MINUTES

Corporation of the City of Cambridge

Council Meeting

Meeting #:
Date:
, 6:30 p.m.
Location:
Council Chambers
Council Members In Attendance:
  • Councillor Shwery - Ward 1, 
  • Councillor Devine - Ward 2, 
  • Councillor Kimpson - Ward 3, 
  • Councillor Earnshaw - Ward 4, 
  • Councillor Roberts - Ward 5, 
  • Councillor Cooper - Ward 6, 
  • Councillor Hamilton - Ward 7, 
  • Councillor Ermeta - Ward 8, 
  • and Mayor Liggett 
Staff Members in Attendance:
  • Hardy Bromberg, General Manager - Planning and Growth, 
  • Yogesh Shah, Acting City Manager, 
  • Cheryl Zahnleiter, General Manager - Customer and Financial Services, 
  • Bryan Boodhoo - City Solicitor, 
  • Sheena Pawliwec - Chief Financial Officer, 
  • Lesley Head - General Manager - Community Services, 
  • Danielle Manton - General Manager - Corporate Services, 
  • Jennifer Shaw - Acting City Clerk, 
  • and Rachel Latour - Administrative Assistant 
Others in Attendance:
  • Jake Clarmo - Council Committee Services Coordinator/Secretary Treasurer to Committee of Adjustment, Rutvik Shah - Network Administrator, Shawn Falco - Chief of Staff to the Mayor, Michael Hausser - Acting General Manager - Infrastructure Services, Sheena Pawliwec - Chief Financial Officer 

     

The meeting of the Council of the Corporation of the City of Cambridge is held in Council Chambers and is live streamed to the City of Cambridge website. Mayor Liggett welcomes everyone present and calls the meeting to order at 6:33 p.m.

Councillor Cooper declared a direct pecuniary interest for item 9.1.1 Report Integrity Commissioner Report on Code of Conduct Complaints 2025-01-A to J as Council was considering a report from the Integrity Commissioner recommending a suspension of his remuneration for a contravention of the code of conduct. 

  • Motion:25-196
    Moved byCouncillor Earnshaw
    Seconded byCouncillor Roberts

    That in accordance with section 239 (2) (a), (b), (d), (e), (f), and (k) of the Municipal Act, 2001, Council to convene in Closed Session at 5:00 p.m. to consider the following subject matters:

    (a)  the security of the property of the municipality or local board (Confidential Security Matter);

    (b) personal matters about an identifiable individual, including municipal or local board employees (Confidential Security Matter);

    (d)  labour relations or employee negotiations (Confidential HR Matter)

    (e)  litigation or potential litigation, including matters before administrative tribunals, affecting the municipality or local board (Confidential litigation update);

    (f)  advice that is subject to solicitor-client privilege, including communications necessary for that purpose (Confidential litigation update) and;

    (k)  a position, plan, procedure, criteria or instruction to be applied to any negotiations carried on or to be carried on by or on behalf of the municipality or local board (Confidential litigation update). 

    In Favour (9)Councillor Shwery, Councillor Devine, Councillor Kimpson, Councillor Earnshaw, Councillor Roberts, Councillor Cooper, Councillor Hamilton, Councillor Ermeta, and Mayor Liggett
    Carried (9 to 0)
  • Motion:25-197
    Moved byCouncillor Ermeta
    Seconded byCouncillor Hamilton

    THAT Council rise from Closed Session and reconvene in Open Session at 6:33 p.m. 

    In Favour (9)Councillor Devine, Mayor Liggett, Councillor Hamilton, Councillor Ermeta, Councillor Cooper, Councillor Kimpson, Councillor Earnshaw, Councillor Roberts, and Councillor Shwery
    Carried (9 to 0)
  • Motion:25-198
    Moved byCouncillor Devine
    Seconded byCouncillor Roberts

    THAT Report 25-039-CRS 2026 Strong Mayor Budget Process be received.

    AND THAT Council direct that the statutory time periods be shortened as outlined report 25-039-CRS, being the 30-day Amendment Period and the 15-day Override Period.

    In Favour (8)Mayor Liggett, Councillor Hamilton, Councillor Ermeta, Councillor Cooper, Councillor Kimpson, Councillor Earnshaw, Councillor Roberts, and Councillor Shwery
    Opposed (1)Councillor Devine
    Carried (8 to 1)
  • Motion:25-200
    Moved byCouncillor Devine
    Seconded byCouncillor Earnshaw

    THAT in accordance with report Integrity Commissioner Report on Code of Conduct Complains 2025-01-A to J Council denounces the actions of Councillor Cooper by way of a formal reprimand;

    AND FURTHER THAT Councillor Cooper be required to take Sensitivity Training within three (3) months of the date of this meeting.

    In Favour (4)Councillor Devine, Mayor Liggett, Councillor Earnshaw, and Councillor Shwery
    Opposed (4)Councillor Hamilton, Councillor Ermeta, Councillor Kimpson, and Councillor Roberts
    Conflict (1)Councillor Cooper
    Defeated (4 to 4)
  • Amendment:
    Motion:25-201
    Moved byCouncillor Hamilton
    Seconded byCouncillor Roberts

    AND FURTHER THAT in accordance with report Integrity Commissioner Report on Code of Conduct Complaints 2025-01-A to J Councillor Cooper's remuneration be suspended for ten (10) days with the suspended pay to be donated to local groups and non-profits that support transgender and gender nonconforming persons (i.e. Spectrum, YWCA, etc.)

    In Favour (4)Councillor Hamilton, Councillor Kimpson, Councillor Earnshaw, and Councillor Roberts
    Opposed (4)Councillor Devine, Mayor Liggett, Councillor Ermeta, and Councillor Shwery
    Conflict (1)Councillor Cooper
    Defeated (4 to 4)
  • Motion:25-202
    Moved byCouncillor Roberts
    Seconded byCouncillor Kimpson

    THAT in accordance with report Integrity Commissioner Report on Code of Conduct Complaints 2025-01-A to J Council denounces the actions of Councillor Cooper by way of a formal reprimand;

    AND FURTHER THAT in accordance with report Integrity Commissioner Report on Code of Conduct Complaints 2025-01-A to J Councillor Cooper's remuneration be suspended for ten (10) days.

    In Favour (4)Councillor Hamilton, Councillor Kimpson, Councillor Earnshaw, and Councillor Roberts
    Opposed (4)Councillor Devine, Mayor Liggett, Councillor Ermeta, and Councillor Shwery
    Conflict (1)Councillor Cooper
    Defeated (4 to 4)
  • Motion:25-203
    Moved byCouncillor Devine
    Seconded byCouncillor Earnshaw

    THAT in accordance with report Integrity Commissioner Report on Code of Conduct Complaints 2025-01-A to J Council denounces the actions of Councillor Cooper by way of a formal reprimand;

    AND FURHTER THAT Councillor Cooper be required to take Sensitivity Training within three (3) months of the date of this meeting. 

    In Favour (6)Councillor Devine, Mayor Liggett, Councillor Kimpson, Councillor Earnshaw, Councillor Roberts, and Councillor Shwery
    Opposed (2)Councillor Hamilton, and Councillor Ermeta
    Conflict (1)Councillor Cooper
    Carried (6 to 2)

Note: This Report was withdrawn and will come to a future meeting.

Note: This Report was withdrawn and will come to a future meeting.

Note: This Report was withdrawn and will come to a future meeting.

12.

 

Note: This motion is being introduced at the October 14, 2025 Council Meeting but will not be discussed until October 28, 2025.

  • Motion:25-204
    Moved byCouncillor Shwery
    Seconded byCouncillor Ermeta

    THAT all presentations and correspondence from the October 14, 2025 Council meeting be received.

    In Favour (9)Councillor Shwery, Councillor Devine, Councillor Kimpson, Councillor Earnshaw, Councillor Roberts, Councillor Cooper, Councillor Hamilton, Councillor Ermeta, and Mayor Liggett
    Carried (9 to 0)
  • Motion:25-205
    Moved byCouncillor Roberts
    Seconded byCouncillor Devine

    Being a by-law to confirm the proceedings of the Council of the Corporation of the City of Cambridge

    In Favour (9)Councillor Shwery, Councillor Devine, Councillor Kimpson, Councillor Earnshaw, Councillor Roberts, Councillor Cooper, Councillor Hamilton, Councillor Ermeta, and Mayor Liggett
    Carried (9 to 0)
  • Motion:25-206
    Moved byCouncillor Cooper
    Seconded byCouncillor Kimpson

    THAT the Council meeting does now adjourn at 9:00 p.m. 

    In Favour (9)Councillor Devine, Mayor Liggett, Councillor Hamilton, Councillor Ermeta, Councillor Cooper, Councillor Kimpson, Councillor Earnshaw, Councillor Roberts, and Councillor Shwery
    Carried (9 to 0)