Looking for a QUICK Overview of the Successes of 2021?
This list is not all-inclusive but it gives you and idea about just how busy our staff have been! Great work Town of Essex Administration.
January – Developers James Flynn and Kim Lewis approach council about developing a motel at the Old School House Site in Colchester. Council pauses to discuss and listen to representatives from the Heritage Committee. Members of the public organize and create the Friends of the Colchester School House. Members of the public approach council with concerns and complaints about Short Term Rentals in the community. Council moves forward with an Agri-Tourism Strategy which will help in developing a comprehensive tourism strategy.
February- Victoria Avenue in Ward 1 is added to the scope of the Ward 1 Streetscape project. Council commits to consult the public before any listed or designated Heritage Property is listed as surplus again. Council meets with MPP, MP, and the Health Unit to share concerns of small businesses. Essex Town Centre makes a financing agreement with the Town to build 500 homes. Weston apartments get occupancy for 57 apartments. Crawford packing passes site plan. Parkland Woods with 72 homes gets under way. Council appointed Edua Marczinko as Youth Council Member for the remainder of the current term of Council. Classy Caps comes to town. John R Park Homestead gets ready to open a brand new visitor centre. Stantec is awarded engineering for Essex Streetscape. Councillor Bondy holds Colchester Zoom with 48 residents. Council discusses posting more committee meetings to YouTube, especially the Police Service Board. Council declares a Climate Change Emergency. Heritage award winners are named at Council, Chris Carter, Elise Harding-Davis, Perry Basden and Bill Gay. Heritage Colchester is formed and applies for non-profit status. The Harrow Streetscape tender is awarded to JCS construction in the amount of $ 4,664,479.36. Council approves a Half-Mast Policy. Ferris Cemetery and Huffman Cemetery are listed on the Essex Municipal Heritage Registry. Administration starts to look into public feedback for Short Term Rentals.
March- The Town of Essex joins an Hour for Hour Youth Challenge. The clerk gives an update from a closed meeting held earlier- The Old School House is officially now moved off the surplus list. The property at 96 County Road 50 West is now declared surplus. Robin Greenall from Essex County Library presents Open Plus to Essex Council which will be implemented first in McGregor and then in Harrow. ERCA representatives present draft budget to council. Heritage Colchester comes to council to give an update and request that the Old School House be designated. James Flynn and Kim Lewis come back to council with a plan for a motel on the Corner of County Road 50 and Dunn. The inn is projected to bring in 1.5 million per year in tourism dollars. The Town of Essex renews its agreement with the Essex County Humane Society to take in stray cats for a total of $25 per stray. Council approves $34,793 from its council contingency to fulfil its commitment to John R Park which was outside of the Colchester Community Improvement Plan. A notice to designate the Old School House in Colchester is prepared by Rita Jabbour, Manager of Planning. A subdivision agreement is signed with Parkland Woods giving up some of Pollard Park for a dry pond. Councillor Bondy holds a meeting with the Youth Action Committee.
April- Mayor Snively Makes a motion to provide direction to administration to research and consult with the First Nations to develop a Land Acknowledgement Statement. Councillor Bondy receives council support to send Hydro One a letter about frequent power outages in the municipality. Ken Knapp Ford volunteers along with Randy Voakes request support to hold a JDRF fundraiser underneath the Spitfire at Heritage Park. The Town of Essex Clerk presents a report and recommendations on a new Use of Corporate Resource Policy during elections. Clerk Auger states, “It became apparent that policies were vague and did not provide clear direction.” Councillor Bondy, “It has been a long time coming, stacks of emails of complaints, pictures in County Council Chambers, Town logo on flyers, photocopying stacks of proxy votes.” CAO Nepszy presents a Policy for Future Large Scale Developments, front end financing. Council receives its annual report from the Integrity Commissioner for 2020 at a cost of $8,816.27, $235.00 an hour. Council contracts commissionaires to provide security at Colchester Beach. Council sends a letter of Apology to the Essex County Chinese Association. Council sends a letter to the Greater Essex County School Board looking to meet about the Harrow High School. Mayor Snively makes a motion to recognize significant dates and milestones of residents. Councillor Verbeek leads the charge on fill permit improvements. Councillor Verbeek pushes for a Secondary Plan in McGregor. Jason Pillion is promoted to Deputy Fire Chief. Council improves the installation of menstrual product dispensaries in our arenas. Council provides direction to administration to amend the zoning bylaw to allow Secondary Dwelling Unit. Mayor Snively confronts Councillor Bondy about the video in front of ELK, saying he is going to the Integrity commissioner. Councillor Bondy does hosts a together apart Earth Day Clean up, #earthdaycleanup2021.
May- Council requests the Town of Amherstburg to discuss its long term plan for McGregor Settlement area. Council talks again about a Splash Pad in McGregor. The Town again does a media campaign regarding grass blown onto road and its dangers. A recorded vote is taken on getting a valuation on E.L.K. Energy with Snively, Bowman and Vander Doelen Opposed. Council receives a report from the clerks with recommendations to fix the Election Proxy Procedures, in a recorded vote all in favour. Councillor Bondy requests more advanced polls in all wards. Colchester School House receives Heritage Designation. Colchester park gets a new surface for a total of $140k. Robert Swayze the Integrity Commissioner recommends council suspend Councillor Vander Doelen’s pay for two months if he does not follow recommendations in report. The Commissioner says this is the most complaints he has ever received. Council awards a tender to the Grove Bike Co to operate a bike rental business in Colchester.
June– Council adopts a motion to create a vision for planning and development that takes a new approach to the approval process for affordable, accessible and supportive housing. Peter Thyrring approaches council requesting space to open a private school. Council approves the engineering for Victoria Avenue Improvements in the amount of $ 134,628 to Stantec Consulting. Council moves forward with the approval of the tender for Essex tennis courts to GreenLight General Contracting. The Clerks bring forward a Land Acknowledge Statement. Council approves a Flag raising for Transgender Day of Remembrance. The Mayor and Deputy Mayor bring back a report from their meeting with Hydro One to council explaining all the updates done and coming. Council discusses the use of BBQ’s at the park and beach. Councillor Verbeek brings forward concerns about organic waste being brought to the local landfill. Ron “Tout” McDermott is nominated Senior of the year. Mark Danelon from E.L.K. Energy presents the audited financial statements from Councillor Bondy tries again to ask questions about assets. Tourism Windsor-Essex attends council to discuss 2021/2022 Visitors Guide. Kathy Beaudoin is granted permission to use space in the Soccer Park for her Essex Food basket giveaways. Bernard Gorski approaches council to seek permission for a sign bylaw amendment, this time without LED. CAO Nepszy gives an update on our Corporate Strategic Plan. Zoning bylaw amendment passes for 96 County Road 50 West. Secondary Dwelling Units are embraced by Essex Council. Brian McGinty brings forward a request to install viewing binoculars at Colchester Park.
July- Council sends a letter to the Essex-Windsor Solid Waste Authority asking them to consider other site and NOT the Town of Essex site for hosting future organic waste programs. Council moves forward with a turtle crossing sign on Iler road. Council has a lengthy discussion about development charges and we learn that we can not charge development charges for Secondary Development Units. The King-Queen street light is in need of replacement. The Noise Bylaw is reviewed with regards to bird bangers and fire works especially. Harrow Chamber writes a letter to Hydro One. Councillor Verbeek requests that we send a letter to the Federal Government to demand completion of the 94 Calls to Action put forth in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Majority of Council Votes to take away Councillor Bondy’s remuneration for questioning E.L.K. Energy. Council approved a request for extension of a draft plan approval for Dalla Bona Development. Council hires a Financial Analyst Contract Position from Sept to April, 2022.
August- Essex-Windsor Solid Waste Authority Comes to council. Council approves a lease with St. Peter’s ACHS Private School on the second floor at the Harrow Arena. The mayor announces he and the Deputy Mayor had dinner with some developers. Councillor Bjorkman receives support from council to send a letter to the Ontario Ombudman requesting public Health be put under the mandate of the Ombudsman. Mackenzie Porter comes to council to lobby for better Animal welfare Laws, council agrees to discuss during a roundtable meeting. Council moves forward with Colchester Harbour Digging. The bathrooms at the Harrow Arena are put over until 2022 due to coming in over budget. Council is told we have $240 for set aside for a splash pad in McGregor. Manager of Planning Rita Jabbour brings forward an update on the Short Term Rental file. The Police Service Board recommends to council to add a Contract Manager Position to the 2022 budget. CAO Chris Nepszy resigns for a job in the City of Windsor.
September- Council discusses sidewalks in Gesto. Victor and Viscount capital works is awarded to J & J Lepera in the amount of $1,495,973.76. Council has a discussion about Code Blacks in the area. Council calls on the Provincial Government to deem Broadband Internet an essential service. Dave Cassidy comes to council to announce a fundraiser for mental health that is going to take place at Fury Training Grounds on October 16th. Walter Branco comes to council to request names of the roads in his development. Council has its first discussion on the Provincial Requirement on vaccination status. Council removes the holding zone restrictions on Phase 1 and 5 of Town Centre Subdivision. Council approves the Site Plan Approval for Liftow Limited. Council secures financing for Fire Station 2 by a rate offer letter agreement. Sterling Ridge is awarded the work on Southwest Area Storm Sewer Improvements in the amount of $3,340,811.33. Harvest Hope is a fundraiser being organized by the Project Hope volunteers.
October– Council listens to a delegation about a site specific request for exemption for a fence. The Town of Essex Vaccination Policy is passed at council, all in support. Heritage Train Station Caboose funds for repair are reallocated to repair the damaged chimney at the Essex Train Station. Council approves a Redline Revision Request for Dalla Bona. Milo Animal Licensing is now used for pet licensing. The Clerk brings forward a Indemnification Bylaw for council members. Council discusses land acquisition for Co An Park. Recreation enters into another HIGH FIVE Accreditation verification process. Council moves forward with approving a tender to renovate Town hall for a total of $267, 893.01. Council hires an Asset Management Specialist to ensure the town is up to date on Provincial requirements of the Asset Management Plan. Council receives a petition from residents who live on South Talbot Road. Council proclaims October as Disability awareness month. A flag for World Polo Day is flown at Town Hall.
November- Site Plan Control for County Road 96 West in approved. Site Plan Control for 1110 Ridge Road is approved. Corrine Bridger is appointed to the Town’s Accessibility Committee. Council receives a letter from the Town of Kingsville requesting action for a more reliable supply of Electricity. Councillor Bondy asked the Mayor when his next court date is. Council moves forward with a policy regarding the removal of trees on public property. Director of Infrastructure, Kevin Girard presents council with a Flex Street Scape Design for the Essex Centre Streetscape. Council approves a new bylaw for False Alarms going off. A rain barrel subsidy program is approved. Council writes a letter to the Dog pound committee sharing concerns about the amount of dog days for one particular dog kept in the dog pound for a lengthy time which will double our budget. David Mota hosts an peaceful protest for affordable housing.
December- Council sends a letter to the local to the local Windsor-Essex County Health Unit in support of businesses. Diana Radulescu came to council to present the County-Wide Active Transportation Master Plan. Perry Basden brought council an update on Heritage Colchester. Council receives a report to make revisions to rear yard encroachments for porches, desk and sunrooms. Administration is directed to prepare a zoning by-law amendment for Short-Term rentals. The holding zone restrictions are removed for Phase 1 of Parkland Woods. Council approves a work from home policy. Councillor Verbeek hosts a Stroll by Santa in the McGregor Park. Councillor Bondy hosts a virtual Santa online for children. Council has a discussion about dog park complaints and who is responsible to enforce the noise bylaw. A report on increases to Water/Waste water rates is approved. A site specific zoning amendment is approved on Maple Avenue in Harrow.
