u/Ian_McGrath_Ward_3

As always, I encourage you to watch the entire meeting.

Old Business
Request for Decision (RFD): Council Procedure Bylaw, Second Reading (2m 41s)
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=H2JimDQt9b4&t=2m41s
Be it resolved that Council give second reading to By-Law B100-008, the Council Procedure Bylaw, as presented. I spoke at 4m 07s https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=H2JimDQt9b4&t=4m07s on my opinion that Council should consider further amendments to this bylaw in the future to change the meeting times to the evenings to allow more people the opportunity to serve on municipal Council, a topic I first raised in March 2024. It would also provide more opportunity to watch meetings in person, which can sometimes provide additional nuance that is not captured on camera.

For many municipal councils, Truro included, the role of Councillor is not intended to be a full-time job. I can speak from experience in the difficulty of working full-time while also representing on Council, and many people who I think would make excellent Councillors have told me that meeting timing is the biggest barrier to their potential involvement. The data in 2024 showed that 78% of County, District, and Town municipalities hold Council meetings at 5 p.m. or later, with 84% of same holding meetings at 4 p.m. or later.

RFD: Public Transportation - Financial Review (5m 15s)
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=H2JimDQt9b4&t=5m15s
Be it resolved that Council direct staff to investigate the feasibility of a public transit pilot project and initiate discussions with the Colchester Transportation Cooperative Limited (CTCL) and other potential service providers regarding their interest and capacity to support such a model within their existing operations; and further that Council establish a maximum annual municipal funding threshold for public transit, including an acceptable tax-rate impact, and direct staff to develop and return transit service options that can be delivered within that approved funding framework.

I spoke at 9m 26s https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=H2JimDQt9b4&t=9m26s to provide my support for the motion, and reiterate my comments from the Committee of the Whole (CoW) meeting that I feel a sixth option should be considered: that this not be a pilot project, but that Truro commit to a public transit system that is desperately needed to support our economies and fight the worsening congestion in our town. Though I was unsuccessful in swaying Council away from a pilot toward a permanent project, these comments, questions, and discussions are critical to ensuring that we get the best possible outcomes for our community.

In-Camera Summary report (17m 02s)
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=H2JimDQt9b4&t=17m02s
Council met in-camera on September 14 to discuss 3 labour topics and 1 land topic.

Department Reports (17m 17s)
CAO (Not available)

Governance & Strategy (17m 39s)
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=H2JimDQt9b4&t=17m39s
Director Grant provided her monthly report to Council, highlighting: Public Transportation; Fleet Electrification study; ReCover Initiative for Market Hall AKA Truro Farmers’ Market; Climate Risk and Resilience Plan; staff presentation to NSFM webinar on Climate Risk Assessments; Community Wildfire Protection Plan; Deer Management & Urban Deer Hunt planning; communications campaigns; Funding Program Overview; and an overview of Project Charters.

At 20m 29s https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=H2JimDQt9b4&t=20m29s I asked about the Rain Barrel project which I had suggested around this time last year, and if there were any additional details that could be provided; and about any updates in deer management and the availability of contraceptive options within Canada (spoiler: still not available to us).

Corporate Services Report (24m 46s)
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=H2JimDQt9b4&t=24m46s
Director Russell presented her monthly report to Council. At 28m 42s https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=H2JimDQt9b4&t=28m42s I asked about the low-income tax exemption deadline (November 30th), and about any changes to Capital Planning to implement Advanced Tenders to get a head start on paving projects.

Applications for the Low Income Property Tax Exemption are available on the Town of Truro website: https://truro.ca/low-income-property-tax-exemption.html

Fire Service Report (31m 07s)
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=H2JimDQt9b4&t=31m07s
Chief Currie presented his monthly report to Council. I appreciated that the Chief anticipated my question about the car fire and clarified that it had a gas engine. I had no questions, but shared an anecdote that I’d been woken in the middle of the night by a smoke detector chirping due to low battery, and the irony of it happening at the beginning of Fire Prevention Week.

Planning and Development (36m 30s)
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=H2JimDQt9b4&t=36m30s
Director Fox presented his monthly report to Council, highlighting: the Subdivision Bylaw update which is expected to be presented to Council at the November 2, 2026 meeting. There are six active Development Agreements and eight active Site Plan Approval applications. There were 53 active bylaw files during the months of July and August; 29 have been resolved. Director Fox also noted that the applicants for the Development Application at 448-450 Lower Truro Road have filed an appeal with the Nova Scotia Regulatory & Appeals Board (NS RAB, formerly the NS UARB). Solicitor Thompson gives a good overview of the process, including details on participation by the public in the Public Hearing.

At 42m 17s https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=H2JimDQt9b4&t=42m17s I asked if the updated Subdivision Bylaw would be circulated to the Planning Advisory Committee prior to it being presented to Council because of some additional items I’d provided to staff that were also considered non-substantiative. Director Fox will ensure these are circulated. I also asked for my customary update on the Affordable Housing Framework, but there is no update at this time.

Police Services (43m 49s)
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=H2JimDQt9b4&t=43m49s
Chief MacNeil presented his monthly report to Council. These statistics are also posted frequently on the Truro Police Services (TPS) Facebook page (e.g. https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid0Q8QK3VQgNk3FEmEKCuABpAawvPRihn4raQyXoicTshGtoqgnU8fH3V5YdDsFruPSl&id=100069272349379)

At 45m 20s https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=H2JimDQt9b4&t=43m49s I asked about an apparent increase in loudly operated motor vehicles that are disturbing the peace and the best option for residents to address that (call police: 902-895-5351 in town), how noise is measured by police, and the issue of illegible plates on vehicles making it more difficult to report.

At 55m 02s https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=H2JimDQt9b4&t=55m02s I chimed in on Deputy Mayor Thomas’s concerns about e-scooters, which are outside our jurisdiction, but there are municipalities implementing geofencing that limits e-bike and e-scooter speeds and locations, and that I support any legislation limiting those speeds *as long as* it is also applied to motor vehicles which are heavier and far more dangerous. If I had to choose, I’d rather be hit by an e-scooter rider than a several-thousand-pound motor vehicle.

Engineering and Public Works (57m 00s)
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=H2JimDQt9b4&t=57m00s
Acting Director Bent presented his monthly report to Council, which provided updates on the paving, patching, and capital projects. Councillor Pryor brought up the additional pedestrian beacons that Council approved in this year’s budget, which have arrived and are planned to be installed this month.

Parks, Recreation, & Culture (1h 01m 41s)
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=H2JimDQt9b4&t=1h01m41s
Director Simms presented her report to Council, highlighting: active maintenance of trails and public spaces; new bike racks coming to community locations thanks to a partnership with the Ecology Action Centre; hazard tree assessments are ongoing; the Fundy 55+ games; the EMBRACE festival; Fall programming and drop-ins; 52nd provincial volunteer awards; and commemorating National Forest Week, Rail Safety Week, and National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.

Questions by Members (1h 04m 21s)
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=H2JimDQt9b4&t=1h04m21s
Mayor Hinton thanked Deputy Mayor Thomas and me for representing her at recent events that she could not attend. She also discussed the Atlantic Mayors conference, and recognized Ken Henderson who is retiring from over 50 years of service as Musical Director of the Truro Concert Band and was presented with a certificate from the Mayor after the meeting. She also congratulated the Rotary Club of Truro on their 100th anniversary.

At 1h 06m 01s https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=H2JimDQt9b4&t=1h06m01s I circled back to the Market Hall hose tower conversation and asked some questions about the upcoming report from a structural engineer, and discussing if the Heritage Designation is playing more help or hindrance to our ability to preserve and protect our beloved Market Hall. I had additional questions but stopped here in case other Councillors wanted to chime in on the topic; no one did.

At 1h 12m 18s https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=H2JimDQt9b4&t=1h12m18s I brought up the single survey response to a proposed development at 149 Kaulback Street that raised the concern about stormwater management plans not being enacted, and asked if staff were following up on these items, or if the survey respondent should be filing a formal complaint somewhere. Staff do follow up on developments, and have recently identified a property that needs some follow-up and enforcement. The solicitor gave some details on the process as well.

At 1h 15m 15s https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=H2JimDQt9b4&t=1h15m15s I followed up with a constituent request regarding a presentation to Council at CoW regarding horizontal wind turbines as part of our environmental commitment. I think most people still picture a tall structure with rotating blades when they hear “wind turbine,” and these lower-profile boxes are more ideal for rooftop usage and look promising to me.

New Business
RFD: Set Public Hearing Date for 149 Kaulback Street (1h 15m 53s)
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=H2JimDQt9b4&t=1h15m53s
Be it resolved that Council set a public hearing date for November 2, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. to consider the development agreement application by ZZAP Consulting on behalf of Lanshaw Construction to permit a 5-story multi-unit residential development consisting of 42 dwelling units and two levels of parking within a structure at 149 Kaulback Street (PID no. 20166567).

At 1h 16m 42s https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=H2JimDQt9b4&t=1h16m42s I indicated that we have two RFDs requesting public hearing dates be set, and that the next one has attracted a lot of public attention. I wanted to recommend that the hearing be set for the evening, and to check Council’s thoughts on scheduling both public hearings at the same time or keeping them separate. As an aside, having meetings normally scheduled in the evenings as I suggested earlier in this meeting and back in March 2024 would mean not having to make decisions on which meetings are held during the day and which are garnering attention and should be moved to the evening. Mayor Hinton indicated that she had already discussed this with the acting CAO, and that there was an amendment to the motion that had not yet been shared with Council. Motion carried unanimously.

RFD: Set Public Hearing Date for 656 Young Street (1h 17m 57s)
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=H2JimDQt9b4&t=1h17m57s
Be it resolved that Council set a public hearing date for November 19, 2026 at 6:00 p.m. to consider the development agreement application by 4378018 Nova Scotia Limited to permit a 218-unit residential development on lands of 656 Young Street (PID Nos. 20173753 and 20220000). Motion carried unanimously.

The next Public Council meeting is on November 2, 2026 at 1:00 p.m. in Council Chambers at 695 Prince Street.

Meeting adjourned at 2:19 p.m.

As always, I encourage you to watch the entire meeting. Documents for Development Applications (DA’s) can be found on the Town website: https://truro.ca/current-development-applications.html.

149 Kaulback Street (8m 04s)
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=VTxGGC08-YI&t=8m04s
Step 3 of 5 for a Development Agreement (DA) application at 149 Kaulback Street, adjacent to the Cemetery, for a 5-story multi-unit residential development with 43 units and 2 levels of parking within the structure. The site is zoned Urban Growth (UG). Senior Planner Connolly presented at 8m 04s, while the development representatives introduced themselves at 28m 04s https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=VTxGGC08-YI&t=28m04s and gave a short update based on questions and comments from the previous PAC meeting.

At 50m 41s https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=VTxGGC08-YI&t=50m41s I sought some clarification about the location of the amenity room (discussed at length earlier by other committee members), as well as details on amenity room, bike room, waste storage, etc. to ensure that these items are thought of ahead of time. In response to questions by Deputy Mayor, I wanted to clarify whether he wanted the committee to hold them at Step 3 or if by “next meeting” he was referencing the public hearing.

From the gallery, Ms. Parsons spoke at 58m 06s https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=VTxGGC08-YI&t=58m06s regarding the amenity space and the need for a bathroom nearby, to which the developer replied that a bathroom would be a great addition, and about the awnings and gutters.

Motion carried unanimously. I expect that scheduling of a public hearing will take place at the October public council meeting, and that said public hearing will be on Monday, November 2 at 1:00 p.m. ahead of the scheduled public council meeting.

656 Young Street (1h 01m 37s)
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=VTxGGC08-YI&t=1h01m37s
Step 3 of 5 for an application to construct 3 6-story multi-unit buildings and 23 3-story townhouses south of the intersection of Young Street and William Barnhill Drive with 218 units and 266 vehicle parking spaces. The bulk of the area and subject property are zoned Future Growth, but there are also Urban Growth areas present as well. There were public information sessions held at the George Jones Memorial Fire Hall community room on July 21, 2026 that were well attended.

At 1h 37m 28s https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=VTxGGC08-YI&t=1h37m28s I inquired about: the Police recommendation on parking lot visibility; the possibility of conflict between new residents and the existing, allowable presence of horses and bees at the property immediately to the north; and that a landscaping plan exists. I closed with a request that someone from the gallery help me to understand what “preserving the character of South Young Street” looks like to the community.

At 1h 34m 33s https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=VTxGGC08-YI&t=1h34m33s we heard from members of the gallery who thanked the architect for being at the meetings, but expressed disappointment that the developer themselves was not present, the need for a smooth transition for the Paris family next door, stormwater concerns, stormwater management in general and historical flooding of the Paris driveway specifically (I’m following up to see if this is possibly related to long-standing culvert issues in the area that were addressed by Public Works in 2025), outdoor storage for the DA, environmental impacts and possible soil contamination, lack of sidewalks in the area (this has been discussed previously, sidewalks are planned for post-development as the construction vehicles would considerably shorten the sidewalk lifespan if we created sidewalks first), only one entrance in/out of the property, fire access, affordable housing, school transportation, highlighting that this development is not creating a community but adding to one, and more. There were also comments about not being against development, and highlighting historical wrongs and the practice of redlining (see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Redlining).

At roughly 2h 32m 21s https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=VTxGGC08-YI&t=2h32m21s, as the Chair was preparing to read the prepared motion, I interrupted to address the Deputy Mayor’s suggestion about dropping the height from the northernmost multiunit building from 6 stories to 4 stories and began the discussion on a new motion to address that prior to the prepared motion being read. The Deputy Mayor also wanted to add that the Urban Forest Committee review the landscaping plan, so I yielded to him to create the full motion without having to go through additional amendments and such. The motion passed 6-2, with Councillor Graham and member Jordan voting against.

423 Robie Street (2h 48m 25s)
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=VTxGGC08-YI&t=2h48m25s
Step 2 of 5 for a DA to construct 4 5-storey multiunit buildings plus townhouses for approximately 341 dwelling units with 462 vehicle parking spaces plus bicycle parking. This is the third time this DA has appeared before the committee, having been requested by the committee to remain at step 2 due to lack of substantial progress since the first meeting. As an aside, this is the first time we’ve considered a major development in a designated flood plain, so I feel the committee is justified in perhaps being a little harsher on this particular development than others.

At 3h 02m 24s https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=VTxGGC08-YI&t=3h02m24s, I thanked the representative for taking our feedback into account this time, and followed up on questions around: car share; affordable housing via CHMC or other agencies; ownership versus rental (still a possibility to have a mix); speed controls on the private road/driveway; and logistics around the sewer relocation project in order to allow this development to proceed.

At 3h 13m 31s https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=VTxGGC08-YI&t=3h13m31s, we heard from the gallery about stormwater management and underground parking concerns, learning that parking can be located below grade provided that the entrance is above the highest expected floodwater height for a 100-year storm, with no foundation openings below the 100-year storm height. Director Fox referenced the number of underground parking garages in downtown Halifax that exist below regular sea level.

We also heard questions about the on-site pond and concern about it becoming a swamp. I spoke again at 3h 16m 16s https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=VTxGGC08-YI&t=3h16m16s to follow up on this comment and the plan for the pond to be part of the stormwater management plan, asking if this means there would be regular flow in and out of this pond, which would mean it’s not going to be “yucky” and that they should follow up with their engineers to ensure there is some flow or if it’s designed to be a “dry pond.” There was also a question about whether there would be a fence around the pond, whereas this one would not require fencing due to the grade around the pond, unlike some other detention ponds in town. We expect more details at Step 3.

Update on Lower Truro Road appeal (3h 20m 14s)
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=VTxGGC08-YI&t=3h20m14s
Councillor Graham requested an update on whether the developer of the 448-450 Lower Truro Road development (voted down by Council at the September meeting) planned to file an appeal, and how many days remained for an appeal to be filed. There was no update, but Director Fox did speak a bit on how the appeals board tends to interpret the timing for an appeal.

The next meeting of the Planning Advisory Committee (PAC) is scheduled for October 26 at 6:00 p.m. in Council Chambers.

Meeting adjourned at 9:21 p.m.

As always, I recommend watching the entire meeting.

Public Hearing: 448-450 Lower Truro Road (3m 50s)
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=N4-URhfzww4&6=3m50s
Full details for this and all other in-progress Development Agreements (DA) can be found on the Town website: https://truro.ca/current-development-applications.html.

The hearing began with Director Fox giving his presentation at 3m 50s. At 33m 56s https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=N4-URhfzww4&6=33m56s the representatives for the DA gave their presentation.

At 41m 21s https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=N4-URhfzww4&6=41m21s Mayor Hinton opened up comments and questions from the gallery. Some residents had excellent presentations and questions, and we got some of the usual questions that have already been answered at previous meetings. Side note: the online survey reported 121 people FOR and 77 people AGAINST, or 61.1% vs 38.9%; however, only those against showed up to speak. I’d love to hear more from people who are supporting developments.

The Public Hearing adjourned at approximately 7:15 p.m., and we transitioned into the Special Public Council Meeting which had 3 agenda items.

Request for Decision (RFD): 448-450 Lower Truro Road, Development Agreement (1h 16m 45s)
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=N4-URhfzww4&6=1h16m45s
CAO Dolter reads the motion, moved by myself and seconded by Councillor Flemming. As a reminder, Councillors can move a motion regardless of whether or not they support it, as there can be no discussion otherwise. The order of speakers was: Flemming, Graham, Talbot, Pryor, Thomas, McGrath, Graham, and Hinton.

I spoke at 1h 26m 31s https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=N4-URhfzww4&6=1h26m31s. I had much more planned to ask and say, but four Councillors had already indicated they were not supporting the motion, meaning it would not pass, so I pivoted slightly. I made a not-so-subtle mention of an enforceable Affordable Housing Framework and commented on the optics of the land transfer included in the DA. I was frustrated here because I’ve raised these concerns before, but the explanation provided by CAO Dolter here hadn’t been explicitly stated before, and I did not feel we’d been properly informed. I also asked if Director Fox could provide some explanation on the use of DA’s as people still ask questions on how we can approve something that “violates town policies.” As Director Fox clarifies, the point of a DA is to allow negotiation for more intensive uses that do not meet the LUB regulations. His explanation is worth hearing.

The motion was defeated 6-1 with only Councillor Flemming voting in favour. At the time, I knew it was already going to be defeated, so I also voted to defeat it as I didn’t think it made a difference, but in hindsight, I wonder if a positive vote would make a difference in the eyes of the public or the developer. Provide your feedback: do you think a positive or negative vote matters if the outcome is already decided? I had not yet really made up my mind since the matter had already been decided. If you voted YES to the online survey, then I especially want to hear from you. Overall, I feel weird about the whole thing because it feels like my ability to make a decision on the development was taken away when the outcome was already determined.

There is a 14-day appeal period, and I’m curious to see whether the developer exercises that right.

RFD: Appointment of citizen Member to the Heritage Advisory Committee (1h 37m 57s)
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=N4-URhfzww4&6=1h37m57s
There was a slight delay from the noise of the gallery emptying, and then we continued with the motion to appoint Sarah Bucher to the Heritage Advisory Committee. The motion carried unanimously.

RFD: Audit Committee Confirmation (1h 38m 53s)
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=N4-URhfzww4&6=1h38m53s
The motion: “Be it resolved that Council confirm membership of the Audit Committee as consisting of Cathy Hinton, Bill Thomas, Wayne Talbot, Brian Matthews, and Helen Becker, and further appoint Cathy Hinton as the Chair of the audit committee in accordance with the Audit Committee Terms of Reference.”

At 1h 40m 06s https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=N4-URhfzww4&6=1h40m06s I asked about the Terms of Reference, which CAO Dolter clarified that membership is supposed to be approved annually, which hasn’t been done, and the committee will be reviewing the Terms of Reference at an upcoming meeting. The motion carried unanimously.

The next Public Council meeting is on October 5, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. in Council Chambers at 695 Prince Street.

Meeting adjourned at 7:41 p.m.

As always, I encourage you to watch the whole meeting as my recap is solely focused on my perspective and questions.

Financial Review Public Transportation (1m 51s)
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=VOjxg0cXDLs&t=1m51s
Director’s Grant and Russell presented a staff report on the financial impacts to the tax base for implementing a public transit system, providing 5 different options, in short:

1. Take extra time to find funding, which seems unlikely to result in extra funding;
2. A scaled-back system with a smaller coverage area;
3. A town-only system that does not include the County (which I would only consider if the County does not get on board);
4. A time-limited pilot project to implement public transit;
5. Defer implementation and establish funding, i.e. do nothing and create a reserve fund.

Please watch the presentation to get all the details of each option, including the identified pros, cons, assumptions, and identified risks.

At 46m 10s https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=VOjxg0cXDLs&t=46m10s I concurred with the Mayor that this was a well-done report. I then asked about: accessibility (requirements not yet set); fuel source (diesel was assumed based on the initial report); bike racks on the buses; tax impact from the highest potential tax increase (~$280 on a $350k assessment); and discussed the high benefit of transit, density numbers of towns with successful transit systems, the success of Yarmouth’s system, and how I feel we can’t afford NOT to invest in transit as not having it will have higher costs to society. I also proposed a sixth option: basically Option 4 but without the time-limited pilot. I feel strongly that we should be future-thinking and committing to public transit which is shown to benefit society’s the world over.

The next Committee of the Whole meeting is scheduled for October 22 at 4:00 p.m. in Council Chambers.

Meeting adjourned at 4:45 p.m.

#TownOfTruro #COW #HowAreYouBeingRepresented #LongJohnFestival #CommitteeOfTheWhole

As always, I encourage you to watch the entire meeting. Council does not meet in August which usually means that our September is longer meeting, and this year was no exception.

Presentations and Delegations: None.

Old Business: None.

In-Camera Summary report (3m 06s)
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=0-DG5oD2iY8&t=3m06s
Council met in-camera on July 23 to discuss 1 personnel issue. An in-camera session was scheduled following the September 14 public meeting where we discussed 3 Personnel / Labour items and one Land item. Considering recent interest regarding in-camera meetings, Mayor Hinton asked CAO Dolter to give a brief explanation to the public on these meetings.

Department Reports (4m 46s)
CAO (4m 58s)
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=0-DG5oD2iY8&t=4m58s
CAO Dolter provided his report, including: Audit Committee meeting; Employee Service Awards; RECC Board meetings; 2028 Women’s World Curling Championship bid; Urban Forestry report for the RECC; State of the Province address by Premier Houston; Atlantic First Nations Water Authority service agreement; Police Review discussions hosted in Truro (September 16, 2026); CAO vacation; and introduction of Alison Grant as Director of Governance and Strategy.

At 13m 16s https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=0-DG5oD2iY8&t=13m16s I asked: whether the RECC Assets update includes the somewhat contentious bleachers; if there’s a deadline for FCM Rapid Adaptation funding, or when we expect to receive a response; and for confirmation that the crusher dust walkways at the No. 2 Construction Battalion Athletic Facility (No. 2CBAF) being converted to concrete were always planned but were delayed due to schedules and funding. Additional work is likely to follow.

Governance & Strategy (19m 09s)
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=0-DG5oD2iY8&t=19m09s
Director Grant provided her first monthly report to Council, highlighting: Public Transportation; Fleet Electrification study; ReCover Initiative for Market Hall AKA Truro Farmers’ Market; Climate Risk and Resilience Plan; Community Wildfire Protection Plan; Central Nova Scotia Tourism Development Society strategic planning; Deer Management & Urban Deer Hunt planning; Rock The Hub success; communications campaigns; Funding Program Overview; and an overview of Project Charters.

Corporate Services Report (30m 32s)
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=0-DG5oD2iY8&t=30m32s
Director Russell presented her monthly report to Council. At 37m 48s https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=0-DG5oD2iY8&t=37m48s I asked Director Russell to repeat the Water Utility deficit ($500k dollars), and followed up with questions on the potential rain barrel pilot project and estimated savings to residents / loss to utility revenue, and pointing out that rain barrels can act as a personal stormwater management plan.

Fire Service Report (40m 21s)
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=0-DG5oD2iY8&t=40m21s
Chief Currie presented his monthly report to Council. At 42m 45s https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=0-DG5oD2iY8&t=42m45s I joined the Chief in welcoming four new recruits to Truro Fire Service, asked the fuel type of the 2 car fires listed in the report (both gas), and thanked the Chief’s team and all first responders who helped keep the town safe and informed during the train derailment of late August.

Planning and Development (43m 36s)
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=0-DG5oD2iY8&t=43m36s
Director Fox presented his monthly report to Council, highlighting: the Subdivision Bylaw update which was presented to PAC on August 31; discussions with staff at the Nova Scotia Department of Growth and Development on the six proposals received for development of the old hospital site on Willow Street; attending the Canadian Institute of Planners conference. There are five active Development Agreements and six active Site Plan Approval applications. There were 84 active bylaw files during the months of July and August; 61 have been resolved.

At 46m 21s https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=0-DG5oD2iY8&t=46m21s I jokingly thanked the Mayor for stealing my question about the Town’s involvement in the old hospital site submissions, then asked about the status of the Stanfield’s redevelopment project that was approved almost 2 years ago, and of our progress on an enforceable Affordable Housing Framework. CAO Dolter indicated he and CAO Troke (County of Colchester) spoke with the Deputy Minister for Opportunities and Development and discussed the position of a housing coordinator funded by the Province. The Deputy Minister was generally supportive of the concept, and the Town and County will be making a written submission that could be used as a pilot project for Nova Scotia. I like to see Truro being a leader with pilot projects, and will continue to keep this topic active at Council meetings as I have done since Day 1.

Police Services (55m 40s)
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=0-DG5oD2iY8&t=55m40s
Chief MacNeil presented his monthly report to Council. These statistics are also posted frequently on the Truro Police Services (TPS) Facebook page (e.g. https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid055aiP5kUEz1H1za8oTwbSbbYH1u6Zb7uw4R53Vd6SscndgD7z3nyjLwscJQjBSahl&id=100069272349379)

At 57m 39s https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=0-DG5oD2iY8&t=57m39s I pointed out that for July and August, Police reported an average collisions rate of one a day, that Truro Fire responded to 29 collisions in that timeframe, and that in response to Councillor Talbot’s question about sightlines at an intersection that there was apparently no mechanism for addressing that safety concern. This resulted in an interesting discussion that included daylighting triangles from the Land-Use Bylaws (LUB) which only applies to structures but not vegetation. The Mayor moved on to other questions before Chief MacNeil asked to respond to my question pointing out that TPS often work with the Traffic Authority on taking proactive stances on road safety. With apologies to the Town, I am not familiar with any updates having been made but requested that Council be notified of said changes so that we can help keep residents informed. The CAO did point out the new No Left Turn sign from Park Street to Queen Street as one example, and going forward said changes will be identified in the Public Works and Engineering reports.

Engineering and Public Works (1h 05m 15s)
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=0-DG5oD2iY8&t=1h05m15s
Director Browning is on sick leave, so acting Director Bent presented his monthly report to Council which provided updates on the paving, patching, and capital projects. Councillor Pryor brought up the additional pedestrian beacons that Council approved in this year’s budget (due to arrive and be installed in a few weeks).

At 1h 11m 06s https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=0-DG5oD2iY8&t=1h11m06s I gave kudos to staff on quick repairs to a water main break on Esplanade in front of Red Knot Bakery on Sunday, and also in advance for the planned paving of the gravel parking lot on Victoria Street behind the police station, only to learn that the entire lot is not being paved, just a single strip for police vehicles to use as they enter and exit the station. As mentioned during the meeting, I’ve done some review of the parking lot and observed some “odd” parking that resulted in very poor utilization of the lot. There was discussion around how to delineate spots, and I’m going to suggest to the CAO that some partially buried painted logs could be useful, and help keep the impermeability of the lot low.

I also inquired about an updated Accessible Parking map that will be put on the Town Website, including new spots in the Havelock Street area; I’ll ensure that’s shared once I know it’s available. I also asked about the asphalt portions of sidewalks on Havelock Street, which is apparently due to drainage issues and lots being very close to the level of the road. The asphalt allows for easier snow clearing and drainage given the geography of this area. Finally, I brought forth a constituent suggestion that Havelock Street should be one-way only, which I currently do not support as I believe it would be too wide and encourage speeding there as has sometimes been observed, for example, on Inglis Place.

Parks, Recreation, & Culture (1h 16m 52s)
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=0-DG5oD2iY8&t=1h16m52s
Director Simms presented her report to Council highlighting a successful summer season; active maintenance of trails and public spaces; responding to garbage and needle reports; high demand for recreation facilities including national-level competition at the Argus Drive ballfield; popularity of The Railyard Pump Track; Hemlock Woolly Adelgid (HWA) treatment; discovery of Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) in Truro, representing a small number of our urban forest; closing of Victoria Park pool for the season; ice rentals at the stadium commenced on August 17; Atlantic Track & Field championships and CC Riders Provincial tournament at the No. 2 Construction Battalion Athletic Facility (No.2CBAF); drop-in activities; Sunday Concert Series and summer movies in the park; and recognition of several important dates like Canada Day, Acadian Day, and more.

At 1h 22m 16s https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=0-DG5oD2iY8&t=1h22m16s I joined the Mayor in thanking and congratulating two local youths for taking the Civic Pride initiative to clean up graffiti that was recently created at Herb Peppard Park on Alice Street. I then asked Director Simms about EAB and if we know the prevalence of Ash trees on private property, and if residents do have Ash trees can they work with the town on addressing this new threat? Director Simms indicated the best course for residents would be through CFIA: https://inspection.canada.ca/en/plant-health/invasive-pests-and-plants/insects/emerald-ash-borer.

Questions by Members (1h 24m 27s)
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=0-DG5oD2iY8&t=1h24m27s
The Mayor introduced her new Mayors’ Community Proud Recognition Certificate program that she’s working on rolling out with staff, highlighting the domino effect that happens when people do good in the community, among other updates including meetings with Minister Sean Fraser on homelessness, the upcoming public hearing for 448-450 Lower Truro Road, the visit from Mayor’s Mitchell (Bridgewater) and Dicks (New Glasgow) and other stakeholders on homelessness, and more.

At 1h 27m 44s https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=0-DG5oD2iY8&t=1h24m27s I brought a motion related to an initiative that New Glasgow Mayor Nancy Dicks introduced us to, recommending that the Town of Truro write a letter of support to the province and Northern Health Zone for their transformational pilot proposal for residential rehabilitation services project. It was seconded, discussion ensued, and I closed by discussing the studied benefits to grouping wraparound services together, and that while addiction and mental health issues can drive homelessness, it’s often ignored that homelessness can drive addiction and mental health issues. It’s a complex issue with no easy fixes, and I’m happy to support New Glasgow on leading this charge. The motion carried unanimously.

New Business
RFD: Approval of 2025-26 Consolidated Financial Statements (1h 37m 43s)
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=0-DG5oD2iY8&t=1h37m43s
Be it resolved that Council approve the 2025-2026 audited Consolidated Financial Statements of the Town of Truro, as reviewed and recommended by the Town’s Audit Committee. Motion carried unanimously.

RFD: 2026-27 Water Capital Reallocation - Water Meters (1h 41m 29s)
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=0-DG5oD2iY8&t=1h41m29s
Be it Resolved that Council approve $110,000 capital account reallocation from the James Street Waterline replacement to the purchase of water meters to support operations within the Water Utility.

At 1h 43m 12s https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=0-DG5oD2iY8&t=1h43m12s I inquired how the original purchase occurred, and what steps were being taken to prevent it from recurring. Motion carried unanimously.

RFD: Sponsorship Request - Nova Scotia Music Week (1h 44m 58s)
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=0-DG5oD2iY8&t=1h44m58s
Be it resolved that Truro Town Council approve a sponsorship in the amount of $1,000 to Music Nova Scotia for the 2026 Music Nova Scotia Music & Industry Awards as part of Nova Scotia Music Week 2026, to be held in Truro from November 12-15, 2026, and that the sponsorship be funded from the approved 2026-2027 Strategic Initiatives budget. At 1h 48m 20s https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=0-DG5oD2iY8&t=1h48m20s I offered my support for the motion and also asked regarding the bidding process for NS Music Week and previous bids that did not align with our budgeting timelines, and that the CNSTDS would be taking lead on these projects to help ensure such opportunities are not missed as they have been in the past. Motion carried unanimously.

RFD: Reschedule October Committee of the Whole (1h 50m 51s)
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=0-DG5oD2iY8&t=1h50m51s
Be it resolved that Council approve the rescheduling of the October 2026 regular meeting of the Committee of the Whole scheduled for October 15 to October 22 to allow staff to attend the AMANS Fall Conference. Motion carried unanimously.

RFD: Council Procedure Bylaw, First Reading (1h 51m 55s)
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=0-DG5oD2iY8&t=1h51m55s
Be it resolved that Council give first reading to By-Law B100-008, the Council Procedure Bylaw, as presented. I spoke at 1h 57m 25s https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=0-DG5oD2iY8&t=1h57m25s in support of the motion but against an amendment to reduce Councillor speaking time from 10 minutes to 5 minutes. I also discussed the “Third Thursday” rule for Committee of the Whole as that can cause some interesting overlaps, such as this week when we have Council meeting the same week as CoW. Another option I presented is to consider moving Council from a Monday onto another day that does not regularly fall on a Statutory Holiday, which would help create consistency.

The amendment for speaking time carried 4-3 with Deputy Mayor Thomas, Councillor Pryor, and myself voting against. The amended motion carried 6-1 with Deputy Mayor Thomas voting against.

RFD: 2026-27 Capital Reallocation - Paving (2h 08m 34s)
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=0-DG5oD2iY8&t=2h08m34s
Be it resolved that Council approve the reallocation of $15,500 from the 2026-2027 Traffic Light Upgrade Project budget to the Victoria Street parking/lot driveway and Douglas Street parking lot paving projects to address the tender overage resulting from the public tender process and further direct staff to award the tender. Motion carried unanimously.

RFD: 2026-27 Capital Reallocation - Sewer Pump (2h 12m 28s)
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=0-DG5oD2iY8&t=2h12m28s
Be it resolved that Council approve the reallocation of $24,361.22 from the 2026-2027 Traffic Light Upgrade Project budget to the replacement of Pump #1 at the Prince Street pumping station and further direct staff to proceed with the purchase of the pump.

At 2h 15m 12s https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=0-DG5oD2iY8&t=2h15m12s I asked about the possible procurement risks of having a “sole-source supplier” for the pump and if there are options to increase competitiveness and reduce risk by having different machinery, learning that most of the machinery is available from multiple vendors but the pumps are specific and only available from this supplier. Motion carried unanimously.

RFD: Reallocation of Grant Proceeds Colchester Food Network (2h 17m 28s)
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=0-DG5oD2iY8&t=2h17m28s
Be it resolved that Council approve the reallocation of $3,261.44 of the unspent Spring Fling grant funds to the August Garden Party and Fall Harvest Party proposed by the Colchester Food Network in accordance with the Municipal Grant Policy.

At 2h 22m 19s https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=0-DG5oD2iY8&t=2h22m19s I spoke in support of the motion, which was carried unanimously.

RFD: West Prince Advisory Committee Appointments (2h 23m 25s)
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=0-DG5oD2iY8&t=2h23m25s
Be it resolved that Council appoint Taran Jordan, Raymond Tynes, Raya Parsons, Travis Drummond, Chantelle Paris, and Tamara Tynes Powell to the West Prince Area Advisory Committee as citizen members in accordance with the West Prince Area Advisory Committee Terms of Reference. Motion carried unanimously.

RFD: 2026-27 Capital Reallocation - Boiler (2h 29m 07s)
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=0-DG5oD2iY8&t=2h29m07s
Be it resolved that Council approve the reallocation of $15,288 from the 2026-2027 Civic Square Brick Work project to fund the capital costs associated with the boiler repairs at Glassey Avenue. At 2h 31m 01s https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=0-DG5oD2iY8&t=2h31m01s I indicated that boilers can be old tech, and inquired about when we would be investigating newer, more efficient, and more environmentally friendly replacements. The motion carried unanimously.

RFD: Letter from Colchester Requesting Joint Meeting (2h 35m 12s)
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=0-DG5oD2iY8&t=2h35m12s
Be it resolved that Council direct the Mayor and CAO to send a letter to the Central Nova Scotia Civic Centre Society Board indicating the Town’s willingness to participate in a joint meeting with the Board and the newly appointed General Manager. The purpose of the meeting would be to provide an opportunity for both Councils to receive updates, ask questions, and gain a better understanding of the General Manager’s approach and priorities as he begins his role. I spoke at 2h 40m 14s https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=0-DG5oD2iY8&t=2h40m14s to get clarity over Board relationships and mechanisms, the importance of an agenda focused on the path forward, and my support of the motion, which was carried unanimously.

Correspondence for Information
Colchester Historeum Correspondence (2h 45m 28s)
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=0-DG5oD2iY8&t=2h45m28s
In response to correspondence from the Colchester Historeum, Deputy Mayor Thomas brought a motion to increase grant funding for the Historeum from $10,000 to $25,000. At 2h 58m 26s https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=0-DG5oD2iY8&t=2h58m26s I acknowledged the difficulty of the situation, the necessity and reasoning of having policy and processes, but agreed to a one-time increase in the grant funding to the Historeum. Post-meeting, I spoke with some of the Historeum members in attendance to see what other avenues could be followed to make up for the funding gap that such a decision could place them in next year. An amendment was proposed by Councillor Graham to lower the additional amount to $13,000 instead of $15,000, but was not seconded. The motion carried.

Maggie’s Place Correspondence & Response (3h 00m 46s)
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=0-DG5oD2iY8&t=3h00m46s
CAO Dolter discussed the request from Maggie’s Place to be added to the standing grants policy for tax relief, and that they have been added for consideration to be undertaken in the upcoming budget year.

Municipal Affairs, Office of the Minister Correspondence & Response (3h 02m 02s)
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=0-DG5oD2iY8&t=3h02m02s
CAO Dolter indicated that we received a similar letter as the County of Colchester that was widely circulated on social media from the Minister of Municipal Affairs regarding the use of in-camera sessions, and that we have responded asking for additional information on these concerns as we are careful with our agenda topics, and our willingness to work with him to address concerns if more information can be provided. At 3h 04m 56s https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=0-DG5oD2iY8&t=3h04m56s I thanked the Mayor for her response to the Minister, and highlighted my reputation for transparency and indicated that I have not attended a single in-camera session that was not within the bounds of the Municipal Government Act (MGA). I have talked to colleagues at other municipal units and only Truro and Colchester seem to have received the letter. I suspect that someone made a complaint, and I’d like to know more about the allegation.

RFD: Letter of Support - Brookfield Athletic Association (3h 07m 05s)
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=0-DG5oD2iY8&t=3h07m05s
Mayor Hinton read a letter from Chief Bob Gloade, sent also to Mayor Blair, requesting a letter of support to the Brookfield Athletic Association in their bid to host the 2027 U20 Fast Pitch National Championship. Motion carried unanimously.

The next Public Council meeting is on October 5, 2026 at 1:00 p.m. in Council Chambers at 695 Prince Street.

Meeting adjourned at 4:09 p.m.

#HowAreYouBeingRepresented

As always, I encourage you to watch the entire meeting. Documents for Development applications can be found on the Town website: https://truro.ca/current-development-applications.html

149 Kaulback Street (3m 15s)
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=P0dTc5Fxgoc&t=3m15s
Step 2 of 5 for a Development Agreement (DA) application at 149 Kaulback Street, adjacent to the Cemetery, for a 5-story multi-unit residential development with 43 units and 2 levels of parking within the structure. The site is zoned Urban Growth (UG), and representatives were in attendance with their own presentation in addition to the staff presentation.

At 22m 23s https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=P0dTc5Fxgoc&t=22m23s I inquired about: staff comments that the amenity space provided is less than what would be required per Land-Use Bylaws (LUB); barrier-free parking and accessible units; building materials in use; width of the bidirectional driveways for safety; bicycle parking and EV charging infrastructure; affordable housing and below-market units; ownership opportunities vs rental-only units; and a design-thinking approach.

At 44m 52s https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=P0dTc5Fxgoc&t=44m52s I sought clarity regarding Deputy Mayor Thomas’s comments regarding the height vs setback. I also asked about rooftop usage (solar, green roofing, stormwater management) and the potential for water, snow, or ice to fall from the roof that slopes to the sidewalk alongside the building, referencing the many ice jams and damaged gutters observed during Winter 2026.

Step 3 is expected to be presented at the next meeting.

136 Wade Road (55m 35s)
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=P0dTc5Fxgoc&t=55m35s
Step 1 of 5 for an application to construct a 7-story mixed-use development with 70 residential units and 996 m2 (10,720 ft2) of ground floor commercial use. This parcel is currently zoned Regional Service (RS) and contains current buildings housing several commercial buildings, and would be constructed on an area of the parcel that is currently grass.

At 1h 09m 45s https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=P0dTc5Fxgoc&t=1h09m45s I sought clarification on: the location of the building in relation to existing structures; the considerations for a proposal that is within both Town and County; the potential conflict between the residential driveway and what is currently only commercial truck traffic to the Walmart loading zone, and potential noise concerns for late-night deliveries to the same. I also pointed out that this proposal is very light on details and asked my standard questions about affordable housing, charging infrastructure, bicycle parking, and rooftop usage (solar, green roofing, amenity space). I’ve long supported mixed-use developments that help reduce our car dependency and increase neighbourhood walkability, though I acknowledge that the area currently has a low walkability score which may not be raised significantly through this development, but would be of great benefit to those living at the development if it is built.

Proposed Amendments to the Town of Truro’s Subdivision Bylaw (1h 28m 06s)
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=P0dTc5Fxgoc&t=1h28m06s
Due to a scheduling conflict, Chair Gourley-Davis stepped away and I, as Vice Chair, chaired the remainder of the meeting.

Planner Macpherson presented 42 amendments from minor items like correcting outdated names of government departments and correcting references to the former Planning Act, which is now the Municipal Government Act. There are removals of redundant clauses, removal of appendices to align with how our bylaws are currently structured, correcting references to our updated Municipal Planning Strategy, removing gendered language, and rewording sections to be clearer and less cumbersome. There is also a Municipal Standard Service Specifications document that will be created from one of the appendices, and some clauses are removed from the bylaw and moved to the new document.

The motion to recommend Council to approve the amendments and direct Engineering and Public Works to draft the Municipal Standard Service Specifications document passed unanimously.

Public Notification Process (1h 49m 46s)
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=P0dTc5Fxgoc&t=1h49m46s
As follow-up to a motion I made at the June 1, 2026 Council meeting (ref. https://youtu.be/watch?v=GD-IL4hdAeE&t=1h24m33s), Director Fox presented a staff report on possible updates to the Public Notification Process as it relates to Development Agreements. Based on the report, the committee believes the current process is the best of the options as the presented options are either costly, ineffective, or both.

There was discussion around updating DA signage to be larger, clearer, or adding QR codes so that people walking by can use their phones to be linked directly to the DA section of the town website.

The next meeting of the Planning Advisory Committee (PAC) is scheduled for September 28 at 6:00 p.m. in Council Chambers.

Meeting adjourned at 8:18 p.m.

As always, I encourage you to watch the entire meeting.

Petitions, Delegations, and Correspondence
None.

Request for Decision (RFD): Wildlife Feeding Prohibition Bylaw (2m 9s)
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=aYwDHfO\_NEo&t=2m9s
Second reading of the Wildlife Feeding Prohibition Bylaw, and repeal of the Feeding of Wild Birds and Animals Bylaw (B130-005). Deputy Mayor Thomas asked Mr. Dolter to expand on why we’re making this bylaw update, which CAO Dolter answered and highlighted that feeding of birds is still permitted within reason. At 6m 15s https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=aYwDHfO\_NEo&t=6m15s I expanded upon the reasoning of “why” we were doing a new bylaw. I had originally put forward a motion for staff to investigate an updated bylaw because the old bylaw was proving to be ineffective. Feeding deer is detrimental to both the human and the deer populations. Instead of having to prove that feeding the deer was an immediate nuisance, we instead recognize that there is inherent nuisance and danger in feeding deer and that tickets can be issued to anyone found feeding the deer without the need to prove the nuisance.

I don’t like to spend much time on the deer, but I put the motion forward because my Council colleagues frequently discussed deer feeding, and staff had pointed out the challenges of issuing tickets under the wording of the bylaw. It made sense to me to adjust the bylaw. Each motion passed unanimously, suggesting that my colleagues agree. For more information on why feeding wild animals is bad for both humans and animals, I suggest reading this page on the Parks Canada website: https://parks.canada.ca/lhn-nhs/qc/saintours/nature/animaux-sauvages-wild-animals

RFD: Mi’kmawey Debert Cultural Centre (MDCC) Grant Request (6m 55s)
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=aYwDHfO\_NEo&t=6m55s
A request for 20k per year for 5 years to help fund the MDCC project in Debert was brought before Council partway into our fiscal year, after the budget had already been approved, and after several other funding requests that were expected to be approved. Staff recommended deferring this vote to the 2027-2028 budget since there was not sufficient funding in our current budget to fund this request, the request is for more than the municipal grant policy allows, and is a multi-year commitment. Motion passed unanimously.

RFD: Grant Request - Winter Long John Festival (14m 20s)
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=aYwDHfO\_NEo&t=14m20s
Executive Director of the Central Nova Scotia Tourism Development Society (CNSTDS), Nick Sharpe, presented at the Committee of the Whole (ref. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=EhGCGBgZ6Ew&t=2m15s) regarding an expansion of the Winter Long John Festival. I spoke at 19m 04s https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=aYwDHfO\_NEo&t=19m04s, acknowledging that there is inherent risk in outdoor events, especially in winter, but that I think it’s a reasonable risk and investment to bring people to our Town to see all that we have to offer, including the excellent snowshoeing and fat biking enabled by our wonderful staff and volunteers. The motion passed unanimously.

RFD: 448-450 Lower Truro Road DA - Reschedule Public Hearing Date (20m 13s)
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=aYwDHfO\_NEo&t=20m13s
A Public Hearing for this Development Agreement (DA) had been scheduled for July 16, 2026 at 6:30 p.m. W.M. Fares requested this be rescheduled “to accommodate attendance and participation by area residents.” At 22m 01s https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=aYwDHfO\_NEo&t=22m01s, I sought clarification about whether any changes were being proposed; staff are not aware of any changes to the DA. Motion carried unanimously; new Public Hearing is scheduled for September 17 at 6:00 p.m. in Council Chambers.

RFD: RECC Budget (22m 47s)
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=aYwDHfO\_NEo&t=22m47s
The RECC’s Interim General Manager, Joel Dawe, and Chief Financial Officer, Brad Lawrence, presented the RECC’s 2026–27 Budget to Council during a Joint Council meeting with Colchester County on June 23, 2026. County Council passed the proposed RECC budget at their public meeting on June 25, 2026, and it was passed by the RECC board prior to presentation to Council. At 31m 09s https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=aYwDHfO\_NEo&t=31m09s I spoke in response to Councillor Graham’s statement that she would not support the budget due to potential community impacts. I stated that the RECC cannot operate without an approved budget and the severe negative impact on our community if the RECC suddenly ceased to operate, and that we are doing our due diligence with addressing concerns at the facility. The motion passed 5-2 with Councillors Graham and Flemming against.

In-Camera Summary (32m 00s)
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=aYwDHfO\_NEo&t=32m00s
Council met in-camera on June 18 with 3 items of a labour nature, and 3 items of a legal nature. No requirement for in-camera today.

Department Reports
CAO (32m 35s)
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=aYwDHfO\_NEo&t=32m35s
CAO Dolter provided his report, including: RECC Board Meeting (June 12, 2026); TCPEP AGM (June 24, 2026); Joint Meeting County and Town - RECC Budget (June 23, 2026); Community Wildfire Protection Plan (June 23, 2026); Regional Tactical Support Team (July 2, 2026); ACOA - Building Communities Strong Fund - local impact stream (June 11, 2026); Truro Pride Parade (June 27, 2026); Supportive Housing and Homelessness in NS (June 25, 2026); Public Transportation; Fleet Electrification Study; ReCover Initiative - Truro Farmers’ Market; Climate Risk and Resilience Plan; and EDIA initiatives.

At 46m 49s https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=aYwDHfO\_NEo&t=46m49s I expressed my frustration at the delays in getting an enforceable Affordable Housing Framework and questioned if anything came of the June 25 meeting that could help us move forward, and challenged CAO Dolter that items not discussed had, I thought, been promised to have been brought up at the meeting. I expectated we’d have a vote on Public Transit before us this month too, but Staff indicated they had committed to having a report for Council in September. To clarify, I asked if this meant a vote in September, or a report in September followed by a vote in October. CAO Dolter indicated that staff would take direction from Council in September with a possible vote in October. It’s been a long journey, but I continue to fight for public transit in Truro. Finally, the CAO had indicated in his report that the RECC board had approved draft minutes from October 20, 2025 and November 17, 2025, as well as minutes from a special meeting held November 03, 2025. I inquired where the public could access these minutes, and was informed that the request would have to go through the RECC board.

Corporate Services Report (1h 00m 58s)
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=aYwDHfO\_NEo&t=1h00m58s
Director Russell presented her monthly report to Council.

Fire Service Report (1h 06m 04s)
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=aYwDHfO\_NEo&t=1h06m04s
Chief Currie presented his monthly report to Council. The report in the Council package indicated one car fire, and I was going to ask about the fuel type of said fire, but the Chief clarified when presenting that it was a gasoline car. I thank Chief Currie for anticipating my question and answering it in advance.

Planning and Development (1h 07m 17s)
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=aYwDHfO\_NEo&t=1h07m17s
CAO Dolter presented Director Fox’s report, including an update to the Subdivision Bylaw, which forms part of the Municipal Planning Strategy, and will be presented at the next Planning Advisory Committee meeting. There are four active Development Agreements and seven active Site Plan Approval applications. There were 42 active bylaw files during the month of June; 17 have been resolved.

At 1h 09m 26s https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=aYwDHfO\_NEo&t=1h09m26s I inquired about the Site Plan Approval process as this is still new within the Town and in these reports. There were applications from previous reports that are now under construction, which do not show on the report. Unlike with Development Agreements, Site Plan Approvals are not tracked through the construction phase. I also noted that most of the Site Plan Approvals seemed to be for Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) and asked if interested parties should contact Planning & Development directly if they wish to build their own ADUs; the answer is yes, contact information here: https://truro.ca/town-departments.html#planning

Police Services (1h 11m 08s)
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=aYwDHfO\_NEo&t=1h11m08s
Chief MacNeil presented his monthly report to Council. These statistics are also posted frequently on the Truro Police Services (TPS) Facebook page (e.g. https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid055aiP5kUEz1H1za8oTwbSbbYH1u6Zb7uw4R53Vd6SscndgD7z3nyjLwscJQjBSahl&id=100069272349379)

Engineering and Public Works (1h 12m 19s)
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=aYwDHfO\_NEo&t=1h12m19s
Director Browning presented his monthly report to Council, highlighting: the streets included in the 2026 Asphalt Paving Project; construction kick-off meeting for Milling and Paving projects; Argus Drive Ball Field Project; construction kick-off for Havelock Street reconstruction; substantial completion of Cobequid Drive project; detailed design for concrete walkways at the No. 2 Construction Battalion Athletic Field; continued work on data acquisition and verification of the overall sanitary sewer system; continued asphalt patching program; Condition Rating Assessment to commence once patching program is completed; no water main breaks or service leaks in June; adjusting water valve and catch basin heights on streets scheduled for paving; completion of the annual hydrant flushing program; and continued work on the water rate study.

At 1h 17m 17s https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=aYwDHfO\_NEo&t=1h17m17s I sought a quick clarification on the paving of Lyman Street “from Alice to Lyman.” Director Browning indicated it’s listed as Adam Street, but practically will go beyond up to roughly the access driveway of civic number 118.

Parks, Recreation, & Culture (1h 19m 53s)
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=aYwDHfO\_NEo&t=1h19m53s
Director Simms presented her report to Council highlighting: welcoming of 35 summer students; seasonal maintenance cleanup and park preparation; flowers and planters setup in downtown Truro; splash pad and pool opened in Victoria Park; reminder that camps, tents, bonfires, and smoking are not permitted in Town parks; Hemlock Woolly Adelgid treatment applied to 1,005 Hemlock trees to date, treatment to continue in the fall; the annual Bike Rodeo; Truro Pride Parade and Family Fun Day; Canada Day events; drop-in and scheduled community events.

At 1h 24m 46s https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=aYwDHfO\_NEo&t=1h24m46s I thanked Director Simms for her reminder about the smoke-free spaces, and inquired about the official opening of the pump track, which is still under planning and not ready for announcement yet.

Questions by Members (1h 25m 45s)
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=aYwDHfO\_NEo&t=1h25m45s
The Mayor brought up Pickleball, Rock the Hub, NSPE & 4H Days.

New Business
RFD: Parks, Recreation, and Culture Committee Appointments (1h 30m 27s)
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=aYwDHfO\_NEo&t=1h30m27s
Congratulations to Carrie Drake and Mitch Millard on their appointment to the Parks, Recreation, and Culture Committee.

RFD: Grant Request - 2026 Nova Scotia Provincial Exhibition (1h 31m 15s)
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=aYwDHfO\_NEo&t=1h31m15s
On June 1, 2026, the Town received a request from Colchester County 4-H seeking financial support in the amount of $10,000 for the 2026 Nova Scotia Provincial Exhibition (NSPE). At 1h 36m 13s https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=aYwDHfO\_NEo&t=1h36m13s I indicated support for the motion, but wanted to raise the point that we have received two separate requests at this meeting for events outside of Town boundaries (MDCC and NSPE). I’m a big fan of the 4H program and believe it will benefit the Town and region, and impact many Truro residents. I do think it’s worth considering how far outside of Town boundaries we want to spend our money, and when the Centra Nova Scotia Tourism Development Society should be funding these initiatives instead of requests to each individual municipality. Motion passed unanimously.

RFD: Grant Request - Colchester Historical Society (1h 39m 08s)
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=aYwDHfO\_NEo&t=1h39m08s
Colchester Historical Society had submitted their application by regular mail instead of to the designated email address, and Staff have no record of receiving the request. The request meets the eligibility criteria, and a motion was tabled to grant $10,000 for the 2026-2027 fiscal year. Motion passed unanimously.

RFD: Grant Request - Lemonaid Stand Society (LSS) (1h 41m 38s)
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=aYwDHfO\_NEo&t=1h41m38s
LSS submitted a grant request that met eligibility requirements but was missed during the budget discussions. At 1h 43m 22s https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=aYwDHfO\_NEo&t=1h43m22s I asked the same question as at a previous meeting when this was revealed: are we sure that we have addressed all of the grant requests, and what steps are we taking to ensure a smoother process next year? I also provided my support for the motion, which passed unanimously.

RFD: Loan Write-Off - Cobequid Society for Athletic Excellence (1h 45m 44s)
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=aYwDHfO\_NEo&t=1h45m44s
The Cobequid Society for Athletic Excellence (Cougar Dome) has submitted a request for operational funding support from the Town of Truro. In consideration of this request, staff recommend that, in lieu of providing new operational funding, the Town forgive the outstanding balance of the existing loan owed by the Society. As of June 30, 2026, the remaining loan balance payable to the Town of Truro is $152,609.01.
Forgiveness of this balance would provide immediate financial relief to the organization, support the continued operation of a key recreational facility within the community, and eliminate the need for ongoing repayment obligations.

At 1h 47m 11s https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=aYwDHfO\_NEo&t=1h47m11s I suggested that it does make sense to not provide grant funding while taking money back for the loan, and asked for clarification on the substantial impact to society and the Town on forgiveness of this loan. It was also pointed out that they receive tax relief from the Town, and I thanked the CAO for highlighting the large support they receive from the Town. The motion passed unanimously.

RFD: Operating & Capital Transfer of Surplus Funds 2025-2026 (1h 49m 19s)
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=aYwDHfO\_NEo&t=1h49m19s
Each year, Council approval is required for any transfer of general operating surplus to the Capital Reserve that was not fully provided for in the approved budget. For the 2025–2026 fiscal year, it is estimated that the total general operating surplus as at March 31, 2026, will be approximately $2,000,000. The approved operating budget included a planned transfer to the Capital Reserve of $1,121,543, resulting in an estimated unbudgeted surplus of $878,457. Transferring the full year-end operating surplus to the Capital Reserve will support the Town’s long-term capital planning and reduce future reliance on debt financing, while maintaining prudent financial management practices.

At 1h 51m 12s https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=aYwDHfO\_NEo&t=1h51m12s I asked about the long-term impact to debt financing and why we transfer to reserves instead of paying down the debt, the answer being that lump-sum payments are generally not possible on our loans until the end of the term, at which point our reserves can be used to reduce debt load.

The next Public Council meeting is on September 14, 2026 at 1:00 p.m. in Council Chambers at 695 Prince Street.

Meeting adjourned at 2:52 p.m.

As always, I encourage you to watch the whole meeting.

Truro Long John Festival (2m 15s)
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=EhGCGBgZ6Ew&t=2m15s
Nick Sharpe, Executive Director of the Tourism Development Society (TDS), presented to Council on plans to expand the annual Truro Long John Festival with a request of $30,000 in increased funding. I expect a Request for Decision to come before Council at the July 6 meeting.

At 24m 11s https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=EhGCGBgZ6Ew&t=24m11s I asked Mr. Sharpe about risk mitigation for weather variability, the importance of collaboration with local businesses, and the reasons for changing the date to no longer align with the Heritage Day long weekend. At 28m 47s https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=EhGCGBgZ6Ew&t=28m48s I asked our CAO about room in the budget to accommodate this request.

The next Committee of the Whole meeting is scheduled for July 15 at 4:00 p.m. in Council Chambers.

Meeting adjourned at 4:31 p.m.

As always, I encourage you to watch the entire meeting.

Petitions, Delegations, and Correspondence
Letter to Canadian Air Force re Fly past - Battle of Britain (3m 02)
https://youtu.be/watch?v=GD-IL4hdAeE&t=3m02
This fly past was approved at a previous Council meeting, presented was the letter from the Mayor to convey the approval.

Citizen Petition: Havelock Street Repairs (3m 35s)
https://youtu.be/watch?v=GD-IL4hdAeE&t=3m35
Petition from downtown business owners requested a delay to the reconstruction of Havelock Street due to the impact it would have on local businesses. I raised this during the Public Works & Engineering report later in the meeting.

Request for Decision (RFD): Rotary Grant Request (4m 56s)
https://youtu.be/watch?v=GD-IL4hdAeE&t=4m56s
A grant request was presented at the May 4, 2026 Council Meeting (ref. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=fYJrInyGU8k&t=21m09s) at which a motion was passed to bring this to Council for consideration at a future meeting. The motion to provide $5,000 to Rotary Club for their 100th anniversary celebration passed unanimously.

RFD: Wildlife Feeding Prohibition Bylaw (7m 16s)
https://youtu.be/watch?v=GD-IL4hdAeE&t=7m16s
In response to a motion I made at the April 13, 2026 Council meeting (reference: https://youtu.be/watch?v=h8TxT3OmcP4&t=1h50m20s), Staff presented the draft “Wildlife Feeding Prohibition Bylaw” to replace the existing “Feeding of Wild Birds and Animals Bylaw.” This bylaw removes the need to prove that feeding the wild animals has caused a nuisance, yet allows for bird feeders mounted in such a way as to dissuade deer, squirrels, and other wildlife from feasting on the bird feed. I spoke to the motion at 11m 38s https://youtu.be/watch?v=GD-IL4hdAeE&t=11m38s to thank staff for their efforts and provide my support for the motion. The motion passed unanimously.

For more information on why feeding wild animals is bad for both humans and animals, I suggest reading this page on the Parks Canada website: https://parks.canada.ca/lhn-nhs/qc/saintours/nature/animaux-sauvages-wild-animals

Briefing Note: Traffic Signals Replacement Project (12m 28s)
https://youtu.be/watch?v=GD-IL4hdAeE&t=12m28s
An update from Public Works and Engineering regarding the replacement of traffic signals at the intersections of Queen and Walker Streets, and Queen and Lorne Streets. These projects will be postponed until the work by the Province on the Walker Street bridge to Bible Hill is completed, so likely next year. It’s an unfortunate delay, but necessary due to the impacts of so many large projects happening concurrently.

Department Reports
CAO (15m 58s)
https://youtu.be/watch?v=GD-IL4hdAeE&t=15m58s
CAO Dolter provided his report, including: Mayors & Chiefs’ Breakfast; Purchasing Policy and Procedures review; Canadian Association of Municipal Administrators (CAMA) Conference; Department of Emergency Management (DEM) roundtable with CAOs; ReCover retrofit update on Market Hall; Expansion of the Regional Emergency Management Office (REMO) with East Hants; Supporting Housing and Homelessness meeting with the province and municipalities province-wide; Public Transit Feasibility Study; Fleet Electrification Study; draft Climate Risk and Resiliency Plan; Community Wildfire Protection Plan; and EDIA Initiatives such as Access Awareness Week, Pride festivities, and the Rally Against Racism.

At 28m 33s https://youtu.be/watch?v=GD-IL4hdAeE&t=28m33s I thank CAO Dolter for the update on Affordable Housing and reiterated my hope that we can get an enforceable Affordable Housing Framework. I also asked for an update on the issue with the mess created by pigeons roosting at the library.

In-Camera Summary (35m 21s)
https://youtu.be/watch?v=GD-IL4hdAeE&t=35m21s
Council met in-camera on May 21 to discuss one land issue and one legal issue.

Corporate Services Report (35m 47s)
https://youtu.be/watch?v=GD-IL4hdAeE&t=35m47s
Director Russell presented her monthly report to Council.

Fire Service Report (N/A)
A fire services report was not presented this month due to the passing of Chief Currie’s mother.

Planning and Development (38m 42s)
https://youtu.be/watch?v=GD-IL4hdAeE&t=38m42s
An update to the town’s Subdivision Bylaw is set to be presented to the Planning Advisory Committee (PAC) in June. There are five Development Agreements (DA’s) and seven Site-Plan Approval applications active at this time, with 41 active bylaw files of which 22 have been resolved.

Police Services (44m 00s)
https://youtu.be/watch?v=GD-IL4hdAeE&t=44m00s
Chief MacNeil presented his monthly report to Council.

Engineering and Public Works (45m 12s)
https://youtu.be/watch?v=GD-IL4hdAeE&t=45m12s
Director Browning presented his monthly report to Council highlighting: completion of the detailed design and tendering of the 2026 Street Recapitalization Projects; tender closed for Argus Drive project, set to be substantially complete by June 18; tenders closed for Havelock Street project with a kickoff meeting the week of June 1 for a duration of approximately 2 months; asphalt laying on Cobequid Drive in early June, weather permitting; progressing the data acquisition and verification of the sewer system; 176T of asphalt laid during April and May to date as part of the asphalt patching program; Condition Rating Index to be updated after the patching program is complete; no water main breaks this month, but did service and replace valves in the Brunswick Street area; and the water rate study continues to move forward with the help of Corporate Services staff.

At 49m 37s https://youtu.be/watch?v=GD-IL4hdAeE&t=49m37s I referenced the petition presented earlier in the meeting and asked Director Browning to repeat some of our previous discussions on why pushing the Havelock Street project into the fall is not advisable: weather, unknowns under the street, and the dangers of the work not being completed when winter comes due to these delays.

At 1h 05m 26s https://youtu.be/watch?v=GD-IL4hdAeE&t=1h05m26s in response to the questions from Deputy Mayor Thomas regarding the amount of patching and paving to be done, I invited Director Browning to expand on “no limits” cost of bringing all the streets up to new standard: estimate is in the hundreds of millions of dollars. I spoke also about how things like Public Transit can slow the wear and tear on our roads by reducing congestion and thus saving tax money on maintenance.

I also addressed Director Browning’s comment to Councillor Pryor regarding the Brunswick Street mobility lane at 57m 13s where he said: “If we want to allow and permit street-side parking, and I can certainly appreciate the need with some of these businesses, it would strike me that we’d need to remove the bike lanes.” Director Browning indicated he’s not suggesting we do that, but that it’s what would be needed. We had a good discussion on the frequency of parked cars in the mobility lanes, if there is sufficient room to even allow street-side parking if the lanes were removed, the frustration at the lack of progress on the Active Transportation Plan, and my dismay of the timing of such a suggestion during Access Awareness Week.

Parks, Recreation, & Culture (1h 13m 15s)
https://youtu.be/watch?v=GD-IL4hdAeE&t=1h13m15s
CAO Dolter presented Director Simms’ report, including: ongoing maintenance of parks and trails; a reminder that fires and smoking are not permitted in Victoria Park; that our parks and fields are non-smoking areas; removal of the ice from the Legion Stadium; ongoing Hemlock Woolly Adelgid (HWA) treatments; the return of track events at the No. 2 Construction Battalion Athletic Facility, with a grand opening to be scheduled; Victoria Park pool to reopen for the season at the end of June, first public swim on July 1; the Railyard pump track has proven to be a tremendous asset to the park, with a grand opening to coincide with one of the Colchester Short Track race nights; and the summer equipment loan program now operational.

At 1h 19m 15s https://youtu.be/watch?v=GD-IL4hdAeE&t=1h19m15s I asked for some clarification on the pump track grand opening as Colchester Short Track has already begun. I also highlighted that the pump track has a magnetic timing strip and an app that can time your laps. I had checked before Council and found that I still had the fastest lap time, which tells me that not enough people know about the app. CAO Dolter had not known about the timing strip, so I invite him and anyone else to go chase the top spot on the leaderboard.

Questions by Members (1h 21m 55s)
At 1h 24m 33s https://youtu.be/watch?v=GD-IL4hdAeE&t=1h24m33s I raised a topic that had come up at the May 25 PAC meeting regarding possible updates to the Town notification process for Development Agreements (DA’s) to include tenants. Currently, the notices go only to property owners, and tenants who may be impacted by DA’s may not be notified. We currently follow the Municipal Government Act, but the MGA does allow us to expand our reach without MGA amendments. I raised a motion for staff to complete a Cost Benefit Analysis on expanding our notice process to include direct mail-out to occupants at the properties. This motion passed unanimously.

New Business
RFD: Set Public Hearing Date: 448-450 Lower Truro Road DA Application (1h 27m 08s)
https://youtu.be/watch?v=GD-IL4hdAeE&t=1h27m08s
Discussion included a suggestion from Councillor Graham to push the Public Hearing to September 7, but the motion put forward was to hold the Public Hearing on July 16, 2026 at 6:30 p.m. The motion passed 4-2 with Councillors Graham and Flemming voting against.

RFD: Encampment Location and Cleanup (1h 32m 57s)
https://youtu.be/watch?v=GD-IL4hdAeE&t=1h32m57s
Proposed Motion: that Council approve utilizing $50,000 of the surplus residential solid waste contract budget amount to fund the necessary clean-up work of the encampment on Town-owned land on an emergency basis. At 1h 37m 01s https://youtu.be/watch?v=GD-IL4hdAeE&t=1h37m01s I indicated that it’s a large expense for cleanup but necessary due to fire and other risks. I also wanted to ask if there have been discussions with regional stakeholders to help the folks in this encampment or are we spending this money just to move the problem somewhere else? This again falls back to affordability concerns and the necessary wraparound services to help lift people from homelessness. Motion passed unanimously after much discussion.

RFD: Grant request Ground Search and Rescue (GSAR) (1h 46m 18s)
https://youtu.be/watch?v=GD-IL4hdAeE&t=1h46m18s
Colchester Ground Search and Rescue applied for a municipal grant of $11,500 for continued operations. This request was submitted on time but missed during the annual grant review. Council unanimously approved the maximum amount set in the Municipal Grant Policy of $10,000. At 1h 48m 10s https://youtu.be/watch?v=GD-IL4hdAeE&t=1h48m10s I provided support for the motion, and referenced the Corporate Services report regarding another grant application that was missed, and whether staff had undertaken a more thorough review to ensure that all eligible grant requests have been processed. I’ve been assured that all have been addressed. Motion passed unanimously.

RFD Regional Transit Study (1h 49m 15s)
https://youtu.be/watch?v=GD-IL4hdAeE&t=1h49m15s
Proposed Motion: Be it resolved, that Council direct staff to undertake a review of the financial implications of a potential transit service for the Town of Truro, including impacts on the tax base, and report back to Council with findings and recommendations. This is as a follow-up on the presentation at Committee of the Whole on May 21, 2026 (reference https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=hlhnQET3c-c&t=25m42s). At 1h 54m 10s CAO Dolter talks about the bus system in Yarmouth that was initially fare-based and has now been made free, and that Yarmouth is looking to buy bigger busses as well due to the huge success and popularity of their transit system.

At 1h 57m 56s https://youtu.be/watch?v=GD-IL4hdAeE&t=1h57m56s I provided my support for the motion. I’ve used transit for errands, to commute, and while on vacation and have seen firsthand the benefits to transit on a community. I highlighted the high demand we hear from businesses so that they can bring in more workers, and from prospective employees looking for options to allow them attend places of work. I brought up the efficiency of a bus with only 3 people on it still being more efficient at moving people than 2-3 people travelling individually via private motor vehicles. I highlighted studies that show that every dollar invested in public transit results in more than a dollar back in benefits to society. In short: the benefits are so numerous that we can’t afford not to have public transit. Motion carried unanimously.

The next Public Council meeting is on July 6, 2026 at 1:00 p.m. in Council Chambers at 695 Prince Street.

Meeting adjourned at 3:01 p.m.

As always, I encourage you to watch the entire meeting. This was a long meeting with a great deal of content shared.

448-450 Lower Truro Road (3m 47s)
https://youtu.be/watch?v=V\_pdQI8HAEc&t=3m47s
Director Fox gave his presentation on a Development Agreement application at 448-450 Lower Truro Road, which is at Step 3 of 5 in the expanded process. At 39m 00s https://youtu.be/watch?v=V\_pdQI8HAEc&t=39m00s we heard from Jared Bent, Traffic Authority for the Town of Truro, regarding a proposed roundabout at the intersection(s) of McClure’s Mills Road, Lower Truro Road, and James Street.

At 53m 08s https://youtu.be/watch?v=V\_pdQI8HAEc&t=53m08s I asked:
* How tall the building would have to be to impact the flight path for LifeFlight at the hospital (roughly 40 story);
* What building materials are being used (reinforced concrete for buildings, wood-frame for the townhouses);
* Can updated renderings be provided for the Public Hearing that show a more accurate depiction than the “AI slop” that has been shown this evening? (Yes, consider it done.)
* Are there plans to use the rooftop for solar installation, rooftop gardening, stormwater management plan? (Anticipating interior and exterior amenity space for residents on the rooftop, additional detail to be provided at the Public Hearing.) I highlighted that the proposed Public Hearing would be July 6 and suggested they be as prepared as possible for that meeting with these and other details.
* Has the developer considered reversing the setback to be from Salter Avenue instead of from Lower Truro Road? This tradeoff might impact Lower Truro Road properties, but I hope it may be minimal compared to Salter Avenue. (Hasn’t been looked at yet, acknowledges it may create new problems but can take a look.)
* Does Staff have a list of Land-Use Bylaws (LUB) and by how much they exceed the As Of Right requirements? (This is touched on throughout the report but no, it is not gathered in one place. Also unclear how to list As Of Right requirements with multiple zoning types involved.)
* Affordable Housing: what steps has the developer taken to address Affordable Housing through CMHC or other programs? (Still early in the process, as Planners and Developers they don’t tend to be involved in those talks at this time but would have more info for Public Hearing.)
* Any units available for purchase at this development? (Not that they know of.) I repeated what I have often said: I think ownership opportunities are dwindling and I would love to see more of them in town. (Developer noted that townhouse units could be available, but not the apartment units.)

At 1h 20m 28s https://youtu.be/watch?v=V\_pdQI8HAEc&t=1h20m28s the gallery was given their opportunity to speak. Concerns were mostly around traffic, size and height of the development, construction noise, whether any core sampling was done which could inform the need for blasting, as well as suggestions to build it somewhere else with acknowledgements that the developer doesn’t necessarily own land elsewhere. Though addressed in the presentation, there was also a concern raised about possible impact to the hospital helipad flight paths. A concern that they’d “be stuck when construction begins,” but Director Fox highlighted that the Construction Management Plan specifically addresses this (https://truro.ca/documents/policies/1766-construction-site-management-policy/file.html). A comment that roundabouts in Europe are being removed in high traffic areas, and a quick Google search tells me that this is for protection of cyclists and pedestrians for whom it is dangerous to navigate multi-lane roundabouts alongside motor vehicle traffic. An oft-asked question about water and sewer capacity to which Jared Bent, Traffic Authority and Operations Engineer, replied that there is no cause for alarm with plenty of capacity in both systems.M

A comment that the development “violates your own policies,” but this is exactly why the Planning Advisory Committee and Development Agreement (DA) process exist. If the development met all the policies of As Of Right or Site Plan Approval, then it would not appear before either PAC or Town Council.

A comment about tenants not receiving notices of development because it went to the property owner who did not pass the information on. Director Fox noted that we follow the rules as dictated by the MGA, and I chimed in at 1h 41m 28s https://youtu.be/watch?v=V\_pdQI8HAEc&t=1h41m28s to note that the MGA is provincial legislation and that they should contact Minister Ritcey’s office for changes. I also agreed that renters should also receive such notices and that I would follow up with Director Fox and Minister Ritcey; more on this to come. I also noted for traffic concerns that the Town and County are investigating a Public Transit plan and that reducing congestion can only be done through reducing the number of cars on the road, and Public Transit is an excellent means to accomplish that.

At 1h 53m 13s https://youtu.be/watch?v=V\_pdQI8HAEc&t=1h53m13s I suggested a deferment until updated renderings and other requested info be presented to the committee, but the motion was seconded before I could speak and we moved ahead. I voted in favour of the motion as the developer has made good on past promises to deliver requested changes and updates. The motion was defeated 3-3 with Deputy Mayor Thomas, Councillor Graham, and Ms. Johnson voting against; and Chair Gourley-Davis, Ms. DesLaurier, and myself in favour. The developer can take the project forward to Council but it will not be with the recommendation of PAC.

656 Young Street (2h 03m 09s)
https://youtu.be/watch?v=V\_pdQI8HAEc&t=2h03m09s
Planner MacPherson presented a preliminary report to update PAC on the project without progressing from Step 2 to Step 3, with a recommendation to the committee to request the developer to schedule a public information session due to an increase in community interest, including feedback from the Truro Black Cultural Development Association (TBCDA). The updates include: substituting underground parking for at-grade parking, increasing the height of each multi-unit building to accommodate the at-grade parking; removal of a proposed road along the length of the development which was replaced by a short driveway into the property; and increasing the setback of one of the buildings from the neighbouring property owned by the Paris family from 4.27 m to 13.65 m.

At 2h 18m 28s https://youtu.be/watch?v=V\_pdQI8HAEc&t=2h18m28s I briefly discussed the traffic flow up Young Street and concurred that on-street parking in that area is not recommended, as referenced previous discussions that sidewalks would not be built prior to development as the construction traffic would likely do significant damage; such infrastructure would be built as developments were completed. I then made the motion to require the developer to hold a public information session prior to moving to Step 3 of the process. The motion passed unanimously. There was further discussion from Chair Gourley-Davis, as well as from Nevin Jackson of TBDCA at 2h 25m 53s https://youtu.be/watch?v=V\_pdQI8HAEc&t=2h25m53s.

The next meeting of the Planning Advisory Committee (PAC) is scheduled for June 29 at 6:00 p.m. in Council Chambers, but that is also graduation day for CEC students which presents a conflict for several committee and community members so I expect this to be rescheduled.

Meeting adjourned at 8:37 p.m.

As always, I encourage you to watch the whole meeting.

Mi’kmawey Debert Cultural Centre (MDCC) (2m 06s)
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=hlhnQET3c-c&t=2m06s
Tim Bernard presented on the MDCC and make a formal request to the Town of Truro for a funding commitment of $20,000 per year for 5-years. The MDCC is expected to bring a large economic benefit to the region, and as the Hub of the region it was felt that the Town would wish to encourage the construction of the MDCC and the benefits the centre would bring.

I don’t think there is any question that the centre is important and will provide benefit, but it is outside of the Town and I would think the newly founded Tourism Development Society would be a better source of funding for this type of regional initiative. A Request for Decision (RFD) is likely to come before Town Council at either the June or July public meeting, and I expect there to be some lively discussion.

Public Transit Report (25m 42s)
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=hlhnQET3c-c&t=25m42s
Manager of Strategic Initiatives and Communications for Town of Truro, Alison Grant, provided the much-awaited report from the Public Transit Feasibility Study. Early on she says “the study highlights that transit infrastructure is essential to the region and is becoming a barrier to growth” and is essential to Council’s larger goals such as affordability, housing, economic growth, sustainability, equity, and inclusion. These are all points that I have been making since my first election campaign in 2023.

It was also noted that Council for the Municipality of the County of Colchester heard this presentation on April 27, 2026, and passed the following motion: “That Council direct staff to undertake a review of the financial implications of a potential transit service for the Municipality of Colchester including impacts on the tax base, and report back to their Council with their findings and recommendations.”

At 47m 56s https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=hlhnQET3c-c&t=47m56s I asked several questions:
Q: Was there an offer from Halifax Transit to provide some busses at low cost or free and if so, had these buses had not met our needs? A: There were discussions, but those buses are also at end of life cycle and need to consider frequent maintenance and difficulty in obtaining parts, as well as capital funding opportunities available for the purchase of new buses. A Cost Benefit Analysis (CBA) has not yet been completed but could be done as part of the motion to be raised at the June meeting.
Q: Estimated Operating cost of $900k per year with Truro’s capital investment at $1.2 million? A: Capital cost was actually estimated at between one and two million, heavily dependant on Federal and Provincial funding, and that we should expect to pay 25-30% of the total capital costs.
Q: Transit Hub by Civic Square: how much room for expansion? A: Arcadis put a rough conceptual plan of what a transit hub could look like, staff are still exploring what that would look like, if it would be an on-road (slip lane) or off-road (parking lot) solution.
Q: Have Arcadis taken the Town’s Active Transportation Plan into consideration? A: They reviewed the plan, but didn’t get into street design, that would be staff’s job to review engineering and feasibility of the proposed routes.
Q: The population density maps seemed to be very similar for total density, low-income density, and senior density, am I mistaken? A: It does seem to be a lot of overlap, possibly because many seniors are also on fixed incomes and considered to be low-income.

I once again encourage you to watch the entire presentation. Ms. Grant speaks quickly and at length about the feasibility study and there is a lot of information to digest. I personally think that more frequent service would be better, which Deputy Mayor Thomas mentioned during his speaking time, but I also acknowledge that having a larger coverage area means more people have the option to take transit, which may make it more feasible. My hope is that if this project moves ahead, that it will be a success that results in improved frequency to encourage more usage.

The next Committee of the Whole meeting is scheduled for June 18 at 4:00 p.m. in Council Chambers.

Meeting adjourned at 5:02 p.m.