Council / Committee Meetings – Thursday, January 13, 2022

By-laws

Bruce County Council:

• approved a by-law to provide for the annual remuneration to be paid to the Warden and Members of Council of the County of Bruce for the Year 2022.
• authorized temporary borrowing of money to meet the current expenditures for the year 2022.
• adopted Amendment Number C-2021-017 to the County of Bruce Official Plan.
• adopted Amendment Number C-2021-018 to the County of Bruce Official Plan.
• adopted Amendment Number C-2021-020 to the County of Bruce Official Plan.
• adopted Amendment Number C-2021-004 to the County of Bruce Official Plan.
• authorized the execution of amending agreement no. 2 to the Municipal Industry Stewardship Plan (ISP) Materials Services agreement between Bruce County and Product Care Association of Canada.
• implemented a Litigation Settlement with the Saugeen Ojibway Nation (SON) and authorized the Transfer of Certain Lands to SON.

Delegations

• Grey Bruce Public Health www.publichealthgreybruce.on.ca
  Grey Bruce Public Health discussed COVID-19 transmission risks, access to third doses of the vaccines, herd immunity and natural immunity, and data showing that schools are low-risk, safe settings. Everyone is encouraged to stay vigilant in preventing the spread of COVID-19 by avoiding crowds, washing hands, physical distancing, and wearing masks.
• Saugeen Ojibway Nation (SON) 
  Gimaa Kwe (Chief) Veronica Smith, Councillor Doran Ritchie, Councillor Norma Tobey, and Councillor Carlene Keeshig joined Bruce County Council to formalize and announce the historic settlement agreement that includes the transfer of approximately 306 acres of County Forest within the Lindsay Tract and Amabel Tract. SON and Bruce County are committed to further growing and strengthening our long-lasting relationship - one built on mutual respect and collaborative benefit, in the spirit of truth and ongoing reconciliation.
• Catapult Grey Bruce
  Executive Director Jennifer Christie provided information about Catapult Grey Bruce and the work they are doing to support Bruce County entrepreneurs' growth.

Council Congratulates Miguel Pelletier, Director of Transportation & Environmental Services 

Bruce County Council congratulated Miguel Pelletier, Director of Transportation and Environmental Services, on his retirement on January 31, 2022. Miguel’s long and amazing history of public service spans 40 years. Miguel joined Bruce County in 2018, where he has advanced work on a number of crucial infrastructure construction projects, as well as providing leadership for the Master Transportation Plan. Council acknowledged and thanked Miguel for his important contributions.  

Museum Archives Update

• Although researchers were impacted by pandemic closures and capacity restrictions in 2021, a total of 170 researchers were able to benefit from in-person services at the Archives, an increase of 22% over 2020. 
• In 2021, the Archives received donations of archival material from 67 individuals, businesses, and organizations.
• Online Collections now features over 23,330 Archival Collection images attached to over 16,380 record descriptions. This year, over 1,680 record descriptions were added to the Archives, Photos and Library sections of the site. In 2021, over 54,000 users visited Online Collections, to look for descriptions of items available to view in the Research Room and to browse images of artifacts, historic photographs, letters, diaries, and more. 7,430 Bruce County-connected soldiers and military personnel are now recognized on bruceremembers.org. In 2021, over 13,000 users visited Bruce Remembers.
• The Newspaper Digitization Initiative began with digitizing close to 10,000 pages of original newspapers and microfilm negatives. In 2022, work will begin on developing a website to browse and search the digitized newspapers.

Upcoming Museum Events

• January 13 to March 24 - Museum Munchkins will be held every other week for six sessions of preschool fun. Caregivers and their little ones aged 4 and under are invited to the Museum for play and learning. Themes include Library Day, Chinese New Year, Valentine’s Day, Olympic Games, and Music Time. 
• February 3 - PA Day Movies will feature two films for families in the Bruce Power Theatre: Boss Baby, The Family Business at 10:30 AM and Mulan (2000) at 1:30 PM. 
• February 3 - Maker Day Re: Collections! In the first of our 2022 Maker Days series, children ages 5-10 are invited to learn about our latest exhibit Re: Collections, gaining new fiber art techniques and skills, and creating their own masterpiece to take home.

Upcoming Museum Exhibits

• Hope and Healing: An Art Installation by Tracey-Mae Chambers (January 7 to February 28). A temporary art exhibit constructed entirely out of red string represents the colour of blood, passion, anger, danger, and power, and is a slur against Indigenous peoples, while also representing courage and love. Like all her work using the red string, the installation is detailed, temporary, and created in a single day.
• Re:Collections (January 15 to April 2). Established in 1999, Connections Fibre Artists is dedicated to the exploration of fibre as an art form. Re:Collections is a collaboration between Connections Fibre Artists and the Wellington County Museum and Archives.

Bruce County Housing Corporation Update

• The Bruce County Housing Corporation approved the Key Policy and Appendix A Standard Key. Bruce County Housing Corporation is retrofitting buildings with high security and RFID fob keys. Standard key sets are now defined by the building.
• After a closed meeting, the Bruce County Housing Corporation has declared as surplus a strip of land of approximately 91.04 ft by 129.59 ft at 915 Huron Terrace, Kincardine. 

Corporate Services Committee Update

The Corporate Services Committee: 

• authorized the execution of a 3 year agreement between Bruce County and The Ross Firm Professional Corporation/GroveMcClement Professional Corporation for legal services.
• approved that $150,000 be transferred from the Brucelea Haven Building Reserve and $100,000 be transferred from the Gateway Haven Building Reserve to offset the 2021 pay equity payments in Long Term Care as set aside in the 2021 budget.
• approved that $17,186.59 be utilized from the Non-Departmental Building Reserve to pay for the Inland Hub Water Heater Replacement and Artwork Storage, made up of $13,390 to be redirected from existing 2021 projects and $3,796.59 of newly requested reserve funds.
• approved that the 2022 budget as previously approved be amended to include approximately $67,000 in additional Ontario Community Infrastructure Fund (O.C.I.F.) revenue and an offsetting reduction in revenue related to development charges.
• approved that a transfer to the Affordable Housing - New Units Reserve for $38,700 be included in the 2022 budget based on additional tax revenues collected due to cancelling the vacant and excess land discounts in 2022.
• approved that the Willow Creek Bridge repair project be approved for inclusion in the 2022 budget in the amount of $700,000 to be funded by $660,469 of O.C.I.F. revenue and the remaining $39,531 from levy.
• approved revisions to the Corporate Credit Card Policy.
• approved the County Accounts Receivable Collections and Write-Off Policy.
• reviewed the 2020 Financial Indicator Review report, the 2022 Ontario Community Infrastructure Fund report, the 2021 BMA Municipal Study Results report, the 2021 Municipal Property Assessment Corporation Report and 2022 Fees, the summary of Q4 2021 Awarded Tenders, the summary of Q4 2021 Purchasing Policy Suspension Approvals report, the EcoSystems Energy Savings and Performance Verification Year 2 Report, and the 2022 Insurance Program report.

Fees and Charges By-law Annual Review 2022

The Executive Committee approved changes to the Fees and Charges By-law. Changes include key fob replacement and storage locker fees at Penetangore Place, boardroom booking fees at Penetangore Hub, provision of Workplace Engagement Services fees, provision of Transportation & Environmental Services fees, and provision of Information Technology Services fees. Home & Community Support Services lease fees were decreased. The Fees and Charges By-law will be reviewed on an annual basis.

Bruce County Community Grant Requests 2022 

The Executive Committee received the Bruce County Community Grant Requests 2022 Report. Through the 2022 budget deliberations Council approved the Community Grant Budget in the amount of $20,000. A list of qualified requests were received and the dollar amount being allocated in 2022 includes: $4,000 for the Grey Bruce Children’s Water Festival, $4,000 for the Wiarton and District Chamber of Commerce/Deep Water Gallery, $3,500 for Eat Local Grey Bruce, $4,000 for the Out of the Box Performing Arts Company, and $4,000 for the Celtic Heritage Society. 

Bruce County Homelessness Enumeration Results

The Human Services Committee received the Homelessness Enumeration Report and approved a local rule for housing priority to offer one in every ten units to individuals or families from the Bruce County ‘By-Name List’. The October 18, 2021 homelessness enumeration review offered a point-in-time count that provides a snapshot of the number of people experiencing homelessness in Bruce County. The enumeration also collected demographic information using a set of standard questions. Bruce County staff and service providers were in contact with 77 residents who were experiencing homelessness on October 18, 2021. 64 people experiencing homelessness consented to taking the survey. 33% of respondents were staying in a municipally funded motel the night of the count. Bruce County, with funding from the Community Homelessness Prevention Initiative, funds short-term motel stays for individuals and families experiencing homelessness. 34% of respondents reported staying with friends and family or a self-funded motel. 52% of respondents are chronically homeless (homeless for 180 cumulative nights in a year). 47% of respondents were under the age of 35. This information will help Bruce County build a strong housing response system for vulnerable residents. Thank you to volunteers and community organizations that assisted in the enumeration. 

County Long Term Care Homes In Full Compliance

Brucelea Haven (Walkerton) and Gateway Haven (Wiarton) Long Term Care Homes are in full compliance with the Long Term Care Homes Act and all associated regulations. The County’s LTC pandemic response continues to be the priority focus for both homes. The Long Term Care Homes Committee of Management approved to call on Grey Bruce Public Health to urgently provide clarity to long term care homes in the Bruce Grey region on policies, testing, and isolation of staff. Bruce County’s homes are following provincial policy and events are rapidly changing in long term care. A mandatory vaccine policy for staff requires a third dose of vaccine. Residents in both long term care homes are being offered a fourth dose of vaccine. Guidelines provide a limit of only 2 essential visitors visiting residents. Outings are being limited to necessary appointments only. Regular weekly townhalls are being carried out with the families and friends of residents and are well received. Bruce County’s long term care homes are cohorting staff and residents on units, keeping programs small, requiring the use of PPE, masks, and eyewear for staff and essential caregivers, and rapid testing daily. Staff and Essential Caregivers that do test positive are sent home immediately to isolate for 10 days. Staffing challenges continue as an estimated 20% to 30% of staff are absent due to 10 day isolation requirements for those who are high risk contacts, symptomatic, or testing positive. Bruce County is currently conducting staff redeployment from other County departments and recruitment of long term care staff is underway. Councillor Peabody and the Long Term Care Homes Committee of Management thank all long term care workers, residents, and families, sharing encouraging words to hang in there and weather the storm during these tough times.

Community Paramedic Funding Update

Existing Municipal Paramedic Services currently offering the Community Paramedic Program are eligible to apply for continued Community Paramedic Long Term Care Funding, to cover the service period ending March 2024. The funding for Bruce County Paramedic Services is estimated to be up to $500,000 for end of March 2022 and up to $1,000,000.00 a year for the next two years ending March 31, 2024, for a total of up to $2,500,000. Bruce County Paramedic Services has submitted a budget to the Ministry for review and approval in late November. The Bruce County proposal recommends the use of the announced funding allocations to create two additional Community Paramedics, one Community Paramedic Supervisor, and one Community Paramedic Administrative staff to our existing program. The Community Paramedic program would then have two Community Paramedics on the road daily 7 days a week, 12 hours each day from 8:30 AM to 8:30 PM. The proposed budget also includes funding requests to purchase two additional vehicles, defibrillators, and iStat machines. 

Pandemic Related Work Absences & Redeployments

The Workplace Engagement Services Committee temporarily approved to waive the requirement that staff submit a medical form, from a duly recognized medical practitioner, for illness related absences of more than three working days, or for one working day prior to or following a paid holiday in order to recognize provincial protocols currently in place in response to COVID-19. The Committee also approved that identified policies be reinstated to support redeployments for the purposes of supporting Corporate essential service operation standards in relation to current COVID-19 impacts.

This publication identifies highlights from recent Bruce County Council and Committee meetings. Bruce County’s Office of the CAO maintains complete agendas and minutes from all Council and Committee meetings, which can be reviewed at www.brucecounty.on.ca/government/agendas-and-minutes