Council Highlights - May 3, 2023

Wyoming, ON – At its regular meeting on Wednesday, May 3, Lambton County Council:

• Heard a presentation from Debb Pitel, Founder of No One Stands Alone, regarding funding to continue providing a resource booklet listing local mental health agencies for those that need help and don't know where to turn.
• Asked Public Health Services Division and Social Services Division staff to work with presenter, Debb Pitel, Founder of No One Stands Alone, to determine opportunities to engage in the work that is happening through the organization and to report back to County Council with results by the July 2023 meeting.
• Supported Lanark County Council’s resolution declaring intimate partner violence/violence against women an epidemic and recognizing the issues of violence in rural communities as serious to the health and wellness of local families.
• Agreed to submit a letter to the Ontario Environmental Registry indicating that County Council cannot support the proposed Provincial Policy Statement until the complete document (including Natural Heritage) is provided and requests more time to review and respond.
• Requested an invitation be sent to Sarnia-Lambton MPP, Bob Bailey, and Lambton-Kent-Middlesex MPP, Monte McNaughton, to attend County Council to discuss the direction the Province is taking with regards to planning and its interactions with local municipalities.
• Authorized staff to submit the proposed Homelessness Prevention Program Investment Plan for the 2023-24 fiscal year and re-allocate program funds between the program components to respond to local needs, the updated County of Lambton Housing and Homelessness Plan, and to ensure full utilization of allocations, and instructed staff to establish a committee to review the recommendations, and proposed implementation of those recommendations, from the Stronger Together Summit.
• Approved a By-Law to permit the use of low-speed vehicles on specific County Roads within the City of Sarnia and Village of Point Edward, restricted to business and commercial purposes for passenger transport or delivery services.

• Changed the Tax Class Ratio for the Landfill Property Class to be set at the maximum value as permitted in Subsection 10.2(3) as described in O.Reg. 385/98, as amended, being 18.362938 for the 2023 taxation year.
• Designated the building and grounds located at 244 Devine Street, Sarnia, as Smoke Free.
• Authorized staff to submit the Investment Plan for Year 5 and Year 6 of the Canada-Ontario Community Housing Initiative and the Ontario Priorities Housing Initiative to the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing, and to re-allocate program funds between components to respond to local needs, the updated Housing and Homelessness 5-Year Plan, and to ensure full use of annual allocations.
• Supported the Corporation of the Township of St. Clair’s resolution proposing the removal and discontinuance of the inactive railway and railway signal lights at the Broadway Street CSX Transportation rail crossing in St. Clair Township and agreed to circulate a copy of the resolution to CSX Transportation and the Canadian Minister of Transportation.

Council will next meet in Open Session at 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday, June 7, 2023.

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Please contact:

Lisa Leggate
Communications & Marketing Coordinator
County of Lambton
519-845-0809 ext. 5214
Email Lisa Leggate