MINUTES - General Committee - 20130128 TOWN OF AURORA
SPECIAL GENERAL COMMITTEE
2013 BUDGET REVIEW
MEETING REPORT
Council Chambers
Aurora Town Hall
Monday, January 28, 2013
ATTENDANCE
COMMITTEE MEMBERS Mayor Dawe in the Chair; Councillors Abel, Ballard,
Gallo, Gaertner, Humfryes, Pirri, and Thompson
MEMBERS ABSENT Councillor Buck
OTHER ATTENDEES Chief Administrative Officer, Manager of Legislative
Services/Deputy Clerk, Director of Corporate and
Financial Services/Treasurer, Director of Parks and
Recreation Services, and Council/ Committee Secretary
Mayor Dawe called the meeting to order at 7:02 p.m.
I DECLARATION OF PECUNIARY INTEREST AND GENERAL NATURE
THEREOF
Councillor Humfryes declared a pecuniary interest with respect to Closed
Session as a family member is employed by Central York Fire Services.
II APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA
General Committee recommends:
THAT the agenda as circulated by the Customer and Legislative Services
Department be approved.
CARRIED
III DELEGATIONS
(a) Dan Elliott, Director of Corporate and Financial Services/Treasurer
Re: 2013 Operating Budget – Summary To Date
Mr. Elliott provided an update on the status of the 2013 Operating Budget including
recent adjustments and the current impact to the overall residential tax bill. He
presented a comparison of the 2012 residential tax rates for the communities of York
Region and summarized the status of the area municipal budgets for 2013.
General Committee recommends:
THAT the comments of the delegate be received for information.
CARRIED
Special General Committee – 2013 Budget Review Meeting Report
Monday, January 28, 2013 Page 2 of 4
(b) Suzanne Reiner, President, Aurora Historical Society
Re: Aurora Historical Society Report to Council and 2013 Funding Request
to Budget Committee
Ms Reiner acknowledged the presence of Catherine Richards, Manager/Curator,
and John Smale, Treasurer, who were also present to answer questions, and
Directors Wayne Keilty and Bob McRoberts in the gallery. She thanked the Town
for its support in 2012 and referred to the previously distributed document, 2012
Report to Budget Committee. Ms Reiner stated that the Aurora Historical Society
(AHS) is seeking the Town’s continued support in the amount of $60,000 for
operation costs and an additional $10,000 toward the development and delivery of
an outreach heritage program in local elementary and high schools. She presented
an overview of the various funding sources, key business metrics, staff resources,
and volunteer opportunities. Ms Reiner highlighted the targets and specific activities
planned for 2013, including the planned delivery of a minimum of ten heritage
educational sessions at elementary and high schools at an estimated cost of
$25,000. She advised that the additional request for $10,000 from the Town would
offset the expense of hiring a part-time educator. Ms Reiner noted that planned
events include Hillary House Ball, Haunted Hillary House in the fall, Storytelling by
the Fire, AHS’ 50th Anniversary party, behind-the-scenes video clips on Facebook,
and continuation of the efforts started in 2012.
General Committee recommends:
THAT the comments of the delegate be received and referred to Item 1.
CARRIED
(c) Frank Pulumbarit, Bonnie Kraft, and Laura Schembri, representing the
Aurora Cultural Centre
Re: Aurora Cultural Centre 2013 Budget Presentation
Mr. Pulumbarit presented a video highlighting the Aurora Cultural Centre’s activities
and accomplishments and thanked everyone involved. He reviewed the Centre’s
vision and what they offer, including Art, Heritage, Music, Art Instruction, Lectures
and Educational programming, fundraising, and facility rentals. Mr. Pulumbarit
provided an overview of the public feedback and achievements of 2012, including
the Strategic Plan, relationship building, and the new Lease and Agreement for the
provision of cultural services. He reviewed the five major goals for 2013-2015, key
performance indicators, and the 2013 initiatives and focus areas for earned revenue
growth. Mr. Pulumbarit provided a budget overview including base pressures,
efficiencies and reductions, new items, growing earned revenues, and trend
highlights.
General Committee recommends:
THAT the comments of the delegate be received and referred to Item 2.
CARRIED
IV PUBLIC CONSULTATION – OPEN SESSION – OPPORTUNITY FOR
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TO PROVIDE INPUT REGARDING THE
2013 BUDGET
No members of the public came forward.
Special General Committee – 2013 Budget Review Meeting Report
Monday, January 28, 2013 Page 3 of 4
V CONSIDERATION OF ITEMS
1. 2013 Operating Budget Discussion
Re: Aurora Historical Society 2013 Operating Grant
General Committee recommends:
THAT the 2013 Operating Grant to the Aurora Historical Society be set in
the amount of $60,000, of which $50,000 is to be allocated to core
funding and $10,000 is to be allocated to the school outreach
program, and referred to final approval of the entire budget by Council.
CARRIED
2. 2013 Operating Budget Discussion
Re: Aurora Cultural Centre 2013 Operating Grant
General Committee recommends:
THAT the 2013 Operating Grant to the Aurora Cultural Centre be
established at $370,000 and referred to final approval of the entire budget
by Council.
CARRIED
3. 2013 Operating Budget Discussion
Re: Non-Union Wage Adjustment – Presentation by Dan Elliott, Director of
Corporate and Financial Services/Treasurer
General Committee recommends:
THAT this item be moved into Closed Session.
CARRIED
VI CLOSED SESSION
General Committee recommends:
THAT Council resolve into a General Committee Closed Session to
consider:
1. Labour relations or employee negotiations; Re: Union Wage
Adjustments – Fire Fighters (IFFA) and CUPE 905; and
2. Labour relations or employee negotiations; Re: Non-Union Wage
Adjustment.
General Committee resolved into Closed Session at 9:48 p.m.
General Committee recommends:
THAT the Special General Committee meeting be reconvened.
CARRIED
General Committee reconvened into open session at 10:21 p.m.
Special General Committee – 2013 Budget Review Meeting Report
Monday, January 28, 2013 Page 4 of 4
4. General 2013 Operating Budget Review and Discussion – Next Steps
Mr. Elliott provided a summary of the recent Budget adjustments. He advised that
the Water, Wastewater and Stormwater Systems Budget would be brought forward
for presentation and discussion at the February 4 Budget Review meeting. He
suggested that the February 11 Budget Review meeting be focused on general
discussions toward concluding the Budget discussions and moving forward to
approval of the 2013 Budget.
General Committee recommends:
THAT the comments from Dan Elliott, Director of Corporate and Financial
Services/Treasurer be received for information.
CARRIED
VII ADJOURNMENT
General Committee recommends:
THAT the meeting be adjourned at 10:25 p.m.
CARRIED
MAYOR GEOFFREY DAWE CINDY JANZEN, DEPUTY CLERK
THE REPORT OF THE SPECIAL GENERAL COMMITTEE – 2013 BUDGET REVIEW
MEETING OF JANUARY 28, 2013 WAS RECEIVED BY COUNCIL ON FEBRUARY 12,
2013.