MINUTES - Special Council - 20161214
Town of Aurora
Special Council Meeting
Workshop Minutes
Council Chambers
Aurora Town Hall
Wednesday, December 14, 2016
Attendance
Council Members Mayor Dawe in the Chair; Councillors Abel, Gaertner, Humfryes
(arrived 7:22 p.m.), Kim, Mrakas, Pirri (arrived 8:21 p.m.), and
Thompson
Members Absent Councillor Thom
Other Attendees Doug Nadorozny, Chief Administrative Officer, Lisa Lyons, Town
Clerk, and Samantha Yew, Council/Committee Secretary
The Chair called the meeting to order at 7:02 p.m.
1. Declaration of Pecuniary Interest and General Nature Thereof
There were no declarations of pecuniary interest under the Municipal Conflict of
Interest Act.
2. Approval of the Agenda
Moved by Councillor Abel
Seconded by Councillor Thompson
That the agenda as circulated by Legislative Services, with the following addition, be
approved:
Special Council Meeting – Workshop Minutes
Wednesday, December 14, 2016 Page 2 of 4
• Delegation (a) Sandra Manherz, Resident
Re: Proposed Secondary School
Carried
3. Introduction
Mayor Dawe provided a brief overview of the events leading to the Council Workshop
regarding the proposed secondary school, and noted that the Workshop is an
opportunity for Council to ask the York Region District School Board (YRDSB) Trustee
for Aurora and King, Peter Adams-Luchowski, questions regarding the proposed
secondary school to be located at Bayview Avenue between St. John’s Sideroad and
Wellington Street East.
4. Delegations
(a) Sandra Manherz, Resident
Re: Proposed Secondary School
Ms. Manherz spoke in support of the proposed secondary school.
Moved by Councillor Mrakas
Seconded by Councillor Thompson
That the comments of the delegation be received for information.
Carried
5. Presentation by York Region District School Board Trustee
Ms. Dawn Adams, Senior Manager of School & System Operations, YRDSB,
provided a brief presentation outlining the history of the proposed site, the new
school funding process, the current state of YRDSB secondary schools in Aurora,
and next steps.
Council discussed various aspects of the proposed secondary school.
Special Council Meeting – Workshop Minutes
Wednesday, December 14, 2016 Page 3 of 4
On a motion of Councillor Kim seconded by Councillor Humfryes, Council consented on a
two-thirds vote to waive the requirements of the Procedural By-law to permit the residents to
engage with the York Region District School Board Trustee.
Aurora residents Sandra Manherz, Julia Charendoff, Lia Zacharopoulos, Emilie
Inakazu, and Anthony Pullano inquired about aspects of the proposed secondary
school, including:
• Delegating to the YRDSB;
• Implementation of International Baccalaureate program and Dr. G. W. Williams
Secondary School;
• Population thresholds for closing a school;
• Processes around Pupil Accommodation Reviews by the YRDSB; and
• Ways in which residents can appeal to the YRDSB.
Moved by Councillor Mrakas
Seconded by Councillor Gaertner
That the presentation from the York Region District School Board be received for
information.
Carried
Moved by Councillor Humfryes
Seconded by Councillor Mrakas
That a letter be sent by the Mayor, on behalf of Council, to the Minister of Education,
MPP Chris Ballard, and the Principals of Aurora High School and Dr. G. W. Williams
Secondary School, expressing support for the proposed secondary school, and
requesting the attendance of representatives from each respective body at York
Region District School Board meetings regarding the proposed secondary school.
Carried
6. By-laws
Moved by Councillor Thompson
Seconded by Councillor Gaertner
Special Council Meeting – Workshop Minutes
Wednesday, December 14, 2016 Page 4 of 4
That the following confirming by-law be given first, second, and third readings and
enacted:
5938-16 Being a By-law to Confirm Actions by Council Resulting from a Special
Council Meeting on December 14, 2016.
Carried
7. Adjournment
Moved by Councillor Kim
Seconded by Councillor Pirri
That the meeting be adjourned at 8:57 p.m.
Carried
_________________________________ _________________________________
Geoffrey Dawe, Mayor Lisa Lyons, Town Clerk
The minutes of the Special Council meeting of December 14, 2016, are subject to final
approval by Council on January 31, 2017.