Patti Mueller

The committee reconvened after a closed session where they considered a position, plan, procedure, criteria, or instruction to be applied to negotiations. The committee took no action beyond receiving information during the closed session. The subsequent action was the adjournment of the meeting.

The Committee of the Whole meeting commenced with an acknowledgment of meeting on Aboriginal land. Key discussions involved the adoption of the agenda and a delegation from the Better Together Circle (BTC), represented by Lori Chapman. BTC detailed their work focusing on environmental and social issues, resilience development, the significance of their logo, and various past and upcoming community events like healing walks, Orange Shirt Day, and Eco Fest. They requested continued support, especially concerning initiatives for Dark Sky Community designation and becoming a Blue Community, which involves eliminating single-use plastic water bottles at municipal events. Following the delegation, the committee began a discussion regarding the new comprehensive zoning bylaw for the Village of Westport, presented by Steve Pence and Arjen Sur of Novatech. The presenters provided an update on the drafting process, highlighting key proposed changes in definitions, general provisions (including accessory use, parking rates, and yard setbacks), and the new specific use provisions covering additional residential units, coach houses, short-term rentals, and outdoor commercial patios. A key addition noted was the Source Water Protection Overlay.

The Council Meeting agenda adoption was approved. Key discussions focused on motions and resolutions, specifically supporting the Westport Trail Loop project, which involves directing staff to assist with trail marker sign locations. A significant portion of the meeting addressed Treasury matters, including the one-year term renewal for an existing loan covering a historical deficit. Furthermore, the Council approved a request from the Historical Advisory Committee to change the name of the RTO District Museum to the Westport Museum. A major resolution concerned opposition to Bill 68, schedule 3, which proposes consolidating conservation authorities into regional bodies and creating a provincial agency, with council expressing concerns over loss of local governance, funding accountability, and potential increased costs.

The Council meeting involved several key procedural steps, including the adoption of the agenda and minutes from previous committee and council meetings. Discussions centered on financial and operational matters. Key agenda items included the adoption of the recommended amount for intake one of the 2026 budget deliberations for the community grants program. Furthermore, the Council directed staff to purchase a gasoline-powered Ford F-150 utility truck as an alternative to a previously approved electric vehicle. A significant portion of the meeting addressed the photo donation from FOD for Phase Two (later clarified as Phase Three) of the arena canteen room renovations, approved for $20,000. The Council also directed staff to secure partnerships for the Rural Ontario Development Grant intake number two application to better position for future funding, noting that the grant seeks to support data collection related to infrastructure like the water tower. Finally, staff were directed to enter into an agreement with Simco for Public Works services related to the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Strategy phase one, which includes provisions for upgrading equipment at the WTC Communications arena.

The Committee of the Whole meeting included an acknowledgment of meeting on Aboriginal land. Key discussion points focused on the hospital update provided by the CEO of Perth and Smith Falls District Hospital. The CEO detailed efforts to advance care through improving best practices, enhancing patient engagement via a new patient portal for electronic information access, and advancing the hospital redevelopment project, specifically proposing a greenfield redevelopment for the Perth site. The CEO also discussed overcoming a recent internal 'code orange' due to high patient flow and shared updates on recruitment and retention challenges, noting success in filling full-time positions but continued difficulty with temporary and part-time coverage. Significant facility improvements were noted, including a new nursing station at the Perth site and renovation of the resuscitation area at the Smith Falls site, including new air handling systems. Furthermore, MRI hours were successfully expanded from 8 to 16 hours daily, which reduced wait times. Financial stability was noted, with the previous fiscal year achieving balanced books despite underlying funding issues. The hospital redevelopment process, proceeding through pre-capital submission and moving toward master planning, confirms commitment to a two-site model, requiring a new Perth site. Finally, updates on the core capital campaign supporting the successful electronic medical record implementation were provided, along with a discussion on regional hospital expertise and patient choice for diagnostic scans.