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HomeMy WebLinkAboutJanuary 21, 2026 - Museum Advisory CommitteeTHE CORPORATION OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF BAYHAM MUSEUM ADVISORY COMMITTEE AGENDA TRACKLESS LOUNGE 56169 Heritage Line, Straffordville Wednesday, January 21, 2026 5:00 p.m. 1. CALL TO ORDER 2. DISCLOSURES OF PECUNIARY INTEREST & THE GENERAL NATURE THEREOF 3. DELEGATIONS A. Port Burwell Historical Society re Wheelhouse 4. ADOPTION OF MINUTES FROM PREVIOUS MEETING(S) A. Minutes of the Museum Advisory Committee Meeting held October 22, 2025 5. MATTERS OF BUSINESS A. Curator Monthly Reports: November & December 2025 B. Memo MAC-01/26 re Museum Summer Students C. Memo MAC-02/26 re MAC Meeting Schedule 6. ADJOURNMENT THE CORPORATION OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF BAYHAM MUSEUM ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES TRACKLESS LOUNGE 56169 Heritage Line, Straffordville Wednesday, October 22, 2025 5:00 p.m. PRESENT: CHAIR SUSAN CHILCOTT COMMITTEE MEMBERS ROY SULLIVAN DIANE SOPER ROBERT PONZIO RON BRADFIELD ED KETCHABAW *Ex-Officio STAFF ATTENDANCE: CLERK MEAGAN ELLIOTT PLANNING COORDINATOR/DEPUTY CLERK MARGARET UNDERHILL CURATOR JENNIFER BEAUCHAMP 1. CALL TO ORDER Chair Chilcott called the meeting to order at 5:00 pm. 2. DISCLOSURES OF PECUNIARY INTEREST & THE GENERAL NATURE THEREOF No disclosures of pecuniary interest were declared. 3. DELEGATIONS 4. ADOPTION OF MINUTES FROM PREVIOUS MEETING(S) A. Minutes of the Museum Advisory Committee Meeting held July 23, 2025 Moved by: Committee Member Sullivan Seconded by: Committee Member Ponzio THAT the minutes from the Museum Advisory Committee Meeting held July 23, 2025 be approved as presented. CARRIED 5. MATTERS OF BUSINESS A. Curator Monthly Reports: July, August, September 2025 Moved by: Committee Member Sullivan Seconded by: Committee Member Soper THAT the Curator Monthly Reports: July, August, September 2025 be received for information. CARRIED 2 B. Student Monthly Reports: July & August 2025 Moved by: Committee Member Soper Seconded by: Committee Member Ponzio THAT the Student Monthly Reports: July & August 2025 be received for information. CARRIED C. Memo MAC-06/25 re Museum Attendance and Revenue Moved by: Committee Member Ponzio Seconded by: Committee Member Sullivan THAT Memo MAC-06/25 re Museum Attendance and Revenue be received for information. CARRIED D. Memo MAC-07/25 re Curator’s 2025 Summer Season Summary Report Moved by: Committee Member Bradfield Seconded by: Committee Member Soper THAT Memo MAC-07/25 re Curator’s 2025 Summer Season Summary Report be received for information. CARRIED E. Memo MAC-08/25 re January 2026 Meeting Date Moved by: Committee Member Sullivan Seconded by: Committee Member Ponzio THAT Memo MAC-08/25 re Museum Advisory Committee January Meeting date be received for information; AND THAT the first Regular Meeting for the Museum Advisory Committee in 2026 be Wednesday, January 21, 2026 at 5:00 pm in the Trackless Lounge. CARRIED 6. ADJOURNMENT Moved by: Committee Member Ponzio Seconded by: Committee Member Soper THAT the Museum Advisory Committee Meeting be adjourned at 5:41 p.m. CARRIED 3 CHAIR CLERK Curator’s Report November-December 2025 Collections The museum was closed down for the winter season. During the December visit to the museum the furnace was not working and Steve had it corrected. Exhibits and Events The first draft of the 2026 summer season exhibit is prepared. I have gone through the boxes of photographs and selected an assortment for the exhibit. I have also developed several possible hands-on activities for the exhibit to engage the visitors. Staff In November I worked with Dan from the new IT company to get the new laptop for the curator’s position working. I’ve replied to numerous research requests, which included emails to several historical society members and meeting with one researcher at the museum to go through photographs and documents. I attended the 3 hour Indigenous Lifeways Workshop held in Wallacetown, and the Museum Symposium on Database Use at the ECHC designed to bring the county museum staff up to speed on the changes in the database. While at the Elgin County Heritage Centre, I checked out their cameras available for the photography exhibit. MEMO MUSEUM ADVISORY COMMITTEE TO: Museum Advisory Committee FROM: Margaret Underhill DATE: January 21, 2026 MEMO: MAC-01/26 SUBJECT: MUSEUM SUMMER STUDENTS BACKGROUND The Municipality of Bayham advertises positions for secondary and post-secondary students to work at the Marine Museum. In 2025, one secondary school student and two post-secondary students were hired to staff the Marine Museum supervised by the Curator and the Planning Coordinator/Deputy Clerk during the period of May 12 through to September 1st when the Museum closed for the season. DISCUSSION In January 2026, the Municipality will be posting for two post–secondary students for the summer season starting on May 11 through to Labour Day, September 7, 2026, and one secondary student (minimum aged 15 years) to work from June 22, 2025, through to August 14, 2026 (8 weeks). All three positions will be Museum Attendant/Records Assistant. The Municipality will be offering a rate of $17.60 per hour, Ontario’s minimum wage as of October 1, 2025. Grants Young Canada Works Heritage Organizations (YCWHO) - staff applied for two post-secondary school students, which offers to fund up to 75% of total eligible employment costs (wages, benefits and other eligible expenditures) for up to 16 weeks. Summer Employment Opportunities (SEO) Program 2026 – staff applied for one secondary school student (minimum aged 15 years) to work the maximum funded 30 days (5 days per week for 6 weeks). The Municipality will add-on two weeks to the work period at the Municipality’s expense. Staff will not hear of grant success until at least mid-April 2026. In the meantime, the positions are advertised “subject to grant funding” as shown on the MAC-01/26 Page 2 attached job listing. Advertising will include a local newspapers, website, local employment offices and schools. We are hopeful that we will receive multiple resumes to consider. ATTACHMENT 1. Museum Attendant/Records Assistant - Student Job Posting 2026 RECOMMENDATION THAT Memo MAC-01/26 re Museum Summer Students be received for information. The Municipality of Bayham is seeking three (3) qualified students for the position of Museum Attendant/Records Assistant Two positions are available for students currently enrolled in a post-secondary institution returning to full-time studies in September. Rate of pay is $17.60 per hour - 35 hrs. per week (weekend & holiday hours required) starting May 11/26 through to Labour Day, September 7/26. One position is available for a student currently enrolled in a secondary institution, or a post-secondary institution or within six months of graduation and continuing their studies and have reached the minimum age of 15 years upon commencement of employment. Rate of pay is $17.60 per hour – 35 hrs. per week (weekend & holiday hours required) starting June 22/26 through to August 14/26. Proof of student enrolment must be provided, must be a resident of Ontario, and must be eligible to work in Canada with a Social Insurance Number (SIN). ** Positions are subject to funding approval. Tasks & Responsibilities Under the direct supervision of the Museum Curator and Planning Coordinator/Deputy Clerk or designate regarding the operation of the Port Burwell Marine Museum, 20 Pitt Street Port Burwell, students will be on staff for the purpose of responding to visitors including assistance with the following: • Act as a museum tour and travel guide/summer program coordinator • Operation of assigned site to include museum curatorial assistance, development and organization of displays, researching historical artifacts, welcome & registration/tracking of visitors, collection of donations and admission fees etc., light daily housekeeping and grounds maintenance, building security during operating hours • Assist with collection artifact/document cataloguing and data entry • Assist with the records management and preservation of historical documents at the Museum and/or the Municipal Office • Assist with and providing support regarding promotion, advertising and preparation for Canada Day and other various special events within the Municipality of Bayham Education & Qualifications • Secondary and/or post-secondary education related to culture, education, history, science and/or tourism and recreation an asset • Experience in museum related work an asset (i.e. cataloguing, exhibits and displays) • Demonstrable strengths in research, writing and photography • Excellent communication skills, customer relations skills and experience working with volunteers and public of all ages, including working with children • Must possess strong computer skills in Microsoft Word & Excel 2026 Marine Museum Student AD 2 • Experience in handling cash and assembling deposits • Ability to work with minimum supervision and work independently, as well as, in a team setting • Standard First Aid and CPR training an asset • Reliable transportation is required • Provision of a police records search, if requested • Must be able to attend mandatory Student Orientation Training on Monday, May 11, 2026. To apply, please submit a detailed Resume with Cover Letter by no later than 12:00 Noon on Friday, March 13, 2026, in person or by email to: Margaret Underhill Planning Coordinator/Deputy Clerk Municipality of Bayham P.O. Box 160, 56169 Heritage Line Straffordville, ON N0J 1Y0 E: munderhill@bayham.on.ca W: www.bayham.on.ca The Municipality of Bayham is an Equal Opportunity Employer. If you require accommodation at any time throughout the employment activities process, please contact us at: 519-866-5521, accessibility@bayham.on.ca or by visiting www.bayham.on.ca and we will make every effort to provide appropriate assistance pursuant to the Municipality of Bayham “Employment Activities Accommodation Policy.” Personal information collected in response to this notice will be managed in accordance with the requirements of the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act and will be used only to determine eligibility for employment. We thank all candidates who apply but advise that only those selected for an interview will be contacted. MEMO MUSEUM ADVISORY COMMITTEE TO: Museum Advisory Committee FROM: Margaret Underhill, Staff Resource DATE: January 21, 2026 MEMO: MAC-02/26 SUBJECT: MUSEUM ADVISORY COMMITTEE 2026 MEETING SCHEDULE BACKGROUND In accordance with the Museum Advisory Committee’s (MAC) Terms of Reference, the Committee is to set the Regular Meetings at the first meeting of the year. The Terms of Reference state that the MAC meets quarterly. DISCUSSION It is recommended that the meetings take place in the first month of each quarter with the 3rd quarter meeting being on-site at the Museum. Wednesday, April 22, 2026 and Wednesday, July 22, are being proposed. The Q4 meeting is recommended to be removed from the schedule due to proximity to potential Advance Polls and Voting Day, and necessary staff resourcing for the Committee instead being directed to election efforts. The MAC appointment term ends November 15, 2026, which aligns with the end of the Council term. The new Council will then have the ability to re-establish the MAC for the new Council term (2027-2030), and may choose to amend the Terms of Reference at that time. Council may also choose to not re-establish the MAC for the new Council term. Additional meetings may be scheduled by the call of the Chair, if deemed necessary. RECOMMENDATION THAT Memo MAC-02/26 re Museum Advisory Committee 2026 Meeting Schedule be received for information; AND THAT the following meeting dates are the Regular Meetings for the Museum Advisory Committee for 2026: • Wednesday, April 22, 2026 at 5:00 pm (Trackless Lounge) • Wednesday, July 22, 2026 at 5:00 pm (Museum) AND THAT it be recommended to Council to permit the Museum Advisory Committee to remove the October 2026 meeting from its schedule due to proximity to the 2026 Municipal and School Board Elections.