Part 1: Economic Development and Emergency Preparedness - 01/15/2026
- PECConnect
- Jan 15
- 5 min read
The County council members gathered at Shire Hall in Picton on January 15, 2026 for a Committee of the Whole meeting that focused on two practical areas of municipal work: local economic development and emergency preparedness. The meeting was chaired by Councillor Sam Grosso, who opened by explaining that any motions passed at Committee of the Whole are not final until they are considered at the January 27, 2026 Council meeting.
Clerk Bob Waldon confirmed quorum and noted that Councillors Roberts, Maynard, Branderhorst, St-Jean, and Harrison were present in the chamber. Mayor Steve Ferguson participated remotely and joined discussion throughout the meeting.
Council confirmed the agenda, declared no pecuniary interests, and moved to public comments, though no members of the public were registered to speak.
View the entire PEC Council meeting, or continue to speaker comments and councillor votes.
Business retention and the professional services sector
The first major item came from the Community Services Programs and Initiatives Department, which presented findings from the Business Retention and Expansion study focused on the professional services sector.
The presentation was delivered by Mike Farrell, President and Chief Strategist at Feral Insight, who explained that professional services include business services and consulting, real estate, building and landscape services, personal and family services, and health and wellness services, excluding doctors, nurses, and dentists.
Farrell outlined the study methodology, which included an online survey, four facilitated group discussions, and in depth interviews. He told council that 79 completed surveys were collected, along with participation from 20 professionals in group sessions.
One of the first points Farrell emphasized was scale. He said professional services account for roughly 14 percent of the County’s working age population, or about one in seven workers. He also noted that most respondents had moved to the County from elsewhere, with many having lived in the community for several years.
A recurring theme throughout the presentation was working from home. Farrell said nearly 80 percent of respondents work primarily from their homes, which contributes to a sense of disconnection from peers, clients, and sometimes the wider community. He added that many businesses in this sector are very small, often with one to four employees, and that about 65 percent of respondents identify as owners or partial owners of their business.
When asked about advantages of operating in the County, Farrell said community was cited most often. When he turned to challenges, internet and mobile connectivity quickly emerged as the most common concern. Farrell described reliable connectivity as basic infrastructure for professional services and a deciding factor for people considering relocation.
Farrell outlined two broad areas of response. Hard support focused on continued advocacy for better internet and mobile service through municipal and regional channels. Soft support focused on low cost, relationship based initiatives, such as flexible coworking opportunities, informal networking, and creative ways for professionals to connect without rigid memberships.
Discussion from council reflected a wide range of perspectives.
Councillors raised questions about visibility, tax classification, business retention, job stability, and how professional services fit into the County’s long term economic picture. Several councillors noted that while the sector is growing, it often remains largely unseen because so much of the work happens remotely and in small operations.
There was also discussion about responsibility sharing, with councillors questioning how much should fall to the municipality versus business owners, the Chamber of Commerce, and other local organizations. Farrell responded that many professionals expressed a desire to connect but do not yet know who else exists in the County, pointing to interest in a directory or audit of professional services.
Karen Palmer, speaking for staff, clarified that the Business Retention and Expansion work is not provincially mandated, though templates are provided. She also noted that funding from a former Rural Economic Development Fund helped support this year’s work and that the next sector to be studied will be agriculture.
Council voted to receive the Business Retention and Expansion report for information, with no amendments or additional direction at this stage.
Emergency management compliance update
The second major item was a report from the Fire Department regarding the County’s Emergency Management Program Compliance Summary.
Staff confirmed that the County met all annual requirements under Ontario’s Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act, including the annual emergency exercise, reviews of the emergency management program committee, updates to the hazard identification and risk assessment, and review of the municipal emergency plan.
The annual compliance report was also confirmed as submitted to the province. While the report itself was procedural, discussion quickly broadened.
Councillors raised concerns about global instability, cyber threats, and the County’s proximity to major military and communications infrastructure, including CFB Trenton. Staff acknowledged that some hazards historically ranked low may warrant reconsideration based on current conditions.
Several speakers cautioned that deeper discussion of security related matters may be more appropriate in closed session, and council members agreed on the need for careful handling of sensitive topics.
Council voted to receive the emergency management compliance report for information.
Closed session and return to open council
Council then recessed briefly before moving into closed session to discuss a proposed land transaction in Ward 1, as permitted under the Municipal Act.
When council returned to open session, a motion was brought forward authorizing the sale of municipal industrial parkland to Josh McDonald, with staff directed to prepare a bylaw for consideration at the January 27 Council meeting. The motion carried.
The meeting adjourned at 3:14 pm.
Key Takeaways
Professional services are a significant and growing part of the County’s workforce, and council discussion showed clear recognition of challenges around connection, visibility, and infrastructure.
Internet and mobile reliability continue to be framed as essential services that affect economic development, remote work, and family settlement across the County.
Even routine reporting on emergency management compliance is now prompting broader conversations about preparedness and emerging risks, with council signaling caution and seriousness in how those issues are addressed going forward.
Disclaimer: This article is based on a meeting with an approximate duration of 2:14:55. Due to the length of the meeting, our team was not able to independently review the full recording in its entirety. As a result, we relied on software-generated transcription, automated summarization, and automated recognition of speakers and participants, which may not be entirely accurate. All transcriptions, summaries, and related content are prepared by our team in good faith and on a reasonable best-efforts basis. The content is provided for general informational purposes only and is intended to support public understanding of the topics discussed. While reasonable efforts have been made to present the information accurately, automated processes may result in errors, omissions, or unintended misinterpretations. This article does not constitute an official, certified, or verbatim record of the meeting, and it should not be relied upon as such. Readers are encouraged to consult original source materials, official minutes, or recordings where available for confirmation or clarification. Questions, requests for clarification, or suggested corrections may be submitted to hello@pecconnect.ca for review and consideration.
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