Regular Meeting

That the minutes of the November 27 and December 11, 2024 meetings be adopted as circulated.

That all items under the Consent Agenda be received and filed for information purposes.

Whereas municipalities face growing infrastructure needs, including roads, bridges, public transit, water systems, and other critical services, which are essential to community well-being and economic development; And whereas, the current sources of municipal revenue, including property taxes and user fees, are insufficient to meet these increasing demands for infrastructure investment; And whereas, the Province of Ontario currently collects the Land Transfer Tax (LTT) on property transactions in municipalities across the province, generating significant revenue that is not directly shared with municipalities; And whereas, the Federal Government collects the Goods and Services Tax (GST) on property transactions, a portion of which could be directed to municipalities to address local infrastructure needs; And whereas, redistributing a portion of the Provincial Land Transfer Tax and GST to municipalities would provide a predictable and sustainable source of funding for local infrastructure projects without creating a new tax burden on residents or homebuyers; And whereas, a redistribution of a portion of the existing Land Transfer Tax and GST would allow municipalities to better plan and invest in long-term infrastructure initiatives, supporting local economic growth and improving the quality of life for residents; Now therefore be in resolved that Council of the Township of South Stormont formally requests the Provincial Government to consider redistributing a portion of the L

Whereas rural, northern, and remote municipalities are fiscally strained by maintaining extensive road networks on a smaller tax base; And whereas preventing crashes reduces the burden on Ontario’s already strained rural health care system; And whereas roadway collisions and associated lawsuits are significant factors in runaway municipal insurance premiums; preventing car crashes can have a significant impact in improving municipal risk profiles; Therefore, be it resolved that the Township of South Stormont requests that the Government of Ontario take action to implement the rural road safety program that Good Roads has committed to lead; And further that this resolution be circulated to all municipalities in Ontario requesting their support, as well as the Premier of Ontario and the Minister of Transportation.

That Council authorize the transfer of funds to or from the Working Capital Reserves to alleviate an actual surplus or deficit from the 2024 operational budget.

That Council instruct staff to place the DRAFT Nuisance By-law project on hold, and further, that staff proceed to draft a licensing by-law to regulate and control noise from Shooting Ranges in the Township of South Stormont.

That By-law No. 2024-078, being a by-law to appoint South Stormont Environmental Action Committee Members, be read and passed in open Council, signed and sealed this 18th day of December, 2024.

That By-law No. 2024-080, being a by-law to authorize temporary borrowing, be read and passed in open Council, signed and sealed this 18th day of December, 2024.

That By-law No. 2024-081, being a by-law to provide for an interim tax levy applicable for the 2025 year, be read and passed in open Council, signed and sealed this 18th day of December 2024.

That Council, as provided in Section 239 (2) of the Municipal Act, 2001 move into a closed meeting at 6:14 PM to address a matter pertaining to a proposed or pending acquisition or disposition of land by the municipality; specifically: parkland, and litigation or potential litigation and advice that is subject to solicitor-client privilege; specifically: Kraft Heinz.

That Council rise from the closed meeting at 6:33 PM and report.

That the Confidential Report concerning parkland be received for information, and that the recommendations contained in the Confidential Report concerning Kraft Heinz be adopted.

That By-law No. 2024-076 to adopt, confirm and ratify matters dealt with by resolution, be read and passed in open Council, signed and sealed this 18th day of December, 2024.

That Council adjourn this meeting at 6:34 PM and return to the call of the chair.