Members Present: Milt McIver, Mayor, Rod Anderson, Deputy Mayor (Via Zoom), Todd Dowd, Councillor, Laurie (Smokey) Golden, Councillor, Aman Sohrab, Councillor (Via Zoom)
Staff Present: Peggy Van Mierlo-West, Chief Administrative Officer, Alexandra Croce, Clerk, Troy Cameron, Public Works Manager, Mark Coleman, Parks and Facilities Manager, Kara Smith, GIS/IT Manager, Carol Hopkins, Chief By-law Enforcement Officer, Deputy Clerk, Cally Mann
1. Call to Order and Disclosure of Pecuniary Interest and the General Nature Thereof
Due to technical issues, Mayor McIver called the meeting to order at 1:09 p.m. and Council members were reminded to disclose any pecuniary interest and the general nature thereof that may arise during the meeting.
2. Approval of the Agenda
a. Approval of the Agenda
16-01-2026
Moved by Councillor Todd Dowd, Seconded by Councillor Laurie (Smokey) Golden
That the content of the agenda be approved as presented.
Carried
3. Adoption of the Minutes
a. Re: Council Meeting No. 26-15, June 22, 2026
16-02-2026
Moved by Deputy Mayor Rod Anderson, Seconded by Councillor Aman Sohrab
That the minutes of Council Meeting No. 26-15, June 22, 2026 be approved.
Carried
4. Public Meeting
a. Bruce County Planning Report Zoning By-law Amendment – Z-2026-022 (Stewart)
Mayor McIver welcomed Bruce County Planner Megan Stansfield.
Ms. Stansfield provided an overview of the information contained within Application Z-2026-022 (Stewart).
Council inquired about septic system requirements.
Mayor McIver opened the Public Meeting at 1:17pm.
There were no comments from members of the public.
Mayor McIver closed the Public Meeting at 1:20pm.
16-03-2026
Moved by Councillor Todd Dowd, Seconded by Councillor Laurie (Smokey) Golden
Subject to a review of submissions arising from the public meeting:
That Council receives Bruce County Planning report ZBA – Z-2026-022 (Stewart) for information; and
That Council approves Zoning By-law Amendment Z-2026-022 by Connie Stewart and directs staff to bring forward the by-law for adoption at a subsequent meeting.
Carried
5. Delegations
With the consent of Council, the Lion’s Head and District Food Bank delegation was heard first.
a. Charlene Scharlach and Darlene Myles, Lion’s Head and District Food Bank
Charlene Scharlach and Darlene Myles provided an overview and statistics for Food Bank usage and programs since 2018. Ms. Scharlach requested a designated space within a municipal facility to accommodate the need for increasing inventory and the safe, convenient and accessible storage of goods.
Council asked if there has been any inquiries made with the private sector in order to find a location and discussed future potential options.
Ms. Scharlach and Ms. Myles left the meeting at 1:40pm.
b. Jack Van Dorp, Director of Planning and Development, Bruce County – New County Official Plan, Planning Report
Jack Van Dorp, Director of Planning and Development, Bruce County, provided an overview of the County Official Plan project, including the schedules within the draft Official Plan.
Mayor McIver noted that the Plan the Bruce website has an interactive map with a slide feature that shows current mapping compared to proposed mapping.
Council asked about the agricultural areas, the aggregate mapping, and compliance with provincial direction.
Ms. Van Dorp reviewed the agriculture designation in relation to the soil mapping and provided an overview on the land evaluation area review.
Mr. Van Dorp and Ms. Stansfield left the meeting at 2:15pm.
5. Consideration of Agenda Items
Office of the CAO
a. CAO26-07 Cabot Head Business Plans
Council inquired about the restoration costs for the lighthouse, legal access and the proposed costs.
Peggy Van Mierlo-West, CAO, provided clarification on legal access for the road and outlined how the proposed costs were calculated.
Main Motion
Moved by Councillor Aman Sohrab, Seconded by Deputy Mayor Rod Anderson
That Council receives report CAO26-07 Cabot Head Business Plans for information; and
That, this report be brought back for Council discussion at the July 27th, 2026 meeting.
Superceded
With the consent of the Mover and Seconder, the motion was amended.
Main Motion as Amended
16-04-2026
Moved by Councillor Aman Sohrab, Seconded by Deputy Mayor Rod Anderson
That Council receives report CAO26-07 Cabot Head Business Plans for information; and
That Council approves preliminary option 3, and that administration proceed with consultation with collaborators.
Councillor Dowd requested a recorded vote.
Alexandra Croce, Clerk, pursuant to the Procedural By-law, called upon each member of Council for their vote.
Councillor Todd Dowd – No
Councillor Laurie (Smokey) Golden – No
Councillor Aman Sohrab – Yes
Deputy Mayor Rod Anderson – Yes
Mayor Milt McIver – Yes
The Clerk declared that the motion is carried
Carried – as Amended
Clerk’s Department
a. C26-20 Notice Provision By-law Update
Council inquired about the timelines for newspaper notices and notice for deferred items.
16-05-2026
Moved by Councillor Todd Dowd, Seconded by Councillor Aman Sohrab
That Council receives report C26-18 Notice Provision By-law Update for information; and
That Council directs staff to bring forward an updated notice provision by-law.
Carried
b. MLEO26-13 Appointment By-law Update
16-06-2026
Moved by Councillor Todd Dowd, Seconded by Councillor Laurie (Smokey) Golden
That Council receives report MLEO26-13 Appointment By-law Update for information; and
That Council directs staff to bring forward:
1. An updated by-law to appoint municipal staff as Municipal Law Enforcement Officers; and
2. An updated by-law to appoint Municipal Support Services as contract Municipal Law Enforcement Officers.
Carried
Public Works Department
a. PW26-18 Residential Waste Curbside Collection Study
Council inquired about the capacity of staff, required equipment, schedule for collection days and recycling impacts regarding an in house model. Council also noted additional considerations for bears and seasonal residents and roads.
Main Motion
Moved by Councillor Laurie (Smokey) Golden, Seconded by Councillor Todd Dowd
That Council receives report PW26-18 – Residential Waste Curbside Collection Study for information; and
That Council directs staff to proceed with inhouse curbside collection.
Superceded
Motion to Amend
Moved by Deputy Mayor Rod Anderson, Seconded by Councillor Laurie (Smokey) Golden
That the motion be amended so that paragraph 2 reads “That Council directs staff to proceed with inhouse curbside collection.”
Carried
Main Motion as Amended
16-07-2026
Moved by Councillor Laurie (Smokey) Golden, Seconded by Councillor Todd Dowd
That Council receives report PW26-18 – Residential Waste Curbside Collection Study for information; and
That Council directs staff to proceed with inhouse curbside collection.
Carried – As Amended
b. PW26-19 Heron Point Bridge Tender
Council inquired about the expected lifespan of the bridge.
16-08-2026
Moved by Deputy Mayor Rod Anderson, Seconded by Councillor Aman Sohrab
That Council receives report PW26-19 Heron Point Bridge Tender for information; and
That Council awards BR1611 Heron Point Bridge Tender to Strat-Con Construction Ltd. For $426,728.00, excluding HST.
Carried
Parks and Facilities
a. PF26-12 Seniors Active Living Centre Programming and Funding Update
16-09-2026
Moved by Councillor Laurie (Smokey) Golden, Seconded by Councillor Todd Dowd
That Council receives report PF26-12, 2025–26 Seniors Active Living Centre (SALC) Program Update, Survey Results, and 2026–27 Funding Confirmation, for information.
Carried
b. PF26-13 Tobermory Airport – ECCC Licence Agreement Renewal
16-10-2026
Moved by Councillor Aman Sohrab, Seconded by Councillor Todd Dowd
That Council receives report PF26-13 Tobermory Airport – ECCC Licence Agreement Renewal for information; and
That Council authorizes the Mayor and Clerk to enter into an agreement with Environment and Climate Change Canada for a Licence Agreement for the continued operation of a Reference Climate Station at the Tobermory Municipal Airport.
Carried
Building Department
a. BD26-11 Regulating Backyard Hens
16-11-2026
Moved by Councillor Todd Dowd, Seconded by Councillor Laurie (Smokey) Golden
That Council receives report BD26-11 Regulating Backyard Hens for information.
Carried
GIS/IT Department
a. GISIT26-02 Award of Contract for RFP GIS/IT 2026-01 Council Chambers AV Upgrade
16-12-2026
Moved by Deputy Mayor Rod Anderson, Seconded by Councillor Aman Sohrab
That Council receives report GISIT26-02 Award of Contract for GIS/IT Council Chambers AV Upgrade for information; and
That Council authorizes the Mayor and Clerk to enter into an agreement with Dynamix Professional Video Systems for the Council Chambers Audio Visual Upgrade in the amount of $87,550 plus HST.
Carried
6. Committee Minutes
7. a. Grey Bruce OPP Detachment Board
Correspondence – Requiring Council Direction
a. Bob Goodall, Stokes Bay Bench Request, 2026
Council referred the correspondence to Staff
8. Correspondence – for Information
Resident correspondence
a. St. Edmunds Property Owners Inc., Executive, Municipal Voters’ List, 2026
Council referred the correspondence to staff
b. James Kevin Carson, Section 6.8 of the Comprehensive Zoning By-law 2002-54 – Home Based Businesses, 2026
Council referred the correspondence to staff
Resolutions from other municipalities
c. Town of Petawawa, Sustainable Provincial Grant Funding for Fire Services in Ontario, 2026
16-13-2026
Moved by Councillor Todd Dowd, Seconded by Councillor Laurie (Smokey) Golden
That Council support the Town of Petawawa resolution regarding Sustainable Provincial Grant Funding for Fire Services in Ontario.
Carried
Government news and releases
d. Paul Vickers, Ontario Supporting Rural Economic Development in Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound, 2026
Other
e. Grey Bruce Ontario Health Team, Grey-Bruce Primary Care and Health System Update, 2026
f. Nuclear Innovation Institute, Clean Energy Frontier Conference, 2026
g. Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing, Planning Act Updates for Parkland Dedication, 2026
h. Bruce County Council, Conservation Authorities – Advocacy Approach, 2026
i. Ontario Coalition for Better Child Care, Child Care Worker & Early Childhood Educator Appreciation Day, 2026
Council referred the correspondence to staff
j. Brightshores Health System, Donation Appreciation, 2026
All correspondence items were noted and filed.
9. Other Business – nil
10. Closed Session
a. Closed Session
16-14-2026
Moved by Councillor Todd Dowd, Seconded by Councillor Laurie (Smokey) Golden
That Council move into a closed meeting with the CAO and Clerk in attendance pursuant to Section 239 (2) of The Municipal Act, 2001, as amended, for the following reasons:
(c) a proposed or pending acquisition or disposition of land by the municipality, specifically related to a request to sell property to the Municipality.
Carried
Reporting Out
Mayor McIver reported out that Council met in closed session with the CAO and Clerk in attendance regarding a proposed or pending acquisition or disposition of land by the municipality or local board, specifically related to a request to sell property to the Municipality. Council approved the closed session minutes from June 8, 2026 and direction was given to the CAO.
11. Reading of By-laws
a. BY-LAW 2026-52 – 2026 Fees and Charges
b. BY-LAW 2026-53 – to Designate a Site Plan Control Area for MNBP
c. BY-LAW 2026-54 – to Establish Procedures Regarding the Provision of Notice
d. BY-LAW 2026-55 – to Appoint MLEOs for MNBP (Municipal Staff)
e. BY-LAW 2026-56 – to Appoint MLEOs for MNBP (Municipal Support Services)
f. BY-LAW 2026-57 – Confirmatory By-law
16-15-2026
Moved by Councillor Todd Dowd, Seconded by Councillor Aman Sohrab
That by-laws 2026-52, 2026-53, 2026-54, 2026-55, 2026-56, and 2026-57 be given a first, second, and third reading, and finally passed.
Carried
12. Adjournment
a. Motion to Adjourn
16-16-2026
Moved by Deputy Mayor Rod Anderson, Seconded by Councillor Laurie (Smokey) Golden
That the meeting adjourns at 3:38 p.m.
Carried
Milt McIver, Mayor Alexandra Croce, Clerk
