For Immediate Release
Tuesday, October 10, 2023

Council Connect: Highlights from October 10, 2023, meetings of Council

Tecumseh Town Council met this evening and here are the highlights:

Regular Meeting of Council

Provincial Housing Affordability Task Force, Top Five Recommendations: Earlier in 2023, the Province of Ontario released the Report of the Ontario Housing Affordability Task Force to address the housing supply crisis and build at least 1.5 million homes by 2031. In September, the Honourable Paul Calandra, Minister of Municipal Affairs & Housing, requested that each Head of Council prioritize the top five recommendations from the Task Force Report for future consideration. In response to the request by the Minister, Tecumseh proposed 5 recommendations based on recent experiences with housing-related issues and developments in the Town and conversations with the Mayor and Administration. To read the 5 recommendations, click here. Council approved the report.

Budget Variance Report – June 2023: Council received the second quarter Budget Variance Report, showing a projected year-end deficit in the Operating Fund of $722,646. This is made up of a general tax-supported deficit of $376,436 (all municipal services excluding water and wastewater) and a rate-supported deficit of $346,210 (water and wastewater services).

The general tax-supported deficit is primarily the result of two notable variances, including a significant shortfall in Building permit and related revenue and increased expenditures related to Supplies, Maintenance and Equipment costs (street lighting, building maintenance and vehicle maintenance). These unfavourable variances are partly offset by a large projected year-end surplus in wages and benefits stemming from several temporary staffing vacancies, to net a projected deficit of $376,346.

The general tax-supported deficit of $376,346 excludes the effect of Investment Income.  Investment Income is excluded from Town Operating budget variance reporting due to its volatile and unpredictable nature.  Investment Income is projected to generate a surplus in excess of $2M, benefitting from higher interest rates and higher bank balances due to delays in capital program spending. Investment Income surplus is transferred to Town Reserves and can be used to offset the projected general tax-supported year-end deficit.

The rate supported deficit of $346,210 is primarily due to increased sanitary treatment costs and increased cost for bulk water purchases, both provided by the City of Windsor, where City 2023 rate increases exceeded those anticipated within the Town’s budget. The deficit projected from these increased costs will be partly reduced by projected year-end surplus in wages and benefits stemming from staff vacancies and reduced uptake in the Town’s Sanitary Backwater Valve and Foundation Drain Disconnection Subsidy program.

Extension of Contracts with OPP[MM1] : Council received reports outlining the extension of two contracts with the Ontario Provincial Police. The OPP currently leases the Town’s building located at 963 Lesperance Road, adjacent to Town Hall, and the current agreement was extended for the period January 1, 2024, to December 31, 2028 based on a continuation of the current arrangements. Additionally, the existing agreement for policing services by the OPP was extended by two years. The agreement will remain the same as the 2021 version, except that the end date will now be December 31, 2025.

Sylvestre Drive Sanitary Sewer Extension Part XII Cost Recovery By-Law Final Report: Council considered a report and by-law providing for the recovery of costs for the Sylvestre Drive sanitary sewer extension project. The proposed sanitary sewer extension project will service approximately 15 Business Park properties in the vicinity of the County Road 19/Sylvestre Drive intersection. The costs associated with the Sylvestre Drive Sanitary Sewer outlet main and lateral charges are to be borne by the benefitting landowners. The updated cost estimates for these works are in the order of $1.3M. Administration reported out on recent public information sessions held to address the concerns of the affected landowners and the general public.  Administration recommended approval of the report as well as the accompanying by-law. Council considered By-law 2023-098 for first, second, and third readings and approved the new by-law.

Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks Consolidated Linear Infrastructure Environmental Compliance Approval Sanitary Collection System & Stormwater Management System: Council received the report on recent changes to the regulatory framework for sanitary and stormwater infrastructure approval under Section 53 of the Ontario Water Resources Act. The Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP) has introduced the Consolidated Linear Infrastructure Environmental Compliance Approval (CLI-ECA) to replace the previous provincial approval system for municipal sewage works. This new framework streamlines approvals into a system-wide approach and assigns responsibility to municipalities. Municipalities’, including the Town’s, expanded scope of responsibilities, include: pre-authorization for extensions, replacement, or additions to the storm and/or sanitary systems as well as sanitary or storm infrastructure for new private developments that municipalities will assume ownership of once completed. Additionally, new mandatory maintenance and reporting requirements will require a new internal management system to track activities and meet reporting obligations. Ultimately, these new approval and management authorities will add to the Town’s responsibilities and workload. Council received the report.

Lesperance Road (County Road 22 to Westlake Drive) Traffic Operations Review: Council received a report on traffic concerns on Lesperance Road at County Road 22 (CR22) based on recent complaints i.e., lengthy queue lengths and delays, especially for northbound traffic flow on Lesperance Road. A traffic operations review was completed, examining the existing traffic conditions and operations of Lesperance Road and its intersections with CR 22 and Westlake Drive. The review concluded that a right-turn lane on the south side of the Lesperance Road/CR22 intersection would improve the level of service of the intersection. There is sufficient room to add a right turn lane, however, the existing sidewalk on the east side of Lesperance would need to be removed. The new multi-use pathway along the west side of Lesperance Road, which includes the limits between Westlake Drive and CR22, when constructed (scheduled for Summer 2024) is considered an acceptable substitute for the loss of sidewalk on the east side. No improvements were recommended for the Lesperance Road/Westlake Drive intersection. Administration will review the findings and identify potential considerations for future Capital Works Plans. To read a full list of conclusions, click here. Council received the report.

Inscription on Cenotaph in Recognition of Afghanistan War[MM2] : Council received a motion to recognize the service and sacrifice of the Canadian Armed Forces in the Afghanistan War with the addition of an inscription at the Town Hall cenotaph in the Town of Tecumseh. The inscription will read AFGHANISTAN 2001-2014. The ultimate assessment and endorsement of the mentioned inscription will depend on the expenses associated with incorporating it onto the Tecumseh Cenotaph and consultation with the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 261. The determination of these costs will take place as part of the 2024 Budget deliberations.

Next Regular Meeting: The next regular meeting of Council is October 24, 2023. The meeting is scheduled to be held electronically. The agenda and livestream will be available on the Town’s website. Follow the Town of Tecumseh on Facebook and Twitter for news and the latest information.