Corporation of the Town of Bradford West Gwillimbury

Transcription

1 Corporation of the Town of Bradford West Gwillimbury Special Meeting 2001/22 MINUTES April 23, 2001 Meeting Location: Library Members Present: Mayor Frank Jonkman Councillor Brian Bonany (arrived at 4:25 p.m.) Councillor Jim Comeau Councillor Del Crake Councillor Peter Dykie Councillor Gary Lamb Councillor John Gorzo Councillor Marty Toombs Members Absent: Staff Present: Others: Deputy Mayor Dennis Roughley Susan Turnbull, Treasurer Juanita Dempster-Evans, Clerk-Administrator Garth Bray, Fire Department John Burns, Fire Department Paul Feehely, Senior Engineering Technologist Liz Fenwick, CEO, Library Karen Gill, Treasury Department Ian Goodfellow, Deputy Treasurer Eric Hodgins, Town Planner Judy Hunt, Parks and Recreation Department Art Janse, Chief Building Official Ron Kneeshaw, Superintendent of Public Works Gord Miokovic, Town Engineer Bob Myles, Fire Chief Miriam King, Bradford West Gwillimbury Times Peter Lines Diane Maloney Bill Marks Joyce Mendrek Several Residents/Organizations Moved by: D. Crake Seconded by: G. Lamb "That this special meeting of Council sitting as the Finance Committee come to order at 4:10 p.m." CARRIED. Mayor Jonkman welcomed those present. Due to the level of public attending, the Mayor gave a brief explanation of the process, where the Town is at, the need for justification for expenses, and regard to implications if a project or expense is reduced or deleted from the Budget Considerations. Finance Chair Toombs noted that there was an itemized Agenda for the meeting. Before proceeding to the same he noted in particular that many controversial items arose during the Budget ConSiderations, more leg work has been done since the last meeting, and Town representatives were diligently working through their Budgets to attempt to keep the tax increase minimal.

2 Special Meeting 2001/22-2- April 23, Kennel Inn Request for Increase in Animal Control It was noted that Kennel Inn were seeking a 6.7% increase in the urban and rural area, as well as an increase in the euthanasia/disposal fee. Finance Chair Toombs advised that the Treasurer has incorporated funds for an increase. 2. HEART Budget Mr. Peter Lines the Chair of HEART addressed Council regarding their April 4, 2001 correspondence providing clarification to their Budget needs. It was explained the Brochures printed three years ago have been depleted and need to be replaced. A new additional expense to the Operating Budget was the Insurance premium for the Clock Tower. That the volunteers of HEART contribute 5,200 free hours per year for the benefit and betterment of the community. The reductions made to the HEART Budget provided sufficient funding. Finally that HEART would like the funding for the Bond Head Heritage Lights reinstated as it was an innocent oversight that HEART did not make a request in 2000 to have this funding put in Reserves. Councillor Corneau inquired as to any opportunity to make the brochure self financing by way of selling advertising space in the same. Peter Lines responded that this may be a possibility. 3. April 20, 2001 Report of Clerk Administrator Re: Budget Deliberations a) Current Value Assessment Susan Turnbull, Treasurer provided clarification that the Budget contains the sum of $450,000 for CVA AppealslTax Write-Offs, and that this amount is the total for the County, the Town, Education, etc. b) South Simcoe Police Estimates Mayor Jonkman noted the Legislative requirements contained in the Report, as well as the requirements in the Amalgamation Agreement, and finally the questions contained in the Report. It was noted in particular that although the Legislation does not allow the municipality to approve or reduce the Police Estimates line by line, the Amalgamation Agreement does specifically allow for good faith negotiations. In response to items raised in the Report, Chief Davis provided the following information: Police Service Board meeting is tonight a $100,000 proposed reduction by Bradford West Gwillimbury would correspond with a $150,000 reduction from Innisfil, therefore setting the 2001 estimates at a rate lower than the 2000 rate explained the COLA payable as it was negotiated in a prior year eight officers are off on disability thereby increasing overtime costs

3 Special Meeting 2001/22-3- April 23, 2001 if the proposed $100,000 reduction is implemented, then yes the estimates would be referred to OCCOPS for a hearing TAMErrEAM User Fee for 2001 has now been increased to $ feels the Board has negotiated in good faith and made reductions or increased revenues the Police Association have a concern that the officer per capita ratio is a Health & Safety concern that South Simcoe Police does have the second worse ratio of officers per capita the current cost per capita is $ that the civilian ratio to officers is high and this is due to civilians being hired to perform courthouse duties that when Innisfil asked for their By-law Officers to become Police positions, even though Innisfil has recently resumed operating By-law as a Town Department, the Police Service would had to have held a Section 40 Hearing to terminate the By-law Officers, thus one was retained by the Police Service the Board made a conscious decision not to hire one additional officer at the time that Deputy Chief Harrison retired the Board cannot hire two additional officers to replace the two further Deputy Chiefs who also recently retired, as these two deputies have vacation and other entitlements still owing to them. However, they will hire two additional officers to offset these retirements in 2002 the Board would like to hire two officers per year as this concurs with the Development Charge Levy for Police Services. The Clerk-Administrator proposed a compromise to minimize the potential for an OCCOPS Hearing. The compromise being to commence good faith negotiations to approving the Police Service Estimates on the condition it includes the hiring of two officers and not one. Further that there was no point in giving 10% increases if the funds were not used to address a very clear problem being the officer per capita ratio. c) Policy versus Operational The Clerk-Administrator reviewed the legal and risk management requirements that set out that it is Council (and not staff) who must set Service Levels. d) Departmental Service Workplans, the approximate cost per Service, and whether the Service was compulsory or discretionary. e) Present and Future Budget Considerations A list of 97 plus considerations were put forward by staff as means to achieve efficiencies. It was noted in particular that efficiencies at minimum could mean one of three things. cut expenditures, reductions, save dollars how to use current resources more effectively have vision, invest now be it in Capital or Human Resources, in order to better control future expenditures f) Celebrate our Successes The Report contained a detailed listing of successes which has resulted in efficiencies and the betterment of the community.

4 Special Meeting 2001/22-4- April 23, 2001 Finance Chair Toombs and members of Council commended Staff for their input and detailed listing of Considerations for Efficiencies. It was noted some can be implemented immediately and the balance would be subject to further deliberations once the 2002 Budget review commences in September Report of Treasurer County of Simcoe Proposed Tax Policy Susan Turnbull, Treasurer provided clarification that although Bradford West Gwillimbury and one other municipality opposed the proposed Policy, the 14 remaining municipalities endorsed the proposed County Policy. The effect on this municipality is that we need to now include a $48,169 expenditure to be financed by residential homeowners, in order to finance a reduction to the Industrial and Multi-Residential Tax Classes. Further that every year for the next five years, we will have to have the residential Tax Class bear 95% of this new expense. 5. Report of Treasurer Budget Update Susan Turnbull, Treasurer distributed a hand-out which identified the 2001 increase over 2000 Budget was 4.2%. That the 4.2% includes the $188,000 increase to the Police Service Estimates, one full-time secretarial enhancement for the Engineering Department, and $12,800 increase to Dispatching Fees payable to the Police Service. The following was further noted: Beyond the 4.2% increase, is the 5.2% increase due to C.v.A. That C.vA is not within our control. Our control is the extent of a 2001 Budget increase over the 2000 Budget There was a $90,000 salary error in Public Works wages, and the error has been corrected $195,432 reduction in the Parks & Recreation Budget No ability to charge the Danube Seniors a Membership fee The Parks & Recreation Canteen/Booths are still in the Budget $30,000 has been added to the budget for the Holland Marsh Drainage Report 6. Other Considerations a) HEART Brochure Susan Turnbull suggested a compromise would be to reduce the number of brochures printed so the expense occurs annually, and not once every three years b) Master Servicing Plans for the Town and Water. Susan Turnbull reported the failure to adopt the two Plans means the Town cannot update its Development Charges which she now believes are deficient by 50%.

5 Special Meeting 2001/ April 23, 2001 c) 6 th Line Reconstruction Discussion about timing and whether it would be more appropriate to delay the project until 2002, as the heavy truck traffic expected from the Mod-Aire/Metcalfe Subdivision may reduce the Life Span on the new road. d) Capital Policy Susan Turnbull reported the 4.2% increase incorporates having Capital at $1.5 million which is 10% higher than the prior year. e) Community Centre Sprinkler System The Fire Chief provided clarification that the option to use a Fire Watch System was only available if an existing Sprinkler System is not operational, and clearly we have no Sprinkler System, it does not exist. Options are to put in the sprinkler system or limit the Arena floor use to strictly an arena, no floor rentals. f) Reconsideration of Crossing Guard for Mother Theresa School. g) Status of St. Mary's Hall and other Parks & Recreation Facilities Finance Chair Toombs clarified it was never the intent to withdraw support from any volunteer organization, but a need to look at opportunities to relocate St. Mary users to other Town facilities. As to the Danube Seniors Centre, that the Clerk-Administrator had previously provided her interpretation that the terms of the Gift and the Lease, preclude the ability for the Town to introduce a membership fee. h) Introducing Planners and Engineer Time as Billable and Recoverable Eric Hodgins, Town Planner advised he had concern with the concept and would prepare a Report for the next Budget Meeting i) Library Audit Report - Information Only 7. Any Other Business Mr. Dave Miedema representing Bradford Softball advised Council that it was understood the Rates were going up and he suggested the users were not getting what they had paid for (i.e. holes in the fields). He noted that if the rates were going to be increased then equally the Users would like to see an increase in the level of service given. 8. Congratulations Finance Chair Toombs commended the efforts of Council, staff, and especially Councillor Comeau, for all the efforts in revisiting the various Budgets. Further he congratulated everyone who participated in offering input in the 97 listings of considerations and listing of successes. 9. Scheduling Next Meeting It was the consensus that one further Budget Meeting would be required and it would be held on April 30 th, 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers.

6 Special Meeting 2001/ April 23, 2001 ADJOURNMENT Moved by: G. Lamb Seconded by: D. Crake "That this special meeting of Council sitting as the Finance Committee close at 6:50 p.m." CARRIED. CONFIRMED IN OPEN SESSION THIS 15 th DAY OF MAY, mta Dempster-Evans, Clerk-Administrator Mayor