MINUTES - Accessiblity Advisory Committee - 20150401
TOWN OF AURORA
ACCESSIBILITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE
MEETING MINUTES
Date: Wednesday, April 1, 2015
Time and Location: 7 p.m., Leksand Room, Aurora Town Hall
Committee Members: Tyler Barker (Chair), John Lenchak (Vice Chair), Gordon
Barnes, James Hoyes, and Councillor Sandra Humfryes
Member(s) Absent: David Newton
Other Attendees: Stephen M. A. Huycke, Town Clerk, Patty Thoma, Deputy
Clerk/Council & Committee Coordinator, Ivy Henriksen,
Manager of Customer Service, Chris Catania, Accessibility
Advisor, and Gloria Hardychuk, Council/Committee Secretary
Members introduced themselves and provided brief bios of their accomplishments.
APPOINTMENT OF COMMITTEE CHAIR AND VICE CHAIR
Stephen M. A. Huycke, Town Clerk, opened the floor to nominations for Chair and Vice
Chair of the Accessibility Advisory Committee for the first half of the 2014-2018 Term.
Councillor Humfryes nominated Tyler Barker as Chair of the Accessibility Advisory
Committee. There being no other nominations, Tyler Barker was appointed Chair of the
Committee.
Tyler Barker nominated John Lenchak as Vice Chair. There being no other nominations,
John Lenchak was appointed Vice Chair of the Committee.
Tyler Barker assumed the Chair at 7:07 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.
Accessibility Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes
Wednesday, April 1, 2015 Page 2 of 5
2. APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA
Moved by Councillor Humfryes
Seconded by James Hoyes
THAT the agenda as circulated by Legal and Legislative Services be approved.
CARRIED
3. RECEIPT OF THE MINUTES
None.
4. DELEGATIONS
On a motion of Councillor Humfryes seconded by James Hoyes, the Accessibility
Advisory Committee consented to hear Delegation (c) prior to Delegation (b).
(a) Stephen M. A. Huycke, Town Clerk
Re: Advisory Committee Member Education & Training
Stephen M. A. Huycke provided a handout and a PowerPoint presentation
entitled “Advisory Committee Orientation 2014-2018”, dated April 2015.
Members also had before them the “Corporate Policies, Programs and
Procedures Policy for Ad Hoc/Advisory Committees and Local Boards”, dated
December 16, 2014 and the Town’s Procedural By-law and the Terms of
Reference for the Accessibility Advisory Committee. Mr. Huycke explained the
roles and responsibilities of Advisory Committees in best practices for civic
engagement. The presentation touched upon the role of Advisory Committees in
civic engagement, and the relationship between Advisory Committees and
members of the public, Town Staff and Council.
Councillor Sandra Humfryes, on behalf of the members of the Accessibility
Advisory Committee, expressed appreciation for the informative presentation.
Moved by James Hoyes
Seconded by John Lenchak
THAT the comments of the delegation and written material provided be received
for information.
CARRIED
Accessibility Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes
Wednesday, April 1, 2015 Page 3 of 5
(b) Chris Catania, Accessibility Advisor
Re: Accessibility Advisory Committee Update
Chris Catania presented the “Accessibility Advisory Committee Update”,
explaining that the Town of Aurora’s Accessibility Plan, established in 2003 is
part of the legislative requirement under the Ontarians with disabilities Act, 2001
(ODA), and is a living document that is reviewed and updated on an annual
basis. The role and responsibility of the Accessibility Advisory Committee was
reviewed and the significance of active participation and involvement by all
members was explained.
The importance of identifying barriers to accessibility and prioritizing them with
respect to what needs to be addressed to remove the barriers was explained. It
was noted that the Committee will play an active role in reviewing site plan
documents for new projects in Aurora in order to identify and comment on
accessibility issues and concerns. In addition, it was noted that in 2016 the
Committee will also have an opportunity to comment on the design elements of
outdoor spaces as a standard required by legislation. Members were
encouraged to review and be prepared to provide their feedback on the current
Accessibility Plan. In closing it was reiterated that as members of the
Accessibility Advisory Committee they will be representing the community by
acting as their voice with respect to removing barriers to accessibility within the
community.
Moved by Councillor Humfryes
Seconded by Gordon Barnes
THAT the comments of the delegation and information provided be received for
information.
CARRIED
(c) Ashley Murdock, King City Resident
Re: Proposal for an Inclusion Coordinator
Ashley Murdock provided comments and submitted a proposal for the creation of
a full time Inclusive Coordinator position for both the Town’s aquatics and
recreational programming. Members noted that the Town of Aurora should be
as inclusive and accessible for all Town programming.
Moved by James Hoyes
Seconded by Councillor Humfryes
THAT the comments of the delegation be received for information.
CARRIED
Accessibility Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes
Wednesday, April 1, 2015 Page 4 of 5
5. MATTERS FOR CONSIDERATION
None.
6. INFORMATIONAL ITEMS
1. Memorandum from Accessibility Advisor
Re: Town of Aurora 2015-2012 Accessibility Plan
Moved by John Lenchak
Seconded by Gordon Barnes
THAT the Accessibility Advisory Committee receive the memorandum from
Accessibility Advisor; Re: Town of Aurora 2015-2012 Accessibility Plan, dated
April 1, 2015 for information.
CARRIED
The Chair relinquished the Chair to the Vice Chair for the purpose of providing New
Business.
7. NEW BUSINESS
The Chair invited members to contact him on matters that they feel need to be
addressed.
The Chair commented on a situation that recently occurred at Southlake Regional
Health Centre, indicating the lack of appropriate equipment (i.e., a ceiling lift) in the x-
ray and imaging department. Staff advised that he will provide contact information to
Mr. Barker for follow-up purposes.
The Committee suggested that the Accessibility Advisory Committee should have an
opportunity to review any plans for the Aurora Armoury facility to identify any barriers
that may exist.
The Committee reported that, during the hours of operation of the Aurora Farmers’
Market, additional accessible parking spaces are required on the north and east side
of the Aurora Armoury facility. The Accessibility Advisor advised that temporary
accessible parking spaces during this period may be required and will discuss the
issue with the Infrastructure and Environmental Services department.
Accessibility Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes
Wednesday, April 1, 2015 Page 5 of 5
8. ADJOURNMENT
Moved by John Lenchak
Seconded by Gordon Barnes
THAT the meeting be adjourned at 8:47 p.m.
CARRIED
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS ARE NOT BINDING ON THE TOWN UNLESS
ADOPTED BY COUNCIL AT A LATER MEETING.