The Corporation of the City of Stratford
Finance and Labour Relations Committee
Open Session
AGENDA

Meeting #:

Date:

Monday, July 14, 2025

Time:

7:05 P.m. - 9:05 P.m.

Location:

Council Chamber, City Hall

Committee Present:

• Councillor Hunter - Chair Presiding, 
• Councillor McCabe - Vice Chair, 
• Mayor Ritsma, 
• Councillor Beatty, 
• Councillor Biehn, 
• Councillor Briscoe, 
• Councillor Henderson, 
• Councillor Nijjar, 
• Councillor Sebben, 
• and Councillor Wordofa 

Staff Present:

• Karmen Krueger - Director of Corporate Services, 
• Adam Betteridge - Interim Chief Administrative Officer, 
• Tim Wolfe - Director of Community Services, 
• Kim McElroy - Director of Social Services and Interim Director of Human Resources, 
• Taylor Crinklaw - Director of Infrastructure Services, 
• Neil Anderson - Director of Emergency Services/Fire Chief, 
• Audrey Pascual - Deputy Clerk, 
• and Victoria Trotter - Council Committee Coordinator 

To watch the Committee meeting live, please click the following link: https://video.isilive.ca/stratford/live.html

A video recording of the meeting will also be available through a link on the City's website https://calendar.stratford.ca/meetings following the meeting.

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1.

Call to Order

​The Chair to call the Meeting to Order.

Councillor Burbach has provided regrets for this meeting. 

2.

Disclosure of Pecuniary Interest and the General Nature Thereof

The Municipal Conflict of Interest Act requires any member of Council declaring a pecuniary interest and the general nature thereof, where the interest of a member of Council has not been disclosed by reason of the member’s absence from the meeting, to disclose the interest at the first open meeting attended by the member of Council and otherwise comply with the Act.

Name, Item and General Nature of Pecuniary Interest

3.

Sub-committee Minutes

​Sub-committee minutes are attached for background regarding the discussion held at the June 17, 2025 Sub-committee meeting.

4.

Delegations

None scheduled. 

5.

Report of the Director of Corporate Services

5.1

SEEDCo./investStratford Update to March 31 2025 (FIN25-018)

Staff Recommendation: THAT the Stratford Economic Enterprise Development Corporation (SEEDCo./investStratford) Update to March 31, 2025, be received for information.

• Motion by

  Sub-committee Recommendation: THAT the Stratford Economic Enterprise Development Corporation (SEEDCo./investStratford) Update to March 31, 2025, be received for information.

5.2

Festival Hydro Inc. and Festival Hydro Services Inc. 2024 Audited Financial Statements and Dividend Declaration (FIN25-019)

This item will also be considered at the July 14, 2025, Council reconvene meeting.

Staff Recommendation: THAT the Festival Hydro Inc. audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2024, be received for information;

THAT the Festival Hydro Services Inc. audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2024, be received for information;

AND THAT Council, as the sole shareholder, declare a Top-Up Common Share Dividend in the amount of $147,478 for the year 2024, calculated in accordance with Festival Hydro’s Dividend Policy, to be paid in the second quarter of 2025.

• Motion by

  Sub-committee Recommendation: THAT the Festival Hydro Inc. audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2024, be received for information;

  THAT the Festival Hydro Services Inc. audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2024, be received for information;

  AND THAT Council, as the sole shareholder, declare a Top-Up Common Share Dividend in the amount of $147,478 for the year 2024, calculated in accordance with Festival Hydro’s Dividend Policy, to be paid in the second quarter of 2025.

6.

Report of the Director of Community Services

6.1

Waive Facility Fees for the To Stratford With Love Banquet (FIN25-015)

Staff Recommendation: THAT the report titled, “Waive Facility Fees for the To Stratford With Love Banquet” (FIN25-015), be received;

AND THAT direction be provided regarding the facility rental fee waiver request in the amount of $3,627 for use of the Community Halls on December 13, 2025.

• Motion by

  Sub-committee Recommendation: THAT the report titled, “Waive Facility Fees for the To Stratford With Love Banquet” (FIN25-015), be received;

  AND THAT the facility rental fee waiver request in the amount of $3,627 for use of the Community Halls on December 13, 2025 be approved.

7.

Report of the Council Committee Coordinator

7.1

Communities in Bloom Request for Reallocation of 2025 Budget Funds (FIN25-022)

This item will also be considered at the July 14, 2025, Council reconvene meeting.

• Motion by

  Staff Recommendation: THAT the Finance and Labour Relations Committee provide direction on the request from the Communities in Bloom Advisory Committee to reallocate $5,000.00 from the Special Project budget line to the CiB Symposium Expenses line in the 2025 budget.

8.

For the Information of Committee

8.1

Advisory Committee/Outside Board Minutes

There are no Advisory Committee/Outside Board minutes to be provided to Committee.

9.

Adjournment

​Meeting Start Time:
Meeting End Time:

• Motion by

  ​Committee Decision: THAT the Finance and Labour Relations Committee meeting adjourn.