Members Present: Milt McIver, Mayor, Rod Anderson, Deputy Mayor, Todd Dowd, Councillor, Laurie (Smokey) Golden, Councillor, Aman Sohrab, Councillor
Staff Present: Peggy Van Mierlo-West, Chief Administrative Officer, Alexandra Croce, Clerk, Troy Cameron, Public Works Manager, Mark Coleman, Parks and Facilities Manager, Cally Mann, Deputy Clerk
1. Call to Order and Disclosure of Pecuniary Interest and the General Nature Thereof
a. Mayor McIver called the meeting to order at 1:00 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
17-01-2026
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. 26-16, July 13, 2026
17-02-2026
Moved by Deputy Mayor Rod Anderson, Seconded by Councillor Aman Sohrab
That the minutes of Council Meeting No. 26-16, July 13, 2026 be approved.
Carried
4. Delegations
a. Chris Wilson, WSP, Master Plans for Tobermory and Lion’s Head
Joe Roche arrived at the Council meeting at 1:04 p.m. and Mr. Wilson was called to give a delegation first.
Chris Wilson, WSP, Manager – Land Development & Municipal Engineering, provided an overview of the project, including current status. Mr. Wilson outlined the current systems and preferred options in Tobermory and Lion’s Head for Water and Wastewater servicing Master Plans.
Council inquired about grant funding options, costing for individual connections for existing properties, municipal property status and being shovel ready, mapping, separation distance and water treatment plan upgrades.
Mr. Wilson provided an overview of the benefits of preparing shovel-ready development lands, including completing Environmental Assessments to improve competitiveness for future grant funding, noted that the estimated costs included individual service connections and anticipated rock removal, clarified the proposed boundaries, explained the required separation distances between water and wastewater mains to prevent contamination, and discussed potential upgrades to the Lion’s Head Water Treatment Plant to improve fire flow capacity and support future growth.
Mr. Wilson left the meeting at 1:47pm.
b. Joe Roche, Forest Safety and Driveway Concerns
Mr. Roche provided a summary of his concerns surrounding his forest safety and cleaning up fallen trees on private property.
Council asked if the properties are privately owned lands.
Council requested that staff review the concerns as outlined and bring back a report.
Mr. Roche left the meeting at 2:05pm.
5. Consideration of Agenda Items
Office of the CAO
a. CAO26-08 Community Readiness Fund
Council inquired about funding allocation towards each study.
Peggy Van Mierlo-West, CAO, confirmed that the funding represents the next step in determining the feasibility of potential locations for a water treatment plant in Tobermory and noted that the study will also assist in refining project cost estimates.
Council inquired about the likelihood of approval for the funding.
17-03-2026
Moved by Councillor Laurie (Smokey) Golden, Seconded by Councillor Todd Dowd
That Council hereby approves Report CAO26-08, Regional Municipal Readiness Assessment Fund; and That Council directs staff to submit an application to Bruce Power through the Regional Municipal Readiness Assessment Fund for the following studies:
• Tobermory Water Treatment Expansion Review
• MNBP Parks and Recreation Master Plan Review
Carried
b. CAO26-09 Acquisition of Lands in Lion’s Head for Future Recreational and Community Infrastructure Opportunities
17-04-2026
Moved by Deputy Mayor Rod Anderson, Seconded by Councillor Aman Sohrab
That Council receives Report CAO26-09 as information regarding the acquisition of lands in Lion’s Head for future recreational and community infrastructure opportunities.
Carried
c. CAO26-10 Establishment of Full-Time Waste Management Operator Positions
Council inquired about the recruitment process and current capacity of Public Works staff.
17-05-2026
Moved by Councillor Todd Dowd, Seconded by Councillor Aman Sohrab
That Council receives Report CAO 26-10 regarding the establishment of two (2) permanent full-time Waste Management Operator positions within the Public Works Department; and
That Council approves the creation of two (2) permanent full-time Waste Management Operator positions, subject to completion of the required collective agreement discussions with OPSEU/SEFPO Local 266; and
That staff be authorized to engage with OPSEU/SEFPO Local 266 regarding the required amendments to the Collective Agreement, including classification and wage placement; and
That following completion of the labour relations process, staff be authorized to proceed with recruitment and implementation of the positions.
Carried
Clerk’s Department
a. C26-21 Election Report – Bruce County Joint Compliance Audit Committee
17-06-2026
Moved by Councillor Todd Dowd, Seconded by Deputy Mayor Rod Anderson
That Council receives report C26-21 Election Report – Bruce County Joint Compliance Audit Committee for information; and
That Council directs staff to bring forward a by-law to appoint members to the Bruce County Joint Compliance Audit Committee.
Carried
b. C26-22 Election Report – Delegated Authority
17-07-2026
Moved by Councillor Laurie (Smokey) Golden, Seconded by Councillor Aman Sohrab
That Council receives report C26-22 Election Report – Delegated Authority; and
That Council directs staff to bring forward a by-law to Delegate Authority to the CAO during a Lame Duck period.
Carried
Treasury
a. TR26-13 Physician Services Retention Agreement
17-08-2026
Moved by Councillor Todd Dowd, Seconded by Deputy Mayor Rod Anderson
That Council receives Treasurer’s Report TR26-13 regarding a physician services retention agreement, and;
That Council authorizes the Mayor and Clerk to enter into an agreement with Dr. Shima Bagherzadeh for the provision of physician services in Northern Bruce Peninsula.
Carried
Public Works Department
a. PW26-19 Purchase of 2025 Freightliner Labrie Leach 2R-III Rear-loading Refuse Truck
17-09-2026
Moved by Deputy Mayor Rod Anderson, Seconded by Councillor Aman Sohrab
That Council receives report PW26-19 – Purchase of 2025 Freightliner Labrie Leach 2R-III Rear-loading Refuse Truck for information; and
That Council approves the purchase of a new 2025 Freightliner Labrie Leach 2R-III Rear-loading Refuse Truck for $318,000 + HST;
Carried
b. PW26-20 Tender PW 2026-04 – Winter Sand
17-10-2026
Moved by Councillor Laurie (Smokey) Golden, Seconded by Councillor Aman Sohrab
That Council receives report PW26-30 – titled Tender PW 2026-04 Winter Sand for information; and
That Council awards the Winter Sand Tender to Hunter Haulage & Excavating Inc. for the amount of $147,776.00, excluding HST.
Carried
Parks and Facilities
a. PF26-14 RFP Results for Demolition of 3 Centennial Drive
Council inquired about the inclusion of substance removal in the quote.
17-11-2026
Moved by Councillor Todd Dowd, Seconded by Deputy Mayor Rod Anderson
That Council receives report PF26-14 RFP Results for Demolition of 3 Centennial Drive for information; and
That Council accepts the proposal from Tri-Phase Group in the amount of the $66,955.00 + HST for demolition and site restoration of 3 Centennial Drive inclusive of designated substance removal, backfill, compaction and securing/preservation of onsite hydro, water and septic utilities.
Carried
b. PF26-15 Build Communities Strong Fund Grant Application
17-12-2026
Moved by Councillor Laurie (Smokey) Golden, Seconded by Councillor Aman Sohrab
That Council receives report PF26-15 Build Communities Strong Fund Grant Application for information; and
That Council authorizes staff to submit a funding application to the Build Communities Strong Fund for the replacement of the noted Roof Surfacing, HVAC and Refrigeration equipment in the Lion’s Head Community Centre and Arena, to be proposed in the 2027 Capital Budget.
Carried
c. PF26-16 Tobermory Community Centre Flooring
Council inquired about the flooring material and type.
17-13-2026
Moved by Deputy Mayor Rod Anderson, Seconded by Councillor Todd Dowd
That Council receives report PF26-15 Tobermory Community Centre Flooring for information; and
That Council waives Purchasing Policy section 5.4.2.4 Sole Source supply of goods and/or services for the purchase order of specialized flooring product; and
That Council accepts the quotation from Advantage Sports for the supply and installation of Tarket OmniSport Multiflex flooring to the main hall of the Tobermory Community Centre in the amount of $79,500.00 + HST per the specifications of the quote dated July 20, 2026.
Carried
Building Department
a. BD26-12 Exemption from Tent and Trailer By-law
17-14-2026
Moved by Councillor Laurie (Smokey) Golden, Seconded by Councillor Todd Dowd
That Council receives report BD26-05 Exemption from Tent and Trailer By-law for information; and
That Council approve the application for an exemption from the Tent and Trailer By-law in consideration of the unique circumstances presented.
Carried
6. Committee Minutes
a. Museum Committee
7. Correspondence – Requiring Council Direction
a. Rotary Club of Northern Bruce Peninsula, Temporary Patio License at Rotary Hall, 2026
17-15-2026
Moved by Councillor Aman Sohrab, Seconded by Deputy Mayor Rod Anderson
That Council supports the temporary extension of the current liquor license for a period of 6 months from July 31 to November 15, 2026 onto the deck addition to the Rotary Hall at 59 Main Street, Lion’s Head.
Carried
8. Correspondence
a. Resident Correspondence
b. Larry Cousins, Huron Drive Road Access, 2026
Troy Cameron, Public Works Manager, provided clarification on the letter. Council referred the correspondence to staff.
c. Government News and Releases
d. Ministry of Energy and Mines, Municipal Energy Plan Program Review – Invitation to Provide Feedback, 2026
Council referred the correspondence to staff.
9. Other Business
a. Councillor Golden requested an update on the Bradley Davis Apartment building regarding the recent fire.
Councillor Sohrab requested an update on the recent delegation from the Lion’s Head District Food Bank regarding the use of a municipal facility.
Councillor Dowd inquired about the status regarding the installation of high speed internet.
10. Closed Session
a. Closed Session
17-16-2026
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:
(b) personal matters about an identifiable individual, including municipal or local board employees specifically related to a personnel update.
Carried
Reporting Out
Mayor McIver reported out that Council met in closed session to discuss personal matters about an identifiable individual, including municipal or local board employees specifically related to a personnel update.
Council approved the closed session minutes from July 13, 2026 and direction was given to the CAO.
11. Reading of By-laws
a. BY-LAW No. 2026-58 ZBA Z-2026-022 Stewart
b. BY-LAW 2026-59 Being A By-Law of the Corporation of the Municipality of Northern Bruce Peninsula to confirm the proceedings of the Council meeting held on July 27, 2026.
17-17-2026
Moved by Deputy Mayor Rod Anderson, Seconded by Councillor Todd Dowd
That the listed by-laws be given a first, second, and third reading, and enacted.
Carried
12. Adjournment
a. Motion to Adjourn
17-18-2026
Moved by Councillor Laurie (Smokey) Golden, Seconded by Councillor Aman Sohrab
That the meeting adjourns at 2:59 p.m.
Carried
Milt McIver, Mayor Alexandra Croce, Clerk
