Part 2: Picton Terminals, Bridge Projects, Taxi Licensing, and Water Agreement – 07/25/2023

Mayor Steve Ferguson chaired the meeting and stepped out of the chair only once, during discussion of changes to the Municipal Financial Relief Program. When that happened, Phil St-Jean (Picton) acted as chair. Throughout the night, Ferguson kept debate moving, called several long votes, and emphasized when Council needed direction or clarity from staff before proceeding.

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

Wellington Dukes proposal and referral to staff

The deputation from the Wellington Dukes did not result in an immediate decision. Phil St-Jean asked whether the Dukes had approached corporate sponsors before coming to the County. Bill Roberts (Sophiasburgh) asked about how the team fits into the broader junior hockey system and community development. Roy Pennell (Ameliasburgh) spoke positively about the team’s recognition beyond the County. Council voted to refer the request to staff for consideration in a future lease report, rather than approving or rejecting it outright.

Picton Terminals deputations and next legal steps

After hearing from Ken Stewart and Ryan Wallach, Council voted to receive both deputations without debate. Later in the evening, following a closed session, Council voted on two motions tied directly to Picton Terminals. Phil Prinzen (Bloomfield and Hallowell) and Janice Maynard (Ameliasburgh) moved a motion directing staff to re engage legal counsel to pursue a settlement through the courts. Council carried it.

A second motion moved by Bill Roberts and Chris Braney (Hillier) directed the Mayor and CAO to arrange a council to council meeting with the Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte. That motion also carried, signaling Council’s intent to continue both legal and intergovernmental discussions.

Municipal Financial Relief Program changes

This was one of the clearest votes of the night. Steve Ferguson introduced the motion and explained why some homeowners were excluded because they pay taxes indirectly through a third party. Sam Branderhorst (Athol) also speaking as a senior staff member earlier in the night, explained the limits of the existing program and what would be required to fix it.

Councillors Phil St-Jean, Janice Maynard, Kate MacNaughton (Picton), and Bill Roberts all raised questions about fairness, scope, and cost. After amendments, Council voted unanimously in favour of directing staff to prepare a bylaw and report so affected homeowners could qualify in 2023 if they meet income requirements. The recorded vote was 13 in favour and none opposed.

H.J. McFarland Memorial Home roof motion

Roy Pennell brought forward the motion asking for a detailed report on the condition of the McFarland Home roof and potential funding needs. Sam Branderhorst explained that reserves were very limited and staff were deliberately delaying major work while meeting provincial requirements. When the vote was called, the motion failed. No recorded vote was requested, but the result showed Council was not prepared to commit to further reporting or spending at that time.

Taxi and limousine licensing bylaw amendment

The amendment to the taxi and limousine licensing bylaw was led by Phil St-Jean, who explained that decades old fraud convictions were blocking people from working as drivers. Kate MacNaughton asked for clarification on what language was changing.

Chris Braney and Bill Roberts raised questions about pardons and screening. Once staff clarified that the change only applied to older or lower value fraud offences and kept stricter rules for serious crimes, Council voted in favour and carried the amendment.

Food insecurity and school food policy resolution

Bill Roberts introduced the resolution supporting a stronger Canada Child Benefit and a national school food program. There was little debate. Jane MacNaughton voiced support, and no councillors spoke against it. Council voted unanimously to support the resolution and forward it to federal representatives and municipal associations.

Loyalist Parkway bridge rehabilitation

This was one of the more divided votes. John Hirsch (South Marysburgh) argued strongly that Council should follow the consulting engineer’s advice to delay the project and retender next year. Roy Pennell supported waiting. Janice Maynard opposed deferral, pointing out that the lowest bid was well below the other and within budget.

A motion to defer and retender failed. Council then voted to proceed with awarding the tender. The main motion carried, showing a majority was willing to move ahead despite concerns about timing and pricing.

Burr Road bridge rehabilitation

Again, John Hirsch raised concerns, questioning whether cheaper engineering solutions had been explored. David MacPherson, Manager of Engineering, defended the recommendation, saying qualified engineers had reviewed all options. Roy Pennell asked whether a culvert solution was possible. Council voted to proceed, and the tender was approved.

Fire pumper replacement and spare truck

This item produced the most visible discussion. John Hirsch questioned why a truck in good condition was being replaced. Phil Prinzen asked about resale value and storage of the old truck. Fire Chief Chad Brown explained how often apparatus are out of service and why a spare is needed.

Despite that explanation, the motion to award the tender and approve keeping a spare truck failed on a recorded vote. Phil St-Jean expressed frustration, saying Council repeatedly budgets for critical equipment and then backs away. No alternative direction was approved, leaving staff without clear instruction.

Bakker Road and western beach parking

Chris Braney asked for clarification on how a parking change near Bakker Road aligned with prior agreements. Janice Maynard explained it involved only a small number of spaces and did not expand parking into residential areas. Sam Branderhorst recommended sending one clause back to the Traffic Advisory Committee due to miscommunication between departments.

Phil Prinzen moved to refer just that clause back while approving the rest. Council agreed, sending the parking issue back for further review while passing the remainder of the traffic items.

Water agreement amendment with Belleville

This item passed without opposition. Kate MacNaughton and Janice Maynard both thanked staff and the City of Belleville. Sam Branderhorst confirmed the amendment would save over one million dollars over ten years. Council voted unanimously to approve the bylaw.

How this affects residents

For Wellington and leasehold communities, the unanimous vote on municipal financial relief means residents who pay taxes indirectly may finally be able to apply for support in 2023.

For Picton and Bay of Quinte shoreline residents, Council has chosen to continue legal action on Picton Terminals while also opening direct dialogue with the Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte.

For drivers and small business operators, changes to taxi licensing open doors for people previously blocked by decades old convictions.

For road users, bridge work on Loyalist Parkway and Burr Road will move ahead, bringing construction impacts now rather than later. For fire protection, the failed vote on the new pumper leaves uncertainty about fleet readiness.

And for all water customers, the amended Belleville agreement promises long term savings that help stabilize water rates across the County.

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Disclaimer: This article is based on a meeting with an approximate duration of 5:27:34. 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.