Part 2: Land Transactions, FOI Votes, Development Pressures, and Public Space Planning – 01/16/2024

This part of the Council meeting recap focuses on who spoke, how Council voted, and what those decisions mean for residents, organized by topic and geographic impact. The meeting’s first decisions followed a closed session chaired by Mayor Steve Ferguson.

Councillor Sam Branderhorst moved a motion, seconded by Councillor Chris Braney, approving the purchase of land adjacent to the South Marysburgh landfill. The transaction authorized CAO Marcia Wallace to execute a purchase agreement to meet Environmental Compliance Approval requirements. Councillor John Hirsch declared a pecuniary interest and did not participate or vote.

Councillor Brad Nieman moved, and Councillor Bill Roberts seconded, a motion approving several by-laws to stop up, close, declare surplus, and convey road allowances to adjacent landowners.

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Transparency and Freedom of Information

Paul Allen, appearing as a deputant, spoke at length about Freedom of Information practices, urging more proactive disclosure, public reporting of FOI requests, and expanded access to records.

During Council discussion, Councillor Kate MacNaughton spoke in favour of exploring these ideas but raised concerns about staff capacity. Municipal Clerk Catalina Blumenberg confirmed the County’s Routine Disclosure Policy, last updated in 2008, is outdated and scheduled for review.

A motion to direct staff to formally investigate active dissemination, open data, and public reporting of FOI requests was moved by Councillor Sam Branderhorst and seconded by Councillor Roy Pennell.

The recorded vote failed 5–7. Votes in favour were cast by Councillors Kate MacNaughton, Chris Braney, Janice Maynard, Sam Branderhorst, and John Hirsch. Votes opposed were cast by Councillors Brad Nieman, Bill Roberts, Phil St-Jean, David Harrison, Roy Pennell, Corey Engelsdorfer, and Mayor Steve Ferguson. Council then unanimously voted to receive the deputation.

612 Hiscock Shores Road

Jason Pavey addressed Council regarding his long-running effort to secure a building permit for 612 Hiscock Shores Road. His presentation outlined zoning history, environmental setbacks, floodplain mapping changes, and significant personal costs.

Council questions came from Councillors Phil St-Jean, Bill Roberts, Roy Pennell, John Hirsch, Janice Maynard, and David Harrison, focusing on process, floodplain compliance, and Conservation Authority requirements.

CAO Marcia Wallace explained that Quinte Conservation approval is mandatory, and that any new application must be substantively different from previous ones. Council voted unanimously to receive the deputation, with no motion to intervene or direct staff.

Prince Edward County Community Benefits Network

Christine Durant, representing the Prince Edward County Community Benefits Network, outlined a framework for negotiating community benefits from large developments, including affordable housing, local hiring, and workforce training. Questions came from Councillors Roy Pennell, Kate MacNaughton, Bill Roberts, and Janice Maynard, focusing on governance, alignment with municipal authority, and advisory committee roles. Council unanimously voted to receive the deputation.

York and William Street

Mark Rose, on behalf of the Picton BIA, presented a concept to explore pedestrian-only use of part of York/William Street, tied to the Delhi Park Community Pathways Project. Discussion involved Councillors St-Jean, Branderhorst, Pennell, MacNaughton, and staff, addressing access for residents, emergency vehicles, underground infrastructure, and business impacts.

A motion moved by Councillor Phil St-Jean and seconded by Councillor Kate MacNaughton directed staff to bring a report to Committee of the Whole exploring pedestrian-only options and implications. The motion carried.

Fire Truck Replacement Resolution

A resolution addressing fire truck replacement timelines was moved by Councillor Brad Nieman and seconded by Councillor Branderhorst. The resolution directs Mayor Steve Ferguson to write to MPP Todd Smith, the Province, and Fire Underwriters Survey, seeking changes to insurance-driven replacement rules that apply equally to urban and rural municipalities. The motion carried unanimously.

What this means locally

The landfill-related land purchase supports long-term operational compliance. Around West Lake, affected property owners gain clarity and legal certainty over land boundaries, while the County resolves unused road allowances.

The discussion reinforced that updated floodplain rules now govern development, even where historical permissions or tax classifications exist. Council confirmed it cannot bypass Conservation Authority authority.

Residents near major development areas such as Base31, Wellington, and the hospital redevelopment may see future proposals shaped by community-driven benefit frameworks, though no formal Council role has yet been established. Picton residents and businesses can expect a formal study, not an immediate change. Community input will be part of any future decision affecting traffic flow and public space.

The meeting showed Council drawing firm lines around regulatory authority, cautiously exploring community-led initiatives, and uniting around cost pressures faced by rural services. For residents, the decisions clarify where Council can act directly, where it must defer to external authorities, and where future studies will shape upcoming debates.

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Disclaimer: This article is based on a meeting with an approximate duration of 1:06:28. 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.