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M I N U T E S

GENERAL COMMITTEE

March 28, 2011

Meeting No. 10

 

Finance & Administrative Issues                                                Community Services Issues

Chair:              Mayor Frank Scarpitti                                                                            Chair:              Councillor Alex Chiu

Vice Chair:      Councillor Carolina Moretti                                                                   Vice Chair:      Councillor Howard Shore

 

Environment & Sustainability Issues                                          Building, Parks, & Construction Issues

Chair:              Councillor Valerie Burke                                                                         Chair:              Councillor Logan Kanapathi

Vice Chair:      Regional Councillor Joe Li                                                                      Vice Chair:      Councillor Colin Campbell

 

                                                                                                                       

                Alternate formats are available upon request.

 

 

Attendance

 

Mayor Frank Scarpitti

Deputy Mayor Jack Heath

Regional Councillor Jim Jones

Regional Councillor Gord Landon

Councillor Valerie Burke

Councillor. Howard Shore

Councillor Don Hamilton

Councillor Colin Campbell

Councillor Alan Ho

Councillor Logan Kanapathi

 

Regrets

Regional Councillor Joe Li

Councillor Carolina Moretti

Councillor Alex Chiu

 

Catherine Conrad, Town Solicitor

Brenda Librecz, Commissioner of Community & Fire Services

Andy Taylor, Commissioner of Corporate Services

Andrew Brouwer, Deputy Clerk

Joel Lustig, Treasurer

Alex Moore, Manager of Purchasing

Andrea Tang, Manager Financial Planning

Biju Karumanchery, Senior Development Manager

Alida Tari, Council/Committee Coordinator

 

 

 

The General Committee convened at 9:03 AM with Councillor Logan Kanapathi in the Chair.

 

 

DISCLOSURE OF INTEREST

 

None disclosed.

 


 

1.         MINUTES OF THE MARCH 21, 2011
            GENERAL COMMITTEE (16.0)

            Minutes

 

Moved by Regional Councillor Jim Jones

Seconded by Councillor Alan Ho

 

1)         That the Minutes of the March 21, 2011 General Committee be confirmed.

CARRIED

 

 

 

2.         MINUTES OF THE JULY 5, 2010  
            COUNCIL WORKSHOP SUMMARY
            - BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT AREAS (16.0)

            Minutes

 

The Committee inquired when the BIA budget will be considered by Council.  Staff indicated that they anticipate the report outlining the BIA budget will be available by late April 2011.

 

Moved by Councillor Don Hamilton

Seconded by Regional Councillor Gord Landon

 

1)                  That the Minutes of the July 5, 2010 Council Workshop Summary- Business Improvement Areas be confirmed.

CARRIED

 

 

3.         STAFF AWARDED CONTRACTS                                                                                  
FOR THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY 2011 (7.12)

            Report

 

There was brief discussion regarding the "internal project management fee 9%."

 

The Committee discussed the rationale for Excess Workers Compensation Insurance and suggested that the continuation of the insurance coverage be considered during next years budget discussions.

 

There was discussion with respect to the "Roof Replacement for Various Town Facilities" and requested that staff forward the specifications on all the roof projects to Members of Council.

 

Moved by Councillor Don Hamilton

Seconded by Regional Councillor Gord Landon

 

1)         That the report entitled “Staff Awarded Contracts for the Month of February 2011” be received; and,

 

2)         That Staff be authorized and directed to do all things necessary to give effect to this resolution.

CARRIED

 

 

4.         AWARD OF CONTRACT 254-R-10,                                                                               
EAST MARKHAM PUBLIC LIBRARY
-LIBRARY COLLECTIONS (7.12.3)

            Report

 

Moved by Regional Councillor Gord Landon

Seconded by Regional Councillor Jim Jones

 

1)         That the report entitled “Award of Contract 254-R-10, East Markham Public Library - Library Collections” be received; and,

 

2)         That Request for Proposal 254-R-10 East Markham Public Library - Library Collections be awarded to the sole bidder Library Services Centre (LSC) in the amount of $1,992,935.06 inclusive of HST; and,

 

3)         That the award be funded from the Library Collections – East Markham Account # 070-5350-10558-005 account as detailed in the Financial Considerations; and,

 

4)         That a contract project manager (part-time) be hired for the period from April 2011 to September 2012 at the maximum cost of $80,000 (inclusive of benefits) and be funded from the Library Collections – East Markham Account # 070-5350-10558-005 account as detailed in the Financial Considerations; and,

 

5)         That the surplus funding remaining in the amount of $694,460 be returned; 90% ($625,014) to Development Charges (DC) reserve and 10% ($69,446) to the 10% non-DC growth reserve; and,

 

6)         That report entitled “Award of Contract 254-R-10, East Markham Public Library - Library Collections” brought forward to the April 5, 2011 Council meeting; and further,

 

7)         That Staff be authorized and directed to do all things necessary to give effect to this resolution.

CARRIED

 

 

5.         PROCLAMATIONS POLICY (2.1)                                                                                  

            Report     Appendix A     Appendix B

 

Mr. Andrew Brouwer, Deputy Clerk summarized the purpose of the proclamations policy and Committee provided feedback.

 

The Committee requested that staff revise the policy to reflect the suggestions provided by Committee and be considered at the April 11, 2011 General Committee meeting.

 

Moved by Deputy Mayor Jack Heath

Seconded by Regional Councillor Jim Jones

 

1)     That the Proclamation Policy be deferred to the April 11, 2011 General Committee meeting.

CARRIED

 

 

6.         2010 YEAR END REVIEW OF OPERATIONS (7.0)                                                      

            Presentation     Report     Appendix 1-6

 

Ms. Andrea Tang, Manager Financial Planning delivered a PowerPoint presentation regarding the 2010 Year End Review of Operations.

 

There was brief discussion with respect to the $233,000 listed under "Other Revenues" and staff explained the major components that made up that amount.

 

The Committee requested that staff provide information related to the hydro rate for street lights (whether the rate is negotiable).

 

There was discussion with respect to the components that make up the balance of $2.285 million "Year End Accounting Adjustments."

 

The Committee inquired about the user fees and service charges for the various recreation programs.  Staff advised that they are doing a detailed review of all recreational programs.

 

There was brief discussion regarding the number of building applications received for 2010 and the importance of tracking the applications received in 2011.  Committee requested that staff provide the opening balance for the Building Fee Reserve when it was established.

 

The Committee requested that staff provide details of the Waterworks reserve balance (similar to page 81 in the agenda).

 

Moved by Regional Councillor Gord Landon

Seconded by Councillor Valerie Burke

 

1)         That the presentation by Ms. Andrea Tang, Manager Financial Planning, entitled “2010 Year End Review of Operations” be received; and,

 

2)         That the report dated March 28, 2011 entitled “2010 Year End Review of Operations” be received; and further,

 

3)         That the final 2010 operating variances for the Town of Markham (“Town”), Planning and Design, Engineering, Building Standards and Waterworks departments, be transferred in 2011 to the Town’s respective reserves in accordance with the Town’s reserve policy.

CARRIED

 

 

7.         SMOKE-FREE OUTDOOR
            RECREATIONAL SPACES (2.13 & 13.4)

            Correspondence

 

The Committee suggested that the Town Clerks' report include the following:

·        Medians - ensure York Region cleans all the cigarette butts from medians each spring

·        Car Washes - whether those areas can also be included as smoke-free outdoor areas

·        Importance of education and public engagement to raise awareness

·        Include the Town of Markham Civic Centre as a smoke-free outdoor space

 

 

Moved by Regional Councillor Jim Jones

Seconded by Councillor Colin Campbell

 

1)         That the correspondence dated February 18, 2011, from Dennis Kelly, Regional Clerk, Region of York entitled “Smoke-Free Outdoor Recreational Spaces” be referred to the Town Clerk for a report.

CARRIED

 

 

8.         NOMINATIONS FOR NEWCOMER                                                                             
            CHAMPION AWARDS (12.2.6)

            Letter

 

Moved by Councillor Colin Campbell

Seconded by Mayor Frank Scarpitti

 

1)         That the letter dated March 2011, from Dr. Eric Hoskins, Minister, Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration, regarding the nominations for the Newcomer Champion Awards be referred to the Town Clerk for distribution to the Advisory Committees.

CARRIED

 

 

NEW BUSINESS

 

There was no new business.

 

9.         IN-CAMERA MATTERS (8.2)

 

Moved by Mayor Frank Scarpitti

Seconded by Regional Councillor Jim Jones

 

That, in accordance with Section 239 (2) (a) of the Municipal Act, General Committee resolve into an in-camera session to discuss the following confidential matters (10:26 AM):

 

1)         The security of the property of the municipality or local board.

 

CARRIED

 

Moved by Regional Councillor Jim Jones

Seconded by Councillor Don Hamilton

 

 

That the Committee rise from the in-camera session (10:46 AM)

CARRIED

 

ADJOURNMENT

 

That the General Committee meeting adjourn at 10:46 AM.

 

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