eNewsletter | February 22, 2018

Next Meeting of
County Council
 
March 21, 2018




Plans move forward for new emergency
shelter system

Northumberland County continues to move forward with plans to implement a new emergency shelter system for the community, based on a 2017 review of County-funded homeless and re-housing services. The new system will be based on  the Housing First model, with community partners focusing first and foremost on housing stabilization strategies for those in need to best ensure people never end up requiring emergency shelter services. In so doing, shelter services will be reserved for the most vulnerable individuals who are not able to independently resolve their own homelessness. Intensive supports will then be provided to these individuals with the goal of rapid rehousing. The County will be issuing a formal request for proposals from service providers within the coming weeks for the delivery of innovative shelter services for the community.    


Council approves annual tax policy recommendations for Northumberland County
 
In 2017, municipalities faced several key considerations related to local tax policy. This included outcomes of property reassessments by MPAC, and legislative changes by the province that increased flexibility for municipalities in setting tax policy. In light of this, Council directed County staff to conduct a formal property tax policy review before recommending property taxation policies for 2018, to ensure that the impacts to property owners in all tax classes resulting from any policy changes were fully understood. Based on this review, staff has made several tax policy recommendations to Council, which were adopted at the February 21st meeting. For the average single detached property, the e stimated impact of these updated policies to the County portion of property taxes is approximately $4.00, for a total of a $23 increase for 2018.
 
 

County partners with Port Hope and Cobourg to seek Development Charges Rebate funding

In April 2017, the provincial government announced its Fair Housing Plan to address housing affordability, demand, and supply of housing. The Development Charges Rebate Program is one measure to increase the supply of purpose-built market rental development by offering rebates to developers on municipal development charges. 8 3 municipalities have been invited to submit Expressions of Interest (EOI) in administering this program, for which a total of $125 million over five years is available from the province. The Town of Cobourg and the Municipality of Port Hope are the only municipalities in Northumberland eligible for this program. Should their applications be successful, t he County - as the service manager for housing systems planning for Northumberland - will support these member municipalities in the administration of the program. 
 
 

 

Notes
Loyalist College updates Council on plans for the future

Loyalist College President and CEO Dr. Ann Marie Vaughan presented an update to Council on the college's plans for the future, including ongoing presence in Northumberland through collaboration with the County and member municipalities on training and education programs.
 

Overview of the Eastern Ontario Leadership Council

County Economic Development & Tourism Director Dan Borowec discussed the focus of the Eastern Ontario Leadership Council as coordinating strategic, regional economic development in Eastern Ontario.


Brighton renews Archival Services agreement with County

Northumberland County has provided Archival Services to the Municipality of Brighton since July 1, 2014. County Council has authorized the renewal of this agreement for a further period of one year.

Municipal Class Environmental Assessments process review encouraged
 
Council has supported a resolution encouraging the Minister of Environment and Climate Change to review and implement recommendations from the Auditor General that would streamline the Municipal Class Environmental Assessment process. Recommended changes would benefit communities by expediting infrastructure projects; removing redundancies from the EA process and enabling municipalities to better capitalize on available funding.  
 

County encourages province to act on protections for municipalities related to Fire-Medic Pilots and Programs
 
Council has supported a resolution calling on the Government of Ontario to place amendments into upcoming legislation that would protect unwilling municipalities from being forced by arbitrators to have a fire medic pilot or program. 
 Read the resolution

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