January 25th Council Meeting
Dave’s Comments:
I want to mention that there were a few items discussed in closed session that I am not able to comment on as per Section 239 of the Municipal Act, 2001.
I would like to highlight the informative presentation by former Oro-Medonte Mayor Harry Hughes. He shared valuable information about the historical significance of the Oro African Church and I am impressed by his ongoing dedication to our community. I believe, as Mr. Hughes stated, that this is an extremely important national historic site and we should explore ways to protect it for future generations. (This can be found at 2:26 of the YouTube video).
The presentation by Jamie Robinson provided us with a good understanding of the Province's request for more housing. As discussed, this request from the Ministry of Housing for townships to identify areas for additional residential housing is a new initiative. Our council wants to ensure that we follow best practices in land use planning to preserve our rural heritage while also addressing the housing crisis. (This can be found at 3:01 of the YouTube stream)
I encourage you to review the presentation by Jennifer Whitley on the great work her team has done in promoting Oro-Medonte as a tourist destination. (This can be found at 3:24 of the YouTube video). Additionally, I encourage you to check out the presentation by Mr. Binns and Mr. Metras on the proposed 2023 Capital expenditures, including plans for roads, bridges, and drainage improvements. (This can be found at 4:32:44 on the YouTube video).
I would like to draw your attention to the Notice of Motion that I brought forward at tonight's council meeting. As a candidate who campaigned on transparency, I proposed that we as a council review the duration for which our council meetings are available on YouTube. Given the busy schedules of many of our constituents, I believe it would be beneficial to extend the availability of the meeting videos on YouTube to allow for more flexibility in viewing them.
Yours in Service,
Dave