Part 1: Property Assessments, Poverty Reduction, and Community Care Took Center Stage at Council - 11/10/2025

The County Council met on Monday, November 10, 2025, instead of its usual Tuesday schedule to avoid conflicting with Remembrance Day services across the County. Mayor Steve Ferguson opened the meeting following a closed session that began earlier in the evening, noting the adjusted timing and thanking members of the public for their patience.

Photo: PEC Council

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Council first dealt with business arising from the closed session, approving a motion brought forward by Councillors Kate McNaughton and Roberts to convert a previously approved paralegal position into a non-union role focused on records and information access. The position will report to the Clerk and support legislative compliance, elections, and statutory responsibilities. The motion carried without opposition.

The announcements portion of the meeting reflected a strong focus on community initiatives. Councillors gave notice of upcoming motions related to regional housing and homelessness consultations, support for the Prince Edward Fitness and Aquatic Centre, and a review of outdated County bylaws affecting access to municipal lands. Councillor Phil St-Jean highlighted several seasonal community efforts, including the reopening of the Prince Edward County Angel Tree office and the Picton Firefighters holiday food and toy drive, both aimed at supporting families during the Christmas season.

Council also acknowledged recent community and volunteer efforts. Councillors recognized the local OPP detachment and County FM for coordinating relief supplies sent to Jamaica following a hurricane, as well as the Department of Illumination for the Firelight Lantern Festival, which drew hundreds of residents and visitors. Mayor Ferguson also spoke to the importance of Veterans Week and upcoming Remembrance Day services in Picton, Wellington, and Consecon, noting the County’s ongoing efforts to visibly recognize veterans through commemorative crosswalks and public spaces.

A major portion of the meeting was dedicated to a detailed presentation from the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC). MPAC representatives outlined how property assessments continue to be based on 2016 valuation data due to the province’s ongoing review of the assessment and taxation system. The presentation walked Council through market trends, assessment growth, and tools available to residents, including About My Property and the Property Pulse Dashboard. Council members raised concerns about fairness, delays in assessment updates, and the impact of rising property values on long-term residents.

Council then received a comprehensive deputation from the Prince Edward Learning Centre, focused on its Financial Empowerment Program. Staff and volunteers described how the program helps residents file taxes, access benefits, and navigate complex government systems. Council heard real examples of residents avoiding homelessness, recovering withheld benefits, and stabilizing their finances. Multiple councillors spoke in support, emphasizing the program’s role in poverty reduction, housing stability, and community well-being.

Public comments continued the focus on social infrastructure and community care. Residents and volunteers spoke in support of the Learning Centre, the Community Safety and Well-Being Plan, and the need for coordinated responses to poverty, aging, and rural isolation. The interim OPP detachment commander reaffirmed the police service’s commitment to collaborative approaches that reduce reliance on enforcement through better access to support services.

Later in the meeting, Council considered several reports tied to financial planning and long-term infrastructure. These included approval of the 2026 interim tax levy bylaw, discussion of municipal poverty reduction efforts and the Municipal Financial Relief Grant, and authorization of an urgent roof replacement at the Lake Street Operations Garage to prevent structural damage.

Council also dealt with a number of committee-driven items, including heritage designations, the formation of a veterans remembrance task team, and preliminary steps toward heritage conservation district signage in Picton and Wellington. One farmland protection resolution was debated at length and ultimately referred back to committee after councillors raised concerns about data accuracy and the need for clearer local context.

The meeting concluded with Council moving into a final closed session, wrapping up a long agenda that combined financial planning, social policy, heritage preservation, and community support initiatives. The meeting concluded with additional routine approvals and adjournment.

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Disclaimer: This article is based on a meeting with an approximate duration of 2:50:013. 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.