Middlesex Centre Council Minutes

Regular Meeting of Council

Wednesday, July 02, 2025 at 9:30 A.m. - 11:30 A.m.

Council Chamber - Municipal Office

10277 Ilderton Rd., Ilderton, ON N0M 2A0

COUNCIL PRESENT:

• Mayor DeViet
• Deputy Mayor Brennan
• Councillor Aerts
• Councillor Berze
• Councillor Cates
• Councillor Coles
• Councillor Shipley

STAFF PRESENT:

• Michael Di Lullo - Chief Administrative Officer
• Brianna Hammer-Keidel - Municipal Clerk
• Megan Kamermans - Deputy Clerk
• Rob Cascaden - Director of Public Works and Engineering
• Tiffany Farrell - Director of Corporate Services
• Scott Mairs - Director of Community Services
• Arnie Marsman - Director of Building Services / Chief Building Official
• Stephanie Bergman - Manager of Planning and Development
• Heather Kepran - Manager of Strategic Communications
• Sophie Baysarowich, Communications & Legislative Services

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1.

CALL TO ORDER

Mayor DeViet calls the meeting to order at 9:30 a.m. Members of the public are invited to participate in this meeting of Council by attending the meeting in-person at the Council Chamber at the Middlesex Centre Municipal Office located at 10227 Ilderton Road, Ilderton, N0M 2A0.

Members of the public may also access the meeting which will be live-streamed on our Middlesex Centre YouTube channel or by contacting the Municipal Clerk to receive a registration link to join the meeting electronically.

Members of the public wishing to appear as a delegation can register for the meeting by visiting middlesexcentre.ca/participating-council-meetings or by contacting the Municipal Clerk at [phone] by 4:30 p.m. on the Monday of the week of the scheduled meeting. All requests to delegate are subject to the provisions of the Middlesex Centre Procedure By-law.

Members of the public can choose to delegate in-person or by electronic participation. Accessible formats and communication supports are available upon request.

2.

LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

The Municipality of Middlesex Centre recognizes that we are gathering on the traditional territory of the Anishinaabe, Haudenosaunee, and Leni-Lunape Peoples. We acknowledge the enduring presence of First Nation, Métis and Inuit people on this land and are committed to moving forward in the spirit of reconciliation and respect.

Our neighbouring First Nations communities which continue to live as sovereign Nations include the Chippewas of the Thames First Nation, Oneida Nation of the Thames, and Munsee Delaware Nation.

3.

ADDITIONS TO THE AGENDA

There are no Additions to the Agenda to note for the July 2, 2025 council agenda.

4.

DISCLOSURE OF PECUNIARY INTEREST

There are no Disclosures of Pecuniary Interest to note for the July 2, 2025 council agenda.

5.

DELEGATIONS AND PRESENTATIONS

5.1

McQueen-Kennings Drain Branch No. 4 - Consideration of Engineer's Report

Mike DeVos of Spriet Associates is in attendance to provide an overview of the Engineer's Report.

• Resolution # 2025-154
  Moved by: Councillor Shipley
  Seconded by: Councillor Cates

  THAT the Council for the Municipality of Middlesex Centre receives the McQueen-Kennings Drain Branch No. 4 Engineer's Report from Spriet Associates dated February 27, 2025 and authorizes that the project proceed;

  AND THAT the Court of Revision will meet on August 6, 2025;

  AND FURTHER THAT Councillor Berze, Councillor Shipley, and Deputy Mayor Brennan be appointed to sit as the members of the Court of Revision with Deputy Mayor Brennan being the Chair.

  CARRIED

5.2

Moir Drain - Consideration of Engineer's Report

Mike DeVos of Spriet Associates is in attendance to provide an overview of the Engineer's Report.

• Resolution # 2025-155
  Moved by: Councillor Berze
  Seconded by: Deputy Mayor Brennan

  THAT the Council for the Municipality of Middlesex Centre receives the Moir Drain Engineer's Report from Spriet Associates dated May 9, 2025 and authorizes that the project proceed;

  AND THAT the Court of Revision will meet on August 6, 2025;

  AND FURTHER THAT Councillor Berze, Councillor Shipley, and Deputy Mayor Brennan be appointed to sit as the members of the Court of Revision with Deputy Mayor Brennan being the Chair.

  CARRIED

5.3

Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority

Davin Heinbuck, General Manager/Secretary-Treasurer of the Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority, is in attendance to provide an update regarding programs and services.

6.

ADOPTION OF THE MINUTES

6.1

Minutes of the June 18, 2025 Council Meeting

• Resolution # 2025-156
  Moved by: Councillor Berze
  Seconded by: Councillor Cates

  THAT the minutes of the Middlesex Centre Council meeting held on June 18, 2025 be adopted as printed.

  CARRIED

7.

CONSENT AGENDA

• Resolution # 2025-157
  Moved by: Councillor Aerts
  Seconded by: Councillor Shipley

  THAT Items 7.1 through 7.3 listed under the heading of Consent Agenda for July 2, 2025 be adopted as recommended.

  CARRIED

7.1

Treasurer's Investment Report 2024

• THAT Report CPS-35-2025 re: Treasurer’s Investment Report 2024 be approved.

7.2

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) Policy

Heather Kepran, Manager of Strategic Communications, was in attendance to provide comments on the Policy.

• THAT Report CPS-37-2025 re: Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) Policy be received;

  AND THAT the Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) Policy appended to Report CPS-37-2025 be adopted.

7.3

GFOA Distinguished Budget Presentation Award 2025

• THAT Report CPS-38-2025 re: the GFOA Distinguished Budget Presentation Award 2025 be received as information.

8.

STAFF REPORTS

8.1

Mayor's Budget Process 2026

Tiffany Farrell, Director of Corporate Services is in attendance to provide an overview of the Staff Report.

• Resolution # 2025-158
  Moved by: Councillor Cates
  Seconded by: Councillor Berze

  THAT Report CPS-34-2025 re: the Mayor’s Budget Process 2026 be received;

  AND THAT subject to the publishing of the proposed budget on November 12, 2025, under subsection 7(1) of O. Reg. 530/22, Council reduce the time period as set out in 7(3) of O. Reg. 530/22 to pass a resolution making an amendment to the proposed budget from 30 days to 20 days;

  AND THAT subject to the publishing of the proposed budget on November 12, 2025, under subsection 7(1) of O. Reg. 530/22, Council reduce the time period as set out in 7(10) of O. Reg. 530/22 to override the head of council’s veto of an amendment to the proposed budget from 15 days to 12 days;

  AND FURTHER THAT Councillor Coles and Councillor Aerts be appointed to the 2026 Mayor’s Budget working group and join the mayor and municipal staff during budget discussions in September, October, and November 2025.

  CARRIED

8.2

CMHC Housing Accelerator Fund – Policy Update

Michael DiLullo, CAO, is in attendance to provide an overview of the Staff Report.

• Resolution # 2025-159
  Moved by: Councillor Cates
  Seconded by: Councillor Berze

  THAT Report CAO-17-2025 re: CMHC Housing Accelerator Fund – Policy Update be received;

  AND THAT Council approve the following initiatives noted in the Report:

  1. To direct staff to proceed with the hiring of a Full-Time Development Engineer; and,
  2. To direct staff to amend the Development Charges By-Law 2024-064 and provide an incentive to increase housing.
  CARRIED

8.3

Delegation of Authority – Plan of Subdivision/Condominium

Stephanie Bergman, Manager of Planning, is in attendance to provide an overview of the Staff Report.

• Resolution # 2025-160
  Moved by: Deputy Mayor Brennan
  Seconded by: Councillor Shipley

  THAT Report PLA-38-2025 re: Delegation of Authority – Plan of Subdivision/Condominium be received;

  AND THAT Council submit a request to the County of Middlesex to delegate Plan of Subdivision and Plan of Condominium approvals under the Planning Act to Middlesex Centre in order to support the government’s policy of streamlining approvals;

  AND THAT Council submit a request to the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing to authorize the County of Middlesex to exempt Official Plan Amendments from County approval under s. 17(10) of the Planning Act;

  AND FURTHER THAT Council direct staff to work with the County to initiate a review of the Planning Services Agreement.

  CARRIED

9.

NOTICE OF MOTION

There are no Notices of Motion to note for the July 2, 2025 council meeting. 

10.

CORRESPONDENCE

There are no Correspondence Items to note for the July 2, 2025 council agenda.

11.

COUNTY COUNCIL UPDATE

Deputy Mayor Brennan provides an overview of the Middlesex County Council meeting held on June 24, 2025. Please visit the Middlesex County website for full meeting minutes and highlights.

12.

OTHER BUSINESS

There is no Other Business to note for the July 2, 2025 council agenda.

13.

CLOSED SESSION

• Resolution # 2025-161
  Moved by: Councillor Cates
  Seconded by: Councillor Shipley

  THAT the Council for the Municipality of Middlesex Centre adjourn to closed session at 10:44 a.m. pursuant to Section 239(2) of the Municipal Act, 2001, as amended to discuss the following matters:

  • One item pursuant to Section 239(2)(c) regarding a proposed or pending acquisition of land by the municipality or local board (Economic Development Update).
  CARRIED

13.1

CALL TO ORDER

13.2

DISCLOSURE OF PECUNIARY INTEREST

13.3

CONSIDERATION OF MINUTES

13.3.1

Minutes of the June 18, 2025 Closed Session

13.4

CLOSED SESSION ITEMS

13.4.1

Proposed or Pending Land Acquisition (Economic Development Update)

13.5

ADJOURNMENT

14.

BY-LAWS

• Resolution # 2025-162
  Moved by: Councillor Shipley
  Seconded by: Councillor Aerts

  THAT By-laws 2025-052 through to By-law 2025-055 be adopted as printed.

  CARRIED

14.1

2025-052

Being a By-law of the Corporation of the Municipality of Middlesex Centre to dedicate Part 5 of Plan 33R-22169 for public purposes (regarding 15309 Nine Mile Road, Ilderton).

14.2

2025-053

First and Second reading.

Being a by-law to provide for a drainage works to be known as the McQueen-Kennings Drain Branch No. 4.

14.3

2025-054

First and Second reading.

Being a by-law to provide for a drainage works to be known as the Moir Drain.

14.4

2025-055

Being a By-law to adopt and confirm all actions and proceedings of the Council of the Municipality of Middlesex Centre at the Council meeting held on July 2, 2025.

15.

ADJOURNMENT

• Resolution # 2025-165
  Moved by: Councillor Berze
  Seconded by: Councillor Cates

  THAT the Council for the Municipality of Middlesex Centre adjourns the July 2, 2025 Council meeting at 11:02 a.m.

  CARRIED