand River Conservation Authority - 2025 Municipal Apportionment and Budget Vote Meetings

Meghan Townsend, CAO Clerk advised this was included for Council's information.

5.

Staff Reports

5.1

Report - Draft 2025 Budget

Meghan Townsend, CAO, Clerk presented the Report - Draft 2025 Budget, stating that the report included information for Council's consideration, discussion and direction on changes to the proposed budget.

CAO Townsend lead Council through the various sections of the draft budget.

Council reviewed and discussed each section and provided their direction as follows:

Council requested the following: 

• Striking a Tornado 40th Anniversary Committee including various community partners. Members of Council and CAO Townsend to be point person.
• Consolidation of Downtown Beautification accounts including flowers and maintenance costs into one section. 
• Utilizing $10,000 of Hydro Dividend Reserves for the Grand Valley stone wall repairs.
• Bridge 7 "Structure Evaluation" be renamed "Design Work".
• Staff arrange a delegation regarding Community Centre sponsorship/naming.
• Deferring issuing of the tender for the Infiltration/Inflow (I&I) Projects to 2026 with design and agreement work to progress in 2025
• Medical Centre - Town to charge interest on unpaid 2024 levy payments
• Micro surfacing projects be funded through loans. 

Council requested further information on the following budget sections:

• Administration - IT managed services, firewall and review of Bell and Rogers services.
• Downtown Improvement - gateway signage - clarification regarding reserve amount. 
• West Back Alley - fees for service and additional charging stations.
• Recreation - repurposing GV Campground to a dog park and Town's costs under the GRCA Agreement
• Grass Mowing, Grounds keeping - breakdown on costs and services 
• Recreation - breakdown on services and programs
• Recreation - Concession 2/3 Pavilion - breakdown on costs
• Winter Plowing - second shift for snowplowing and service level Winter Control Handbook
• Roads Department Overhead - breakdown of costs
• PW Vehicles - truck 45 - clarification regarding proposed budget amount 
• Road Patrol - clarification regarding proposed budget amount 

Council discussed removing and/or reducing the proposed budgeted amounts as follows:

• removing additional vehicle for recreation 
• pausing 2025 Water Street chipping project
• removing downtown crosswalk
• removing East Luther Townline $70,000 gravel purchase, project to be funded from approved Gravel Road Operating Budget
• removing speed humps and using bollards on Taylor Drive 

Mayor Soloman thanked CAO Townsend and Council for their discussions.

• Resolution: 2025-01-42
  Moved by: J. Jonker
  Seconded by: P. Rentsch

  BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council receive Report – Draft 2025 Operating Budget and directs that the changes discussed in the meeting be made for the next Operating Budget presentation on February 25, 2025.

  CARRIED

6.

Confirm Proceedings

• Resolution: 2025-01-43
  Moved by: P. Rentsch
  Seconded by: L. Dart

  BE IT RESOLVED THAT leave be given to introduce a by-law to confirm the proceedings of the Special Council Meeting held on January 28, 2025 and that it be given the necessary readings and be passed and numbered as By-Law 2025-013.  

  CARRIED

6.1

2025-XXX Being a By-Law to Confirm the Proceedings of Council of the Corporation of the Town of Grand Valley at its Special Meeting held on January 28, 2025.

7.

Adjournment

• Resolution: 2025-01-44
  Moved by: L. Dart
  Seconded by: P. Rentsch

  BE IT RESOLVED THAT we do now adjourn this meeting of Council at 5:20 p.m. to meet again for a Special Meeting on February 25, 2025 at 2:00 p.m. or at the call of the Mayor. 

  CARRIED