Part 2: The Council Advances Healthcare Plan and Livestock Bylaw After Strong Public Input - 3/28/2023

PECConnect
Mar 28, 2023
4 min read

This part of the meeting focused on who drove the conversations, how councillors aligned during votes, and what those decisions signal moving forward. With Mayor Steve Ferguson chairing, discussions moved across social issues, healthcare access, rural concerns, and municipal process.

From homelessness awareness to livestock control and emergency services funding, councillors balanced immediate community pressures with longer term planning. Some items moved quickly with clear support, while others revealed underlying tensions about responsibility, resources, and how far the municipality should go in responding to complex local challenges.

People sitting at a U-shaped conference table in a meeting room, focusing on documents and laptops. A large screen displays an image. — © *PEC Council (YouTube)*

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

Homelessness series and rural impacts

The homelessness deputation was led by Craig Mills, General Manager of 99.3 County FM, with additional insight from station collaborators during council questioning. Mills emphasized that the radio series was about building understanding, not policy advocacy.

Supportive comments came from multiple councillors. Councillor Bill Roberts, spoke at length about the connection between poverty and homelessness and noted the contrast between rising wealth and growing insecurity in the County.

A person in worn clothes sits on the ground in a dark alley, holding a can. The image is black and white, conveying a somber mood.

Councillors Chris Braney and Sam Branderhorst both praised the work for giving voice to people rarely heard in formal settings. The deputation was formally received through a motion moved by Bill Roberts and seconded by Sam Branderhorst, with council voting unanimously in favour.

Nurse practitioner clinic and primary care access

The Rotary Club presentation was delivered by David MacKinnon, representing the Rotary Club of Wellington, with Dawn Cutler also speaking to the club’s healthcare background. Their proposal focused on addressing the growing number of residents without a family doctor through a nurse practitioner satellite clinic in Wellington.

Council questioning came from across the table. Kate MacNaughton, asked about funding models and system level barriers. Bill Roberts spoke in strong support of nurse practitioners as a practical solution. Chris Braney raised concerns about physician burnout and the need to act quickly.

The key decision came through an amendment moved by Corey Engelsdorfer and seconded by Bill Roberts, directing staff to report back on how the municipality could support the initiative. The amended motion to receive the deputation and request staff action was moved by Bill Roberts and seconded by Brad Nieman and carried.

Livestock at large and Sophiasburgh pressure

Public comments on livestock running at large dominated the emotional centre of the meeting. Speakers included Lynn Levitt, Chair of the Prince Edward Cattlemen’s Association, John Craig, John Thompson from the Prince Edward Federation of Agriculture, Elmer Norton, and Caleb Hutton. All described ongoing damage, safety risks, and the inability to resolve the situation privately.

Councillor Roberts, was the most active council voice on this issue. He raised urgency, referenced road safety concerns, and repeatedly emphasized the municipality’s legal responsibilities.

Council first voted to reconsider a previous decision. That reconsideration motion was moved by Bill Roberts and seconded by Chris Braney, and it carried.

The follow up direction to staff to prepare a draft bylaw was again moved by Bill Roberts and seconded by Chris Braney, and passed unanimously. The motion clearly limited the use of a pound keeper to rare circumstances and focused on cost recovery.

Ambulance service funding and county wide coverage

White ambulance with orange stripe and blue markings is parked outside. "AMBULANCE" text visible. Overcast sky and trees in background.

Discussion on enhanced land ambulance service focused on coverage gaps in the evening hours. Concerns were raised by Councillor Phil Prinzen, about ensuring the County ambulances remained available locally.

The motion to approve funding was moved by Councillor Engelsdorfer and seconded by Councillor MacNaughton, approving the use of stabilization reserve funds and requiring future reporting from Hastings Quinte Paramedic Services. The motion carried.

Advisory committee debate and internal process

One of the most procedural debates of the night centred on advisory committees, particularly the Environmental Advisory Committee. Brad Nieman moved to remove part of the committee report, expressing concern about staff workload. That motion was seconded by Councillor Harrison and failed.

A follow up motion supporting the committee’s direction was moved by Councillor MacNaughton and seconded by Councillor Hirsch and carried. This included inviting Michael Michaud, Manager of Planning, to present to the committee.

What this means locally

Council action signaled a shift toward stronger municipal intervention when livestock issues escalate, directly affecting nearby farmers and rural residents.

The nurse practitioner discussion positioned the ward as a potential hub for expanded primary care access.

Picton and surrounding wards saw homelessness and healthcare pressures clearly acknowledged, setting up future policy conversations.

The ambulance funding decision aimed to stabilize evening response times, while advisory committee debates highlighted how much behind the scenes work is now shaping local decision making.

Disclaimer: This article is based on a meeting with an approximate duration of 2:49:08. 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.