MINUTES - Council - 19781204(\
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MINUTES OF THE INAUGURAL MEETING OF THE 1979-1980 COUNCIL
HELD IN THE AURORA HIGH SCHOOL ON MONDAY, DECEMBER 4th, 1978.
The meeting was called to order by the playing of "0 Canada" by the
Aurora High School Band directed by Mr. R. Davidson.
Clerk Administrator K.B. Rodger administered the Declaration of Office
to Mayor Elect George D. Timpson and to the following Councillors elect:
Councillor Elect R. Isaacson
" T. Jones
" L. Ostick
" B. Pedersen i
" R. Sirrunons
" E. Stewart
" K. Tonner
" J. West
All members having taken their Declaration of Office and having subscribed
to the Oath of Allegence to the Queen, the 1979-1980 council was duly
constituted.
Reverend Alex MacDonald lead all present in Prayer of Dedication.
The 1979 Council Roll Call by K.B. Rodger
Mayor Timpson gave his Inaugural Address.
Mr. Chairman, Members of Council, Ladies and Gentlemen:
May I say how pleased I am to be entrusted with the Office of Mayor for
another two year term. The vote of confidence shown by the electorate
both to me and those Councillors who sought re-election is greatly appreciated
and, in return I say, on behalf of the members re-elected and myself, a
sincere thank you.
I also want to welcome the three new members of our Council for 1979-1980.
I am looking forward to their contributions in the life and day to day work
of Council.
As we are here, on the stage of the Inaugural meeting of this new Council,
each of us has our own personal goals and hopes which we want to try to
implement in the next two years. In some of these aspirations we will be
successful, and in others we might not. Tonight, I want to take the next few
moments to outline some of these goals.
Because the recent election indicated a vote of confidence in the activities
of the previous Council, many of the initiatives and policies started by that
Council will be continued in the next two years.
These initiatives include the continuation of the development of the Industrial
Park and the successful attraction of industry to Aurora.
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INAUGURAL MEETING OF COUNCIL ... MONDAY, DECEMBER 4, 1978
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Engelhard Industries of Canada, Limited will have the construction of
their Plant complete by April, 1979. They will commence moving equipment
from their present location to Aurora and receiving new equipment during
this spring and early summer. Certain departments of their company will
start operation in Aurora as they are prepared. The company anticipates
full operation by August, 1979. Furthermore, their new plant will undergo
a further expansion of 40,000 square feet within the next two years.
Aurora Scale company is completing their construction. Canada Law Book is
preparing to commence construction in 1979, according to the information I
obtained from a discussion with their company President.
Industrial interest in Aurora is at an all-time high, and as land sales are
completed, public announcements will be made.
One of the goals of the new Council in the next two years is to continue this
kind of industrial development so that, by the end of this term of office, the
Industrial Park Bank Loan of $1.4M will be either paid back entirely, or at
least, considerably reduced. This, of course, will only be possible by the
Town achieving success in the sale of the remaining unsold lands in the town-
owned industrial park.
Another area of town policy that the previous Council initiated is in the
area of tax stability, at least for municipal purposes -that is, Town of
Aurora and Region of York.
The way in which this stabilization can continue is through the Town continuing
to pursue its policy of controlled growth.
In 1979, the assessment base of the Town will increase as the result of the
development of the residential subdivisions of Markborough, Ontario Housing,
Sandbury Homes, Banbury Court, Elderberry Hills, Matjon Properties and
Wycliffe Estates. As well, the industrial developments will also increase the
assessment base.
This increase in assessment will allow the Town's revenue to increase without
the necessity of increasing the mill rate for municipal government purposes.
Not only that, but such an increase in assessment will help considerably to
soften the effect of any increases that are required by either the York County
Board of Education or York Region Separate School Board of Education.
Thus, the kind of tax stability that Aurora citizens experienced in 1978 should
be able to be repeated again in 1979 and possibly 1980. The achievement of such
tax stability is another one of our goals over the next two years.
On yet another front, the Town's activity in the area of town planning will be
of considerable importance in the next two years.
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INAUGURAL MEETING OF COUNCIL ... MONDAY, DECEMBER 4, 1978
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Most of our Official Plan was approved by the Minister of Housing in May,
1977; however, certain sections regarding the land area referred to as
"Aurora West 11
, in the north-west section of Aurora, will be the subject of
debate at an O.M.B. Hearing starting in April. The O.M.B. Hearing on these
sections of our Official Plan will likely last about a month.
As well, the Town's new comprehensive land zoning By-law., which has been
thoroughly reviewed by the previous Council, will be circulated to every land
and homeowner in Town. That distribution will be followed by public meetings
to explain, discuss, and resolve any differences which exist. Another of the
goals of this Council is to have this new zoning By-law fully approved by the
O.M.B. by the end of this term of office.
When these hearings have been, hopefully, successfully completed, the
development of a long-awaited motel for Aurora will be able to occur. The
previous Council allocated the necessary sewage to service the land, so that
once the land has received O.M.B. approval for its Zoning By-law, which was
passed in 1976, the development of this much needed facility will be able to
occur. Such a development will really help the hosting of many events in
Aurora.
The development of more recreational facilities is another item of priority
for action by this Council. The recent acquisition of the ten-acre parcel
of land as part of the Markborough Subdivision will be the subject of discussion
and planning for the development of playing fields and the development of plans
fOr indoor recreational facilities.
In order to finance the latter, so that the direct tax load on citizens of
Aurora can be kept to an absolute minimum, a fund raising drive similar to that
held for the Library should be encouraged. Funds raised in such a drive can be
matched by Wintario, and the Town can make its contribution from the funds
which have already been collected for recreational development from the
subdividers currently building in Aurora.
On other fronts, this new Council will continue the road surface renewal
programme carried out with noticeable measure of success in the last two years
in~egencyAcres, Aurora Heights and ·On Edward Street. As well, the storm and
sanitary sewer separation programme, together with complete road reconstruction,
as carried out on Machell Avenue, Victoria Street and Mosley Street in the last
two years, will be continued.
The development of the Town's new well-Aurora well No. 4-will be completed
by the Region in 1979. This will allow Aurora to supply adequate water for all
the new developments taking place around the Town. This new well has been paid for
by the service levies collected from the developers who are building in Aurora
today.
As well, the road connection between Edward Street and the new Industrial Parkway,
when it is constructed this spring, will bring with it a connection between the new
main watermain on the east side of the railway tracks and the watermains on the
west side of the tracks. This connection will complete a second major north-
south watermain in the Town and should bring about a significant improvement in
the water pressure experienced at the south-end of the town.
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INAUGURAL MEETING OF COUNCIL ... MONDAY, DECEMBER 4, 1978
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On the cultural and historical front, I am sure that all of us look forward
to the completion of the Library extension and its re-opening in January.
This will mark the climax of the very successful fund raising drive last year.
As well, a decision regarding the future use of Church Street School will
likely be made in the next two years. However, before any final decision
is made, discussions must be held with members of the Historical Society, and
they must be given an opportunity to launch and carry out successfully any plans
they develop to spearhead, possibly, a Province-wide fund raising drive to help
defray the cost of refurbishing this historically and architecturally significant
building. Certainly, one thing we know, is that the Town of Aurora cannot afford
this project alone.
On yet another front, the work to develop a business improvement area and
generate more life in our downtown area must continue, while at the same time
the architecture which is part of our downtown core must be maintained.
Ladies and gentlemen, these are a few of the things which your new Council intends
to do on your behalf for the betterment of our Town over the next two years.
These are our goals.
To our Town Staff, I would like to take this opportunity to say a sincere thank
you for your support and hard work in carrying out the decisions of Council in
the past. I really believe that the Town of Aurora is very fortunate to have
a staff of such high calibre. While we may not always agree on all items, I
know that your dedication, loyalty, and experience will continue to be there for
the benefit of us all.
To the Members of the Council, I say let us get on with the important tasks facing
us. The responsibility is ours. We shall be successful in our work if we
continue in the true spirit of co-operation and team work which characterized the
previous Council.
With due respect for our sworn oaths, I say that we, your Council, will do our
best, on your behalf, in our operation of the Town of Aurora.
One of the challenges of Government today is that there are no easy solutions -
life and the inter-relationships of all our affairs are too complex for simple
answers.
Ladies and gentlemen, with your help and understanding, this Council will be
successful in fulfilling ana of its other goals, and that is -to be the best
Council Aurora has ever had.
Further Musical selections were played by the Aurora High School Band.
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INAUGURAL MEETING OF COUNCIL ... MONDAY, DECEMBER 4, 1978
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Major DeE. Rive, Officer Conunanding "A" Squadron, Queen's York Rangers,
was introduced and made a presentation of the Freedom Plaque to Mayor Timpson
to hold in trust, and to return to the Queen's York Rangers' Armouries on
a later occasion.
STRIKING REPORT of Council was presented.
Isaacson:
E. Stewart:
"Resolved that the 1979-1980 Standing Committees of Council
be as follows:
Vice-
Chairman Chaiman Member
Administration Committee G. Timpson R. Isaacson B. Pedersen
Works Committee L. Ostick R. Simmons T. Jones
Planning and
Development Committee R. Isaacson B. Pedersen K. Tonner
Public Safety Committee B. Pedersen T. Jones L. Ostick
Parks and Recreation
Committee K. Tonner E. Stewart J. West
Industrial Committee E. Stewart J. West R. Isaacson
CARRIED
INTRODUCTION
Past Mayor R. Illingworth and Trustee N. Weller, York County Board of
Education were introduced and welcomed.
Appreciation was extended to the Aurora High School Band and the Cadet Corps.
for their assistance at this Inaugural meeting.
The meeting adjourned with the playing of God Save the Queen by the Aurora
High School Band.
Mayor Clerk