Part 2: Council Positions on Children’s Programs, Benson Park, Transit, and Housing — 09/28/2023
- PECConnect
- Sep 28, 2023
- 5 min read
This section looks at who spoke, how councillors voted, and how decisions came together during the meeting. It follows the agenda and highlights where Council agreed, where there were concerns, and what changed before final votes.
The discussion covered a mix of local issues, from children’s programs and park upgrades to transit and housing. Some items moved quickly with full support, while others brought more questions about cost, fairness, and long term planning. Together, it gives a clear picture of what Council focused on and what it could mean for residents across the County.
View the entire PEC Council Meeting; or view our recap.
Children’s Foundation and Dress Purple Day
Melanie Cressman, Executive Director of the Children’s Foundation, led the deputation and answered questions from Council about how programs operate in Prince Edward County and how recent changes may affect local families.
Councillor Phil St-Jean spoke at length about the Angel Tree program, raising concerns about reduced community access and asking how many families served were directly connected to Children’s Aid. He emphasized the importance of keeping County families supported and offered to work directly with the Foundation to bridge gaps.
Councillor Bill Roberts added comments supporting the importance of Angel Tree, especially for residents connected to Kate’s Rest and those facing food insecurity and housing instability.
The deputation was formally received with a motion moved by Councillor Roberts and seconded by Councillor St-Jean, and the vote carried without opposition.
Benson Park Master Plan Presentation
Scott M. Wentworth, Senior Landscape Architect and President, presented the Benson Park Master Plan and responded to extensive questioning from Council.
Councillor St-Jean questioned whether the park was becoming more of a gym than a playground and expressed concern about over programming the space. He later acknowledged the value of accessibility and visibility improvements but remained cautious about scale and cost.
Councillor Pennell strongly supported the inclusive design approach and suggested opportunities for community involvement such as donated trees and memorial benches.
Councillor Prinzen spoke in favour of including adult fitness equipment, arguing that adults modelling active behaviour benefits children.
Councillor Janice Maynard raised concerns about unstructured play space and questioned whether the amount of equipment matched actual park usage.
Mayor Steve Ferguson supported the plan overall but asked about safety standards, visibility, and potential noise impacts on nearby residents.
Councillor Roberts praised the accessibility features and referenced similar successful parks in other municipalities.
The presentation itself was received through a motion moved by Mayor Steve Ferguson and seconded by Councillor Bill Roberts, and it carried.
Benson Park Master Plan Report and Funding Direction
When the formal staff report came forward, Councillor John Hirsch questioned whether endorsing the plan was premature given that the Parks and Recreation Master Plan was still in progress.
Lisa Lindsay, Director of Recreation and Community Facilities, explained that the existing playground equipment was non compliant and unsafe and that safety and visibility concerns required action regardless of broader planning timelines.
Councillor Maynard raised fairness concerns, questioning why Benson Park would receive such a comprehensive upgrade while other parks were receiving more modest improvements.
Councillor Sam Branderhorst, acting Chair during portions of the discussion, explained that Benson Park funding originated in earlier budgets and that endorsement of the plan would allow staff to seek grants and sponsorships rather than relying solely on tax dollars.
At Councillor Nieman’s request, the motion was split.
The motion to receive the report and endorse the master plan was moved by Councillor John Hirsch and seconded by Councillor Phil St Jean, and it carried. The separate motion to direct staff to bring forward a funding request for Phase 1 in the 2024 capital budget was also moved by Councillor John Hirsch and seconded by St-Jean, and it carried.
County Transit Update
The County Transit report was introduced by staff, with Julianne Snepsts providing context and ridership data.
Councillor Maynard asked about ridership by route and how service effectiveness is being measured.
Councillor Pennell questioned the practicality of anti idling rules and raised concerns about how criminal record checks are monitored over time.
Councillor Roberts asked how County Transit fits alongside the Uride program.
Following discussion, Councillor Brad Nieman moved a motion directing staff to bring back a report on U Ride prior to the 2024 budget. It was seconded by Councillor St-Jean and carried.
The main transit report and updated agreement with Quinte Access Transportation was then approved through a motion moved by Councillor St-Jean and seconded by Councillor Roy Pennell, and it carried.
Housing Affordability Task Force Response
Council reviewed the request from the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing to submit five priority recommendations.
Mayor Steve Ferguson guided the discussion, with Marcia Wallace, Chief Administrative Officer, explaining the implications of different recommendations.
Councillor St-Jean supported measures that reduce financial barriers for builders such as surety bonds.
Councillor Maynard advocated for workforce training and innovative home ownership pathways.
Councillor Hirsch supported limiting appeal processes that delay affordable housing projects.
Council ultimately agreed on five recommendations. The final motion directing the Mayor to submit these priorities was moved by Councillor St-Jean and seconded by Councillor Branderhorst, and it carried.
What This Means for Residents
The endorsement of the Benson Park Master Plan signals real change ahead, with safer playground equipment and a more visible and accessible park layout likely coming next if funding is approved.
Families who rely on children’s support programs heard clear concern from councillors about maintaining local access.
Transit users can expect continued service growth and a closer look at how public and private transportation options work together.
The housing discussion shows Council pushing for tools that could eventually make it easier to build affordable homes while reducing delays that affect people trying to find a place to live.
Disclaimer: This article is based on a meeting with an approximate duration of 2:13:27. 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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