Whitby Town Council convened Monday evening to address a wide-ranging agenda that included traffic noise mitigation, regional governance comments, and economic development initiatives. The meeting covered several motions that passed with support from the dais.
Residents near Thickson Road may soon see new signage following a request from Councillors Victoria Bozinovski and Maleeha Shahid to reduce engine brake noise. The two councillors, who reside off the regional road, cited frequent complaints from constituents about the loud screeching of air brakes. They asked Town Solicitor Francesco Santiguida about enforcement options but were informed that municipal authority is limited, essentially relying on voluntary compliance. Despite these limitations, the council passed the motion to request signage asking truckers to ease up on their braking. The motion reflects ongoing efforts to balance heavy industrial traffic with residential comfort in the area.
Durham Regional Chair John Henry attended the meeting and expressed strong dissatisfaction regarding the provincial government’s decision to appoint the next regional chair with enhanced powers. Henry, who is finishing eight years in the role, called the move a ‘sad day for democracy.’ He lamented the conclusion of his career under these circumstances, stating, ‘I didn’t think this was how my career would end.’ Henry further clarified his stance, asserting, ‘I would not accept the position if given to me,’ and confirmed he would not run again even if given the opportunity.
Mayor Elizabeth Roy moved a successful motion aimed at increasing the number of hotel and conference centres in Whitby, citing a desire to expand economic opportunities. ‘The opportunity to attract more to our community has come to us and I just want to increase it from one to two,’ Roy told council. The approved motion implements a financial incentive for developers, allowing the town to defer development charges and interest on those charges for a maximum of 24 months once a project gets underway. This policy is intended to facilitate the construction of two new hospitality hubs.
In an effort to improve administrative efficiency, council approved a pilot project to simplify the process for minor building permit applications. The initiative will see a report generated to allow these smaller permits to be processed without requiring approval from the full council. This change is intended to speed up approvals for minor residential projects and reduce bureaucracy. Councillor Victoria Bozinovski commended the town staff for their current performance, noting, ‘Every single permit I have taken out at the town has been really effective. Great job by staff and kudos.’
Safety along the waterfront was a key topic of discussion, with Councillor Matt Cardwell calling for a report on controlling water behaviour in the area between west of Iroquois Park and east of the Heydenshore Pavilion. The motion addresses constituent concerns regarding safety in the water. The request received unanimous support from council, tasking staff with preparing a detailed report on potential safety measures for this section of the shoreline. This focus on waterfront safety comes as the community looks toward the warmer months when public beach usage typically increases.
The decisions made during the session set the stage for several municipal changes, with staff expected to return with detailed reports on water safety and permit streamlining in the coming months.
