THE CORPORATION OF THE TOWNSHIP OF LAIRD

By-law Number 2084-26

BEING A BY-LAW to adopt the Road Association Grant Program Policy.

WHEREAS Council for the Township of Laird, through Resolution #84-26, directed staff to develop a formal Road Association Grant Program Policy, including calculation methodology, eligibility criteria, and acknowledgement requirements;

AND WHEREAS staff have prepared the Road Association Grant Program Policy attached as Schedule A to this by-law;

NOW THEREFORE THE COUNCIL OF THE CORPORATION OF THE TOWNSHIP OF LAIRD HEREBY ENACTS AS FOLLOWS:

1. That the Road Association Grant Program Policy, attached as Schedule A and forming part of this by-law, is hereby adopted.
2. THAT staff are authorized to administer the Policy, including communicating requirements to eligible Road Associations and updating Township documentation accordingly.
3. That this by-law shall come into force and take effect on the date of its passing.

READ and passed in Open Council this 21st day of May 2026.

1. Purpose

1.1 The purpose of this policy is to establish a discretionary grant program through which the Township of Laird may provide limited financial assistance to eligible Road Associations for road-related work on private roads and unassumed roads within the Township.

1.2 This program is intended to support access to properties served by such roads while preserving the legal position of the Township.

1.3 For greater certainty, neither this policy nor any grant made under it shall, by itself:

1. determine the legal status of any road;
2. constitute assumption of any road by the Township for maintenance or repair purposes;
3. cause any road to be considered maintained by the Township or maintained at public expense;
4. create any municipal duty to inspect, maintain, repair, improve, winter maintain, patrol, sign, or make any road safe for travel;
5. create any representation, warranty, undertaking, standard of care, or reliance interest in favour of any person; or
6. create any liability on the part of the Township arising from the condition, use, non-use, maintenance, repair, improvement, or status of any road or any work funded under this policy, except to the extent such liability may otherwise arise at law.

1.4 This policy formalizes the Township’s grant practice, but does not create any entitlement to funding in any year.

2. Authority

2.1 This policy is established pursuant to section 107 of the Municipal Act, 2001, S.O. 2001, c. 25, as amended, and any other applicable statutory authority.

3. Definitions

In this policy:

3.1 “Applicant” means the individual or individuals authorized by a Road Association to submit an application and execute required documents on its behalf.

3.2 “Clerk” means the Clerk of the Township of Laird, or designate.

3.3 “Council” means the Council of the Corporation of the Township of Laird.

3.4 “Grant” means discretionary financial assistance provided by the Township under this policy.

3.5 “Private Road” means a road that is not owned, assumed, or maintained by the Township.

3.6 “Road Association” means a group of property owners organized for the purpose of managing, maintaining, repairing, or improving a private road or an unassumed road serving their properties, whether incorporated or unincorporated.

3.7 “Township” means the Corporation of the Township of Laird.

3.8 “Treasurer” means the Treasurer of the Township of Laird, or designate.

3.9 “Unassumed Road” means a road allowance, highway, or other road within the Township that has not been assumed by the Township for maintenance. For greater certainty, the legal status, ownership, jurisdiction, or public or private character of any such road is not determined by this policy or by the payment of a Grant.

3.10 “Work” means road-related maintenance, repair, improvement, grading, resurfacing, brushing, snow removal, ditching, drainage work, culvert work, or other similar activity funded in whole or in part by a Grant.

4. Nature of Program

4.1 Grants under this policy are discretionary and subject to annual budget approval by Council.

4.2 A Grant is financial assistance only. It is not:

1. consideration for services to the Township;
2. payment for maintenance performed by or on behalf of the Township;
3. evidence that a road is maintained at public expense;
4. evidence that a road has been assumed by the Township;
5. evidence that the Township has inspected, approved, certified, supervised, or accepted any road or any Work; or
6. evidence that the Township has accepted ownership, possession, care, custody, management, control, or responsibility with respect to any road or Work.

4.3 Council may establish, vary, reduce, suspend, or terminate the program, or the amount budgeted for the program, at any time.

4.4 Receipt of a Grant in one year does not create any right, legitimate expectation, precedent, or claim to funding in any other year.

5. Legal Status of Roads

5.1 The acceptance of an application, the calculation of a Grant, or the payment of a Grant is made solely for the purpose of administering discretionary financial assistance.

5.2 Neither this policy nor any Grant made under it constitutes:

1. determination of the legal status of any road;
2. a declaration that any road is or is not a public highway, public road, private road, road allowance, or road maintained at public expense;
3. an admission that the Township has or does not have jurisdiction, ownership, possession, control, or responsibility with respect to any road; or
4. an assumption of maintenance responsibility by the Township.

5.3 The legal status of any road shall be determined only in accordance with applicable law and the relevant facts.

5.4 Where a road is an unassumed municipal road allowance or other road in which the Township may have a legal interest, the payment of a Grant does not constitute assumption for maintenance and does not expand any municipal obligation that may otherwise exist at law.

6. Eligibility

6.1 To be eligible for a Grant, a Road Association must:

1. represent a private road or an unassumed road located within the Township of Laird;
2. identify at least two authorized signing officers, including a Chair or equivalent and a Secretary/Treasurer or equivalent;
3. submit a completed application in the form required by the Township;
4. provide proof of the signing officers’ authority to bind the Road Association, satisfactory to the Township;
5. execute the Township’s Grant Acceptance, Release and Indemnity in the form attached as Schedule “A”, or in such other form as the Township may require; and
6. be in compliance with any prior grant conditions imposed by the Township.

6.2 Where a Road Association is unincorporated, the Township may require a member resolution or other proof of authority in a form satisfactory to the Township.