Council Meeting Highlights of Tuesday October 22, 2024

Girls Fire Camp a Great Success

Chief Melanie Jones presented an overview of Belles and Ladders, a free fire camp held in July for girls aged 15-18. The goal of the camp is to inspire young women to consider a career in the fire service and, more importantly to feel empowered. The camp hosted 17 participants and volunteers from Brockville Fire Department and other departments assisted with the event, along with many generous sponsors. Stay tuned for a second annual event next July.

Procedure By-law Changes

Council reviewed proposed changes to the City’s Procedural By-law, including recommendations arising from the work of the Governance Committee. The Procedure By-law sets out the rules for meetings and is based on principles of transparency and fairness. A final draft will be presented to Council for their consideration in November.

Blue Box Transition

Ontario Regulation 391/21 shifts the responsibility for collection, hauling, processing and marketing of blue box materials from municipalities to producers of paper products, packaging, and packaging-like products. As a result, these producers will become fully financially and operationally responsible for the residential Blue Box Program beginning in 2025. Council agreed to continue to provide this service to downtown businesses who are considered producers of non-eligible products. Home owners should not notice the transition to producers as collection dates will remain the same as current. More details will follow as the transition approaches.

Multi-Use Recreational Facility (MURF) Update

Council established a fundraising committee and authorized the hiring of a fundraising coordinator to assist with efforts related to the Multi-Use Recreational Facility (MURF) capital campaign. Council also considered an application for Stream 2 of the Community Sports and Recreation Infrastructure Fund, a provincial funding source for new recreation facilities, however it was determined that due to the limited funds available and the inability to stack any future funding, the application will not be going forward. Council previously authorized the application to Stream 1 of the program, which if successful, will provide up to $1 million as part of a 50:50 cost sharing agreement for a new roof on the existing Memorial Centre. This is an essential project in the MURF development.

Proclamations

• Council acknowledged November 4^th to 11^th as Poppy Week. The Flag of Remembrance will be flown at Tunnel Bay from November 4^th to 12^th and all are invited to attend the Remembrance Day Ceremony at the Brockville Cenotaph at 11:00 am on November 11^th.
• Council proclaimed October as Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month.
• Council proclaimed October 24^th as Early Childhood Educator Appreciation Day in the City of Brockville.

Looking ahead:

• Planning and Development Meeting November 5, 2024, at 4:30 pm
• Public Planning Meeting November 5, 2024, at 6:00 pm.
• Council Meeting November 12, 2024, at 5:30 pm.
• General Committee Meeting November 19, 2024, at 4:30 pm.
• Council Meeting November 26, 2024, at 5:30 pm.

For more information, contact the Clerk’s Department at clerk@brockville.com

Agendas and meeting minutes are available at brockville.com