Committees and Boards

Operating through a board of directors who own or work in downtown businesses, the BIA's primary function is twofold: to improve the physical environment of the area, and to assist with economic redevelopment of the local business community through area-wide promotion and advertising. The BIA provides both the organized structure and the source of funds to help improve our business economy and to make our town a better place in which to live and make a living.

Interested in joining the Essex Centre BIA Board of Management? Contact the Essex BIA.

Learn more about the Essex Centre Business Improvement Area (BIA) Board of Management

The Town of Essex is 100% Shareholder for E.L.K. Energy Inc which provides power to over 12,600 residents and businesses in the communities of Essex, Harrow, Belle River, Comber, Kingsville, and Cottam.  E.L.K.'s mission statement is to provide the highest quality of service to our customers by ensuring that the electrical system is designed, constructed, and maintained to ensure its reliability, safety and affordability while increasing shareholder value. 

Terms of Reference 

Essex County OPP Detachment Board North – Lakeshore, Essex, Tecumseh

The Town of Essex contracts with the Ontario Provincial Police for police protection within the community. This contract is administered by the Essex County OPP Detachment Board North – Lakeshore, Essex, Tecumseh.

Learn more about the  Essex County OPP Detachment Board North - Lakeshore, Essex, Tecumseh

The Drainage Board is responsible for exercising Council’s powers and duties with respect to any matter under the Drainage Act (the “Act”), in which Council is required by law to hold a hearing or afford an opportunity to be heard.

Terms of Reference
 

View the Meeting Calendar.

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Learn more about the Accessibility Advisory Committee

By-Law 2237 establishes an Appeals Committee of the Town of Essex with quasi-judicial functions and the jurisdiction delegated by Council to (among other things) hear and determine all applications made, proceedings instituted, and matters brought before it and for such purpose to make such orders, give such directions, issue such approvals, deny, or vary applications, and otherwise do and perform all such acts, matters, deeds, and things as may be necessary or incidental to the exercise of its powers. In accordance with By-Law 2237 the Property Standards Committee is the Town of Essex Appeals Committee.

Terms of Reference 

Learn more about the Appeals Committee.

 The Committee of Adjustment is responsible for holding hearings under the Planning Act regarding minor variances from the Town's zoning by-law, changes in non-conforming use, and applications for land division (separating a new lot, adding land to an existing lot).

Terms of Reference 

Learn more about the Committee of Adjustment

 The Heritage Committee is appointed by Council under the authority of the Ontario Heritage Act. The Committee advises Council on matters related to the Act. It may also advise Council about properties in the Town of Essex that have cultural heritage value, which the Town or property owner may wish to preserve or protect from destruction or harmful change by passing a Heritage Designation By-Law. 

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Learn more about the Heritage Committee

 Pursuant to Section 88.37(1) of the Municipal Elections Act, 1996, as amended, municipalities are required, prior to October 1 in a regular election year, to establish a Compliance Audit Committee (CAC). The purpose of the CAC is to consider applications for compliance audits of candidates’ or registered third parties’ campaign finances and determine if audits are required. The Terms of Reference have been established to ensure that the duties and responsibilities of the CAC are fulfilled in a fair, open and responsible manner.

Terms of Reference

Learn more about the Municipal Election Compliance Audit Committee

The Property Standards By-law (936) sets standards of maintenance and occupancy for all properties located in the Town of Essex. In accordance with By-Law 2237 the Property Standards Committee is the Town of Essex Appeals Committee. See Appeals Committee. All property owners are required to repair and maintain their property according to these standards, including owners of rental residential properties, unless there is an agreement between the property owner and a lessee or occupant that assigns maintenance and repair responsibility to the lessee or occupant.

Learn more about the Property Standards Committee

The mandate of the Arts, Culture and Tourism (ACT) Committee is to actively promote, develop and support various aspects of cultural art forms, including but not limited to dance, drama, theatre, visual arts, literature, music and sculpture in multiple mediums throughout the municipality.

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Learn more about the Arts, Culture and Tourism Committee

 The Co-An Park Committee was established pre-amalgamation by the former Township of Colchester North (now Town of Essex) and the former Township of Anderdon (now Town of Amherstburg). The Committee operates and maintains the park and its personnel.

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*Proposed Terms of Reference.

Learn more about the Co-An Park Committee

 The Essex Festival Committee is responsible for organizing events as part of the Essex Fun Fest, including the parade, midway, vendor booths, and entertainment. Other responsibilities include advertising, promotion and security.

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Learn more about the Essex Festival Committee

Santa's Village Committee

The purpose of the Santa's Village Committee is to create a memorable, fiscally responsible annual event to promote the general betterment and positive self-image of our community using the identified strengths that exist in the community. The committee strives to increase the number of people attending activities during the event and their diversity and increasing user satisfaction.

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The mandate of the Affordable Housing Task Force (AHTF) is to provide advice, suggestions, and recommendations to Administration and Council on issues related to affordable housing in the Town of Essex, including but not limited to identifying new or existing programs to stimulate new affordable housing development, exploring grant funding opportunities for affordable housing development, and fostering partnership opportunities with housing institutions.

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