Part 2: Redevelopment Input, Recycling Concerns, and Medical Land Decision – 08/29/2024

This article of Committee of the Whole meeting on August 29, 2024 focuses on who said what, how Council directed or voted, and where those decisions land locally. The meeting was chaired by Councillor Phil St-Jean (Picton Ward), who guided discussion, recognized speakers, and clarified when items would return to Council for final approval.

© PEC Council (YouTube)

View the entire PEC Council Meeting; or view our recap.

Queen Elizabeth School Redevelopment

The most detailed public input came from Lars Hansen, representing the Queen Elizabeth Community near the former school site. Hansen laid out four clear priorities developed by roughly 40 nearby residents: moderate density, a height limit of three storeys, publicly accessible green space, and a community or social hub component.

Mayor Steve Ferguson publicly praised the deputation as clear and constructive. Councillor Phil St-Jean (Picton) acknowledged prior communication with the community and committed to continued engagement.

Sam Branderhorst (Athol) clarified a key procedural point: the former selection committee no longer exists, and Council itself will make the final decision once revised proposals return. This exchange underscored that while community priorities are heard, Council retains decision-making authority.

Council voted unanimously to receive the deputation, formally placing the community’s priorities on the public record.

Blue Box Recycling Transition

Bill Sandison, General Manager of Quinte Waste Solutions, presented the Blue Box Recycling Transition update. He confirmed the shift to producer responsibility, the July 2025 transition date, and that E360 Solutions has been awarded the future collection contract.

Questions came quickly from across the table. Councillor Roy Pennell (Ameliasburgh) asked directly about costs to municipalities. Sandison responded that overall municipal costs are expected to decrease, but exact figures are still being finalized.

Councillor Janice Maynard (Ameliasburgh) and Councillor John Hirsch (South Marysburgh) pressed on the issue of non-eligible materials, particularly how businesses such as restaurants and campgrounds will be served. Sandison confirmed the Waste Services Board intends to continue service, but responsibility will rest with municipalities.

Councillor St-Jean openly criticized the Province’s approach as short-sighted, a rare moment of blunt commentary that reflected broader frustration around downloading responsibility without clarity.

Council voted to receive the presentation, with several councillors signaling the issue will return for deeper discussion.

Development Charges: Setting the Framework

On development charges for water and wastewater infrastructure, Marcia Wallace, Chief Administrative Officer, spoke on behalf of the Finance Department.

Councillor Pennell raised concerns about fairness for rural residents. Wallace responded clearly that rural ratepayers will not fund municipal water infrastructure, as water and wastewater charges apply only where services exist.

Councillor Hirsch asked about timelines, and Wallace confirmed the goal is to have a framework in place by Q2 2025 to align with the next construction season.

Council voted unanimously to receive the report and direct staff to begin a background study, a procedural but important step toward changing how growth is paid for.

Parkland Funds: Where the Money Goes

Discussion on the Parkland Reserve Fund focused less on disagreement and more on clarification.

Marcia Wallace explained that funds are often collected from infill developments and that new provincial rules require municipalities to spend most of what they collect.

Councillor Maynard thanked staff for finally unlocking long-held funds and emphasized the value of using cash-in-lieu rather than inheriting small, unusable park parcels.

Council voted to receive the report and direct staff to allocate funds closer to where they were collected, reinforcing a geographic fairness principle.

Medical Building: Broad Support, Practical Questions

The proposal to designate land at 375 Main Street East, Picton, for a medical building drew strong support.

Julianne Snepsts, Programs Supervisor, explained the recommendation from the Primary Care Infrastructure Working Group.

Councillor Maynard raised concerns about parking and daycare operations.

Councillor St-Jean asked directly about impacts on fairground parking. Snepsts confirmed discussions with the fair board are ongoing.

Mayor Steve Ferguson asked whether provincial funding could cover the full project. Snepsts confirmed that the grant program is designed to fund the project from early studies through construction.

Council voted unanimously to designate the land, support funding applications, and dissolve the working group, moving the project into its next phase.

Salem Road: A Shift in Language, Not the Plan

The most contentious item came from Councillor Pennell, who sought Council support to include Salem Road in the next five-year road program.

Councillor Maynard and Mayor Steve Ferguson both pushed back against altering the existing plan, emphasizing the importance of sticking to established criteria. After extended debate, Pennell introduced a friendly amendment, changing the wording from “directed to include” to “consider including” Salem Road.

Council voted to carry the amended motion, preserving the integrity of the existing plan while formally flagging the road for future consideration.

What This Means Locally

The Queen Elizabeth site and medical building decisions signal that land use and health care access will dominate upcoming debates.

The Salem Road discussion highlights ongoing frustration with rural road conditions and how priorities are set.

Recycling changes and development charges point to rising complexity in how services are funded and delivered. Most importantly, the meeting showed Council trying to balance community voices, provincial policy constraints, and long-term planning, often without clean or immediate answers.

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Disclaimer: This article is based on a meeting with an approximate duration of 1:58:41. 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.