Council Highlights for May 17, 2023
View the full agenda package for Council
The Town of Pelham regular council meeting was held on Wednesday, May 17, 2023, at 9:00 a.m. at the Meridian Community Centre in Fonthill. Video recording and live stream of the meeting can be viewed at www.pelham.ca/live
Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC)
Council received a presentation from Kailie Pyott – MPAC Account Manager, Municipal and Stakeholder Relations. The presentation highlighted the work provided by MPAC to municipalities across Ontario to provide property assessment data. MPAC provides a property database and conducts property valuation updates and reassessments. The current property assessments are based on the market value on January 1, 2016, legislative valuation date. The direct comparison approach is used to analyze recent sales of comparable properties sold for a similar property location, lot size, quality of construction, square footage and age of property are the five major factors. Property owners can visit www.aboutmyproperty.ca to ensure that the information on their property is up to date or request a reconsideration or appeal. Resources from MPAC are available to continue providing residents with information on how assessments impact property taxes. www.mpac.ca
Town of Pelham Recreation Master Plan, Monteith Brown Planning Consultants
Council received a presentation from Steve Langlois of Monteith Brown Planning Consultants. Mr. Langlois provided information on the Town of Pelham Recreation, Culture and Parks Master Plan that will guide the provision of leisure, recreation and culture services, programs, facilities and park amenities for the next ten years. The Draft Master Plan, after extensive public and stakeholder input, was presented to Town Council on April 19, 2023, then released for public feedback. Through the processes, a vision of "we facilitate fun, connect the community and enable participation by all." In addition, five goals were established, which include; responding to growth, expanding activity choices, optimizing facilities and parks, enhancing service and capacity and ensuring financial sustainability. Feedback provided by the community on the draft plan was incorporated into the final plan. Within the plan, there is a detailed implementation strategy with 59 recommendations that include the priority and timing of each, and most do not have direct cost implications and alternative funding and cost-sharing were encouraged. www.pelham.ca/rcpmasterplan
Municipal Drain (Farr, River and Webber Road watercourse)
On April 19, 2023, Council received a report on the Drainage Study for the Farr, River and Webber Road area prepared by AHYDTECH Geomorphic Ltd. and presentations from the consultants and the public. The Drainage Study identified drainage issues and mitigation measures to address the impacts of the northern unnamed watercourse in the area. At the May 17 meeting, Council directed staff to host a public meeting and invite all landowners within the watershed, as indicated in the report, to attend a voluntary information session to discuss and review the potential and implications of a municipal drain. Council also directed that in the event that following the meeting, a private property owner initiates a petition for a municipal drain in the impacted watershed area that the Town Clerk be authorized to sign on behalf of the Town of Pelham organization as a participatory land owner.
Brain Tumour Awareness Month May 2023
Town of Pelham council has proclaimed May 2023 as Brain Tumour Awareness Month. The causes and cure for brain tumours are unknown, and early detection and treatment are vital to prolong and improve survival. The Brain Tumor Foundation of Canada's mission is to reach every Canadian affected by a brain tumour through support, education, information and research. Additional information can be found at www.pelham.ca/en/town-hall/proclamations.aspx
Town Hall Renovations
Ongoing work on the building addition has progressed steadily, and occupancy of the building has been achieved. A fourth clock face was not part of the original design, and based on the estimated cost provided for installation on the west side of the tower, it will remain without a clock. The final landscaping works, such as fine grading and sodding, are completed throughout May. The beautification department is working on the planting for the adjacent gardens. A tentative date for the facility's grand opening is June 22, 2023. www.pelham.ca/townhallrenovation
Humberstone Landfill Site Public Liaison Committee
Humberstone Landfill Site, Public Liaison Committee, is an advisory committee to the Niagara Region Council reporting through the Waste Management Planning Steering Committee, an arm of the Public Works Committee, on matters related to the Humberstone Landfill Site in the City of Welland and other related issues associated with the operations of the landfill site. Council appointed Councillor Bob Hildebrandt to serve on the advisory committee.
Bill 5 Stopping Harassment and Abuse by Local Leaders Act
Town of Pelham council passed a motion to support Bill 5 - Stopping Harassment and Abuse by Local Leaders Act. The proposed bill would require the code of conduct for municipal Councillors and members of local boards to include a requirement to comply with workplace violence and harassment policies. In addition, the bill would permit municipalities and local boards to direct the Integrity Commissioner to apply to the court to vacate a member's seat if the Commissioner's inquiry determines that the member has contravened the workplace and harassment policies.
Pending Living Wage Policy
In January 2023, Council requested a report on becoming a certified living wage employer. A living wage is the hourly rate one must earn to afford basic expenses in their region, such as food, housing, transportation and childcare. A certified living wage employer pays the hourly living wage to all employees, including those with part-time, casual employment status and ensures any third-party contractors providing services to the employer on a regular basis pay their employees the living wage. The living wage is calculated annually by the Ontario Living Wage Network (OLWN) and is published in November each year. The Town of Pelham council has requested staff to prepare an alternative living wage policy that would include the impacts of an implementation of a compensation strategy that would ensure the Town could seek to achieve the Leader Level by paying the living wage to all staff (excluding students) without official certification as a living wage employer. The policy will be reviewed by council in August of 2023.
Proposed Changes to Planning Act and Provincial Planning Statement
On April 6, 2023, the provincial government released proposed changes to the Planning Act through Bill 97, a regulation under the Planning Act regarding site plan requirements for residential developments of 10 units or fewer and a draft new Provincial Planning Statement (PPS) 2023 that will replace the existing Provincial Policy Statement 2020 and the Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe. The opportunity to comment on these proposed legislation and policy changes is very tight. No public consultation was offered, and the only means to provide comments is by submitting written comments to the Environmental Registry of Ontario. For council information, the Town of Pelham Community Planning and Development Department prepared Report #2023-0121. Council approved that the report be forwarded to Premier Doug Ford and the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing as Pelham's comments on the proposed changes.
Tax Levy By-law for 2023
The Niagara Region is scheduled to approve its Tax Rate By-law on May 18, 2023. For the Town of Pelham, an additional $1,118,519.37 of taxes will be collected from the taxpayer. The Niagara Region has taken over the transit service operations effective January 1, 2023. The rates used in the Town of Pelham's proposed Tax By-law have been prepared with the rates that the Niagara Region is recommending for approval based on the assumption that these rates will be approved on May 18, 2023. Niagara Region's Council has previously approved the 2023 budgets that the tax levy supports. If the rates used in the proposed Pelham Tax By-law are not approved, then a special meeting of Council will be held to approve the amended rates.
Old Pelham Town Hall
The Old Pelham Town Hall, located at the corner of Memorial Drive and Canboro Road, is an important but potentially under-utilized community asset and recreational space owned and operated by the Town of Pelham. As part of the strategic plan, the Council for the Town of Pelham is focusing on maximizing the utilization of Town facilities. Council has directed staff to prepare a report on the current use of the Old Pelham Town Hall and investigate the feasibility of repurposing Old Pelham Town Hall as a cultural centre for purposes such as, but not limited to, art gallery, archive, museum, and theatre space. Council directed staff to explore potential grant funding opportunities to support possible repurposing and include such options within the report in Q3 of 2023. Staff were also directed to include in the 2024 budget funding to engage a consultant to perform a building condition assessment providing estimates on the required capital upgrades to achieve accessibility and zero environmental impact for Council's consideration.
For media inquiries, please contact:
Leah Letford, Communications Specialist | 905-980-6653 | lletford@pelham.ca