GENERAL COMMITTEE
2008-11-03
Meeting
No. 22
Finance & Administrative
Issues Community
Services Issues
Chair: Councillor
J. Virgilio Chair:
Councillor
A. Chiu
Chair, Budget Sub-Ctte: Councillor D. Horchik Environment & Sustainability Issues
Chair: IT Sub-Ctte: Reg. Councillor J. Jones Chair: Councillor
E. Shapero
Chair:
Grants Sub-Ctte: Councillor V. Burke Land,
Buildings and Parks Issues:
Councillor
C. Moretti
Attendance
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C. Conrad, Town
Solicitor
J. Baird,
Commissioner of Development Services
B. Librecz,
Commissioner of Community & Fires Services
A. Taylor,
Commissioner of Corporate Services
B. Cribbett,
Treasurer
J. Lustig, Director
of Financial and Client Services
P. Loukes, Director,
Operations
J. Ryerson,
Director, Varley Art Gallery
S. Andrews,
Director, Asset Management
S. Laing, Director,
Human Resources
C. Molloy, Manager,
Museum
M. Shatil, Manager,
Facility Assets
S. Tam, Manager,
Business Planning and Innovation
C. Raynor, Committee
Clerk
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The General Committee convened at the hour of 9:00 a.m. with Councillor
A. Chiu in the Chair. Councillor J. Virgilio assumed the Chair for discussion
of Finance and Administrative Issues Agenda Items 2-10. Councillor C. Moretti
assumed the Chair for discussion of Land, Buildings and Parks Issues Agenda
Item 11.
DISCLOSURE OF INTEREST
None disclosed.
1. COMMUNITY& FIRE SERVICES COMMISSION
RECEIVED LEVEL 3 AWARD (BEST IN CLASS)
CERTIFICATE OF EXCELLENCE FROM
PUBLIC SECTOR QUALITY FAIR (12.0)
Report
Mr. P. Loukes, General Manager, Operations
and Ms. S. Tam, Manager, Business Planning and Innovation, presented Committee
with an overview of the work done in order to secure the Level 3 Award (Best in
Class) Certificate of Excellence from the Public Sector Quality Fair.
Committee requested staff to present the
award to Council on November 11, 2008 and, if possible, to Development Services
Committee on November 4, 2008.
2. APPOINTMENTS
TO ADVISORY COMMITTEES (16.24)
There was brief discussion surrounding the vacancies on the Cycling and
Pedestrian Advisory Committee.
Moved by Councillor L. Kanapathi
Seconded by Councillor A. Chiu
Leash Free Markham Committee
That Mr. Greg Dabrus be appointed to the
Leash Free Markham Committee for the term ending November 30, 2010; and,
Cycling and Pedestrian Advisory
Committee
That the Cycling and Pedestrian Advisory
Committee request Council to declare two (2) positions on the Cycling and
Pedestrian Advisory Committee (CPAC) vacant, and request staff to take the
necessary steps to advise the incumbents and advertise for replacement members.
CARRIED
3. MINUTES OF THE MAY 8, 2008
CYCLING AND PEDESTRIAN
ADVISORY COMMITTEE (16.0)
Minutes
Moved by Councillor L. Kanapathi
Seconded by Councillor A. Chiu
That the minutes of the May 8,
2008 Cycling and Pedestrian Advisory Committee be received.
CARRIED
4. MINUTES OF THE SEPTEMBER 22, 2008
MARKHAM PUBLIC LIBRARY (16.0)
Minutes
Moved by Councillor L. Kanapathi
Seconded by Councillor A. Chiu
That the minutes of the September 22, 2008
Markham Public Library Board be received.
CARRIED
5. MINUTES
OF THE OCTOBER 16, 2008
MARKHAM ENVIRONMENTAL
ADVISORY COMMITTEE (16.0)
Minutes
Moved by Councillor L. Kanapathi
Seconded by Councillor A. Chiu
That the minutes of the October 16, 2008
Markham Environmental Advisory Committee be received.
CARRIED
6. MINUTES
OF THE SEPTEMBER 22, 2008
CANADA
DAY COMMITTEE (16.0)
Minutes
There was
brief clarification of the contents of the minutes.
Moved by
Councillor L. Kanapathi
Seconded by
Councillor A. Chiu
That the
minutes of the September 22, 2008 Canada Day Committee be received.
CARRIED
7. TAX WRITE-OFFS IN
ACCORDANCE
WITH SECTION 354 OF THE MUNICIPAL ACT, 2001 (7.1)
Report
Moved by Councillor L. Kanapathi
Seconded by Councillor A. Chiu
That taxes totalling $248,197.10 (includes
penalty and interest in the amount of $10.62) as set out in the report entitled
“Tax Write-Offs in Accordance with Section 354 of the Municipal Act, 2001”,
dated November 3, 2008, be written off pursuant to the provisions of Section
354 of the Municipal Act, 2001, of which the Town’s portion is $178, 195.17;
and,
That the applicable penalty and /or
interest charges be adjusted accordingly; and further,
That the Treasurer be directed to remove
the taxes from the Collector’s Roll.
CARRIED
8. SEPTEMBER
2008 YEAR-TO-DATE REVIEW OF
OPERATIONS AND YEAR END PROJECTION (7.4)
Report
1
There was discussion on this matter and
Committee sought clarification on some points, including the following:
- The current status of the various reserve accounts
- Factors affecting revenue generation
- Fee adjustments and associated legislation
Moved by Councillor L. Kanapathi
Seconded by Councillor A. Chiu
That the report dated November 3, 2008
entitled “September 2008 Year-To-Date Review of Operations and Year end
Projection,” as revised on the November
3, 2008 General Committee Addendum Agenda, be received.
CARRIED
9. PROPOSED
2009 WATER/WASTEWATER Page
45
RATE INCREASE (5.3)
J.
Lustig, ext. 4715
Report
There was
considerable discussion concerning this item. Staff noted that finalized
information is not yet available from York Region. Committee queried whether
the Regional portion of the water/wastewater rate increase has been set and how
it differs. Additionally there was a query as to how the Town charges for water
use and what factors are considered when setting the rates. Committee suggested
that alternative water sources, such as Peel Region, may be cheaper than the
currently-sourced water.
Committee
also noted that clean and safe water is of utmost importance and that the
water/wastewater rate should be sufficiently high to ensure the ongoing safety
of the supply.
Moved by
Councillor D. Horchik
Seconded by
Councillor E. Shapero
That the report dated November 3, 2008 entitled
“Proposed 2009 Water/Wastewater Rate Increase” be received; and,
That staff be
authorized to hold a public meeting on November 18, 2008 at 6:45p.m. on the
proposed 2009 Water/Wastewater rate increase.
CARRIED
10. AUDITOR GENERAL UPDATE (6.7)
Report 1 2
Moved by Councillor A. Chiu
Seconded by Councillor J. Webster
That the reports
entitled “Auditor General Mandate and Auditor General Audit Plan” be received
and approved; and,
That the Auditor
General be authorized and directed to do all things necessary to give effect to
this resolution.
CARRIED
11. MUSEUM COLLECTIONS
BUILDING (6.7)
E.
Adams, ext. 2710
Presentation
Mr. P. Burton and Mr.
D. Ecclestone, Ventin Group, provided a brief update on the design of the
Museum Collections Building.
Mr. L. Smith, on
behalf of the Markham Historical Society, spoke in support of the proposal to
relocate the sundial.
Committee suggested
that enhancements to the sundial be considered such as seating and ground
coverings. There was brief discussion surrounding the proposed roof and façade.
It was noted that the finished building will reflect a heritage barn and that
the roofing and façade will be complementary. Additionally staff noted that
materials recovered from barn demolitions will be utilized where possible.
There was a suggestion that the windows in the new building have panes similar
to those in the existing building.
There was also
discussion surrounding a fenced enclosure to the north of the Museum site.
That the presentation
of The Ventin Group relating to the design of the proposed Museum Collections
Building be received; and,
That the deputation from Mr. L. Smith, on
behalf of the Markham Historical Society, in support of the proposal to
relocate the sundial, be received; and,
That the Ventin Group
be authorized to proceed with the Collections Building detailed design, site
plan application and the tendering for the project; and,
That staff report back
to General Committee to award the construction tender for the project; and
further,
That staff be
authorized and directed to do all things necessary to give effect to the
resolution.
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That, pursuant to
sections 239(2)(b) and (d) of the Municipal Act, being “personal matters about
an identifiable individual, including municipal…employees” and “labour
relations or employee negotiations” respectively, the Committee resolve in
camera at 10:10 a.m. to discuss
(1) a confidential matter relating to the recruitment of Fire Chief;
and,
(2) a confidential personnel matter.
CARRIED
Moved by Regional
Councillor G. Landon
Seconded by Councillor
C. Moretti
That the Committee
rise at 11:12 a.m.
CARRIED
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ADJOURNMENT
The
General Committee adjourned at 11:12 a.m.