MINUTES - Council - 20091027 TOWN OF AURORA
COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
NO. 09-28
Council Chambers
Aurora Town Hall
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
ATTENDANCE
COUNCIL MEMBERS Mayor Morris in the Chair; Councillors Buck, Collins-
Mrakas, Gaertner, Gallo, Granger, MacEachern,
McRoberts and Wilson.
MEMBERS ABSENT None
OTHER ATTENDEES Chief Administrative Officer, Town Solicitor/Acting
Town Clerk, Director of Building, Director of Leisure
Services, Director of Planning & Development
Services, Director of Public Works, Director of
Corporate and Financial Services/Treasurer and
Council/Committee Secretary
Mayor Morris called the meeting to order at 7:06 p.m.
I DECLARATIONS OF PECUNIARY INTEREST
Councillor Collins-Mrakas declared an interest in item 1(5), due to a relative
having a contractual relationship with one of the listed companies, and did not
take part in any questions in this regard or attempt in any way to influence the
voting on such questions.
II APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Moved by Councillor Wilson Seconded by Councillor Gallo
THAT the agenda as circulated by the Corporate Services Department,
with the following additions, be approved:
Delegation a) - Ms Rosemary Park
Re: Item 5 – Invitation to Partner with Neighbourhood Network
Memorandum from the Director of Corporate and Financial
Services
Re: Response to General Committee Request:
Mr. Mestrinaro’s Procurement Process Concern from
General Committee - October 20, 2009
CARRIED
III OPEN FORUM
No one spoke at Open Forum.
Minutes of Council Meeting
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Page 2 of 8
IV ADOPTION OF MINUTES
Council Minutes of Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Moved by Councillor McRoberts Seconded by Councillor Granger
THAT the Council minutes of Tuesday, October 13, 2009 be adopted as
printed and circulated.
CARRIED
V PRESENTATIONS
a) Mr. Brian Kemp - Director, Conservation Lands and
Mr. Bill Thompson – Conservation Lands Planner
Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority
Re: Item 2 - Sheppard’s Bush Conservation Area Management Plan
Mr. Brian Kemp presented an overview of the Sheppard’s Bush Conservation
Area Management Plan, outlining the important values of Sheppard’s Bush, as
well as areas which need to be addressed, such as forest management, trail
closures and programming. Mr. Kemp advised that approximately $25,000 will
be required over the next five years, with potential sources being rental incomes,
event revenues, federal/provincial infrastructure funds, Windfall Ecology Centre,
Aurora Lions Club and Ontario Heritage Trust.
Moved by Councillor MacEachern Seconded by Councillor Granger
THAT the comments of the delegate be received and referred to item 2.
CARRIED
Moved by Councillor Granger Seconded by Councillor MacEachern
THAT item 2 be brought forward for discussion.
CARRIED
Moved by Councillor MacEachern Seconded by Councillor Gaertner
THAT the Procedural By-law be waived in order to allow the delegate to
respond to an additional question from Council.
CARRIED
2. Sheppard's Bush Conservation Area Management Plan
Moved by Councillor MacEachern Seconded by Councillor Gaertner
THAT Council receive and endorse the Sheppard’s Bush Conservation
Area Management Plan; and
THAT a notice be placed in the Town of Aurora’s Notice Board
thanking the members of the Sheppard's Bush Conservation Area
Management Plan Steering Committee and the residents that
participated in the consultative process.
On a recorded vote the resolution was CARRIED.
Minutes of Council Meeting
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Page 3 of 8
YEAS: 8 NAYS: 1
VOTING YEA: Councillors Collins-Mrakas, Gaertner, Gallo, Granger,
MacEachern, McRoberts, Wilson and Mayor Morris
VOTING NAY: Councillor Buck
VI PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENTS
Mayor Morris advised that Yonge Street will be closed for the November 8, 2009
Remembrance Day Parade and encouraged residents to come out to the event
to pay their respects. As well, Mayor Morris advised that the Queen’s York
Rangers will be marching in the Town and that certain streets will be closed.
Mayor Morris thanked Council for endorsing the inaugural Mayor’s Prayer
Breakfast. Mayor Morris also thanked the participants, including the speaker
Reverend Lang.
Mayor Morris advised that a day timer and a pair of glasses were left at the
Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast and they may be picked up at the Town Hall, Mayor’s
Office.
Councillor Granger advised that Theatre Aurora will be holding a “haunted stage”
on Friday, October 30, 2009 from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. and Saturday, October
31, 2009 from 1:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Tickets are $4.00 for adults, $2.00 for
children plus canned food donations, and the proceeds from the tickets sales, as
well as all food donations will go to the Aurora Food Pantry.
Councillor Granger advised that the Thriller Dance will be held at the Farmers
Market on Saturday, October 31, 2009 in support of the Aurora Food Pantry.
Councillor Gaertner thanked Mayor Morris for making the Mayor’s Prayer
Breakfast a very meaningful success.
Councillor Gaertner advised that the Aurora Tigers are playing against
Mississauga on Friday, October 30, 2009 at the ACC1, and encouraged
residents to attend.
Councillor Buck advised that she attended a fundraising dinner and commended
the following businesses for their contributions to the lives of eight young adults
with special needs: Staples, Omar’s Shoes, 50 Below, Sunrise Retirement
Home, Tim Hortons at Golf Links Drive, Blockbuster (both locations), and Trinity
Anglican Church.
Mayor Morris displayed a painting of the cenotaph entitled Cenotaph Aurora,
painted by Irma Gutsch, which has been chosen by the Mayor to hang in the
Seniors Centre. Mayor Morris also clarified a misunderstanding regarding the
war memorial in Aurora. Mayor Morris advised that any downtown revitalization
plans will not physically affect the war memorial, but rather consideration will be
given to have any future buildings face the cenotaph, not having the rear of
buildings facing it.
Mayor Morris thanked everyone involved in the very successful Haunted Forest
event at Sheppard’s Bush, which attracted approximately 3,000 attendees.
Councillor Gaertner congratulated the Ajax Strikers U-14 girls soccer team, who
won the U-14 Cup at the 2009 BMO National Championships in Sydney, Nova
Scotia, of which two members are residents of Aurora.
Minutes of Council Meeting
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Page 4 of 8
VII DETERMINATION OF ITEMS REQUIRING SEPARATE DISCUSSION
Items 1(5), 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 were identified for discussion.
VIII ADOPTION OF ITEMS NOT REQUIRING SEPARATE DISCUSSION
None
IX DELEGATIONS
a) Ms Rosemary Park
Re: Item 5 – Invitation to Partner with Neighbourhood Network
(Added Item)
Ms Rosemary Park addressed Council to request that the Town of Aurora not
partner with Neighbourhood Network, due to a resulting duplication of services
with Info Aurora. Ms Park advised that Info Aurora provides volunteer sign-up,
matching and/or referrals for Town, special events and community agencies. Ms
Park also advised that the Town has had a signed agreement with Info Aurora
since January 2002.
Moved by Councillor Wilson Seconded by Councillor MacEachern
THAT the comments of the delegate be received.
CARRIED
Moved by Councillor MacEachern Seconded by Councillor Granger
THAT item 5 be brought forward for discussion.
CARRIED
5. Motion tabled by Councillor Buck
Re: Invitation to Partner with Neighbourhood Network
(Notice of Motion was provided at the September 29, 2009 Council meeting)
Moved by Councillor Buck Seconded by Councillor McRoberts
WHEREAS an invitation to partner with Neighbourhood Network is
outstanding; and
WHEREAS a quick scan of partners who have joined the organization
since its inception indicates that most service organizations in the Town of
Aurora have apparently agreed to be partners; and
WHEREAS networking obviously means providing connections between
people who need services and volunteers prepared to provide for the
needs in the community; and
WHEREAS the municipality is clearly an essential link between volunteers
and services needed;
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT that Town of Aurora is
pleased to accept the invitation from Neighbourhood Network to partner in
this worthwhile endeavour; and
Minutes of Council Meeting
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Page 5 of 8
THAT the necessary agreements of both organizations be referred to
staff to review and ensure collaboration.
On a recorded vote the resolution was CARRIED.
YEAS: 8 NAYS: 1
VOTING YEA: Councillors Buck, Collins-Mrakas, Gallo, Granger, MacEachern,
McRoberts, Wilson and Mayor Morris
VOTING NAY: Councillor Gaertner
X CONSIDERATION OF ITEMS REQUIRING SEPARATE DISCUSSION
1. General Committee Meeting Minutes
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
CONSIDERATION OF ITEMS REQUIRING SEPARATE DISCUSSION FROM THE
GENERAL COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES OF TUESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2009
Councillor Collins-Mrakas, having declared an interest in item 1(5), did not take part in
or vote on any questions in this regard or attempt in any way to influence the voting on
such questions.
(5) PL09-081 – Planning Applications Status List
Moved by Councillor McRoberts Seconded by Councillor Gaertner
THAT the Planning Applications Status List be received for information.
CARRIED
Moved by Councillor Gallo Seconded by Councillor MacEachern
THAT the balance of the minutes of the General Committee Meeting of
October 20, 2009 be received and the recommendations carried by the
Committee be approved.
CARRIED
3. Memorandum from the Chief Administrative Officer
Re: Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA)
Training for Council
Moved by Councillor MacEachern Seconded by Councillor Gaertner
THAT the memorandum regarding Accessibility for Ontarians with
Disabilities Act (AODA) Training for Council be received for information;
and
THAT staff arrange a one hour training session for Council on
November 10, 2009 prior to the Council meeting.
CARRIED
Minutes of Council Meeting
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Page 6 of 8
4. Motion Tabled by Councillor Gaertner
Re: Reporting of Legal Fees
(Notice of Motion was provided at the October 13, 2009 Council meeting)
Moved by Councillor Gaertner Seconded by Councillor Wilson
WHEREAS the Town of Aurora is committed to open and transparent
government; and
WHEREAS in a recent anonymous advertisement, administrative legal
fees reported did not differentiate between advocacy fees and
administrative contracted fees, thus portraying administrative legal
contracted fees in the same category;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council direct staff to
immediately:
1. Provide clarity by publishing the amount by year for 2000 to 2008
and sub-period January 1, 2009 to June 30, 2009 in graph and/or
pie-chart form, for the advocacy fees incurred; and
2. Provide costs incurred for the amounts for contracted solicitors
retained during the period from January 1, 2007 to July 1, 2009 to
fill the temporary vacancy of the Town Solicitor, appropriately
shown in a separate footnote; and
3. Provide an additional footnote outlining the projected legal fees
expected to be incurred up to and including December 31, 2009;
and
4. THAT this information be published in the Notice Board and on the
Town’s website with an introduction at the earliest possible date;
and
5. THAT this information be removed from the Town’s website by
December 31, 2010.
On a recorded vote the resolution was CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
YEAS: 9 NAYS: 0
VOTING YEA: Councillors Buck, Collins-Mrakas, Gaertner, Gallo, Granger,
MacEachern, McRoberts, Wilson and Mayor Morris
VOTING NAY: None
6. Memorandum from the Director of Corporate and Financial Services
Re: Response to General Committee Request:
Mr. Mestrinaro’s Procurement Process Concern from General
Committee - October 20, 2009
(Added Item)
Moved by Councillor MacEachern Seconded by Councillor Gaertner
THAT this matter be deferred to the November 3, 2009 General
Committee meeting.
On a recorded vote the resolution was CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
Minutes of Council Meeting
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Page 7 of 8
YEAS: 7 NAYS: 1
VOTING YEA: Councillors Collins-Mrakas, Gaertner, Gallo, Granger,
MacEachern, McRoberts and Mayor Morris
VOTING NAY: Councillor Buck
Councillor Wilson was not in attendance for the vote.
XI REGIONAL REPORT
York Region Council Highlights – October 22, 2009 - Mayor’s Report
Moved by Councillor MacEachern Seconded by Councillor Gaertner
THAT the Regional Report be received for information.
CARRIED
XII NEW BUSINESS/GENERAL INFORMATION – COUNCILLORS
None
XIII CLOSED SESSION AGENDA
Moved by Councillor MacEachern Seconded by Councillor McRoberts
THAT Council resolve into a Closed Session, following adjournment, to
consider:
litigation or potential litigation, including matters before
administrative tribunals, affecting the municipality or local board
(2 items)
CARRIED
XIV READING OF BY-LAWS
Moved by Councillor MacEachern Seconded by Councillor Granger
THAT the following listed by-law be given 1st, 2nd and 3rd readings, and
enacted:
5179-09 BEING A BY-LAW to confirm actions by
Council Resulting from Council Meeting
09-29 on October 27, 2009
CARRIED
Minutes of Council Meeting
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Page 8 of 8
XV ADJOURNMENT
Moved by Councillor Buck
THAT the meeting be adjourned at 9:53 p.m.
CARRIED
_______________________________ ________________________________
PHYLLIS M. MORRIS, MAYOR CHRISTOPHER C. COOPER
ACTING TOWN CLERK