Part 2: Public Art Policy, Transit Expansion, Budget Reform, and Roads Debate – 06/10/2025

When Council returned from closed session, Mayor Steve Ferguson reported that Council had dealt with multiple confidential matters related to litigation, advisory committee appointments, and land transactions.

Kate MacNaughton (Picton) introduced a motion approving minutes of settlement between Daimler Retirement Parks Ltd. and the County, directing legal counsel to resolve the related Ontario Superior Court matter. Council voted in favour, formally concluding that litigation file.

Phil Prinzen (Picton) then brought forward motions appointing new public members to advisory committees. Council approved the appointment of Wyatt Brauer as a youth voting member of the Agriculture Advisory Committee, Reta Coburn to the Audit Committee, and Janice Gibbins to the Built and Cultural Heritage Advisory Committee.

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

Wellington Park Revitalization and Community Interest

Speaking on behalf of the Wellington Community Association, Peta Hall and Lisa Reddick outlined a resident led effort to revitalize Wellington Park through donated trees, native plantings, public art elements, and long term beautification projects.

Corey Engelsdorfer (Wellington) responded positively to the presentation and introduced a motion to declare the Wellington Park revitalization a Project of Community Interest. The designation allows donations to flow through the municipality and enables donors to receive tax receipts.

Council voted unanimously to approve the motion.

Budget Transparency and Financial Reporting Discussion

Resident Don Wilford addressed Council with concerns about how budget information is presented during annual deliberations. He argued that Council and the public lack access to meaningful year end actuals and projections when tax decisions are made, limiting transparency.

During discussion, Councillor David Harrison (North Marysburgh) raised the idea of adjusting the budget timeline so that final approval could occur after more complete financial data is available. Wilford responded that projected year end figures would already improve clarity, even if audits are not yet finalized.

John Hirsch (South Marysburgh) initially suggested asking staff to explore Wilford’s proposals, but later withdrew the motion after discussion about how the issue might be addressed through upcoming budget process changes. Council ultimately voted to receive the deputation without directing immediate action.

Public Art Policy and Cultural Planning

The Public Art Policy generated one of the most detailed discussions of the evening. Andrea Dawes, Special Initiatives Manager with the Prince Edward County Arts Council, described the policy as the final step in launching a structured, County wide public art program. She emphasized accessibility, geographic balance, and clear procedures for commissioning, donations, and community initiated art.

During Council debate, Sam Grosso (Ameliasburgh) encouraged staff to ensure that public art projects extend beyond Picton and Wellington into northern communities such as Consecon and the Ameliasburgh area. Dawes confirmed that geographic distribution was a core objective of the program.

MacNaughton praised the policy’s focus on accessibility and equity, noting its alignment with work being done by the Accessibility Advisory Committee.

Bill Roberts (Sophiasburgh) used the debate to reflect on the broader role of public art, referencing the unresolved status of the Sir John A. Macdonald statue and arguing that public art can be a tool for dialogue around complex history rather than avoidance of it.

Council voted unanimously to approve the Public Art Policy and rescind the moratorium on permanent public art installations that had been in place since 2023.

Summer Transit Enhancement and Regional Connectivity

Council next considered the 2025 Summer Transit Enhancement, presented by Julianne Snepsts, Programs Supervisor.

Snepsts explained that the seasonal service would operate on weekends between late June and early September, connecting Wellington, Bloomfield, Picton, and Belleville using two fixed routes that meet in Bloomfield. She emphasized that the service supports tourism while also benefiting residents, including youth, service workers, and people without vehicles.

Roy Pennell (Ameliasburgh) questioned sponsorship limits and naming rights, while Brad Nieman (Bloomfield/Hallowell) sought clarification on youth fare eligibility. Janice Maynard (Ameliasburgh) raised concerns about funding sources, questioning why a tourism-focused service was partially funded through municipal accommodation tax revenue rather than Visit the County.

Snepsts responded that the service serves both tourists and residents and would help inform future transit planning by generating real world usage data.

Council voted in favour of the transit enhancement.

Disability Advocacy and Unanimous Council Support

Bill Roberts introduced a resolution calling on the federal government to exempt the upcoming Canada Disability Benefit from income tax. He framed the issue as one of dignity and poverty prevention, particularly for residents living with disabilities on limited incomes.

Multiple councillors spoke in support. MacNaughton described the motion as necessary but troubling in light of existing gaps in disability supports. Maynard broadened the discussion to include residents facing disability due to illness, including cancer.

Council held a recorded vote, with all fourteen members voting in favour. The resolution will be forwarded to federal ministers, advocacy organizations, and municipalities across Ontario, positioning Prince Edward County as an active voice in national disability policy discussions.

Budget Process Reform and Roads Debate

Chris Braney brought forward a motion requesting that the Mayor direct staff to review the 2026 budget process, citing the importance of transparency and efficiency under strong mayor powers. Council voted unanimously in favour, setting the stage for potential changes to how future budgets are structured and communicated. The most divisive debate of the evening centered on roads.

Roy Pennell proposed creating a Councillor and citizen Roads Working Group, arguing that residents need better understanding of road conditions, funding limits, and repair priorities. He framed the issue as both an infrastructure and communication problem, particularly for rural wards.

Opposition came from Councillors Roberts, MacNaughton, and Hirsch, who warned that a working group could blur governance and operational roles, raise unrealistic expectations, and duplicate existing asset management processes. Several councillors emphasized that scientific condition assessments and long term planning should continue to guide road decisions.

The motion failed on a recorded vote, with six councillors in favour and eight opposed.

Immediately following, Sam Grosso introduced a narrower motion requesting staff report back on the Five Year Road Improvement Plan, including its progress, challenges, and opportunities for change. Council approved this motion, signalling support for increased information sharing without creating a formal working group.

What Comes Next

By the end of the meeting, Council had approved major policy frameworks, endorsed advocacy efforts, and set directions for future budget and infrastructure discussions. While some debates revealed divisions, particularly around roads and public engagement, others showed strong consensus on accessibility, arts, and social policy.

Procedurally, staff are now tasked with reporting back on the budget process review and the Five Year Road Improvement Plan, while new transit services and public art initiatives move into implementation across the County.

For Wellington residents, the decision formally recognizes the park project and enables continued fundraising and partnerships with County departments. It also sets a precedent for how community driven park projects elsewhere in the County could be supported through similar mechanisms.

For residents in Wellington, Bloomfield, Picton, and surrounding rural areas, the decision provides expanded seasonal transit options and improved connections to Belleville.

For rural residents, particularly in areas facing deteriorating road conditions, the outcome means more public reporting on road planning but no new citizen committee structure.

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Disclaimer: This article is based on a meeting with an approximate duration of 4:05:28. 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.