Council Candidate Elgin Pecjak

Q1: Meaford is experiencing dynamic growth. How do you see ratepayers’ involvement in that growth? What role do you see the community playing in establishing the common direction and longer-term priorities?

This is a very pivotal time for our municipality and ensuring that all residents feel heard is the most important part. My recommendation will always be evidenced-based and transparent community collaboration. As the community grows, residents require meaningful opportunities to understand proposed developments, ask questions, share local knowledge, and help shape priorities with explicit community guidance.

Planning for community growth requires that the municipal rate payers feel their short and long-term goals are considered. Having a clear vision for Meaford and carefully determining infrastructure needs are part of that process. Active communication between businesses, residents, community organizations, the municipality and council will ensure that we identify shared interests and gain input to establish priorities for infrastructure, housing, transportation, environmental stewardship, recreation, and economic development.

Q2: Would you support the development of an active community-based Advisory Committee for planning and development?

As an enthusiastic and active member in the Meaford Library Board, I believe that community-based Advisory Committees are an excellent tool for open communication and collaboration between council, municipal staff, and our cherished residents. I am very supportive of the development of any advisory that community members are willing to volunteer for and provide feedback on. Every council has a collection of strengths that can help build a brighter future for Meaford and with a new council comes new energy and tenacity to allow Meaford to grow.

I wish to continue my own work with the Meaford Library Board during my time as a Councilor. I have also begun to establish a critical connection with the Meaford Chamber of Commerce. My goal with this connection and collaboration is to continue to support the excellent work being done by our business owners, and municipal

staff. I also plan to propose the creation of a diversity and inclusion advisory committee. The creation of this committee will allow municipal residents to acknowledge the beautiful changes and residents we have in Meaford, and provide space for brainstorming ways to help Meaford maintain its welcoming and open heart.

Q3: Currently, Meaford Council has just two Advisory Committees: Heritage and Accessibility. Prior to this current Council, there were seven advisory committees. Given that advisory committees facilitate public input into important matters, would you reinstate other advisory committees? And how would you ensure they are used effectively in the next term of Council?

Advisory Committees are ways of municipal residents becoming actively involved in Meaford’s development and growth. It is unfortunate that committees have dissolved over time, however, some committees are task oriented and naturally come to a close. For long-term involvement and commitment to advisory committees, I recommend that the public get involved. I believe working in collaboration with community members and

determining a strong, and devoted group of committees will ensure their longevity. Let’s consider how we can make committee involvement accessible for everyone and provide opportunities such as review of relevant budgets, engagement with grant opportunities that can make the experience more engaging, This can mean publicizing committee work, creating doable tasks and timelines, and determining how to best get community members involved. Our Advisory Committees should reflect the strength, dedication, and tenacity of our residents.

Q4: What is the role of Council and the Municipality in supporting the development of downtown Meaford? In rural areas? Please provide examples.

Council and the Municipality have a great opportunity to help with developments in our downtown using appropriate mixed-use development, protecting heritage, improving accessibility, and creating an environment where local businesses can succeed. They can work actively with our Chamber of Commerce, when possible, they can speak to business owners, and they can continue to support growth that aligns with the Business Retention and Expansion Report. After speaking with municipal residents, business owners, and the Chamber, I am seeing the potential that community members see for the downtown core. Meaford’s “Offical Plan” also already places our downtown as a hub for culture, business, entertainment, tourism, and organizations. Supporting the development of downtown means showcasing these assets and revitalizing Meaford’s downtown to reflect the vibrancy of our residents.

As a Councillor, I would support the Chamber of Commerce by acting as a liaison, and working with them on initiatives and projects that can enhance our downtown. All downtown initiatives must resonate with our cultural, heritage, and municipal committees and organizations to ensure collective vision. Our rural areas have many different approaches. The Municipality should recognize that agriculture, rural businesses, small settlements, tourism, home-based businesses and natural areas are all important parts of Meaford’s economy and identity. The protection of our rural communities and agricultural land are incredibly important to ensuring the development of Meaford overall. This includes maintaining roads and other essential infrastructure, supporting rural businesses, facilitating appropriate economic development, and ensuring that rural residents have a meaningful voice in decisions that affect them.

Having said this, it would be incomplete to treat Meaford’s rural and urban areas as separate and competing. Our downtown can provide residents with shopping, employment, entertainment, culture, and tourism. The same can be said for our rural communities that also showcase local talent, and bring agricultural tourism through road-side stalls and farmer’s markets. Council's job is to see how areas have common needs, while also appreciating the uniqueness of rural and urban parts of Meaford. I believe that investing responsibility in infrastructure, supporting our local businesses and farmers, encouraging appropriate development, protecting our natural and agricultural assets, and engaging in transparent and candid conversations, the municipality can thrive collectively.

Q5: What role does Meaford’s “Official Plan” have in guiding development?

The "Official Plan” is one of the most important tools in our toolbox. It can provide long-term guidance and provide a framework for central concerns like housing, employment, infrastructure, and agriculture. Meaford’s growth depends on the collective vision that council, the municipality, and residents have. I believe the role of Meaford’s “Official Plan” is to help support sustainable growth while protecting Meaford from developments that do not speak to collective vision. It provides options for long-term planning and helps with making conscious decisions about future planning and growth.

Q6: If a development project does not appear to meet Official Plan requirements (like the SkyDev proposal), what should Council do to ensure the project is in the best interest of Meaford and its citizens?

If a development project does not appear to meet the Official plan requirements, I believe that the municipality and municipal council are responsible for reviewing the circumstances, and request community input. The purpose of the Official Plan is to engage in sustainable growth that speaks to the heartbeat of the municipality. Proposed projects can become a point of contention among residents when residents feel removed from their municipal council’s decision-making process . This is especially true when considering the importance of our environment and agricultural lands, community consultation is key when considering what is in the best interests of Meaford and residents. Council members are asked to represent the community and their needs, but must actively listen, consult, and engage in evidence-based data collection for concerns where misaligned as possible.

Q7: Should Council members or municipal staff meet with developers prior to a development application being submitted? What is your understanding of them role in such meetings? Can you give us an example of what you would do in that position?

Meeting with developers prior to development applications being submitted can be incredibly beneficial. Pre-consultation with municipal staff and appropriate technical staff can mean developers are provided with direct feedback and necessary information required to complete the proposal with relative ease. Initial meetings can allow for staff and council to discuss the Office Plan and the requirements for zoning in the municipality. It can provide developers and staff with the opportunity to determine any potential concerns, clarify information, and provide feedback if necessary. These initial meetings can save ratepayer dollars and speed up the approval process when taken to council. Finally, it can also provide the municipal staff and council with additional context and conversations with desired developers.

At the same time, any conversations or meetings must be held to community standards of intent and transparency. Municipal residents should be informed in process pertaining to community growth, especially in large and potentially highly impactful projects. Pre-consultation can be shifted into the realm of feeling disconnected, deceived, and disorganized for municipal residents if they feel their council have ulterior motivations. If a council member chooses to engage in the pre-consultation process, there must be clear understanding and reasoning behind their involvement and clear intentions. Council members acting alone in this process can be easily misconstrued regardless of intent.

In this position, my first conversation would be openly in the following council meeting. I would propose a discussion with the developer between the appropriate staff members, and any council members who wish to be included in the conversation. While council does not always need to be involved in the pre-consultation process, if there is a desire by municipal residents to have a council member available, I am happy to accommodate this request. In this circumstance, I would go as a representative of the municipality. I would have a list of my own inquiries on how this developer intends to help grow Meaford, and a series of public inquiries if possible. For example:

• How does the proposal conform with the Official Plan and zoning?

• Does the scale feel appropriate for the location and Meaford?

• How will roads, water, wastewater, and other infrastructure come into play?

• What are the environmental, agricultural, and heritage concerns?

• How will these be addressed?

• How will community residents be engaged in the development process?

• Who are the relevant stakeholders and how do they align with Meaford’s vision?

I would speak to community members about how they see transparency in the process and accommodate. Following all interactions I provide a report with the staff members present. Transparency is the key to all interactions with potential developers and the municipality to ensure residents feel they are not left in the dark.

Q8: There are many issues that need to be addressed in the coming four-year term, including the TCE pumped energy project, affordable housing, job creation, the downtown heritage district, business development, climate change, tourism, and a host of infrastructure needs supporting agriculture, bridges, roads, water and sewer and urban green spaces. What, in your opinion, are the most urgent issues to address?

In the next four years, my time on council will be spent prioritizing:

Infrastructure and financial sustainability

• Continue to maintain and renew roads

• Review budgets and timeline for bridges and culverts with municipal staff and council

• Wastewater capacity and replacement

• New development and growth within Meaford that helps grow Meaford’s economic future

Housing and economic development

• Promote tiny house and affordable housing projects

• Work with project developers to promote affordable housing in new developments

• Work alongside community organizations in Meaford and Grey-Bruce to promote services and collaboration

Downtown businesses including tourism and heritage

• Work with downtown business and the Chamber of Commerce

• Determine a Meaford identity and slogan using community input

• Beautify and revitalize downtown core

• Capitalize on natural beauty and heart of community

Agriculture and agri-tourism

• Promote agriculture as part of Meaford’s identity and its role as the economic backbone of the municipality

• Provide additional opportunities to showcase agriculture through promoting more events like the Fall Fair

• Promote farmer’s markets and stand

• Promote municipal grants and provincial funding opportunities that our farmers are eligible for like 2026’s revised Community Improvement Plan

• Support new farmings with the Experimental Acres initiative

Managing major projects

• Community consultation and engagement in large proposed projects like TCE Pump Storage and Skydev

• Consider how developments fit in Meaford’s Official Plan determine the future of Meaford in future developments

Q9: The TCE Pumped Storage Proposal will be decided by the federal government. What is your position on the project, and what role do you think the Meaford Council has as the project moves through approvals?

I am personally against the TCE Pumped Storage Proposal. However, as stated, it is a federal project and Meaford may be required to comply. If this is the case, I believe it is the council's duty to carefully consult municipal residents to determine how to best move forward with the approval process. While I agree that the Pre-Agreement was the best strategy, the community can greatly benefit from the 1.355 million annually for three (or possibly four) years. Moving forward, community consultation will be even more dire in the future. It is also true that the Pre-Agreement may outlast the 2026 elected council and become the duty of the following council to work with the community. It is the council's job to prepare Meaford residents and communicate actively and transparently until the time when further action is taken. Our municipal residents are torn with some feeling deeply disheartened by the project, and others looking to the financial benefits that could come with the project. I believe that during my time in council, it is imperative that I help conduct community-based research initiatives to determine municipal residents’ desires for the use of the Pre-Approval funds and help to guide the process moving forward.

Q10: As a member of Council, how will you work with local and county/regional partners and Meaford's CAO and staff to move the Municipality forward on the issues listed in Q8? Can you provide any examples?

As a member of Council, I will be working with the CAO and staff to help the municipality move forward with some central initiatives. After speaking to many residents and business owners, a central theme of tourism, Meaford’s municipal identity, and our downtown core has emerged. I feel Meaford has everything it needs to be a tourist destination. We have exceptionally talented musicians, artists, and shows, committed local business owners, thriving agriculture, and an unparalleled natural beauty. Moving forward, I would work with the CAO, staff, and fellow council members to promote initiatives like the Community Improvement Plan and work with municipal staff to find innovative ways to gain provincial and federal grants to support agri-tourism. I would work with the Chamber of Commerce and local downtown businesses to support a “Shop local” campaign that includes using local businesses, supporting agriculture, and promoting Meaford as a tourist destination. I would work with the municipality to gain evidence-based information about what municipal residents want Meaford’s identity and slogan to be, and have residents workshop ideas collectively.