Part 2: Council Debate, Votes, Traffic Safety Decisions, and Infrastructure Approvals — 04/25/2026
- PECConnect
- Apr 25, 2023
- 4 min read
The meeting was chaired by Mayor Steve Ferguson, who guided both the closed and open portions of the evening. Ferguson set the tone early by formally acknowledging that Council had failed to uphold its Anti Racism Policy during a previous meeting. He issued an apology on behalf of Council and made it clear that this was a shared responsibility, not an isolated issue. No councillors objected to this framing, and the acknowledgement stood without a recorded vote.
Councillor Bill Roberts then addressed his earlier comment directly. Roberts explained his intent, denied certain interpretations, and expressed regret if the remark had been misunderstood. His statement was followed by remarks from Councillor Kate MacNaughton who emphasized that impact matters more than intent and openly called for diversity and inclusion training.
MacNaughton’s comments were supported by the absence of pushback from other councillors, signalling quiet consensus that further learning was needed.
View the entire PEC Council Meeting; or view our recap.
Notices of Motion and Policy Signals
Several councillors used announcements to signal future policy debates. Councillor MacNaughton stated she would bring forward a resolution addressing violence against women, framing it as a County wide issue that deserved formal recognition.
Councillor Hirsch announced his intention to challenge aspects of Bill 97 and the new Provincial Policy Statement. Hirsch said his motion would reflect concerns raised by both the Agricultural Advisory Committee and the Environmental Advisory Committee. No councillors spoke against this notice, suggesting that broader debate was expected rather than discouraged.
On transportation, Mayor Steve Ferguson and Councillor Harrison jointly reported on their meeting with the Ministry of Transportation. Harrison confirmed improved Glenora Ferry service schedules, and Council accepted the update without objection or formal vote.
Millennium Trail Discussion and Council Response
During the Millennium Trail deputation, councillors from multiple wards questioned how the trail is being used and regulated. Councillor Roberts raised concerns about safety and the increasing size of motorized vehicles, referencing public emails about ATV and UTV use. His questions focused on whether newer vehicles were exceeding what the trail was designed to handle.
Councillor Prinzen echoed concerns about speed and asked whether the upcoming bylaw review was the right place to address limits and enforcement. Councillor Pennell questioned whether vehicle size limits should be the starting point for safety controls.
Despite differing angles, councillors aligned around the idea that the trail remains a recreational asset and that a bylaw review involving all stakeholders was necessary. When the motion to receive the deputation came forward, it was moved by Councillor Brad Nieman and seconded by Councillor Sam Grosso, and it carried without recorded opposition.
Union Road and Traffic Safety Positions
Traffic safety on Union Road produced the most detailed individual commentary. Pam Belli, speaking as a resident, presented data showing extreme speeding. Her comments drew immediate responses from several councillors.
Councillor Grosso strongly supported the concerns, describing the road as dangerous based on his own experience. Councillor Pennell acknowledged speeding but emphasized that safety improvements should not drastically alter the road’s function.
Councillor Nieman raised the idea of speed humps and stressed the importance of consulting residents before installing them. Councillor Maynard asked about photo radar, truck restrictions, and whether navigation apps were contributing to shortcut traffic.
When the Traffic Advisory Committee report came forward later, Councillor Brad Nieman moved an amending motion directing staff to bring back a report on Union Road traffic concerns, including signage, speed humps, and centre line painting. The motion was seconded by Councillor Janice Maynard and carried. Further amendments related to Bloomfield speed limits were moved by Councillor Phil Prinzen and seconded by Councillor Chris Braney, and those amendments also carried.
The final traffic motion, incorporating all amendments, was moved by Councillor Brad Nieman and seconded by Councillor Bill Roberts, and it passed as amended.
Major Spending and Infrastructure Votes
On the Picton Main Street Reconstruction Phase 2 contract, Councillor MacNaughton pulled the item from consent to question transparency, budget breakdowns, and development charge recovery. Councillor St-Jean and Councillor Pennell asked technical questions about pump stations, tendering, and bidder numbers.
After staff responses, the motion to approve the $11.2 million contract was moved by Councillor MacNaughton and seconded by Councillor St Jean, and it carried.
Council also approved the Friendship Agreement initiative with Ukraine. The motion was moved by Councillor Roberts and seconded by Councillor Hirsch, and it passed without opposition, signalling unanimous support.
What This Means for Local Residents
For residents near Union Road and Bloomfield Main Street, Council’s decisions mean more study before construction, but also a clear direction toward speed reduction and safety changes.
For Picton residents and businesses, approval of the Main Street reconstruction contract confirms that major road and underground work is moving ahead. For trail users across the County, the Millennium Trail discussion shows that Council recognizes growing conflicts between users and expects changes through future bylaw reviews.
And more broadly, the early tone of this Council term shows a willingness to publicly address mistakes, signal future policy debates, and spend time in open discussion rather than rushing decisions.
Disclaimer: This article is based on a meeting with an approximate duration of 4:15:13. 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.
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