Regular Council

THAT the agenda be adopted as amended to move items 9.4(b) and 17 to follow item 7(a).

THAT the minutes from the July 15, 2026 Council meeting be adopted as printed and circulated.

THAT the Council meeting be adjourned at 10:38 a.m. for the purpose of holding a public meeting pursuant to the provisions of the Planning Act.

THAT pursuant to the Planning Act that the public meeting be adjourned at 10:50 a.m. and the regular meeting of Council be called back to order.

THAT the Council of the Township of Zorra approve-in-principle, pending decision of the Land Division Committee, the proposed Zoning By-law amendment submitted by Paul and Jayme Claessens, for lands described as Part of Lot 22, Concession 3 (North Dorchester) and municipally known as 642914 Road 64 Line, Township of Zorra into the ‘Special Rural Residential (RR-sp) Zone’ to permit the future expansion of an existing electrical contractor business within a proposed 279 m² / 3,000 ft² structure on the subject lands.

THAT Report 2026-075 from the Director of Public Services be received and filed for information purposes only.

THAT Report 2026-084 from the Director of Public Services be received and filed for Council's Information. AND THAT Council direct staff to allocate additional funding of up to $44,072.69 from the Bridge Reserve towards the Bridge 140 Project, from savings experienced on the Bridge Culvert 70 and Bridge 640 Projects. AND THAT Council direct staff to award Tender 2026-08 to AJN Builders Inc. in the amount of $224,072.69 after HST rebate.

THAT Report No. 2026-071 from the Director of Public Services be received for information; AND THAT Zorra Township Council enact By-Law 45-26 to upload the portion of Cobble Hills Road (as indicated in Report 2026-071) from the Township of Zorra to the County of Oxford road system; AND THAT the Boundary Road Agreement between Middlesex County and the Township of Zorra be repealed effective January 1, 2027.

THAT Report 2026-074 from the Director of Public Services be received and filed for Council's information. AND THAT Council enact By-law 48-26 and approve the accompanying Entrance Guidelines to govern the management, permitting, and construction of Municipal access points as amended to increase the entrance width maximum in section 10.1(b)ii. from 15 meters to 15.2 meters.

THAT Report 2026-078 from the Fire Chief be received and filed for information purposes only.

THAT Report 2026-073 from the Fire Chief be received and filed for Council's information; AND THAT Council endorse the 8 Commissioners Street / former Public Works site as the preferred location for a replacement Embro Fire Station; AND THAT staff report back to Council with an evaluation of the Uniondale Fire Hall comparable to Points 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 2.5, and 2.6 in Report 2026-073; AND THAT staff report back to Council with a detailed capital cost estimate, financing strategy, and implementation timeline for building a new Embro Fire Hall and a new or expanded Uniondale Fire Hall in separate reports.

THAT Report 2026-066 from the Chief Building Official and Building Services Coordinator be received and filed for information purposes only.

THAT Report 2026-055 from the By-law Officer be received and filed for information purposes only.

THAT Report 2026-081 from the Deputy Treasurer/Financial Analyst be received and filed for information purposes only.

THAT Council approve the write off of taxes pursuant to Section 357(1) of the Municipal Act, 2001 in the total amount of $10,051.49 for applications processed in Quarter 2 of 2026, distributed to the Township, County and School Boards in the amounts of $4,838.74, $3,833.75 and $1,379.00, respectively.

THAT Council approve the amendments to Purchasing Policy 500-05 as identified in Report 2026-079.

THAT the Township of Zorra Council approve the formation of a Joint Compliance Audit Committee with the Oxford County area municipalities; AND FURTHER THAT Council appoint the following individuals to the Joint Compliance Audit Committee:  David Morris,  Carol Symons,  Keith Reibling,  Christene Scrimgeour,  David Nusko, and  Kyle Kruger; AND FURTHER THAT the above appointments and the Terms of Reference for the Joint Compliance Audit Committee be formalized by By-law 47-26.

THAT a section of 33rd Line, as outlined in the application submitted by Amrize, be declared as surplus to the needs of the Township of Zorra.

THAT Report 2026-076 from the Strategic Initiatives and Government Relations Officer be received and filed for Council's information; AND THAT Council enact By-law 46-26 for special events within the Township of Zorra.

THAT Zorra Council support the resolution from Blandford-Blenheim Council requesting that the County of Oxford undertake a review of potential medical waste exemption program options for Oxford County residents;

THAT items 12(a) - (d) be received and filed for information purposes only.

THAT by-laws 45-26, 46-26, 47-26, 48-26, as amended, and 49-26 be taken as read a first, second and third time and finally passed; AND FURTHER THAT the Mayor and Clerk are hereby authorized to sign the same and affix the corporate seal thereto.

THAT Council move into closed meeting session at 9:36 a.m. pursuant to 239(2)(c) a proposed or pending acquisition or disposition of land by the municipality or board and Section 239(2)(f) advice that is subject to solicitor-client privilege, including communications necessary for that purpose.

THAT By-law 50-26, being a by-law to confirm the proceedings of Council held August 13, 2026, be read a first, second and third time this August 13, 2026; AND FURTHER THAT the Mayor and Clerk are hereby authorized to sign the same and affix the corporate seal thereto.

THAT this session of Council be now adjourned and herewith closed at 1:32 p.m. and the next meeting of Council be called for the September 16, 2026, at 9:30 a.m. in the Council Chambers at the Zorra Municipal Centre.