MINUTES - General Committee - 20070310
TOWN OF AURORA
SPECIAL GENERAL COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES
NO. 07-15
Holland Room
Aurora Town Hall
Saturday, March 10, 2007
ATTENDANCE
COUNCIL MEMBERS Deputy Mayor McRoberts in the Chair; Councillors
Buck, Collins-Mrakas, Gaertner, Granger,
MacEachern, Marsh and Wilson
MEMBERS ABSENT Mayor Morris
OTHER ATTENDEES Chief Administrative Officer, Director of Financial
Services/ Treasurer, Director of Corporate Services,
Director of Public Works, Director of Leisure Services,
Financial/Budget Analyst, Manager of Parks, Manager
of Facilities/Property, Manager of Programs and
Administrative Co-ordinator/Deputy Clerk
Deputy Mayor McRoberts called the meeting to order at 9:05 a.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 be
approved.
CARRIED
III DELEGATIONS
a) Mr. Charles Sequeira, Aurora Seniors’ Centre
(deferred from March 5, 2007 meeting)
Mr. Sequeira, President of the Aurora Seniors’ Centre, addressed the
committee regarding the proposed 2007 Operating Budget for the Aurora
Seniors’ Centre. Mr. Sequiera requested that costs of renting out the Seniors’
Centre to non-profit groups and Town events such as the Environmental
Advisory Committee seminars, be credited back to the operating costs of the
Seniors’ Centre. Mr. Sequiera further requested that Council approve the
workshop policy/procedure document and recommended the installation of an
automatic timer at the Seniors’ Centre to adjust the temperature when the
building is not in use. Similarly, Mr. Sequiera also recommended that only the
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Saturday, March 10, 2007
emergency lights remain on when the Centre is not occupied. Mr. Sequiera
indicated the priority projects in the proposed 2007 Capital Budget are ranked
in priority as follows: signage for the building, stairs from the deck at the back
and installation of the awning on the deck.
General Committee recommends:
THAT the comments of the delegate be received for information.
CARRIED
General Committee recommends:
THAT Ms Beaton be permitted to address the proposed 2007 Capital
Budget during her 5 minute time limit.
CARRIED
b) Ms Rebecca Beaton
(deferred from March 5, 2007 meeting)
Ms Beaton inquired how the Special Projects Co-ordinator was being paid to
which the CAO advised that the cost is allocated from salaries in the Economic
Development Division and funds are then transferred to the contracts budgetary
line. Ms Beaton inquired whether a cost breakdown could be provided for each
budget to which the Director of Financial Services/Treasurer advised that it was
available to the Members of Council upon request and would be available to the
public at the cost of reproduction. Ms Beaton provided the committee with
photographs of maintenance concerns at 52 Victoria Street (old Library) and
requested if repairs could be done to these areas.
General Committee recommends:
THAT the comments of the delegate be received for information.
CARRIED
c) Mr. John Gutteridge, Director of Financial Services/Treasurer
Re: Item 1 – Report on 2006 Surplus/Deficit
Item 2 – Current Status of Operating Budget
(deferred from March 5, 2007 meeting)
Mr. Gutteridge provided the committee with the impact of the adjustments made
to the proposed 2007 budgets as a result of the direction provided by the
committee. The Director advised of some primary pressures on the budget and
the effect they have on the budget. The Director demonstrated the impact of the
surplus from 2006 on the budget and provided an overview of the options
outlined in item 2 with respect to the surplus.
The committee requested that summary sheets be provided for each section of
the Draft 2007 Operating Budget.
Councillor Buck left the meeting at 10:37 a.m.
General Committee recommends:
THAT the comments of the Director of Financial Services/Treasurer be
received for information.
CARRIED
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Saturday, March 10, 2007
General Committee recommends:
THAT the committee recess for five minutes at 10:45 a.m.
CARRIED
The committee reconvened at 10:55 a.m.
IV CONSIDERATION OF ITEMS REQUIRING SEPARATE DISCUSSION
1. Memo regarding changes to the 2007 Operating Budget
(distributed with March 5, 2007 agenda)
General Committee recommends:
THAT the memorandum from the Director of Financial Services/Treasurer
regarding changes to the 2007 Operating Budget be received.
CARRIED
2. FS07-011 - Pre Audit Year End Financial Statements
(distributed with March 5, 2007 agenda)
General Committee recommends:
THAT report FS07-011be received; and
THAT $45,800 of the 2006 operating surplus be transferred to the
Accessibility Committee Capital Projects (12002); and
THAT the remainder of the 2006 operating surplus be transferred to the
Municipal Capital Reserve Fund.
CARRIED
3. FS07-013 - 2007 Operating Budget Update
(distributed with March 5, 2007 agenda)
General Committee recommends:
THAT report FS07-013 - 2007 Operating Budget Update be received for
information.
CARRIED
4. Council Budget/ Correspondence from Councillor Granger
(distributed with March 5, 2007 agenda)
General Committee recommends:
THAT the correspondence from Councillor Granger be received for
information.
CARRIED
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Saturday, March 10, 2007
5. Budget Discussion
Aurora Public Library
Ms Colleen Abbott, CEO of the Aurora Public Library, provided the Committee
with an overview of the Library’s Business Plan and the proposed 2007 Budget,
including forecasts to 2016.
Councillor Buck returned at 11:40 a.m.
Ms Abbott provided the committee with an overview of some of the Library’s
proposed capital projects.
General Committee recommends:
THAT the presentation by Ms Abbott, CEO of the Aurora Public Library, be
received for information.
CARRIED
General Committee recommends:
THAT the committee recess for 20 minutes.
CARRIED
The Committee reconvened at 12:30 p.m.
Deputy Mayor McRoberts advised the committee that a formal invitation will be
forthcoming from the Aurora Historical Society for the kick-off for fundraising
efforts for the new Heritage Centre on March 28, 2007. Deputy Mayor
McRoberts further advised that a report will be presented at a future meeting
regarding the Heritage Centre.
Public Works Department
The Director of Public Works provided an overview of the proposed 2007
Operating Budget. The Director highlighted that several new staff positions are
being proposed including a Manager of Environment Leadership who will
oversee the environmental initiatives across the municipality.
General Committee recommends:
THAT the presentation and Draft 2007 Operating Budget of Public Works
be received for information.
CARRIED
General Committee recommends:
THAT the committee recess for five minutes at 1:30 p.m.
CARRIED
The committee reconvened at 1:35 p.m.
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Saturday, March 10, 2007
Leisure Services
The Director of Leisure Services presented al DVD demonstrating the services
offered by Leisure Services and provided the committee with an overview of the
Draft 2007 Operating Budget for Leisure Services. The Director highlighted the
Key Performance Indicators from 2006 and addressed the issues raised by Mr.
Sequiera earlier in the meeting.
General Committee recommends:
THAT the presentation and Draft 2007 Operating Budget of Leisure
Services be received for information.
CARRIED
Corporate Services
The Director of Corporate Services provided the committee with an overview of
the duties of the various divisions of the department and highlighted the primary
area of growth being the IT Division.
General Committee recommends:
THAT the presentation and Draft 2007 Operating Budget of Corporate
Services be received for information.
CARRIED
IV ADJOURNMENT
General Committee recommends:
THAT the meeting be adjourned at 4:05 p.m.
CARRIED
THE REPORT OF THE SPECIAL GENERAL COMMITTEE MEETING 07-15 WAS
CONSIDERED AND ADOPTED BY COUNCIL AT ITS MEETING HELD ON TUESDAY,
MARCH 27, 2007.
_________________________________ _________________________________
BOB McROBERTS, DEPUTY MAYOR BOB PANIZZA, TOWN CLERK