The Corporation of the Town of Grand Valley

Council Meeting Minutes

Tuesday, January 13, 2026 at 6:00 P.m. - 9:00 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
• Steven Freitas, Director of Finance/Treasurer
• Matthew Bos, Director Public Works
• Mark Kluge, Manager of Planning
• Steven Krepps, Planning/Administration Co-ordinator
• 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  6:00 p.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.

2.

Adoption of Agenda

• Resolution: 2026-01-01
  Moved by: L. Dart
  Seconded by: P. Rentsch

  BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council adopts the Regular Council Meeting agenda dated Tuesday, January 13, 2026 as circulated.

  CARRIED

3.

Disclosure of Pecuniary Interest and the General Nature Thereof

No pecuniary interest was declared.

4.

Closed Meeting 

There was no closed meeting.

5.

Open Meeting - 6:00 p.m.

7.

Approval of Previous Minutes

Council discussed the minutes and requested an amendment to the December 9, 2025 Special Council Minutes, adoption of agenda "as circulated".

• Resolution: 2026-01-02
  Moved by: J. Jonker
  Seconded by: P. Latam

  BE IT RESOLVED THAT the minutes of the December 9, 2025 Regular Council Meeting and December 9 and 19, 2025 Special Council Meetings be approved as amended.

  CARRIED

8.

Announcements

There were no announcements.

9.

Deputations/Presentations

9.1

6:05 pm - Decision Proposed Zoning By-Law Amendment Z03-2024 034541 Concession Road 8-9 Roll#12400 - Agenda Item 12.1.1

The following delegates provided a written delegation - Maria Lelli-Dickson and Kathleen Dickson.

• Resolution: 2026-01-03
  Moved by: P. Rentsch
  Seconded by: L. Dart

  BE IT RESOLVED THAT leave be given to the following delegates, to address Council regarding Decision Proposed Zoning By-Law Amendment Z03-2024 034541 Concession Road 8-9 Roll #124000 - Agenda Item 12.1.1: 
  
  Tom Tupling
  Trevor Pullen 
  Lorie Haddock 

  AND FURTHER THAT the written submission from Maria Lelli-Dickson and Kathleen Dickson be received.

  CARRIED

9.1.1

Delegates

Tom Tupling and Trevor Pullen, Owners/Applicants delegated before Council in support of staff's recommendation. Lorie Haddock. Real Estate Agent for the Owners/Applicants provided a written delegation.   

• Resolution: 2026-01-04
  Moved by: P. Latam
  Seconded by: J. Jonker

  BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council receives the deputations from Tom Tupling, Trevor Pullen and Lorie Haddock.

  CARRIED

10.

Public Questions

10.1

School Parking Issues - Nathan Durham

Council discussed the public question - School Parking Issues received from Nathan Durham. 

Council's discussions included the following:

• By-Law Enforcement issuing of tickets for illegal parking
• A letter outlining concerns to: the Upper Grand District School Board, MPP Sylvia Jones and School Board Trustee
• Extending on-street parking time limits
• Lined parking spaces along the south side of Rainey Drive; and
• Using provincial speed camera funding for the installation of a lit crosswalk.

• Resolution: 2026-01-05
  Moved by: L. Dart
  Seconded by: J. Jonker

  BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council receives the public question regarding School Parking issues from Nathan Durham

  AND FURTHER THAT Town staff and the Mayor will write to the MPP and Board to address the issues regarding parking at the School.

  Draft a response to Nathan Durham acknowledging receipt of his letter and that we are working with the School Board to resolve this issue, as it is a School Board issue.

  Staff are directed to ticket anybody parking illegally.

  AND FURTHER THAT staff bring back Parking By-law and recommendations.

  CARRIED

12.

Staff Reports

12.1

Manager of Planning 

12.1.1

Decision Proposed Zoning By-Law Amendment Z03-2024 034541 Concession Road 8-9 Roll #124000, 2026-004

Mark Kluge, Manager of Planning presented the report. 

Council discussed the report. Council inquired as to why a special provision for maximum Gross Floor Area (GFA) and been included and whether accessory dwelling units were an as-of-right. Staff advised the maximums for gross floor area were included to restrict overbuilding and accessory dwelling units are permitted as an as-of-right under provincial planning legislation.

• Resolution: 2026-01-06
  Moved by: P. Latam
  Seconded by: L. Dart

  BE IT RESOLVED THAT Report PLN2026-004 Decision Proposed Zoning By-law Amendment Z03-2024 034541 Concession Road 8-9, dated January 13, 2026, be received;

  AND FURTHER THAT Zoning By-law Amendment File Z03-2024, to amend the Town of Grand Valley Zoning By-law 2009-10, as amended, for the lands municipally known as 034541 Concession Road 8-9, as amended to remove maximum GFA in #7 other special provisions, shown in Appendix 3: Zoning By-law of this report, be approved and the necessary by-law be adopted.

12.1.2

Monthly Planning Update Report – January 2026, PLN 2026-001

Mark Kluge, Manager of Planning presented the report. 

Council inquired as to timelines for the ORICA reporting and sought clarification regarding the calculations for deferred development charges.  Staff advised timing for the ORICA report will be discussed with the CAO and the amounts for deferred development charges will be reviewed and updated in the next planning update report.  

• Resolution: 2026-01-07
  Moved by: L. Dart
  Seconded by: P. Rentsch

  BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council receives Report PLN 2026-001 – Monthly Planning Update Report – January 2026, for information purposes.

  CARRIED

12.2

CAO/Clerk 

12.2.1

CAO Progress Update – January 2026, 2026-002

Meghan Townsend, CAO/Clerk presented the CAO update report. 

Council discussed the report and requested staff to investigate an infrastructure funding delegation for the Ontario Good Roads Conference. Staff advised they would review the delegation process for the Good Roads Conference. 

Council inquired as to the Amaranth land sale, receipt of the Fire Protection Grant Funding and timing for the Fire Department Services Report. Staff advised contracts for the fire protection grant funding have recently been completed with funding to be receive shortly and there will be an upcoming Fire Department Services Report.

• Resolution: 2026-01-08
  Moved by: P. Latam
  Seconded by: J. Jonker

  BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council receives the Report – CAO Progress update for information purposes.

  CARRIED

12.3

Director of Finance/Treasurer

12.3.1

Credit Card Payment Acceptance Policy, 2026-005

Steven Freitas, Director of Finance/Treasurer presented the report.

Council discussed the report. Discussions included using a third-party payment provider for all credit card payments to be compatible with the Town's recreation booking platform.

• Resolution: 2026-01-09
  Moved by: L. Dart
  Seconded by: P. Rentsch

  BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Credit Card acceptance policy be deferred until next meeting, January 27, 2026. 

  AND FURTHER THAT staff investigate and recommend a single third party service provider.

  CARRIED

12.4

Director of Public Works

12.4.1

Public Works Update – December 2025, 2026-009

Mathew Bos, Director of Public works presented the Public Works Update Report.

• Resolution: 2026-01-10
  Moved by: J. Jonker
  Seconded by: P. Latam

  BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council receives the Public Works Update Report December 2025 for information purposes.

  CARRIED

13.

Public Meeting

There was no public meeting.

14.

Pending Items

There were no pending items.

15.

Correspondence

Council discussed the correspondence.

• Resolution: 2026-01-11
  Moved by: P. Rentsch
  Seconded by: L. Dart

  BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council receives the correspondence listed on the Tuesday, January 13, 2026, Council Agenda. 

15.1

RLB Chartered Professional Accountants 2025 Town of Grand Valley Audit Plan

• Resolution: 2026-01-12
  Moved by: P. Latam
  Seconded by: J. Jonker

  BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council receives the RLB Chartered Professional Accountants 2025 Town of Grand Valley Audit Plan.

  CARRIED

16.

County Council Report

Mayor Soloman and Deputy Mayor Rentsch advised at the last County Council meeting, Council discussed the 2026 Budget, funding approval for the Shelburne By-pass Environmental Assessment and terminating loose leaf pick up for the Towns of Orangeville and Shelburne after 2026.

17.

Council Updates

Mayor Soloman's update included is attendance at the Grand Valley Lion's Polar Bear Dip.

Councillor Latam's update included his attendance at the Fire Board Meeting where the Board discussed their 2026 Budget, mutual aid agreements and the appointment of Councillor Dart as Fire Board Vice-Chair.    

18.

Boards and Committees

19.

New Business

Simms Funeral Home 
Councillor Jonker expressed concerns relating to the building's condition and requested that the property owner and/or County Building department be contacted regarding the status of the building's renovations. 

Snow Removal - Medical Dental Building 
Meghan Townsend, CAO/Clerk advised the Town has received a request to remove snow from the municipal parking and sidewalk accesses to the medical dental building. 

Snow Removal - Fire Hydrants
Mayor Soloman requested 2026 Operating Budget discussions include snow removal around fire hydrants and the creation of a Fire Hydrant By-law. 

Downtown Accessible Parking
Councillor Jonker requested the accessible parking time limit be extended to 3 hours and that there be more accessible parking spaces in the downtown.

Council 2026 Priorities
Councillor Latam requested Council review and formalize their 2026 priorities at the next meeting.  

20.

Notice of Motion

There were no notices of motion.

21.

By-laws

• Resolution: 2026-01-13
  Moved by: P. Latam
  Seconded by: J. Jonker

  BE IT RESOLVED THAT leave be given to introduce the by-laws listed on the Tuesday, January 13, 2026 agenda as items 21.1 to 21.5 and that item 21.5 be amended as discussed under item 12.1.1 and that the By-laws be given the necessary reading and passed and numbered as By-laws 2026-01, 2026-02, 2026-03, 2026-04 and 2026-05.

  CARRIED

22.

Confirm Proceedings

• Resolution: 2026-01-14
  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 Regular Council Meeting held on Tuesday, January 13, 2026 and that it be given the necessary readings and be passed and numbered as By-Law 2026-06.  

  CARRIED

23.

Adjournment

• Resolution: 2026-01-15
  Moved by: J. Jonker
  Seconded by: L. Dart

  BE IT RESOLVED THAT we do now adjourn this Regular Council Meeting at 8:23 p.m. to meet again on January 27, 2026 for Regular Council Meeting at 10:00 a.m. and Special Council meeting at 2:00 p.m. or at the call of the Mayor. 

  CARRIED