MINUTES - Finance Advisory Committee - 20160119
TOWN OF AURORA
FINANCE ADVISORY COMMITTEE
MEETING MINUTES
Date: Tuesday, January 19, 2016
Time and Location: 5:30 p.m., Leksand Room, Aurora Town Hall
Committee Members: Councillor Michael Thompson (Chair), Councillor Harold Kim
(arrived 5:45 p.m.), and Mayor Geoffrey Dawe
Member(s) Absent: None
Other Attendees: Councillor Tom Mrakas, Doug Nadorozny, Chief
Administrative Officer, Dan Elliott, Director of Corporate and
Financial Services/Treasurer, Al Downey, Director of Parks
and Recreation Services, Ilmar Simanovskis, Director of
Environmental and Infrastructure Services, Jason Gaertner,
Manager, Financial Planning, and Linda Bottos, Council/
Committee Secretary
The Chair called the meeting to order at 5:32 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 Mayor Dawe
Seconded by Councillor Kim
THAT the agenda as circulated by Legal and Legislative Services be approved.
CARRIED
Finance Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes
Tuesday, January 19, 2016 Page 2 of 5
3. RECEIPT OF THE MINUTES
Finance Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes of August 11, 2015
Moved by Councillor Kim
Seconded by Mayor Dawe
THAT the Finance Advisory Committee meeting minutes of August 11, 2015, be
received for information.
CARRIED
4. DELEGATIONS
None
5. CONSIDERATION OF ITEMS
1. 2016 Budget Process Debrief
Staff and Committee briefly reviewed the 2016 Budget process and agreed
that the new process was more efficient and worked well. The Committee
discussed future areas of focus and noted that daytime Budget meetings are
not convenient for all Council members.
Moved by Councillor Kim
Seconded by Mayor Dawe
THAT the Finance Advisory Committee comments of the 2016 Budget
Process Debrief be referred to staff for consideration.
CARRIED
2. Memorandum from Director, Corporate & Financial Services – Treasurer
Re: Update on Council Budget Principles and Council Budget Process
Documents
Staff provided a brief overview of the memorandum and attachments, which
will be submitted for Council approval once discussed by the Committee.
Moved by Mayor Dawe
Seconded by Councillor Kim
Finance Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes
Tuesday, January 19, 2016 Page 3 of 5
THAT the memorandum regarding Update on Council Budget Principles and
Council Budget Process Documents be received and referred for discussion
at the next meeting of the Finance Advisory Committee.
CARRIED
3. Discussion of Process/Expectations for Detailed Department Budget
Reviews for 2016 for Parks & Recreation Services and Infrastructure &
Environmental Services
Staff reviewed the possible formats and areas of focus respecting the
expectations and approaches of the budgeting process. The Committee
indicated that it wished to have a better sense of how budgets are created at
the department level, including main drivers, major elements and
accomplishments, and how they affect the budget. The Committee discussed
various options, and staff noted that the Council Budget Principles document
proposes that each department would undergo a line by line review once
during each Term of Council. Staff provided insight into the strategy of the
budget process for the departments of Parks and Recreation Services and
Infrastructure and Environmental Services, and it was noted that these two
departments would be the focus of review for 2016.
Moved by Councillor Kim
Seconded by Mayor Dawe
THAT the necessary and appropriate agenda materials be provided to
support the Committee’s detailed Budget review of the Parks and Recreation
Services department in the following areas:
a. Line by line details, including grouping summaries for identification of
areas of Committee interest;
b. 2016 Business Plan; and
c. Presentation by Director on approaches used to prepare their Budget;
and
THAT the necessary and appropriate agenda materials be provided to
support the Committee’s detailed Budget review of the Infrastructure and
Environmental Services department in the following areas:
a. Line by line details, including grouping summaries for identification of
areas of Committee interest;
b. 2016 Business Plan; and
c. Presentation by Director on approaches used to prepare their Budget.
CARRIED
Finance Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes
Tuesday, January 19, 2016 Page 4 of 5
4. Proposed 2016 Work Plan for Finance Advisory Committee
The proposed 2016 Work Plan was briefly reviewed and the Committee was
encouraged to bring any other ideas forward.
Moved by Mayor Dawe
Seconded by Councillor Kim
THAT the Proposed 2016 Work Plan for Finance Advisory Committee be
received; and
THAT the Proposed 2016 Work Plan for Finance Advisory Committee be
approved.
CARRIED
5. Next Meeting Dates/Time/Duration and Setting of Dates
Moved by Councillor Kim
Seconded by Mayor Dawe
THAT the Financial Advisory Committee shall normally meet at Town Hall
once per month, except for the months of July and August, from 5:30 p.m. to
6:45 p.m. on the Tuesday of the second General Committee meeting of that
month; and
THAT the Town Clerk be directed to amend the Terms of Reference for the
Financial Advisory Committee.
CARRIED
6. Extract from Council Meeting of September 15, 2015
Re: Finance Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes of August 11, 2015
Moved by Mayor Dawe
Seconded by Councillor Kim
THAT the Extract from Council Meeting of September 15, 2015, regarding
Finance Advisory Committee meeting minutes of August 11, 2015, be
received for information.
CARRIED
6. NEW BUSINESS
None
Finance Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes
Tuesday, January 19, 2016 Page 5 of 5
7. ADJOURNMENT
Moved by Councillor Kim
Seconded by Mayor Dawe
THAT the meeting be adjourned at 6:40 p.m.
CARRIED
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS ARE NOT BINDING ON THE TOWN UNLESS
ADOPTED BY COUNCIL AT A LATER MEETING.