The Corporation of the Town of Saugeen Shores

Regular Council Meeting Minutes

Monday, July 07, 2025 at 6:30 P.m. - 9:30 P.m.

Council Chambers

600 Tomlinson Drive

Port Elgin, Ontario

Present:

• Luke Charbonneau, Mayor
• Diane Huber, Deputy Mayor
• Mike Myatt, Vice Deputy Mayor
• Dave Myette, Councillor
• John Divinski, Councillor
• Cheryl Grace, Councillor
• Bud Halpin, Councillor
• Rachel Stack, Councillor

Members Absent:

• Justin Duhaime, Councillor

Staff Members:

• Kara Van Myall, Chief Administrative Officer
• Dawn Mittelholtz, Clerk
• Jim Bundschuh, Director, Corporate Services
• Tammy Grove, Municipal Solicitor
• Ed Melanson, Director, Fire Services/Fire Chief
• Mark Paoli, Director, Development Services
• Matt Prentice, Director, Operations
• Kristan Shrider, Director, Community Services
• Jill Roote, Manager, Strategic Initiatives
• Morgan McCulloch, Deputy Clerk

---

1.

Call To Order

Mayor L. Charbonneau called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m.

2.

Land Acknowledgement

Councillor B. Halpin read the land acknowledgement. 

3.

Disclosure of Pecuniary Interest and Nature

No pecuniary interests were declared.

4.

Additions, Deletions, Amendments

None.

5.

Adoption of Minutes

5.1

Regular Council Minutes - June 16, 2025 and June 23, 2025

• Resolution Number: 187-2025
  Moved by: J. Divinski
  Seconded by: D. Myette

  That Council adopt the minutes of the Regular Council Meeting of June 16, 2025 and June 23, 2025, as presented.

  CARRIED

6.

Public Meeting

7.

Open Forum

7.1

Terry Lamont, 10.1 Kolb Bridge Design Report

7.2

Jim Caley, 10.1 Kolb Bridge Design Report

7.3

Patricia Corrigan- Frank, 9.1 CAO Quarterly Report

7.4

Dan Frank, 9.1 CAO Quarterly Update Report

8.

Delegations

9.

Report of Municipal Officers / Committees

9.1

2025 Major Initiatives, Division and Capital Highlights Quarter 2 Update

Council received the the Major Initiatives, Division and Capital Highlights from the annual Business Plan that are reported every quarter to update Council and the public on the progress of the annual activities related to the Saugeen Shores Strategic Plan. The report included the updates for Quarter 2, 2025 and details the 44 Major Initiatives as well as 90 Division Highlights and 42 Capital Highlights. The progress completion is also included as a live feed on the Town website. There were no significant issues being flagged with completing the work program as outlined.

It was requested that staff release a statement to the public regarding the plans for Pioneer Cemetery.

• Resolution Number: 188-2025
  Moved by: B. Halpin
  Seconded by: R. Stack

  That Council receive the 2025 Major Initiatives, Division and Capital Highlights Quarter 2 Update report for information.

  CARRIED

9.2

Fund Transfer for Southampton WPCP Upgrades and Expansion

Council received a report regarding the The Southampton Water Pollution Control Plant. The upgrades project required an approval of a $2,300,000.00 funds transfer. The report outlined the rationale for this transfer of funds.

• Resolution Number: 189-2025
  Moved by: C. Grace
  Seconded by: D. Huber

  That Council approve $2,300,000.00 in additional funding for the Southampton WPCP Upgrades and Expansion project (410-86740), funded by a transfer from the Port Elgin Reservoir Generator and Electrical (430-86389) and Southampton SPS 3 Upgrades (410-86744).

  CARRIED

9.3

Town of Saugeen Shores Comments to IAAC on the Draft TISG

Council received a report regarding the Town being notified on June 12, 2025, that the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada published draft project documents, including the TISG and related plans. The report summarized the comment period and proposes a submission for Council’s consideration on behalf of Saugeen Shores.

• Resolution Number: 190-2025
  Moved by: M. Myatt
  Seconded by: D. Myette

  That Council endorse the Draft Tailored Impact Statement Guidelines Comments Submission on behalf of the Town of Saugeen Shores; and

  That Council direct staff to submit the Town’s comments to the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada.

  CARRIED

9.4

FCM Climate Change Program Analysis and Recommendations

Council received a report regarding the Environmental Ad-Hoc Advisory Committee in Q4 of 2024, providing a report to Council with a series of recommendations towards advancing environmental sustainability in Saugeen Shores. Council referred the Committee’s recommendations to staff to report back on the implementation. The report summarized the analysis that has been carried out with specific regard to the climate change recommendation.

• Resolution Number: 191-2025
  Moved by: D. Huber
  Seconded by: C. Grace

  That Council endorse the Town of Saugeen Shores joining the Federation of Canadian Municipalities Partners for Climate Protection Program; and

  That Council refer to the Striking Committee for recommendations on the staff and Council point of contact appointments.

  CARRIED

10.

Consent Agenda

• Resolution Number: 192-2025
  Moved by: D. Huber
  Seconded by: J. Divinski

  That Items 10.1 through 10.3 be approved and received for information.

  CARRIED

10.1

Kolb Bridge Design

Council received a report regarding Pearson Engineering Ltd. has submitting their final design recommendation for the Kolb Bridge replacement. The report provided Council with the design proposal for the Kolb Bridge project for information.

• That Council receive the Kolb Bridge Design Report for information.

10.2

Release of Development Agreement – 1044 Goderich Street

Council received a report regarding Instrument No. R283499, being a Development Agreement between the former Town of Port Elgin and Rosner’s Service Centre Ltd., which could be released from the lands municipally known as 1044 Goderich Street, Port Elgin. 

• That Council adopt By-law 70-2025, a By-law to authorize the release of Instrument No. R283499, a Development Agreement registered on January 28, 1992 against 1044 Goderich Street, Saugeen Shores.

10.3

Communications

• That the following be received for information:

  1. Municipal Heritage Committee Minutes- May 21, 2025
  2. SMART Board Minutes- May 16, 2025
  3. Southampton Business Improvement Area (BIA) Minutes- May 22, 2025
  4. County of Bruce Letter- Investment in Local Services
  5. Municipality of Tweed Resolution- Blue Box Producers Responsibility
  6. Town of Bradford West Gwillimbury Resolution- Advocacy for Increased Income Thresholds for Canadian Veterans
• Resolution Number: 193-2025
  Moved by: B. Halpin
  Seconded by: J. Divinski

  That Council supports Municipality of Tweed Resolution- Blue Box Producers Responsibility.

  CARRIED
• Resolution Number: 194-2025
  Moved by: D. Huber
  Seconded by: J. Divinski

  That Council supports the Town of Bradford West Gwillimbury Resolution- Advocacy for Increased Income Thresholds for Canadian Veterans; and 

  That a copy of the Resolution be sent to the Port Elgin and Southampton Legions. 

  CARRIED

11.

Motions and Notice of Motions

12.

Closed to Public

It is recommended that Council move into a Closed to Public Session to:

• to discuss and provide direction on a proposed or pending acquisition of land by the municipality;
• to receive a Legal Update that discusses legal advice that is subject to solicitor-client privilege on litigation or potential litigation;
• to discuss and provide direction or instructions to ongoing negotiations on behalf of the municipality; and
• to receive information and discuss commercial and financial information supplied in confidence to the municipality that could reasonably be expected to prejudice significantly the competitive position or interfere significantly with the contractual or other negotiations of a person, group of persons, or organization and commercial or financial information that belongs to the municipality or local board and has monetary value or potential monetary value.

• Resolution Number: 195-2025
  Moved by: D. Huber
  Seconded by: J. Divinski

  That Council move into a Closed to Public Session in accordance with the Municipal Act, 2001, Section 239 (2):

  (c) a proposed or pending acquisition or disposition of land by the municipality or local board;

  (e) litigation or potential litigation, including matters before administrative tribunals, affecting the municipality or local board;

  (f) advice that is subject to solicitor-client privilege, including communications necessary for that purpose;

  (i) a trade secret or scientific, technical, commercial, financial or labour relations information, supplied in confidence to the municipality or local board, which, if disclosed, could reasonably be expected to prejudice significantly the competitive position or interfere significantly with the contractual or other negotiations of a person, group of persons, or organization;

  (j) a trade secret or scientific, technical, commercial or financial information that belongs to the municipality or local board and has monetary value or potential monetary value; and

  (k) a position, plan, procedure, criteria or instruction to be applied to any negotiations carried on or to be carried on by or on behalf of the municipality or local board. 

  CARRIED

12.1

Disclosure of Pecuniary Interest and Nature

12.2

Adoption of Closed to Public Meeting Minutes

12.3

Closed to Public Staff Reports

12.3.1

Potential Acquisition of Land

12.3.2

Trail Relocation Negotiations

12.3.3

2025 Q2 General Legal Update – Litigation Matters

12.3.4

Westario Power Confidential June 2025 Update

13.

Report and Business Arising from Closed Session

13.1

Resume Regular Council Meeting

Mayor L. Charbonneau reported that during the Closed to Public Session, Council approved Closed to Public minutes, discussed and provided direction on a plan or instruction to be applied to negotiations relative to potential land acquisition by the municipality. Council discussed and provided direction regarding trail relocation negotiations, and received a Q2 General Legal Update for litigation matters, subject to solicitor-client privilege. Council also discussed a Confidential matter with regards to the Westario Power Update.

• Resolution Number: 196-2025
  Moved by: J. Divinski
  Seconded by: C. Grace

  That Council arise from the Closed to Public Session and resume the Regular Council Meeting.

  CARRIED
• Resolution Number: 197-2025
  Moved by: D. Huber
  Seconded by: R. Stack

  That Council direct staff to undertake design feasibility and to negotiate an agreement with Mr. David Shemilt that will advance option #5 from the Closed to Public Report.

  CARRIED

14.

By-laws

14.1

By-law 70-2025 - Release of Development Agreement (1044 Goderich Street) 

• Resolution Number: 198-2025
  Moved by: D. Huber
  Seconded by: D. Myette

  That By-law 70-2025 is hereby read, passed, and sealed this 7th day of July, 2025.

  CARRIED

15.

Confirmatory By-law

15.1

By-law 71-2025 - Confirm the Proceedings of July 7, 2025

• Resolution Number: 199-2025
  Moved by: J. Divinski
  Seconded by: B. Halpin

  That By-law 71-2025 being a By-law to confirm the proceedings of the Council of the Town of Saugeen Shores is hereby read, passed, and sealed this 7th day of July, 2025.

  CARRIED

16.

Adjournment

• Resolution Number: 200-2025
  Moved by: B. Halpin
  Seconded by: R. Stack

  That this Regular Council meeting of July 7, 2025, hereby adjourns at 9:45 p.m.

  CARRIED