2. Adoption of Agenda Recommendation: That the Committee of the Whole agenda dated May 2, 2017 be adopted as printed.

Transcription

1 Committee of the Whole Tuesday, May 2, 2017 During Regular Council Meeting at 7:00 PM Zima Room, Library and Cultural Centre, 425 Holland Street West, Bradford Agenda Pages A meeting of the Committee of the Whole of The Corporation of the Town of Bradford West Gwillimbury will be held Tuesday, May 2, 2017 during the Regular Council meeting at 7:00 PM in the Zima Room, Library and Cultural Centre, 425 Holland Street West, Bradford, ON. 1. Call to Order The Presiding Officer calls the meeting to order. 2. Adoption of Agenda Recommendation: That the Committee of the Whole agenda dated May 2, 2017 be adopted as printed. 3. Declarations of Pecuniary Interest and the General Nature 4. Deputation There are no deputations. 5. Staff Reports Fire and Emergency Services Rescue E-Tool Equipment Trade Recommendation: That report No. FIRE entitled Rescue E-Tool Equipment Trade be received; and That Council Authorize the Straight Trade of the Genesis Combi E-Tool for a Hurst Combi E-Tool.

2 Committee of the Whole - Agenda May 2, 2017 Page 2 of Finance Department Property Tax Penalty & Interest Rebate Program for Low Income Seniors Recommendation: That Report FIN regarding a new Property Tax Penalty & Interest Rebate Program for Low Income Seniors be received; and That a Rebate Program that reduces the rate of property tax penalty & interest for qualifying seniors to % be approved as outlined herein. 6. New Business 7. Rise and Report Recommendation: That the Committee of the Whole adjourn at p.m.

3 Page 3 of 10 Report of Fire and Emergency Services REPORT #: FIR DATE: 02 May 2017 TO: SUBJECT: PREPARED BY: Deputy Mayor and Members of Committee of the Whole Rescue E-Tool Equipment Trade Olaf Lamerz, Deputy Fire Chief 1. RECOMMENDATIONS: That report No. FIRE entitled Rescue E-Tool Equipment Trade be received; AND THAT Council Authorize the Straight Trade of the Genesis Combi E-Tool for a Hurst Combi E-Tool. 2. PREAMBLE: The purpose of this report is to obtain Council s authorization to trade a Genesis Combi E- Tool for a Hurst Combi E-Tool, for the primary purpose of standardizing the equipment currently being used by the Town s Fire & Emergency Services department. As this type of trade is not covered by the current procurement policy section 9.8, authorization by Council is recommended. 3. BASIC DATA PERTAINING TO THE MATTER: Rescue tool technology has advanced over the years, which now provides battery operated rescue tools with the same power as tools previously run with gas powered hydraulic pumps. The greatest advantage to these new E-Tools is that they are cordless and provide the user a better range of motion and mobility. These battery powered rescue tool are primarily used at Motor Vehicle Accidents, but also have a number of other rescue and entry applications. The Fire and Emergency Services first purchased an E-Tool in 2016 and it was the Genesis Vario 17C Combi Tool. This tool, similar to the Hurst tool, is also battery operated. Earlier this year, Bradford West Gwillimbury Fire and Emergency Services issued a Request for Quotation (RFQ) specifically for a Hurst SC757E2 Combi E-Tool (Electric) due to its greater cutting and spreading ability. As a result of the RFQ process, the Town purchased one of the specified Hurst Combi E-Tools. Rescue E-Tool Equipment Trade

4 Page 4 of 10 FIR Rescue E-Tool Equipment Trade Page 2 of 23 After purchasing the Hurst SC757E2 Combi E-tool, the supplier offered to provide a second Hurst SC757E2 Combi E-tool as a straight trade for the Genesis Vario 17C. This would be a tool-for-tool trade, with no extra costs associated. The four key benefits of this trade would be as follows: 1. Standardizing to one brand would simplify the training and orientation to this rescue tool, as well keep the operations of the two (2) E-Tools the same (interoperability). 2. The Hurst tool is also considered a heavier-duty and stronger tool (comparison sheet attached). 3. Conducting maintenance would also only require bringing in one service company. 4. This would also create a single point of contact if a loaner unit was required. The town's Procurement Policy does not specifically address a "swap" of this nature. Section 9.8 deals with dispensing of surplus stock, but it is not applicable to this situation. As the product to be received is of equal or better value, staff recommend that the offer be accepted. 4. EFFECT ON TOWN FINANCES: There would be no financial effect on the Town. 5. ATTACHMENTS: 6. APPROVALS: Kevin Gallant, Fire Chief Approved - 21 Apr 2017 Ian Goodfellow, Director of Finance/Treasurer Approved - 24 Apr 2017 Geoff McKnight, Chief Administrative Officer Approved - 26 Apr 2017 Rescue E-Tool Equipment Trade

5 Page 5 of 10 Page 3 of 3 Hurst SC757E2 VS Genesis Vario 17C All Performance Advantages Below are in Favour of Hurst Spreading Distance 17.7 in / 16.5 in 7.3% Greater Max Spread Force 292,000 lbs / 160,000 lbs 82.5% Greater NFPA HSF 11,000 lbs / 9,756 lbs 12.8% Greater NFPA LSF 8,770 lbs / 7,845 lbs 12% Greater NFPA HPF 14,800 lbs / 12,814 lbs 15.5% Greater NFPA LPF 10,800 lbs / 8,224 lbs 31.3% Greater A8/B9/C8/D9/E9 A7/B9/C7/D9/E9 NFPA Cutter Rating Hurst Is The More Powerful NFPA 43/45 versus 41/45 Cutter Opening Hurst is Larger Rescue E-Tool Equipment Trade

6 Page 6 of 10 Report of Finance Department REPORT #: FIN DATE: 02 May 2017 TO: SUBJECT: PREPARED BY: Deputy Mayor and Members of Committee of the Whole Property Tax Penalty & Interest Rebate Program for Low Income Seniors Ian Goodfellow, Director of Finance/Treasurer 1. RECOMMENDATIONS: That Report FIN regarding a new Property Tax Penalty & Interest Rebate Program for Low Income Seniors be received; and That a Rebate Program that reduces the rate of property tax penalty & interest for qualifying seniors to % be approved as outlined herein. 2. PREAMBLE: This report is being furnished to Committee as a result of Resolution as approved by Council on September 6, 2016 that read as follows: "That staff be requested to provide information pertaining to the following: reducing the rate of penalty and interest on property taxes for seniors on a fixed income." Since this time, staff have been researching options and alternatives through the Municipal Act as well as reaching out to other Municipal governments. This report is being furnished to respond to Council's request and to implement a new rebate program as outlined herein. 3. BASIC DATA PERTAINING TO THE MATTER: Section 345 of the Municipal act provides the Town with the authority to levy Late Payment Penalty & Interest (LPPI) charges for the non-payment of property taxes and it also sets the maximum limit at 1.25% per month. Council enacts this authority through their annual Interim and Final Tax Levying By-laws and the LPPI rate has historically been set at the maximum of 1.25% per month for all property classes with the exception of the Industrial Property Tax Classes that have been levied 0.50% per month since late Property Tax Penalty & Interest Rebate Program for Low Incom...

7 FIN Property Tax Penalty & Interest Rebate Program for Low Income Seniors Page 2 of 35 Low Income Seniors who own their own homes would be assessed within the Residential Property Tax Class. Unfortunately, the Town's software calculates the LPPI charges for nonpayment of property taxes by the property tax class associated with the tax roll. The software is not able to apply more than one rate of penalty to an individual tax class. As a result, applying differential rates of LPPI within a single Property Tax Class would result in a manual monthly calculation process for hundreds and (at times) perhaps thousands of property tax accounts. It would also require staff to commence with tracking the age of the property owners to determine whether or not they are a Senior and thus qualify for the lower rate of LPPI. This layer of data is not readily available to staff and maintaining this record would be problematic due to the very high level of purchases and sales that take place in the Town on an ongoing basis. Due to the foregoing issues, it would be excessively onerous to administer a lower rate of LPPI for Seniors who own property in the Town and as a result, staff have researched other means to provide the sort of LPPI financial relief that Council is seeking. Staff undertook some research with the County s other Lower Tier municipalities and all 15 of them levy LPPI to all property classes at the Municipal Act maximum of 1.25% per month. However, in an effort to help seniors in need, a reduced rate of LPPI for Low Income Seniors can still be accomplished by developing a rebate program to provide qualifying seniors with an adjustment to the LPPI that was paid on their tax roll. The County of Simcoe has had a Property Tax deferral program for qualifying Seniors for quite some time as authorized through their By-law #5022. After reviewing the terms and conditions of the County program, staff are recommending a Rebate program to relieve Low Income Seniors from from LPPI and the general process is as follows: Seniors would need to apply by March 31 of the year following the calendar to which the application relates; and In order to qualify they must receive an Old Age Security Guaranteed Income Supplement as evidenced by Box 21 of their T4A(OAS) as issued by Service Canada and they must occupy the property as their principal residence; and The rebate is calculated based upon LPPI that they have actually paid in the previous calendar year - if the LPPI has been levied on their account, but they have not yet paid it they would not qualify; and If the calculated rebate is $25.00 or greater they will be issued a refund cheque if they request one, otherwise the rebate will be credited to their property tax account. The current number of Low Income Seniors that would benefit from this type of program is unknown, due to the lack of personal information available to verify, but this Rebate program is expected to provide relief to those in need. Staff have not recommended the rate of rebate for Low Income Seniors; Council is requested to establish the rate of rebate and they have the authority to set the rebate anywhere between NIL and up to 100% of the current 1.25% rate of LPPI is currently being levied for nonpayment of taxes. Staff have drafted up an application form for this new rebate program and it is attached to this report for review. Page 7 of 10 Property Tax Penalty & Interest Rebate Program for Low Incom...

8 Page 8 of 10 FIN Property Tax Penalty & Interest Rebate Program for Low Income Seniors Page 3 of EFFECT ON TOWN FINANCES: The granting of rebates to qualifying property owners is not expected to create an undue financial burden to the Town. 5. ATTACHMENTS: Application for Low Income Seniors Property Tax Penalty & Interest Rebate 6. APPROVALS: Ian Goodfellow, Director of Finance/Treasurer Approved - 27 Apr 2017 Geoff McKnight, Chief Administrative Officer Approved - 27 Apr 2017 Property Tax Penalty & Interest Rebate Program for Low Incom...

9 Page 9 of 10 Page 4 of 5 Town of Bradford West Gwillimbury 61 Holland St. East, P.O. Box 160 Bradford, ON L3Z 2A8 Telephone: (905) Fax: (905) Application for Low Income Seniors Property Tax Penalty & Interest Rebate Year: Municipal Address: Assessment Roll Number: Owner #1: Date of Birth (yyyy mm dd) Phone Number Owner #2 or Spouse: (if applicable) Date of Birth (yyyy mm dd) Phone Number Check Applicable Box: I, and/or my spouse receive the Guaranteed Income Supplement as provided under the Old Age Security Act I, and/or my spouse occupy the above noted property as our principal residence I have attached a copy of the T4A(OAS) as issued by Service Canada that identifies the Guaranteed Income Supplement that I received in Box 21 I certify that the information above is true, correct and complete. Property Owner Signature: YES NO Date: FOR OFFICE USE ONLY APPROVED BY: Name Date Property Tax Penalty & Interest Rebate Program for Low Incom...

10 Page 10 of 10 Page 5 of 5 Town of Bradford West Gwillimbury Low Income Seniors Property Tax Penalty & Interest Rebate Information: Applicants must apply each and every year regardless if you have received the rebate in the past. Your completed application must be received in the Town Tax Office no later than March 31 st of the year following the calendar year to which this application relates. The program provides eligible low income seniors with a partial rebate of the actual property tax penalty & interest paid during the previous calendar year. The rebate is always based on the actual penalty & interest paid in the previous calendar year and is recalculated at the rate approved by Council. Eligibility requirements: The owner, or spouse or same-sex partner of the owner, or both are receiving the Guaranteed Income Supplement under Part Two of the Old Age Security Act; and Have been assessed as the owner and occupant of residential property used as the principal residence in the Town of Bradford West Gwillimbury for at least one year preceding the application; and You must have paid property tax penalty & interest to the Town in the previous calendar year. Please attach a copy of the following documents: The T4A(OAS) as issued by Service Canada that identifies the Guaranteed Income Supplement that was received in Box 21; and Proof of payment of property tax penalty & interest to the Town. A cheque will be issued for any rebate amount exceeding $25.00; otherwise the rebate amount will be credited to the related property tax account. Please , fax or mail the completed application using the contact information on the other side of this application. If you have any questions, please contact our office Monday through Friday between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. in person; or by calling us at (905) ; or by sending us an to finservices@townofbwg.com. Property Tax Penalty & Interest Rebate Program for Low Incom...