Essex Council Notes for Monday, April 3, 2023

by Sylene Argent

Colchester Harbour Wins Best of Windsor Essex Award

The Town of Essex’s Colchester Harbour won a “Best of Windsor Essex Award for Best Anglers Attraction.” The annual award program, presented by Tourism Windsor Essex, showcases the favourite places to eat, things to do, places to go, stores to shop at, etc., in the Region.

The winners are selected through online voting.

Jake Morassut, Director of Community Services, presented the plaque to Mayor Sherry Bondy.

“It is always great when one of our local facilities wins such a prestigious award,” Bondy said, thanking the Town’s staff at the Colchester Harbour for their dedication in “making it a place to be.”

Admin to come back with a report after request to change name of Concession Road 7

Rodney Ferriss, a resident of County Road 20, requested the name of Concession Road 7 in the Town of Essex be changed.

He would also like his County Road 20 address be redirected to Concession Road 7, after it is renamed. His nearly triangular-shaped property is surrounded by County Road 20, Concession Road 7, and the 4th Concession Road.

He said mapping apps, in addition to administration for the County and local municipalities, have no idea where his address is.

He and his wife bought the property from his father-in-law in 2015 to keep it in the family.

He asked Council to give a name to this lost road on the west side of Harrow, so people will know where his address is.

The land on the westside has been owned by the Hutchins family for around a century. He suggested that for the new name.

CAO Doug Sweet noted the Town does have a road naming policy, but Council can amend it if there is a recommendation.

Fire Chief Rick Arnel said Essex Fire & Rescue ensured fire dispatch was aware of the location of this property by providing photos and maps. That does not mean other emergency services will.

Director of Infrastructure Services, Kevin Girard, explained in Essex’s road records, it is referred to as the Malden/Colchester Townline Road.

Council directed Administration to investigate the situation and return with a report with a recommendation on how to address the matter.

Councillors Garon and McGuire-Blais provide update on FEO Conference

Councillors Joe Garon and Katie McGuire-Blais provided an update regarding their attendance at the recent Festival and Events Ontario (FEO) Conference in Niagara Falls.

They attended with member of the Essex Festival Committee, Rich Tapping.

Garon said it was a good conference to attend.

“It was nice to get in the room with other municipalities and other event promoters, and ask the questions and bounce stuff off of each other,” Garon said.

The Conference theme this year was “Celebrate,” with the key words being passion, progress, and performance.

“They were celebrating the fact that we were actually able to have festivals and events, after the two-years of the pandemic,” Garon said, adding record crowds were also celebrated. The Essex Fun Fest never had a year like it did in 2022 with its crowd-turnout, despite there being supply chain issues, increases in operations, lack of volunteers, and staffing.

One thing he took away from the conference, in talking with other municipalities as to what is working for them, a lot is being done properly in terms of the Essex Fun Fest.

McGuire-Blais added the Town is doing a lot of really good things, in terms of the Fun Fest and the Santa’s Village. The Town’s help and collaboration with the Festival Committee is strong, and that is not necessarily experienced in other municipalities.

She added things that were spoken about at the conference that she would like to bring to the municipality and its festivals includes inclusivity and diversity, such as inviting First Nations to host educational events at local festivals. What to offer teens is often difficult to know, so she is excited to hear suggestions from the new Essex Youth Council reps for suggestions.

Fun Fest Parade will be different in anticipation of the Essex Centre Streetscape work

Essex Council approved a temporary noise exemption to accommodate the Essex Fun Fest, which will take place from July 6-9.

It also approved closing Fairview Avenue West, between 360 Fairview Avenue West (Essex

Civic Centre) and Hanlan Street, and Hanlan Street from Fairview Avenue West to Victoria Street in Essex Centre, between 10:00am and 11:00am, for the Essex Fun Fest Parade.

The lineup prior to the event will take place at the Essex Civic Centre.

Councillor Joe Garon, who is Co-Chairperson of the Essex Festival Committee, explained the parade route is altered in anticipation of work on the future Essex Centre Streetscape.

He said this was the only route where the Committee believed it could put on the same kind of parade.

Essex invites Minister to address concerns re: More Homes Built Faster Act

Councillor Rodney Hammond put forward a motion, which Council supported, to invite the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, Steve Clark, to an Essex Council meeting to address concerns over the financial impact of the changes in the More Homes Built Faster Act, 2022.

Hammond said the Minister’s letter to Essex Council did not answer the questions Council presented to his office on the matter.

Council also moved Mayor Sherry Bondy’s amendment to send Essex Council’s concerns regarding Bill 23 to the official opposition.

Letter from E.L.K. encourages Council

to connect with Entegrus CEO

Essex Council received a letter from E.L.K. Energy Board of Directors Chairperson and Mayor of Essex, Sherry Bondy, advising Entegrus Inc. will provide contracted management services to E.L.K.

The agreement was effective March 13 and is intended to assist E.L.K. in moving forward with increased levels of customer service and asset management, while providing the E.L.K. Board with time to complete a strategic review.

It encouraged Essex Council to invite Jim Hogan, CEO of Entegrus, to address Council to provide a formal introduction of Entegrus and an update on the deliverables of the management services agreement.

Essex CAO Doug Sweet said representatives of Entegrus want to meet with Council at the April 17 meeting to introduce their team and speak of their objectives.

Representatives from Hydro One are scheduled to attend a special meeting with Essex Council that evening as well.

Town appoints new Director

of Legislative Services

Council passed a by-law to appoint a new Director of Legal and Legislative Services/Clerk for the Town of Essex.

Joseph Malandruccolo will begin on Tuesday, April 11.