Council Connect: Highlights from the May 10, 2022 meetings of Council

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

Public Council Meetings

Service Review of Clerk’s Office Received: The results of a service delivery review of the Clerk’s Office were presented to Council, which has directed administration to report back with a plan to implement the recommendations. The Clerk’s Office Service Delivery Review is part of the Town’s organizational review and was conducted by WSCS Consulting Inc. The consultant’s report makes recommendations in five areas: technology and processes; organization; customer service; policies, planning and reporting; and service delivery.

Regular Meeting of Council

Tourism Promotion Update: Representatives of Tourism Windsor Essex Pelee Island presented Council with their plans and promotions for 2022, as well as website and social media statistics.

Input Invited for Proposed Industrial Community Improvement Area Plan: The public and other stakeholders are being invited to provide input on a proposed Industrial Community Improvement Plan for Tecumseh at a meeting on June 7, 2022, at 4:30 p.m. The Town is also asking the County of Essex to amend its official plan to incorporate revised community improvement plan policies that would allow the county to participate in grant programs offered by lower-tier municipalities. Tecumseh’s proposed Industrial Community Improvement Plan will permit the Town to offer incentives to attract types of industrial development that are in alignment with federal and provincial incentive programs. The financial incentives being considered are a tax increment equivalent rebate over 10 years, a building and/or planning permit fee rebate, and a feasibility study rebate.

Online Training Authorized: Council voted to allow members to attend an Association of Municipalities of Ontario online training program about land use planning on May 31, 2022 – subject to the Town’s Professional Development Policy and funding being available in the 2022 budget.

Dowie Granted Leave: Ward 1 Councillor Andrew Dowie, who is the Conservative candidate for Windsor-Tecumseh in the provincial election, has been granted a leave of absence without pay until June 6, 2022, by Council. In a letter, Dowie, who did not attend Tuesday’s meeting, said he will continue to manage Ward 1 issues but will step back from Council, the Essex County Library Board and the Tecumseh BIA during the election campaign.

Transit Fees Waived for Centennial Celebration: Tecumseh Transit Service will be free on Saturday and Monday during the Town’s 100^th Anniversary Celebration the weekend of July 2-4, 2022. (It doesn’t operate on Sundays.) As well, a special evening shuttle sponsored by First Student Canada will run from Tecumseh Arena to the Birthday Party at Lakewood Park on Saturday, July 2, and the Windsor Symphony Orchestra concert at L’Essor Theatre on Monday, July 4. Council voted to waive the Tecumseh Transit fees and was presented with an updated schedule of events for the celebration. Full details about the event are available at www.tecumseh.ca.

Old Castle Heights Development Approved: Council has authorized an agreement that allows for the development of a residential subdivision on 20.7 hectares (51.3 acres) of land on the north side of North Talbot Road east of Concession 8. The approval is subject to the owner executing the agreement. The proposed subdivision will include 132 single-unit residences, six semi-detached dwellings and 19 townhouses, as well as buffer areas, passive open space, multi-purpose pathways, stormwater corridors and a stormwater pond.

Multi-unit Development Proposed on Lesperance: Council will hold a public meeting June 28, 2022, at 6 p.m. to hear public comments about a proposal to rezone land at the corner of Lesperance Road and Dillon Drive to allow for the construction of four, 2.5-storey, six-unit dwellings. Suburban Construction & Management Ltd., which owns the three properties on the southwest corner of the intersection, wants to tear down the existing residences and replacement them with the new development. The current zoning of the properties allows for multi-unit residential dwellings, such as duplexes, triplexes, townhouses and row houses, but does not permit the six-unit apartment dwellings being proposed.

Cannabis Retail Stores Policy Accepted: Council has approved a policy statement that will guide its comments on requests to open retail cannabis stores in Tecumseh. The requests are submitted for approval to the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario. While the Town’s ability to put restrictions on cannabis stores is limited, it can submit comments to the commission. The policy statement includes a commitment by the Town to advocate for cannabis stores to be at least 500 metres from Town facilities and parks, schools, the Cada Library, childcare centres, and mental health and addiction facilities – as recommended by the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit.

Broadband Advisory Committee Provides Update: The Tecumseh Rural Broadband Advisory Committee has taken significant steps in its first year, says a report to Council. The committee works with other stakeholders to ensure high-speed internet connectivity across Tecumseh. In the past year it has: met with representatives for the Canadian Internet Registration Authority; worked with Connecting Windsor-Essex; explored public-private partnerships to expand high-speed internet connectivity; provided input on provincial policies; talked to local internet service providers; and developed short-term and long-term action plans.

Next Regular Meeting: The next regular meeting of Council is May 24, 2022. 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.