By Mike Renzella
The Haldimand Press
HALDIMAND—The following items were discussed during a Council in Committee meeting held on Tuesday, April 11, 2023 and decisions made were set to be ratified at a follow up meeting on Wednesday, April 19 after publication.
New pedestrian crossovers, parking control
Haldimand County has unveiled the locations of six new pedestrian crosswalks to be installed over the course of 2023 located at:
- Caithness Street West and Blair Street, Caledonia
- Parkview Road and Laidlaw Street, Hagersville
- Main Street South and Karsten Avenue, Jarvis
- Thorburn Street South and Joseph Street East, Cayuga
- Main Street West and John Street, Dunnville
- Broad Street East and Oak Street, Dunnville
As the Jarvis location and one of the Dunnville locations (Broad Street East) fall under Ministry of Transportation jurisdiction, County staff are required to pass a bylaw prior to implementation.
Additionally, the new crosswalks require the creation of no-stopping zones surrounding each of the new crosswalks, with Provincial requirements stipulating that the zones extend a minimum of 15 metres approaching the crosswalk and 10 metres following it, requiring bylaw amendments for each of the six locations.
Council voted unanimously in support of County staff’s recommendations.
New No Parking Zone near Caledonia wastewater plant
County staff have recommended the implementation of a new No Parking Zone on Forfar Street East and Berwick Street in Caledonia to facilitate easier truck access to Caledonia’s Wastewater Treatment Plant.
The change comes following concerns raised by truckers after the completion of improvements on the intersection last year, including an expanded asphalt surface and paved road shoulders. Operators noted that navigating vehicles into the plant’s entranceway has proven more challenging with cars parked along the expanded shoulders near the intersection.
According to a staff report on the issue, restricting parking during the plant’s weekly hours of operation will resolve the concern. As such, they have proposed the following no-parking restrictions be in place from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. from Monday to Friday, while the plant is open: Forfar Street East and Berwick Street – 50 metres east and 20 metres west; Berwick Street and Forfar Street East – 60 metres south. Council voted in favour of the new restrictions.
Haldimand County updates social media policy
Haldimand County staff have recommended various updates to the County’s social media policy aimed at mitigating the risks and scrutiny that come with sharing information online through the County’s official social media accounts.
The updated policy includes clear expectations for any employee, volunteer, board, or council member who posts using the County’s accounts, including identifying and addressing inappropriate content. It also defines expectations for employees with respect to commenting on County business from their own personal social media accounts.
According to staff information, Haldimand County currently has 5,700 followers on Facebook and 4,131 on Twitter, in addition to several thousand following the County through their other social media channels, including tourism, library, and emergency services.
Staff also released a list of social media guidelines aimed at Haldimand’s seven Council members. According to the guidelines, if a councillor or mayor utilizes social media as a means of connecting with constituents in an official capacity, they must treat their online interactions as an extension of their official role. As such, their online behaviour must adhere to the Council Code of Conduct and they are responsible for ensuring that any information they share online is accurate, respectful, and not harmful to the County’s image. Additionally, complaints related to a Council member’s online conduct may be submitted to the municipal clerk and will be followed up on with the Integrity Commissioner if required.
According to Corporate and Social Services Manager Cathy Case, the County’s intention is to build the guidelines into the Code of Conduct.
Council voted unanimously in favour of the policy.
