The Corporation of Haldimand County

Special Council Minutes

Meeting #:

Date:

Thursday, February 12, 2026

Time:

9:30 A.m. - 10:30 A.m.

Location:

Council Chambers - Haldimand County Administration Building

Council Present

• S. Bentley, Mayor
• D. McKeen, Councillor
• J. Metcalfe, Councillor
• D. Lawrence, Councillor
• B. Adams, Councillor
• R. Shirton, Councillor
• P. O'Neill, Councillor

Staff Present

• M. Di Lullo, Chief Administrative Officer
• M. Evers, General Manager, Development Services
• T. Haedrich, General Manager, Engineering and Capital Works
• M. Jamieson, General Manager, Corporate Services
• S. Luey, General Manager, Community Safety and Wellness
• D. McKinnon, General Manager, Public Works Operations
• M. Merritt, General Manager, Financial Services
• M. Brousseau, Chief Information Officer/Manager, Innovation and Technology Services
• T. El-Ahmed, Treasurer
• J. Gallagher, Manager, Emergency Services/Fire Chief
• H. Love, Supervisor, Budget and Financial Planning
• K. Schmitz, Manager, Community Development and Partnerships
• C. Curtis, Municipal Clerk

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A.

Call to Order

Mayor Bentley called the Special Council meeting to order at 9:30 a.m.

B.

Land Acknowledgement

Councillor McKeen read the Land Acknowledgement statement.

C.

Roll Call

The Mayor and all Members of Council were in attendance.

D.

Disclosures of Pecuniary Interest

None.

E.

New Business

1.

2026 Draft Tax Supported Operating Budget

1.

Opening Remarks

M. Di Lullo, Chief Administrative Officer, provided opening remarks on the 2026 Tax Supported Operating Budget.

2.

Remarks from Finance

M. Merritt, General Manager, Financial Services/Chief Financial Officer provided an overview of the key financing principles underlying the proposed budget and addressed the challenges faced in its development.

Council asked questions and received clarification regarding:

• Assessed population growth; and
• The commercial/industrial versus residential tax burden.

3.

Delegation - Haldimand Norfolk Housing Corporation Shared Services Budget

M. Bowen, Chief Executive Officer, Haldimand Norfolk Housing Corporation provided an overview of the shared services budget request.

Council asked questions and received clarification regarding the recruitment process and timeline for the two proposed positions.

• Resolution 29-26
  Moved By: Councillor McKeen
  Seconded By: Councillor Metcalfe

  THAT the presentation from Matt Bowen, Chief Executive Officer Re: Haldimand Norfolk Housing Corporation Shared Services Budget be received.

  CARRIED

4.

Delegation - Grand Erie Public Health Budget

B. Stark, Director of Finance, Grand Erie Public Health provided an update on the merger process and outlined the strategic plan and proposed budget.

Council asked questions and received clarification regarding:

• The rationale for the increase in levy harmonization for Haldimand; and
• Base funding programs.

• Resolution 30-26
  Moved By: Councillor Metcalfe
  Seconded By: Councillor Lawrence

  THAT the presentation from Brad Stark, Director of Finance Re: Grand Erie Public Health Budget be received.

  CARRIED

5.

FSD-02-2026 Haldimand Norfolk Housing Corporation Ramsey Drive Financing Update

• Resolution 31-26
  Moved By: Councillor Shirton
  Seconded By: Councillor O'Neill
  1. THAT Report FSD-02-2026 Haldimand Norfolk Housing Corporation Ramsey Drive Financing Update be received.
  2. AND THAT the full amount of Haldimand County’s upset contribution of $4.6 million be funded from the Social Housing Reserve, as detailed in Report FSD-02-2026.
  CARRIED

6.

RDS-01-2026 Rural Roadside Mowing Program

Council asked questions and received answers regarding:

• The in-house rural roadside mowing pilot program; and
• The difference in road classifications.

• Resolution 32-26
  Moved By: Councillor Adams
  Seconded By: Councillor McKeen
  1. THAT Report RDS-01-2026 Rural Roadside Mowing Program be received;
  2. AND THAT the In-House Rural Roadside Mowing Pilot Program be adopted as a permanent and ongoing maintenance program including the necessary Full Time Equivalents (FTE) and operating budget.
  CARRIED

7.

FIN-06-2026 Tax Supported Operating Budget

T. El-Ahmed, Treasurer, outlined the budget guidelines and the proposed 3.74% increase in the tax levy.

H. Love, Supervisor, Budget and Financial Planning presented the proposed budget and applicable staff responded to inquiries from Council.

Mayor Bentley called a recess at 10:54 a.m. Council resumed at 11:04 a.m.

Mayor Bentley called a recess at 11:20 a.m. Council resumed at 11:23 a.m.

• Resolution 33-26
  Moved By: Councillor O'Neill
  Seconded By: Councillor McKeen
  1. THAT Report FIN-06-2026 Tax Supported Operating Budget be received;
  2. AND THAT the 2026 Draft Tax Supported Operating Budget Document be received;
  3. AND THAT the 2026 Tax Supported Operating Budget be approved at a net levy of $97,328,470;
  4. AND THAT any net surplus/deficit from 2026 Public Health be transferred to or from the Contingency Reserve;
  5. AND THAT any net surplus/deficit from 2026 Social Assistance be transferred to or from the Social Assistant Stabilization Reserve;
  6. AND THAT any net surplus/deficit from 2026 Child Care be transferred to or from the Social Assistance Stabilization Reserve;
  7. AND THAT any net surplus/deficit from 2026 Social Housing be transferred to or from the Social Housing Reserve;
  8. AND THAT any net surplus/deficit from 2026 Library Operations be transferred to or from the Library Reserve Fund;
  9. AND THAT any net surplus/deficit from the 2026 Emergency Measures operations be transferred to or from the Climate Change and Emergency Response Reserve;
  10. AND THAT any net surplus/deficit from the remaining 2026 Tax Supported Operations be transferred to or from the Contingency Reserve;
  11. AND THAT the budget for Hagersville Business Improvement Area be approved with a net levy requirement of $14,400
  12. AND THAT the budget for Dunnville Business Improvement Area be approved with a levy requirement of $41,000;
  13. AND THAT the budget for Caledonia Business Improvement Area be approved with a levy requirement of $55,640;
  14. AND THAT the revised capital budget amendments as outlined in FIN-06-2026, be approved;
  15. AND THAT the Haldimand-Norfolk Housing Corporation full-time Project Manager position, as presented in the 2026 Draft Tax Supported Operating Budget, be approved;
  16. AND THAT the Treasurer’s Message included in the 2026 Draft Tax Supported Operating Budget document be received;
  17. AND THAT, as a result of financial reporting amendments under the Public Sector Accounting Board guidelines, expenditures for amortization expenses related to capital assets, post-employment benefits and solid waste landfill closure and post closure expenses, as outlined in Treasurer’s Message, have been excluded from the 2026 Tax Supported Operating Budget.
  CARRIED

F.

By-laws

None.

G.

Confirming By-law

• Resolution 34-26
  Moved By: Councillor Lawrence
  Seconded By: Councillor Adams

  THAT the Confirmation By-law for the February 12, 2026 Special Council meeting be enacted.

  CARRIED

H.

Adjournment

• Resolution 35-26
  Moved By: Councillor Shirton
  Seconded By: Councillor Adams

  THAT this meeting is now adjourned at 11:57 a.m.

  CARRIED