Village of Merrickville-Wolford Regular Council Minutes

Meeting #:
Date:
Time:
-
Location:
Council Chambers
Members Present
  • Mayor Cameron
  • Deputy Mayor Barr
  • Councillor Gural
  • Councillor Ireland
  • Councillor Maitland
Staff Present
  • Julia McCaugherty-Jansman, Clerk
  • Darlene Plumley, CAO
  • Chad Kean, Manager of Public Works
Others Present
  • Neil Caldwell, Engineer, Jp2g Consultants Inc.

    Forbes Symon, Senior Planner, Jp2g Consultants Inc.


1.

  

The meeting was called to order at 6:00 p.m.

2.

  
  • Moved ByCouncillor Maitland
    Seconded ByCouncillor Gural

    THAT the Agenda for the Regular Council Meeting held on April 28, 2025 be approved as presented.

    Carried

4.

  

Graeme Bonham-Carter referenced agenda item 7.5 and asked if Council has considered the position of the Village knowingly going against the advice and recommendation of the Planner and Engineer. He asked if this puts the Village in a weak position if any affected parties decide to fine or sue the Village based on this decision. 

Pam Marriott noted that if agenda item 7.5.4 is approved, then the result will be that the wastewater plant will operate at 100% capacity. She asked if Council has considered the ability of the plant to respond to extreme weather events. She asked if Council has considered the fines that would then be due. She asked if Council has considered the costs that would be incurred for increased parts failure with the plant operating at its full capacity. 

Mark Elliott referenced item 7.5.4 and noted that by assigning the remaining wastewater capacity to one developer this motion then shuts down development for any other prospective individual developer in the Village and will likely drop the value of vacant lots in the Village. He asked if Council has considered the likelihood that affected developers may sue the Village for this decision and the associated costs. 

Cheryl Anderson referenced item 7.5 and noted that there appeared to be a sense at Committee of the Whole that it was urgent to push through approval for McLean's Landing Phase II. She inquired why Council feels it is urgent to add more homes to the list and approve under item 7.5.4.

LeaAnne Merkley noted the March 24th meeting and the request for residents to submit questions to staff regarding the potential sale of municipal property on Collar Hill Road. She asked when these will be answered.

  • Moved ByCouncillor Ireland
    Seconded ByCouncillor Maitland

    THAT the Council of the Corporation of the Village of Merrickville-Wolford receive for information the Motions for Consideration document as presented. 

    Carried

6.

  
  • Moved ByCouncillor Gural
    Seconded ByDeputy Mayor Barr

    THAT the Council of the Corporation of the Village of Merrickville-Wolford approve all items listed under the Consent Agenda as presented and recommended.

    Carried

7.

  
  • Moved ByDeputy Mayor Barr
    Seconded ByCouncillor Maitland

    THAT the Council of the Corporation of the Village of Merrickville-Wolford receive for information the Planning report and Municipal Questionnaire from Senior Planner Forbes Symon regarding Consent Application B-17-25 (McGrath);

    AND FURTHER THAT Council does hereby support and endorse Consent Application B-17-25 as presented to the United Counties of Leeds and Grenville with the following recommended and standard conditions:

    1. That the applicant deposit a copy of the registered reference plan with the Village Clerk.
    2. That the applicant pay all outstanding taxes, if any, to the Village.
    3. That the applicant submit a zoning by-law amendment to rezone the benefitting lands to the Agriculture (A) zone to recognize the new lot sizes.
    Carried
  • Moved ByCouncillor Ireland
    Seconded ByCouncillor Gural

    THAT the Council of the Corporation of the Village of Merrickville-Wolford give First, Second, Third and Final Reading to By-law 25-2025, being a By-law to amend Zoning By-law 23-08;

    AND FURTHER THAT authorization be given to the Mayor and Clerk to sign, seal and place in the By-law Book for the Municipality By-law Number 25-2025.

    Carried
  • Moved ByCouncillor Gural
    Seconded ByCouncillor Maitland

    THAT the Council of the Corporation of the Village of Merrickville-Wolford give First, Second, Third and Final Reading to By-law 26-2025, being a By-law to amend Zoning By-law 23-08;

    AND FURTHER THAT authorization be given to the Mayor and Clerk to sign, seal and place in the By-law Book for the Municipality By-law Number 26-2025.

    Carried
  • Moved ByCouncillor Maitland
    Seconded ByCouncillor Gural

    THAT the Council of the Corporation of the Village of Merrickville-Wolford receive for information the update report regarding the recommendation action items from Committee of the Whole for the allocation of uncommitted reserve capacity of the sewage treatment plant.

    Carried

Mayor Cameron provided the following statement:

Our procedure by-law states that the Presiding Officer may state relevant facts and their position on any matter before Council or Committee but they cannot move a motion or debate a question without first leaving the chair.

Parkview Homes first introduced McLean’s Landing Phase 2 to municipal staff and our contracted consultants Jp2g on October 13, 2020, with limited results. For approximately two years our consultants and staff have been working together to ensure the subdivision proposal represents the best fit for the Municipality. Over the past ten months consultation has been undertaken with the MECP, OCWA, and Watson and Associates. The draft phased in plan will be discussed in detail with both County and Municipal Staff and as well as our consultants. Based on past draft subdivision approvals this process alone will take approximately eighteen months. During this time, the Municipality will be moving forward with completing the Master Plan and continuing to address infiltration issues. The intent being is to move forward by redistributing already calculated numbers and allocating capacity based on development that can be realistically completed within a four-to-six-year timeframe. Staff and Council have been and will continue to work in the best interest of all residents by adding more users to the system and addressing the infiltration and storm water concerns.

I will now ask for the motion to be put on the floor for a mover and seconder and entertain any new discussion pertinent to the matter being voted on.

  • Moved ByDeputy Mayor Barr
    Seconded ByCouncillor Gural

    THAT the motion be deferred until such time as reports are available pertaining to the information as indicated in the update report, Item 7.4 on the Agenda, with an update provided within no more than three months.

    Defeated
  • Moved ByCouncillor Gural
    Seconded ByDeputy Mayor Barr

    THAT the Council of the Corporation of the Village of Merrickville-Wolford approve the recommendation of Committee of the Whole, being to defeat Recommendation 1 as presented. 

    For (3)Mayor Cameron, Councillor Ireland, and Councillor Maitland
    Against (2)Deputy Mayor Barr, and Councillor Gural
    Carried (3 to 2)
  • Moved ByDeputy Mayor Barr
    Seconded ByCouncillor Gural

    THAT the motion be deferred until such time as reports are available pertaining to the information as indicated in the update report, Item 7.4 on the Agenda, with an update provided within no more than three months.

    Defeated
  • Moved ByCouncillor Ireland
    Seconded ByCouncillor Maitland

    THAT the Council of the Corporation of the Village of Merrickville-Wolford approve the recommendation of Committee of the Whole, being to defeat Recommendation 2 as presented.

    For (3)Mayor Cameron, Councillor Ireland, and Councillor Maitland
    Against (2)Deputy Mayor Barr, and Councillor Gural
    Carried (3 to 2)
  • Moved ByDeputy Mayor Barr
    Seconded ByCouncillor Gural

    THAT the motion be deferred until such time as reports are available pertaining to the information as indicated in the update report, Item 7.4 on the Agenda, with an update provided within no more than three months.

    Defeated
  • Moved ByCouncillor Ireland
    Seconded ByCouncillor Maitland

    THAT the Council of the Corporation of the Village of Merrickville-Wolford approve the recommendation of Committee of the Whole, being to defeat Recommendation 3 as presented.

    For (3)Mayor Cameron, Councillor Ireland, and Councillor Maitland
    Against (2)Deputy Mayor Barr, and Councillor Gural
    Carried (3 to 2)
  • Moved ByDeputy Mayor Barr
    Seconded ByCouncillor Gural

    THAT the motion be deferred until such time as reports are available pertaining to the information as indicated in the update report, Item 7.4 on the Agenda, with an update provided within no more than three months.

    Defeated
  • Moved ByCouncillor Ireland
    Seconded ByCouncillor Maitland

    THAT the Council of the Corporation of the Village of Merrickville-Wolford approve the recommendation of Committee of the Whole, being to proceed with the option of the phased-in approach to allocate 40 connections to McLean’s Landing Phase II.  

    For (3)Mayor Cameron, Councillor Ireland, and Councillor Maitland
    Against (2)Deputy Mayor Barr, and Councillor Gural
    Carried (3 to 2)

8.

  
  • Moved ByCouncillor Ireland
    Seconded ByCouncillor Maitland

    THAT the Council of the Corporation of the Village of Merrickville-Wolford receive for information the report regarding the deferred item of sewage capacity allocation for 114 Lewis Street West;

    AND FURTHER THAT Council does hereby support the proposal and allocation in principle, pending the zoning by-law amendment application to change the zoning on the property from R1 to R3. 

    Carried

9.

  

None.

10.

  

None.

11.

  

11.1

  
  • Moved ByCouncillor Maitland
    Seconded ByDeputy Mayor Barr

    THAT the Council of the Corporation of the Village of Merrickville-Wolford receive for information the Departmental Activity Update as presented.

    Carried

11.2

  
  • Moved ByDeputy Mayor Barr
    Seconded ByCouncillor Gural

    THAT the Council of the Corporation of the Village of Merrickville-Wolford receive for information the Departmental Activity Update Report from the Fire Department/By-law Enforcement.

    Carried

11.3

  

None.

11.4

  

None.

11.5

  
  • Moved ByDeputy Mayor Barr
    Seconded ByCouncillor Ireland

    THAT the Council of the Corporation of the Village of Merrickville-Wolford receive for information the Departmental Activity Update Report from the Administration/Finance Departments.

    Carried
  • Moved ByCouncillor Maitland
    Seconded ByCouncillor Ireland

    THAT the Council of the Corporation of the Village of Merrickville-Wolford receive the recommendation from Committee of the Whole and the report outlining the proposed Memorandum of Understanding with Community Partners with regard to the installation of an Accessible Public Washroom at 112 Wellington St.;

    AND FURTHER THAT Council approve the installation of the accessible public washroom and approve the Memorandum of Understanding as presented;

    AND FURTHER THAT Council authorize the CAO to sign the MOU as presented;

    AND FURTHER THAT Council authorize the expenses to be allocated from the Economic Development Initiative account and Accessibility account identified in the 2025 budget. 

    Tabled
  • Moved ByDeputy Mayor Barr
    Seconded ByCouncillor Gural

    THAT the motion be deferred until staff can bring back more required information to the May 12th Committee of the Whole Meeting.

    Carried

12.

  

None.

13.

  

None.

14.

  

Deputy Mayor Barr gave notice of a motion that will be brought to the May 12 Committee of the Whole Meeting to explore the option of creating a BIA.

None.

16.

  

None.

17.

  

None.

  • Moved ByCouncillor Gural
    Seconded ByCouncillor Maitland

    THAT the Council of the Corporation of the Village of Merrickville-Wolford give First, Second, Third and Final Reading to By-law 27-2025 Being a By-law to Confirm the Proceedings of Council for the Regular Meeting of April 28, 2025;

    AND FURTHER THAT authorization be given to the Mayor and Clerk to sign, seal and place in the By-law Book for the Municipality By-law Number 27-2025.

    Carried

19.

  
  • Moved ByCouncillor Ireland
    Seconded ByCouncillor Gural

    THAT the Council of the Corporation of the Village of Merrickville-Wolford adjourn at 7:35 p.m.

    Carried
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