Part 1: Accountability, Infrastructure, Traffic Safety, and Trail Pressures — 04/25/2026
- PECConnect
- Apr 25, 2023
- 6 min read
The County Council met on April 25, 2023, for its first regular meeting back inside the newly refurbished Shire Hall, marking a visible return to in person municipal governance after a long absence. The meeting was chaired by Mayor Steve Ferguson, who opened proceedings at 5:30 pm and formally welcomed councillors, staff, and members of the public watching remotely. The meeting included a closed session, a lengthy open session, and a full slate of announcements, deputations, and major decisions affecting County residents.
The evening began with routine procedural steps, including confirmation of the agenda and a closed session dealing with land matters and solicitor client advice. Council reconvened in open session at 7:00 pm with all members present, setting the stage for a meeting that would be shaped by public accountability, transportation issues, and long term planning pressures.
View the entire PEC Council meeting, or continue to speaker comments and councillor votes>
Addressing a Recent Council Controversy
One of the first and most serious moments of the meeting came during announcements, when Mayor Ferguson addressed public reaction to a comment made at the April 11 council meeting. Speaking directly as chair, Ferguson acknowledged that Council had failed to uphold its Anti Racism Policy, which had been adopted the previous year and applies to all councillors in meetings and public settings. He issued an apology on behalf of Council and said the delay in addressing the issue was itself regrettable.
Councillor Bill Roberts then addressed Council to explain his earlier remark. Roberts said his comment was intended as a metaphor drawn from pop culture and not as a comparison involving race. He stated that if his words were misunderstood or caused offence, he regretted that outcome.
The discussion continued when Councillor Kate MacNaughton reflected on the situation and emphasized the importance of listening to how comments are received by others. MacNaughton spoke about the limits of a homogenous council determining what is acceptable and called for diversity and inclusion training to help Council better understand perspectives not represented in the room.
The exchange set a reflective tone and framed inclusion and accountability as ongoing responsibilities rather than a closed issue.
Notices of Motion and Provincial Concerns
Following announcements, councillors signaled several upcoming motions that will return for formal debate at future meetings. MacNaughton advised she would bring forward a resolution related to intimate partner violence, building on a recent presentation from community advocates.
Councillor John Hirsch announced his intention to introduce a motion objecting to aspects of Bill 97 and changes to the Provincial Policy Statement, warning that the proposals could undermine the County’s Official Plan. Hirsch said his motion would reflect input from both the Agriculture Advisory Committee and the Environmental Advisory Committee.
Mayor Ferguson and Councillor David Harrison also shared an update from a recent meeting with the Ministry of Transportation about the Glenora Ferry. Harrison reported that the discussion was productive and confirmed that enhanced two vessel service would begin on weekends in late May, with full seven day service continuing through the summer and into the fall. This update addressed long standing concerns about ferry reliability and seasonal congestion.
Remembering a County Leader
Council paused to acknowledge the passing of Dr. Charles Pascal, a longtime Sophiasburgh resident and nationally respected public servant. Roberts spoke at length about Pascal’s career, including his role as Ontario Deputy Minister of Education and his leadership in early childhood education reform.
Roberts also highlighted Pascal’s local legacy, particularly his role in saving Sophiasburgh Central School and helping transform it into what is now the County Food Hub. The tribute underscored how individual leadership can shape long term community infrastructure and volunteer driven success.
Millennium Trail and Growing Pains
The meeting’s main deputation came from Patrick “Bear” Maloney, Chair of the Prince Edward County Trails Committee, and Gregor Stewart, Vice Chair. The pair presented a detailed history of the Millennium Trail, describing how volunteer led efforts and municipal partnerships transformed the trail into a major recreational and tourism asset.
Maloney outlined the extensive resurfacing and infrastructure work completed over the past decade, while Stewart focused on ongoing maintenance, fundraising, and safety challenges. Both speakers emphasized that the trail now supports a wide range of users, including walkers, cyclists, equestrians, snowmobiles, and ATVs, and that managing these competing uses is becoming increasingly complex.
Councillors questioned the committee about trail width, speed, dust, and the growing size of newer off road vehicles. Safety emerged as a recurring concern, particularly at road crossings and in areas where the trail was never designed for large modern UTVs. The deputation was formally received, and Council acknowledged the committee’s volunteer driven role in maintaining what has become a County wide asset.
Union Road Safety Concerns from Residents
Public participation continued with a deputation from Pam Belli, a longtime Union Road resident, who raised concerns about speeding and dangerous driving conditions. Belli cited County and OPP data showing that nearly all vehicles on the short stretch of road were exceeding posted limits, with multiple instances of extreme speeding.
Her comments prompted discussion among councillors about enforcement tools, including photo radar, speed humps, signage, and road design changes. Several councillors shared their own observations of speeding and visibility issues, particularly near intersections and hills.
The discussion highlighted tension between traffic flow and neighbourhood safety, with councillors agreeing that further review was needed rather than immediate structural changes.
Major Reports and Infrastructure Decisions
Council then turned to substantive reports, beginning with the Chief Administrative Officer’s first quarter update. The report outlined municipal activity across departments and prompted discussion about how council initiated motions had shaped staff workloads early in the term. Councillors generally praised the report for improving transparency and public understanding of municipal operations.
Council also approved a report directing the Mayor to explore a friendship relationship with a Ukrainian community, signaling symbolic and practical support during an ongoing war. The initiative was framed as a statement of solidarity and a foundation for future cooperation.
Several major infrastructure and traffic related items followed, including approval of an $11.2 million contract for Picton Main Street Reconstruction Phase 2. Councillors questioned funding sources, development charges, and tender participation before approving the contract.
Traffic Advisory Committee recommendations generated extended debate, particularly around Union Road. Council ultimately directed staff to prepare a comprehensive report exploring additional signage, speed humps, and centre line painting, while also approving speed limit reductions in Bloomfield and school zone signage near Massassauga Rednersville Public School.
The meeting concluded with the adoption of multiple bylaws, approval of a property sale to PEC Community Partners, and formal adjournment at 9:44 pm. Council also returned briefly to closed session before final procedural steps were completed.
Key Takeaways
Council formally acknowledged a failure to uphold its Anti Racism Policy and committed to reflection and potential training, signaling that conduct and accountability remain live issues at the council table.
Infrastructure and traffic safety dominated the meeting, with major investments approved and further reviews ordered, particularly for Union Road and Bloomfield Main Street.
Volunteer driven assets like the Millennium Trail continue to grow in use and complexity, pushing Council to balance recreation, tourism, and safety as the County evolves.
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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