Board Meeting Minutes 2026-04-14
Meeting details
- In person at Old Town Hall, 61 Main Street, Ottawa ON
- Agenda and reports (Google Drive): 2026-04-14_OOECA_Board_Meeting_Public
Attendees
Board members
Joseph Sleiman, Jocelyn Kearney, Mark Dermer, Georgia Blondon,Jamie Brougham, John Dance, Anthony Leaning, Jayson Maclean, Gregg Whetton
Other attendees
Daniel White, Brian Colman, Brian Tansey, Wendy McRae, Don Fugler, Ron Rose, Ariana Coleman
Rick Burrowes, Kristine Houde, Heather Jarrett, Lee Jacobs (Ottawa East CAG), Ariela Summit (Councillor Menard’s Office)
1. Welcome and opening remarks
Joseph Sleiman opened the meeting and chaired the session.
2. Approval of agenda
3. Approval of minutes
March 2026 minutes
February 2026 minutes
Prior to approval, Ron Rose asked for more information on the February minutes referring to the relationship between OOECA and the Mainstreeter.
Mark Dermer reported that he had met with Lorne Abugov the previous week to reinitiate contact after a period without discussions between the two organizations. He said both parties agreed the organizations should be working together to improve the community and planned to meet again within the next week or 10 days before reporting back to their respective associations.
- Motion to approve February 10 minutes moved by John Dance and seconded by Jamie Brougham.
- Motion carried.
4. Business arising from minutes
No additional business arising from the minutes was identified.
5. Board resolutions adopted since last meeting in person
Mark Dermer confirmed that the board had adopted an email resolution since the previous in-person meeting to appoint Joseph Sleiman as vice-president. He noted that the resolution was adopted unanimously and was consistent with both the association’s constitution and the Ontario Not-for-Profit Corporations Act (ONCA).
6. Executive group report
Mark Dermer advised that the executive group report is part of the meeting package and that future executive reports would be prepared jointly by the current officers in lieu of a president’s report.
7. Treasurer’s report
Mark Dermer advised that the treasurer’s report had been posted as of the previous Friday.
8. Ontario Not-for-Profit Corporations Act compliance and future governance
Mark Dermer reported that a one-page explainer on compliance with the Ontario Not-for-Profit Corporations Act (ONCA) had been posted and that work was already underway to prepare new bylaws. He said revised bylaws would be brought to the membership by June for approval and adoption, and that a special meeting would be required.
Q&A and discussion
JJayson MacLean asked for a plain-language explanation of ONCA and the association’s goals.
- Mark Dermer said ONCA came into force in 2021, required compliance by 2024, and was intended to modernize governance for not-for-profit corporations in Ontario like OOECA.
- He explained that likely changes for OOECA would include defining membership by individual rather than household and updating governance provisions to better align with current best practice.
- Mark also noted possible changes under discussion, including moving from a fixed board size of 9 directors to a range, and reviewing roles, for example the past-president term, so that roles would not continue for as long as six years.
- He explained that ONCA was explicit that membership must be defined at the individual level, not per household.
Jayson MacLean added that the association already tracks the individual who paid for each
membership, which should help with transition to individual-based member registration.
Kristine Houde asked whether the current bylaws document would remain alongside the constitution.
- Mark Dermer replied that existing bylaw would be considered together with the constitution in the new governance document updates.
Georgia Blondon asked attendees to add their email addresses to the attendance record so the association could better communicate out about OOECA future meetings.
9. Committee reports
Planning committee – Anthony Leaning
Anthony Leaning reported limited activity since the previous meeting. He said the committee continued to explore the future of the 30-metre strip of land through the Greystone property and that the next step would be a conversation with the councillor to seek city involvement and responsibility.
He also reported on a committee of adjustment application concerning 144 Lenora. The planning committee reviewed the minor variance, found no significant issue because similar garage-facing conditions already exist nearby, and submitted comments with only minor observations about the building’s relationship to the street.
Q&A and discussion
Heather Jarrett asked whether there was any update on the 67 Springhurst site where a house had been demolished.
Transportation committee – John Dance
John Dance reported efforts to reactivate the transportation committee, including outreach through OOE Grapevine, which had already generated interest from three people. He invited additional volunteers and noted the committee still needed a chair and ideally representation from different parts of the community.
He also reported that a northbound left turn from Main Street onto Colonel By is now permitted during non-peak periods, which should improve access for residents in the northern quadrant of the community.
John summarized concerns arising from the meeting organized by the councilor with residents and city staff about the McDonald’s area and Greystone Village traffic, including possible short-term fixes and interest in one-way street options as longer-term measures.
Health and safety – Georgia Blondon
Georgia Blondon advised that her update was contained in her written report posted with the meeting materials.
Q&A and discussion
Kristine Houde asked how the transportation committee and related communications from the councillor’s office might work together on accessibility, mobility, and safety without duplicating effort.
- Georgia Blondon replied that transportation and safety issues often overlap, citing concerns such as debris, needles, messes in corners, and erratic driving, and invited anyone interested in transportation-related safety matters to connect with health@ottawaeast.ca.
Federation of Citizens’ Associations (FCA) – Gregg Whetton
Gregg Whetton reported that he had recently been appointed as the association’s representative to the FCA but had not yet been able to fully take up the role because he had been out of the country. He noted that he had been tracking FCA work and that a meeting was scheduled for the following day.
Q&A and discussion
Joseph Sleiman asked whether there was anything major currently on the horizon at FCA.
- Gregg Whetton replied that he had not seen anything significant. Kristine added that the FCA was looking for volunteers to join its board. Details on their AGM and how to volunteer are located on their website and in Gregg’s FCA report.
10. Councillor’s report – Ariela Summit for Councillor Menard’s office
Ariela Summit provided updates from the councillor’s office.
Ariela Summit provided updates from the councillor’s office. She reported that spring street sweeping had started, encouraged residents to clear local catch basins where possible, and shared that a city feasibility study on bike share recommended a publicly run system, three-season operation, and inclusion of e-bikes, although no immediate implementation decision had been made.
On transportation issues near McDonald’s, she reported that the recent public meeting had drawn more than 35 residents and led to commitments for flex stakes, no-stopping markings, curb signs, and exploration of further parking and traffic measures, including possible one-way changes on Des Oblats pending a traffic review. She also noted the recent change allowing a left-turn signal from Main to Colonel By and said the office was examining additional signal and intersection changes, including issues at Greenfield, Main, Hawthorne, Pretoria Bridge, and Colonel By.
Ariela Summit also reported likely installation of two shaded picnic tables at Springhurst Park, possible additional picnic tables at Brantwood, seeding of grass at Brantwood, and additional temporary washrooms for Springhurst and Brantwood/Brewer made possible through the 2026 budget. She said the informal bike area at Brantwood would remain for now, though a plywood ramp would likely need to be removed, and noted interest in discussing a possible longer-term pump-track option at Springhurst.
Q&A and discussion
Lee Jacobs asked about the status of the pilot project last summer to open Brantwood washrooms on weekends.
Joseph Sleiman asked who would conduct and fund any transportation study required for one-way proposals involving Hazel and Des Oblats.
- Ariela Summit said she assumed the City would cover such a study through the transportation budget rather than the councillor’s office budget.
Jamie Brougham argued that traffic issues around McDonald’s and Greystone should have been anticipated earlier in the planning process.
- Ariela Summit acknowledged the concern and responded that the area had become a moving target as new factors, including the community centre and school, emerged over time.
- Anthony Leaning added that development applications do require traffic reports, but there is no normal mechanism to force a commercial tenant to provide one later in the process.
Wendy McRae asked whether paving would be added under proposed picnic benches at Springhurst. Ariela Summit said no paving was planned, only anchoring as required. Wendy McRae also suggested restricting left turns near the Pretoria Bridge and Colonel By intersection to reduce backups.
Mark Dermer said he supported a traffic study eventually but believed it should wait until the Greystone development is more fully built out and occupied. He also said Ron Rose’s one-way concept showed promise for both traffic flow and additional on-street parking.
- Ariela Summit replied that, given City timelines, starting study discussions now could still align with eventual project completion.
A community member asked when right-turn-only lane markings near Hawthorne would be painted more clearly.
Kristine Houde asked whether the pilot 3-bin recycling and garbage project at Brantwood would be expanded to Springhurst.
- Ariela Summit confirmed that Springhurst would receive three-stream bins and said she could resend that information to the board.
11. New Business
11.1 Motion – Municipal election candidate speaking opportunity
A motion was introduced by John Dance that any registered candidate for Capital Ward councillor in the 2026 municipal election, upon request, be given the opportunity to speak at an OOECA board meeting before the election for a maximum of 15 minutes. Discussion included concerns about using board meetings rather than a separate public forum, the association’s role in encouraging civic engagement, and whether all candidates would be treated equally.
- Moved by John Dance and seconded by Jayson MacLean.
- Motion carried, with 5 in favour, 3 opposed, and 1 abstention.
11.2 Brantwood shore proposal – Rick Burrowes
Rick Burrowes presented a two-phase proposal concerning the Brantwood shore area. Phase 1 involved seeding the bare slope and installing two picnic tables, with no funding request to the board. Phase 2 involved possible future regrading of part of the slope, subject to additional study, consultation, and approvals.
Discussion considered accessibility, environmental and floodplain issues, whether the project should proceed in stages, and whether the board had enough information to endorse the longer-term grading concept.
The chair proposed splitting the proposal into separate motions. Phase 2 was not presented at this meeting and was left for future consideration pending more information.
Motion: That the board support Phase 1 of the Brantwood shore proposal, consisting of grass seeding and installation of two picnic tables.
12. Other business
Mark Dermer asked that the minutes record appreciation for Kristine Houde’s significant work maintaining the website and preparing materials for meetings, and the board expressed thanks.
Jayson MacLean announced that the Brantwood tree-planting project would proceed on May 2 with funding from the Rideau Valley Conservation Authority (RVCA) and volunteers organized.