Council Highlights may be viewed on the council calendar here.
View the full agenda package for Council
The Town of Pelham regular council meeting was held on Wednesday, October 16, 2024, at 9:00 a.m. in the Council Chambers at the Pelham municipal building at 20 Pelham Town Hall. Video recording and live stream of the meeting can be viewed at www.pelham.ca/live
Medical Education at Welland McMaster Family Health Team
Council received a presentation from Dr. Jennifer Mueller, Assistant Clinical Professor - Department of Family Medicine, McMaster University, on behalf of the Welland-McMaster Family Health Team, which was incorporated in 2011 and is a non-profit organization supporting instruction for undergraduate MD students, postgraduate residents, and fellows. The organization requested financial support from the Town of Pelham council to offset the cost of rent for teaching space for one student over the next five years at a cost of $10,000 per year. Council will review the request as part of the 2025 budget deliberations.
New Crossing Guard location in Pelham
The Town of Pelham completed a warrant study of the intersection of Station Street and Port Robinson Road in early September of 2024. Based on the results of the warrant study, the location meets the requirements for a crossing guard. A crossing guard will be posted to the location during regular school crossing hours starting in November.
Quaker Road Reconstruction
The project includes the full urbanization of the roadway between Pelham Street and Line Avenue with concrete sidewalks on both sides, on-road cycling facilities, a new water main and services, a new storm sewer, and a new sanitary sewer. Niagara Region tendered the project in the summer of 2023, and the contractor commenced the work in mid-January 2024. As of September 30th, 2024, the contractor is approximately +/—50m into Pelham, working towards the Pelham Street intersection. The work on Quaker Road between Line Avenue and Pelham Street is anticipated to be completed in the summer of 2025.
LED Streetlight Conversion Project (Phase 2)
RealTerm and Transtest completed the project in September 2024 with the installation of the last of the decorative fixtures in Pelham. The project has now entered the maintenance phase, and staff are working closely with the utility providers and RealTerm to compete the final billing transfer. A final report will come to Council in November 2024 to include expected operating cost savings.
Communities in Bloom
The Town of Pelham received three blooms, with a special mention for Landscape and a criteria award for Urban Forestry. A final Communities in Bloom Evaluation Report was provided with detailed feedback and projects for consideration for implementation in the Town. The feedback provided may be used to prioritize enhancement projects and tasks across the Town moving forward. During the 2025 Budget considerations, staff are recommending a pause in participation for 2025 so as to have an opportunity to perform enhancement work detailed in the final evaluation report and consider competing again in 2026.
2024 Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 613 Poppy Campaign
The Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 613, will be conducting its annual Poppy Campaign from November 1 to November 11, 2024. Collection boxes will be throughout the Town. Additional information can be found at https://fonthilllegion.com/poppy-campaign/
2025 Council Meeting Schedule
Council received Report #2024-0185 Proposed 2025 Council Meeting Schedule and directed Staff to publish the amended 2025 Council Meeting Schedule to the Town of Pelham website.
Fees and Charges Update
Council received Report #2024-0227 – Status of Fees and Charges Update for information and directed staff to provide a further report making recommendations for fees and charges to be imposed by the Town following the completion of the fee review by Watson & Associates Economists Ltd. The review is expected to be completed by the end of the year for Recreation and in the first quarter of 2025 for Planning and Engineering. Council expressed interest in exploring the possibility of resident and non-resident rates; staff will include further information and recommendations in the report to be provided after the Watson & Associates fee review is complete.
Updated Cash Management and Debt Policy
Council received Report #2024-0223 Cash Management and Debt Policy Updated and approved the updated S400-07 Capital Financing and Debt Management Policy. The update includes changes to the debt policy, including a phased-in internal debt limit from 2025-2030 lowered to 12% from 15%. It also includes the update to include a reference to the new Debt Repayment Reserve, which will identify the history, purpose, and funding source for the reserve.
Wellspring Niagara – Lease and Municipal Capital Facility Agreement to Provide Property Tax Exemption
Council received Report #2024-0232 Wellspring Niagara – Lease and Municipal Capital Facility Agreement to provide property Tax Exemption and approved the proposed Lease and Municipal Capital Facility Agreement between the Town of Pelham and Wellspring Niagara Cancer Support Foundation. The final Lease and Municipal Capital Facility Agreement and by-law exempting the lands municipally known as 50 Wellspring Way from taxation for municipal and school purposes will be presented to Council for approval at the next regular meeting.
For media inquiries, please contact:
Leah Letford, Communications Specialist | 905-980-6653 | lletford@pelham.ca
Contact Us