Part 2: Town Hill Intersection Direction, Business Survey, and Council Decisions – 11/30/2023

PECConnect
Nov 30, 2023
4 min read

This second part of the November 30, 2023 Committee of the Whole recap focuses on who spoke, how council voted or gave direction, and how those decisions connect to specific parts of the County. It draws only from the meeting transcript and the official minutes. The meeting was chaired by Councillor Sam Grosso (Ameliasburgh), who managed speakers, debate, and voting throughout the afternoon.

Chamber of Commerce: Business Advocacy and County-Wide Reach

Lesley Lavender, Chief Executive Officer of the Prince Edward County Chamber of Commerce, addressed council on Chamber activity, business advocacy, and membership growth. Councillors from multiple wards asked questions about workforce housing, membership demographics, and the end of CEBA loans, showing that business pressures are being felt across the county rather than in one specific area.

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

Council formally received the deputation through a motion moved by Councillor Bill Roberts (Sophiasburgh) and seconded by Councillor Brad Nieman (Bloomfield/Hallowell), which carried. This confirms continued municipal recognition of the Chamber’s advocacy role for local businesses.

County Docs: Physician Recruitment and Budget Direction

Physician recruitment was presented by Dr. James Burrows, Barinder Gill, Executive Director of the Prince Edward Family Health Team, and Adam Hambly, Physician Recruiter, speaking for County Docs. Discussion centred on the difficulty of attracting physicians, how incentives are structured, and how recruitment pressures are increasing as population demand grows.

Council voted to ensure that the request for additional funding under the Healthcare Connect Premium Initiative be considered during 2024 budget deliberations. That motion was moved by Councillor Brad Nieman and seconded by Councillor Bill Roberts, and it carried.

Picton Town Hill Intersection: Formal Direction Added

The most specific direction of the meeting followed deputations from Gary Mooney and Steve Sykes on the Picton Town Hill intersection. Council discussion reflected concern about traffic safety, pedestrian access, and how previous studies had narrowed options.

Aerial view of a rural crossroad, surrounded by grassy fields and dirt paths. The road is empty and the scene is peaceful.

Council approved a motion requiring staff and consultants to include a full range of options in the next report, specifically the “do something” and “do nothing” options, to consider locating traffic signals at the bottom of Town Hill on Bridge Street, and to evaluate all options using Mr. Mooney’s suggested model and criteria. The motion was moved by Councillor Phil St-Jean (Picton) and seconded by Councillor Chris Braney (Hillier), and it carried.

Public Library Budget: Support with Open Questions

Barbara Sweet, Chief Executive Officer of the Prince Edward County Public Library, and Sandy Murray, Chair of the Library Finance Committee, presented the 2024 library budget. Councillors questioned issues ranging from capital repairs, rear stair access, and extended hours, to unionization impacts and ongoing fundraising efforts.

Comments came from several wards. Councillor Roy Pennell (Ameliasburgh) questioned revenue opportunities and capital priorities. Councillor Phil St-Jean raised concerns about long-standing provincial underfunding and access connections. Councillor Kate MacNaughton (Picton) spoke in support of the library’s expanded role, while Mayor Ferguson highlighted growth in youth programming.

Council voted to receive the presentation through a motion moved by Councillor Bill Roberts and seconded by Councillor Kate MacNaughton, which carried.

Business Retention and Expansion Survey

Karen Palmer, Economic Development Officer, presented the 2023 All Sector Business Retention and Expansion Survey. Discussion linked survey findings to planning, zoning, commercial space availability, and housing pressures.

Councillor John Hirsch (South Marysburgh) connected business needs to land-use planning and commercial space in new developments. Councillor Janice Maynard (Ameliasburgh) and Councillor Phil St-Jean emphasized the value of face-to-face outreach, particularly with trades. Concerns were also raised about the impact of past rezoning decisions on long-established businesses.

Council approved a motion to receive the report and direct staff to return in 2024 with an Economic Action Plan focused on economic diversification, agribusiness and on-farm diversified uses, and creating a business-friendly municipal environment. The motion was moved by Councillor Janice Maynard and seconded by Councillor Phil St-Jean, and it carried.

Emergency Management: Compliance Confirmed

Red pen checking boxes on a list; three red checkmarks visible. Background features a red and blue plaid pattern, suggesting organization.

Chad Brown, Fire Chief and Community Emergency Management Coordinator, confirmed that the County has met all annual requirements under the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act. Council voted to receive the report and direct that Emergency Management Ontario be formally notified.

The motion was moved by Councillor Chris Braney and seconded by Mayor Ferguson, and it carried.

How This Affects Residents

For Picton, council direction on the Town Hill intersection keeps multiple safety and traffic options in play, while library funding and access issues remain tied to the 2024 budget.

For Wellington and surrounding rural wards, concerns about zoning stability, commercial land availability, and business retention were clearly voiced and are now set to be addressed through a future Economic Action Plan. For the county as a whole, physician recruitment funding, emergency preparedness, and core community services like libraries remain active priorities, but many outcomes will depend on decisions made during upcoming budget deliberations.

The meeting adjourned at 4:35 p.m. following a motion moved by Councillor David Harrison (North Marysburgh) and seconded by Councillor Phil St-Jean, which carried.

Disclaimer: This article is based on a meeting with an approximate duration of 3:00:39. 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.