Transcript - Council Debates Size Reduction - Council Meeting

Hi Kirsten, can you hear us? Okay. Yes, I can. Thank you. Thanks. Good evening. I'd like to call to order a council meeting for Monday, March 23rd, 2026. Everyone that can please rise for the playing of the national anthem. Heat up here. Heat. Heat. Heat up here. Grimby is situated on treaty land. This land is steeped in the rich history of the first nations such as the Hadawender, the Hodnosoni and the Inishab including the Missosagas of the Credit First Nation. There are many First Nations, Matei and Inuit people from across Turtle Island that live and work in Niagara today. The regional municipality of Niagara and the town of Ginsby stand with all indigenous people past and present in promoting the wise stewardship of the lands on which we live. Are there any disclosures of pecunary or non pecunary interest? Seeing none, uh before we approve the agenda, a late delegation request was received from Annette Gibbons regarding the Niagara governance update report. Can I have a mover and secondary to wave the procedural bylaw and add this delegation to the agenda? A twothirds vote is required for approval. Uh moved by councelor How, second by councelor Sharwa. All in favor? That's carried. Resolved that section 8.52B of the rules of procedure be waved to permit Annette Gibbons to delegate and that was moved by How and Chara and that's carried. We will discuss the report immediately following the delegation from Annette. Can I have a mover and seconder to approve the agenda as amended? Moved by councelor DeFlavio, second by councelor Dvoi. Resolved that the March 23rd, 2026 council meeting agenda be approved as amended. All in favor? That's carried. Annette, please come to the podium. Good evening. Okay. Good evening, Mayor Jordan, CEO, Sarah Kim, counselors, town staff, and residents of Grimby. My name is Annette Gibbons, and I'm a lifetime resident of Grimby and live on Lawrence Avenue. I am here tonight to voice my concern and opposition to the proposed recommendation presented tonight to council in the CAO26-04 Niagara governance update of the reduction in council size from eight counselors to six for the 2026 municipal election which is scheduled for October the 26th, 2026. I believe any type of governance change that directly impacts the taxpayers and the residents of Grimby that they should actually have some say in the decision. And I was a little taken aback by the recommendation of the council size um reduction considering the governance review public information session hasn't happened yet as it's scheduled for this coming Wednesday, March the 25th. Reducing council size so close to the municipal election will have a financial impact because a peer review would need to be completed beforehand. An ao an important point to consider also is the fact that included in the Grimby letter to Premier Ford noting that Grimby is one of the fastest growing municipalities in the Niagara region and town growth rate is greater than the provincial and national rates. By reducing the number of council representatives, it will put more workload on the existing council representatives and their ability to participate in standing and advisory committees. It is also concerning that the report u mentions an at large system because because an atlarge system it has less accountability. An atlarge system is when one counselor is elected to represent the entire um area of Grimby instead of a ward system. And it's it's um proven in where it has people have um municipalities that have had um this atlarge system. There's less accountability and less focus on specific neighborhoods and their issues by reducing the tonight. I am respect respectfully asking council to consider an amendment to the recommended motion on the basis my request ensures an open and transparent process that includes public taxpayer participation in governance reform which includes a comprehensive update from the 2021 consult consultant report on council size and structure. So my recommendation would be to receive the report and whereas the majority of the mayors has signed the joint letter stating a commitment to build a governance model that is streamlined and transparent to the public. And I would suggest the town of Grimby supports that motion that was passed by regional council on February 26 regarding the governance review and that the council ensures this council ensures and endorses any governance changes be it council size or structure that it is transparent. open and inclusive for all residents. That a full comprehensive governance review process is established where citizens will be ensured the opportunity to have a seat at the table and be an intricral part of the decision process and how they will be governed in the town of Grimby and the Niagara region. and that the town clerk be directed to circulate the motion to all the mayors and of the municipalities and regional municipal the regional municipality of Niagara. Thank you for the opportunity to speak on this important issue tonight. Thank you, Annette. Uh questions from council. Um councelor Dvoli. Thank you, Mayor Jordan. Um, I I think I heard this correctly, but if I don't, please. Um, early on in your presentation, you mentioned the that a peer review would be required. Could you just expand upon that and tell us why it would be required? It was in the CAO's report that a peer report would have to be required based on the ward boundaries. So I think Miss Kim would be able to answer your question better than I would because it was in her report and it's was stated that a peer report would need to be done. Sure. Through you, Mr. Mayor. I think this will be part of the bigger report discussion. Um, which I can address it at that time. It'll probably align better when I'm doing my updates. I think it is appear in time of expediting the process. If we are mandate mandated by the province and if council chooses to retain the ward system then a peer review is an option to do it to reduce the timelines required. Councelor Al, thank you through you, Mayor. And uh and that um the only thing I can think about and because we'll be talking about the report, but the cruel reality of it is what was it four years ago or five years ago when Ford cancelled cancelled half of the counselors out of the Toronto Council. What was it a week or two weeks before the municipal election and you think that may give any concern to it or thought to it? No. So, you know, it's what we're dealing against and what it can do because he got away with it. Any further questions? Yeah. Can I have a mover and second to receive the delegation? Moved by councelor Corsani, second by councelor DeFlabio. Resolve the delegation from Annette Gibbons be received. All in favor? That's carried. Thank you, Annette. All right. Can I move in seconder to get the Niagara governance update report on the floor for discussion? Moved by councelor DeFlavio, second by councelor Shara. Sarah, you can introduce the report. Thank you through you, Mr. Mayor. Uh, so for the most part, the report is to provide information of what has been done to date. Uh what I do want to clarify or make some clarification in the report are um so the deadline for council to prove any changes in terms of uh work boundaries or council compensate compensation composition was January of 2026. So the legislative timeline has passed. Uh therefore as it stands we will be proceeding as status quo for the 2026 election unless the province who has the authority intervenes or mandate a change right at this at any time and like you as councelor how mentioned uh they did make a change in September for city of Toronto on an election year. So given that in mind, so the discussion is really centered on if the c uh province makes a change, how will the town react? Um so we've been hearing from the premier even last week in his uh speech that he does have concerns of council sizes and the priority of the council size uh reducing council size for the uh for the province. So I think the intent of the report is to have this discussion and get ahead of the narrative. Uh the mayors, the eight municipality mayors have worked to strongly emphasize no force amalgamation and they will continue to do so. Uh the discussion tonight though is to see how we will prepare ourselves in in the case that there is a provincial intervention. So and I think it's timely to have this conversation given that the provincial legislature resumed sitting today. So uh if mandated uh some topics of conversation is uh I think there needs to be some form of direction on how we see our council size and what kind of system is it award or at large. Um I will also note that the intention is also to align with some of the other municipalities that currently have the eight counselors plus one mayor so nine in total. uh they have already reviewed or reviewing this matter. Uh the motion is very similar to uh the motion passed in one of our local municipalities. So I think for consistency the language was drafted uh similarly. So I'll open the floor for any questions. Councelor DeFlavio. Thank you mayor. Is this an appropriate time for discussion or are we just asking questions now? Discussion. Okay. So, I know that there's pressure to do something, but I don't support any reduction in council size. Um, I don't think it addresses any of the real I don't think, and I've had this discussion before, and I apologize for repeating myself, but I don't think this addresses any of the real challenges that that the region is dealing with or that the the local municipalities are dealing with. Uh, from a cost perspect perspective, council is a very small part of the overall budget. Even if you remove two council counselors in Grimby, the savings are marginal. So we're talking about saving thousands of dollars in a budget of millions of dollars. Uh if you look at the region, one police officer costs significantly more than than two counselors, like double what two counselors cost. Um, anytime we have a any sort of consultant engaged by the municipality, it's a minimum $50,000 project, which is two counselors. So, I you have to have some perspective on these numbers. Uh, if you want to talk about costs, like, you know, let's look at the regional issues, and that is policing costs that are increasing exponentially every year, infrastructure deficits. Um, it's not council stipens or council pay that is the issue here. Um there there are increasing there's increasing pressure from the province on on the region for things like homelessness uh dealing with social issues that have never been a regional concern before. Um so the province is talking about efficiency but municipalities like Grimby and the Niagara region are being asked to do more with less. Um we're so the whole thing that started this discussion you might you know people have forgotten perhaps because it's become such a noisy issue but it was all supposed to be about housing. So if somebody can explain to me well let me get to my question later there there's no con connection between reducing the number of counselors and housing. There's like there is no argument that you can make that says that reducing two counselors in the municipality of Grimby is going to increase housing. Uh housing delays are tied to servicing capabilities, financing and approvals. Uh it has to do with the interest rate and the market has nothing to do with the number of counselors on on at this table here. Um cutting two counselors doesn't approve a subdivision faster or build a single unit in the town of Grimby. So what it does do though is it reduces representation like Annette mentioned before and and we've mentioned as a council several times. It reduces oversight. So it means less people, you know, whether we agree with each other or not. I appreciate hearing multiple voices at this table. I like hearing different voices. It allows me to change my opinion. Hearing people that I disagree with is good, not bad. Okay. Um, in the 1980s when when I was a kid and we had like 8,000 people, there were eight counselors in Grimby. You know, it in the 90s as the population doubled, there were eight counselors and the population has doubled since then we're over 32,000 people and we still have eight counselors. So, we the the number of people being represented by each counselor has quadrupled in my lifetime. um we haven't increased representation as as we've grown. We we haven't done it on a per resident basis. We've changed ward boundaries because population changes uh have occurred. So if we're serious about governance reform, there's a much bigger there are much bigger opportunities. You know, I I agree with reducing duplications between the region. I've always advocated for uh either an elimination or reduction of planning at the regional level. I think planning is a local issue. So that right away that entire department if you if you were to eliminate that would reduce significant costs from the region. Um so we should be asking who delivers what services and whether that structure still makes sense. There are real structural questions we could be tackling. This isn't one of them. So what are the actual dollar savings? Here are the questions we need to ask. How does this improve service delivery? Because it doesn't. Uh how does this help build houses? It doesn't. So, what's actually happening here? Um, there's a I I was I'm going to go back to my days as an English teacher, and in Henry V, there's a a a quote that says, "An empty vessel makes a great noise." And this is a perfect example of that. There is no substance to this discussion at all. There is no validation to this argument. It's just a lot of noise over nothing and it solves no problem. Um, so I can't support something that's largely symbolic. And this reduction from 8 to 6 is literally a symbolic reduction. It has no real value. It increases nothing. It makes nothing better from a governance perspective. It's just saying, "Hey, you know what? You want us to do something? Well, here's what we're going to do. We're going to check a little box for you. And does that make you happy? I hope this makes you happy because then we won't we won't have to deal with this issue again." it doesn't solve any problem. So, I I apologize for I've taken up all my time. Uh those are my thoughts, mayor, and I really don't think that this is any solution to any actual issue that exists anywhere in the Niagara region. Thank you. You're very welcome. Uh, I think too because the resolution has four separate things, I think splitting them and voting them separately may be a way where I know you're in favor of part of it but not all of it. So, up next we have Councelor Frank. Thank you, Mayor Jordan. Can you hear me? Okay. Uh, yes, we can. Okay. Yeah. I I I I I my I I don't totally disagree with uh what the net given uh just spoke about. I I I mean we're I think we all like the ward system. Uh we been working with this ward system for quite some time. I don't disagree with a lot of the sentiments that uh councelor DeFlavio just mentioned and yes I believe there will be some changes at the and need to be some changes at the regional level. So, uh, but having said that, I think the train has left the station. Uh, I think Queens Park is going to do something. That's just my own personal opinion. And if we don't, if we're not seen, and I and I, to use some of the words that councelor DeFlavio said, we need to be seen to be doing something, however little it might be, or or we just might lose more than we more than we we we uh we we hope for. Uh in the last uh term I was very keen on a six ward uh Grimby uh but it never got passed. Uh but I am very I would be sympathetic towards having a six counselor uh at large town. And I say that because, you know, I I I represent I may represent Ward One, but I can guarantee you that 90% of the phone calls and the things that I do in Grimby are for the town at large. And I do put a lot of work into it, whether people know that or not. So, I believe that I should maybe I should be looking at being a council at large so I can deal with all of the issues right across the town. And let's face it, when we come to council, we don't deal with just ward stuff. most 90% of what we're dealing with is actually town stuff in general at large. So why don't we just take the extra step and go to the at large model? And I think that's the one I lean towards. I do like I do like the wards. It makes everything nice and neat, but in another few years we'll be changing it again uh because maybe the the population shifts one way or the other. I think having counselors at large makes a big makes a big statement and I think that for the residents they don't have to be looking for one or two counselors. They be they can find one of six to do what they want or ask the questions they want or or or voice their concerns. So I do lean towards the six at large council and I think if we're going to be seen to be doing something I think that's the way we should go. Uh, and I believe me, the when when Queens Park comes knocking on the door, if we haven't done anything, we're not going to be looked very favorably overall. So, that's where I stand on this. And I and I and I said I'd like the word systems nice and neat, fine, very family, very, very cozy, and so on so forth. But, I think we need to be bigger, and I think we need to be representing the town at large, and because that's what I do anyways. So, let's let's go all the way. And, uh, thank you for the time. Up next we have councelor Bradzy. Thank you Mayor Jordan through you. Uh first off I'd like to say I think it's excellent that we're being proactive and u coming up with our own solution to be ready should Queens Park um decide that they're going to step in. I agree with quite a lot of what councelor Freak just just said. So I'll be short and sweet. Uh I also uh fully endorse the uh six counselors at large. Uh I'll take phone calls from anyone across town. I've never really looked at the uh at the wards as holding as much of a rep representation scale as we we like to to um give it credit for. I think we all represent Grimby as a whole and um I think this just kind of official officializes that and like councelor Freak said sorry they lagged out a little bit there. Um can you can you hear me council? Yeah, we can hear you. Okay. Yeah. Um, yeah, every single one of us represent Grimsy as a whole. So, I'm just going to end my comments there, Mayor. I think, uh, the six at large is what we should do and proactively do it ourselves. Thank you, Councelor V. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Um, I have to say I agree with u the two counselors, uh, uh, Councelor Frank, councelor Bradzi. I think that the province has been very good to Grimby at least for the last four years with the hospital, you know, the rec center. Um, we've done well and we've been we've been well represented where we had been ignored for a very long time. And I I see now the province wants to see some action. And um I it it concerns me that if we don't do something to show that, you know, yes, we're on board, we're we're going to do our part, even if it's just a small part, um I think we need to be prepared to do it. And I think six counselors um would be fine. Uh I I don't have a problem with six counselors. I prefer a ward system, but I don't think that if if we're told at the last minute or in the next couple of months that it was going to be counselors at large right before or counselors, six counselors right before the election, then the only practical way to do it would be counselors at large. So, um I I guess I I I do think that we need to be a bit pragmatic and show that that we're willing to cooperate. Uh cuz like we can't always just say it's the other guy's problem. It's it's all about the region. And I I'm one for thinking it's a lot about the region, but we can't we can't just say it's, you know, it's a regional problem, not our problem. because when they have I don't know how many counselors 40 counselors at the regional level at the regional table 31 31 okay so you know I I think we have to do our part and it's more of a contribution a statement than it is sort of I don't think it's going to impact our um our day-to-day business I think residents will still be um well reflected I often look at my role here while I represent a ward and and most of the calls I get are from my my ward, but I think that our role here is much bigger than than just, you know, me speaking for W 2. Uh it's war 2 isn't my little fifom. Um you know, I mean, I represent the town of Ginsby and I I help mostly the residents in war 2 will call me, but if anyone else calls me, I'll talk to anybody. So, um, I'll leave it at that and just say basically I'm in favor of this. Thank you, Councelor Devoli. Thank you, Mayor Jordan. I think we have, pardon me, a few issues on the table to really decide upon tonight. One is, you know, our size. Um one is to think about you know how six people would get the job done rather than eight. Um the second one is to think about you know how the public is served in all of this and whether they are better or worse off um if we change the size from 8 to six. So when I think about our size actually and about having eight of us um and and perhaps a potential move to six instead um I I think it is quite doable quite honestly. Um you know we have standing committees with a counselor from each ward. Well then we would have three counselors on a standing committee and perhaps two or three lay members instead. It is entirely still doable. Um, we have an enormous amount of advisory committees and we might look at redoing the composition or the mix of that in some way, shape and form. And that's probably a good thing to put some time and effort into reconsidering why we do what we do with our advisory committees. Um but I think it's entirely doable in terms of the effort and time of a counselor that the if there were six instead of eight. Do I think the public is better served? Um I think the public actually is quite confused by a lot of things and I know sometimes we we joke a bit and say we all need a a lesson in um municipal or civic government again. But I've seen members of the public show up at our front desk and they are confused about what is a regional responsibility and what is a municipal one. I've likewise seen members of the public write in emails to all of us and no one answered. Not a single one of us. Um because on one occasion I actually did and the response was you're the only one who wrote to me. And quite honestly that was probably rare. Most of the time I probably wouldn't neither. Um, so you know, when we have a ward system with one or two or however it is set up, um, I think that makes it easier for the public to know who do I contact, right? Um, rather than, oh, I'll send this email out to all six and like a shotgun hope that somebody responds. If we live in a ward system where there is alignment and you know this is my ward counselor, you know who to write to. And if that doesn't work, you know probably what your next step needs to be too. Um, so I do think it is still possible to get the work done with six counselors. I personally would support a ward system still. Um, I think it makes life easy is not the word I'm looking for. It it is more it is better to reach out to the residents and have them reach out to us. whether we're talking about the campaign trail where you're going door to door and knocking on on doors um you know you you get uh you get closer I'll say to your residents when you are able to work in a ward system and likewise I think it makes it easier for them to know who to contact and how to do that. Um, so by and large though I I will say and I hate to I hate to repeat something but you know there there was a very famous person in politics who said you know if you're not at the table you'll be on the table and I think this is one of those instances right now where if we don't come up with a plan to do something you know it will be forced on us instead and better that we have a plan and a recommendation of what we could live with when we get something forced on us that we don't like at all. Councelor Gsteni, then councelor How, then councelor Shwell. Thank you through chair. So just to clarify with the letter that the mayor sent, have we already committed to this cuz I feel like this was in the in the letter that the eight mayor said, they proposed that this is something we would do instead of amalgamation. We're going to look at it. I think it wasn't a Do you want to Sorry, maybe I'll Yeah, I I don't think it was a a commitment. It was It was to look at it and uh bring it back to our councils for this exact process right now. Okay. Thank you for that clarification. Um because I read it as this is something that we would do so that we don't have to amalgamate. So the concern I have with this is yes, I'm sure we can make it work with six. I'm sure we can decide at large or or wart system. My concern is the lack of public consultation. We have it set up for Wednesday. We're discussing it tonight. I have heard from one resident on this particular topic of reducing council and and if they want at large or ward system and and that is Miss Gibbons tonight. Um this went on the agenda Friday Friday. Um I don't even know if the majority of our residents understand that we're deciding this tonight. I would prefer more time to hear from the people that I represent and then if they say, "Hey, I prefer ATL large, you know, I'm your voice," then okay, at large is what I'd vote for. But it's really hard to sit here when I haven't heard from my constituents on what they would actually like for representation in their town with the tax dollars that they pay for. So my preference would be, you know, let's have the public consultation, put this on Wednesday night and let people answer it and then bring this back to the table the next council meeting and then send it off to the premier. I understand the importance of let's be prepared for what comes down the pipe. Absolutely. But I think that the public needs to have a big say in this. Councelor How? Thank you. um through you, mayor. In a in a nutshell, um 6 to8 sucks. Um there there's no other way around it because I take a look and think of how successful the eight counselors and one mayor has been through the years. And I'm going to I sound like a broken record. Hey, I was on the council in the 90s. Well, three terms. There was eight of us. And Nick, you're absolutely right. Uh, but there was eight of us. And we made it worked and we dealt with what we had to deal with. We dealt with it in a whole bunch of different ways, though. Now we've got eight. And it's these things coming off of these things that occupy a fair amount of time. And most of it is is difficult but you know it it's what people expect and it's very very timeconuming to do it right instead of picking up a phone and saying hello statue. Um yeah and you go and and and you deal with it you deal with it as human beings and not as a piece of machinery. Um the the fact I'll take going take this apart at large. No. Um, ward system, it it it has always worked. Uh, when you when there's a couple of you in a ward that if one of you is away, well, guess what? The other one picks it up. Um, and you get to know the ins and outs and the personalities and and it is I mean that the people that we deal with all the time, they're all personalities and we've got to deal with those. But we know what the personalities are. and you're able to make good decisions by knowing that as well. So, um my my concern is going down to six is I think we're going to lose um interaction and and um you know uh inter interactions with people partaking in the system and partaking in making us wiser and I'm thinking of the advisory committees especially um and I've said it here. I've said it all the time that uh the best committee size is one, but you know that's not the case. Uh but where I've really found it this year is because there's so many more things that um that there are some people on the advisory committees that are just rock stars, you know, and then I've learned so much from them uh that that I can't replace what they're but my concern is we go down to six standing committees. Do they go advisories? Do they go they're gone? And and that's what has made Grimby, okay, us included, and go back a couple years and go back a few more years after that has made it a really great place to be. It's been a successful place. It's on good footing. Do we need all this? No, we don't. But it's going to come. But I just a couple of things is we have had training I think since we came on uh three times on on uh uh scams on the internet on the scams and whatnot. What's the first thing they they tell you about? Look out if it shows a sense of urgency. Oh well then I better delete this one. Well, what are they doing? Okay, that that's that's all it is is it's you know I think they just got part-time on the phones in Montreal. Um but you know it it's bad that it gets to that. I I don't like that. Um bullying you feel like you're bullied. Okay, here we go. Um when I was in elementary school I was 4' 11 95 lbs. To say I wasn't bullied. Ha. I'm here to tell you, I got my butt kicked more than once. Um, but then as I got into high school and then as I grew, then all of a sudden I wasn't being bullied because they couldn't bully me. As I got older, got to the point where you couldn't be bullied even by money and and by business people and people that are running businesses and making things happen. Um, you know, they put their pants on just like me. Um, and we're going to lose lose lose so much. Thank you, Katie. You saved me. And but but uh if we go to six, I'll support it uh to six, but I won't support at large. You got to stick with the ward so that you can give um you know that help. and so that when I go on vacation, who's ever going to be there? I don't know if Lan's going to be back. I don't know how it's going to work out, but uh it's worked out pretty well on our way. So, thank you very much and thank you, Katie, Councelor Shaw. Oh, sorry. Uh through your mirror, Jordan. Thank you. Um, so I purposely went last cuz I wasn't quite sure um where I was going to land on this coming in here. I would say I was kind of more so leaning towards six. Um, and that was probably more so for myself. I'm, as you know, I'm not going to be running as a council member next time, so I will be running at large. Um, but the reasons that I would say that I've heard around the table for why we're going for six is not the reason I think we should be going for six. Um, I work for the people of Grimby. I don't work for Doug Ford. So, if Doug Ford says to jump, that doesn't mean I'm going to jump. Um, he's going to have to come down here and demand that we're going to jump and then maybe we'll have a discussion about it. But um for us to change our rules because there's a threat um of him, you know, saying that that we're going to have to change it, that's not enough for me. So I've kind of reverted back to eight. Um reason being that, you know, although there is I think six could work, um we're still in a system where uh and again I don't want the media to skew this because none of this is a cost savings. So, um $48,000 um is a drop in the bucket and $48,000 you get a whole lot of um service for two counselors at $48,000. This would cost and then if if those two are removed, we have to replace that time with staff. So, we are a bargain. Um so, I'm just going to reiterate that. So, um again, we are here for the taxpayers. I am a taxpayer. uh all the residents in Grimby, we they want representation. So, um really the more representation the better. Yes, we do not always agree, but I do think that um there are very strong, capable people that are very passionate about representing um people in in a political role. And we know that as soon as we start to bring the number down, then this becomes a matter of people with deep pockets being able to fund um their campaigns when people that may be single mothers, people that may be university students that would like a chance at this will probably not have a chance because there will be all these barriers financially. So, um I'm back to the eight. I'm getting back to the eight and I'm also back to um not at large if if we have this discussion um and it has to be something it's got to be wards um not at large because I don't want the person to be winning just being the person that is backed by the most people with the deepest pockets. So, if we can um keep it as status quo first and then go from there, then uh that's how I would like this um to have that vote. Please, councelor Vardy. Thank you, Mayor. I just did a quick look uh using chat GPT, which I've recently discovered this weekend about all the wonderful things it can do. Um so when you have a breakdown of population to number of counselors uh for instance St. Catherine's uh has a population of uh almost 137,000. They have one counselor for every 11,400 people. Niagara Falls has one counselor for every 11,800. Uh Wellland has one for every 4650. And if I go down to Grimby, we've got one for every 3610. So in looking at the analysis compared to St. Catherine's, Niagara Falls, and Wellin, their population, we, you know, they are under represented and we are over represented. And believe me, even though I just did this with chat GPT, someone else has also looked at this and said there's there's an imbalance here. The other thing I want to say with all due respect to councelor Sherwa, um we municipalities serve at the pleasure of the province. So when Doug Ford says jump, we do say how high. We can complain about it. But the fact of the matter is the the province is our boss and uh you know we we serve at the pleasure. So if the province wants to make whatever changes they want, it's in the municipal act. You can shake your head, you can not like it, but that's the reality. So, um, you know, it it's it's for us to to navigate the best way that's going to serve our residents. Thank you, councelor. How Thank you through you, Mayor. And, uh, this is to uh, chat G. What is it? Chat GPT. Um, the three ones that in our region that you picked, I wouldn't live in any one of them. So, Councelor DeFlavio. Thank you, Mayor Through You. Uh I don't agree with an atlarge council. Uh when I first ran ran for council, uh I had the confidence to run for council because I was a kid. I was young and I was living in my ward and we had a family business in that ward and I knew the people in my neighborhood and I we had a family farm in that in that neighborhood. That gave me the confidence to run and those people voted for me because they knew me as somebody who lived in that neighborhood. They I was able to afford as a young person to create flyers and and distribute those flyers because it was a ward system. If it was an atlarge system, I wouldn't have been able to afford to to put a flyer in every house in Grimby. Um the the system that an atlarge system favors incumbents. It's great for me now. It is, but it's not what's best for the town of Grimby and it's not what's best for promoting future leaders in the town of Grimby. If we want new people to come along, if we want new voices in Grimby, we need to have those openings that occur when a ward counselor steps down. not just the wealthiest person who can afford to send out flyers and put advertisements in the newspaper and do the things that you need to get your name recognized. Uh we need people who actually do things in their neighborhood and in their community that that are actually known in their community for positive reasons that there then can become future counselors, future uh MVPs, MPs, whatever that future looks like, future mayors. We we shouldn't be here talking about what gets us reelected because the you know an open system across the entire municipality means that probably six of us get reelected next time around because the six most best known people tend to get reelected in in that system. But that's not what's best for the town of Grimby and that's definitely not what's best for the future of the town of Grimby. So, I I didn't get a chance to talk about the atlarge and ward system because it wasn't part of what I wanted to speak to earlier, but I do want to address that. Definitely not in favor of that. And I think eight ward counselors is the still the way to go. Uh, councelor Frank. Thank you, Mayor Jordan. Um, so there's certainly some great arguments around the table, but I I I I do believe that we are just being a little bit reluctant to change or look at change. And I believe we're, you know, we're reluctant to look at this in a very positive light and very logical. This is not political for me. It's it's what what is how is the town best represented? Is the town best represented by having anyone in the town having six counselors to call on or one or two? And I think the that the the people of of Grimby would like to be able to call on any one of the counselors. As I said earlier, I don't work for just Ward One. I mean, I do a lot of work in Ward One and I get a lot of calls from Ward One, but I would say that 80% of what I do is across the town. And that's true for probably all of us. and we sit in this council chamber, as I said before, and we make decisions based on the town as a whole, not as a ward. And and that's the way we should be looking at this. We should be looking at this as a higher level. And you know, I yes, the ward system is comfortable for everybody. It's nice and neat for running if you're running for office and so on and so forth. But if you want to just do something for your ward, then you become blind to the rest of the town. And that's not what I want to be. I want to be able to have that that broad look at our town as a whole and how does things in Ward 4 affect things in Ward One because sometimes they do. And so I would like to be able to represent all of them, not just one of them. And you know, if if someone in town prefers to call me rather than someone else, then heaven forbid they should do that. But the thing is, some counselors will have more time on their hands to do this and some won't. So I think having six at large will accommodate that type of situation. So I still believe that we are just kind of being very a little bit myopic here and we need to think at the bigger picture and this is not about Doug Ford. I'm talking about yes we do as councelor have said we do work and we are elected at at the at the pleasure of the province. We are their creature. We are we are born by them. So, we just have to open up our eyes and look a little bit broader in what we're doing and what we want to do, what we need to do for the town as a whole because we're growing Grimsby. We're not growing our wards. We're trying we want to be progressive for the town, not for the ward. So, we need to have this broad view and and and I you know and I think that we need to be thinking that way. If we don't think that way, then I don't think we're doing our jobs. So, hopefully we will look at that in a very positive way. We're not making any decisions tonight. I understand that and and and I hope and I I I do hope the public will have their say and I hope they will come out and and give us what they think. That that is important as councelor Coststani said earlier. It's really really important. But anyway, that that's what I think and I I I mean uh that's my that's my thought. Okay. So take it for what it's worth, but you need to think broader. You need to think bigger and we need to think we need to think townwide. and you know what's good in our what's what's good in one part of the town is is it good for the other part of the town. So um let's let's keep our minds wide open. Let's be a little broader in our thinking. Thank you Mr. Mayor. Councelor Sh mayor Jordan. um clarification. Are we just speaking right now um to the wards and the count council composition? Cuz I I would like to ask a little bit uh for clarification on the water and wastewater public corporations. So I don't know if that's if we're going to be speaking on some of these separately or see you, Mr. Mayor. That's more at a regional level and they have a meeting coming up on Thursday. So I think that's just for information that that those were some of the topics that were addressed at a more regional level. Okay. Thank you. So I just want to make sure when we're voting on this if we can start off with status quo with the um with the eight counselors and then we can work through that. See you Mr. Mayor. So I mean we could change the wording of the motion. I think this is on the premise that we have a mandate from the province, right? Uh that there is an intervention. If when if that happens, we might not have that opportunity to debate like this or to provide any kind of have time for the public consultation piece. I mean, that's for the province to decide. And so this is we can add those wording if uh it mandated by the province. Um, if not, yes, I I would appreciate that cuz just reading it doesn't sound it sounds like we are in favor of changing it whereas it's only if we are forced. Yes. So, we can make that those wordings stronger and maybe we'll start there. Be great. Thank you. And we're also welcome to uh split those questions up and vote on them separately. And I think that makes the most sense. Councelor Kstani, thank you through chair. So just for clarification, um I understand we're we're preparing. Um but will this be part of the open house then on Wednesday to collect resident feedback? And will we get that resident feedback before the next council meeting so that if we want to lift this and talk about this again that we can do that to speak on behalf of our residents? See you, Mr. Mayor. I think the town will continue to do the public information and consultation. Uh the pick will happen on Wednesday and I will bring forward a report to collect the data received from that pick uh for the next council meeting so that can be tabled through that report. Okay. Just to clarify that this specific information will be on at on Wednesday night. So mayor, can I also get a clarification? I see that item two, we only have the two options. What about the third one with the six at large that isn't in there? Sorry, I'll Yes. Um to answer councelor Corsandi first to you, Mr. Mayor. Uh yes, this will all be presented and be provided to on Wednesday. Uh and we will be gathering the feedback and the public survey is also open till March 30th. So we can gather that information so it can be uh presented at the April meeting. So we will be collecting all that data. So if you need to lifted or debated on in the April meeting that's possibility. And as for councelor Frank sorry can you repeat that question please? Yes sorry Sarah I see that in item two in the motion there you've noted the two options but not the third one which is six councils at large. Is that intentional or are we doing this separately through you Mr. Mayor? Yes, that was in the body of the report, right? I I wasn't sure how council this debate would happen and this discussion would go. So there we will prepare the motions accordingly and do I think uh clerk is asking for five minutes so we can sort that out so we can have the all the motions. Uh I knew there would be a few different views. So it is uh we'll work on that motion. Uh but uh to maybe to clarify sorry councelor devol speak then everyone spoken. Yeah. Sorry. Yep. Yeah. All right. So before we take that five minutes to get the motions um exactly the way we wanted. I think the last speaker is councelor Dvoli. Um unless councelor Bradzy wants to speak a second time but councelor Dvoli go ahead. Thank you. Um I won't be very long but but just to reiterate that these are turbulent times and much as we probably all of us would like to stay where we are with eight counselors and truly we do not see an immediate um we don't see anything wrong with the eight and how things are operating. Um but there are others around us um and specifically at Queens Park who see things differently. And so this boat on this on this lake I is uh you know in rough seas at the moment and much as we might like to stick with the eight um we have to think about you know those other voices around us and and the powers that they have and be prepared with a plan basically. So um we need to be proactive in all of this. Um, the other thought I wanted to leave is that we currently work in a ward system and we're talking about perhaps going from four to three or four to six or whatever it may be. I think of the ward system as just being the methodology as to how we are elected. At the end of the day, when I sit at this table, I don't just vote on ward one matters. I have to vote on every matter that comes to the table and have to think about the entire town and not just what's best for my ward. So whether we have four wards, three wards, six wards, um we have always had that I'll call it that mentality, that thought that that idea that we are here to work for the good of the entire town, not just of our ward. Um, and so when I think of, you know, award system versus at large, again, just to repeat, I think of award system as just um, a methodology, a way to actually structure the election and move forward, a way to help people know who they should contact if they have a specific issue in their town. Um but when I think of that at large system and I go back to that example I gave people written to us and I've written to all nine of us and sometimes no one replies. Um and that's what happens when you know everybody is voted at large. How do you know whose job is it to reply? How do we divvy up the work and so on? And that's where award system has made a lot of sense um in terms of the practicalities of how we do our job. Councelor Bradzy. Thank you, Mayor Jordan. It's for you. Um, a question I guess uh probably to CEO, Miss Clerk or sorry, Miss Chem. Um, administering the election for let's say for the four wards currently. Could you just kind of compare uh the workload on the administrative side u between four wards and a potential six wards or or even a three- W system? How uh how much is that complicated for you guys? Uh through the chair, a few things I can speak about. The more wards uh you have, the more locations you likely need for polling locations or you need to start considering like a super polls that handle multiple wards. So more locations, more staff, more equipment, uh is one of the things to keep in mind. Um, at this time we have prepared to run the election based on a four- ward model. If we're instructed to pivot, we can do that. Uh, but it comes with complications. An atlarge system from an election side of uh things is much easier. It's one ballot, not four different ballots. Um, it's a little bit more streamlined. Uh the as outlined uh in the motion, if we are going to reduce the number of counselors and keep award boundary, we do need to get the 2021 report peer review to ensure that the growth analysis is still accurate and it's still a fair representation between those two options 2 or 2 three. So um is it complicated? Sure. But we're prepared to do it both ways. It's really a council decision. Thank you Tori. Um I think is it fair to kind of assume from what you said that a atlarge um system would would bring some some workload efficiencies uh through the chair. Uh perhaps from an election standpoint and given the short turnaround it could be efficient. Uh but if we're talking into the next term of council, um I I think it's it's uh similar workloads and similar plans. Okay. Thank you. And then lastly, if we do end up going with a ward system, uh I'm just going to say that my preference would be to to stick with a three ward system and then uh so we maintain having two counselors per ward and then I don't see the point in expanding from four wards to six wards. uh like like the clerk said that adds additional polling stations, complicates confusions for residents to which board they're in. I still come across residents all the time that don't know which word they're in and don't know the word boundaries. So I think uh simplicity is uh is king here. Right. Everyone's spoken twice. So we'll Sorry, I just asked for a clarification. Can I speak on this really quick? Sure. If it's a clarification. Yes. I I asked for a clarification before. This is just a point. Um, so we didn't speak on we spoke about, you know, whether we're we're status quo. We spoke about the at large, but we didn't actually speak about the the 2C or three. So, I'm just going to throw out my opinion if it comes down to if we're I don't know if we're going through this in in order and it comes down to which of the wards we're Sarah, did you want to jump in? Go ahead. I see you, Mr. Mayor. I think what we would be writing back to the province is if mandated we would prefer a wart system right and only if we get the mandate could we we could go into the weeds and look at the two options I think the two options were presented because it was introduced in 2021 right uh the 2B was uh the consultant's uh recommendation and option three was the option preferred by the public cons uh survey so that's why those two are up there are on it but I think we're not deciding that we don't need to decide that now because we don't have that mandate yet. Right. Thank you. And I was actually a part of that uh the group that came up with this and my preference of these was the alignment of option three. So I think if we had to pick between the two. I think option three being from the lake uh to the escarment it makes the most sense for me personally. But if that's something we're not dealing with today then that's great. All right, we're just going to take a five minute break so we can uh um clarify the four points uh in the resolution. just give it one second. All right, welcome back. Um Sarah, you're going to clarify through you, Mr. Mayor. Okay, so we've so I think the first motion uh to show support for the motion passed by regional council that is kind of reiterating that the town does not agree with any kind of force amalgamation. So we'll kind of vote that separately uh to get agreement on that. And then the second motion, we will first um pass a motion that if mandated by the province that council endorse a reduction size of council size from 8 to six and at large and we'll pass that first. If that fails, we'll do the second motion where if mandated by the province a council reduction and award system. Uh and then for the third motion, we've taken away that uh the implemented for the 2026 election more or less. We're saying that the above changes cannot happen until 2030 if there is no provincial mandate intervention and um depending on the vote. The circulation is more of a housekeeping item. All right. And now is the mover and second happy happy to stay the same or do we want separate mover and seconders for each motion? It's u councelor DeFlavio, councelor Shaw. Okay. Right. So moved by councelor DeFlavio, second by councelor Sharwa. Um I'll read the the first part of the report. Resolve that report CIO 26-04 and aggra governance update. March 23rd, 2026 be received and whereas the majority of mayor signed a joint letter stating a commitment to building a governance model that is streamlined and transparent to the public. And whereas Yeah. Yeah. And whereas the provincial government has expressed a desire to reduce the number of municipal counselors in the Niagara region. And whereas the timeline for council to enact a a bylaw regarding ward structures in accordance with the municipal act 2001 has passed for the 2026 election. Therefore be a resolved number one that the town of Ginsby supports the motion passed by regional council on February 26, 2026 regarding governance review. Um, Eastri boat, please. Uh, councelor Frank your vote and councelor Brad and councelor Bradzy your vote. Sorry. Yes. Okay. Okay. And that's carried. I'm sorry. Now we move to resolution 2A. resolved that council endorse a reduction in council size from eight counselors to six counselors and an atlarge electoral system if mandated by the province. Can we uh can we add a third option there that council does not endorse a reduction in council size because that's not up there at all. It's yeah we could add that only if both get defeated. should not be the Councelor Freight, your vote. Yes. All right, that's defeated. All right. Now, um, we have 2B result. Sorry. Can we can we get a recording of who voted for what there? Yeah. Um, through your chair. Yes. Um, everybody voted no apart from councelor Frank and councelor Barazzi who voted yes. All right. Now we move to um resolution 2B. Resolved that council endorses a reduction in council size from eight counselors to six counselors for the 2026 municipal election and implementing option 2B or three from the 2021 council structure and ward boundary review final report and a peer review be completed to confirm projections boundary rationale and effective representation principles remain valid if mandated by the province. I use your eve scribe to vote. Sorry, I'm a little confused by this one because this one we're we're saying that it's it's going to be six regardless, right? So I I'm not quite sure what I'm voting on here. Only if it's mandated by the province. So if it's mandated by the province, we're picking ward with a review ward system instead of uh at large. Okay. So if I'm voting for the ward system, I'm voting Okay. Thank you. Okay. This clarification because I don't I don't want people voting on the wrong thing here. So if we're saying this is only because you did say that this is only if it's mandated to six. So it's a either ward. We're only voting for ward or at large. We're not voting for eight in this one, Nick. This is six at large or ward. Can you clarify? Yeah. Right. So, so it's only six. So, this is Yes. Six in the ward if mandated by the province. If we don't need to vote on status quo, remaining status quo. But mayor, just to clarify, if we do not support a reduction at all, then we should put that in writing, right? If we if we if we want if we want to maintain eight counselors, two per ward the way that we have now, we should say that we we shouldn't accept that this this change is going to occur. So, I want I want to be clear to people that if we want to accept if we want to maintain the status quo that there needs to be a third one and we need to vote this down. I'd second that if if we add that in. No, I think what we need to do is vote on this now because that's the way it was written and we'll we'll add a third option um if we need to. Council Frank. No. All right, that's carried. Now we move to uh number three. Um resolve that the town clerk be directed to confirm with the premier and the minister of municipal affairs and housing that without provincial intervention the above changes cannot take place until the 2030 election. Can we do number four together? and number four together with that and that the town clerk be directed to circulate the motion to the regional municipality of Niagara Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing and the Premier of Ontario. I use your ec point of clarification. This doesn't say a date. Is this after the next council meeting when this is ratified that the communication would happen for the chair? This would be ratified with in two business days or sorry, yes, two business days when the strong m strong mayor veto power ends. Um but to uh the CIO's point, the another report will come forward with the full survey results on April 13th. Um so there could be further direction to send the full survey results with the pick results to the uh premier's office as well or the same people. Yeah, we'd entirely recommend to send all our information to the province. Uh the the province needs to hear from everyone and I really encourage in every individual to uh email the province if if they are able to. Yes, mayor through you. Uh and I apologize for belaboring this, but the registration date and clerk, you can correct me if I'm wrong. Isn't the registration date for elections May 1st, the start date? So that means that people who were planning to run based on what they know now are going to be forced to change that like and I'm not talking about incumbents again. I'm talking about people that you know were look taking on the lay of the land and deciding where where to run are going to have to change that decision within the next month. It doesn't seem like a very good timeline. I would I again I would say the 2030 election should be our recommendation. Not even if they can make this change, I don't think it's one that they should make this close to an election campaign. Right. It it doesn't say that. It says province, you can make that change. We can't. That's what this says in Right. But what what I'm saying is we should say you shouldn't make that change because it's too close to the campaign. We're we're a month away from from election. But as history's proven that the province made the change in September for an October election in the city of Toronto. I I agree with all that, mayor, but I think that what we're saying in our resolution should be what we believe as a council. So if we believe that it is too close to when the election is occurring to make this change, we should be saying that, not saying, hey, you know, it's up to you to do this. You know, I I I think that we need when we pass a resolution as a council, it should be based on what we believe as a council. I don't think that this is what we believe. I don't think that and sorry, I'm speaking for me. I don't believe as a council that this is adequate time for this kind of a change to occur. And that's why there was a deadline back in January for this change to occur. Unfortunately, that is I think everyone around here believes that it's there's not enough time. But unfortunately, that it's not the decision we get to make any longer because that decision's going to be made by the province whether they decide to do this or not. So, I I can I think I think what we've stated in our debate this evening um certainly clarifies that we're not happy with the province making the decision for us. Uh but it's out of our control right now. Councelor Frank Yes. I think everyone's voted. All right. And that's carried. All right. Now we move to u um chair's report. Councelor Frank, can you please give your uh chair's report? Uh thank you, Mayor Jordan. Uh yeah, the corporate services committee met on the 9th of March. Um, we had a pretty meaty agenda. We had received seven uh previous minutes. Three from the Joint Accessibility Advisory Committee. One on September the 18th, one on November the 13th, 2025, and one on January the 8th, 2026. Also, three sets of minutes from the Grimby Downtown BIA, one on October the 8th, uh, one from December the 10th and one from January the 14th. And we also received the corporate services committee minutes from February the 2nd. We had one delegation in the name of uh, Adele Henselwood, a farmer on the escarment to deal with the uh, open air open air fire bylaw. We have received seven discussion reports uh mostly related to elections. Um TC2605 which dealt with municipal elections update specifically about the internet voting assistance at the polls. Uh TC2606 uh relating to election recount policy and bylaw uh related to updates to the recount policy. um TC26-07 which was a 2026 election restricted acts bylaw uh which talked about restrictions after the nomination day for example uh TC26-08 which was a delegation of council authority bylaw uh related to update of the delegations of authority uh we received a discussion report from uh the open air fire bylaw update um which is updated the the open air By uh there was also an update on the updating of dispute processes by the bylaw which is an update in person to the allow the inperson dispute appeal process to go ahead. Uh we were supposed to receive the Grimsby Fire Department accomplishments but our chief was not well so that was deferred to the next meeting and that was it. Thank you very much. Uh thank you for your report councelor Frank. Can I have a mover and seconder to approve the previous minutes? Sorry, I'd asked the clerk to lift an item. Uh, yes. We need the mover and seconder to get it on the floor, then we'll get it lifted. Moved by councelor Dolley, second by councelor How and Councelor Shaw, you want to lift uh council from March 9th, 2026. Yes, thank you. I wanted to lift um item 8 point or sorry 6.1 in the council agenda uh in the minutes sorry. So it was uh had to do with the integrity commissioner complaint. It's just uh the way that it was written. So it says uh resolve that the chair's decision regarding councelor Shara's comments be upheld. It was actually supposed to be for the challenge. Um so we voted for the challenge. So yes, councelor Devoli, Shara, Christi, and DeFlavio. So I don't know how how you need to change that. So when you had explained it, you said if you're voting yes, you're voting so that I could continue. So cuz I had challenged the chair. I just want to make sure that this is reflected accurately in the minutes. Yeah. Sure. Yeah. Through the chair. So it's the chair's decision was not upheld. So yes meant that it wasn't upheld. So it's correct in the minutes. We verified this with how the region does it too. This is the same. Yes. Yes is reflected correctly here. That doesn't that doesn't sound correct though. Resolve that the chair's decision regarding councelor Christi's comments be upheld. But they were not upheld. The chair's decision was not upheld because you're allowed to continue speaking. Okay. I I will if that's how how you do it at the region, that's fine. I just maybe I'm just reading it wrong. Thank you. All right. Moved by councelor Devoy, second by councelor How. Resolve the following minutes be approved. Corporate services March 9th, 2026. Council March 9th, 2026. All in favor? That's carried. Up next, uh, can I have a mover and seconder to receive the board minutes? Moved by councelor DeFlavio. Seconded by councelor Gorsani and councelor how you wanted to speak on the uh library board through you mayor I'm probably one step ahead of myself maybe I should save it for the announcements but we're one step away so I might as well say what it is at the library last week March break had 1,154 little kitties and their families amilies for the five days that imagine being around there with all those precious darlings. But anyway, congratulations to them through the chair. So, uh I'm looking at it. The vote is incorrect. I see what you're saying. It just the yeses and nos need to be flipped. So, we'll make that administrative change. My apologies. That's That's great. Thank you. All right. Moved by um councelor DeFlavio, second by councelor Kstani. Resolve that the following board minutes be received. Ginsby Public Library Board February 11th, 2026. Committee of adjustment, February 17th, 2026. All in favor? And that's carried. And that's uh great news about the uh number of kids at uh the library. Uh, are there any other announcements for this evening? Councelor How, we'll let you go again. All right. Um, and thank goodness for our our Facebook page. Uh, but today is World Water Day. Imagine that. And we're talking about what the province does to make life miserable for everybody. Gosh, what are we doing with the conservation authorities? Water. Anyways, a world water day. Appreciate it. Councelor Kstani. Thank you three chair. Um I just like to uh give a shout out to our Ginsby curling club and our uh West Niagara Special Olympics this past Saturday. They held a district qualifier for the provincial games in curling and uh we had seven teams come from all around the district and it could not have been done without the volunteers and the help with the Ginsby curling club. So I'd like to uh send out a great big thank you to them and a congratulations to our rock stars who won their division and uh played really really well and represented us well. So uh congratulations to them. And I also like to give a shout out to the Niagara Sunflower Festival held a fundraiser for Ukraine on the weekend and they hosted Charlie Angus's resistance tour up at the Agricultural Fairgrounds and uh it was packed. Um it was a great event and uh I'm sure they raised a lot of money, but they had some really great inspirational speakers. So I just like to congratulate them on such a fantastic event. Great. Any other announcements? Councelor DeFlavio. Thank you, Mayor. Uh the the next season, the the second half of the season for the Grimby Authors series continues this Friday. Jennifer Shiovalier and Brian Goldman will be there. I believe there are still tickets left for the next two dates. So, I would encourage people to buy them. It's a great event. All the proceeds go to the the Groomsby Public Library and they are always really well attended and really wellrun. So, uh, get your tickets if there's still some available. Great. Um, seeing no more announcements, uh, can I have a mover in All right, Council Brady. Yeah. Sorry, couldn't see you up there. Thank you, Mayor Jordan. Sorry, I had had a little hand raised. Um, but as you know, it it was it was an honor um to raise the flag for um Meals for Wheels. um the community support services of Niagara uh were launching their March for Meals campaign this month and uh a large part of that was Mayors for Meals. So, it's both an honor to uh to raise that flag with them and an honor to to don the deputy mayor uh in your absence for the day. But, uh just just wanted to touch on a couple little statistics for the the Meals on Wheel program. I'm sure you all know they deliver hot and frozen nutritious meals to our most vulnerable population, seniors and adults with disabilities. Uh with the increased increasing cost of food, raising rising inflation and growing number of adults on fixed incomes, the services provided by this amazing group are seeing a huge increase in demand. Uh the incredible work of them uh through its volunteers helping those most in need has reached 61,000 individuals across Niagara. Um it was staggering to see this firsthand to go on to uh on the ride alongs uh delivering delivering the meals to the residents and it was it was a humbling experience and one one I'll remember forever. Thanks mayor. Um and thank you councelor for stepping in. Councelor Vardy. Thank you. Um, I would just like to let the community know that um, as part of the uh, Harmony House uh, jewelers uh, fundraising uh, with their online auction which I spoke about at the last meeting, they are having a special uh, fundraising evening, a sort of a suare on April 16th and there will be um, food and wine and jewelry and uh, all kinds of other good things. So, it's supposed to be a a very good night. And uh if you go tickets, I think are $250. So, and all the money raised, of course, goes to um uh West Lincoln Memorial Hospital Foundation and McN House. So, uh tickets will go go fast. So, if you're interested in a a really nice evening out, uh just go to their website. You'll be able to find a link to the evening where you can buy tickets. Thank you. Thank you, councelor Vardy. Um, seeing no further announcements, can I have a mover and secondary for the bid? Oh, councelor Chara. Oh, sorry. I I thought you were getting to the correspondence. I wanted to lift the NRT. No. Um, okay. Sorry. Uh, can I have a mover and secondary for the be a donor month proclamation? Moved by councelor Corani, second by councelor How. Whereas April is be a donor month in Ontario. And whereas the goal of being a donor month is to inspire those who have not yet registered consent for organ and tissue donation. And whereas the on average,400 people in Ontario are waiting for a life-saving organ transplant. And every 3 days someone will die waiting for an organ transplant. And whereas in 2025 362 deceased organ donors gave the gift of life, 1,088 deceased organ transplants were performed in Ontario and 251 tissue donors enhanced the lives of thousands. And whereas 90% of Ontario support organ and tissue donation, yet only one in three, that's 35% of eligible Ontarians have registered their consent to donate. And whereas families almost always have consented donation when there is evidence a loved one registered their decision to donate. But in the absence of a registered donation decision, families consent only half of the time. And whereas everyone has the potential to be an organ donor and or tissue donor. Regardless of age or health, one organ donor can save up to eight lives and enhance the lives of up to 75 others through tissue donation. And therefore, be it resolved that I, Mayor Jeff Jordan, do hereby proclaim April 2026 to be a to or as be a donor month in Grimby. Be it further resolved that all citizens are encouraged to learn more about organ and tissue donation and transplantation and consider pledging their support by registering as a donator at be a donor.ca. All in favor and that's carried. Okay. Can I have a mover and seconder to receive the Niagara transit Q4 statistics? Just want to make a comment on the council on the second on the donor. Yeah. Yeah. Okay. Go ahead. Done. Through you, mayor, and your uh your last um sentence on the donor uh register on email. Well, that right there is about 30 years old and that's my donor card and I've lugged it around ever since and nobody has called me to say, "Hey, it's time." But no, it it it doesn't take anything. It's a great, you know, you you only need to Bob Nesbbit here in town was our assistant or deputy engineer for a lot of years. And the man was a double lung transplant. Um, and to the day that he didn't come in anymore, he was just he was just wonderful and great great inspiration as to uh making a donation. Thank you, Bob. Thanks, Councelor. How can I have a mover and second to receive the Niagara transit Q4 statistics? Councelor Dvoi second. Councelor Vardy speak and councelor Shara you'd like to speak to this? Uh thank you through Mayor Jordan. Um I so I I had pulled up the Q1, Q2, Q3, Q4 uh metrics on this dashboard and I just kind of wanted to see where we were as far as um value for money um for for this service. So um and and I'm speaking on this because when we're talking about regional services and I'm hoping that we can find some efficiencies at the you know regional level. Um, Mayor Jordan, if you could maybe flag this, but um, so just looking at our our tax levy and um, what we've contributed, it's uh, 2.22 million basically for regional transit in 2025. Um, and when I worked this out, we're looking at about $92 per trip for um, 9.7 km. So, one way. So, n $92 for a 9.7 km trip. That is the equivalent of um my house on Red Haven to no frrills. It's actually exact. Um and then I for comparison, I wanted to see what an Uber would cost for the exact same um pickup. 2 minutes for a van carrying four people is $11. So, if we fully funded an Uber, um, we're saving $2 million in the town of Grimby. So, um, and I bring this up because I think, you know, I'm not looking at us nickel and dimming these little efficiencies, but this is huge. And I think there are better ways of doing it. And um when I was at I believe at Roma, I was speaking with a colleague from another uh municipality and she had mentioned that Inisville um had brought forward a program that uh and it it's actually funny because in this article when you read it, it was talking about how they had adopted this program because their municipality was too small to fund a a bigger, more expensive service. And I looked up how big Inisville is, 44,000. So they recognized they were they were too small to to fund what they were doing. Um yet we're spending 2.2 million for you know a much smaller population. But anyhow, so Inisville has a great um program that they won uh says they've earned international recognition for the transit initiative and it is a program with um it's it's a specialized program with Uber um at a fraction of the of the of the cost that we are receiving with uh Niagara Transit. So um if in your talks with the region this is something that you can address, it would be great if smaller municipalities maybe take a look at what Inisville is doing. That's all. Thank you. Thank you, councelor Sherawa. Um moved by councelor Devoli, second by councelor Vardy resolved that Niagara transit Q4 statistics be received for information. All in favor? That's carried. Can I have a mover and second to approve the bylaws? Moved by councelor How, second by councelor Dvoli. Resolve that leave be given to introduce bylaws 2616 to 2619 inclusive and that same be read a first time considered and passed. All in favor? That's carried. Next council meeting is scheduled for April 13th, 2026 at 6:30 p.m. Can I have a mover and secondary for the confirming bylaw? Moved by councelor Kstani, second by councelor Vardy, resolved that leave be given to introduce bylaw 26-20 and the same be read a first time considered and passed. All in favor? That's carried. Good night everyone. Meeting is adjourned.

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