Tillsonburg Council Briefs

Jeff Helsdon, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Youth input wanted

Tillsonburg’s Youth Advisory Council is looking for input from the town’s youth on what they want to see in the community.

Liam Spencer-Enright, council chair, shared information on the survey to council at the May 26 meeting. Council members developed questions asking youth what activities they participate in, what activities they would like to see, their input on youth spaces, shopping, wellness, arts and culture and barriers. The recommendation with the survey is it be distributed to areas in town where youth can access it.

Mayor Deb Gilvesy said the survey was excellent.

“It looks like it’s well balanced between sports and arts which is nice to see,” he said.

Coun. Kelly Spencer said she was proud of the group, that they consulted with the BIA, police board, and parks and recreation department in their work.

Spencer-Enright added that many of the council members are aging out and there will need to be recruitment of new members.

Earle Street property rezoned

Town council passed a recommendation for staff to proceed to the next step in rezoning the south portion of 31 Earle Street to medium density residential for an affordable housing project.

The project will be townhouses, with ownership options.

Zoning on the north part of the property is not impacted.

Changes in health care committee

Changes were made to Tillsonburg’s Community Health Care Advisory Committee’s terms of reference.

In a report to council, the committee asked for changes to reflect how the composition has changed:

• To have one representative from the Family Health Organizations (doctors’ offices) instead of three

• To allow an alternate to the Chief of Staff of the hospital to attend when the chief of staff is unable to be there

• These changes would result in the committee having nine members instead of 12, so a meeting quorum needs to be lowered from seven to five.

• To designate the town CAO as a voting member of the committee.

Extension granted

A request for an extension to the construction start date was granted for one of the properties in the VanNorman Innovation Park.

The request came before council from 1677123 Ontario Inc. As part of the conditions of sale of the property, construction was to have started in December 2024. However, due to a delay in getting in site plan approval, construction has not yet started and an extension to April 30, 2026 was requested.

The extension came with a condition of a 20 per cent performance bond to be paid by June 30, 2025.

Development charges

The town collected $1.97 million in development charges in 2024. The new money brought the total balance in the development charges reserve to $7.1 million.

Amendments to provincial legislation require 60 per cent of the development charges collected be allocated at the beginning of the year.

In 2024, development charges assisted with the cost of Young Street reconstruction, building pickleball courts and design for the repair of the Kinsmen Bridge. Funds are allocated for Cranberry Line reconstruction, a sidewalk connectivity program and a sidewalk machine in 2025.

New radio consoles

The Town of Tillsonburg’s fire communications program is requiring an upgrade of three radio consoles, costing $69.816.

Fire chief Scott Tegler told council that Dufferin County has added two new radio stations that three of the older units won’t work on. Three of the consoles that were upgraded in 2023 will work with the newer technology.

Deputy Mayor Dave Beres asked about a special levy to the municipalities with the newer technology.

Tegler replied that the older units weren’t serviceable prior to 2023, and it’s likely that other municipalities will also be adapting the new technology. Answering a question by Coun. Chris Rosehart, Tegler said there is no rebate for the older units.

Coun. Bob Parsons asked if the new consoles will be expandable in the future, and he was told they were.

The cost for the upgrades will be funded through the fire dispatch reserve.