Agenda
The Blue Mountains, Special Meeting of Council

Meeting #:
Date:
Time:
-
Location:
Town Hall, Council Chambers and Virtual Meeting
32 Mill Street, Thornbury, ON
Prepared by: Corrina Giles, Town Clerk

A.
Call to Order

 

A.1
Traditional Territory Acknowledgement and Moment of Reflection

 

We would like to begin our meeting by recognizing the First Nations, Metis and Inuit peoples of Canada as traditional stewards of the land.  The municipality is located within the boundary of Treaty 18 region of 1818 which is the traditional land of the Anishnaabek, Haudenosaunee and Wendat-Wyandot-Wyandotte peoples.

A.2
Approval of Agenda

 
  • Recommended (Move, Second)

    THAT the Agenda of May 13, 2025, be approved as circulated, including any items added to the Agenda.

A.3
Declaration of Pecuniary Interest and general nature thereof

 

NOTE:  In accordance with the Municipal Conflict of Interest Act and the Town Procedural By-law 2023-62, Council Members must file a written statement of the interest and its general nature with the Clerk for inclusion on the Registry.

B.
Deputations/Presentations

 

Under the authority of the Municipal Act, 2001 and in accordance with Ontario’s Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (MFIPPA), The Corporation of the Town of The Blue Mountains wishes to inform the public that all information including opinions, presentations, reports and documentation provided for or at a Public Meeting, Public Consultation, or other Public Process are considered part of the public record. This information may be posted on the Town’s website and/or made available to the public upon request.

C.
Public Comment Period

 

NOTE: In accordance with the Town Procedural By-law 2023-62 any person may provide comments during the Public Comment Period at a Council Meeting, regarding Town matters. Each person providing comments during a Public Comment Period shall be limited to not more than three minutes. The Clerk or a countdown clock shall alert the speaker when they have one minute remaining to address Council. Each person shall provide their name and address, and is required to address their comments to the Chair. Comments shall not refer to personal, litigation or potential litigation matters, or be in response to matters that have been the subject of a Public Meeting, it being noted that the verbal commenting period has ended. Written correspondence may still be received in response to matters that have been the subject of a Public Meeting. If a person is unable to personally attend the meeting, or during any period where an emergency has been declared to exist in the municipality, they shall provide their Public Comments in writing to the Clerk in advance of the meeting for the Clerk to read on behalf of the author during the Public Comment Period.

D.
Motions and Staff Reports

 

D.1
Appointment of the Family Physician Working Group Members

 
  • Recommended (Move, Second)

    That Council of the Town of The Blue Mountains appoints ___________________, _____________________, and _________________ as Public Members of the Family Physician Working Group

E.
Notice of Motion (Council)

 

E.1
Councillor Porter Notice of Motion Re: Zero Based Budgeting

 

Note: Councillor Porter provided the following Notice of Motion at the April 7, 2025, Committee of the Whole Meeting. In accordance with Procedural By-law 2023-62 the motion requires a mover and seconder to be put before Council.

  • Recommended (Move, Second)

    WHEREAS Zero-based budgeting (ZBB) is a budgeting process that has been around since the late 1960s, early 1970s and serves to allocate funding based on program efficiency and necessity rather than budget history.

    AND WHEREAS As opposed to traditional budgeting, no item is automatically included in the next budget. In ZBB, budgeters review every program and expenditure at the beginning of each budget cycle and must justify each line item in order to receive funding. In doing so funding is targeted more to specific activities and levels of service that align with corporate strategies and can improve operational efficient by rigorously challenging assumptions.

    THEREFORE Council of the Town of The Blue Mountains direct staff to undertake Zero Base Budget within the following areas:

    • Administration (CAO, Clerks)
    • Corporate and Financial Services
    • Human Resources
    • Sustainability

E.2
Councillor Hope Notice of Motion Re: Forming a Working Group for the Film Industry Production

 

Note: Councillor Hope provided the following Notice of Motion at the April 7, 2025, Committee of the Whole Meeting. In accordance with Procedural By-law 2023-62 the motion requires a mover and a seconder to be put before Council.

  • Recommended (Move, Second)

    WHEREAS the Town of Blue Mountains has identified film attraction as a key strategic economic development priority, with an opportunity to position the Town as a strong and welcoming community to encourage and attract film production;

    AND WHEREAS the Town recently participated in a Grey County led visioning session that explored the potential for The Blue Mountains to be an ideal site for the full development and nurturing of the film industry, with the goal of becoming the “Cannes of Canada”;

    AND WHEREAS it has also been suggested that the Town’s interest in attracting film production aligns with provincial priorities and potential support for public funding to realize this opportunity without creating a burden on its taxpayers;

    AND THEREFORE, Council directs staff to bring forward a report for Council consideration that would outline the options, opportunities and challenges to this initiative.

E.3
Councillor Maxwell Notice of Motion Re: Co-Operative Procurement Models

 

Note: Councillor Maxwell provided the following Notice of Motion at the April 22, 2025, Council Meeting. In accordance with Procedural By-law 2023-62 the motion requires a mover and a seconder to be put before Council  

  • Recommended (Move, Second)

    WHEREAS small municipalities like the Town of The Blue Mountains often lack the scale needed to achieve deep volume discounts and streamline procurement on their own, and can benefit from co-operative procurement models that pool buying power and access competitively solicited contracts;
    THEREFORE Be It Resolved that staff be directed to investigate opportunities for co-operative procurement, including exploring participation in or formation of a Group Purchasing Organization (GPO), and report back to Council in a timely manner , including:

    1. An overview of GPO models and potential partners;
    2. A summary of membership requirements and contract terms;
    3. An assessment of anticipated procurement efficiencies and cost savings; and
    4. An assessment of whether GPO participation is advisable and, if so, proposed next steps for implementation.

E.4
Councillor Maxwell Notice of Motion Re: Making Surveys More Representative

 

Note: Councillor Maxwell provided the following Notice of Motion at the April 22, 2025, Council Meeting. In accordance with Procedural By-law 2023-62 the motion requires a mover and seconder to be put before Council.

  • Recommended (Move, Second)

    WHEREAS the Town of The Blue Mountains relies on public surveys to inform decision‑making for the development of staff reports, information for residents; and to inform the decision making of council;

    WHEREAS traditional online surveys and open consultations can over‑represent the views of the most vocal stakeholders and fail to capture a statistically representative sample of the community; and

    WHEREAS professional survey firms employ randomized sampling methods to ensure broader, more reliable public input, but these services are often cost‑prohibitive for one small municipality; and

    WHEREAS neighbouring municipalities may face similar challenges and could benefit from a shared, cost‑effective approach to obtaining randomized survey data;

    THEREFORE Be it resolved that Council direct staff to research Ontario‑based survey firms capable of providing municipal public consultation using randomized sampling methodologies, and obtain estimates of their service fees; and engage with neighbouring municipalities to gauge interest in a joint procurement model for randomized survey services

E.5
Councillor Ardiel Re: Advocating for a Reduced Provincial Tax Rate on Ontario-Made Craft Cider

 

Note:   Councillor Ardiel provided the following Notice of Motion at the April 28, 2025 Committee of the Whole Meeting.  In accordance with Procedural Bylaw 2023-62 the motion requires a mover and a seconder to be put before Council

  • Recommended (Move, Second)

    WHEREAS the Town of The Blue Mountains boasts a robust agricultural sector and a thriving agritourism industry, with numerous local cideries contributing significantly to the local economy, employment, and tourism;

    AND WHEREAS Ontario’s craft cider industry is experiencing substantial growth, with over 60 craft cideries across the province, many of which are situated in rural communities and utilize 100% Ontario-grown apples and are 100% made in Ontario, thereby supporting local agriculture and local economies;

    AND WHEREAS under the current provincial tax structure, cider is officially classified and taxed at the same rate as imported wine which results in higher markups and taxes compared to craft beer, despite cider’s comparable production processes and market positioning;

    AND WHEREAS this tax disparity places Ontario's craft cider producers at a competitive disadvantage compared to craft brewers, despite the fact that Ontario cider utilize 100% Ontario-grown apples and is 100% made in Ontario;

    AND WHEREAS the Ontario Craft Cider Association (OCCA) has been actively advocating for a tax structure that levels the playing field between craft cider and craft beer, recognizing the potential for job creation, economic growth, and the promotion of local agriculture;

    AND WHEREAS the Town acknowledges and appreciates the Province’s investment in marketing and promotional support for the craft cider industry, but maintains that long-term sustainability and competitiveness for Ontario cider producers requires an adjustment to the underlying tax framework;

    AND WHEREAS this motion is meant to support, not oppose, initiatives for fair taxation of the Ontario Craft Cider industry the Province of Ontario may be considering.

    THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Council of the Town of The Blue Mountains:

    1. Supports the efforts of the Ontario Craft Cider Association in advocating for a fair and equitable tax structure for Ontario-made craft cider.
    2. Urges the Province of Ontario to review and amend the current tax regulations to align the tax rate of craft cider with that of craft beer, thereby fostering a more balanced and supportive environment for local cider producers.
    3. Acknowledges the Province of Ontario’s recent investment in marketing initiatives for the cider sector, while calling for complementary reform of the tax and markup structure that continues to disadvantage cider producers relative to other craft alcohol categories;
    4. Directs the Mayor to forward this resolution to the Premier of Ontario, the Minister of Finance, the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, MPP Brian Saunderson, and the County of Grey requesting their consideration and support.
    5. Directs the Mayor to forward this resolution to all municipalities in Ontario and encourages other municipalities with vested interests in agriculture and agri-tourism to adopt similar resolutions, amplifying the collective voice advocating for the prosperity of Ontario’s craft cider industry.

     

E.6
Councillor Maxwell Re: Geographic, Historical and Present Day Boundaries

 

Note: Councillor Maxwell provided the following Notice of Motion at the April 28, 2025, Committee of the Whole Meeting. In accordance with Procedural By-law 2023-62 the motion requires a mover and a seconder to be put before Council

  • Recommended (Move, Second)

    WHEREAS the Town of The Blue Mountains is a community of communities whose identity, heritage and sense of place are rooted in its historic towns, villages and hamlets;
    AND WHEREAS municipal amalgamation on January 1, 1998 merged these communities under one jurisdiction but did not formally confirm or map their traditional geographic boundaries; 
    AND WHEREAS clearly defined boundaries will strengthen heritage preservation; planning and infrastructure decision-making; tourism and wayfinding; and community engagement; 
    THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council direct staff to:

    1. Compile and confirm the historic and cultural boundaries of each recognized town, village and hamlet within The Blue Mountains using:
      a. archival and land-registry sources
      b. input from local historical societies, Indigenous communities and community associations
      c. existing planning documents such as Official Plan schedules, zoning maps and heritage studies
    2. Produce digital and print-ready maps at an appropriate scale for public use that delineate these boundaries.

E.7
Councillor Hope Re: Integrity Commissioner Review

 

Note: Councillor Hope provided the following Notice of Motion at the April 28, 2025 Committee of the Whole Meeting. In accordance with Procedural Bylaw 2023-62 the motion requires a mover and a seconder to be put before Council 

  • Recommended (Move, Second)

    WHEREAS the Integrity Commissioner has been in his role for a year;

    WHEREAS 3 municipalities, including the City of London, have terminated their contracts;

    THEREFORE, Council directs staff to initiate the process of reviewing the performance of the Integrity Commissioner to date, including requesting feedback from Council members.

F.
Closed Session

 

None

G.
Notice of Meeting Dates

 

Committee of the Whole Meeting, Operations, and Planning & Building Services, May 20, 2025
Town Hall, Council Chambers and Virtual


Committee of the Whole Meeting, Administration, Corporate & Financial Services, Strategic Initiatives, and Community Services,  May 26, 2025
Town Hall, Council Chambers and Virtual


Council Meeting, June 2, 2025
Town Hall, Council Chambers and Virtual

H.
Confirmation By-law

 
  • Recommended (Move, Second)

    THAT By-law No. 2025-30, being a By-law to confirm proceedings of the Council of The Corporation of the Town of The Blue Mountains on May 13, 2025 be hereby enacted as passed this 13th day of May, 2025.

I.
Adjournment

 
  • Recommended (Move, Second)

    THAT this Special Meeting of Council does now adjourn at (time) p.m. to meet again at the call of the Chair.

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