Please note that due to technical difficulties, the livestream and recording for the August 5th Regular Meeting of Council was unavailable. 

In place of the livestream and recording, catch up with what happened at this weeks East Zorra-Tavistock Council Meeting with a quick read of the meeting highlights below. 

During the Meeting

• The meeting began at 9:30am, following the attempt to resolve the technical difficulties that resulted in the meeting livestream and recording not being available. Deputy Mayor Smith and Councillor Van Wyk who were both present online were unable to participate in the meeting due to the technical difficulties at the Township Administration Building. 
• A Public Meeting was held in accordance with the Drainage Act for the Tavistock Drain 1979 (The Glasgow Warehouse Inc. Minor Improvement). Curtis MacIntyre from K. Smart Associates Limited presented the drainage engineering report. Following the closure of the Public Meeting, Council considered and adopted the engineer's report and gave the Provisional By-law the first and second reading in accordance with the Drainage Act.  
• April Nix, Manager of Policy and Planning and Justin Waud, Policy Planner from Oxford County Planning presented an update to Council regarding the New Official Plan that Oxford County is working on. The presentation provided background information on the County's current Official Plan, as well as visioning opportunities for the public and a project timeline. 
• Ronda Stewart, Economic Development Director from the Rural Oxford Economic Development Corporation (ROEDC) provided a presentation to Council surrounding the work completed in 2026 by ROEDC, as well as a look ahead. Highlights included the Rural Down Town Project, Rural Mayor's Breakfast, Oxford County Career Expo, Discover Rural Oxford, the Tourism Innovation Grant, and marketing and communications work. 
• Council received a number of Correspondence for Information Items. Included was a letter from the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing regarding Parkland development planning use regulation amendments. Director of Building and Development Services, Chief Building Official John Scherer provided a brief summary to Council.
• Council approved the request from the Tavistock Agricultural Society to deem the 2026 Tavistock Fall Fair as an event of municipal significance, and approved their request for an exception to the Municipal Alcohol Policy.   
• Staff Report OT-2026-04 Petition for Extension of the Raymer-Zinn Drain was reviewed with Council by Engineering Technologist, Drainage Superintendent Claire Ohrling. Council accepted the signed drainage petition and appointed an engineer to prepare a report in accordance with the Drainage Act. 
• Staff Report PR-2026-01 Recreation Update was reviewed with Council by Parks and Recreation Supervisor Matt Lamers. 
• Staff Report CAO-2026-14 August Monthly CAO-Treasury Report was reviewed with Council by Chief Administrative Officer, Treasurer Karen DePrest. 
• The Notice of Motion submitted by Councillor Van Wyk regarding Stormwater Managment Pond Walking Trails was deferred to the September 2nd Regular Meeting of Council in accordance with the Procedure By-law as Councillor Van Wyk was unable to participate in the meeting due to technical difficulties at the Township Administration Building.  
• Council adjourned to the Closed to the Public Session as authorized under Section 239 of the Municipal Act for the Closed Session Agenda Items. 
• Council reconvened to the Open to the Public Session, and adopted a resolution directing staff to amend and increase the reserve bid price for the 90 Loveys Street property to $550,000 following the completion of the Record of Site Condition - Phase 2 assessment. Staff were also directed to provide a copy of the Record of Site Condition Phase 2 once approved by the Ministry in the public tender package.   

By-laws 

• Council considered and approved the following By-laws:
  • By-law 2026-11 Timms Creek Drain (third and final reading)
  • By-law 2026-28 Oxford County Library Board Innerkip Library Lease
  • By-law 2026-29 ZN2-25-09 (McKay)
  • By-law 2026-30 Tavistock Drain 1979 (The Glasgow Warehouse Inc. Minor Improvement) - First and Second Reading Only 

Next Council Meeting

The next regularly scheduled East Zorra-Tavistock Council Meeting is set for Wednesday September 2, 2023 at 9:00am.  

A Special Meeting of Council will be held on Tuesday March 10, 2026, beginning at 9:00am at the Township Administration Building. The Special Meeting will be a working session of Council on the proposed 2026 Operating Budget and 5 Year Capital Forecast (2026-2030). 

The meeting is open to the public to attend and will be livestreamed and recorded on the Township's website. Please note that comments will not be accepted at this meeting. 

View the proposed 2026 Operating Budget and 5 Year Capital Forecast (2026-2030)

A 2026 Budget Public Meeting will be held during the Regular Meeting of Council on Wednesday March 18, 2026 at 7:00pm at the Township Administration Building.  

Anyone wishing to make a delegation or submit written comments for inclusion on the agenda should contact the Clerk prior to March 10, 2026 at 4:30pm for inclusion on March 18 meeting. Written and/or verbal comments will be considered by Council at the Public Meeting. Please note that pre-registration is not required to attend the Public Meeting in person and/or make verbal comments at the meeting.  

Message from Mayor Schaefer

On May 1, 2025 Strong Mayor Powers were extended to me along with 168 other Ontario municipalities. Accepting these powers was not optional, and the province is doing this to advance their priority interests, namely around housing and infrastructure.

Understandably, this change can be concerning to residents, and municipal councillors. The Mayor is able to delegate some of these powers, and to that end, today I have signed 3 Mayoral Decisions delegating certain powers as follows:

• Appointment of a Chief Administrative Officer delegated to Council
• Organizational Structure and Duties of Staff delegated to the CAO
• Establishing or Dissolving Committees delegated to Council

These are the first steps in navigating these new powers , and their associated responsibilities. There are many other changes established under this legislation. I hope the need to use the new powers does not present itself, but if, and only if,  the situation arises where they are needed, I will strictly act in the best interests of the residents of this municipality.

To view the Mayoral Decisions and learn more, visit the Mayoral Decisions page. 

Council meets next on Wednesday May 21, 2025 at 7:00pm. The meeting will be held at the Township Administration Building at 89 Loveys Street, Hickson, Ontario. The meeting livestream is also available on the Township's website. 

To navigate to the livestream, visit our Agendas and Minutes page, select the meeting date you'd like to view, and select the Video hyperlink. The video hyperlink will become available once a meeting is being livestreamed. The livestream link will be available approximately 5 minutes before a meeting is scheduled to start. 

Recordings will be posted within the next day following meetings.

1. Public Meetings will be held for the following Planning applications:
   • Zone Change Application ZN2-25-03 (Hartholm Farms Ltd.) 
   • Minor Variance Application A03-25 (Gerencser)
2. A Delegations will be presented to Council from Tourism Oxford - 2025 Update
3. Council will receive Correspondence for Information from Municipal Affairs and Housing and the City of Cambridge. 
4. Council will receive Correspondence for Action for:
   • Association of Municipalities of Ontario delegation request form
   • Innerkip and Hickson Lions Club Municipal Significance Requests
   • Community Flagpole request Oxford County Pride
5. Staff reports will be presented as follows: 
   • Community Planning Report 2025-145-SB19-04-02 (Millgate Homes)
   • Monthly CAO/Treasury report
6. By-laws:
   • 2025-17 ZN2-24-05 (986044 Perth Oxford Road)
   • 2025-18 Amending Building By-law

For more details of any of these items, see the full meeting agenda or contact the Municipal Clerk.

Council meets next on Wednesday May 7, 2025 at 9:00am. The meeting will be held at the Township Administration Building at 89 Loveys Street, Hickson, Ontario. The meeting livestream is also available on the Township's website. 

To navigate to the livestream, visit our Agendas and Minutes page, select the meeting date you'd like to view, and select the Video hyperlink. The video hyperlink will become available once a meeting is being livestreamed. The livestream link will be available approximately 5 minutes before a meeting is scheduled to start. 

Recordings will be posted within the next day following meetings.

1. A certificate of recognition will be presented to Jennifer Killing, King Charles III Coronation Medal recipient. 
2. Public Meetings will be held for the following Planning applications:
   • Minor Variance Application A-4-2025 (Stardobie Farms Ltd). 
   • Zone Change Application ZN-25-02 (588922 Ontario Inc.) 
3. Delegations will be presented to Council from:
   • Association of Ontario Road Supervisors - 2025 AORS Municipal Public Works Trade Show 
   • Ronda Stewart - Rural Oxford Economic Development Corporation Year in Review Update
4. Council will receive Correspondence for Information from:
   • Oxford Residents Urging Oxford Councils to Reconsider Partners for Climate Change Protection Participation 
   • Recreation Advisory Committee December 11, 2024 Meeting Minutes
5. Council will receive Correspondence for Action for:
   • Court of Revision for the Nicklas Municipal Drain
   • Notice of ERTH Corporation Annual General Meeting
6. Staff reports will be presented as follows: 
   • Human Resources 2025-01 Wage Grid Policy and Organizational Chart
   • Public Work 2025-01 By-law Update
7. By-law 2025-15 Boulevard By-law will be considered by Council. 

For more details of any of these items, see the full meeting agenda or contact the Municipal Clerk.