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Wooden gavel rests on council table

In recognition of National Veterans’ Week (November 5-11), Council opened last night’s meeting with a video from the National Veterans’ Week Speakers Program series. This year’s theme, “Why I Remember,” highlights stories from Canadian Armed Forces members and pays tribute to all veterans, past and present, who have served their country. On November 11, two Remembrance Day services will be held in Mississippi Mills. The Almonte Royal Canadian Legion Branch 240 is coordinating the annual parade and service at the Almonte Cenotaph, which begins at 10:45 a.m. Also at 10:45 a.m., is Pakenham Public School’s Remembrance Day ceremony at the Pakenham Cenotaph, in front of the school. Lest We Forget.

A Public Meeting was held on the proposed Development Charges By-law and underlying Background Study. Development Charges recover capital costs associated with residential and non-residential growth within the Municipality. Council will discuss the by-laws during the November 21 Committee of the Whole meeting.

Council approved an amendment to the Municipality’s Traffic and Parking By-law, which extends winter parking restrictions from December 1 in any year to March 31 of the following year, between the hours of 1:30 and 7 a.m. Another change is no parking will be permitted on any highway or municipal parking lot between the hours of 1:30 and 7 a.m. from April 1 to November 30 in any year, on dates when snow or freezing rain is forecasted. This will remain in effect for an additional four days after a snow event.

The Municipality has a new Deputy Chief Building Official after Council appointed Robert Lamarre to the role. Robert will also serve as Building Inspector, By-law Enforcement Officer and Property Standards Officer.

Council endorsed three delegation requests for the upcoming 2024 Rural Ontario Municipal Association (ROMA) Conference January 21-23 in Toronto. They are seeking delegations with:

  • Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, Paul Calandra, to seek financial support for the Carebridge Community Support affordable housing project at 34 Victoria Street;

  • Minister of Public and Business Service Delivery, Todd McCarthy, to declare a property at 2 Industrial Drive in Almonte surplus to provincial needs. This would allow the Municipality to submit a bid for the building to be used for local services (policing, municipal services supports, etc.); and

  • Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade, Victor Fedeli, and Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, Lisa Thompson, for support from the province to broaden current initiatives relating to an Abattoir Feasibility Study.

Committee of the Whole also heard the following items, which will be brought forward for approval at a future Council meeting:

  • Quarterly reports were received from Protective Services, Corporate Services and Childcare Services.  

  • 2024 Fees and Charges for municipal services and activities were reviewed. The purpose of the fees is to recover costs for services and activities provided by or on behalf of a municipality and for the use of its property.

  • A report on the review of pedestrian crossovers (PXO) in the Downtown Core was brought forward. It recommends reducing the category level of the two PXOs on Mill Street, which will incorporate a more historic looking post. The costs will be covered by the surplus from the Downtown Almonte Revitalization Project.

  • A review of the Quarterly Reports process, which came into effect in January 2023. Modifications to the process include more consistent formatting, sections on strategic plan and capital projects, as well as regular financial updates.

  • The lease renewal of 478 Almonte Street to the Ottawa River Power Corporation.

  • A report on stakeholder consultation as part of the Community Services Master Plan was presented. A number of groups participated in sessions and input ranged from opportunities for collaboration, opinions on the role of the Municipality in service delivery, support and promotion. This information will be incorporated into the plan, currently in development.

Bicentennial Events:

  • November 17-19, 24-26 – Spinning Yarns: The Millworkers’ Musical at Almonte Old Town Hall. This musical theatre production highlights textile mill workers. Written by Fern Martin, directed by Kris Riendeau, and produced by Barb Dickson and Michael Rikley-Lancaster.

  • December 1 – Light Up the Night outdoor holiday concert on Mill Street. Wayne Rostad is back as host. Join us for a night of singing, dancing and storytelling.

  • December 2 – Pakenham Santa Claus Parade at 1 p.m. This year’s theme celebrates our Bicentennial – pick an era or decade over the last 200 years.

  • December 3 – Almonte Santa Claus Parade at 5 p.m. and shares the same theme as the Pakenham parade.

Upcoming Meetings:

  • Hybrid Special Council Budget Meeting – November 14th, 2023, 6:00 p.m.

  • Hybrid Council Meeting – Tuesday, November 21st, 2023, 6:00 p.m. Committee of the Whole meeting to follow council.

  • Hybrid Council Meeting – Tuesday, December 12th, 2023, 6:00 p.m. Committee of the Whole meeting to follow council.

  • Hybrid Special Council Budget Meeting – December 14th, 2023, 6:00 p.m.