MARKHAM CONSERVATION COMMITTEE

 

TOWN OF MARKHAM

Ontario Room

APRIL 27, 2006

7:00 pm

 

MINUTES

 

ATTENDANCE

 

 

Members:

Staff:

Brent Mersey, Chair

Joan Maddock

Romila Verma, Vice Chair

Councillor Erin Shapero

Sandra McEleney

Mike Hough

Joyce Chau

Philip Ling

Mylene Batista Bezerra

Lindsay Turko

Regional Councillor Jack Heath

Thomas Rado

 

Judi Kosch, Committee Clerk

 

Regrets

John O’Gorman

Krista Olins

1.      CALL TO ORDER

 

Brent Mersey, Chair, called the meeting to order at 7:10 pm.

 

2.      CHANGES OR ADDITIONS TO THE AGENDA

 

a)   Under Item 4, Small Streams; Item 5, Refreshments; Questionnaire for Earth Day; Hosting of Regional Environmental Advisory Committee meeting – May 15.

 

3.      ADOPTION OF THE MINUTES OF THE MARKHAM CONSERVATION

COMMITTEE MEETING HELD ON MARCH 30, 2006

     

      The Chair advised of one minor change to the attendance list – Thomas Rado was at the meeting.

 

      Moved by Joan Maddock

Seconded by Philip Ling

 

THAT the minutes of the Markham Conservation Committee meeting held on March 30, 2006 be adopted, as amended.

CARRIED

4.   ITEMS FOR INFORMATION

 

a)   York Region Growth Management Plan - The Chair spoke briefly on a recent meeting at the Region and encouraged members to get involved in the urban planning aspect of growth and its environmental impact.  It was agreed that Romila Verma, Lindsay Turko, Joyce Chau would work together and arrange to meet to set goals, review the York Plan, including the Markham Centre proposal and report routinely to the Committee.

 

      On a motion by Regional Councillor Jack Heath, seconded by Mike Hough, and unanimously carried, it was agreed that Romila Verma, Lindsay Turko and Joyce Chau would work and meet together to review the York Region Growth Management Plan as well as the Markham Centre proposal and report routinely to the MCC.

 

 

b)   Small Streams - Joan Maddock advised of a meeting slated for May 4th at 7:00 p.m. on this issue and will forward details to all members.

 

c)   Refreshments - There was general discussion on the issue of having refreshments at MCC meetings.  The Chair noted that Thomas Rado had brought in bottled water for this evening’s meeting.  Sandra McEleney volunteered to contact Merlyn, who runs the Reflections Restaurant at the Town, to find out the cost of providing refreshments and cookies at MCC meetings.  There are sufficient funds in the Committee’s budget to cover this expense.

 

d)   Questionnaire for Earth Day – Mylene Batista Bezerra presented a draft questionnaire that she had prepared for the Earth Day event on April 29th.  There followed considerable discussion where the merits of doing this survey were lauded and it was agreed that Mylene would contact the Corporate Communications Department of the Town for assistance in final wording/preparation of the survey.

 

      On a motion by Sandra McEleney, seconded by Philip Ling, and unanimously carried, it was agreed that the Environment Survey – Earth Day 2006 Questionnaire be approved as amended and that Mylene Batista Bezerra meet with Corporate Communications for assistance in preparing the final draft.

 

e)   Regional EAC Meeting – The Chair advised of an informal meeting of Regional Environmental Advisory Committee Chairs to be held at the Town of Markham, 7:00 p.m. on May 15th.  The discussions will revolve around governance issues and what EAC groups across the Region are facing in dealing with issues; a copy of the agenda will be emailed to MCC members.

 

5.      NEW BUSINESS

 

a)   MCC Mandate – The Chair will e-mail all members the duties/functions of the Committee; he encouraged them to review the material and be prepared to have final discussion on this matter at the next meeting.

 

b)   Grants – The Chair spoke of the Evergreen Workshop he attended recently that manages grant funds for any qualifying body to help clean up the environment; he will forward material to the members.  It was suggested that MCC host an information session for the public on grants to educate groups on what is available to help improve the environment.  It was suggested that MCC members be a visible part of various events – Jazz Festival, Unionville Festival, etc. – to promote the MESF as well as other grants.  MCC will co-ordinate with the Town’s Special Events Coordinator with a view to setting up a booth at various events throughout the Town over the year to promote this and other environmental issues/programs.

 

6.      MATTERS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES

 

a)   Markham Conservation Committee Goals 2006 – Deferred.

 

b)   MCC Budget – The Chair indicated that Philip Ling had agreed to be Treasurer/Chair of the Budget Sub-Committee, Thomas Rado would assist and Councillor Shapero would provide assistance as needed.  It was agreed that a worksheet would be prepared outlining projects that MCC would undertake over the calendar year, allocate monies required and provide monthly updates to the Committee.

 

      On a motion by Thomas Rado, seconded by Joan Maddock, and unanimously carried, it was agreed that Philip Ling would be Treasurer/Chair of the Budget Sub-Committee with assistance from Thomas Rado and Councillor Erin Shapero (when necessary).

     


 

7.   REPORTS OF SUBCOMMITTEES

 

a)   Waste Management – Joan Maddock gave a brief review of the stickers prepared by the Waste Department that will be provided to the Home Depot, Home Hardware and Canadian Tire stores which are to be placed on the energy efficient fluorescent light bulbs indicating they contain small amounts of mercury and are to be treated as hazardous waste and disposed of accordingly.

 

b)   Community Outreach and Education - Lindsay Turko gave a final update on the Earth Day event being held on Saturday, April 29th at Markville Mall, lower concourse; she encouraged as many members as possible to come to the Mall by 9 a.m. to help with set up.  It was agreed that thank you letters/certificates would be prepared for all donors.  The Committee thanked Lindsay and her helpers for their hard work!  The suggestion was made that next year, MESF recipients be invited to the Earth Day event to help promote/educate the public on this initiative by showing what they did with the funds they received. 

 

c)   Cycling & Pedestrian Committee –Sandra McEleney gave a brief overview, due to time constraints, on the progress to date – everything in the planning stages, environmental issues yet to be addressed, once the plan has gone public, the process will be much easier to understand.  The website for the initiative will be opening on May 1st.  It was suggested that a staff representative from this Committee attend the next MCC meeting and provide a power point presentation on this initiative.

 

8.   REPORTS FROM RELATED COMMITTEES

 

a)   Environmental Issues Committee (EIC)  – Deferred to next meeting.  With reference to the March 30th minutes, Item 8 (a), Councillor Shapero advised that General Committee had approved Philip Ling’s appointment as back-up to Brent Mersey as the MCC’s representative on EIC.

 

9.   NEXT MEETING

 

The next meeting of the Markham Conservation Committee is scheduled for Thursday, May 25, 2006 at 7:00 pm in the Ontario Room.

 

ADJOURNMENT

 

      There being no further business, it was moved by Romila Verma and seconded by Lindsay Turko, that the meeting be adjourned at 9:00 pm.

      CARRIED

 

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