Welcome to this preview for the first open meeting of 2019! Council previously had a special, closed meeting on January 3 but, of course, there is nothing I can discuss openly about that at this time.
In the meantime, you can find the agenda for this meeting here.
Delegations, Presentations, and Petitions
- Council will be starting early, at 4pm, to allow for a lengthy presentation, and no doubt a bunch of questions, from Middlesex Centre’s Integrity Commissioner & Closed Meeting Investigator. John Mascarin, Partner with Aird & Berlis LLP will perform the presentation.
- We will then have a presentation on development charges by Andrew Grunda and Peter Simcisko of Watson & Associates. W&A has been contracted for the past few years to help our staff compile projects, costs, and so on to ensure we’re charging the appropriate fees for development charges.
- Finally, we will have a presentation from Tony Commisso, our representative and Regional Manager at Cowan Insurance, the municipality’s insurance provider.
Consent Agenda
There is just one item on the consent agenda, which states that we have yet to hear from the provincial government what Middlesex Centre’s Ontario Municipal Partnership Fund amount for 2019 will be. It is already over one month later than normal, so hopefully we get the number soon! Staff are anticipating a 10% decline in the amount to be provided for 2019.
Staff Reports
- First up is cannabis legalization.
- We now have some more certainty around the funding ramification for staying opted-in to allow private cannabis sales in Middlesex Centre vs. opting out.
- Based on the attached report, Middlesex Centre stands to receive at least $5,000 in assistance from the province to be spent, ideally, on costs related to legalization. The other half of the guaranteed $5,000 will go to the County. The County stands to receive at least $16,000 because it is the upper-tier level for 8 municipalities.
- This money could go towards increased OPP costs or locally-driven education programs, possibly developed and administered by the Middlesex-London Health Unit.
- Of course we have to understand that a limited number of private retail licenses are being issued each year, and it is very unlikely a business in Middlesex Centre will receive one prior to 2021.
- Also, opting out simply means residents wanting to partake will have to purchase their cannabis elsewhere. It doesn’t mean you won’t be able to use cannabis products within Middlesex Centre.
- The second staff report is a recommendation to hand Watson & Associates a contract to complete the 2019 Development Charges study. Development charges must be reviewed every 5 years, and 2019 is that fifth year. There are several new projects that need to be included in a revised DC figure, so it’s important that the work be done well.
- There is a staff report that seeks to establish the criteria for hiring a new Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) after the recent departure of Michelle Smibert, who was Middlesex Centre’s CAO for over 8 years.
- Lastly, a staff report that recommends removing the holding provision over EdgeWater Estates, the new development to the west of the southern portion of Kilworth.
- Removing the holding provision would allow South Winds to begin constructing the single detached dwellings zoned for the land.
There are no overtly significant correspondence items, so that’s that! If you have any questions, comments, or concerns over the items above, please contact me!