Minutes of City Council as Shareholder of Guelph Junction Railway Limited

Tuesday, June 24, 2025 at 4:30 P.m. - 5:30 P.m.

Council Chambers

Guelph City Hall, 1 Carden Street

Council:

• Mayor C. Guthrie
• Councillor P. Allt
• Councillor C. Billings
• Councillor L. Busuttil
• Councillor L. Caron
• Councillor E. Caton
• Councillor K. Chew
• Councillor C. Downer
• Councillor D. Gibson
• Councillor R. Goller
• Councillor C. Klassen

Absent:

• Councillor M. Richardson

Staff:

• J. Holmes, Director and Chief Executive Officer, Guelph Junction Railway Limited/Deputy Chief Administrative Officer, Infrastructure, Development and Environment
• C. Clack-Bush, Deputy Chief Administrative Officer, Public Services
• J. Charles, Corporate Secretary of Guelph Junction Railway Limited and General Manager of Legal and Court Services / City Solicitor
• J. Goodram, General Manager, Economic Development and Tourism
• M. Lemon, Acting General Manager, Parks
• L. Petroczi, General Manager, Guelph Junction Railway
• S. O'Brien, General Manager, City Clerk's Office/City Clerk
• G. Brennan, Council and Committee Coordinator
• J. McDonald, Council and Committee Assistant
• S. Osborn, Administrative Coordinator
• A. Sandor, Council and Committee Coordinator

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1.

Call to Order

Mayor Guthrie called the meeting to order (4:30 p.m.).

1.1

Disclosure of Pecuniary Interest and General Nature Thereof

There were no disclosures.

2.

Confirmation of Open Minutes

• Moved By Councillor Billings
  Seconded By Councillor Goller
  1. That the minutes of the open City Council as Shareholder of GJR meetings held June 25, 2024, be confirmed as recorded and without being read.

  Voting in Favour: (10)

  Mayor Guthrie, Councillor Goller, Councillor Allt, Councillor Downer, Councillor Billings, Councillor Caron, Councillor Caton, Councillor Klassen, Councillor Busuttil, and Councillor Chew

  Carried (10 to 0)

3.

Guelph Junction Railway Limited 2024 Annual Report and Financial Reporting to the Shareholder , 2025-317

Jayne Holmes, Director and Chief Executive Officer, Guelph Junction Railway Limited/Deputy Chief Administrative Officer, Infrastructure, Development and Environment presented regarding the Guelph Junction Railway Limited 2024 Annual Report and Financial Reporting to the Shareholder.

The following delegates spoke:
Gregg Allan
Willow Hall
Doug Cerson
Dave Conlon
Cyndy McLean
Lee Ferneyhoff
Ron Huszarik
Meg Thorburn
James Fedosov
Justin St-Maurice
Mike Darmon, Guelph Coalition for Active Transportation 

• Moved By Councillor Downer
  Seconded By Councillor Busuttil
  1. That City Council in its capacity as the Shareholder of the Guelph Junction Railway Limited receive the Guelph Junction Railway Limited 2024 Annual Report and Audited Financial Statements for information.

  Voting in Favour: (11)

  Mayor Guthrie, Councillor Gibson, Councillor Goller, Councillor Allt, Councillor Downer, Councillor Billings, Councillor Caron, Councillor Caton, Councillor Klassen, Councillor Busuttil, and Councillor Chew

  Carried (11 to 0)

4.

Guelph Junction Railway Limited – Governance Update, 2025-301

• Moved By Councillor Caron
  Seconded By Councillor Allt
  1. That the staff report dated June 24, 2025 entitled Guelph Junction Railway Limited – Governance Update be received.
  2. That the Amended and Restated Shareholder Declaration of The Corporation of the City of Guelph, as the sole shareholder of Guelph Junction Railway Limited, included as Attachment-1, be approved by resolution of the shareholder.
  3. That the Amended and Restated By-law Number 1 of Guelph Junction Railway Limited, included as Attachment-2, be approved by resolution of the shareholder.
  4. That the resignation of Tara Baker from the position of Chief Executive Officer of Guelph Junction Railway Limited be accepted and take effect at 11:59pm June 24, 2025.
  5. That the appointment of Jayne Holmes as Chief Executive Officer of Guelph Junction Railway Limited, as recommended by the Board of Directors, be approved, to take effect as of 12:00am June 25, 2025 and to hold office for the length of time to be determined by the directors, at their discretion, subject to earlier resignation or removal.
  6. That Gene Matthews be elected as a director of Guelph Junction Railway Limited to hold office for a term of up to three (3) years, subject to earlier resignation, removal, or election of his successor.
  7. That the appointment of Gene Matthews as Chief Financial Officer of Guelph Junction Railway Limited, as recommended by the Board of Directors, be approved, to hold office for the length of time to be determined by the directors, at their discretion, subject to earlier resignation or removal.
  8. That the appointment of James Goodram as Chief Operations Officer of Guelph Junction Railway Limited, as recommended by the Board of Directors, be approved, to hold office for the length of time to be determined by the directors, at their discretion, subject to earlier resignation or removal.

  Voting in Favour: (11)

  Mayor Guthrie, Councillor Gibson, Councillor Goller, Councillor Allt, Councillor Downer, Councillor Billings, Councillor Caron, Councillor Caton, Councillor Klassen, Councillor Busuttil, and Councillor Chew

  Carried (11 to 0)

5.

Adjournment

• Moved By Councillor Busuttil
  Seconded By Councillor Downer

  That the meeting be adjourned (6:31 p.m.).

  Carried