MINUTES - Budget Committee - 19990218
TOWN OF AURORA
BUDGET COMMITTEE MEETING
NO. 03-99
1999 OPERATING BUDGET
Council Chambers
Aurora Town Hall
Thursday, February 18, 1999
6:30 p.m.
ATTENDANCE
COMMITTEE MEMBERS Mayor Jones, in the Chair; Councillors Griffith,
Hartwell, Hinder, Hogg, McKenzie, Morris, and West.
Councillor Healy was late due to work commitment.
OTHER ATTENDEES Acting Chief Administrative Officer/Director of
Corporate Services, Director of Planning, Director of
Building Administration, Director of Leisure Services,
Director of Public Works, Fire Chief, Treasurer, and
Council/Committee Secretary.
DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
Mayor Jones declared an interest in Report TR99-01-010 regarding 1999 Draft
Operating Budget for the portion of Corporate Services Department budget respecting
By-law Services due to the employment of his spouse in that Department and did not
take part in or vote on any questions in this regard or attempt in any way to influence
the voting on such questions.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
#1. Moved by Councillor Hartwell Seconded by Councillor Griffith
THAT the content of the Agenda be approved as outlined herein with the
addition of the following items:
• 1999 Projected Reserve Fund Balances for the Town of Aurora
• Community Centre - New Arena 1999 Update
• Schedule #2 Operating Budget - Gross Revenues and Expenditures
• Town of Aurora 1998 Membership Listing, Proposed 1999
Communications Committee Budget, 1998 Courses and Seminar
Allocations
• Report No. PW99-010 - Implementation of the Recommendations of
the Traffic Study
CARRIED
PRESENTATIONS
Laura Thanasse, Vice-Chair, Aurora Public Library Board re:
1999 Operating Budget
R E P O R T
Aurora Budget Committee Report No. 03-99 Page 2
Thursday, February 18, 1999
Ms. Thanasse expressed gratitude on behalf of the Library Board to all members of
Council in regards to Council’s efforts to conduct the review of the 1999 budget in an
open manner. She expressed appreciation for the careful consideration given to all
municipal service levels, including the well used and valued service offered by the
Library.
Ms. Thanasse expressed the importance of the integration of electronic services into the
overall core service offered by the Library. She stressed that the service level
adjustment pertaining to staffing for electronic services is essential and is the clear
priority of the Board, taking precedent over all other proposed service level changes.
Ms. Thanasse thanked the Committee for further consideration of the 1999 funding
request for the Library and indicated that the Library’s Chief Executive Officer, Colleen
Abbott, was present and available for questions during the evening’s deliberations.
#2. Moved by Councillor Morris Seconded by Councillor Hartwell
THAT the presentation be received as information.
CARRIED
STAFF REPORTS
TR99-009-038 – 1999 Operating Budget – Draft #3
The Treasurer outlined the additional materials circulated, highlighting the status of the
Community Centre Arena debt and projected 1999-Year End Reserve Fund Balances.
Members of the Committee then reviewed the Draft 1999 Operating Budget by
individual Operational Area. Portions of the Budget were identified for discussion
together with the each of the potential additional levels of service as proposed by staff
and included in the Treasurer’s Report. It was determined that the Public Works Report
PW99 -010 would be considered at the February 24th Council Meeting.
Questions posed by members of the Committee relating to specific aspects of the
proposed Budget were responded to by the members of the Senior Management Team.
#3. Moved by Councillor West Seconded by Councillor Morris
THAT the Draft 1999 Operating Budget be amended by deleting the
$10,000.00 corporate bonus included under the Mayor and Council
Section 1010 of the proposed Budget.
CARRIED
#4. Moved by Councillor West Seconded by Councillor Morris
THAT the Draft 1999 Operating Budget be amended by providing an
additional $8,000.00 in revenue in the Fire Department respecting the
service agreement for the Town of Whitchurch Stouffville.
CARRIED
#5. Moved by Councillor West Seconded by Councillor Morris
THAT the allocation of funds for transit services as set out in the Draft
1999 Operating Budget remain as proposed with the understanding that
the Director of Public Works will be reporting in the near future on the
operation of the system including recommendations concerning
alternatives, including privatization of the service.
CARRIED
Aurora Budget Committee Report No. 03-99 Page 3
Thursday, February 18, 1999
#6. Moved by Councillor West Seconded by Councillor Morris
THAT the allocation of funds for transit services as set out in the Draft
1999 Operating Budget remain as proposed with the understanding that
the Director of Public Works will be reporting in the near future on the
operation of the system including recommendations concerning
alternatives, including privatization of the service.
CARRIED
#7. Moved by Councillor Griffith Seconded by Councillor Hartwell
THAT the Draft 1999 Operating Budget be amended by providing an
additional $2,500.00 for the Communications Committee.
CARRIED
#8. Moved by Councillor Hogg Seconded by Councillor Hinder
THAT the Draft 1999 Operating Budget be amended by removing the
request for $16,000.00 respecting Town Hall Building Operations-Council
Chambers Audio/Visual Improvements.
CARRIED
Councillor Healy arrived at 8:30 p.m.
#9. Moved by Councillor West Seconded by Councillor Healy
THAT the request for $142,928.00 by the Fire Department for four (4)
additional firefighters commencing the first of April, be rejected; and
THAT staff provide a report detailing the background for the request.
DEFEATED
#10. Moved by Councillor Hogg Seconded by Councillor Healy
THAT the Fire Chief be directed to return to Council by July with a master
plan outlining staffing and service level response issues, and funding
needs for review at that time; and
THAT the draft 1999 Operating Budget be amended by allocating
$48,000.00 to the Fire Department for additional staff on the condition that
the funds not be spent until after such report is received and considered
by Council.
CARRIED
#11. Moved by Councillor Hogg Seconded by Councillor Hartwell
THAT the draft 1999 Operating Budget be amended by providing an
additional $4,050.00 for additional safety related supplies for the Fire
Department.
CARRIED
#12. Moved by Councillor Hogg Seconded by Councillor West
Aurora Budget Committee Report No. 03-99 Page 4
Thursday, February 18, 1999
THAT the draft 1999 Operating Budget be amended by removing the
request of $1,700.00 for building repairs to the Fire Hall.
DEFEATED
#13. Moved by Councillor Griffith Seconded by Councillor Healy
THAT the draft 1999 Operating Budget be amended by providing an
additional $1,700.00 for building repairs to the Fire Hall.
CARRIED
#14. Moved by Councillor Healy Seconded by Councillor Hogg
THAT the draft 1999 Operating Budget be amended by providing an
additional $120.00 for membership in the Fire Department.
CARRIED
#15. Moved by Councillor Hartwell Seconded by Councillor Hogg
THAT the Draft 1999 Operating Budget be amended by providing an
additional $5,000.00 for emergency preparedness for the Fire Department.
CARRIED
#16. Moved by Councillor Morris Seconded by Councillor Hogg
THAT the Draft 1999 Operating Budget be amended by providing an
additional $2,500.00 to the Fire Department for a carbon monoxide
campaign.
CARRIED
#17. Moved by Councillor West Seconded by Councillor Morris
THAT the Draft 1999 Operating Budget be amended by providing an
additional $10,000.00 to the Leisure Services Department Equipment
Reserve for the future ice resurfacer replacement.
CARRIED
#18. Moved by Councillor West Seconded by Councillor Hartwell
THAT the Draft 1999 Operating Budget be amended by providing an
additional $25,000.00 to the Leisure Services Department to supplement
the Recreation Facility Reserve.
CARRIED
#19. Moved by Councillor West Seconded by Councillor Griffith
THAT the Draft 1999 Operating Budget be amended by indicating an
additional $2,401.00 in revenue from the Marketing area derived from
additional part time salaries.
Aurora Budget Committee Report No. 03-99 Page 5
Thursday, February 18, 1999
CARRIED
#20. Moved by Councillor West Seconded by Councillor Healy
THAT the Draft 1999 Operating Budget be amended by providing an
additional $31,000.00 for Youth Initiatives.
CARRIED
#21. Moved by Councillor West Seconded by Councillor Hinder
THAT the Draft 1999 Operating Budget be amended by providing an
additional $26,090.00 for an Electronic Services Technician in the Library.
CARRIED
#22. Moved by Councillor Griffith Seconded by Councillor Morris
THAT the Draft 1999 Operating Budget be amended by providing an
additional $60,000.00 for Library related costs respecting additional
consulting fees, a Millennium Commemorative Program and costs
associated with opening on Mondays.
Upon the question of the adoption of the portion of the recommendation related to
$5,000.00 for consulting fees it was:
CARRIED
Upon the question of the adoption of the portion of the recommendation related to
$5,000.00 for the Millennium program it was:
DEFEATED
Upon the question of the adoption of the portion of the recommendation related to
$50,000.00 to fund Monday Openings it was:
DEFEATED
#23. Moved by Councillor West Seconded by Councillor McKenzie
THAT the Draft 1999 Operating Budget be amended by providing an
additional $15,000.00 to the Planning Department for a Long Range
Planner commencing in the final quarter of 1999.
CARRIED
#24. Moved by Councillor Healy Seconded by Councillor West
THAT the Draft 1999 Operating Budget be amended by removing the
Millennium celebrations from the Operating Budget and that alternative
sources of funding be explored.
DEFEATED
#25. Moved by Councillor West Seconded by Councillor McKenzie
Aurora Budget Committee Report No. 03-99 Page 6
Thursday, February 18, 1999
THAT $40,000.00 be allocated from the surplus from the 1998 budget for
the Millennium celebrations; and
THAT the Director of Leisure Services provide a report outlining how the
money will be spent.
CARRIED
#26. Moved by Councillor Hartwell Seconded by Councillor Hogg
THAT the Draft 1999 Operating Budget be amended by deleting the
proposed contribution to the General Reserve; and
THAT staff be directed to endeavor to finalize the draft budget based on
the directions of the Budget Committee this evening and incorporating a
zero percent tax increase for presentation at the Council Meeting
scheduled for February 24th, 1999.
CARRIED
ADJOURNMENT
#27. Moved by Councillor Healy
THAT the meeting be adjourned at 10:00 p.m.
CARRIED
(THE REPORT OF THE BUDGET COMMITTEE MEETING NO. 03-99 WAS
CONSIDERED AND ADOPTED BY COUNCIL AT ITS MEETING HELD ON
FEBRUARY 24, 1999)
Aurora Budget Committee Report No. 03-99 Page 7
Thursday, February 18, 1999
___________________________
____________________________________
T. JONES, MAYOR L. ALLISON, MUNICIPAL CLERK