Minutes - Special Council - 20231127
Town of Aurora
Special Meeting of Council
Minutes
Date:
Time:
Location:
Monday, November 27, 2023
6 p.m.
Council Chambers, Aurora Town Hall
Council Members: Mayor Tom Mrakas (Chair)
Councillor Ron Weese
Councillor Rachel Gilliland
Councillor Wendy Gaertner
Councillor Michael Thompson
Councillor John Gallo
Councillor Harold Kim
Other Attendees: Doug Nadorozny, Chief Administrative Officer
Patricia De Sario, Director, Corporate Services/Town Solicitor
Robin McDougall, Director, Community Services
Marco Ramunno, Director, Planning and Development Services
Sara Tienkamp, Director, Operational Services
Rachel Wainwright-van Kessel, Director, Finance
Carley Smith, Manager, Corporate Communications
Doug Bertrand, Manager, Facilities
Sandy Dhillon, Senior Financial Management Advisor*
John Firman, Manager, Business Support
Jason Gaertner, Manager, Financial Management
Mohamedali Kamalia, Financial Management Advisor*
Phil Rose, Manager, Cultural Services
Laura Sheardown, Financial Management Advisor
Lisa Warth, Manager, Recreation
Michael de Rond, Town Clerk
Linda Bottos, Council/Committee Coordinator
*Attended electronically
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Special Meeting of Council Minutes
Monday, November 27, 2023 2
1. Call to Order
The Mayor called the meeting to order at 6:03 p.m.
Council consented to recess the meeting at 8:10 p.m. and reconvened the
meeting at 8:20 p.m.
2. Land Acknowledgement
Mayor Mrakas acknowledged that the meeting took place on Anishinaabe lands,
the traditional and treaty territory of the Chippewas of Georgina Island,
recognizing the many other Nations whose presence here continues to this day,
the special relationship the Chippewas have with the lands and waters of this
territory, and that Aurora has shared responsibility for the stewardship of these
lands and waters. It was noted that Aurora is part of the treaty lands of the
Mississaugas and Chippewas, recognized through Treaty #13 and the Williams
Treaties of 1923.
3. Approval of the Agenda
Moved by Councillor Thompson
Seconded by Councillor Kim
That the revised agenda as circulated by Legislative Services, including the
addition of Delegations items 5.3 to 5.6, be approved.
Yeas (7): Mayor Mrakas, Councillor Weese, Councillor Gilliland, Councillor
Gaertner, Councillor Thompson, Councillor Gallo, and Councillor Kim
On a two-thirds majority vote the motion
Carried (7 to 0)
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. Delegations
5.1 Gerry Miller, Resident; Re: Item 7.3 - Councillor Gaertner; Re: Amendment
003 - Aurora Sports Hall of Fame Grant
Special Meeting of Council Minutes
Monday, November 27, 2023 3
Gerry Miller spoke in opposition to the proposed amendment.
Moved by Councillor Thompson
Seconded by Councillor Weese
That the comments of the delegation be received and referred to Item 7.3.
Yeas (7): Mayor Mrakas, Councillor Weese, Councillor Gilliland, Councillor
Gaertner, Councillor Thompson, Councillor Gallo, and Councillor Kim
Carried (7 to 0)
5.2 Jim Clark, Resident; Re: Item 7.3 - Councillor Gaertner; Re: Amendment
003 - Aurora Sports Hall of Fame Grant
Jim Clark spoke in opposition to the proposed amendment.
Moved by Councillor Gaertner
Seconded by Councillor Weese
That the comments of the delegation be received and referred to Item 7.3.
Yeas (7): Mayor Mrakas, Councillor Weese, Councillor Gilliland, Councillor
Gaertner, Councillor Thompson, Councillor Gallo, and Councillor Kim
Carried (7 to 0)
5.3 David Thom, Resident; Re: Item 7.3 - Councillor Gaertner; Re:
Amendment 003 - Aurora Sports Hall of Fame Grant
David Thom spoke in opposition to the proposed amendment.
Moved by Councillor Gallo
Seconded by Councillor Thompson
That the comments of the delegation be received and referred to Item 7.3.
Yeas (7): Mayor Mrakas, Councillor Weese, Councillor Gilliland, Councillor
Gaertner, Councillor Thompson, Councillor Gallo, and Councillor Kim
Carried (7 to 0)
5.4 Sandra Humfryes, Resident; Re: Item 7.3 - Councillor Gaertner; Re:
Amendment 003 - Aurora Sports Hall of Fame Grant
Sandra Humfryes spoke in opposition to the proposed amendment.
Special Meeting of Council Minutes
Monday, November 27, 2023 4
Moved by Councillor Kim
Seconded by Councillor Gallo
That the comments of the delegation be received and referred to Item 7.3.
Yeas (7): Mayor Mrakas, Councillor Weese, Councillor Gilliland, Councillor
Gaertner, Councillor Thompson, Councillor Gallo, and Councillor Kim
Carried (7 to 0)
5.5 Bob McRoberts, Resident; Re: Item 7.3 - Councillor Gaertner; Re:
Amendment 003 - Aurora Sports Hall of Fame Grant
Bob McRoberts spoke in opposition to the proposed amendment.
Moved by Councillor Gaertner
Seconded by Councillor Weese
That the comments of the delegation be received and referred to Item 7.3.
Yeas (7): Mayor Mrakas, Councillor Weese, Councillor Gilliland, Councillor
Gaertner, Councillor Thompson, Councillor Gallo, and Councillor Kim
Carried (7 to 0)
5.6 Nancy Black, Resident; Re: Item 7.3 - Councillor Gaertner; Re:
Amendment 003 - Aurora Sports Hall of Fame Grant
Nancy Black spoke in opposition to the proposed amendment.
Moved by Councillor Weese
Seconded by Councillor Thompson
That the comments of the delegation be received and referred to Item 7.3.
Yeas (7): Mayor Mrakas, Councillor Weese, Councillor Gilliland, Councillor
Gaertner, Councillor Thompson, Councillor Gallo, and Councillor Kim
Carried (7 to 0)
6. Consideration of Items Requiring Discussion
6.1 FIN23-047 - Proposed 2024 Municipal Tax Increase Comparison
Moved by Councillor Thompson
Seconded by Councillor Kim
Special Meeting of Council Minutes
Monday, November 27, 2023 5
1. That Report No. FIN23-047 be received for information.
Yeas (7): Mayor Mrakas, Councillor Weese, Councillor Gilliland, Councillor
Gaertner, Councillor Thompson, Councillor Gallo, and Councillor Kim
Carried (7 to 0)
7. Proposed Budget Amendments
Council consented to consider item 7.3 prior to item 7.1.
7.1 Councillor Weese; Re: Amendment 001 - Sport Plan Update
Moved by Councillor Weese
Seconded by Councillor Gaertner
1. That Project: SO-F-0045 Sport Plan Update, be removed from the 2024-
2026 budget.
Yeas (3): Councillor Weese, Councillor Gilliland, and Councillor Gaertner
Nays (4): Mayor Mrakas, Councillor Thompson, Councillor Gallo, and
Councillor Kim
Defeated (3 to 4)
7.2 Councillor Weese; Re: Amendment 002 - Sport Tourism Programmer
Moved by Councillor Weese
Seconded by Councillor Gilliland
1. That the $68,300.00 cost of a new part-time sport tourism
programmer be removed from the 2024 budget.
Yeas (6): Mayor Mrakas, Councillor Weese, Councillor Gilliland, Councillor
Gaertner, Councillor Thompson, and Councillor Gallo
Nays (1): Councillor Kim
Carried (6 to 1)
7.3 Councillor Gaertner; Re: Amendment 003 - Aurora Sports Hall of Fame
Grant
Special Meeting of Council Minutes
Monday, November 27, 2023 6
Main motion
Moved by Councillor Gaertner
Seconded by Councillor Weese
1. That the Aurora Sports Hall of Fame grant be reduced to $20,000 total
for curatorial services only.
Amendment
Moved by Councillor Gilliland
Seconded by Councillor Weese
That the main motion be amended to reduce the amount of funding for
the 2024 Aurora Sports Hall of Fame grant to $43,795.75 total.
Yeas (4): Councillor Weese, Councillor Gilliland, Councillor Gaertner, and
Councillor Gallo
Nays (3): Mayor Mrakas, Councillor Thompson, and Councillor Kim
Carried (4 to 3)
Main motion as amended
Moved by Councillor Gaertner
Seconded by Councillor Weese
1. That the 2024 Aurora Sports Hall of Fame grant be reduced to
$43,795.75 total.
Yeas (4): Councillor Weese, Councillor Gilliland, Councillor Gaertner, and
Councillor Gallo
Nays (3): Mayor Mrakas, Councillor Thompson, and Councillor Kim
Carried (4 to 3)
7.4 Councillor Gallo; Re: Amendment 004 - Artificial Rink
Moved by Councillor Gallo
Seconded by Councillor Thompson
1. That GN-F-0074: ARTIFICIAL RINK capital project be advanced by one
year to 2024 (to be constructed for the 2024-2025 winter season) and
given conditional approval pending a further report in early 2024
outlining cost, a funding model, at least 2 potential locations,
operational impacts and timeline.
Special Meeting of Council Minutes
Monday, November 27, 2023 7
Yeas (7): Mayor Mrakas, Councillor Weese, Councillor Gilliland, Councillor
Gaertner, Councillor Thompson, Councillor Gallo, and Councillor Kim
Carried (7 to 0)
7.5 Councillor Gilliand; Re: Amendment 005 - Aurora Town Square 2024
Staffing
Moved by Councillor Gilliland
Seconded by Councillor Gaertner
1. That 1 customer service position and 2 facility positions are phased in
no sooner than April 1, 2024, or adjusted later to meet any further
delay of the opening; and
2. That the remaining 2 facility positions be hired on an as-needed basis,
thereafter, using a phased-in approach.
Yeas (4): Councillor Weese, Councillor Gilliland, Councillor Gaertner, and
Councillor Gallo
Nays (3): Mayor Mrakas, Councillor Thompson, and Councillor Kim
Carried (4 to 3)
7.6 Councillor Gilliland; Re: Amendment 006 - Outdoor Wi-Fi Implementation
Moved by Councillor Gilliland
Seconded by Councillor Gaertner
1. That Project GN-F-0001: Outdoor Wi-Fi Implementation be removed
from the budget.
Yeas (6): Councillor Weese, Councillor Gilliland, Councillor Gaertner,
Councillor Thompson, Councillor Gallo, and Councillor Kim
Nays (1): Mayor Mrakas
Carried (6 to 1)
7.7 Councillor Gilliland; Re: Amendment 007 - 2025 and 2026 Staffing
Requests
Moved by Councillor Gilliland
Seconded by Councillor Gaertner
Special Meeting of Council Minutes
Monday, November 27, 2023
1. That any new staffing hires for the years 2025 and 2026 be
conditionally approved pending the review of the budget prior to those
years.
Yeas (3): Councillor Gilliland, Councillor Gaertner, and Councillor Gallo
Nays (4): Mayor Mrakas, Councillor Weese, Councillor Thompson, and
Councilfor Kim
Defeated (3 to 4)
Confirming By-law
8.1 By-law Number 6559-23 - Being a By-law to confirm actions by Council
resulting from a Special Meeting of Council on November 27, 2023
Moved by Councillor Thompson
Seconded by Councillor Gallo
That the confirming by-law be enacted.
Carried
9. Adjournment
Moved by Councillor Thompson
Seconded by Councillor Weese
That the meeting be adjourned at 9:05 p.m.
Carried
Tom Mrak ayor Michael de Rond, Town Clerk