Councillor Anne Marie Gillis has been appointed to the Sarnia Police Service Board and will sit as a member from December 12 until November 14, 2026.
Councillor Chrissy McRoberts has also been appointed to the board for a two-year term, or until the mayor chooses to become a member of the police board. The mayor retains the right to step into the role at any time by virtue of office.
McRoberts was first appointed to the board in 2023 to fill a vacancy after Mayor Mike Bradley stepped down.
Annual pay increases were also approved for police services board members, retroactive to April 1.
The chair will be paid $5,000, the vice chair will receive $3,500, and members will receive $3,000.
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Councillor Brian White has been appointed as acting mayor, effective November 18.
Councillor Chrissy McRoberts recently held the title.
A new active mayor is appointed on an annual rotating basis based on the highest number of votes received during the election if they want to serve in the role.
The acting mayor is tasked with running council meetings when the mayor is absent.
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Council voted against a staff recommendation to have a specialized company provide a fair market appraisal of the sponsorship naming rights at Progressive Auto Sales Arena.
The current contract with Progressive Auto Sales is set to expire on August 7, 2026, but the company has expressed interest in extending the agreement.
The company currently pays an annual sponsorship fee of $42,500 plus HST, which is split evenly between the city and the Sarnia Sting.
In order to negotiate fees for a new contract, staff wanted to obtain an appraisal, which was estimated to cost $35,000.
Councillor Brian White questioned why inflationary adjustments couldn't be applied to a contract extension.
"I could see if we were going out fully for bidding rights but in terms of extending an existing contract, it just seems -- again, maybe I don't know... but to spend almost a year's worth of revenue on extending a contract for five years just seems silly to me," White said.
Councillors Terry Burrell and George Vandenberg also voiced their disapproval.
Since the motion was defeated, staff will have to return to council at a later date with other options.
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Council unanimously endorsed the Canatara Park Master Plan in principle and directed staff to advance the multi-year implementation plan for the park through the annual capital budgeting process.
Members of The Planning Partnership presented the final concept plan on Monday after part of the concept plan was approved in July.
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Council approved amendments to the Development Charge (DC) bylaw to eliminate a five-year phased-in approach and to reinstate growth-related studies, effective January 1, 2025.
In June, council directed staff to amend the bylaw in accordance with Bill 185, the Cutting Red Tape to Build More Homes Act.
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There were two budget input and grant presentations.
The Mitton Village citizen collective asked to have road closure fees waived for its annual block party. Council agreed to do so for the rest of the term.
Meanwhile, Ontario Aboriginal Housing Services (OAHS) asked for a $40,000 development charge fee to be waived on a portion of its affordable housing build, under construction near Confederation Street and Indian Road.
OHAS was already granted an exemption for most of the building, but this second exemption would apply to the part of the building that will be leased by the Sarnia Lambton Native Friendship Centre.
The request will be considered during budget deliberations on November 26.
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A proposed plan for the Victims of Chemical Valley Memorial, estimated to cost $725,000, was referred to the capital budget process.
Councillors were impressed by initial designs presented by members of Architects Tillman Ruth Robinson Inc. during the April 8 council meeting.
Design plans were adjusted after months of discussion between city staff, the architect firm, and memorial committee members.
The final proposal includes downlighting so as to not impact wildlife at night, memorial signage and plaques to act as storyboards, and the addition of an architectural arbour feature at the north end of the project.
Modifications were also made to the stonework to lessen the environmental impact.
Barb Millitt and Sandra Kinart were scheduled to speak about the project as part of a delegation but were not present during Monday's virtual council meeting.
