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Home My WebLink AboutFebruary 05, 2026 - CouncilTHE CORPORATION OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF BAYHAM COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES MUNICIPAL OFFICE 56169 Heritage Line, Straffordville, ON Council Chambers — HYBRID Thursday, February 5, 2026 7:00 p.m. 7:30 p.m. Statutory Planning Meeting — 4 Applications The February 5, 2026 Council Meeting was held using hybrid technologies via Zoom and livestreamed on YouTube. PRESENT: MAYOR DEPUTY MAYOR COUNCILLORS STAFF PRESENT: N CLERK TREASURER BY-LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER CHIEF BUILDING OFFICIAL CALL TO ORDER Mayor Ketchabaw called the meeting to order at 7:00 pm. ED KETCHABAW RAINEY WEISLER *via Zoom TIMOTHY EMERSON DAN FROESE *via Zoom SUSAN CHILCOTT THOMAS THAYER MEAGAN ELLIOTT *via Zoom LORNE JAMES *via Zoom MARK RUSSELL SCOTT SUTHERLAND 2. DISCLOSURES OF PECUNIARY INTEREST & THE GENERAL NATURE THEREOF No disclosures of pecuniary interest were declared. 3. REVIEW OF ITEMS NOT LISTED ON AGENDA An additional document was added to item 6. A after the posting of the agenda. 4. ANNOUNCEMENTS CAO Thayer reminded residents that the Municipal Office will be closed on Monday, February 16, 2026 for Family Day and that an interim Clerk will be beginning February 17, 2026 to cover a leave of Clerk Elliott. Thayer also announced that the Municipality of Bayham's joint application with Malahide and Central Elgin to the Municipal Housing Infrastructure Program (Health and Water Stream) for the Port Burwell Area Secondary Water Supply System Rehabilitation Project was successful and thanked all those involved for submitting the application. 5. PRESENTATIONS 6. DELEGATIONS A. Barry Wade re Unlicensed Tarion Builders Council Minutes February 5, 2026 Moved by: Councillor Emerson Seconded by: Councillor Chilcott THAT the delegation from Barry Wade re Unlicensed Tarion Builders be received for information. CARRIED 7. ADOPTION OF MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING(S) A. Regular Meeting of Council held January 15, 2026 Moved by: Councillor Emerson Seconded by: Deputy Mayor Weisler THAT the minutes from the Regular Meeting of Council held January 15, 2026 be approved as presented. CARRIED 8. MOTIONS AND NOTICE OF MOTION 9. OPEN FORUM One (1) member of the public spoke to item 11.2 A. One (1) member of the public spoke to item 13.2 F. 10. RECREATION, CULTURE, TOURISM AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT 10.1 Correspondence 10.1.1 Receive for Information 10.1.2 Requiring Action 10.2 Reports to Council 11. PHYSICAL SERVICES — EMERGENCY SERVICES 11.1 Correspondence 11.1.1 Receive for Information 11.1.2 Requiring Action 11.2 Reports to Council A. Report BL-01/26 by Mark Russell, By-law Enforcement Officer re Backyard Chickens in Settlement Areas Moved by: Councillor Chilcott Seconded by: Councillor Emerson 2 Council Minutes February 5, 2026 THAT Report BL-01/26 re Backyard Chickens in Settlement Areas be received for information; AND THAT staff be directed to investigate amendments to and the establishment of the appropriate by-laws to permit hens in urban areas in Bayham, including consideration of the establishment of a licensing, inspection, and enforcement protocol. CARRIED The Council Meeting recessed for a Statutory Planning Meeting at 7:34 pm. The Council Meeting resumed at 7:49 pm. B. Report BL-02/26 by Mark Russell, By-law Enforcement Officer re 2025 Annual Summary Report Moved by: Councillor Chilcott Seconded by: Councillor Froese THAT Report BL-02/26 re 2025 By-law Enforcement Service Annual Report be received for information; AND THAT staff be directed to return to Council with information pertaining to the number of calls for OPP support for by-law enforcement matters. CARRIED 12. DEVELOPMENT SERVICES — SUSTAINABILITY AND CONSERVATION 12.1 Correspondence 12.1.1 Receive for Information A. Notice of Public Meeting re ZBA-20/25 Build Ontario Developments, 11265 Plank Road B. Notice of Public Meeting re ZBA-25/25 Neufeld, 54304 Eden Line C. Notice of Public Meeting re ZBA-01/26 Wall, 23 Oak Street D. Notice of Public Meeting re ZBA-02/26 Guenther, 53900 Heritage Line E. Notice of Public Meeting re Final Draft of Official Plan in the Municipality of Bayham Official Plan Review Moved by: Councillor Emerson Seconded by: Councillor Chilcott THAT items 12.1.1 A — E be received for information. XUARTUTC9 12.1.2 Requiring Action 3 Council Minutes 12.2 Reports to Council February 5, 2026 A. Report DS-02/26 by Scott Sutherland, Chief Building Official re Unlicensed Tarion Builders Moved by: Councillor Emerson Seconded by: Councillor Chilcott THAT Report DS-02/26 re Unlicensed Tarion Builders (Follow-up from December 18, 2025 Item 13.1.213) be received for information. CARRIED 13. FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION 13.1 Correspondence 13.1.1 Receive for Information A. Town of Fort Frances re Call on Province of Ontario to Establish an Ontario Airport Capital Assistance Program B. Township of Southgate re OMERS Bill 68 Moved by: Deputy Mayor Weisler Seconded by: Councillor Chilcott THAT items 13.1.1 A & B be received for information. CARRIED 13.1.2 Requiring Action 13.2 Reports to Council A. Report TR-02/26 by Lorne James, Treasurer re 2027 Budget Schedule Moved by: Councillor Emerson Seconded by: Councillor Chilcott THAT Report TR-02/26 re 2027 Budget Schedule be received for information; AND THAT the proposed budget guidelines be approved; AND THAT the following dates be established for the 2027 budget process: • February 5 — September 30, 2026 — Budget Public Consultation Period • Tuesday, October 6, 2026 — 2027-2036 Capital Budget Meeting • Tuesday, January 5, 2027 — 2027 Operating Budget Meeting • Thursday, January 21, 2027 — Budget Open House CARRIED B. Report TR-03/26 by Lorne James, Treasurer re 2025 Public Sector Salary Disclosure Act f Council Minutes Moved by: Councillor Emerson Seconded by: Councillor Froese February 5, 2026 THAT Report TR-03/26 re 2025 Public Sector Salary Disclosure Act (PSSDA) be received for information; AND THAT correspondence be sent to the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing and other Elgin County municipalities requesting support to formally index the $100,000 sunshine list threshold to current year's values. CARRIED C. Report TR-04/26 by Lorne James, Treasurer re 2025 Council Remuneration and Expenses Moved by: Councillor Emerson Seconded by: Councillor Chilcott THAT Report TR-04/26 re 2025 Council Remuneration and Expenses be received for information. CARRIED D. Report CAO-04/26 by Thomas Thayer, CAO re Transfer Payment Agreement — 2026 Fire Protection Grant Moved by: Councillor Chilcott Seconded by: Councillor Emerson THAT Report CAO-04/26 re Transfer Payment Agreement — 2026 Fire Protection Grant be received for information; AND THAT Council authorizes the Chief Administrative Officer and Mayor to execute a Transfer Payment Agreement between His Majesty the King, in Right of Ontario, as represented by the Solicitor General and the Municipality of Bayham for the 2026 Fire Protection Grant program. CARRIED E. Report CAO-05/26 by Thomas Thayer, CAO re Transfer Payment Agreement — Pothole Prevention and Repair Program Moved by: Deputy Mayor Weisler Seconded by: Councillor Chilcott THAT Report CAO-05/26 re Transfer Payment Agreement — Pothole Prevention and Repair Program be received for information, - AND THAT Council authorizes the Treasurer and Mayor to execute a Transfer Payment Agreement between His Majesty the King, in Right of Ontario, as represented by the Honourable Minster of Transportation and the Municipality of Bayham for the Pothole Council Minutes February 5, 2026 Prevention and Repair Program. CARRIED F. Report CAO-06/26 by Thomas Thayer, CAO re Bayham Community Strategic Plan Progress — 2025 Moved by: Councillor Emerson Seconded by: Deputy Mayor Weisler THAT Report CAO-06/26 re Bayham Community Strategic Plan Progress — 2025 be received for information. CARRIED 14. BY-LAWS A. By-law No. 2026-003 Being a by-law to authorize the execution of a transfer payment agreement between His Majesty the King in Right of Ontario and the Corporation of the Municipality of Bayham for the Fire Protection Grant Program B. By-law No. 2026-004 Being a by-law to authorize the execution of a transfer payment agreement between His Majesty the King in Right of Ontario and the Corporation of the Municipality of Bayham for the Pothole Prevention and Repair Program C. By-law No. 2026-005 Being a by-law to amend By-law No. 2023-034 being a By- law to appoint committee members Moved by: Councillor Emerson Seconded by: Councillor Chilcott THAT By-law Nos. 2026-003, 2026-004 and 2026-005 be read a first, second and third time and finally passed. CARRIED 15. UNFINISHED BUSINESS 16. OTHER BUSINESS A. Draft Minutes of the January 12, 2026 Waterfront Advisory Committee Meeting B. Draft Minutes of the January 28, 2026 Museum Advisory Committee Meeting Moved by: Councillor Chilcott Seconded by: Deputy Mayor Weisler 0 Council Minutes February 5, 2026 THAT the draft minutes of the January 12, 2026 Waterfront Advisory Committee Meeting and the draft minutes of the January 28, 2026 Museum Advisory Committee Meeting be received for information. CARRIED C. Recommendations to Council from the Waterfront Advisory Committee & Museum Advisory Committee Moved by: Deputy Mayor Weisler Seconded by: Councillor Chilcott THAT the recommendation from the Waterfront Advisory Committee and Museum Advisory Committee from their January 2026 meetings be received for information; AND THAT no Regular Committee Meetings are to be scheduled in October 2026 'G: 16.1 In Camera 16.2 Out of Camera 17. BY-LAW TO CONFIRM THE PROCEEDINGS OF COUNCIL A. By-law No. 2026-006 Being a by-law to confirm all actions of Council Moved by: Deputy Mayor Weisler Seconded by: Councillor Chilcott THAT Confirming By-law No. 2026-006 be read a first, second and third time and finally passed. �G: o 18. ADJOURNMENT Moved by: Councillor Chilcott Seconded by: Councillor Emerson THAT the Council meeting be adjourned at 8:46 p.m. CARRIED MAYOR LI, 7