MINUTES - General Committee - 20080129
TOWN OF AURORA
SPECIAL GENERAL COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES
NO. 08-06
Council Chambers
Aurora Town Hall
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
ATTENDANCE
COMMITTEE MEMBERS Mayor Morris in the Chair; Councillors Buck (arrived at
7:15), Collins-Mrakas, Gaertner, Granger, Marsh,
MacEachern, McRoberts and Wilson
MEMBERS ABSENT None
OTHER ATTENDEES Chief Administrative Officer, Director of Corporate
Services/Town Clerk, Financial Analyst/Budget
Supervisor, Director of Financial Services/Treasurer
and Council/Committee Secretary.
Mayor Morris called the meeting to order at 7:08 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 Procedural By-law be waived to permit an additional item to be
considered at a Special General Committee meeting.
CARRIED
General Committee recommends:
THAT the agenda as circulated by the Corporate Services Department,
with the following additional items, be approved:
Closed session Meeting to discuss a labour relations item regarding
Family Day.
CARRIED
Special General Committee Report No. 08-06 Page 2 of 5
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
III DELEGATIONS
a) Mr. John Gutteridge, Director of Financial Services/Treasurer
Re: 2008 Budget Overview
The Director of Financial Services/Treasurer provided a summary of
suggested revisions to the Capital Budget for 2008 to bring the levy to an
increase of 3.5 % as requested by Council. The Director provided an
outline of the new projected levy increase for the following years up to
2011 and reviewed technical revisions to the budget.
General Committee recommends:
THAT the presentation from the Director of Financial Services/Treasurer
be received for information.
CARRIED
IV CONSIDERATION OF ITEM REQUIRING SEPARATE DISCUSSION
2. Staff’s Proposed Changes to Achieve Council’s Directive
General Committee recommends:
THAT Council approve the gapping philosophy for any new hires in 2008.
CARRIED
General Committee recommends:
THAT Council not participate in the Smart Commute initiative for 2008,
reducing the 2008 Budget by $30,000; and
THAT the actual documentation pertaining to Smart Commute be placed
on a future agenda so that Council may properly debate and discuss the
merits of the program.
CARRIED
General Committee recommends:
THAT Council decrease the rate of weaning off of dependence on the
Hydro Funds from $220,000 per year down to $100,000 for 2008.
CARRIED
General Committee recommends:
THAT the proposed advertising step-up initiative not be approved for
2008, reducing the 2008 Budget by $37,000.
CARRIED
General Committee recommends:
THAT the proposed new position of Environmental Engineer requested by
the Public Works Department, not be approved within the 2008 Budget.
CARRIED
Special General Committee Report No. 08-06 Page 3 of 5
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
General Committee recommends:
THAT the amount of $25,000 remain within the 2008 budget for a seniors
tax grant program; and
THAT staff be requested to research and report back with options for a
program that could feasibly be implemented in 2008 without exceeding the
$25,000 budgeted amount.
CARRIED
General Committee recommends:
THAT the budgeted amounts of $7,731 for Student assistance at the
Farmers’ Market and estimated revenue of $3,200 be removed from the
2008 budget; and
THAT previously approved amount of $3,000, for supplies and expenses
related to the Farmers’ Market, remain in the 2008 budget.
CARRIED
General Committee recommends:
THAT the proposed staff requirements for the Aurora Heritage Centre be
referred back to staff to bring report to the next budget meeting with an
estimated amount for the staffing of the Aurora Heritage Centre to be
considered with the 2008 Budget.
CARRIED
General Committee recommends:
THAT the Council approve an increase in the tax levy by a dollar amount
of $460,000 which is equivalent to 2%; and
THAT these funds be specifically earmarked to begin to address the
capital funding shortfall as recommended by the Treasurer; and
THAT the amount be placed into the municipal capital reserve; and
THAT this philosophy be carried forward to future years for Council
consideration.
CARRIED
1. Review of the Council and Committees Operating Budget
(blue pages 3 – 18 inclusive in the budget binder)
Expanded Council Administration and Council Program budget sheets with
account descriptions ((yellow pages attached)
(deferred from the January 24, 2008 Special General Committee meeting)
General Committee recommends:
THAT the 2008 Council and Committees Operating Budget be received.
CARRIED
Special General Committee Report No. 08-06 Page 4 of 5
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
5. Clarification for Marketing/Communications Additional Staff
(deferred from the January 24, 2008 Special General Committee meeting)
General Committee recommends:
THAT the Marketing and Communications Staff compliment remain at the
same level as 2007.
CARRIED
General Committee recommends:
THAT consideration of a Communication Specialist contract position for
the Mayor’s Office be referred to staff to report back with an estimate of
what level of support would be required and an estimated cost.
CARRIED
At 10:05 p.m. Mayor Morris relinquished the chair to Deputy Mayor McRoberts and left
the meeting.
At 10:10 p.m. Mayor Morris returned and resumed the chair.
3. Justification of Budget Requests
Re: Aurora Historical Society – Use of Grant Funds
(Requested at January 21, 2008 Special General Committee meeting)
(deferred from the January 24, 2008 Special General Committee
meeting)
General Committee recommends:
THAT the justification of budget requests regarding Aurora Historical
Society use of grant funds be received for information.
CARRIED
4. Additional Information Requested by Mayor Morris January 22, 2008
(deferred from the January 24, 2008 Special General Committee meeting)
a) Economic Development Advisory Committee and
Aurora Heritage Advisory Committee
b) Environmental Advisory Committee
c) Anti-Littering Initiative
General Committee recommends:
THAT the additional information requested by Mayor Morris on January
22, 2008, be received for information.
CARRIED
6. Establishing the next Budget Meeting Dates
(Council Meeting Calendar for February and March attached for reference)
General Committee recommends:
THAT the request to establish the next budget meeting dates be received
for information.
CARRIED
Special General Committee Report No. 08-06 Page 5 of 5
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
General Committee recommends:
THAT this meeting be extended beyond 10:30 p.m. in order to address the
remaining items on the agenda.
CARRIED
General Committee recommends:
THAT the departmental savings measures presented by the Director of
Financial Services/Treasurer be approved, reducing the 2008 Budget by
$64,950.
CARRIED
General Committee recommends:
THAT Council endorse the Treasurers recommendations concerning the
accounting for the supplementary revenues.
CARRIED
V CLOSED SESSION - ADDED ITEM
Labour Relations Matter
General Committee recommends:
THAT the Committee convene into a closed session to consider a labour
relations matter pertaining to Family Day.
CARRIED
VI ADJOURNMENT
General Committee recommends:
THAT the meeting be adjourned at 10:30 p.m.
CARRIED
THE REPORT OF THE GENERAL COMMITTEE MEETING 08-06 WAS CONSIDERED
AND ADOPTED BY COUNCIL AT ITS MEETING HELD ON TUESDAY, FEBRUARY
12, 2008 WITH THE EXCEPTION OF ITEM 2 - RECOMMENDATION REGARDING
“2% INCREASE IN THE TAX LEVY” AND ITEM 2 - RECOMMENDATION REGARDING
“SMART COMMUTE”, W HICH WERE BOTH DEFERRED TO A FUTURE SPECIAL
GENERAL COMMITTEE-BUDGET MEETING.
_______________________________ ________________________________
PHYLLIS M. MORRIS, MAYOR BOB PANIZZA, TOWN CLERK