Part 1: Council Debates Noise Bylaw Changes, Water Rates, Heritage Deadlines and Council Pay — 06/09/2026

The County Council met on June 9, 2026 with Mayor Steve Ferguson chairing the meeting. While much of the evening focused on administrative matters and contract awards, several discussions drew significant attention, including proposed changes to the County's Noise Bylaw, future water and wastewater rates, concerns about provincial heritage deadlines, and an unusually lengthy debate about council compensation.

The meeting began with a brief appointment from closed session. Council approved the appointment of Trish Dubik as a voting public member of the Sophiasburgh Recreation Committee for the remainder of the current council term.

During announcements, councillors recognized the successful completion of the Bloomfield road reconstruction project. Council heard praise for County staff, contractors, and local businesses that worked through the construction period. Mayor Ferguson also highlighted the recent Kids of Steel event and issued proclamations recognizing PEC Celebrates the County from June 14 to July 1 and World Elder Abuse Awareness Day on June 15.

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Noise Bylaw Changes Generate Discussion

The most substantial public discussion of the evening centered on proposed amendments to the County's Noise Bylaw.

Several residents addressed Council before the item was debated. Representatives from the citizen-led initiative Good Neighbours Together spoke in support of adding "cause or permit" language to the bylaw. They argued that the wording would strengthen enforcement and better address ongoing conflicts between event venues and neighbouring residents. They also described plans for voluntary discussions between event operators and community members aimed at reducing conflicts before complaints occur.

Residents also spoke in support of stronger enforcement tools for excessive noise and highlighted concerns about amplified sound affecting nearby properties. Another presentation came from local pickleball advocates, who addressed concerns about future noise levels at proposed courts in Delhi Park while emphasizing their willingness to work with neighbours if complaints arise.

When Council turned to the report, Sarah Viau, Director of Corporate and Legislative Services, explained that the proposed amendments stemmed from Council direction earlier this year to review opportunities for improvement. The report contained two main recommendations.

The first would allow the Director to waive application fees for community groups seeking temporary noise exemptions for fundraising and community events. The second would add the words "cause or permit" to the bylaw's prohibition against noise.

Viau explained that the change would help enforcement officers address situations where excessive noise occurs but the person directly responsible cannot easily be identified. She cited short-term accommodations as an example, where renters may create disturbances but property owners may also have a role in preventing repeated problems. She noted that similar wording is commonly used in municipalities across Ontario.

Council members generally supported modernizing the bylaw but spent considerable time discussing enforcement realities, including the fact that County bylaw officers currently do not work late-night hours when many noise complaints occur. Viau confirmed that after-hours complaints are generally handled by the OPP.

After discussion, Council removed a proposed direction that would have required staff to return with ideas for collaborating with the Good Neighbours Together initiative. Councillors noted that staff already have the ability to consult with community groups without formal Council direction. The amended bylaw changes were then approved.

Fuel and Winter Maintenance Contracts Approved

Council also approved two operational contracts.

The first awarded the County's fuel supply contract to Rosebush Energies. The contract covers the supply and delivery of fuel for municipal operations. Council members asked several questions about procurement and supplier participation before approving the recommendation.

The second contract involved winter parking lot maintenance. Council approved a tender award to Clintar Commercial Outdoor Services for parking lot plowing. Discussion focused on specific properties included in the contract, service expectations, and contractor oversight. Staff confirmed that locations can be removed from the agreement if municipal ownership changes in the future.

Water and Wastewater Rate Planning Moves Forward

Council next considered recommendations from the Water and Wastewater Rates Committee.

Rather than establishing a long-term rate structure immediately, Council approved a one-year water and wastewater rates bylaw for 2027 and directed staff to undertake a comprehensive review next year. The future work will include a water and wastewater rate study, bylaw review, development charges background study, and additional analysis tied to long-term infrastructure planning and growth projections. Affordability was also added as a consideration for future work.

Staff explained that several interconnected studies are still underway and need to be completed before longer-term rate decisions can be made. Council heard that major infrastructure planning work will provide important information that will influence future water and wastewater decisions.

Heritage Committee Seeks More Time

Council also endorsed a request to the Province of Ontario for additional time to review heritage properties listed on municipal heritage registers.

The motion arose from concerns that municipalities and volunteer heritage committees face significant challenges meeting provincial deadlines established under amendments to the Ontario Heritage Act. The County currently has more than 200 non-designated heritage properties requiring review. Council heard that completing the necessary research, consultations, and evaluations before the current deadline would be difficult with available resources.

Council agreed to ask the province to extend the current January 1, 2027 deadline to January 1, 2030 or another reasonable timeframe. Council also approved the revival of the County's Heritage Awards Program, which has not been active for several years.

Council Pay Debate Ends Without a Decision

The longest discussion of the evening involved council remuneration.

Council reviewed multiple compensation options prepared through an independent review process. The options ranged from maintaining the current framework to increasing compensation levels based on municipal comparators and living wage considerations. Councillors debated issues such as attracting future candidates, affordability, public perception, governance responsibilities, and barriers that may prevent younger residents or working-age residents from seeking office.

Several recorded votes were held, but Council repeatedly found itself divided. Proposed options either failed or resulted in tied votes. After an extended procedural discussion, Council ultimately chose not to make a final decision that evening. Instead, the matter was deferred to the June 23 Council meeting for further consideration.

Key Takeaways

1. The Noise Bylaw is being updated. Council approved changes that strengthen enforcement language and give staff more flexibility when dealing with community event exemptions.

   
   

2. Water and wastewater planning is entering a major review phase. Future rate decisions will be tied to larger infrastructure, growth, affordability, and development charge studies expected in 2027.

   
   

3. Council compensation remains unresolved. After one of the evening's most divisive debates, Council postponed a final decision until its June 23 meeting.

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Disclaimer: This article is based on a meeting with an approximate duration of 4:49:40. 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.