Council Highlights: March 1, 2022

Highlights of the March 1, 2022 Council Meeting

 In solidarity with Ukraine, Council stood for the playing of the Ukrainian National Anthem  followed by a moment of silent meditation last night, reflecting on the devastating crisis inflected on the Ukrainian people.

 David Stomppi, Chair of Planet Youth Lanark County, provided Council with a progress update. With support from Lanark County and other organizations, Planet Youth has implemented a drug prevention model which has shown positive results with at-risk youth. To date, Planet Youth has begun surveying Grade 10 youth in the community to provide baseline statistics to measure and monitor the impact of the action plans set in the community. Planet Youth hopes to provide communities with the results in June of this year.

 After the final deliberations and debate Council passed the 2022 Budget. The Budget was first presented in December and Council has held multiple discussions regarding the budget. Some of the major projects that will be completed this year include;

• Micro-surfacing Clayton and Bayview Roads
• Surface treating Ramsay Concession 8 and Country Street
• Pavement Renewal Pakenham Concession 4
• Pulverize Pakenham Concession 10
• Traffic Calming Measures
• Additional Pedestrian Crossovers
• Downtown Almonte Revilatization

The tax increase is set at 3%..

Other reports approved by Council were the Water Quality Management Standard Report, an update on the Water Storage Unit, and approval of the Sandbag Policy.

 Mayor Lowry, Deputy Mayor Minnille, and Councillor Maydan will sit on the hiring committee for the Director of Protective Services. This position was formally the Fire Chief but has been expanded to include additional responsibilities.                

The Committee of the Whole heard the following items, which will be brought forward at an upcoming Council meeting for final approval:

• Community Benefits Charges Bylaw Directions
• Affordable Housing, Attainable Housing, and Housing Supply Directions
• Mill Valley Site Plan Control
• Elected Officials Remuneration Report
• Adding the Old Registry Office to the land sale bylaw as surplus.

The municipal office at 3131 Old Perth Road is only open to the public for payments and for scheduled appointments only. Only one (1) person is permitted at the front desk at a time, and all members of the public are required to wear a face mask while in the building. Staff will continue to check emails and voice messages regularly to continue to serve residents; please allow additional time for a response. Water samples can be dropped off at the Almonte Library branch. Payments and documents can continue to be dropped off in our secure dropbox/safe at the back of the municipal office.

Upcoming Meetings:

-       Hybrid Regular meeting of Council and Committee of the Whole – March 15th, 2022, at 6 p.m

-       Hybrid Regular meeting of Council and Committee of the Whole – April 5^th, 2022, at 6 p.m