Council Meeting

THAT the Agenda for September 16, 2026 be approved, as amended. Additions: H.1 - Municipal Officers Bylaw Update and H.2 - Canada Forest Tree agreement

THAT Council approve By-law 111-26, being a By-law to re-zone a portion of the lands at 601-611 County Road 43 from Highway Commercial – Exception Zone (C3-28) to Rural Residential (RR).

O'Sullivan WHEREAS September 25th of each year is recognized across Ontario as Franco-Ontarian Day, commemorating the contributions of the Franco-Ontarian community to the cultural, historical, social, and economic fabric of the province; AND WHEREAS the Municipality of North Grenville is home to a valued Francophone community and is committed to recognizing and supporting French-language culture and heritage; THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council of the Municipality of North Grenville hereby proclaims September 25, 2026, as Franco-Ontarian Day in the Municipality of North Grenville; AND THAT the Franco-Ontarian flag be raised at the Municipal Centre on September 25, 2026, in recognition of Franco-Ontarian Day;

WHEREAS the Municipality of North Grenville has identified attainable, missing-middle housing as a strategic priority through its Housing Strategy (2022), Affordable Housing Strategy (2021), and Housing Accelerator Fund (HAF) Action Plan (2024); AND WHEREAS Strawberry Box Communities Inc. (“SBC”), a federally incorporated non-profit corporation, has proposed the “Built to Own” development of up to 80 attainable freehold homes at 461 Kennedy Road (the “Project”), consistent with the housing forms and density identified as needed in the Municipality's own housing needs assessment; AND WHEREAS SBC intends to apply to the Rural Ontario Development (ROD) Program for a predevelopment grant to fund civil engineering and zoning design work in support of the Project; AND WHEREAS the ROD Program requires evidence of local government support as part of a complete application; NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Council of the Corporation of the Municipality of North Grenville: 1. supports, in principle, the “Built to Own” project as described by SBC, and supports SBC's application to the Rural Ontario Development Program; 2. authorizes the Mayor and/or Clerk to provide a letter confirming this resolution for inclusion in SBC's application; This resolution does not constitute a financial commitment, planning approval, or pre-determination of any subsequent planning application by the Municipality.

WHEREAS SBC intends to pursue funding and support from the Federation of Canadian Municipalities' (FCM) Green Municipal Fund (GMF) toward the Project's net-zero design and construction, through whichever current GMF initiative — including but not limited to Net-Zero Transformation and Sustainable Affordable Housing — the Project is found to qualify for as SBC's application work with FCM progresses; AND WHEREAS GMF's specific initiatives, eligibility criteria, and funding availability change from time to time, and SBC's application will necessarily be directed at whichever offer is live and applicable at the time of submission; AND WHEREAS the Municipality's Housing Accelerator Fund (HAF) Action Plan (2024) commits to exploring potential partnerships with not-for-profit builders as a means of reducing barriers to housing supply; AND WHEREAS SBC will carry out all application work and fund management, and will report directly to FCM, such that the Municipality assumes no financial liability or reporting obligation as a result of being named partner of record; NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Council of the Corporation of the Municipality of North Grenville: 1. supports SBC's project as the basis for one or more applications to FCM's Green Municipal Fund, and authorizes the Municipality to act as partner of record for the current or future GMF initiative(s) SBC's application is directed at; 2. authorizes the Mayor and/or Clerk to issue a letter or letters to FCM confirming

WHEREAS the Municipality's Housing Accelerator Fund (HAF) Action Plan (2024) commits to exploring potential partnerships with not-for-profit builders as a means of reducing barriers to housing supply; AND WHEREAS SBC proposes to develop a community trail connecting the Project to existing Kemptville streets and neighbourhoods, providing a shared greenspace amenity for the surrounding community and not solely for Project residents; AND WHEREAS SBC, a federally incorporated non-profit corporation, is eligible to apply for this trail to the Ontario Trillium Foundation's Capital Grants program and to the federal Build Communities Strong Fund's Local Impact Stream (delivered in this region by FedDev Ontario), each of which may consider municipal support as part of the applicant's eligibility or competitiveness; NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Council of the Corporation of the Municipality of North Grenville: 1. supports SBC's applications to the Ontario Trillium Foundation Capital Grants program and the Build Communities Strong Fund Local Impact Stream for the community trail connection described above; 2. authorizes the Mayor and/or Chief Administrative Officer to issue a letter of support for these purposes; This resolution does not constitute a financial commitment by the Municipality.

WHEREAS Council has before it, or has previously received, a draft Affordable Housing Community Improvement Plan (CIP), as outlined in the September 2025 staff report entitled “Affordable Housing Targets and Incentives”; AND WHEREAS the Project proposes shared communal infrastructure (roads, servicing, and common green space) under a Common Elements Condominium structure, distinct from the individually owned freehold lots; NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Council of the Corporation of the Municipality of North Grenville: 1. directs staff, in finalizing the Affordable Housing Community Improvement Plan, to consider the eligibility of shared communal infrastructure associated with non-profit attainable housing developments, including the Project, for available CIP incentive tools; This resolution directs a staff review only. It does not itself grant any CIP incentive, commit municipal funds, or amend any by-law.

WHEREAS SBC, a federally incorporated non-profit corporation, intends to submit an Expression of Interest to the federal Build Communities Strong Fund (BCSF) Direct Delivery stream for the communal drinking water and wastewater infrastructure needed to serve the Project; AND WHEREAS SBC will prepare and submit the Expression of Interest, and any subsequent application, and will manage and report on any funds received, such that the Municipality assumes no financial liability, funding obligation, or ownership or operating responsibility for the Project's private communal infrastructure as a result of this resolution; AND WHEREAS the BCSF Direct Delivery stream's own published application process invites letters of support from the community and organizations impacted by a proposed project; NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Council of the Corporation of the Municipality of North Grenville: 1. supports SBC's Expression of Interest and any subsequent application to the BCSF Direct Delivery stream for the Project; 2. authorizes the Mayor and/or Clerk to issue a letter of support for this purpose; This resolution does not constitute a financial commitment, an assumption of ownership or operating responsibility for the Project's communal infrastructure, or a pre-determination of any subsequent planning application by the Municipality.

WHEREAS the Government of Canada has established Build Canada Homes (“BCH”) as a federal Crown corporation to finance and accelerate the construction of non-market and affordable housing across Canada, with a stated investment priority for modern construction methods such as modular and factory-built housing and for non-profit and community housing providers; AND WHEREAS SBC, a federally incorporated non-profit corporation delivering factory-built, net-zeroready homes, intends to submit a proposal to Build Canada Homes for the Project; AND WHEREAS Build Canada Homes does not state a municipal letter of support as a formal eligibility requirement, but its own early partnerships with municipalities and provinces indicate that demonstrated local government support strengthens a submission; AND WHEREAS SBC will prepare and submit its own proposal and will manage and report on any funds received, such that the Municipality assumes no financial liability or reporting obligation as a result of this resolution; NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Council of the Corporation of the Municipality of North Grenville: 1. supports SBC's proposal to Build Canada Homes for the Project; 2. authorizes the Mayor and/or Clerk to issue a letter of support for this purpose; This resolution does not constitute a financial commitment by the Municipality, and does not make the Municipality a party to, or responsible for, any agreement between SBC and Build Canada Homes.

THAT Council adopts bylaw 15-26 being the amended Officers bylaw.

THAT Council directs staff to amend the existing agreement with Canada Forest Tree to reflect the following changes: Year 1 - 30% paid to the Municipality Year 2 - 35% paid to the Municipality Years 3-5 50% paid to the Municipality

THAT the following Council Meeting minutes be adopted, as presented: Special Council Meeting July 22, 2026; Special Council Meeting July 29, 2026; Special Council Meeting August 4, 2026; Special Council Meeting August 10, 2026; Special Council Meeting August 13, 2026; Regular Council Meeting August 18, 2026; Regular Council Meeting August 26, 2026 and; Regular Council Meeting September 1, 2026.

THAT Council allow payment of foregone pension contributions to the member of Council for the years 2024-2026.

THAT Council direct staff to develop a policy providing compensation in lieu of OMERS contributions to any Council member who chooses not to participate or who becomes ineligible in those programs due to age-related or other legislative restrictions; FURTHER THAT this policy be brought back to the October 6 meeting of Council.

THAT Council directs staff to include in the benefit policy, the option for Council members to opt out of participation in the benefits program and OMERS pension plan and provide alternative options to compensate the member in lieu of those employer paid contributions.

O'Sullivan Where as the Council authorize the Mayor and Clerk to award RFP CAO-2026-001 to Phelps Group Inc for recruitment of the CAO and Directors at a expense of $32,500 plus disbursements and expenses for CAO and $25,500 plus disbursements and expenses for Director; FURTHER THAT these would be paid through General Reserves.

THAT the Confirmation By-Law 114-26 be read a first, second and third time, and finally passed in Open Council.

THAT we do now adjourn at 8:02 p.m. to meet again at the call of the Mayor.