MINUTES - General Committee - 20070109
TOWN OF AURORA
GENERAL COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES
NO. 07-03
Council Chambers
Aurora Town Hall
Tuesday, January 9, 2007
ATTENDANCE
COMMITTEE MEMBERS Councillor MacEachern in the Chair; Mayor Morris
Councillors Buck, Collins-Mrakas, Gaertner, Granger,
Marsh, McRoberts, and Wilson
MEMBERS ABSENT None
OTHER ATTENDEES Chief Administrative Officer, Director of Corporate
Services/Town Clerk, Director of Leisure Services,
Director of Planning, Director of Public Works,
Director of Financial Services/ Treasurer, Town
Solicitor, and Council/Committee Secretary.
Councillor MacEachern called the meeting to order at 7:14 p.m.
I DECLARATIONS OF PECUNIARY INTEREST
There were no declarations of pecuniary interest under the Municipal Conflict of
Interest Act.
II APPROVAL OF AGENDA
General Committee recommends:
THAT the agenda as circulated by the Corporate Services Department,
with the following additional items, be approved:
Delegation b) – Mr. Frank Shaw, Chair of Planning & Partnerships
Oak Ridges Moraine Land Trust
Re: Item 4 – Correspondence from Oak Ridges Moraine Land Trust
Closed Session – Legal Matter
CARRIED
III ADOPTION OF THE MINUTES
General Committee Report of December 12, 2006, Meeting Number 06-18
General Committee recommends:
THAT the General Committee Report of Meeting Number 06-18, dated
December 12, 2006, be adopted as printed and circulated.
CARRIED
General Committee Report No. 07-03 Page 2 of 5
Tuesday, January 9, 2007
IV DETERMINATION OF ITEMS REQUIRING SEPARATE DISCUSSION
Items 1, 2, 3 and 4 were identified for discussion.
V ADOPTION OF ITEMS NOT REQUIRING SEPARATE DISCUSSION
General Committee recommends:
THAT the following recommendations respecting the matters listed as
“Items not Requiring Separate Discussion” be adopted as submitted to the
General Committee and staff be authorized to take all necessary action
required to give effect to same:
5. FS07-001 – Temporary Borrowing By-law
THAT the Mayor and the Director of Finance/Treasurer be authorized to
borrow from time to time until the property taxes are collected, such sums
as the Council considers necessary to meet the current expenditures of
the Corporation for the year in accordance with the Section 407 of the
Municipal Act, 2001, S.O. 2001 c. 25 as amended; and
THAT except with the approval of the Ontario Municipal Board (OMB) the
total amount borrowed at any one time plus outstanding amounts of
principal borrowed and accrued interest shall not exceed:
a) From January 1 to September 30 in the year, 50 per cent of the
total estimated revenues of the municipality as set out in the budget
adopted for the year; and
b) From October 1 to December 31 in the year, 25 per cent of the total
estimated revenues for the municipality as set out in the budget
adopted for the year; and
THAT By-law Number 4770-06.F be repealed; and
THAT Council enact By-law number 4880-07.F authorizing temporary
borrowing by the Corporation pending the receipt of Municipal revenues
pursuant to Section 407 of the Municipal Act, 2001, S.O. 2001 c. 25 as
amended.
6. FS07-002 - 2007 Interim Property Tax Rates
THAT Council for the Corporation of the Town of Aurora authorize a 2007
Interim Property Tax Levy on all rateable real property which has been
assessed according to the assessment roll returned December 12, 2006
by the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC) for the
taxation year 2007; and
THAT the 2007 Interim Property Tax Levy be set as legislated at 50% of
the total 2006 property taxes levied on each property; and
THAT the 2007 Interim Property Tax Rates will be equivalent to 50% of
the 2006 Final Property Tax Rates as listed in Appendix “A” of this report
and levied on the Current Value Assessment (CVA) as returned by MPAC
for the taxation year 2007; and
THAT the 2007 Interim Property Tax Levy be due in two relatively equal
installments on Thursday, February 22, 2007 and Tuesday, April 24, 2007;
and
General Committee Report No. 07-03 Page 3 of 5
Tuesday, January 9, 2007
THAT the Director of Finance/Treasurer be authorized to amend in whole
or in part any billing in order to comply with any Provincial Legislation
which may be introduced or passed by the Province of Ontario prior to or
after the issuance of the 2007 Interim Property Tax Bills; and
THAT By-law No. 4879-07.F be enacted at the Council meeting scheduled
for January 16, 2007.
CARRIED
VI NEW BUSINESS/GENERAL INFORMATION - COUNCILLORS
Mayor Morris requested that the Director of Corporate Services ensure that all
Councillors receive a copy of the comments recently made by Mr. Klaus
Wehrenberg during Open Forum.
Mayor Morris requested that staff provide an update as to how items are listed for
the budget discussion and how they are brought forward.
Mayor Morris advised that she will be attending the Regional Council meeting on
Wednesday, January 10, 2007 at 1:30 p.m. to address the 2C Lands issue.
Councillor Wilson advised that the December 19, 2006 Council minutes did not
reflect the fact that he took part in the York Region Police Services Ride
Program. Further, Councillor Wilson congratulated York Region Police Services
for the successful Ride Program this year.
Mayor Morris advised that she attended the opening of HERSS Wellness &
Beauty Spa on Saturday, January 6, 2007, accompanied by Councillors Buck,
Marsh and Wilson.
VII DELEGATIONS
General Committee recommends:
THAT Mr. Frank Shaw, be permitted to delegate first.
CARRIED
(b) Mr. Frank Shaw, Chair of Planning & Partnerships
Oak Ridges Moraine Land Trust
Re: Item 4 – Correspondence from Oak Ridges Moraine Land Trust
Mr. Frank Shaw addressed General Committee to request $5,000 from the Town
of Aurora for permit fees that were required to be paid for the McLeod Wood land
securement.
General Committee recommends:
THAT the comments of the delegate be received for information and that Item
4 be brought forward for discussion.
CARRIED
General Committee Report No. 07-03 Page 4 of 5
Tuesday, January 9, 2007
4. Correspondence from Oak Ridges Moraine Land Trust
General Committee recommends:
THAT the correspondence from Oak Ridges Moraine Land Trust be
received and that staff provide comments for the discussion during budget
deliberations regarding the request for a grant.
CARRIED
(a) Mr. John Gutteridge, Director of Financial Services/Treasurer
Re: Item 1 - 2007 Operating Budget
Mr. John Gutteridge addressed General Committee to give an overview of Draft
#1 of the 2007 Operating Budget. Mr. Gutteridge indicated that detailed
discussion will take place at the Budget meeting on January 20, 2007 and that
this presentation is a high level overview.
Councillor Wilson requested that the 2006 actual figures be available for review
at the January 20, 2007 Budget meeting.
General Committee recommends:
THAT the comments of the delegate be received for information.
CARRIED
VIII CONSIDERATION OF ITEMS REQUIRING SEPARATE DISCUSSION
1. 2007 Operating Budget
General Committee recommends:
THAT the 2007 Operating Budget be received for information.
CARRIED
General Committee recommends:
THAT the General Committee recess for five minutes at 8:50 p.m.
CARRIED
The meeting reconvened at 8:55 p.m.
2. LS07-001 – Foresters Big Swim for Arthritis
General Committee recommends:
THAT Council approve the Foresters Big Swim for Arthritis 2007 at the
Aurora Recreation Complex on April 21, 2007; and
THAT all municipal permit fees be waived in support of the event.
General Committee Report No. 07-03 Page 5 of 5
Tuesday, January 9, 2007
General Committee considered the following amendment to the
recommendation:
THAT Council provide preliminary approval of a grant for $471.23 in lieu of
waiving the permit fees.
The main recommendation was CARRIED AS AMENDED.
3. Correspondence from Leksand, Sweden
General Committee recommends:
THAT the correspondence from Leksand, Sweden be received for
information and that a letter of congratulations be forwarded regarding the
recent junior hockey tournament.
CARRIED
IX CLOSED SESSION
General Committee recommends:
THAT the General Committee proceed into Closed Session to address a
legal matter.
CARRIED
X ADJOURNMENT
General Committee recommends:
THAT the meeting be adjourned at 9:10 p.m.
CARRIED
THE REPORT OF THE GENERAL COMMITTEE MEETING 07-03 WAS CONSIDERED
AND ADOPTED BY COUNCIL AT ITS MEETING HELD ON TUESDAY, JANUARY 16,
2007.
______________________ _________________________________
P. MORRIS, MAYOR B. PANIZZA, TOWN CLERK