Council Meeting Highlights - December 16, 2025

Council received a delegation from Dan Sullivan regarding the Durham Fitness Centre Request for Lease Renewal. Council subsequently authorized staff to enter into a five-year lease with the Durham Fitness Centre.

Council authorized the Mayor and Clerk to sign a new agreement with Waste Management for curbside waste collection. The current contract expires June 30, 2026. Under the new agreement, each residential property will receive a 240-litre waste cart, and collection will occur every two weeks using the same automated system introduced for recycling. Waste and recycling will be collected on the same truck to improve efficiency. Bag tags will no longer be required under this system, so residents are encouraged to purchase only what they need as tags are non-refundable.

Two new streets at the west end of Durham have been named ‘Honour Drive’ and ‘Valour Court.’ These names were chosen to recognize the vital role of emergency services in our community, as the roads provide access to the new Police and Paramedic stations, and future subdivision lots.

Council received a staff report regarding Revised Shared Services Agreement to Provide Building Services for the Township of Chatsworth and authorized the Mayor and Clerk to execute a new shared services agreement with the Township of Chatsworth for the continued provision of building services. West Grey has provided building services to the Township of Chatsworth since 2019 under a shared services agreement. The revised agreement updates the terms to better reflect the actual costs associated with delivering these services.

Council received a staff report regarding Housing-Enabling Water Systems Fund: Intake 2 project and directed staff to bring forward a bylaw to enter into a transfer payment agreement with the province. The project includes watermain replacements on Chester Street West and George Street West and construction of a new well in Durham, with total costs of $5.13 million, funded primarily through provincial grant support and the Durham water system.

Council received a staff report on the West Grey–Hanover Boundary Adjustment Agreement and directed staff to prepare a bylaw authorizing the Mayor and Clerk to enter into the agreement with the Town of Hanover. The agreement, developed through discussions since 2023, proposes transferring approximately 1,634 acres of land from West Grey to Hanover, with Hanover providing $10 million in financial compensation over 20 years to offset the loss of future tax assessment. This agreement is one step in the boundary adjustment process, with the next step being submission to the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing for a restructuring order.

Council shared information about upcoming community events, including:

• Christmas Lunch at the Durham Legion on December 25, 2025
• Denim and Diamonds New Years Eve Dance on December 31, 2025, from 8:30 p.m. to 1:00 a.m.
• Ayton Firefighters New Years Day Breakfast on January 1, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
  
  

The next regular Council meeting is January 13, 2026, at 9:00 a.m.
For full council meeting details please visit:
westgrey.com/meetings