MARKHAM CONSERVATION COMMITTEE

 

TOWN OF MARKHAM

Ontario Room 

JANUARY 26, 2006

7:00 PM

 

MINUTES

 

ATTENDANCE

 

 

Members:

Staff:

Brent Mersey, Chair

John O’Gorman

Krista Olins

Joan Maddock

Romila Verma, Vice Chair

Joyce Chau

Philip Ling

Mylene Batista Bezerra

Regional Councillor Jack Heath

Judi Kosch, Committee Clerk

 

Regrets

Councillor Erin Shapero

Mike Hough

Lindsay Turko

 

 

 

1.      CALL TO ORDER

 

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

 

2.      CHANGES OR ADDITIONS TO THE AGENDA

 

Under Item 4, the addition of Ontario Regulation 97/04 – Wetlands; addition of another meeting date in possibly December or earlier in January 2007; under Item 5, New Business, a new name for MCC.

 

3.      ADOPTION OF THE MINUTES OF THE MARKHAM CONSERVATION

COMMITTEE MEETING HELD ON NOVEMBER , 2005

     

      There was a request to make a minor revision to Item 3 Adoption of the Minutes of October 27; John O’Gorman advised that he was willing to show any member how to review the minutes and Mike Hough will routinely review agendas of town meetings and apprise Committee of items of interest.

 

      Moved by Krista Olins

Seconded by John O’Gorman

 

THAT the minutes of the Markham Conservation Committee meeting held on November 2005, be adopted as amended.

CARRIED

 

4.   ITEMS FOR INFORMATION

 

a)   Status of members – The Chair advised of the resignations of River He and Karen Volpe; and welcomed new members, Joyce Chau, Mylene Batista Bezerra and Philip Ling.  Regional Councillor Heath advised that interviews have been held and there may be several new appointees.

 

b)   Ontario Regulation 97/04 – Wetlands – Krista Olins gave a brief overview on the progress of this regulation to solidify the regulation to control development interference in wetlands and water courses; there is one more information session to be held in Woodbridge in early February and she encouraged members to attend and learn more on this important item.

 

c)   Meeting Dates – There was a brief discussion on the need for another meeting date in either December or move the January 2007 meeting date to earlier in the month.  It was agreed that too many things were going on to hold a meeting in December and the January 2007 meeting date should be moved to earlier in the month.

 

      On a motion by Joan Maddock, seconded by Romila Verma and unanimously carried, it was agreed to schedule the January 2007 meeting date earlier in the month as opposed to the last Thursday of the month.

 

5.      NEW BUSINESS

 

a)   MCC Mandate – The Chair provided a brief overview for the new members of the role of MCC in acting as liaison between residents and the Town on items of environmental interest or impact; he encouraged everyone to network with the wide variety of environmental type organizations to keep abreast of what is happening.  He also stressed that as volunteers any work done should be a positive experience!

 

b)   New Name for MCC –There was considerable discussion around the possible re-naming of the Markham Conservation Committee in light of the establishment across the GTA of Environmental Advisory Committees.  There was consensus on renaming the Committee – the Markham Environmental Advisory Committee.

 

      THE MARKHAM CONSERVATION COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS:

 

That Council approval be requested to change the name of the Markham Conservation Committee to the Markham Environmental Advisory Committee.

 

 

6.      MATTERS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES

 

a)   Markham Conservation Committee Goals 2006 – The Chair discussed the setting up of a ‘blog’ type site where all members could access what is going on across the Region of interest/impact to the Town environmentally and also any MCC type events.  It was also suggested that both Lilli Duoba and Claudia Marsales be invited to a MCC meeting to make brief presentations on their areas of responsibility.  There was also an interest shown for members, on a rotating basis, to routinely attend Town meetings where items of an environmental nature/impact are to be addressed.  Clarification was requested on what the process is to speak to any issue that may be presented and which meetings are open to the public.

 

b)   MCC Budget – The Chair spoke briefly on the setting up of another subcommittee to deal with budget issues and manage the funds contained therein.

 

      On a motion by Joan Maddock, seconded by Romila Verma and unanimously carried, it was agreed to set up a Budget Subcommittee with a member being asked to sit as Chief Financial Officer to monitor appropriate use of the funds available for possible field trips, attendance at conferences, etc.

     

c)   Tree By-law – John O’Gorman reported that Linda Irvine had advised that there is a report going forward on February 7th dealing with the draft tree by-law; his issues relative to the proposed by-law have yet to be resolved and it was agreed to invite Linda to the next MCC meeting to provide an update.

 

7.   REPORTS OF SUBCOMMITTEES

 

a)   Waste Management – Joan Maddock advised she will be meeting with Claudia Marsales shortly and will report back at the February meeting; she also mentioned that the focus for the subcommittee would be to try and eliminate the excessive packaging on products.  Regional Councillor Jack Heath spoke of a recently approved waste diversion strategy being undertaken by the Region of York with participation of all 9 municipalities.  A consultant has been hired and will be meeting with all municipalities to get them to agree on ways to maximize diversion and drive the rate of diversion even higher than presently.  He challenged the MCC members to find new techniques that could be used to drive rates up; he also indicated that he would try to have this consultant attend the next MCC meeting to give an overview on this initiative.

 

b)   Community Outreach and Education  - Lindsay Turko advised there has been no meeting at this time but one will be arranged shortly to start the planning for Earth Day in April.  Philip Ling indicated an interest in working with the schools on any environmental type initiatives.  Romila Verma advised that work is ongoing with respect to the MCC web page and agreed to forward all the background information on this item to the new members.

 

c)   Cycling & Pedestrian Committee – The Chair called for a volunteer to sit on this Committee in light of the resignation of Stephanie Sokolyk.

 

d)   Pesticide Reduction – The Chair advised this issue is being handled at the Regional level.

 

8.   REPORTS FROM RELATED COMMITTEES

 

a)   Environmental Issues Committee (EIC) – The Chair advised that the meeting for this Committee was cancelled.

 

9.      NEXT MEETING

 

The next meeting of the Markham Conservation Committee is scheduled for Thursday, February 23, 2006 at 7:00 pm in the Ontario Room.

 

ADJOURNMENT

 

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

      CARRIED

 

ConservMin051124