Southwest Middlesex What's New - September 28, 2022

DISCUSSION ON SEPTEMBER 28, 2022

For further details on items discussed, please view the agenda or watch the council meeting on our YouTube channel.

Planning Applications

A sign variance for 265 Main Street was approved.  This variance allows relief from the Southwest Middlesex Sign By-Law (2021/061).  The sign will be allowed to be placed 2.2m from the property line, whereas the sign by-law currently allows for signage to be 3m from the property line.

A zoning amendment for 142 Mill Street was approved to permit the placement of a 15 sq.m. (160 sq.ft.) shipping container that is to be located 7.6 m (25 ft) from the front line along Currie Street and 40 m (131 ft) from a dwelling on a separate parcel, for storage purposes.

Electronic Monitoring Policy

Southwest Middlesex has been working to the Information Technology Services at the County of Middlesex to develop the Municipal electronic monitoring policy. Employers with 25 or more employees as of January 1, 2022 have until October 11, 2022 to have a written policy on electronic monitoring of employees in place. The proposed policy has been established in compliance with Bill 88 to advise employees on the municipality’s practices relating to electronic monitoring of employees.
Bill 88 sets out that the written policy must state whether or not the employer electronically monitors employees, and if the employer does, the policy must include:
• a description of how and in what circumstances the employer may electronically monitor employees;
• the purposes for which the information obtained through electronic monitoring may be used by the employer;
• the date the policy was prepared; and
• the date any changes were made to the policy.

This policy applies to all members of staff and Council of the Municipality, and sets out the guidelines and procedures surrounding the collection and use of electronic monitoring information, privacy and confidentiality and retention of electronic monitoring records.

Mural Proposal

Council approved the installation of two murals at the Glencoe Main Street parkette where physical upgrades are being made to the parkette at the August 24, 2022 council meeting.  The goal with the mural installation is to encourage both community beautification as well as public interaction.  The location is visible to both pedestrians and vehicular traffic in the centre of our downtown core.  We are currently updating the parkette which is often a stop and rest point for locals and visitors, and this will be a further enhancement to the site.  We also hope that it will spur continued interest in other areas of our municipality.  The plan is to have visual art installation(s) where individuals can stop to take selfies to share which has potential to include future promotional opportunities.

Art installations tie into our CIP perfectly with grants being available to business owners within the CIP area.  Mostly we hope to inject positivity into the community for both residents and guests while improving our downtown core.

Artistic renderings are shown below of the chosen mural project at the parkette on Main Street in Glencoe.  The artist is Erin Crouch who has created the images with consideration of our local attributes as well as our brand.