2025 Council Highlights - December 8, 2025

Announcements

Mayor Clarke

• Mayor Clarke reminded residents that 2026 dog licences are now available for purchase. Tags may be renewed online, by mail, or in person at the Ramara Centre or the Township Administration Building. Licences cost $20 until February 28, increasing to $50 on March 1. All dogs over three months old must be licensed, and he encouraged residents to take advantage of the reduced rate. Visit ramara.ca/dogs for details or to purchase a tag.
• Mayor Clarke advised that the Township Administration Building will be closed on December 9 from noon to 2 p.m. for a staff appreciation event. Staff will be available before noon and after 2 p.m., and online services remain accessible.
• Mayor Clarke provided an update on the Township’s Feeding Families Campaign, which runs until December 15. With the campaign not yet halfway to its $10,000 fundraising goal, he encouraged residents to support local families in need. Upcoming events include:
  • Holiday Storytime at the Ramara Public Library on December 11
  • Breakfast with Santa at the Legion on December 13
• Donations can be made at the Administration Building, Ramara Centre, or online at ramara.ca/FeedingFamilies. Residents may also contribute to the Mitten Tree by donating new hats, mitts, and scarves.
• Mayor Clarke reminded residents that, effective January 1, 2026, recycling collection will transition to Circular Materials. While collection schedules will remain unchanged, residents may see different collection vehicles. Garbage and organics collection will continue with the County of Simcoe. Visit simcoe.ca/RecyclingChange for details.
• Mayor Clarke encouraged residents and businesses to complete the Economic Development Strategy Survey, open until December 12, to help guide Ramara’s long-term economic planning. Visit ramara.ca/EcDev for details and to complete the survey.
• Mayor Clarke noted that the Township will be participating in the Washago Santa Claus Parade that will take place on December 13, and thanked Township staff and their children for painting a plow for the event.
• Mayor Clarke wished all residents a Merry Christmas and happy holiday season, noting this was Council’s final meeting of the year.

Councillor Tuju

• Councillor Tuju reflected on her participation in events commemorating the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, running annually from November 25 to December 10.
• Councillor Tuju attended the Tree of Hope lighting ceremony in Rama, where she learned that Indigenous women are 12 times more likely to be killed than non-Indigenous women.
• Councillor Tuju also took part in a vigil hosted by the Canadian Federation of University Women, where she was honoured to light a candle in remembrance of the 14 women killed in the 1989 École Polytechnique massacre.
• Councillor Tuju wore a white ribbon to express her commitment to ending violence against women and girls, noting that this issue “hits very close to home.”

Deputy Mayor Bell

• Deputy Mayor Bell reported attending the opening of the new Orillia warming shelter, located in the former Orillia Power building. He noted that the shelter will operate 24/7, making it one of the first facilities in the region to do so. He shared that this is the eighth warming site funded by the County this year, with additional locations expected to open before year-end.

Public Meeting of Council re Amendments to Building Bylaw 2023.22 - Schedule "A"

Below are highlights of what was recommended at the Public Meeting of Council re Amendments to Building Bylaw 2023.22 - Schedule "A":

• Council recommended that the housekeeping amendments for Bylaw 2023.22, and revised Schedule "A": Building Permit Fees, as set out in Schedule "A" to the report, be presented to Council for consideration at the December 8, 2025, regular meeting.
• Bylaw 2025.70, being a bylaw to confirm the proceedings of the Public Meeting of Council regarding Amendments to Building Bylaw 2023.22 - Schedule "A" held on December 8, 2025, was adopted.

Committee of the Whole

Open Public Forum

• Anna Bourgeois spoke during Open Public Forum regarding Item 11.4.1. Interim Control Bylaw Feasibility and Effect: Aggregate and the related Addendum. 
• Mike Douglas spoke during Open Public Forum regarding Item 11.4.1. Interim Control Bylaw Feasibility and Effect: Aggregate and the related Addendum. 
• Judy Mitchell-Wilson spoke during Open Public Forum regarding Item 11.4.1. Interim Control Bylaw Feasibility and Effect: Aggregate. 

Closed Session Reports

• Committee of the Whole recommended receiving a report regarding the enforceability of termination clauses as information. The report was referred to the December 8, 2025, Council agenda for same-day ratification. 

Council Referral Reports

• Interim Control Bylaw Feasibility and Effect: Aggregate 
  Committee of the Whole recommended receiving the report regarding Interim Control Bylaw Feasibility and Effect: Aggregate and that staff be directed to seek legal advice regarding the feasibility and effect of an Interim Control Bylaw regarding aggregates, including impact on current and future development applications. It was also recommended that Council authorize up to a total of $10,000, allocated from the Legal Fees account in the Planning Division. 

Departmental Reports

• Fees and Charges Bylaw and Planning Application Fees Bylaw Updates - 2026
  Committee of the Whole recommended receiving the report regarding Fees and Charges Bylaw and Planning Application Fees Bylaw Updates – 2026 and that Bylaw 2025.27 (the Fees and Charges Bylaw) be repealed and replaced to update the fees and charges for the 2026 fiscal year, as set out in Schedules "A" to "G" to the report. It was also recommended that Bylaw 2020.15, as amended by Bylaw 2022.64 and Bylaw 2024.68 (Planning Application Fees Bylaw), be amended to repeal and replace Schedule "A", as set out in Schedule "H" to the report. It was recommended the new Fees and Charges Bylaw and amended Planning Application Fees Bylaw be made effective as of January 1, 2026. The report was referred to the December 8, 2025, Council agenda for same-day ratification. 

Council

Below are highlights of what Council adopted at its meeting on Monday, December 8, 2025:

• Council received the report regarding the enforceability of termination clauses as information.
• Council received the report regarding Fees and Charges Bylaw and Planning Application Fees Bylaw Updates – 2026. Council approved updates to the Township’s fees for 2026, including a new Fees and Charges Bylaw and an updated Planning Application Fees Bylaw. These revisions, which replace previous schedules, will take effect January 1, 2026.
• Council received the report regarding Recommendation for Letter of Concurrence for Communication Tower Signum Wireless (5 Queen Street). The Clerk was authorized to issue a Letter of Concurrence to Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) in support of the proposed construction of a Signum Wireless Inc. telecommunication tower located at 5 Queen Street in Ramara.
• Council received the Integrity Commissioner's Final Report dated November 21, 2025, regarding Code of Conduct Complaint - Final Report - Councillor Sherri Bell and adopted and enacted the recommendation contained in the report, specifically:
  • THAT Council suspend Councillor Sherri Bell's remuneration for a total of 40 days, comprised of:
  • 20 days for breach of section 20.1 of the Code of Conduct; 
  • 20 days for breach of sections 5.13 and 6.1 of the Code of Conduct;
• Council directed staff to provide an account of fees paid for Integrity Commissioner services during the 2025 fiscal year to Council in 2026 once all invoices have been received.
• Council postponed the following motion until further legal advice regarding interim control bylaws is received:

THAT the Ministry of Natural Resources correspondence dated October 30, 2025, regarding a Letter of Approval for an Aggregate Resources Act Site Plan Amendment for Licence 603504 be received as information.

• Council approved the housekeeping amendments to Building Bylaw 2023.22 and the revised Schedule "A": Building Permit Fees, as set out in Report BP-44-25, dated November 10, 2025, regarding Amendments to Building Bylaw 2023.22 - Schedule "A": Building Permit Fees. 

Bills and Bylaws

Council approved the following bylaws on November 24, 2025:

• A Bylaw to Repeal and Replace Bylaw 2024.80 to Establish Salaries and Honorariums for Members of Council, Committees, and Boards.
• A Bylaw to Appoint a Deputy Chief Building Official.
• A Bylaw to Repeal and Replace Fees and Charges Bylaw 2025.27. 
• A Bylaw to Amend Building Bylaw 2023.22 to Make Housekeeping Updates and Repeal and Replace Schedule "A".
• A Bylaw to Amend Bylaw 2024.79 to Set Water and Wastewater Rates for the Years 2025 to 2033.
• A Bylaw to Amend Bylaw 2020.15 to Establish a Tariff of Fees for the Processing of Planning Applications. 
• A Bylaw to Appoint a Chief Building Official.
• A Bylaw to confirm the proceedings of the Council meeting held on December 8, 2025.

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For More Information

For more details on any of these items, you can read the full meeting agenda on the Township's Meeting Portal or watch the meeting on the Township of Ramara's YouTube channel.

The meeting highlights are prepared to give residents a timely update on decisions of Council. The Council meeting minutes are the official record of the meeting. Once adopted, the Council meeting minutes can be found on the Township of Ramara's Meeting Portal.