Part 2: Code of Conduct, Roads, and Barker Street – 02/10/2026

Resident Paul Allen spoke directly to Council about conflict of interest language in the County’s Code of Conduct. He argued that some parts of the Code may read as principles rather than enforceable rules and urged Council not to delay improvements while waiting for provincial direction.

During Council discussion, Councillor John Hirsch said recent Integrity Commissioner decisions revealed weaknesses in the Code and stated he supported reviewing it sooner rather than later.

Another councillor asked staff what Integrity Commissioner investigations have cost. Staff reported that the municipality spent $28,714.06 in 2023 and $71,281.94 in 2025 as of the most recent available financial reports.

The Clerk told Council that direction is already in place to review governance policies, including the Code of Conduct, and that staff plan to bring forward work this year.

Council voted to receive the deputation. Voted in favour are Ferguson, Hirsch, Maynard, Grosso, Nieman, Pennell, Prinzen, and Branderhorst.There was no vote on changing the Code that night. The review will come back later.

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Winter highway maintenance contract

Council considered awarding the new winter highway maintenance contract.

The motion was moved by Councillor John Hirsch and seconded by Councillor Phil St-Jean. Staff explained the contract would go to QBT Excavating Services Ltd. for a three year term with optional extensions. They confirmed trucks must meet safety standards and undergo inspections.

During discussion, Councillor Roy Pennell praised current road conditions and said County roads had been maintained better than neighbouring areas during recent storms. Councillor Janice Maynard also commented positively on service levels in her area.

Council then voted to award the contract. Voted in favour are Ferguson, Hirsch, Maynard, Grosso, Nieman, Pennell, Prinzen, and Branderhorst. The vote was unanimous.

County Road 49 funding extension

Council next addressed an amendment to the Housing Enabling Core Servicing agreement tied to the rehabilitation of County Road 49. The motion was moved by Councillor Phil St-Jean and seconded by Councillor Sam Grosso. Staff explained that the amendment extends the provincial funding deadline to Dec. 31, 2028, allowing another full construction season.

Councillor Phil St-Jean asked whether the County could proceed with spending the provincial portion of funding before federal commitments are secured. Staff clarified that any change in project scope would require approval from the province.

Council voted to approve the amending agreement. Voted in favour are Ferguson, Hirsch, Maynard, Grosso, Nieman, Pennell, Prinzen, and Branderhorst. Again, unanimous.

Barker Street possible two way conversion

This was the most locally specific decision of the night. Councillor Phil St-Jean brought forward a motion directing staff to consult emergency services and notify residents about the possible change of Barker Street, from Bowery Street easterly to Paul Street, to two way traffic.

St-Jean explained that residents have been asking why the street remains one way since the former school closed. He also noted that Barker Street is not currently listed as one way in the relevant bylaw and said he felt the standard Traffic Advisory Committee timeline was too slow for what he described as a relatively simple change.

Council voted on directing staff to consult and report back. Voted in favour are Ferguson, Hirsch, Maynard, Grosso, Nieman, Pennell, Prinzen, and Branderhorst. The motion carried unanimously. No final decision was made to change the traffic pattern yet. This vote only directs consultation and a report back.

Cultural Heritage Master Plan motions

Council was scheduled to consider motions tied to implementing the Cultural Heritage Master Plan. Instead, Councillor John Hirsch moved to defer the motions until after the plan presentation at Planning Committee the following week.

Voted in favour of deferral are Ferguson, Hirsch, Maynard, Grosso, Nieman, Pennell, Prinzen, and Branderhorst. Council agreed to wait until after the presentation before making decisions.

What this means for the locals

For residents concerned about transparency and governance, the Code of Conduct review is officially on the radar. No changes were made yet, but staff confirmed it is part of this year’s work plan.

For drivers, the winter maintenance contract is locked in for at least three years. Council’s comments suggest general satisfaction with current service levels.

For those watching County Road 49, the extension means the province has given the County more time. It does not mean construction accelerates tomorrow, but it keeps funding eligibility intact and allows for another full construction season.

For people living near Barker Street, consultation is coming. Residents in that area should expect public notice and feedback opportunities before any final traffic decision is made.

And more broadly, most of the votes that night were unanimous. Council showed alignment on operational items, funding timelines, and process steps. The bigger governance conversations, like the Code of Conduct, are still in progress and will return in a future meeting.

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Disclaimer: This article is based on a meeting with an approximate duration of 2:33:34. 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.