Tillsonburg Council Briefs

Jeff Helsdon, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Subdivision agreements extended

Two separate subdivision agreements were extended by Tillsonburg council at the Dec. 8 meeting.

A request from Lindprop Corp. to extend the agreement of subdivision was submitted for a subdivision with an address of 112 North Street East to register the draft plan of subdivision. The plan is for 315 lots.

A plan for seven lots on the west side of Young Street, between Highway 3 and Rouse Street, was also given an extension after a request from Gene Sandham.

New church changes approved

An application for rezoning a piece of property owned by Thames Valley District School Board at 20 Cranberry Road to allow the construction of a new church was approved by council.

The application was for an official plan amendment and rezoning of the property from residential to major institutional and to allow the creation of a lot from a larger piece of property.

Theo Bouwheer, a member of the Hope Reformed Church congregation, said he has been working on this for over a year.

Planner David Roe explained most of the time was dealing with the school board on the land sale. He added it was good to see a church being located in town instead of on prime agricultural land.

Bylaws appeal committee created

Tillsonburg now has a bylaws appeal committee.

Council passed a motion to create the committee to hear appeals to the town’s bylaws at the Dec. 8 meeting.

Under the town’s bylaws, the animal control, business licensing and property standards all have provisions to create an appeal committee. Historically, these committees have rarely met and members were not appointed to each.

An appeal to an order to muzzle a dog was filed in November 2025. Previously, an appeal was filed under building standards last year. Neither committee was established at the time of the appeals, and acting clerk Amelia Jaggard suggested forming one bylaw appeal committee to hear all appeals.

Council endorsed this suggestion and appointed Coun. Chris Parker, Coun. Bob Parsons and Coun. Pete Luciani to the committee.

Town crier to receive pay increase

Tillsonburg town crier Brenda Bozso will be receiving a pay increase for her official duties.

Staff completed a report on the remuneration paid after a motion was presented by Mayor Deb Gilvesy at the last council meeting. According to the report, the town crier was still being paid $50 per appearance, a rate set when the position was established in 1995. The report suggested the town crier be paid $150 per function, and then adjusted annually by the CPI.

“It’s been some 20 or more years since our town crier has taken on that job, it needs to go up,” said Coun. Bob Parsons.

Deputy Mayor Dave Beres noted the town has had the same town crier for 30 years.

“We’re so proud of her of what she does for our community, she does her research,” he said. “Other town criers that I’ve heard, I’ll put Brenda against them, at any time, for the quality and the competence she has and the pride she has in our community.”

Gilvesy stressed that when she talked to Bozso about the compensation, the town crier wasn’t pushing for an increase.

“She loves what she does, but it truly wasn’t fair,” the mayor said of the pay.

Land sales

Town council approved the sale of two pieces of land at the Dec. 8 meeting.

A landlocked piece of property on Clearview Drive was sold to Future Transfer Co. Ltd. and E & E McLaughlin Ltd for $75,600. Other parts of the former rail lands were previously sold to Fleetwood Metal for an expansion, but this piece remained that is only accessible through the adjoining properties. The funds will be transferred to the Economic Development Reserve.

A portion of Otter Lane was sold to Walter and Diane Kleer and Cameron and Cynthia McKnight. The unopened road allowance was declared surplus and sold for the independent real estate appraised value of $14,500. The proceeds will be placed in the town hall reserve.

Budget update

Town staff and council are going through a learning curve with this year’s budget due to changes in how the budget is done due to the Strong Mayor’s Act.

While the budget previously was an exercise with all of council, it is now completed by the mayor and staff. Council members then have the ability to make changes through a review period.

Although it was originally thought council members wouldn’t be able to see the budget prior to its public release on Jan. 2 as it would start the 30-day review process, a legal opinion to another municipality stated otherwise. With this in mind, council members were provided the budget for their review on Dec. 15.

Fleet sale

The sale of vehicles used by Tillsonburg Hydro Inc. was approved by council for $600,000.

Historically, the town has owned the vehicles and charged the utility an amount for operation and maintenance. The sale was to complete a request from Tillsonburg Hydro management.

Trail improvement

Council approved a pedestrian crossover at the intersection of the Trans-Canada Trail and Quarter Town Line.

The installation will include a curb cut, side-mounted signs with flashing amber lights, pavement markings and push-button activation. The cost is estimated at $60,000.

Municipal right of way changes

Tillsonburg council will be considering a bylaw to regulate activities on municipal right of ways.

Council saw a first draft of a municipal right of way bylaw at the Oct. 14 meeting, and asked for clarification on several factors, including snow accumulation placement, responsibility for property restitution, regulations on mud tracking, requirements for draining chlorinated pool water, and encroachment permit requirements. At the Dec. 8 meeting as follow-up, it was suggested wording regarding discharge of water from pools or downspouts be revised slightly to allow discharge on lawns first, and then a right-of-way. There were also some minor wording changes.

Coun. Bob Parsons said he didn’t see anything about people putting grass clipping or leaves on the road, adding this is dangerous for motorbikes and bicycles. He also had concerns about bicycles on sidewalks. It was suggested these items be referred to the traffic committee.

Deputy clerk’s departure

Acting deputy clerk Amelia Jaggard will be leaving Tillsonburg as she has taken a position with the Township of Wilmot as clerk and manager of legislative services.

Former Norwich and Bayham CAO Kyle Kruger will be filling in for the interim, with the position to be advertised for in early 2026.