Special Council Meeting - November 24, 2025

City Council Meeting – Summary (Nov 24, 2025)

A formal budget discussion and related governance items dominated the meeting, including approval of the 2026 budget reporting framework, allocations for the Grimsby Community Development Grant Program, and a strategic discussion on local entrepreneurial initiatives. Key decisions included approving the 2026 budget reporting plan (FIN 25-58) with a $100,000 grant allocation, adjusting landscaping funding for Peach King Center, and advancing a WSIB Schedule One transition with associated funding. Several motions were debated, with some approved, some amended, and others rejected.

Five Most Important Topics

1) 2026 Budget and Legislative Reporting (File: FIN 25-58) - Summary: The council approved the 2026 budget reporting requirements under Ontario Regulation 2840 and allocated $100,000 to the Community Development Grant Program, funded from the 2025 year-end surplus if available. - Quote: “Resolved that report FIN 25-58 2026 budget and required legislative reporting be received... and that the 2026 community development grant program in the amount of $100,000 be approved.” - Public impact: Sets funding and reporting groundwork for community projects and grants, influencing local services and grant opportunities available to residents.

2) Landscaping Improvements at Peach King Center (Project 60000004) - Summary: An amendment was approved to reduce the landscaping budget for the Peach King Center from $40,000 to $20,000. - Quote: “Resolved that landscaping improvements under community services project 60000004 town hall Peach Center be reduced from $40,000 to $20,000.” - Public impact: Direct effect on maintenance and aesthetic upgrades at a community facility, affecting residents who use or pass by the center.

3) Home-Based Entrepreneurial Hub Funding (Budget discussion) - Summary: The council discussed funding for a home-based entrepreneurial hub, with strong advocacy for supporting small businesses but noted concerns about government competing with private services. - Quotes: - “Every small idea and every small business in the world started in a garage or in somebody's basement... Google started in somebody's basement.” - “Government should not compete with private industry... when it comes to things like startup of businesses, that is what CPAs do.” - Public impact: Influences how municipal funds may support local startups and whether these initiatives align with existing private-sector services.

4) Necessary Bylaws and Implementation Preparations - Summary: Staff were directed to prepare the necessary bylaws to implement the approved budget and legislative reporting requirements. - Quote: “That staff be directed to prepare the necessary bylaws for approval.” - Public impact: Bylaw preparation formalizes decisions and affects how residents’ tax dollars are managed and reported.

5) WSIB Schedule One Transition (Budget and Liabilities) - Summary: A separate discussion (Section on WSIB) focused on transitioning from Schedule Two to Schedule One to reduce future liability, with a plan to fund premiums from a combination of current WSIB funds and reserves. - Quotes: - “Once that legislation changed, that doesn't make sense anymore. We're exposing ourselves to massive liabilities, potential massive payouts.” - “This plan does enable us to switch to Schedule One sooner rather than later.” - Public impact: Long-term fiscal risk management for the municipality, affecting taxpayers and future budget planning.

Opportunities for Public Input

• No explicit public-input channels were announced in this section. However, opportunities may arise through the Grimsby Community Development Grant Program (grant applications) and future public meetings. Residents seeking to participate should watch for postings on the town’s website and contact details listed for public engagement during grant cycles or budget consultations.

Motions, Outcomes, and Key Details

1) Motion: Approval of the 2026 Budget and Legislative Reporting (FIN 25-58) - Outcome: Passed - Details: Approved the 2026 budget reporting requirements and the 2026 Community Development Grant Program in the amount of $100,000, funded from 2025 year-end surplus if available.

2) Motion: Amendment to Landscaping Improvements at Peach King Center (Project 60000004) - Outcome: Passed - Details: Reduced the landscaping budget from $40,000 to $20,000.

3) Motion: Home-Based Entrepreneurial Hub Funding - Outcome: Rejected - Details: Funding proposal not supported due to concerns about overlap with private services and government involvement in private entrepreneurship.

4) Motion: Staff to Prepare Necessary Bylaws for Approval - Outcome: Passed - Details: Directed the preparation of bylaws to implement the approved budget and reporting framework.

5) Motion: 2026 Budget and Legislative Reporting (Follow-up or related) - Outcome: See FIN 25-58 motion above ( Passed in that action).

6) Motion: Project 830010 – Home-Based Entrepreneurial Hub Promotion - Outcome: Passed (in a different section of the same broader discussion) - Details: Official endorsement of promoting the home-based entrepreneurial hub through program promotion and leadership.

7) Motion: Remove $25,000 from Alter Operating Project List - Outcome: Defeated - Details: The $25,000 remained in the budget.

8) Motion: Switch to WSIB Schedule One - Outcome: Passed (as part of the WSIB transition discussion) - Details: Transition planned for 2026 with initial premium funding from $100,000 WSIB funds and $320,000 from the stabilization reserve, with a phased budget increase thereafter.

9) Motion: Approve the Budget - Outcome: Passed - Details: Budget approved, marking an important milestone in the town’s financial planning.

10) Motion: Confirming By-law 25-68 - Outcome: Passed - Details: By-law 25-68 was introduced, read, and passed to confirm the meeting’s decisions.

Councillors Present

• Mayor: Mayor Jordan
• Councillors: Vardy, Frank, Bradzy, How, Dvoi, DeFlavio, Devoli, House, Shawa, Shaw, Shara, Brady, Christ, Flap (Note: Names reflect participants listed across multiple sections of the meeting materials.)

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