The Corporation of Haldimand County

Council Minutes

Meeting #:

Date:

Wednesday, January 21, 2026

Time:

6:00 P.m. - 7:00 P.m.

Location:

Council Chambers - Haldimand County Administration Building

Council Present

• S. Bentley, Mayor
• D. McKeen, Councillor
• J. Metcalfe, Councillor (participated virtually)
• 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
• S. Van Dalen, Manager, Planning & Development
• C. Curtis, Municipal Clerk

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A.

Call to Order

Mayor Bentley called the Council meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.

B.

Moment of Reflection

Mayor Bentley opened the meeting with a moment of reflection.

C.

Land Acknowledgement

Councillor Adams

Councillor Adams read the Land Acknowledgement statement.

D.

Roll Call

The Mayor and all Members of Council were in attendance. Councillor Metcalfe participated virtually.

E.

Disclosures of Pecuniary Interest

None.

F.

Approval of Previous Council Meeting Minutes

1.

Council Minutes - December 15, 2025

• Resolution 1-26
  Moved By: Councillor Lawrence
  Seconded By: Councillor McKeen

  THAT the minutes of the December 15, 2025 Council meeting be adopted as circulated.

  CARRIED

2.

Closed Session - Council Minutes - December 15, 2025

• Resolution 2-26
  Moved By: Councillor O'Neill
  Seconded By: Councillor Shirton

  THAT the minutes of the Closed Session of the December 15, 2025 Council meeting be adopted as circulated and remain confidential.

  CARRIED

G.

Presentations of Recognition

None.

H.

Delegations

None.

I.

Approval of Committee Minutes

(NOTE: If any member wishes to deal with any resolution separately, please notify the Clerk by noon on the meeting day.)

1.

Council in Committee Minutes - January 13, 2026

Council pulled Report PDD-01-2026 Planning Application Circulation and Notification Review for discussion.

Council asked questions and received answers from staff regarding aspects of the notice provided for planning applications including:

• The cost recovery for postage from notices;
• Notification of seasonal homeowners;
• Potential alternative channels for providing notification of planning matters; and
• Considerations for creating different notice areas in rural versus urban.

S. Van Dalen, Manager, Planning and Development provided context regarding notification standards in other municipalities.

• Resolution 3-26
  Moved By: Councillor Adams
  Seconded By: Councillor O'Neill

  THAT the minutes of the January 13, 2026 Council in Committee meeting be adopted with the following recommendation withdrawn to be voted on separately:

  Recommendation 3 Re: PDD-06-2025 Information Report for a Combined Official Plan Amendment, Zoning By-law Amendment, and Plan of Subdivision, to Facilitate a Residential Development (Micor Lands), Caledonia

   

   
  CARRIED
• Amendment:
  Resolution 4-26
  Moved By: Councillor O'Neill
  Seconded By: Councillor Shirton

  THAT Recommendation 3 of the Council in Committee minutes dated January 13, 2026 be adopted.

  CARRIED
• Amendment:
  Resolution 5-26
  Moved By: Councillor Shirton
  Seconded By: Councillor McKeen

  THAT staff be directed to increase the public notice circulation radius from 120 metres to 240 metres for all Planning Act applications for Zoning By-law amendments, Official Plan amendments, draft plan, subdivisions and vacant land condominiums.

  CARRIED

2.

Closed Session - Council in Committee Minutes - January 13, 2026

• Resolution 6
  Moved By: Councillor Adams
  Seconded By: Councillor Lawrence

  THAT the minutes of the Closed Session of the January 13, 2026 Council in Committee meeting be adopted as circulated and remain confidential.

  CARRIED

J.

Unfinished Business

1.

PDD-05-2026 Nelles Estates Zoning By-law Amendment Recommendation Report

Referred from the January 13, 2026 Council in Committee meeting

S. Van Dalen, Manager, Planning and Development responded to questions from Council regarding concerns with drainage issues associated with the proposed development.

• Resolution 7-26
  Moved By: Councillor Shirton
  Seconded By: Councillor O'Neill
  1. THAT Report PDD-05-2026 Nelles Estates Zoning By-law Amendment Recommendation Report be received;
  2. AND THAT application PLZ-HA-2025-062 to amend the Haldimand County Zoning By-law HC 1-2020 by rezoning the subject lands from ‘Agriculture “(A)”’ Zone to ‘Open Space “(OS)”” Zone (Part 1); ‘Hamlet Residential “(RH-H)”’ Zone, subject to Special Provision RH.8 with a Holding (H) provision (Part 2) and ‘Hamlet Residential “(RH)”’ Zone, subject to Special Provision RH.8 (Part 3), be approved for reasons outlined in the Report PDD-05-2026;
  3. AND THAT the proposal is deemed to be consistent with the Provincial Planning Statement, 2024, conforms with the Haldimand County Official Plan and has sufficient regard for matters of Provincial interest under the Planning Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. P.13;
  4. AND THAT the General Manager of Development Services be authorized to remove the Holding (H) provision on the subject lands when the conditions have been satisfied;
  5. AND THAT the by-law attached to Report PDD-05-2026 be approved at the January 21, 2026 Council meeting.
  CARRIED

K.

New Business

1.

Council Information Package (if required)

Council Information Package - January 21, 2026

None.

L.

By-laws

(NOTE: If any member wishes to deal with any by-law separately, please notify the Clerk by noon on the meeting day.)

• Resolution 8-26
  Moved By: Councillor McKeen
  Seconded By: Councillor Lawrence

  THAT By-laws 1 to 5, as listed, be enacted.

  CARRIED

1.

By-law 2662/26 to amend Schedules “G”, “J” and “P” of By-law 2647/25 User Fees and Service Charges By-law

Council in Committee Report CPP-01-2026, January 13, 2026

2.

By-law 2663/26 to authorize an operating agreement with The Carolinian Café for the lease of a portion of the property known as the Hagersville Library + Active Living Centre to operate a café/concession service

Council in Committee Report CPP-01-2026, January 13, 2026

3.

By-law 2664/26 to authorize an operating agreement with The Hagersville Lions Active Living Centre Operating Committee for shared responsibility of the operations, management and maintenance of the Hagersville Active Living Centre community spaces

Council in Committee Report CPP-01-2026, January 13, 2026

4.

By-law 2665/26 to authorize the submission of an application to Ontario Infrastructure and Lands Corporation for financing of certain capital work(s) of The Corporation of Haldimand County; and to authorize long-term borrowing for such capital work(s)

Council in Committee Report FIN-02-2026, January 13, 2026

5.

By-law 1437-HC/26 to amend Zoning By-law HC 1-2020, as amended, for property described in the name of 1000946882 Ontario Inc.

Council Report PDD-05-2026, Unfinished Business

M.

Notices of Motion

None.

N.

Announcements, Reports from Council Appointees to Boards and Committees

The following items were highlighted:

• Attendance at Rural Ontario Municipal Association (ROMA) Conference: Council members met with the Minister of Indigenous Affairs and the Minister of Energy-Intensive Industries; and
• Bell "Let's Talk" day.

O.

Closed Session

• Resolution 9-26
  Moved By: Councillor McKeen
  Seconded By: Councillor Adams

  THAT pursuant to Section 239 (2)(h) of the Municipal Act, 2001, Council convene in a meeting at 6:44 p.m. closed to the public to discuss:

  CARRIED
• Resolution 10-26
  Moved By: Councillor Adams
  Seconded By: Councillor Lawrence

  THAT this closed meeting now adjourn at 6:52 p.m. and reconvene in open session.

  CARRIED

1.

FSD-01-2026 Shareholder Approvals for Haldimand Norfolk Housing Corporation Project in Delhi

Section 239 (2)(h) Information explicitly supplied in confidence to the municipality or local board by Canada, a province or territory or a Crown agency of any of them

P.

Motions Arising from Closed Session

• Resolution 11-26
  Moved By: Councillor McKeen
  Seconded By: Councillor Adams
  1. THAT Report FSD-01-2026 Shareholder Approvals for Haldimand Norfolk Housing Corporation Project in Delhi be received and remain confidential;
  2. AND THAT Haldimand County Council, as a Shareholder of the Haldimand Norfolk Housing Corporation (HNHC), provide its consent for the HNHC Board of Directors to enter into a financing agreement with the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) for the affordable housing development at 686 Gibraltar Street, Delhi Ontario;
  3. AND THAT in accordance with Section 2.12 (p)(v) of the HNHC Shareholder’s Agreement, Haldimand County Council approve the registration of any provincial or federal funding agreement documents as liens on the title of the property located at 686 Gibraltar Street, Delhi Ontario as required under the applicable provincial or federal funding programs;
  4. AND THAT a copy of this resolution be provided to Norfolk County and Haldimand Norfolk Housing Corporation.
  CARRIED

Q.

Motion of Receipt

None.

R.

Confirming By-law

By-law 2666/26 to confirm the proceedings of Council of The Corporation of Haldimand County

• Resolution 12-26
  Moved By: Councillor O'Neill
  Seconded By: Councillor Lawrence

  THAT the Confirmation By-law for the January 21, 2026 Council meeting be enacted.

  CARRIED

S.

Adjournment

• Resolution 13-26
  Moved By: Councillor Shirton
  Seconded By: Councillor McKeen

  THAT this meeting is now adjourned at 6:56 p.m.

  CARRIED