MINUTES - Accessibility Advisory Committee - 20190508
Town of Aurora
Accessibility Advisory Committee
Meeting Minutes
Date: Wednesday, May 8, 2019
Time and Location: 7 p.m., Holland Room, Aurora Town Hall
Committee Members: John Lenchak (Chair), Hailey Reiss (Vice Chair), Matthew
Abas, Jo-anne Spitzer, and Councillor Rachel Gilliland
Members Absent: Gordon Barnes and Max Le Moine
Other Attendees: Mat Zawada, Accessibility Advisor, and Nicole Trudeau,
Committee Coordinator
The Chair called the meeting to order at 7 p.m.
1. Approval of the Agenda
Moved by Councillor Gilliland
Seconded by Jo-anne Spitzer
That the agenda as circulated by Legislative Services be approved.
Carried
2. Declarations of Pecuniary Interest and General Nature Thereof
There were no declarations of pecuniary interest under the Municipal Conflict of
Interest Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. M.50.
3. Receipt of the Minutes
Accessibility Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes of April 3, 2019
Accessibility Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes
Wednesday, May 8, 2019 Page 2 of 4
Moved by Councillor Gilliland
Seconded by Matthew Abas
That the Accessibility Advisory Committee meeting minutes of April 3, 2019, be
received for information.
Carried
4. Delegations
None
5. Matters for Consideration
1. Round Table Discussion
Re: National AccessAbility Week
Staff provided an update on the activities taking place during National
AccessAbility Week, being recognized from May 26 to June 1, 2019, including
an open house on Friday, May 31, 2019, from 4:00 p.m. to 6 p.m., at the Aurora
Family Leisure Complex, along with external communication initiatives (Twitter,
Facebook and advertising posters).
Moved by Jo-anne Spitzer
Seconded by Matthew Abas
1. That the comments and suggestions regarding National AccessAbility
Week be received and referred to staff for consideration and action as
appropriate.
Carried
2. Round Table Discussion
Re: Town of Aurora Accessibility Plan 2018 to 2024
Staff provided an update on the status of project Item #11-2010 in Appendix “B”
– Recommended Accessibility Items 2018-2024 of the Accessibility Plan, for
captioning to be included for streaming of Council and Committee meetings.
Accessibility Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes
Wednesday, May 8, 2019 Page 3 of 4
The Committee agreed that Item #11-2010 should be removed from Appendix
“B” – Recommended Accessibility Items 2018-2024 and that the associated
costs of $15,000 per year be reallocated.
Moved by Jo-anne Spitzer
Seconded by Hailey Reiss
1. That the comments and suggestions regarding the Town of Aurora
Accessibility Plan 2018 to 2024 be received and referred to staff for
consideration and action as appropriate.
Carried
3. Round Table Discussion
Re: Accessibility Trailer – Whitchurch-Stouffville
Staff provided an update on the financial contributions made to the Town of
Whitchurch-Stouffville to fund the accessible trailer, including donations from
community fundraising, Magna International, Town of Newmarket, Town of
Georgina, and York Region.
The Committee continued to discuss the financial contributions made to
Whitchurch-Stouffville to fund the accessible trailer, including the donation from
the Town of Aurora, along with suggestions to give or exchange information
with community contacts and affected municipalities, together with their
accessibility advisory committees, as the Chair will be the lead on behalf of the
Committee.
Moved by Councillor Gilliland
Seconded by Matthew Abas
1. That the comments and suggestions regarding the Accessibility Trailer –
Whitchurch-Stouffville be received and referred to staff for consideration and
action as appropriate.
Carried
Accessibility Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes
Wednesday, May 8, 2019 Page 4 of 4
4. Round Table Discussion
Re: Changes to Social Assistance
Ms. Reiss provided an overview of the changes to social assistance through
Ontario’s two social assistance programs, Ontario Works and the Ontario
Disability Support Program.
The Committee discussed limited rate increases, earned income exemptions
and the changes to the definition of disability, along with the impact on those
individuals currently on and applying for Ontario Works and the Ontario
Disability Support Program in the future.
Moved by Matthew Abas
Seconded by Jo-anne Spitzer
Recommended:
1. That the comments and suggestions regarding the Changes to Social
Assistance be received for information.
Carried
6. Informational Items
In response to the Committee wanting to reach out to inspire businesses to
become more inclusive, staff noted that a handbook from the Ontario BIA
Association called “The Business of Accessibility: How to Make Your Main Street
Business Accessibility Smart” will be added to the Accessibility Advisory
Committee agenda on June 5, 2019, for discussion, as the handbook offers no-
cost and low-cost suggestions.
7. Adjournment
Moved by Councillor Gilliland
Seconded by Matthew Abas
That the meeting be adjourned at 8:05 p.m.
Carried