MINUTES - Finance Advisory Committee - 20210119 1
Town of Aurora
Finance Advisory Committee
Meeting Minutes
Date:
Time:
Location:
Tuesday, January 19, 2021
5:45 p.m.
Video Conference
Committee Members: Councillor Harold Kim (Chair)
Mayor Tom Mrakas
Councillor Michael Thompson
Other Attendees: Councillor Wendy Gaertner
Councillor John Gallo
Doug Nadorozny, Chief Administrative Officer
Rachel Wainwright-van Kessel, Director of Finance
Jason Gaertner, Manager, Financial Management
Tracy Evans, Advisor, Financial Management
Lianne Jalali, Project Management Office
Linda Bottos, Council/Committee Coordinator
_____________________________________________________________________
1. Procedural Notes
This meeting was held electronically as per Section 19. i) of the Town's
Procedure By-law No. 6228-19, as amended, due to the COVID-19 situation.
The Council/Committee Coordinator called the meeting to order at 5:51 p.m.
Councillor Kim assumed the chair at 5:53 p.m.
2. Appointment of Committee Chair
Moved by Councillor Thompson
Seconded by Mayor Mrakas
That Councillor Harold Kim be appointed as Chair for year 2021 of the Finance
Advisory Committee (2018-2022 term).
Carried
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3. Approval of the Agenda
Moved by Councillor Thompson
Seconded by Mayor Mrakas
That the agenda as circulated by Legislative Services be approved.
Carried
4. 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.
5. Receipt of the Minutes
5.1 Finance Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes of December 8, 2020
Moved by Councillor Thompson
Seconded by Mayor Mrakas
That the Finance Advisory Committee meeting minutes of December 8,
2020, be received for information.
Carried
6. Delegations
None.
7. Matters for Consideration
7.1 Memorandum from Manager, Financial Management; Re: Council
Administration and Office of the CAO Budget Materials
The Committee reviewed the budget materials and inquired about several
line items and variances. Staff provided clarification on items including
subscriptions/publications, cost recovery, consulting, the external
sponsorship program, mobile plan charges, full-time salaries (Office of the
CAO budget), and memberships and internal grants (Council
Administration budget). The Committee requested that a summary page,
providing context within the Corporation and similar to that supplied in the
Town's budget review binder, be included with the departmental budget
materials for future departmental line-by-line analysis by the Committee.
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Moved by Mayor Mrakas
Seconded by Councillor Thompson
1. That the memorandum regarding Council Administration and Office of
the CAO Budget Materials be received; and
2. That the comments and suggestions of the review of the detailed
financial information for Council Administration and the Office of the
CAO Budget Materials be received and referred to staff for
consideration and action as appropriate.
Carried
7.2 Memorandum from Project Management Office; Re: Town’s Major
Capital Projects Update
Staff provided a brief overview of the major capital projects update. The
Committee inquired about the determination of project start dates and
suggested that more context be supplied around any reference to project
delays. Staff provided clarification and agreed to deliver greater
consistency and context in future updates.
Moved by Councillor Thompson
Seconded by Mayor Mrakas
1. That the memorandum regarding Town’s Major Capital Projects
Update be received for information.
Carried
7.3 Memorandum from Manager, Financial Management; Re: 2021 Draft
Work Plan for the Finance Advisory Committee
Staff provided a brief overview of the draft 2021 Work Plan for the Finance
Advisory Committee noting key areas for review. The Committee inquired
about the possibility of including regular updates on the IT Strategic Plan
as part of the Town's Major Capital Projects Update, and staff agreed to
include the additional information in future. The Committee inquired about
the planned Fiscal Strategy for the Town, and staff provided comment
regarding the four fiscal strategy pillars of capital planning, reserve
management, debt management, and revenue management. The
Committee further inquired about the status of the One Investment
Program, and staff provided a response noting that the Program is
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currently on hold and will be further considered as one of the strategic
actions under the Town's new fiscal strategy revenue management pillar.
Moved by Mayor Mrakas
Seconded by Councillor Thompson
1. That the memorandum regarding 2021 Draft Work Plan for the Finance
Advisory Committee be received; and
2. That the 2021 Draft Work Plan for the Finance Advisory Committee be
approved.
Carried
7.4 Memorandum from Manager, Financial Management; Re: Corporate
Revenues and Expenses Budget Materials
Moved by Mayor Mrakas
Seconded by Councillor Thompson
1. That the memorandum regarding Corporate Revenues and Expenses
Budget Materials be received; and
2. That the detailed financial information for the Corporate Revenues and
Expenses be received and deferred for discussion and detailed review
at the next meeting of the Finance Advisory Committee.
Carried
8. New Business
None.
9. Adjournment
Moved by Councillor Thompson
Seconded by Mayor Mrakas
That the meeting be adjourned at 6:34 p.m.
Carried