Doug Townsend
Councillor · seen 2021-09-07 to 2026-08-11 · served 2018–2022, 2022–2026
137substantive motions movedof 147 meetings the minutes record them at
13procedural motions movedcounted separately, and never added to the above
213substantive motions secondedseconding is often a seat convention, not agreement
12meetings recorded absentof 147 they were on the record for
—recorded votes, for–againstthis council recorded no vote they took part in
Vote count and office as published by the Ontario Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing, 2022 municipal election results (Open Government Licence – Ontario). Everything else on this page is read from West Grey’s own minutes.
In their own words, via the Town
Doug has lived in Normanby Township for close to 40 years. He grew up in the hamlet of Gowanstown north of Listowel and it is here he got his start with Canada Post. It was through the post office that he ended up in West Grey serving as postmaster of both Ayton and Durham during the 1980s before moving onto management positions and a career that would span 36.5 years while all the time residing in this area. After retirement Doug has sat on boards within and outside of the municipal world and is excited for this next chapter of serving the citizens of West Grey as a councillor. Doug has been married for 38 years and has two grown children and two grandchildren all residing in West Grey.
As published by West Grey.
This council rarely calls recorded votes, so individual positions are only on the record where one was demanded. Under the Municipal Act that is the council's choice, not an omission in this record.
Meetings the minutes record them as absent from (12)
Committee of adjustmentJuly 7, 2026
CouncilJune 2, 2026
Committee of adjustmentJune 2, 2026
Public MeetingDecember 16, 2025
Budget MeetingOctober 28, 2025
CouncilOctober 7, 2025
Committee of adjustmentOctober 7, 2025
CouncilApril 1, 2025
Special CouncilNovember 8, 2024
Special CouncilJuly 6, 2023
Public MeetingMay 2, 2023
Special CouncilFebruary 14, 2023
Substantive motions moved (showing the 40 most recent of 137)
"THAT Council receive staff report ZA17.2026 - Queen Street Candue for information."
Public Meeting, August 11, 2026 · Carried
"THAT Council receives all correspondence not otherwise dealt with."
Council, August 11, 2026 · Carried
"THAT Bylaw Numbers 2026-053, 2026-054 and 2026-055 be passed and enacted."
Council, August 11, 2026 · Carried
"THAT in consideration of staff report ‘Bill 97 – Implications for MFIPPA Compliance and Privacy Impact Assessment Requirements’, Council receives the report for information purposes."
Council, July 7, 2026 · Carried
"THAT Council receives all correspondence not otherwise dealt with."
Council, June 16, 2026 · Carried
"THAT in consideration of staff report ‘West Grey Official Plan Update’, Council directs staff to advise Grey County Planning Staff that Council supports the incorporation of the modifications to the West Grey Official Plan noted in the “West Grey Official Plan Recommended Mods Table May 2026” attached to this report."
Council, June 16, 2026 · Carried
"THAT in consideration of staff report ‘Waste Collection Bylaw and Proposed Fees’ Council directs staff to bring forward bylaw to: 1. amend Bylaw 2025-065 Fees and Charges to include the fees proposed by staff, as outlined in this report; and 2. repeal and replace bylaw 112-2018 with a new Waste and Recycling Disposal bylaw."
Council, May 5, 2026 · Carried
"THAT in consideration of staff report ‘ZA05.2026 Jantzi’, Council directs staff to bring forward a bylaw to amend bylaw 37-2006 as it relates to ZA05.2026."
Public Meeting, April 21, 2026 · Carried
"THAT the minutes of the regular Council meeting held on April 7, 2026, be adopted as amended."
Council, April 21, 2026 · Carried
"THAT in consideration of staff report Durham Town Hall Rental Request, Council authorizes staff to enter into an agreement with Aleksandra Macura for the use of the Durham Town Hall during July and August 2026 for the purposes of operating a children’s day camp program."
Council, April 21, 2026 · Carried
“THAT in consideration of staff report ‘2026 Grants to Organizations’, Council forgoes granting money to the Durham Agricultural Society Halloween Trail from the 2026 community grants budget for 2026."
Council, April 21, 2026 · Carried
“THAT in consideration of staff report ‘2026 Grants to Organizations’, Council forgoes granting money to the Four Winds Music Festival Inc. from the 2026 community grants budget for 2026."
Council, April 21, 2026 · Carried
"THAT in consideration of staff report ‘Asset Management Plan Update’, Council approves the 2025 Asset Management Plan as presented."
Council, April 21, 2026 · Carried
2 "THAT the minutes of the regular Council meeting held on March 3, 2026, be adopted."
Council, March 17, 2026 · Carried
"THAT Bylaw Number 2026-021 be passed and enacted."
Council, March 17, 2026 · Carried
"THAT in consideration of staff report ‘ZA02.2026 Candue Countess Street’, Council directs staff to bring forward a bylaw to amend bylaw 37-2006 as it relates to ZA02.2026."
Public Meeting, March 17, 2026 · Carried
"THAT Council receives all correspondence not otherwise dealt with."
Council, March 3, 2026 · Carried
"THAT Bylaw Numbers 2026-013, 2026-014, 2026-015, and 2026-016 be passed and enacted."
Council, February 17, 2026 · Carried
"THAT Council receives all correspondence not otherwise dealt with."
Council, February 3, 2026 · Carried
"THAT in consideration of staff report ‘Developer Request – Land as Development Security’, Council directs staff to allow land to be used as security in relation to development agreements provided that: 1. any land used as security must have direct frontage on a fully maintained public highway (land without direct frontage on a fully maintained public highway shall not be eligible for use as secur
Council, February 3, 2026 · Carried
“THAT in consideration of correspondence dated December 23, 2025, from Saugeen Mobility and Regional Transit (SMART) respecting a proposal for adoption of a bylaw appointing the County of Bruce as host municipality for SMART, Council directs staff to bring forward a bylaw to appoint the County of Bruce as the host municipality for SMART.”
Council, January 13, 2026 · Carried
"THAT the minutes of the regular Council meeting held on December 2, 2025, be adopted."
Council, December 16, 2025 · Carried
"THAT in consideration of staff report ‘Police and Paramedic Station Subdivision Road Naming’, Council receives the report for information purposes."
Council, December 16, 2025 · Carried
"THAT in consideration of staff report ‘2025 Q3 Building Department Activities’, Council receives the report for information purposes."
Council, December 16, 2025 · Carried
"THAT in consideration of staff report ‘West Grey/Hanover Boundary Adjustment Agreement’, Council directs staff to bring forward a bylaw to authorize the Mayor and Clerk to enter into a boundary adjustment agreement with the Town of Hanover, substantially in the form attached to this report."
Council, December 16, 2025 · Carried
"THAT in consideration of correspondence received from Alex Neuman, CTT Properties, requesting an exemption from the Town of Durham Sign Bylaw for the installation of an 18.8 by 9.5-foot LED sign, Council approves an exemption to the Town of Durham Sign Bylaw for the installation of an LED billboard sign at 437 Garafraxa Street South, Durham."
Council, November 18, 2025 · Carried
"THAT in consideration of staff report ‘Adopt New West Grey Official Plan for the Settlement Areas of Durham and Neustadt’, Council: 1. Directs staff to bring forward a bylaw to: i. repeal ‘Municipality of West Grey Official Plan for the Settlement Areas of Durham and Neustadt (2012)’; ii. adopt ‘West Grey Official Plan for the Settlement Areas of Durham and Neustadt (Ver. November 18, 2025)’; and
Council, November 18, 2025 · Carried
"THAT in consideration of staff report ‘Neustadt Library Repairs’, Council approves the completion of the soffit, fascia, and library interior repairs in 2025, to be funded from the General Capital Reserve."
Council, November 18, 2025 · Carried
“THAT in consideration of staff report ‘Options for RFP to Create Aggregate Policies in West Grey’, Council receives the report for information purposes."
Council, November 4, 2025 · Carried
"THAT the minutes of the regular Council meeting held on September 2, 2025, be adopted."
Council, September 16, 2025 · Carried
"THAT in consideration of correspondence dated July 31, 2025, from Sitka Power respecting a request for a municipal support resolution for the Durham Solar Project, Council directs the Mayor to sign the IESO municipal support resolution on behalf of the Municipality of West Grey."
Council, August 12, 2025 · Carried
"THAT in consideration of staff report “IPW-2025-11 – 2024 Annual Performance Report – Stormwater Management System”, Council receives the report for information purposes."
Council, August 12, 2025 · Carried
“THAT in consideration of correspondence received on June 13, 2025, from the County of Prince Edward respecting the support of advocacy to the Federal Government for 'disability without poverty', Council directs staff to send a letter of support for the resolution to the Prime Minister of Canada, the federal Minister of Finance, the federal Minister of Health, the Federation of Canadian Municipali
Council, July 8, 2025 · Carried
“THAT in consideration of correspondence received on June 17, 2025, from the Town of Bradford West Gwillimbury respecting Advocacy for Increased Income Support Thresholds for Canadian Veterans, Council directs staff to send a letter of support for the resolution to the Prime Minister of Canada, the Minister of Veterans Affairs, the interim leader of the Official Opposition, the Member of Parliamen
Council, July 8, 2025 · Carried
“THAT in consideration of correspondence received on June 10, 2025, from the Township of Black River-Matheson respecting a Request for Exemption to Proposed Mandatory Firefighter Certification Requirements (O. Reg. 343/22), Council directs staff to send a letter of support for the resolution to the Fire Marshal of Ontario, the Premier of Ontario, the Solicitor General, the Member of Provincial Par
Council, July 8, 2025 · Carried
"THAT the minutes of the regular Council meeting held on June 3, 2025, and the special Council meeting held on June 10, 2025, be adopted."
Council, June 17, 2025 · Carried
"THAT Council receives all correspondence not otherwise dealt with."
Council, June 17, 2025 · Carried
"THAT the minutes of the regular Council meeting and the public planning meeting held on May 20, 2025, and the special Council meeting held on May 27, 2025, be adopted."
Council, June 3, 2025 · Carried
"THAT in consideration of staff report ‘Proposed Tower Antenna Installation – 311216 Highway 6’, Council directs staff to provide a letter of concurrence to the Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (IESDC) regarding the proposed 4 telecommunication tower installation located at 311216 Highway 6, in the geographic township of Normanby, in the Municipality of West Grey."
Council, June 3, 2025 · Carried
"THAT in consideration of staff report ‘ZA21.2023 and WGOPA13 – Khanani (Georgian Planning)’, Council: 1. directs staff to bring forward a bylaw to adopt an amendment to the Municipality of West Grey Official Plan for the Settlement Areas of Durham and Neustadt as it relates to WGOPA13; 2. hereby determines that, pursuant to section 34(17) of the Planning Act, RSO 1990 as amended, no further publi
Council, May 20, 2025 · Carried
In the record
135meetings recorded presentthe minutes record presence, not a rate
0conflicts of interest declareda member saying they should not vote on a matter
1,656votes in 2022Local Councillor
What this does not measure
- Motions moved is not a measure of effectiveness. Who moves a motion is often a seat convention or a committee role, and the member who does the work on a file is frequently not the one who reads it out.
- Nobody is ranked against anybody. These figures are counted against this member's own meetings and are never totalled or compared.
- Absence is not explained. The minutes record who was not there and almost never why. Illness, a declared conflict and a family emergency all appear the same way.
- What was said is not here. This record reads the minutes, which record decisions, not debate.
Something wrong here?
If anything on this page is wrong, say so and it will be corrected and the correction recorded. Everything here is read from West Grey’s own published documents — where those documents and this page disagree, the documents are right. How this record is made.