Part 1: Community Recognition, Public Art Policy, and Transit Updates - 06/10/2025

The County Council convened for its regular meeting on Tuesday, June 10, 2025, beginning at 5:00 p.m. at Shire Hall in Picton. The meeting was chaired by Mayor Steve Ferguson, who opened proceedings with a land acknowledgement and outlined the structure of the evening, including an extended closed session followed by a full public agenda. All members of Council were present, with Councillor Kate MacNaughton joining shortly after the meeting began.

Early in the meeting, Council addressed procedural matters, including disclosure of pecuniary interest by Councillor Brad Nieman, and approved an amended agenda that added an additional closed session item related to a proposed or pending land transaction in the Picton Industrial Park. Council then moved into closed session to consider several confidential matters, including litigation involving properties in multiple wards, solicitor client advice, personal matters related to advisory committee appointments, and land disposition discussions. The closed session concluded at 7:00 p.m., at which point Council reconvened in open session to report out and proceed with the public portion of the meeting.

© PEC Council (YouTube)

View the entire PEC Council meeting, or continue to speaker comments and councillor votes.

Upon returning to open session, Council dealt with two motions arising from closed session. The first authorized approval of minutes of settlement between Daimler Retirement Parks Ltd. and the County, directing legal counsel to resolve a Superior Court matter on that basis. The second addressed appointments to advisory committees, confirming new voting public members for the Agriculture Advisory Committee, Audit Committee, and Built and Cultural Heritage Advisory Committee. These actions formally concluded the closed session business before Council transitioned into announcements and proclamations.

The announcements portion of the meeting highlighted a wide range of community activity across the County. Councillor Chris Braney shared news that television host Sarah Keenleyside would be launching a new Home and Garden Television series focused on the County, with most of the production crew drawn locally.

Councillor Sam Branderhorst and Kate MacNaughton drew attention to youth led arts initiatives and upcoming Pride events, while Councillor Roy Pennell noted his attendance at the Relay for Life in Trenton on behalf of Council. Mayor Ferguson added remarks recognizing recent cultural events, including the Gather textile exhibition, the Main Street Fashion Show, and the revival of the Kids of Steel triathlon.

Mayor Ferguson also read two formal proclamations into the record. The first declared June 15 as World Elder Abuse Awareness Day in the County, emphasizing respect, dignity, and community responsibility toward seniors. The second proclaimed June 21 to July 1, 2025 as PECelebrates, recognizing a series of community events tied to Indigenous History Month, Pride Month, Multiculturalism Day, and Canada Day.

© Stroller Parking

Council then moved into deputations, beginning with Peta Hall and Lisa Reddick, speaking on behalf of the Wellington Community Association. Their presentation focused on the ongoing beautification efforts in Wellington and a proposed revitalization of Wellington Park.

They outlined a community funded approach to planting, public art, and park improvements, and requested that the project be formally recognized as a project of community interest to enable charitable receipts for donors. Council received the deputation and declared the revitalization of Wellington Park a project of community interest, allowing the initiative to proceed under municipal donation protocols.

The next deputation was delivered by Don Wilford, who addressed Council regarding the municipal budget process. Wilford raised concerns about the availability and clarity of year end financial information during budget deliberations, arguing that the absence of complete actuals and projections limited transparency and decision making. He suggested incorporating projected year end figures into budget materials or including budget comparisons in audit reports. Council discussed the proposal in general terms, including how budget timing and reporting practices affect planning, before formally receiving the deputation.

Council then heard from Andrea Dawes, Special Initiatives Manager with the Prince Edward County Arts Council, who spoke in support of the proposed Public Art Policy. Dawes outlined the multi year process that led to the policy, including community engagement, the creation of a Public Art Committee, and coordination with municipal staff. She explained how the policy and accompanying procedures would guide public art commissions, donations, and community initiated projects, and how the program aligns with broader County goals around accessibility, heritage, and community identity. Council received the deputation and prepared to consider the policy later in the agenda.

With no registered speakers for comments from the audience, Council moved into items for consideration. The first major report addressed the Public Art Policy, presented by Chris Palmer, Supervisor of Museums and Cultural Services. Palmer described the policy as the final step needed to activate the County’s public art program, emphasizing its role in providing clear processes, accountability, and collaboration with the Arts Council. Council discussion focused on accessibility, geographic balance across the County, and how public art initiatives would be funded and administered. Council ultimately approved the policy and rescinded the moratorium on permanent public art installations that had been in place since 2023.

Council next considered a report on the 2025 Summer Transit Enhancement, presented by Julianne Snepsts, Programs Supervisor. The report detailed a seasonal weekend transit service connecting Wellington, Bloomfield, Picton, and Belleville, funded through a combination of municipal accommodation tax revenue, sponsorships, and fare revenue.

Snepsts explained the proposed routes, service frequency, fare structure, and the role of community and business partners. Council discussed the balance between tourism support and resident benefits, sponsorship limits, and fare eligibility before approving the report and related by law amendments.

Later in the meeting, Council addressed several resolutions brought forward by individual councillors. These included advocacy related to the federal Canada Disability Benefit, a request to review and improve the 2026 budget process, and discussions concerning road conditions and long term infrastructure planning.

The meeting concluded with consent agenda items, consideration of by laws, confirmation of proceedings, and a motion to adjourn. Council formally adjourned at 9:04 p.m., closing a meeting that combined confidential legal matters, community focused initiatives, and several foundational policy discussions that will shape future Council decisions.

Key Takeaways

1. Council handled significant legal and governance matters in closed session. Council approved settlement minutes, made advisory committee appointments, and addressed land and legal matters before moving into the public agenda.

   
   

2. Community, arts, and culture took center stage in the public meeting. Proclamations, support for Wellington Park revitalization, and approval of the Public Art Policy highlighted Council’s focus on community identity and cultural investment.

   
   

3. Transit and policy decisions signaled practical changes for residents and visitors. Council approved summer transit enhancements and lifted the moratorium on permanent public art, setting the stage for visible changes across the County.

---

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.