MINUTES - General Committee - 20090303
TOWN OF AURORA
SPECIAL GENERAL COMMITTEE BUDGET MEETING
MINUTES
NO. 09-11
Council Chambers
Aurora Town Hall
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
ATTENDANCE
COMMITTEE MEMBERS Mayor Morris in the Chair; Councillors Buck (left at
10:33 p.m.), Collins-Mrakas, Gaertner, Gallo,
Granger, MacEachern, McRoberts and Wilson
MEMBERS ABSENT None
OTHER ATTENDEES Chief Administrative Officer, Director of Corporate
Services/Town Clerk, Director of Building, Parks
Manager, Director of Planning, Director of Public
Works, Director of Financial Services/Treasurer,
Acting Financial Budget Analyst, Manager of
Legislative Services/Deputy Clerk and Council/
Committee Secretary
Mayor Morris called the meeting to order at 7:03 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 WITHDRAWAL of the following item, be approved:
Item 1 - Correspondence from Coffey Geotechnics
Re: PW09-010 – Ridgewood Condominium
Tieback Encroachment Agreement
CARRIED
Special General Committee Budget Meeting Minutes No. 09-11
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Page 2 of 5
III DELEGATIONS
(a) Ms Debbie Pella Keen, Manager, Lake Simcoe Project
Ministry of the Environment
Re: Lake Simcoe Protection Plan
Ms Pella Keen provided an overview of the Lake Simcoe Protection Plan for the
information of the General Committee.
General Committee recommends:
THAT the delegation be received for information.
CARRIED
(b) Mr. John Gutteridge, Director of Financial Services/Treasurer
Re: 2009 Budget
Mr. Gutteridge provided a recap and summary of the budget proceedings to
date, and provided a list of suggested revisions and reductions to the proposed
2009 budget for consideration in order to assist Council with the task of reducing
the Town’s levy on the taxpayers for the coming year.
General Committee recommends:
THAT the delegation be received for information.
CARRIED
General Committee recommends:
THAT, from the proposed new positions requested within the 2009
operating budget, the following positions be approved:
• Accessibility Advisor - Building, at the amount of $79,000
(specified as a 12 month contract)
• Development Planner from Jr. to Sr., at the amount of $12,000
• Communications Website position, at the amount of $79,555
• Human Resources Clerk, at the amount of $20,371
• Policy Planning student position, at the amount of $8,884
(specified as a 12 month contract)
General Committee considered the following amendment:
THAT the proposed new student contract position of Policy Planner be
funded through the gapping surplus from the vacant Heritage Planner
position.
CARRIED
The main recommendation was CARRIED.
Special General Committee Budget Meeting Minutes No. 09-11
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Page 3 of 5
General Committee recommends:
THAT the proposed new Parks Student Labourer positions be approved at
the total amount of $22,593 within the 2009 operating budget.
CARRIED
General Committee recommends:
THAT the proposed new position of Parks Operations (Service Person) be
approved within the 2009 operating budget.
DEFEATED
General Committee recommends:
THAT the amount of $10,000 be allocated to the Smart Commute
initiative.
DEFEATED
General Committee recommends:
THAT project #60 - Smart Commute be removed from the 2009 Operating
Budget.
CARRIED
General Committee recommends:
THAT the suggested reduction of $40,000 to project #42 - Library Capital
Reserve contribution, not be approved, leaving the contribution at
$90,000.
DEFEATED
General Committee recommends:
THAT the hour of adjournment be extended beyond 10:30 p.m.
CARRIED
Councillor Buck left the meeting at 10:33 p.m.
Special General Committee Budget Meeting Minutes No. 09-11
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Page 4 of 5
IV CONSIDERATION OF ITEMS REQUIRING SEPARATE DISCUSSION
1. (WITHDRAWN from the agenda.)
2. FS09-010 – Pre Audit 2008 Operating Surplus
General Committee recommends:
THAT report FS09-010 be received; and
THAT $200,000 of the 2008 Operating Surplus be transferred to the
Future Legal Reserve Fund to replenish the funds used in 2008; and
THAT a further $200,000 of the 2008 Operating Surplus be transferred to
the Future Legal Reserve Fund for future legal costs; and
THAT $17,500 of the 2008 Operating Surplus be transferred to the
Insurance Reserve Fund to replenish the funds used in 2008; and
THAT $120,000 of the 2008 Operating Surplus be transferred to the
Election Reserve Fund to provide for the 2010 Municipal Election; and
THAT $100,000 of the 2008 Operating Surplus remain in the revenue fund
to fund the One Year Contract Position of Project Coordinator –
Accessibility Advisor in the Building Department Budget and other
expenses related to AODA (Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities
Acts) implementation; and
THAT $50,115 of the 2008 Operating Surplus be used to pay the Special
Insurance Assessment Imposed by OMEX as identified in report CS09-
001; and
THAT the balance of the 2008 Operating Surplus estimated in the amount
of $229,342 be transferred to the Allowance for Bad Debt Account
Reserve.
CARRIED
General Committee recommends:
THAT proposed revisions to the 2009 budget, as presented by staff, be
approved.
CARRIED
3. Labour Costs for Capital Projects and Breakdown of the Leisure Services
Revenue (ADDED ITEM)
General Committee recommends:
THAT the Labour Costs for Capital Projects and Breakdown of the Leisure
Services revenue, be received for information.
CARRIED
Special General Committee Budget Meeting Minutes No. 09-11
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Page 5 of 5
V ADJOURNMENT
General Committee recommends:
THAT the meeting be adjourned at 11:03 p.m.
CARRIED
THE REPORT OF THE SPECIAL GENERAL COMMITTEE MEETING 09-11 WAS
CONSIDERED AND APPROVED BY COUNCIL AT ITS MEETING HELD ON
TUESDAY, MARCH 24, 2009.
_______________________________ ________________________________
PHYLLIS M. MORRIS, MAYOR LUCILLE KING, TOWN CLERK