2025 Council Highlights - November 24, 2025

Announcements

• General Manager of Development and Infrastructure, Laura Pye, introduced the Township’s newest team member, Manager of Operations Derek Timms. Mr. Timms joins Ramara with 20 years of municipal experience in recreation, parks, and trails. He expressed his appreciation for the warm welcome and shared his enthusiasm to begin working with the community.

Mayor Clarke

• Mayor Clarke thanked the Brechin-Mara Legion for hosting a meaningful Remembrance Day service, noting strong attendance from residents, students, and Council members.
• Mayor Clarke noted that the Township, along with community partners including the Library, Legion, and the Firefighters Association, has launched the annual Feeding Families Campaign. The goal is to raise $10,000+ in monetary and gift card donations to support local families during the holiday season. 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. The campaign runs until December 15, 2025.
• Mayor Clarke advised that residents, community organizations and businesses are invited to provide input on Ramara’s future economic development priorities, including business growth, tourism, and community needs. The survey is open until December 12, 2025, at ramara.ca/EcDev.
• Mayor Clarke reminded residents that the Township’s 2025–2026 Winter Recreation Guide is now available. Registration for Township residents opens November 26. Visit ramara.ca/recreation to explore programs and activities for all ages.
• Mayor Clarke noted the Township recently hosted the graduation of its newest group of volunteer firefighters. Mayor Clarke congratulated the graduates and thanked them for their commitment to community safety.

Deputy Mayor Bell

• Deputy Mayor Bell noted he was in attendance at the Volunteer Firefighter Graduation, noting there were more than 80 attendees, showing strong support from families and the community.
• Deputy Mayor Bell noted he participated in two well-attended Open Houses regarding St. Andrew’s Hall and the former Standard Bank on November 18, 2025, where there was great discussion.
• Deputy Mayor Bell advised he accompanied a group of local youth to a wrestling tournament in Sudbury, which was the Ontario Winter Games qualifier, where all 17 participants medalled. Seven participants were Ramara residents.

Councillor Fisher

• Councillor Fisher highlighted the success of the Rooted in Ramara Slow Cooker Club, running in partnership with the Legion and Ramara Public Library. Registration for the next series opens in January through the Library.

Councillor Tuju

• Councillor Tuju noted she attended the Rama Education Fair on November 6, 2025, and highlighted its inspirational presentations and valuable post-secondary resources for Indigenous students.
• Councillor Tuju noted she was honoured to have laid the wreath on behalf of Ramara Township during Indigenous Remembrance Day ceremony on November 8 in Rama and again during the Remembrance Day ceremony on November 11 at the Barrie Cenotaph.

Councillor Bell

• Councillor Bell noted she also attended the Remembrance Day ceremony.
• Councillor Bell attended the Ramara Awards Ceremony that took place at the Ramara Centre on November 14, recognizing honourees Annalynn Faulkner and Paul Grunston with the Spirit of Ramara Award, and inducting the late Jane Lee to the Township’s Wall of Fame. Councillor Bell noted that Jane’s warmth, community dedication, and memorable smile will light Ramara for years to come.
• Councillor Bell attended several local markets, including those at Uptergrove Public School and Brechin Public School, acknowledging the strong community spirit and fundraising efforts underway.
• Councillor Bell visited the Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs event at Leatherdale Marine, where volunteers and supporters gathered as part of efforts to bring Ramara back onto regional snowmobile trail networks. Councillor Bell highlighted strong turnout and community engagement at the event.
• Councillor Bell attended both Building Brechin open houses, noting that residents raised many thoughtful questions and expressed interest in next steps regarding the future of St. Andrew’s Hall and the former Standard Bank building.
• Councillor Bell spoke about recent LCCA activities and encouraged more residents to get involved, noting that the association continues to host community events, including a recent chili dinner.
• Councillor Bell announced that the Ramara Chamber of Commerce has officially moved into the Strachan & Morris building and that the Chamber remains active in Brechin and continues supporting local businesses.
• Councillor Bell also stopped by the Legion market and the Lions Club Smile Cookie Campaign at Tim Hortons.

Councillor Gough

• Councillor Gough shared that the Atherley Community Centre Board recently held its first Christmas social and potluck gathering of the season. The event followed the board’s regular meeting and offered an opportunity for members, volunteers, and attending Council representatives to come together informally. He noted that it was a warm, well-attended evening featuring great food and positive community spirit.

Committee of the Whole

Below are highlights of what Committee of the Whole recommended at its meeting held on Monday, November 24, 2025. These are subject to ratification by Council at its next meeting on December 8, 2025, unless pulled for ratification on the same day.

Closed Session Reports

• Committee of the Whole recommended receiving a report regarding the proposed stop-up, closure, and sale of a portion of the unopened road allowance adjacent to 8168 Laidlaw Avenue and recommended declaring the portion of the unopened road allowance identified as Part 1 on Reference Plan 51R-17755, adjacent to 8168 Laidlaw Avenue, to be surplus to the needs of the municipality. A public meeting will be scheduled for January 12, 2026, in accordance with the requirements of the Municipal Act, 2001. The report was referred to the November 24, 2025, Council agenda for same-day ratification.
• Committee of the Whole recommended receiving a confidential report regarding Staffing Matters and that the confidential direction to staff be adopted. The report was referred to the November 24, 2025, Council agenda for same-day ratification. 
• Committee of the Whole recommended receiving a report regarding Staffing Matters – Development and Infrastructure and to appoint Charlotte Beynon as Chief Building Official and Meagan Hawkins as the Deputy Chief Building Official. The report was referred to the November 24, 2025, Council agenda for same-day ratification. 

Departmental Reports

Recommendation for Letter of Concurrence for Communication Tower: Signum Wireless (5 Queen Street) 

• Committee of the Whole recommended receiving the report regarding Recommendation for Letter of Concurrence for Communication Tower Signum Wireless (5 Queen Street) and that the Clerk 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. 

Award of Tender for Supply, Delivery, Mix and Stockpile Winter Sand

• Committee of the Whole recommended receiving a report regarding the Award of Tender for Supply, Delivery, Mix and Stockpile Winter Sand and to award the contract for Infrastructure Tender ID-10-2025 in the amount of $185,213.38 including non-recoverable HST to Duivenvoorden Haulage Ltd. It was recommended that the Mayor and Clerk be authorized to enter into the agreement to execute the tender. The report was referred to the November 24, 2025, Council agenda for same-day ratification. 

Funding for Haulage of Effluent from Wastewater Treatment Plant #202 

• Committee of the Whole recommended receiving a report regarding Funding for Haulage of Effluent from Wastewater Treatment Plant #202 and that the Director of Financial Services/Treasurer be directed to enter into a loan agreement with CIBC to finance the cost of the hauling of effluent from wastewater treatment plant #202 for the year 2025. The report was referred to the November 24, 2025, Council agenda for same-day ratification. 

Council

Below are highlights of what Council adopted at its meeting on Monday, November 24, 2025:

• Council received a report regarding the 2025 tree planting initiative in conjunction with the Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority as information. 
• Council adopted the proposed stop-up, closure, and sale of a portion of the unopened road allowance adjacent to 8168 Laidlaw Avenue and declaring the portion of the unopened road allowance identified as Part 1 on Reference Plan 51R-17755, adjacent to 8168 Laidlaw Avenue, to be surplus to the needs of the municipality. A public meeting will be scheduled for January 12, 2026, in accordance with the requirements of the Municipal Act, 2001. 
• Council received a confidential report regarding Staffing Matters and the confidential direction to staff was adopted.
• Council received a report regarding Staffing Matters – Development and Infrastructure and appointed Charlotte Beynon as Chief Building Official and Meagan Hawkins as the Deputy Chief Building Official.
• Council received a report regarding the Award of Tender for Supply, Delivery, Mix and Stockpile Winter Sand and awarded the contract for Infrastructure Tender ID-10-2025 in the amount of $185,213.38 including non-recoverable HST to Duivenvoorden Haulage Ltd. The Mayor and Clerk were authorized to enter into the agreement to execute the tender. 
• Council received a report regarding Funding for Haulage of Effluent from Wastewater Treatment Plant #202 and directed the Director of Financial Services/Treasurer to enter into a loan agreement with CIBC to finance the cost of the hauling of effluent from wastewater treatment plant #202 for the year 2025. 
• Council postponed the following motion until December 8, 2025:
  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 received a memo from the Couchiching OPP Detachment regarding Request for 60-Day Extension of Administrative Support Services as information.
• Council received the Integrity Commissioner's Final Report regarding Code of Conduct Complaint - Final Report - Councillor Sherri Bell and adopted and enacted the recommendation contained in the report to suspend Councillor Bell's remuneration for a period of 40 days for the breach of sections 5.1 and 5.13 of the Code of Conduct.
• Council received the Integrity Commissioner's Final Report regarding Code of Conduct Complaint - Final Report - Councillor Sherri Bell and adopted and enacted the recommendation contained in the report to suspend Councillor Bell's remuneration for a period of 20 days for the breach of section 19.6 of the Code of Conduct. 

Motion (Notice Previously Given)

Council supported the introduction of a community recognition initiative, the Giraffe Awards, under the Economic Development Committee. The Giraffe Awards will be designed to celebrate residents, youth, organizations, and businesses who “stick their necks out” for others through kindness, leadership, and contributions to the well-being of the Ramara community. 

View the Giraffe Awards Presentation

Bills and Bylaws

Council approved the following bylaws on November 24, 2025:

• A Bylaw to authorize the borrowing of a sum not exceeding $1,500,000 to finance Wastewater Treatment Plant #202 effluent hauling expenditures of the Council of the Township of Ramara.
• A Bylaw to authorize the borrowing of money to meet current expenditures of the Council of the Township of Ramara for the year 2026.
• A Bylaw to authorize an agreement with Duivenvoorden Haulage Ltd. for the supply, delivery, mix and stockpile of winter sand. 
• A Bylaw to confirm the proceedings of the Council meeting held on November 24, 2025.

Subscribe

Subscribe to receive email updates on Township of Ramara news and notices, media releases, Council highlights, Monthly Ramara Bulletin, community events, and beyond.

Subscribe now

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.