Council Highlights - January 26, 2026

Call to Order

Council considered the matter of a required apology arising from Councillor Sherri Bell’s expulsion for disorderly conduct at the November 24, 2025, Council meeting, in accordance with the Township’s Procedure By-law.

Council did not consent to Councillor Bell retaking her seat, as the required apology was not accepted by a majority of the Members present. As a result, Councillor Bell was not permitted to participate in the meeting.

Announcements

Mayor Clarke

• Mayor Clarke attended a funding announcement from the Ministry of Infrastructure, which included the Township of Ramara as the recipient of a $30 million grant through the Municipal Housing Infrastructure Program - Health and Safety Water Stream. He thanked the Ford government, Minister McCarthy, and all those who helped with the application.

Councillor Tuju

• Councillor Tuju reported attending the 2026 ROMA conference, including delegations with the Ministry of Infrastructure and Ministry of Natural Resources. 
• Councillor Tuju also noted participation in a Zone 4 meeting, which included Simcoe and Dufferin Counties, and Halton, Peel, and York Regions.
• Councillor Tuju attended the Top Aggregate Producing Municipalities of Ontario (TAPMO) board meeting, where discussion focused on aggregate levy reform and quarry accountability.

Councillor Gough

• Councillor Gough also attended the 2026 ROMA conference and the Ministry of Infrastructure funding announcement regarding the Municipal Housing Infrastructure Program – Health and Safety Water Stream.
• Councillor Gough reported attending the Brechin Legion’s annual indoor golf tournament, which included locally sourced food and raised money to support the Brechin Legion Building Improvement Funds. He thanked staff for working with the Legion to issue occupancy for the event and thanked the community for attending.

Deputy Mayor Bell

• Deputy Mayor Bell also attended the Brechin Legion’s annual indoor golf tournament.
• Deputy Mayor Bell reported attending the 2026 ROMA conference, including five delegations. During the conference, he noted that he went to a trade show and spoke with several people, including CN Rail regarding resident communication about blockages, Enbridge Gas regarding natural gas expansion processes, and Ontario Northland regarding train stop application processes.
•  Deputy Mayor Bell acknowledged provincial and staff efforts related to the award of the Health and Safety Water Stream grant.

Deputations

Georgi Jennings regarding Allocation of Court-Ordered Legal Costs

Georgi Jennings gave a deputation regarding allocation of court-ordered legal costs related to Bertrand v. Township of Ramara, 2024, ONSC 7291, voicing concerns regarding the related Township legal fees being allocated to the Lagoon City Parks and Waterways Commission budget, and requesting that the legal fees be reallocated to share the cost with the Township.

Open Public Forum

• Trevor Bruce spoke during Open Public Forum regarding Departmental Reports Item 11.5.1. – Winter Maintenance on Sunset Drive.
• Michael O’Brien spoke during Open Public Forum regarding Enquiry Motion Item 16.6.1. – Retention of meeting video recordings.

Committee of the Whole

Below are highlights of what Committee of the Whole recommended at its meeting held on Monday, January 26, 2026. These are subject to ratification by Council at its next meeting on February 9, 2026, unless pulled for ratification on the same day.

Motions Arising from Closed Session

Unassumed Township Roads

• Committee of the Whole recommended that Report CD-01-26 be received as information.

Litigation Update

• Committee of the Whole recommended that Report CD-02-26 be received as information.

Departmental Reports

Winter Maintenance on Sunset Drive

• Committee of the Whole recommended the following:
  • That Report ID-04-26, dated January 19, 2026, titled Winter Maintenance on Sunset Drive be received.
  • That winter maintenance assistance continue, without prejudice and precedence, for the 2025/2026 winter season on Sunset Drive.
  • That the winter maintenance assistance does not and will not meet O. Reg. 239/02 - Minimum Maintenance Standards or the Township's Winter Control Policy.
  • That staff provide notice to the impacted property owners that courtesy winter maintenance will continue when accumulations are greater than 100 mm (4") for the remainder of the 2025/2026 winter season.

Closure of the Southerly Portion of Mara Eldon Boundary Road Allowance

• Committee of the Whole recommended that staff be directed to commence the process to stop up and close the southerly portion of Mara Eldon Boundary Road.

Proposed Amendment to Environmental Compliance Approval No. 6332-A2GNRY (NRK Holdings Inc.)

• Committee of the Whole recommended the following:
  • That Council receive Staff Report ID‑03‑2026 regarding the proposed amendment to Environmental Compliance Approval No. 6332‑A2GNRY.
  • That the Township's comments to the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation, and Parks stating that the proposed amendments to ECA No. 6332‑A2GNRY include activities not permitted under the Township’s current Official Plan, Zoning Bylaw, or Site Plan approvals, and that the application is premature pending the required municipal planning applications.
  • That the following additional comments from Council be incorporated:
    • Creating a Township-approved driver protocol;
    • Reducing hours of operation;
    • Establishing water-monitoring procedures;
    • Defining hours for auxiliary operations;
    • Implementing monitoring camera systems;
    • Requiring securities for long-term site management;
    • Implementing Township rules regarding the cleaning of roads;
    • Enforcing Ontario standards with Township monitoring at the expense of the quarry;
    • Installing adequate warning signage;
    • Consideration for highly vulnerable aquifer;
    • Independent oversight by a third-party regulator and engineers is required, and the project should not proceed unless 100% impermeability can be guaranteed;
    • If incoming soil cannot be guaranteed free of hazardous or non-treatable contaminants, the application must be refused;
    • Establishing a clearly defined dust-suppression system that includes installation of an industrial -grade filtration system;
  • That the Mayor be authorized to sign and submit Council‑endorsed comments to the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks.

2025 Carryover Capital Projects

• Committee of the Whole recommended the following:
  • That Report ID-06-26 regarding 2025 Carryover Capital Projects be received.
  • That the carryover of the 2025 capital projects as listed in Table 1 of Report ID-06-26 for a total amount of $665,000 be approved.
  • That staff be authorized to fund $655,000 through the reserve funds, and $10,000 from the Experience Simcoe County 2025 Tourism, Culture and Sport Enhancement Fund Grant.

Council

Below are highlights of what Council adopted at its meeting on Monday, January 26, 2026:

• Council received Report ID-02-26 regarding Lease Agreement and approved the confidential direction set out in the report.
• Council received Report CD-01-26 as information.
• Council received Report CD-02-26 as information.
• Council received Report ID-04-26 regarding Winter Maintenance on Sunset Drive and approved the following:
  • That winter maintenance assistance continue, without prejudice and precedence, for the 2025/2026 winter season on Sunset Drive.
  • That the winter maintenance assistance does not and will not meet O. Reg. 239/02 - Minimum Maintenance Standards or the Township's Winter Control Policy.
  • That staff provide notice to the impacted property owners that courtesy winter maintenance will continue when accumulations are greater than 100 mm (4") for the remainder of the 2025/2026 winter season.
• Council received Report ID-06-26 regarding 2025 Carryover Capital Projects and approved the following:
  • That the carryover of the 2025 capital projects as listed in Table 1 of Report ID-06-26 for a total amount of $665,000 be approved.
  • That staff be authorized to fund $655,000 through the reserve funds, and $10,000 from the Experience Simcoe County 2025 Tourism, Culture and Sport Enhancement Fund Grant.
• City of Peterborough correspondence regarding Sustainable Funding for Police Services Request was received and supported.
• A memo from the Lagoon City Parks and Waterways Commission regarding allocation of legal fees was received as information.
• The 2025 Audit Planning Report was received as information and the Mayor and Councillor Snutch were authorized to sign the acknowledgment to be returned to Baker Tilly KDN LLP, confirming Council’s review and understanding of the audit plan for the 2025 fiscal year.
• The deputation from Georgi Jennings regarding allocation of court-ordered legal costs was received as information.

Official Plan and Zoning Bylaw Amendment Files OP-4/23 & Z-11/23 1506 and 1646 Highway 12 & 2440 and 2530 Concession Road 1 LCP Quarry Limited

• Recommendation Report BP-01-26: Official Plan and Zoning Bylaw Amendment Files OP-4/23 & Z-11/23 1506 and 1646 Highway 12 & 2440 and 2530 Concession Road 1 LCP Quarry Limited was deferred pending the outcome of a staff report.
• Staff were directed to provide a report to Committee of the Whole about next steps related to Report BP-01-26, including the feasibility of the following items to be addressed:
  • Noise impacts – provision by the applicant of sufficient information demonstrating that quarry operations can be conducted without unacceptable impacts on nearby sensitive land uses;
  • Blasting impacts – resolution by the applicant of concerns related to vibration, safety, and potential adverse effects on surrounding properties and the community, including, but not limited to:
    • Blasting shall be done by a licensed blaster using the Terrock model;
    • No blasting or hauling on Saturdays; and
    • No crushing or processing before 7 a.m., and operations limited to 7 a.m.–7 p.m. maximum;
  • Air quality impacts – provision by the applicant of a sufficient assessment and plan for the mitigation of dust, particulate matter, and emissions associated with quarry operations and related traffic;
  • Traffic impacts – provision by the applicant of an analysis and mitigation strategy for increased heavy truck traffic, road safety, and impacts on the local and regional road network, including, but not limited to:
    • Driver protocols;
    • Mandatory tarping of trucks;
    • Compliance with stop signs;
    • No roadside waiting on Concession 2;
    • Adequate onsite washrooms;
    • Township‑approved dust suppression and regular road cleaning;
    • Installation of cameras at key locations, with Township access, at the applicant’s cost;
    • The applicant would have no concerns if the Township reduced the speed limit to 40 km/h on the municipally owned road from the quarry entrance to Highway 12; and
    • All traffic studied must account for all existing and proposed quarry operations;
  • Enforcement – granting the Township the right to access and inspect at the applicant’s expense for the purposes of reporting to the Ministry;
  • Agreement by the applicant to not restrict or comment on future development applications;
  • Liability considerations – Considering the risk and cost, the Township must assess its potential liability in proceeding to the OLT, whether through a decision or a non‑decision.
• Staff were also directed to speak with the applicant in preparation of the report regarding consideration of these items.

Enquiry Motions

• Council directed the Clerk to review the Township’s retention policy with respect to meeting video recordings and report back to Council with suggested updates, including options for extending the retention period for video recordings, based on best practices.

Bills and Bylaws

Council approved the following bylaws on January 26, 2026:

• Bill 2026.02 – A Bylaw for the stop‑up, closure, and sale of a portion of the unopened Laidlaw Avenue road allowance adjacent to 8168 Laidlaw Avenue (Lot 8, Plan 224), described as Part 1 on Plan 51R‑17755.
• Bill 2026.03 – A Bylaw to appoint legal counsel and deputy clerk.
• Bill 2026.04 – A Bylaw to provide for the levy and payment of taxes.
• Bylaw 2026.06 – A Bylaw to confirm the proceedings of the Council meeting held on January 26, 2026.

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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.