MINUTES
SENIORS ADVISORY COMMITTEE
September 14, 2010
4:00 P.M. – 6:00 P.M.
Attendance:
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Committee Members: Regrets: |
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Agenda Item |
Discussion |
Action Item |
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1.
CALL TO ORDER AND WELCOMING REMARKS |
The Seniors
Advisory Committee was called to order at 4:07 p.m. with Angela Morris
presiding as Chair. |
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2.
APPROVAL OF AUGUST 10, 2010 SENIORS
ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES |
The last name of Ms. Kwan
was corrected in the attendance section of the August 10, 2010 Seniors
Advisory Committee Minutes. Moved by Warren Carroll That
the minutes of the August 10, 2010 Seniors Advisory Committee be adopted as
amended. CARRIED |
Amend August 10 Minutes –
Laura Gold |
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3.
ADDITIONS/CHANGES TO THE AGENDA |
The
Committee was advised that Murray Boyce from the Town and Sylvia Patterson from
the Region of York will be in attendance at the next meeting to speak to the
Committee about affordable housing, noting neither of them were
able to attend the September meeting. |
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4. BUSINESS ARISING FROM MINUTES |
The Committee reviewed a
letter to Mr. William Choi, York Region Transit, which included a number of
questions that were raised from his presentation. A Member felt it was important to avoid
open ended questions in the letter.
After some discussion, the Committee requested that a question be added
to the letter asking if other routes exist or could be created similar to
route 522, which the Committee believed was a model route, as it stops at key
destination for seniors in the Markham and Unionville area. The Committee felt it was important that
other areas in Markham receive the same level of bus service. The Committee Clerk will provide the
revised letter to the Chair. The Committee requested
that York Region Transit provide the Committee with the different transit
routes in Markham. It was requested
that the Town map the various transit routes along with the key destinations
for seniors within Markham in order to see where gaps in service may exist. The Committee could then provide
recommendations to York Region Transit in regards to where service
improvements may be made. |
Revise letter to York
Region Transit and provide it to the Chair – Committee Clerk |
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5.NEW BUSINESS |
Ms. Lori Wells, Manager of
Programs, invited the Committee to participate in the “I can walk
campaign”. She advised that the goal
of the campaign is to reduce green house gas. The focus group will discuss walking
within your community to get your needs met.
She advised that the focus group would also include a 30 minute poll
walk. She Suggested linking the focus
group to a Committee meeting. The
Members demonstrated an interest in participating in the focus group. A Member noted walking the
same route all the time is boring.
She recommended that the Town consider designing recreational programs
for seniors that include walking in different areas of Markham. The Committee Clerk advised
that the Lorenzo Mele from the Cycling & Pedestrian Committee (CPAC) had
recommended that a Member from the Seniors’ Advisory Committee be appointed
to CPAC. This was suggested so that
the voice of seniors would be included in the Town’s Cycling & Pedestrian
Plans. It was noted that the
activity level of seniors varied considerably due to their age group and
physical condition. The Committee felt it would be appropriate to have
benches along Town pathways so that seniors could also enjoy the pathways. The Committee Clerk was requested to bring
a copy of the Terms of Reference for CPAC to the next meeting. The decision to request that a Seniors’
Advisory Committee Representative be appointed to the CPAC Committee was
deferred to the next meeting. |
Bring Terms of Reference
for CPAC to next meeting – Laura Gold Decide if Committee will
request that a Member from the Seniors’ Advisory Committee be appointed to
CPAC – All Board Members, Next Meeting
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6. COMMITTEE PRIORITIES |
The Committee discussed the
lack of appropriate Community Centre space allotted to seniors. Explaining that spaces allotted to seniors
where often too small. It was noted
that seniors are given the opportunity to use the Town’s recreational
facilities (e.g. badminton courts), but that it is always at unusual hours,
such as 6:30 a.m. in the morning or 10:00 p.m. at night. The Committee felt Town
Community Centres were designed to meet the needs of Markham’s youth. A Member noted that there is a community
centre in Richmond Hill that has a beautiful large seniors’ area. The Committee’s major concern was that
there is not enough community centre space allotted to seniors to run proper
programs. It agreed to move up space
allotted to seniors as a top priority for the Committee. The
Members wanted to ensure there is fair and equitable space allocation at Town
community centres. Moved by Warren
Carroll That
the Seniors Advisory Committee strongly recommend that the Town of Markham
Council allocate adequate space for seniors at community centres; and, That
the Town of Markham Council ensure allotted community centre space for
seniors is at times of the day which permit seniors to fully participate in
recreational programs and activities; and, That the Town
of Markham Council include proper space for seniors in its plans for new
community centres and when updating existing community
centres; and, That the
Seniors Advisory Committee be consulted when allocating community centre
space to seniors and when designing new spaces for seniors. CARRIED |
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7. NEXT MEETING DATE |
The next meeting of the
Seniors Advisory Committee will be held on October 12, 2010 at 4:00 p.m. in
the York Room. |
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8. ADJOURNMENT |
The Seniors Advisory
Committee adjourned at 6:02 p.m. |
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