FINANCE & ADMINISTRATIVE
COMMITTEE
2001-06-04 - Canada Room
Meeting No. 13
Attendance
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J. Livey,
Chief Administrative Officer
A. Taylor,
Commissioner of Corporate Services
R. Robinson,
Town Solicitor
M. F. Turner,
Commissioner of Development Services
A. Wolfe,
Commissioner of Community Services
P.
Wealleans, Director of Taxation
J. Lustig,
Manager, Financial Planning
M. Scott,
Executive Coordinator to CAO
B. Nanninga,
Executive Assistant
S. Birrell,
Town Clerk
D. Smith,
Committee Clerk
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The Finance
and Administrative Committee convened at the hour of 9:10 a.m. with Councillor
S. Daurio in the Chair.
DISCLOSURE OF
INTEREST - none declared
At
9:30 a.m. Councillor Usman assumed the Chair.
1. GRANTS POLICY/ CELEBRATE MARKHAM (7.6)
The
Commissioner of Corporate Services suggested options for amending the grant
policy.
RECOMMENDATION:
That
it be recommended to Council that the following Grants be approved for 2001
CORE:
·
Unionville Home Society $25,000
·
Victoria Square
Community Centre 3,000
·
Box Grove Community
Centre 3,000
·
Cedar Grove Community
Centre 19,000
CELEBRATING MARKHAM:
·
Unionville Festival $ 5,000
·
Markham Festival 5,000
·
Thornhill Festival 5,000
·
Canada Day Celebrations 30,000 (Approved May 22, 2001)
·
Santa Claus Parade 10,000
(Approved April 2, 2001)
·
Milliken Mills
Children's Festival 10,000
And that the request for a grant from the
York Region Ontario Senior Games be approved in the amount of $500.00;
And
that the request for a grant from the Markham Lawn Bowling Club be received;
And
that to maintain consistency, the following members form a sub-committee to
recommend guidelines for other grants:
Councillor S. Daurio and Councillor J. Heath
And
that the sub-committee make enquires to determine if the Markham Jazz Festival
is a commercial venture and whether sponsorship includes an advertisement.
Carried.
2. CORE SERVICES REVIEW (7.0)
The Commissioner of Corporate Services
provided a brief update and advised that an RFI has been issued to select a
consultant to assist staff with a core service review for the entire Town. He
suggested councillors be appointed to a steering committee.
RECOMMENDATION:
That it be recommended to Council that the
following Council members be appointed to the Steering Committee for the Core
Services Review to assist the consultant, the Chief Administrative Officer and
the Commissioners:
Councillor K. Usman
Deputy Mayor F. Scarpitti
Councillor S. Daurio
Carried.
3. GENERAL INSURANCE RISK MANAGEMENT
PROGRAM
RFP-049-01 (4.0)
RECOMMENDATION:
That it be recommended to Council that Frank
Cowan Company Limited be awarded RFP 049-R-01 for General Insurance and Risk
Management Program, for the period July 1, 2001 to December 31, 2003, under a
rate stability agreement at the annual cost of $455,462.45 inclusive of all
taxes (GST is exempt on insurance), for a total award of $1,140,527.89,
representing the best overall value for the program;
And that the 2001 portion of the contract be
funded from 2001 Corporate Items Operating Budget account no. 840-840-5550, in
the amount of $455,462.45.
Carried.
4. FINAL REPORT - REVIEW OF THE PROPERTY
ASSESSMENT
PROCESS (BEAUBIEN REPORT) AND
BILL 45 "RESPONSIBLE
CHOICES FOR GROWTH AND ACCOUNTABILITY
ACT
(2001 BUDGET), 2001 (7.1)
RECOMMENDATION:
That the report "Final Report-Review of
the Property Assessment Process (Beaubien Report) and Bill 45 "Responsible
Choices for Growth and Accountability Act" (2001 Provincial
Budget), 2001" be received for information.
And that the 19 recommendations included in
the Review of the Property Assessment Process (Beaubien Report) be endorsed in
principle with the following amendments:
·
That Beaubien
Recommendation #1 be amended to state "The OPAC 15 member Board of
Directors should be reconstituted to improve accountability to property
taxpayers and create a balance of municipal, property taxpayer and provincial
interests, with ten municipal representatives, three property taxpayer
representatives and two provincial representatives."
·
That Beaubien
Recommendation #2 be amended to state "The Minister of Finance should
invite the Association of Municipalities of Ontario to nominate 28 potential
Board members from whom 10 should be appointed to the Board and that in
the event the Commission's recommendations are endorsed that municipal
representation on the Board be proportionate to municipal funding of OPAC."
·
That Beaubien
Recommendation #3 be amended to state "Three taxpayer representatives
reflecting the range of property class interests should be appointed by the
Minister of Finance in consultation with taxpayer and sectoral
organizations."
·
That Beaubien
Recommendation #10 be deleted and the Ontario Property Assessment Corporation
Act continue to allow the potential for municipalities to opt out of
OPAC."
·
That Beaubien
Recommendation #12 be deleted and replaced with "A review be undertaken to
identify the potential financial implications of the awarding of costs to
taxpayer appellants."
·
That Beaubien
Recommendation #18 be amended to state "Pending the conclusion of this
review, it is recommended that the assessed value for golf course properties
returned on the 2001 Assessment Roll be retained, and that any adjustments in
value result from the review and normal appeal process."
And that the Town of Markham submit a request
to the Province of Ontario to participate in the consultation process for the
proposed Heritage property sub-class.
And that this
recommendation be circulated to the Association of Municipalities of Ontario,
the Minister of Finance and the three local M.P.P.'s.
Carried.
5. CANCELLATION, REDUCTION OR REFUND
OF TAXES UNDER SECTIONS 442
AND 443 OF THE
MUNICIPAL ACT (7.1.13 &
7.1.14)
RECOMMENDATION:
That it be recommended to Council that the
taxes in the amount of $90,113.67 (Section 442 in the amount of $57,428.25 and Section 443 in the amount of
$32,626.76) be adjusted; Town portion estimated to be $21,862.28;
And that the associated penalty and interest
be cancelled in proportion to the tax adjustments;
And that the Treasurer be directed to adjust
the Collector's Roll.
Carried.
6. APPLICATION
FOR EXEMPTION TO BY-LAW 218-89
NOISE CONTROL BY-LAW - THE REMINGTON GROUP
- WARDEN AVENUE, NORTH OF 407 (2.10)
RECOMMENDATION:
That
it be recommended to Council that exemption to the Noise Control By-law, By-law
218-89, as amended, be given to the Remington Group Inc. for utility
construction across Warden Avenue, north of the 407 on June 15 to June 17 and
June 22 to June 24, 2001, from 8:00 p.m. Friday to 10:00 p.m. Sunday, to
service the new Motorola site;
And
that the required advertisement be posted in the Markham Economist & Sun
outlining the application for exemption.
Carried.
7. RENEWAL
OF LEASE AGREEMENT FOR ARMADALE
MONTESSORI SCHOOL AT THE ARMADALE COMMUNITY
CENTRE (8.2)
RECOMMENDATION:
That
it be recommended to Council that the Lease Agreement between the Town of
Markham and Armadale Montessori School Limited for premises at the Armadale
Community Centre be renewed for a further term of one year;
And
that the Mayor and Town Clerk be authorized to execute an amended lease
agreement in a form satisfactory to the Town Solicitor;
And that a clause be
included in the lease agreement that any municipal taxes will be the
responsibility of the tenant;
And
further that the annual amount of $15,000 be approved.
Carried.
8. RENEWAL OF LEASE AGREEMENT - 11 CHURCH
STREET (8.2)
RECOMMENDATION:
That
it be recommended to Council that the lease renewal for 11 Church Street,
Markham, between the Town of Markham and the Markham Guild of Village Crafts at
no rent in return for the delivery of craft programming provided for a period
of one (1) year commencing January 1, 2001, and expiring on December 31, 2001
be approved;
And
that the Mayor and Town Clerk be authorized to execute the lease renewal in a
form satisfactory to the Town Solicitor.
Carried.
9. RESPONSE TO REQUEST FOR FUNDING -
MARKHAM
LITTLE THEATRE (6.2 & 6.5)
RECOMMENDATION:
That
it be recommended to Council that relocation costs for the Markham Little
Theatre in the amount of $23,112 be considered a grant request;
And
that the Treasurer identify an appropriate funding source as the Grant Budget
will be exceeded.
Carried.
10. MARKHAVEN - GRANT REQUEST (7.6)
RECOMMENDATION:
That
it be recommended to Council that the request from Markhaven's Building Fund
Campaign to sponsor at the $2,000 level for Grandma's Run for Markhaven taking
place on Saturday, September 8, 2001 at the corner of Parkway Avenue and
Paramount Road be approved.
Carried.
11. YORK CENTRAL HOSPITAL FOUNDATION
ANNUAL GALA - 'THE MEXICAN
BALL' -
NOVEMBER 9, 2001 (12.2.6)
That
it be recommended to Council that approval be granted to purchase a table for 10 at a
cost of $2,250.00 for the York Central Hospital Foundation Annual
Gala 'The Mexican Ball' on Friday,
November 9, 2001 at LeParc, Markham, such cost to be charged to Account No.
840-841-5840.
Carried.
…………………….
At 10:45 a.m. Committee recessed in camera to
discuss legal and personnel matters and reconvened at 11:55 a.m.
…………………….
RECOMMENDATION:
That
the Committee rise from the In-camera session and the Chairman report.
Councillor
K. Usman reported that the following was discussed at the In-camera session:
12. HYDRO - AMALCO (13.7)
RECOMMENDATION:
That up to $90,000 be approved for a Due
Diligence Review of the Amalco matters to be undertaken by senior partners of
Deloitte & Touche;
And that Deloitte & Touche submit the
Report to the Finance & Administrative Committee.
Carried.
13. SHEILA RUTH INVESTMENTS LIMITED
7700 BRIMLEY ROAD (8.5 &
8.2)
RECOMMENDATION:
That it be recommended to Council that the
Town Solicitor be authorized to settle the matter of 1023440 Ontario Limited
vs. the Town of Markham, 7700 Brimley Road, on the following basis:
(a) the
deposit of $10,000.00 be split evenly between the Town and the Purchaser;
(b) both parties will pay their own legal
expenses, and will exchange full and final releases; and
(c) the parties will consent to an order
discharging the certificate of pending litigation and dismiss the action
without costs.
Carried.
14. PROPOSED LAND EXCHANGE BETWEEN TOWN
OF MARKHAM AND LEISUREWORLD
INCORPORATED
SOUTHWEST CORNER OF HIGHWAY 7
AND WARDEN
AVENUE (5.17, 8.1 & 8.7)
The Commissioner of Development Services gave
an overview of the proposed land exchange between the Town of Markham and
Leisureworld Incorporated, southwest corner of Highway 7 and Warden
Avenue. Representatives of Leisureworld
Incorporated (Mr. H. Grad and Solicitor A. Leibel) were in attendance to answer
any questions and concerns.
RECOMMENDATION:
That it be recommended to Council that By-law
206-2000, to stop-up and close a former portion of Highway 7 west of Warden
Avenue, be provided third and final reading;
And that By-law 204-2000, to authorize the
conveyance of a former portion of Highway 7 west of Warden Avenue to the
adjacent landowner, Leisureworld Incorporated, be provided third and final
reading;
And that the Mayor and Clerk be authorized to
execute an agreement satisfactory to the Town Solicitor which will convey a
portion of the untravelled Highway 7 road allowance west of Warden Avenue to
Leisureworld Incorporated, owner of the Embassy Suites Hotel, in return for
Leisureworld providing to the Town the following:
·
The former Petro Canada
site, now owned by Leisureworld, at the southwest corner of Highway 7 and
Warden Avenue, to be used for public open space purposes; and,
·
A 3 metre strip of land
along the entire southern boundary of the Embassy Suites Hotel property, to be
used for the proposed Clegg Road extension to Warden Avenue; subject to
the reservation of an easement in favour of Leisureworld for access and parking
until Clegg Road is constructed; and,
·
A cash payment to the
Town based on the difference in the land area of the respective parcels to be
conveyed between the parties, after road widening, multiplied by the appraised
land value ($625,000 per acre);
·
Leisureworld paying for
all surveys, appraisals, land transfer taxes, and incidental costs relating to
the land exchange;
And
that the amendment to the site plan agreement for the extended-stay hotel on
the Embassy Suites Hotel property include a provision for the reacquisition of
the 3 m Clegg Road extension lands by Leisureworld, if not required for road
purposes, subject to a cash payment to the Town equivalent to the land area of
$625,000 per acre;
And
that the conveyance of lands not be finalized until the final report on the
decommissioning of the former Petro Canada site is submitted to the Town and
accepted to the satisfaction of the Commissioner of Development Services;
And
that the conveyance of the closed road allowance be subject to easements in
favour of Markham Hydro and Bell Canada in a form satisfactory to the Town
Solicitor;
And
that the lands identified as road widenings along Warden Avenue and Highway 7
be conveyed to the Region, at no cost, but held by the Town until such time as
final requirements are confirmed by the Region through the environmental assessment
process;
And
that Council give notice of its intention to lift the "H" (holding)
provision in By-law 165-80, as amended, on the subject lands, and that such
by-law be enacted following the conveyance of the lands.
15. MEMORANDUM OF SETTLEMENT BETWEEN TOWN
OF MARKHAM AND CUPE LOCAL 905,
INSIDE UNIT (11.0)
________________________________________________
16. ONTARIO
HERITAGE FOUNDATION - NOMINATIONS FOR
HERITAGE COMMUNITY RECOGNITION PROGRAM (12.2.6)
RECOMMENDATION:
That the
request from Ontario Heritage Foundation to participate in the Foundation's
Heritage Community Recognition Program 2001 by submitting up to three
nomination - one in each of the heritage areas - built, cultural and natural be
referred to the Committee of the Whole meeting on June 12, 2001.
Carried.
The Chief
Administrative Officer was requested to prepare a list of previous award
nomination recommendations for the past five years.
ADJOURNMENT
The Finance
& Administrative Committee meeting adjourned at the hour of 12:01 p.m.