Council Highlights - August 28th, 2023 Regular Meeting of Council

Stay up-to-date with what’s happening at the Council table with the Town of Arnprior’s Council Highlights! These informal recaps help residents catch up with Council meetings in just a few minutes. Please note these summaries are not an official record of Council meetings. Official minutes are posted online once they are approved during a subsequent meeting. You can also access the meeting recording on the Town’s YouTube channel.

Development Charges Appeal Hearing

During a Special Meeting of Council, a Hearing was held pursuant to s.20 of the Development Charges Act regarding a complaint with respect to the Development Charges imposed on property owned by Arnprior Bay Property Ltd. located at 124 Fourth Avenue (self-storage facility). Council passed a motion to dismiss the complaint.

Public Meeting

During the Regular Meeting of Council, a Public Meeting under the Planning Act was held to receive public feedback concerning a request for an Official Plan and Zoning By-Law amendment (OPA#6/ZBLA 1/23 – Winners Circle Drive). The Amendments would permit a Retirement Home consisting of a mix of townhouse and apartment dwellings as permitted with a maximum height of 4 storeys to be located on the lands. A staff report regarding this application will be presented to Council with recommendations shortly.

Future Public Meetings Scheduled

Council approved the holding of three (3) Public Meetings under the Planning Act on Monday, September 25^th, 2023 for the following applications:

Zoning By-law Amendment 2/23 – Phases 4 and 5, Marshall’s Bay Meadows Subdivision – zoning to implement the development plan for the final phases of the development.
Zoning By-law Amendment 3/23 – 128 Mary Street – zoning to allow for a multiple dwelling within the existing Institutional building to a maximum of three units. Further units may be permitted subject to satisfactory servicing studies being provided.
Zoning By-law Amendment 4/23 – 375 Daniel Street South – zoning to reduce the number of required parking spaces from 545 to 522.

By-laws

Council adopted several By-laws including the following:

By-law Number 7411-23 – Amend Open Air Burning By-law – clarifying the requirement for permits for open air burning on private properties.
By-law Number 7416-23 – Award Water Filtration Plant Clearwell #1 Replacement Design project to Stantec Consulting Limited, for a total of $175,336.34 (plus HST)

Proclamation for Terry Fox Day (September 17^th, 2023)

Council declared Sunday, September 17^th, 2023 as “Terry Fox Day” in the Town of Arnprior and called upon residents to participate in the Terry Fox Run to raise money for cancer research.

Resolutions of Support

Municipality of Chatham-Kent: MFIPPA Changes

Council passed a resolution concerning a request for support from the Municipality of Chatham-Kent concerning changes to MFIPPA (Municipal Freedom of Protection of Privacy Act). The changes include creating a threshold to establish frivolous and/or vexatious request, improving more reasonable timelines and the application and scalability of fees be designed to ensure taxpayers are protected from persons abusing the access to information process.

Association of Municipalities (AMO): Legislative Amendments to Improve Municipal Code of Conduct and Enforcement

Council passed a resolution concerning a request for support from the Association of Municipalities concerning Legislative Amendments to Improve Municipal Codes of Conduct and Enforcement.

Updating municipal Codes of Conduct to account for workplace safety and harassment;

Creating a flexible administrative penalty regime, adapted to the local economic and financial circumstances of municipalities across Ontario;

Increasing training of municipal Integrity Commissioners to enhance consistency of investigations and recommendations across the province;

Allowing municipalities to apply to a member of the judiciary to remove a sitting member if recommended through the report of a municipal Integrity Commissioner;

Prohibiting a member so removed from sitting for election in the term of removal and the subsequent term of office.

Grants Awarded

Council awarded three Community Improvement Plan (CIP) grants to three local businesses located at 114 John Street, in the amount of $500.00 each. This funding was provided through the CIP Funding for the Signage Improvement Grant and will be used to assist with the replacement of awnings at the front of the building.