Heritage Haldimand

Mandate

Heritage Haldimand (“HH” or “Committee”) is an advisory committee reporting to the Haldimand County Council.

Heritage Haldimand provides advice and recommendations to Council on the conservation of the community’s cultural heritage resources, in accordance with the Ontario Heritage Act, the Ontario Planning Act and the Official Plan and associated by-laws through planning, education, and stewardship.

Goals/Purpose

The goals and purposes of Heritage Haldimand are to:

• Advise Council on designation and alteration of heritage (designated) properties. This includes all statutory requirements under Parts IV and V of the Act, including but not limited to:
  1. the designation of individual properties (s.29)
  2.  repealing of designations of properties (s. 31, s. 32)
  3.  amending of designations of properties (s. 30.1)
  4. alterations to designated properties (s.33, s. 42)
  5.  demolitions of designated properties (s. 34, s. 34.1, s 34.3)
  6. easements and covenants to conserve buildings of cultural heritage value (s. 37 (1))
  7. defining and designation of heritage conservation districts (Part V)
• Advise Council regarding new heritage legislation initiatives;
• Establish criteria for the evaluation of properties’ architectural and/or historical value or interest;
• Prepare, evaluate and maintain a list of properties and areas worthy of conservation.
• Work with Council to educate individual property owners and the community at large about the heritage resources within the community and on the important methods of proper conservation of cultural heritage resources; and
• Develop a community recognition program for heritage conservation through the sponsorship of property designation plaques.

Membership

1. One (1) voting member of Council.
2. Between five (5) and seven (7) community representatives appointed by Council for the term of Council or until reappointed, all of whom should have demonstrated competencies, history or interest in matters pertaining to heritage conservation, historical research, historical building materials and techniques, or local history.
3. Mayor is an ex officio voting member of the committee.
4. A Chair and Vice-Chair will be elected by members at the first meeting annually.
5. Council may terminate the appointment of any member without notice.

Roles

1.  Members will actively participate, and provide support and expertise.
2. The Chair will facilitate meetings, ensure participation by members, maintain decorum, and be the primary contact of the Committee.
3. Council appointees will act as a liaison between the Committee and Council. They will serve as voting members and count towards meetings quorum.
4. Staff will provide a committee liaison to manage administrative functions, including assisting the Chair with preparation of agendas and minutes, and Heritage Haldimand meetings.
5. The Clerks Office will provide procedural and legislative guidance to the committee.

Responsibilities of Heritage Haldimand

1. It is the responsibility of all appointed members to comply and work within County procedures, by-laws and Provincial legislation, with guidance from staff:
   1. Municipal Act
   2. Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act
   3. Municipal Conflict of Interest Act
   4. The Provincial Occupational Health and Safety Act
   5. Ontario Heritage Act
   6. Ontario Planning Act
   7.  Ontario Cemeteries Act
   8. Haldimand County’s Procedure By-law
   9.  Council Code of Conduct
   10. Haldimand County Accountability and Transparency Policy
   11. Haldimand County Social Media Policy
   12. Heritage Haldimand Terms of Reference
   13. Other applicable Haldimand County by-laws and policies
2. The Committee may make recommendations to Council on various issues related to the Committee’s mandate, through meeting minutes, motions, and reports.
3. The Committee may take on additional initiatives as recommended or approved by the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) and/or the relevant General Manager.

Term

The term of office for Heritage Haldimand will be the term of Council.

Staff Support

While the Clerks Office  and staff liaison to the Committee provide administrative support, the entire Corporation will provide input and support to the Committee as required, with the approval of the CAO and/or the relevant General Manager.

Reporting Relationship to Council

The Committee will act as an advisory body and does not have any delegated authority. Recommendations for implementation must first be considered and approved by Council or recommended by the CAO.

The Committee will report to Council once per year with a written report and 10-minute presentation on its activities and its intended direction or projects.

All Committee minutes will form part of the next regular Council agenda.

Finances

No member shall receive remuneration for services.

Haldimand County Council provides an annual budget to Heritage Haldimand. It is the responsibility of members to submit any relevant invoices to the Manager of Community Development and Partnerships for reimbursement approval and to keep track of any expenses generated by the activities of the Committee.

The annual committee budget shall provide for items such as the following:

• Heritage Designation Plaques;
• Brochures and other educational materials;
• Heritage workshops and events;
• Educational/volunteer development (e.g. subscriptions, conferences) and similar; and
• Other initiatives as directed by Council.

Attendance

If a Committee Member is absent for three consecutive meetings, without being authorized to do so by a recommendation of the committee, they have forfeited their membership.

Meetings

Heritage Haldimand shall meet a minimum of four times per year, and more frequently at the discretion of the Chair. Meetings shall be governed by The Haldimand County Procedure By-law as may be amended from time to time

The agenda for any regularly scheduled meeting, complete with all reports and attachments, will be made available to members of the public a minimum of two business days prior to the meeting.   Meeting minutes will be made available to the public once they have been approved by the Committee.

Meetings may be held electronically. A member may participate electronically in open or closed meetings. Any such member shall be counted toward quorum of members present at any point in time and shall be able to vote, as permitted by the Municipal Act. Virtual access to meetings may be provided to members of the public at the discretion of the Chair. In the event Committee meetings are live streamed to the public, these meetings may occur in Council Chambers and members will be assigned seating to accommodate the technical requirements of the video recording system.