Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville

Council Minutes

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Council Chambers
111 Sandiford Drive
Members Present:
  • Mayor Iain Lovatt
  • Councillor Hugo Kroon
  • Councillor Maurice Smith
  • Councillor Keith Acton
  • Councillor Rick Upton
  • Councillor Sue Sherban
Members Absent:
  • Councillor Richard Bartley
Staff Present:
  • Sunny Bains, Chief Administrative Officer
  • Becky Jamieson, Commissioner, Corporate Services & Town Clerk
  • Dwayne Tapp, Commissioner, Development of Services
  • Rob Braid, Commissioner, Community Services
  • Jeremy Harness, Commissioner, Finance/Treasurer
  • Jack Graziosi, Commissioner, Engineering & Public Works
  • Claudette Banks, Director, Human Resources
  • Cassandra Papas, Corporate Communications Supervisor
  • Margaret Wallace, CEO, Whitchurch-Stouffville Public Library
  • Davneet Rai, Council/Committee Coordinator

1.
Call to Order

  

Mayor Lovatt called the meeting to order at 1:24 p.m.

2.
Town Land Acknowledgement

  

The Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville acknowledges this land is the treaty territory of the Williams Treaty First Nations. It is also the traditional territory of other Anishinaabeg peoples, the Wendat, and the Haudenosaunee. We also recognize the contributions of all Indigenous peoples to this place and commit to a continued dialogue and greater respect for the land we have come to share. Recognition of the contributions and historic importance of Indigenous peoples must also be clearly and overtly connected to our collective commitment to make the promise and the challenge of Truth and Reconciliation real in our community.

3.
Declaration of Pecuniary Interest

  

There were no declarations of pecuniary interest under The Municipal Conflict of Interest Act, R.S.O. 1990, c.M.50.

4.
Adoption of Minutes

  

4.1
Regular Council Minutes - March 19, 2025

This item has attachments.  
  • Moved by:Councillor Upton
    Seconded by:Councillor Acton

    That the Regular Council Minutes of March 19, 2025 be approved, as circulated.

    Carried

5.
Recognitions

  

5.1
King Charles III’s Coronation Medal Recipient - Chief William Snowball

  

The Mayor recognized Fire & Emergency Services Chief William Snowball for receiving the Coronation Medal, awarded by Member of Parliament Dr. Helena Jaczek. This prestigious honour commemorates the Coronation of His Majesty King Charles III and is given to individuals who have made significant contributions to their community and country.

Chief Snowball has dedicated 51 years to fire and emergency services, beginning as a volunteer firefighter in Markham in 1974. After a distinguished career with the City of Markham, he retired in 2016, only to return in 2019 as Interim Chief of Fire & Emergency Services, a role he has now held for six years.

His extensive volunteer work, including 40 years with the Markham Fair, highlights his deep commitment to the community. Highly respected in his field, Chief Snowball’s receipt of the Coronation Medal is a well-deserved recognition of his outstanding service and dedication. Council congratulates Chief Snowball on this remarkable achievement.

6.
Presentations

  

6.1
Presentation by Cassandra Tornabene, re: Service Excellence Framework Project Update

This item has attachments.  

Cassandra Tornabene, manager of customer service provided a presentation to Council on the Service Excellence Framework Project Update. With consent of Council brought forward item 9.1, Report No. CS-001-25. A question and answer period with members of Council ensued.

Item 9.1 was brought forward and dealt with at this time.

9.
Action Items Requiring Separate Discussion

  

9.1
CS-001-25 - Service Excellence Framework Project Update

This item has attachments.  

This item was dealt with under Item 6.1.

  • Moved by:Councillor Upton
    Seconded by:Councillor Acton
    1. That Council receive the presentation and Report No. CS-001-25 for information; and 
    2. That Council receive Report No. CS-001-25 for information.
    Carried

7.
Deputations

  

7.1
Sandra Liaros, Board Chair, Stouffville Library Board

This item has attachments.  

Nadine Willams, Vice Chair of the Stouffville Library Board provided a deputation thanking council for their support of the Library and Arts Centre and highlighted accomplishments. With consent of Council brought forward item 8.2, Report No. PL-001-25. A question and answer period with 
members of Council ensued. 

Item 8.2 was brought forward and dealt with at this time.

8.
Consent Agenda

  
  • Moved by:Councillor Acton
    Seconded by:Councillor Smith

    That Council approve Item 8.1 on the Consent Agenda and adopt the recommendation contained therein.

    Carried

8.1
Report No. EPW-006-25 Mohawk Gate Realignment Land Swap

This item has attachments.  
  • Moved by:Councillor Acton
    Seconded by:Councillor Smith
    1. That the Town enter into a tri-party Land Transfer Agreement with Frontdoor Developments (Cam Fella) Inc. and Frontdoor Developments (Cam Fella 2) Inc. (collectively the “Developer”), setting out the terms of the land exchange including that the Developer shall pay for all of the Town’s legal fees; and
    2. That Council approve the transfer of the 0.3 metre reserves being Blocks 98 and 99 on Plan 65M-2296 from the Region to the Town; and
    3. That Council authorize the Mayor and Clerk to sign all documents to effect the land transfers to dedicate Part of Lot 45 on Plan 65M-2296, being Parts 1, 2, and 3 on Draft R-Plan 65R-XXX- West to the Town in support of Draft Plan of Subdivision 19T(W)-22.006, and Part of Mohawk Gate and Part of Blocks 94 and 99 on Plan 65M-2296 being Parts 1, 2 and 4 on Draft R-Plan 65R-XXXX- East to the Developer in support of the Draft Plan of Subdivision 19T(W)-22.007 after the Transfer of the 0.3m reserves from the Region is complete; and
    4. That after the Transfer of the 0.3m reserves from the Region is complete, a by-law be passed stopping up and closing Parts 1 and 2 on the draft R-Plan for Draft Plan of Subdivision 19T(W)-22.007, and further declaring as surplus Parts 1, 2 and 4 on the draft R-Plan for Draft Plan of Subdivision 19T(W)-22.007.
    Carried

9.
Action Items Requiring Separate Discussion

  

9.2
Correspondence from Township of Adjala-Tosorontio, re: Additional Residential Units in the Oak Ridges Moraine

This item has attachments.  
  • Moved by:Councillor Smith
    Seconded by:Councillor Kroon
    1. That the Correspondence from Township of Adjala-Tosorontio, re: Additional Residential Units in the Oak Ridges Moraine, be endorsed and circulated.
    Carried

10.
Member Motions

  

10.1
Member Motion, re: Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) – Re-Election to the Board of Directors

This item has attachments.  
  • Moved by:Mayor Lovatt
    Seconded by:Councillor Smith

    WHEREAS the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) represents the interests of member municipalities on policy and program matters that fall within federal jurisdiction; and

    WHEREAS FCM’s Board of Directors is comprised of elected municipal officials from all regions and sizes of communities to form a broad base of support and provide FCM with the united voice required to carry the municipal message to the federal government; and

    WHEREAS Mayor Iain Lovatt was elected to the Board of Directors at FCM’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) in June 2024; and

    WHEREAS Mayor Lovatt’s term on the Board of Directors ends in June 2025; and

    WHEREAS Mayor Lovatt would like to put his name forward for re-election to the Board of Directors for the June 2025 to June 2026 term,

    NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council of the Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville endorses Mayor Iain Lovatt to stand for re-election to FCM’s Board of Directors for the term starting in June 2025 and ending June 2026; and

    THAT the Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville will continue to assume the costs not covered by York Region associated with Mayor Iain Lovatt attending FCM’s Board of Director and Committee meetings.

    Carried

11.
By-laws

  
  • Moved by:Councillor Upton
    Seconded by:Councillor Acton

    That Council read the By-laws, Items 11.1 to 11.3 (inclusive), a first, second, and third time and passed. 

    Carried

  • That Council read the By-law, Item 11.4 as amended, a first, second, and third time and passed.

    Carried

12.
New/Other Business

  

Councillor Sherban and Councillor Smith noted

13.
Closed Session

  
  • Moved by:Councillor Upton
    Seconded by:Councillor Smith

    That Council recess into Closed Session at 2:30 p.m. to consider Items 13.1 and 13.2 with the following exception:

    • A proposed or pending acquisition or disposition of land for municipal or local board purposes - Municipal Act, Sec. 239(2)(c)  
    Carried

13.1
Closed Meeting Minutes - February 19, 2025

 

13.2
Presentation, re: Opportunity for Potential Land Acquisition

 

14.
Reconvene in Public Session

  

Council reconvened in Public Session at 2:54 p.m. with all Members of Council in attendance. 

  • Closed Meeting Minutes - February 19, 2025

    Resolution Number:
    Moved by:Councillor Sherban
    Seconded by:Councillor Kroon

    1) That the Closed Meeting Minutes of February 19, 2025 be approved, as circulated.

    Carried

  • Presentation, re: Opportunity for Potential Land Acquisition

    Resolution Number:
    Moved by:Councillor Acton
    Seconded by:Councillor Upton

    1) That Council receive the Presentation, re: Opportunity for Potential Land Acquisition for information. 

    Carried

15.
Confirmatory By-law

  
  • Moved by:Councillor Kroon
    Seconded by:Councillor Acton

    That Council read Confirmatory By-law 2025-028-MS a first, second and third time and passed.

    Carried

16.
Adjournment

  
  • Moved by:Councillor Sherban
    Seconded by:Councillor Acton

    That there being no further business, Council adjourned the meeting at 2:57 p.m.

    Carried
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