MINUTES - Special Council - 19980406`
TOWN OF AURORA
SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING
NO. 11-98
Council Chambers
Aurora Town Hall
Monday, April 6, 1998
7:05 p.m.
ATTENDANCE
COUNCIL MEMBERS Mayor Jones in the Chair; Councillors Griffith,
Hartwell, Hinder, Hogg, Morris, and West.
Councillors Healy and McKenzie were absent due to
illness.
STAFF MEMBERS Chief Administrative Officer, Director of Corporate
Services, Director of Planning, Fire Chief, Treasurer,
and Council/Committee Secretary.
DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
There were no declarations of interest under the Municipal Conflict of Interest Act.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
#208. Moved by Councillor Griffith Seconded by Councillor Hartwell
THAT the content of the Agenda be approved as outlined herein.
CARRIED
STAFF REPORTS
ADM98-002-086 - Town of Aurora Proposed Response
to the Consultation Document/Draft Legislation
for a Proposed Greater Toronto Services Board Act
Mayor Jones introduced Mr. Alan Tonks, Moderator for the Greater Toronto Services
Board (GTSB). Mr. Tonks thanked Council for the opportunity to appear at this meeting
on behalf of Lynn Morrow and Chris Burke of the Greater Toronto Services Board
Review Team. Mr. Tonks provided a brief overview of the background related to the
Province’s Draft Legislation for a Proposed Greater Toronto Services Board Act. The
proposed legislation was created by distilling various reports from the GTSB Task Force
in an attempt to weave together various strategic municipal plans for the service
delivery of infrastructure, transportation, economic development, social assistance and
housing. Mr. Tonks stated that as Moderator, his responsibilities include gathering
feedback from the GTA municipalities regarding the Proposed Draft Legislation;
reporting his findings to the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing and back to the
GTA municipalities; and submitting a final response to the Provincial Government by the
end of May, 1998.
Mr. Tonks responded to a number of queries of Council Members, outlining the
structure and composition of the entity in contrast to the previous position taken by
Aurora Council in this regard. In response to Council’s concern about the lack of
representation on the GTSB, Mr. Tonks stated that he agreed that it was important for
M I N U T E S
Aurora Special Council Minutes No. 11-98 Page 2
Monday, April 6, 1998
Aurora and all municipalities to be properly represented. He indicated that there are
many smaller urban and rural communities within the GTA and that smaller
municipalities may have to be represented by one area GTSB representative.
In response to Council’s request for the definition of “Weighted Assessment”, Mr. Tonks
advised that each municipality would be responsible for paying the GTSB costs. He
noted that he is still awaiting a response to his request for a definition in writing of
“Weighted Assessment”. Mr. Tonks stated that it was his opinion that future cost saving
decisions made by the GTSB would far outweigh the costs associated with its creation.
In response to Council’s inquiry as to the timeframe for full implementation of the GTSB,
Mr. Tonks stated that it took approximately 40 years to implement the City of Toronto
amalgamation. He explained that the GTSB would be sort of a moving target over next
3 decades with its growth dependent upon its performance level and the future needs of
the GTA area. However, a reevaluation of the extent of services provided at the
Regional level would be likely to occur in the future.
In response to Council’s position in opposition to create a fourth level of government,
Mr. Tonks stated that the initiation of GTSB is required before a determination could be
made for the best method for responding to GTA growth. He pointed out that smaller
rural municipalities currently rely on the Regions to provide the services that they cannot
afford and that future Provincial assistance may be required to assist in some areas
such as social assistance and housing.
Mayor Jones thanked Mr. Tonks for hearing Council’s views and responding to their
questions on the matter. Mayor Jones concluded that Aurora Council looks forward to
receiving Mr. Tonk’s final report which incorporates the feedback from GTA
municipalities regarding the Proposed Draft Legislation for the Greater Toronto Services
Board.
#209. Moved by Councillor Hartwell Seconded by Councillor Hinder
THAT Council resubmit to the Greater Toronto Services Board
Consultation Moderator, Mr. Alan Tonks, its “Vision for a Greater Toronto
Services Board” (Appendix II), along with the two letters to Mr. Milt Farrow
(Appendices III & IV) and the full page Era Banner ad, as the Town of
Aurora’s response to the request for comments on the Draft Legislation for
the Greater Toronto Services Board, that forms part of Report ADM98-
002-086.
On a recorded vote, the resolution was CARRIED
YEAS: 6 NAY: 1
VOTING YEA Councillors Griffith, Hartwell, Hinder, Hogg, Morris and Mayor
Jones
VOTING NAY: Councillor West
ABSENT: Councillors Healy and McKenzie
ADJOURNMENT
#210. Moved by Councillor Morris
THAT the meeting be adjourned at 8:11 p.m.
Aurora Special Council Minutes No. 11-98 Page 3
Monday, April 6, 1998
CARRIED
___________________________
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T. JONES, MAYOR L. ALLISON, MUNICIPAL CLERK