Council Highlights for November 19, 2025

Town of Pelham Council received a presentation from Sean Yacoub, Director - Energy from Brant Municipal Enterprises for the solar panel feasibility study for the Meridian Community Centre. The feasibility study by Brant Municipal Enterprises assesses the potential costs, benefits, and potential energy savings of installing solar systems at the MCC. The feasibility study recommendations included the consideration for a rooftop system. Council also received a subsequent staff report 2025-0234 “MCC Solar Panel Feasibility Study,” for information and directed staff to proceed with investigating additional grant opportunities for the implementation of rooftop solar panels at the Meridian Community Centre and report back to Council with recommended grant and funding options for future implementation. 

Council received report 2025-0242 “Corporate Climate Adaptation Plan and Environmental Initiatives Update,” for information and directed staff to participate in the Net-Zero Communities Accelerator Program with QUEST Canada to develop a Community Energy and Emissions Plan (CEEP) and approved an allocation of $3,000 in the 2026 budget to support this initiative. The CEEP will provide a community wide framework for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and enhancing energy resilience, complementing the Town’s corporate mitigation efforts. Through QUEST’s NCA Program, the Town will receive expert facilitation, data benchmarking, and engagement support to identify opportunities for energy efficiency, renewable energy integration, land use optimization, and sustainable transportation. The process will involve energy mapping and action planning workshops, community stakeholder engagement, and the development of a tailored CEEP Summary Report.

The future Ron Leavens Memorial Park is 1.33 ha and situated in East Fonthill adjacent to the South Stormwater Pond and the protected stream channel. The park will be a focal point in the highly residential area, serving all ages, and will feature a bridge connecting over the stream to Meridian Way. Staff have met with the Leavens Family to review the Town’s commitment to developing the proposed Ron Leavens Memorial Park. Staff had previously applied for funding under the Natural Infrastructure Fund (NIF) for the development of the park, however, the town was notified in September of 2025 that the application was unsuccessful. The design process for the park has begun, and public input and design will be completed by mid-2026, in preparation for development in 2027.

Council received report 2025-0239, “Station Street Storm Management Pond Construction Update,” and awarded the Station Street Storm Pond to Duffin Contracting using a design-build delivery model in the amount of $395,000 (plus applicable taxes). Council also approved a project contingency in the amount of $105,000 and approved the Station Street Storm Pond project to be funded from the remaining budget for RD 14-20 in the amount of $270,000, and $230,000 funded through capital project RD 10-26.