Council Highlights for May 21, 2025

View the full agenda package for Council. 

The Town of Pelham's regular council meeting was held on Wednesday, May 21, 2025, 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 

Support for Age Friendly Housing Strategy

Council received a presentation from Councillor Shellee Niznik and Committee Member Patrick O'Hara of the Pelham Seniors Advisory Committee who sought Council support for the development of an Aging in Place Strategy. The presenters had toured age-in-place housing models within Niagara Region communities. These models focus on small-scale, home-like care facilities with a maximum of 10 residents. The representatives of the committee asked Council to consider incorporating the strategy in future zoning bylaw amendments to support age-in-place developments. Town planning staff have already updated the Official Plan and are currently working to adjust zoning bylaws to support age-friendly and special needs housing initiatives in all dwelling types.

Greening the Landscape Research Consortium

Council received report 2025-0112 “Information Report - Update on the Greening the Landscape Research Consortium”. The report provided Council an update on activities relating to the Town’s membership in the Consortium including participation in two research case studies, a virtual tree-sourcing symposium, and the annual member workshop. The Town of Pelham Case Study #1 includes the leveraging of technology to achieve mapping and monitoring goals related to tree canopy targets and urban forest equity goals. This case study evaluates technology solutions for canopy scanning to help municipalities achieve tree canopy and urban forest equity goals. The additional Case Study #2 includes the review of hardscape planting technologies and strategies. This case study will identify techniques and technology for planting trees in the urban landscape. It will explore the process for planning, planting, and maintaining these sites.

Official Plan – Section 4 Changes 

Council received Memo 2025-0129 “Official Plan – Section 4 Changes”, for information. At its meeting of May 7, 2025, Council directed staff to “update Section 4 of the final Official Plan for administrative clarification. Town of Pelham staff have since reviewed Section 4 and made changes to clarify the intent and provide more detailed explanations based on the concerns raised from community members, meetings and at the AAC meeting. Section 4 now consists of 7 Subsections and Town staff have addressed most of the concerns from residents and the Agricultural Advisory Committee. Further specific policy issues can be submitted directly to the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing, which holds final approval authority over the new Official Plan. 

Oral Rabies Vaccine (ORV) bait distribution

The Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) will be conducting Oral Rabies Vaccine (ORV) bait distribution and trap-vaccinate-release (TVR) programs in Ontario to control rabies in wildlife. Baiting and TVR operations will begin June 16 and continue until the end of October. The khaki-green coloured bait being distributed by hand and by aircraft is made of wax-fat with an attractant flavour (vanilla-sugar). A label with a toll-free telephone number (1-888-574-6656) and the message “Do not eat” is located on the exterior of the bait, and a plastic package containing the liquid rabies vaccine is embedded in the centre. If found, the bait should not be touched, but left for raccoons, skunks and foxes to consume. For further information about rabies in Ontario, please visit Ontario.ca/rabies or contact the ministry’s wildlife health information line at 1-888-574-6656.

Heritage Trees and Significant Community Trees

Town staff are recommending that a program to identify and designate Heritage Trees and Significant Community Trees. Property owners who are interested in having their tree(s) designated will also be able to participate in the program. Town staff will review all known Town-owned trees that would meet the eligibility criteria for the Heritage Tree or Significant Community Tree designation. The program will contribute to the tree canopy and reforestation action item updated by Council through the 2025 Strategic Plan update. The program will also help to build community awareness, pride and education about the importance of trees and help to retain identified heritage and significant community trees. 

2025 Proposed Budget Reduction and Capital Deferral

Council received report 2025-0123 “2025 Proposed Budget Reduction and Capital Deferral” for information and Council approved the amended operating budget savings and capital deferral. The amendment included two projects to be removed from the deferral list, which included the Bocce Ball courts ($44,000) for installation adjacent to the Fonthill Platform Tennis Courts and the North Pelham Ball Diamond ($90,000).

Town of Pelham Official Plan By-law

The Corporation of the Town of Pelham passed By-law No. 28-2025 which provides for the adoption of the Official Plan for the Town of Pelham. The Town will provide the Official Plan for the Corporation of the Town of Pelham, and other required documentation, to the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing for approval in accordance with subsection 17(31) of the Planning Act, 1990.

For media inquiries, please contact:

Leah Letford, Communications Specialist | 905-980-6653 | lletford@pelham.ca