Greg Demers

The meeting included an approval of the agenda and a discussion regarding declarations of pecuniary interests. A significant portion involved a presentation by the Crimestoppers coordinator, detailing 2025 statistics such as 819 tips received, leading to 30 arrests, 134 criminal charges, and 12 Highway Traffic Act charges. Seizures included 11 stolen vehicles, $50,000 in bulk currency, and $77,000 worth of drugs. The program incurred a deficit for 2025, with expenditures around $40,000 against $31,000 in income, relying primarily on grants and donations. Future fundraising plans include hosting two "Fun with Quarters" events and continuing with shredding fundraisers. Discussions also covered the temporary donation and promotional use of a vehicle provided by a local Nissan dealership and the necessity of securing funding from government sources, including the City of Brantford, County of Brant, and Six Nations. Board members requested future detailed statistical breakdowns of tips, arrests, and charges geographically across Brantford, the County, and Six Nations.

The meeting commenced with a land acknowledgement. Key agenda items included the approval of the agenda and addendum. Discussions covered several consent items, notably Councillor Miller's comments regarding ATV patrol hours and the City of Brford's master servicing plan amendment and transportation master plan update. Committee reports were approved for Administration and Operations, and Paramedic Services. Staff reports included a discussion on tax breakdowns. Under communications, a letter from the City of Brford concerning homelessness projections was reviewed, along with correspondence from the Solicitor General. Proclamation requests for the Optimus Club of Paris and the Canadian Dental Hygienist Association were approved. Councillor Chambers raised matters concerning property acquisitions, specifically the BR County Library situation, which led to an in-camera session regarding litigation and land acquisition. Finally, Bylaws numbered 7-26 through 10-26 were read through three times and adopted.

The meeting commenced with a land acknowledgement recognizing the traditional territories of several First Nations. A motion was passed to amend the agenda, moving agenda items 10.1 and 10.2 to follow the adoption of the minutes to accommodate attendees. The council received the minutes from the January 13, 2026 meeting, with no business arising from them. The session included discussion regarding a public hearing for a zoning bylaw amendment application (ZBA 1525 LG) concerning the expansion of an existing industrial campus on lands currently zoned agricultural. The proposal involves rezoning a portion to light industrial, protecting natural heritage features with buffers, and addressing concerns raised by the public regarding use classification, proximity to residences, environmental impact, noise, and traffic.

The meeting included extensive discussion and debate regarding a proposal involving 75 stack townhomes, specifically focusing on parking requirements. Members expressed concern that the proposed parking allocations (assuming one or two cars per unit) were insufficient for realistic occupancy scenarios, leading to potential shortages. The application was also discussed in terms of whether the units are rentals or for sale, with the developer stating the intention is to rent them out, which typically allows for lower parking ratios. A subsequent agenda item involved a minor variance application (A27-25LK) concerning a proposed expansion of the Brand Sports Complex, seeking relief on maximum building height due to grade changes. This variance application ultimately failed to secure a second motion, and a motion to deny it carried by a vote of 3 to 2. Another minor variance application (A2525LK) for property at 944 Powerline Road, concerning the expansion of the Brand Sports Complex, was introduced to permit a building height of 11 meters instead of the required 10 meters, citing technical reasons related to grade changes.

The meeting included a delegation from Miller's Charter Professional Accountants to discuss the 2025 financial audits, covering the engagement letter, auditor responsibilities, management responsibilities, materiality, and significant risks related to the audit process. Discussions also addressed oversight concerning fraud risk identification and response. Consent items approved included the appointment of an engineer for the Valros Paris Limited petition and an update to the technical guidelines for the blue box program, during which clarification was sought regarding the recycling of books. The committee also approved the award of a CPS RFP for the supply and delivery of auto extraction equipment, which prompted discussion regarding the aging of current equipment and its limitations with modern vehicle technology, as well as the lifespan of new units and disposal of old ones. Furthermore, there was discussion concerning fire services activity reports, specifically regarding potential increases in structure fires during the holiday season and related public safety messaging. Finally, the committee addressed the resignation of a member and proceeded to nominate and appoint a replacement Councilor to three committees: Social Services Committee, Downtown Paris BIA, and Chamber Paris U County of Brandt Chamber of Commerce.