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This month, Council heard on key issues including Ceremonial Presentation – Poppy Campaign, Public Meetings Regarding DC Charges and Proposed Ward Pairing, Heritage Designation for Holy Trinity Church, Video Surveillance, Infra Pipe Septic System Repair, Community Emergency Preparedness Grant.
Here’s what happened:
- Ceremonial Presentation: Mayor and Council received a ceremonial presentation of poppies from the Royal Canadian Legion Huntsville Branch 232 to officially kick off the annual Poppy Campaign in Huntsville, leading up to Remembrance Day on November 11. For more information or to get your poppy, please visit Legion Branch 232’s Facebook Page.
- Public Meetings will be held regarding the below topics. For more information on these Public Meetings, please visit Huntsville.ca
- Proposed Development Charges – Please see Notice of Public Meeting for more information
- OUTCOME: Council received an invited presentation from Hemson Consulting on the results of the Development Charges Background Study and the recommended Development Charges being proposed. Council also heard presentations from members of the public regarding the proposed changes to Development Charges.
- Due to a desire to fully review all the items to be funded by Development Charges and the DC increases being proposed, Council passed a motion to defer this matter to a Special Council Meeting on November 12, 2024. Council wanted to understand more completely how a full implementation of the proposed DC changes would affect the community, as well as ensure that all items on the schedule are directly attributed to growth.
- Pairing of Huntsville Ward and Chaffey Ward for Electoral Representation Purposes – Please see Notice of Public Meeting for more information
- OUTCOME: There were no presentations from members of the public on this matter. The By-law to pair Huntsville Ward and Chaffey Ward will now be presented to Council at a future meeting.
- Proposed Development Charges – Please see Notice of Public Meeting for more information
- Council will hear a report from staff on a Heritage Designation for Holy Trinity Church at 10 Concession 4 & 5 Rd West, seeking support to proceed with requirements for the designation of the Newholm Church located at 10 Concession 4 and 5 Road West under the Ontario Heritage Act.
- OUTCOME: Council voted to approve the designation of the Newholm Church under the Ontario Heritage Act, given the important historical value of the building to our community.
- Council received three reports on the topic of Video Surveillance, as follows:
- Report CORP-2024-48 – River Mill Park – Proposed Video Surveillance System – Report 1 (in open session)
- Report CORP-2024-47 – River Mill Park – Proposed Video Surveillance System – Report 2 (in closed session)
- OUTCOME: Council approves the spend of up to $7,000 to be included in the total IT Surveillance project of $70,000 which is funded from the IT Capital Reserve for the implementation of a video surveillance system in River Mill Park, due to ongoing concerns about vandalism of Town property and public safety.
- Report CORP-2024-44 – Municipal Property Video Surveillance System (in closed session)
- OUTCOME: Council believes video surveillance is a valuable tool to increase the safety of individuals and to detect and assist with the deterrence of vandalism on municipal property and confirms their position with the continuation of the use of video surveillance at the Canada Summit Centre, Huntsville Civic Centre, and Muskoka Heritage Place. Council voted that the IT Manager be delegated authority to continue in 2024/2025 to review video surveillance requirements for any additional Municipal Properties according to the Town’s Video Surveillance Policy, and that all amounts for video surveillance shall not exceed the 2024 IT Approved Capital Budget and unspent amounts be carried forward to the 2025 Capital Budget.
- Council will receive a report on Infra Pipe Septic System Repair, which outlines the septic system repair required at the Infra Pipe facility that is located on land owned by the Town of Huntsville and leased by Infra Pipe. The report recommends that $60,300 be taken from the Centre Street Environmental Reserve to cover the cost of the septic system repair.
- OUTCOME: Council voted to approve the repair to the Infra Pipe Septic System, with $60,300 to be taken from the Centre Street Environmental Reserve to cover the cost.
- Council will receive a report on the Community Emergency Preparedness Grant (CEPG). The Government of Ontario has announced another CEPG of up to $50,000. Staff wish to submit an application for the CEPG for a project not identified on the capital plan and are requesting Council authorize the Treasurer or a designate, so that staff can submit a grant application for the following items: Motorola Mobile Repeater Booster Kit, Radio Back-Haul Back-up/Loop, Garmin Rino Integrated GPS for use by the Fire Department.
- OUTCOME: Council voted to approve the request from Fire Department Staff to submit an application for the Community Emergency Preparedness Grant (CEPG) for a project not identified on the capital plan.
Want to dig deeper? Watch the full Council discussion through the livestream.