Council Meeting

That the meeting of the Council of the Municipality of Dutton Dunwich opens at 5:00p.m. Motion:

WHEREAS the Conservation Authorities Act (1946) enables municipalities to establish local conservation authorities, and when municipalities choose to form such authorities, they assume responsibility for governance and funding through the appointment of a Board of Directors and the provision of an annual levy to cover expenses; AND WHEREAS the Municipality of Dutton-Dunwich established the Lower Thames Valley Conservation Authority (initially formed in 1961); AND WHEREAS local municipalities currently provide over 50% of total conservation authority funding, while the Province of Ontario provides approximately 5%; AND WHEREAS municipalities have governed their respective conservation authorities for decades, tailoring programs and services to local watershed needs, maintaining accountable service standards, and ensuring fair and predictable costs for ratepayers; AND WHEREAS conservation authorities collectively own and manage thousands of acres of land, much of which was donated by local residents and entrusted to conservation authorities as a personal legacy for long-term protection, stewardship, and the public good, with the expectation that such lands would be cared for by locally governed conservation authorities; AND WHEREAS Bill 68 (Schedule 3) proposes the creation of the Ontario Provincial Conservation Agency, a Crown corporation that would assume governance responsibilities and consolidate Ontario's 36 conservation authorities into seven regional authorities, with mu

THAT the public meeting for Zoning By-law Amendment application ZBA 04/25, filed by James Murray, for property located at 32439 Walnut Line opens at 5:41pm. Motion:

THAT the Council of the Municipality of Dutton Dunwich receives the report of the Planner titled “Application for Zoning By-law Amendment ZBA 04/25 – 32439 Walnut Line, Municipality of Dutton Dunwich, James Murray”, dated December 10, 2025, for information; and THAT Council of the Municipality of Dutton Dunwich approves Zoning By-law Amendment ZBA 04/25, for property located at 32439 Walnut Line, from Large Lot Agricultural (A3) Zone to Special Agricultural (A2) Zone and site specific exemption Special Rural Residential (RS-33) Zone, in accordance with the site-specific by-law 2025-54. Motion:

THAT the public meeting for Zoning By-law Amendment application ZBA 04/25, filed by James Murray, for property located at 32439 Walnut Line closes at 5:47pm Motion:

THAT the Council of the Municipality of Dutton Dunwich receives the report of Elgin County Planning Service titled “Holding By-law and Servicing Allocation Policy”, dated November 26, 2025, for information; and THAT the Council of the Municipality of Dutton Dunwich approves the Holding By-law for the entire wastewater serviced area of Dutton Dunwich; and THAT the Council of the Municipality of Dutton Dunwich approves the Servicing Allocation Policy; AND THAT the Council of the Municipality of Dutton Dunwich direct planning staff to initiate an Official Plan housekeeping amendment to create a policy that would grant staff delegated authority to approve minor Zoning By-Law amendments such as the removal of a Holding (H) By-law. Motion:

THAT correspondence item 9.a. from Hugh MacGinnis be received and filed. Motion:

THAT the Council of the Municipality of Dutton Dunwich supports the resolution from the Municipality of Calvin supporting the Province of Ontario's call for strengthened homeowner self-defence protections, including the adoption of clear and robust "castle law"-type provisions to ensure that law-abiding residents can protect themselves without fear of unjust prosecution; and THAT a copy of this resolution be forwarded to Rob Flack - MPP, Andrew Lawton - MP, and the Municipality of Calvin. Motion:

THAT the Council of the Municipality of Dutton Dunwich supports the resolution from the City of Brantford requesting the Premier of Ontario, in consultation with the Ministry of Education, Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO), and schoolboard associations, to consider directing all publicly funded school boards in Ontario to schedule a Professional Activity (PA) Day on the date of the municipal election in each election year; and THAT a copy of this resolution be forwarded to Rob Flack - MPP, Andrew Lawton - MP, and the City of Brantford. Motion:

THAT correspondence item 10.d. from the Elgin OPP Detachment Board be received and filed. Motion:

THAT relevant correspondence was reviewed. Motion:

THAT the items on the Consent Agenda be approved. Motion:

THAT the Council of the Municipality of Dutton Dunwich receives the report of the Acting Treasurer titled “Property Tax Billing and Collection Policy”, dated December 10 2025, for information; AND THAT Council approves the updated Property Tax Billing and Collection Policy F.03.007 Motion:

THAT the Council of the Municipality of Dutton Dunwich receives the report of the Acting Treasurer titled “2026 Draft Capital and Operating Budget”, dated December 10, 2025 for information; AND THAT Council receives the document for review and follow up at the January, 14 2026 meeting. Motion:

THAT the Council of the Municipality of Dutton Dunwich receives the report of Manager of Roads and Facilities titled “2025-2026 Winter Operations Planning Document”, dated December 10, 2025, for information. AND THAT Council approves and supports the 2025-2026 Winter Operations Planning Document for the Municipality of Dutton Dunwich. Motion:

THAT the Council of the Municipality of Dutton Dunwich receives the report of the Manager of Roads and Facilities titled “2026 Dust Suppressant Tender Results”, dated December 10, 2025 for information; AND THAT Council award the 2026 dust suppressant tender to Eastern Salt Solutions Ltd at the rate of $0.108/litre plus HST for 2026 and 2027. Motion:

THAT the Council of the Municipality of Dutton Dunwich receives the report of the Manager of Roads and Facilities titled “2026 Gravel Tender Results”, dated December 10, 2025, for information. AND THAT Council award the 2026 gravel tender to Johnston Bros Ltd. At the rate of $21.97 - $22.87 per tonne for 2026 and $22.47-23.37 for 2027. Motion:

THAT the Council of the Municipality of Dutton Dunwich receives the report of Murray Wickerson, Manager of Roads and Facilities and Charlotte Oliver, Recreation and Administration Assistant titled “Waste Collection and Recycling Services Financial and Operational Impacts”, dated December 10, 2025, for information; AND THAT Council Direct staff to enter a 1-year extension with Waste Connections for the collection of garbage. AND THAT Council supports the implementation of Option 2: Discontinue Curbside IC&I recycling effective January 1, 2026 under the new Blue Box Regulations. Motion:

THAT by-law 2025-54, being a by-law to amend by-law 2022-50 for property municipally known as 32439 Walnut Line be read a first, second and third time and passed. Motion:

THAT the Council for the Municipality of Dutton Dunwich now moves into a session of the meeting that shall be closed to the public at 7:06 p.m., in accordance with Section 239(2) of the Municipal Act, S.O. 2001, c.25 for discussion of the following matters: Labour relations or employee negotiations - s.239(2)(d) of the Municipal Act - Succession Planning Motion:

THAT the Council for the Municipality of Dutton Dunwich hereby comes out of the closed session of the meeting at 7:45 pm, and the regular meeting reconvenes. Motion:

THAT By-law #2025-55, being a by-law to confirm the proceedings of the Municipal Council of the Municipality of Dutton Dunwich, be read a first, second and third time and passed. Motion:

THAT the meeting of the Council of the Municipality of Dutton Dunwich closes at 7:47 p.m. Motion:

THAT the Council for the Municipality of Dutton Dunwich now moves into a session of the meeting that shall be closed to the public at 7:06 p.m., in accordance with Section 239(2) of the Municipal Act, S.O. 2001, c.25 for discussion of the following matters: a. Labour relations or employee negotiations - s.239(2)(d) of the Municipal Act - Succession Planning Motion: