Jonathan Hall

The council held a special meeting dedicated to the presentation and review of the draft 2026 municipal budget. Key activities included a detailed financial presentation and a directive for administration to return with a 6.8% levy increase proposal for consideration at a future meeting.

The council meeting for the Township of Tarisby included a public meeting regarding an official plan and zoning bylaw amendment. The public meeting was held to receive input on applications for a proposed plan of subdivision, an official plan amendment, and a zoning bylaw amendment submitted by Susan Smith from Cortec Group Incorporated on behalf of Jim Nichols Trucking Limited. The plan of subdivision aims to create 16 seasonal residential lots with private septic systems and wells. The official plan amendment seeks to permit a six-meter wide private access road, increase the minimum setback from the high water mark, and redesignate a portion of the property from rural to open space. The zoning bylaw amendment is to increase the minimum setback and rezone the northern portion of the property.

The council discussed the waterfront development project, including the costs associated with reconstruction and power line construction. Reductions in the project scope were considered to manage costs, with a focus on maintaining the project's vision and collaboration with funding partners. Changes to the project were presented to the Waterfront Development Committee, and the council approved the increased budget and awarded the project to RML contracting. Bylaws to establish road maintenance standards were also discussed, specifically regarding snowplow removal and flexibility in plowing decisions.

The council held a special meeting to discuss and amend the procedural bylaw 27-2009 to allow for electronic participation in meetings during a declared emergency, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The amendment enables council members to participate in meetings electronically, ensuring quorum can be met even with remote participation. The council also discussed the logistics of holding meetings electronically, including live streaming and providing access via the municipality's website and other means. They addressed health and safety issues related to public gatherings and decided to record and post the meeting on the website.

The council discussed the 1.6 percent increase to senior staff and non-union personnel salary grid, as well as the grid step increase for the CEO clerk following the performance evaluation conducted for 2019. The government has extended the emergency orders from the last date to May 29, 2020. Retail businesses that can offer curbside service can reopen. All construction is to resume and essential workplace limits lifted. Ontario lifted the province-wide fire ban and the township lifted their own ban on backyard campfires. The government is permitting the reopening of some outdoor recreational amenities including outdoor sports facilities and multi-use fields, off-leash dog areas, and outdoor picnic sites benches and shelters and parks and recreational areas.