FINANCE & ADMINISTRATIVE
COMMITTEE
2001-03-19 - Canada Room
Meeting No. 7
Attendance
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J. Livey,
Chief Administrative Officer
A. Taylor,
Commissioner of Corporate Services
R. Robinson,
Town Solicitor
M.F. Turner,
Commssioner of Development Services
A. Wolfe,
Commissioner of Community Services
B. Cribbett,
Treasurer
P.
Wealleans, Director of Taxation
T.
Houghting, Director of Financial Reporting
J. Hodgson,
Director of IT
S. Chait,
Director, Corporate Quality & Effectiveness Office
G. LaForce,
Chief Executive Officer, Markham Libraries
J. Lustig,
Manager, Financial Planning
S. Tam,
Manager of Corporate Effectiveness
Rick
Dominico, Manager of Corporate Quality
M. Scott,
Executive Coordinator
S. Birrell,
Town Clerk
D. Smith,
Committee Clerk
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The Finance
and Administrative Committee convened at the hour of 9:00 a.m. with Deputy
Mayor F. Scarpitti in the Chair.
Councillor K.
Usman assumed the Chair at 9:05 a.m.
DISCLOSURE
OF INTEREST
None declared.
1. PROVINCIAL STANDARD TAX BILL (7.3)
Mr.
Paul Wealleans, Director of Taxation, presented format for the Tax Bill
required by the Province together with samples of the impact of reassessment on
a variety of properties in the Town.
He advised that further details of costs will be presented to Council
when final figures are received from the Province.
RECOMMENDATION:
That
the Town request the Province to amend the Provincial Standard Tax Bill to
include: (1) the actual 2001 levy amounts for both lower tier and upper tier
purposes in addition to the tax rates currently shown on the bill; (2) the
actual 2000 taxes levied in addition to the '2000 Annualized Taxes'; (3) the
1996 Current Value Assessment; (4) changes in the Business Improvement Area
(BIA) charges between 2000 and 2001 as well as any other special charges on the
'Explanation of Tax Changes' section of the bill;
And
that a brochure be forwarded with all tax bills giving detailed information of
all charges.
2. FINANCING 'SMART MARKHAM' PHASE TWO
(3.19)
RECOMMENDATION:
That
$43,000 plus GST be provided to continue progress on the 'Smart Markham'
initiative until such time as partner contributions are received.
3. PROPOSED WATER RATE INCREASE (5.3)
RECOMMENDATION:
That
the Town of Markham's combined water and wastewater billing be increased by
$0.03 per cubic metre in 2001 to coincide with the Regional Rate increase;
And
that the billings for 2002 and 2003 be provisionally increased by $0.03 each
year subject to review of the study being prepared at the present time;
And
that the Region of York be requested to implement their combined water and
wastewater rate increase of $0.01 per cubic metre effective April 1, 2001.
4. FCM CONFERENCE (16.23)
RECOMMENDATION:
That
Council approve the attendance of four members of Council at the Annual
Conference and Municipal Expo of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, May
25 to 28, 2001, Banff, Alberta, with authorized expenses to be paid in
accordance with Town policy.
5. ASSESSMENT IMPACT - YEAR END 2000 (7.1)
RECOMMENDATION:
That
the Treasurer be authorized to make application for an appeal, to the
Assessment Review Board, on behalf of the Town of Markham, where such action is
necessary to protect the Town's assessment base;
And
that any necessary applications be filed prior to the legislated deadline of
March 31, 2001, for valuation of properties returned on the assessment roll
December 2000.
6. GRANT REQUESTS (7.6)
RECOMMENDATION:
That the request for a grant from the Markham Firefighters Athletic
Club be approved at $1,000;
And that the request for a grant from the Rotary Club - Santa Claus
Parade be approved at $10,000 (a core grant of $8,400 plus additional funding
of $1,600);
And that the request from the Thornhill Cruisers Car Club and the
Expression of Praise - Gospel Youth Choir be denied as they do not comply with
current Town policy;
And that staff be directed to review the existing grant policy and
provide a presentation on options for a new grant policy to the Committee of
the Whole on April 10, 2001.
7. PARTICIPATION IN THE INTERNATIONAL
YEAR OF VOLUNTEERS 2001 (IYV
2001) (12.2.6)
RECOMMENDATION:
That
Council give approval to hold a Town-wide event to recognize Markham volunteers
in honour of the International Year of Volunteers 2001;
And
that Regional Councillor Gordon Landon form a committee to organize this event;
And
that Council approve the Banner Program that includes the following wording:
(Corporate Sponsor Logo)
Proudly Celebrates International Year of
Volunteers
(IYV 2001 Logo)
(Town of Markham Logo)
And
that the existing standard sign by-law be waived to allow the lamppost banners
for the IYV 2001 to be suspended across the following streets:
Community Street From/To
Thornhill John Street from Woodbine Avenue to Yonge
Street
Yonge Street
Milliken Denison Street from Markham Road to Woodbine
Avenue
Unionville Carlton Road from McCowan Road to Warden
Avenue
Main Street from
Carlton Road to Railway Tracks
Markham Main Street from Princess Street to 16th
Avenue
Beginning
April 1, 2001 until April 1, 2002;
And
that $35,000 be included in the proposed 2001 Operating Budget for this event;
And
that a separate function be arranged for those volunteers who retired from Town
Advisory Committees last year.
8. ICE SLAB REPLACEMENT FOR THORNHILL
EAST ARENA (6.1)
RECOMMENDATION:
That
tender 046-T-01 for Ice Slab Replacement at Thornhill East Arena be awarded to
Dinardo C. Group Inc. in the amount of $506,324 (inclusive of 8% PST, 7% GST)
being the lowest acceptable bid received ($488,713.02 inclusive of 8% PST and
3% GST).
And
that the Manager of Purchasing be authorized to execute the purchase order
contract in the total amount of $506,324.
And
that pre-budget approval be granted with funding to be taken from the
Recreation Services Capital Replacement Program account for the sum of
$488,713.02 inclusive of taxes (8% PST, 3% GST);
And
that pre-budget approval be granted for the specification and design fees for
the Slab Replacement at Thornhill East Arena of $16,650 inclusive of taxes (8%
PST, 3% GST) with funding to be taken from the Recreation Services Capital
Replacement Program account (The total funding required for both the contract
award and the design fees is $505,363.02).
9. CHANGE TO CORPORATE LEAVE OF ABSENCE
POLICY (11.0 & 12.1)
RECOMMENDATION:
That
the Corporate Leave of Absence Policy attached hereto as Schedule A be adopted.
10. FIRE DEPARTMENT UNIFORM SHOULDER FLASHES
(11.6)
RECOMMENDATION:
That
the Fire and Emergency Service Department change the Uniform Shoulder Flash as
illustrated on the attached Schedule B be approved.
11. RELAY FOR LIFE - CANADIAN CANCER SOCIETY
(12.2.6)
RECOMMENDATION:
That
all members of Council be appointed "Champion" to assist with the
Canadian Cancer Society's Relay for Life fund raising effort at the Markham
Fair Grounds on June 15th and June 16th, 2001.
________________________________________________________
12. INTRODUCTION (10.16)
Mr.
Ian Jones, new Director of Economic Development was welcomed to the Town of
Markham.
13. 2001-2002 BUSINESS PLANNING INITIATIVES
(12.0)
Mr.
S. Chait, Director, Corporate Quality and Effectiveness Office gave a
presentation to update Council regarding the progress made to date and to
highlight the process and timeline for the strategic planning and growth
management initiatives.
RECOMMENDATION:
That
the staff report and presentation entitled "2001/2002 Business Planning
Initiatives" be received;
And
that the Executive Management Team be invited to present their corporate
business plans to Council in early April;
And
that a further report with respect to the proposed Vision 2020 implementation
program be brought forward to the next Finance & Administrative Committee.
14. THE QUEST FOR CHARACTER CONFERENCE
(11.12)
The
Mayor advised that he is working closely with York Region District School Board
on The Quest for Character Conference, an International Symposium on Character
Education to be held at the Sheraton Parkway Toronto North Convention Centre on
April 26, 27 and 28, 2001.
15. GTSB REVIEW (13.5.2)
The
findings and recommendations of 'Getting Started', a Review of the Greater Toronto
Services Board prepared for the GTSB by Deloitte Consulting was
discussed in detail.
RECOMMENDATION:
That
the Chief Administrative Officer be requested to prepare a report to the next
Committee of the Whole meeting that outlines the concerns of the 905 area
regarding their participation at the GTSB level.
16. STAFF AWARD OF CONTRACTS (7.12)
RECOMMENDATION:
That
the report entitled 'Staff Award of Contracts for the month of February' be
received for information only.
17. POLICY ON COUNCIL CONFERENCE ATTENDANCE
(16.23 & 12.1)
RECOMMENDATION:
That
the report on Policy on Council Conference attendance be received.
18. GRANT UNIONVILLE HOME SOCIETY AND WATER
STREET SENIORS CENTRE (7.6)
RECOMMENDATION:
That
the report entitled Unionville Home Society and Water Street Seniors Centre'
and dated March 19, 2001 be received;
And
that the Commissioner of Corporate Services provide further information with
respect to Provincial Grants and Region of York policy.
19. PROVINCIAL PERFORMANCE MEASURES
YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 2000
(7.0)
RECOMMENDATION:
That
the report entitled 'Provincial Performance Measures - Year ending December 31,
2000' be received.
20. LIBRARY BOARD - STAFF TIME SAVINGS (3.19)
RECOMMENDATION:
That
the report dated March 19, 2001 entitled 'Library Board - Staff Time Savings'
be received for information.
At
12:05 p.m. Council recessed in camera to discuss a property matter and
reconvened at 1:29 p.m.
ADJOURNMENT
The Finance
and Administrative Committee meeting adjourned at the hour of 1:30 p.m.