The Town of Bradford West Gwillimbury council is back in session Tuesday after a one-month summer break.
With all the candidates in for this year’s municipal election, the local political landscape is sure to start heating up before election day Oct. 22.
Here is a look at some of the highlights from the agenda for council’s next meeting today, which will be at 7 p.m. in the Zima Room of the Bradford West Gwillimbury Public Library. The public is welcome to attend.
Community centre masterplan
BWG council will vote on whether to endorse a staff report for the future of the Bradford & District Memorial Community Centre.
A consultant will also make a presentation to council before it provides staff with direction on how to proceed.
Staff are also looking for authorization from council to continue discussions with the County of Simcoe about potential development of a county housing project on the community centre site.
Holland Marsh berms
BWG council are expected to provide direction to the Holland Marsh Drainage System Joint Municipal Services Board about recommending berm cutting as part of its regular maintenance.
Town staff will report back on the status of updating a bylaw in order to add the cutting, and provide options and/or direction for future berm maintenance.
Traffic calming
Bollards were recently placed in six areas around town as traffic-calming measures, but some residents have complained about people parking too close to them.
Town staff is proposing adjusting a bylaw to create an official definition for traffic calming device and to make parking prohibited on or within 15 metres of a traffic-calming device.
108 Moore St.
BWG council will consider authorizing a heritage easement agreement for 108 Moore St., the 158-year-old house that caught fire in July, which police was deemed “criminally suspicious.”
The easement will protect the house and property, sever part of it to the owner can build on it, and allow the home to be designated and protected under the Ontario Heritage Act, according to a town staff report.
Hampton Inn and Suites in Bradford?
BWG council will consider allowing Mayor Rob Keffer and Clerk Rebecca Murphy to authorize a development charge deferral agreement for developers wanting to build a 95-suite Hampton Inn and Suites hotel and drive-thru restaurant at the southwest corner of County Road 88 and Highway 400.
They have requested the town consider a development charge deferral agreement, which is allowed under the Development Charges Act, but must be authorized by a council bylaw.
Long-term care homes and firefighters
The County of Simcoe wants long-term care homes to be excluded from its medical aid tiered response program.
Most of BWG firefighters’ calls are medical in nature, and it responds to long-term care home Bradford Valley Care Community.
BWG council are expected to accept a staff report updating it on the issue, which started in 2016, and decide between two options — cut out Bradford Valley or make no change, and then inform the county.
Crossing guards
A staff report will be presented for BWG council’s consideration that states, after traffic data was collected, a crossing guard is not needed at Colborne Street and Britannia Avenue.
This stems from the town’s first comprehensive study of crossing guard locations, which was completed in 2016.
Drainage in the Holland Marsh
In response to local residents asking for better roadside drainage, town staff is asking for BWG council direction in regard to improved drainage in the area of River Road in the Holland Marsh.
Park renaming
Council will vote on whether to rename a local park Ron Simpson Memorial Park after the former BWG councillor, who served from 1986 to 2014, with the exception of one term.
He was on the inaugural amalgamated council of Bradford West Gwillimbury in 1991.
He died in July 2014.
The park at 251 Crossland Blvd., in Simpson’s former ward, is currently known as Dreamfields Park.
Clocktower landscaping
BWG council will decide whether to approve redevelopment of the area around 57 and 61 Holland St. W., which includes the clocktower, courthouse and finance building, this year or incorporate it into the 2019 budget.
This could include landscaping with more green space, an accessibility ramp, and a new landing.
Physicians award
BWG council received correspondence from the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario, which are calling for nominations for its 2019 Council Award.
The prize honours outstanding physicians in Ontario, who have “demonstrated excellence and embody a vision of the ideal physician.”
The deadline to nominate a physician is Oct. 1 at 5 p.m. For more information, visit the website.