Part 2: Picton Terminals Vote Split, Public Concerns, and Infrastructure Unity – 09/10/2024

The September 10, 2024 Council meeting recap focuses on who spoke, how councillors voted, and where impacts are likely to be felt across the County.

The most consequential decision of the night came out of closed session, when Council considered whether to proceed toward approving a bylaw tied to the Picton Terminals settlement agreement.

Councillor Kate MacNaughton (Picton) moved the motion directing Council to seek a separate legal opinion on the settlement before any bylaw was brought forward. Councillor John Hirsch (South Marysburgh).

At the request of Councillor Roy Pennell (Ameliasburgh), the vote was recorded.

Those voting in favour of seeking an independent legal opinion were: Phil Prinzen, Phil St-Jean, Sam Branderhorst, Corey Engelsdorfer, John Hirsch, Kate MacNaughton, Janice Maynard, and Mayor Steve Ferguson.

Those voting opposed were: Roy Pennell, Brad Nieman, David Harrison, and Sam Grosso.

The motion carried 8–4, halting any immediate approval of a settlement bylaw and removing the Picton Terminals bylaw from consideration that night.

© PEC Council (YouTube)

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

Deputations: Public Voices and Council’s Response

All four deputations focused on Picton Terminals and were formally received by Council without debate.

Michael Jowett raised concerns about vague settlement language and the lack of dispute resolution mechanisms, urging Council to explain its rationale more openly.

David MacKinnon challenged the legal foundations of the settlement, questioning Indigenous consultation and emphasizing that Council resolutions referred to the agreement as a “draft.” His comments resonated particularly with residents near Picton Bay, where blasting and quarrying impacts were described.

Ryan Wallach, speaking remotely, critiqued specific provisions related to shoreline protection, operating hours, aggregate extraction, and complaint handling. His remarks focused on enforceability and risk, highlighting potential long-term consequences for neighbouring properties.

Leslie Stewart warned Council that municipalities cannot legally exchange zoning approvals for settlement outcomes, framing the issue as one of municipal law and governance rather than policy preference.

Council voted unanimously to receive each deputation, signaling that while no immediate debate followed, the concerns entered the formal public record.

Audience Comments: Divided Views Across the County

During comments from the audience, divisions became clearer. Residents such as Bill Beckett, Leslie Hardy, Doug Pollitt, Duncan Moore, and Connor Donberker raised issues affecting Picton, County Road 49, and nearby residential areas. Concerns included traffic volumes, environmental enforcement, drinking water safety, property values, and long-term tax impacts.

In contrast, Trevor Crowe, speaking on behalf of County farmers, supported resolving the dispute to enable grain shipping. His comments reflected interests primarily affecting agricultural operations across the County, particularly those facing high trucking costs and limited port access.

These comments illustrated that the Picton Terminals issue affects residents differently depending on geography. Waterfront neighbours emphasized environmental and quality-of-life impacts, while farming communities focused on economic and logistical benefits.

Wellington Wastewater Plant: Unanimous Support

© Prince Edward County

Council showed far more unity on infrastructure. Councillor St-Jean moved, and Councillor Hirsch seconded, the motion to award the $1.447 million design contract for the Wellington Wastewater Treatment Plant to CIMA Canada Inc. After extensive questions, the recorded vote showed unanimous support, with all present councillors voting in favour.

Housing Accelerator Fund and Integrity Commissioner

Council also unanimously supported submitting the Housing Accelerator Fund 2 application, moved by Councillor MacNaughton and seconded by Councillor Pennell. This item affects housing supply County-wide, particularly in growth areas such as Picton and Wellington.

Later, Council received the Integrity Commissioner’s report, presented by Robert J. Swayze, concerning complaints about closed-session confidentiality. Councillors including Roy Pennell, Phil St-Jean, and John Hirsch questioned Swayze directly. He confirmed no sanctions were warranted but emphasized strict confidentiality going forward. The report was received without opposition.

What This Means for Local Residents

Council’s decision to seek further legal advice delays any expansion or settlement-related changes tied to Picton Terminals, maintaining uncertainty but also preventing immediate approvals.

For Wellington, unanimous support for wastewater design signals concrete progress toward resolving servicing constraints that have stalled development.

For rural wards and farming communities, the meeting underscored a tension between economic opportunity through port access and broader concerns about environmental regulation, transparency, and governance.

The meeting revealed a Council split on legal risk tolerance but aligned on infrastructure and housing, setting the stage for continued debate when Picton Terminals returns to the agenda.

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Disclaimer: This article is based on a meeting with an approximate duration of 4:46:55. 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.