 |
|
 |
 |
|
 |
Print | YORK REGION>Regional Government>Agendas Minutes and Reports>_2003 |
|
 |
|||||||||||
INAUGURAL MEETING
COUNCIL
OF
THE REGIONAL MUNICIPALITY OF YORK
Commencement
The Inaugural Meeting of Regional Council for the term of office December 1, 2003 to November 30, 2006 convened at 7:00 p.m. on December 4, 2003 in the Council Chambers, York Region Administrative Centre, 17250 Yonge Street, Newmarket, Ontario.
Procession
Regional Chair Fisch and the other Members of Council were piped into the Council Chambers by Sergeant Peter Fleming from the York Regional Police.
Attendance
The following Members of Council were in attendance:
Mayor Bell (Richmond Hill)
Mayor Black (King)
Mayor Cousens (Markham)
Mayor Di Biase (Vaughan)
Mayor Grossi (Georgina)
Mayor Jones (Aurora)
Mayor Sherban (Whitchurch-Stouffville)
Mayor Taylor (Newmarket)
Mayor Young (East Gwillimbury)
Regional Councillor Barrow (Richmond Hill)
Regional Councillor Ferri (Vaughan)
Regional Councillor Frustaglio (Vaughan)
Regional Councillor Heath (Markham)
Regional Councillor Hogg (Richmond Hill)
Regional Councillor Jackson (Vaughan)
Regional Councillor Jones (Markham)
Regional Councillor O'Donnell (Markham)
Regional Councillor Scarpitti (Markham)
Regional Councillor Van Bynen (Newmarket)
Regional Councillor Wheeler (Georgina)
National Anthem
The singing of the National Anthem was led by the St. Thomas of Villanova College Concert Choir, under the direction of Ms. Michelle Morello-Hayes.
Presiding Officer
Mr. Denis Kelly, Regional Clerk, advised that in accordance with the Region's Procedure By-law he would act as Presiding Officer until Council appointed the Regional Chair. He extended congratulations to all Members of Council on their recent election and welcomed all assembled guests to the Inaugural Meeting.
Introduction of Chair and Special Guests
The Regional Clerk introduced Regional Chair Bill Fisch and two special guests assisting with the Inaugural Meeting -- The Honourable Regional Senior Justice J. Bryan Shaughnessy of the Ontario Superior Court of Justice and Reverend Dr. Francis Mpindu, Chaplain of the York Regional Police.
Statutory Requirements
The Regional Clerk indicated that the various statutory prerequisites leading up to the Inaugural Meeting had been complied with. These included the filing of Certificates of Election by each of the Clerks of the area municipalities, and each Member taking his or her Declaration of Office. He called te\he meeting to order.
Members' Declarations of Office
His Honour Regional Senior Justice J. Bryan Shaughnessy led Members of Council as they repeated their Declarations of Office together.
Prayer of Invocation
Reverend Dr. Francis Mpindu, Chaplain of the York Regional Police, led everyone in a Prayer of Invocation.
1 Appointment of Regional Chair
The Regional Clerk advised that it was in order to proceed with the appointment of the Regional Chair. He indicated that under the Municipal Act, 2001 Regional Council was to appoint as Regional Chair for this term one of the Members of Regional Council, or any other person. A brief overview of the procedure that would be followed for the appointment of the Regional Chair was provided by the Regional Clerk.
Nominations
The Regional Clerk declared nominations to be open for the office of Regional Chair. He also indicated that he had received a completed Nomination Form by the requested time of Monday, December 1, 2003 at 4:30 p.m., indicating that Regional Councillor Wheeler wished to nominate Bill Fisch for the position of Regional Chair, seconded by Regional Councillor Frustaglio, and that Mr. Fisch had consented to allow his name to stand in nomination.
Regional Councillor Wheeler, seconded by Regional Councillor Frustaglio, formalized the nomination of Bill Fisch for the office of Regional Chair. Mr. Kelly asked if there were any further nominations.
The Regional Clerk asked on three separate occasions if there were any further nominations for the office of Regional Chair. No further nominations were received.
It was moved by Mayor Taylor, seconded by Regional Councillor Scarpitti, that nominations for the office of Regional Chair be closed.
Carried.
2 Acclamation
The Regional Clerk declared that there was an acclamation and that Bill Fisch was appointed as Regional Chair.
Remarks—Mover and Seconder
Regional Councillor Wheeler and Regional Councillor Frustaglio each made brief remarks commending Bill Fisch for his leadership as Regional Chair over the past two terms of Council.
Declaration of Office
The Honourable Regional Senior Justice J. Bryan Shaughnessy, Ontario Superior Court of Justice, administered the required Declaration of Office to Mr. Fisch.
3 Regional Chair's Inaugural Address
Regional Chair Fisch assumed the chair and then made his Inaugural Address to Council. He outlined the numerous achievements of Regional Council during the past three years in the areas of adoption of Vision 2026, transportation, public transit, rapid tranist, environmental protection, housing, acessibility and fiscal responsibility. He also addressed the various challenges including transportation, public transit, rapid transit, waste disposal and diversion, affordable housing, environmental protection and emergency services. He indicated that he looked forward to working with Council and staff to provide solutions in each of these areas.
4 Introductions by Regional Chair
The Regional Chair introduced each Member of Council and many of the dignitaries in attendance, including the following:
Bryon Wilfert, M.P., Oak Ridges
Roger Anderson, Regional Chair, Durham
Armand P. La Barge, Chief of Police
Eric Jolliffe, Deputy Chief of Police (Operations)
Bruce Herridge, Deputy Chief of Police (Administration)
O.P.P. Staff Sergeant Dave Farrar
John Molyneaux, Regional Fire Coordinator
Alan Wells, former Chief Administrative Officer
Brian Denney, CAO, Toronto Region Conservation Authority
Gary McNeil, CEO and Managing Director, GO Transit
Regional Chair Fisch introduced a number of former Members of Regional Council in attendance, including Garfield Wright, Carole Bell, Stan Daurio, Al Duffy, Ken Dunphy, Wayne Emmerson, Bob Featherstonhaugh, Dick Illingworth, Eldred King, Ron Moran, Angus Morton, Jim Mortson, John Rogers, Gordon Rowe, Frances Sainsbury, and George Timpson.
5 Introductions by Members of Council
Each Member of Council then introduced his or her guests. Mayors also introduced past and current local Members of Council in attendance and Chief Administrative Officers. Each Member of Council made a few remarks regarding the challenges facing the Region during the coming term.
6 Chief Administrative Officer's Remarks and Introduction of Senior Staff
Mr. Michael Garrett, Chief Administrative Officer, congratulated Regional Chair Fisch. He indicated that York Region's staff would continue to support Council in a manner consistent with the Region's Mission Statement and its "Here to Serve You" customer service motto.
He then introduced the Senior Management Group consisting of Jim Davidson, Commissioner of Corporate Services; Sandra Cartwright, Commissioner of Finance and Treasurer; Kees Schipper, Commissioner of Transportation and Works; Bryan Tuckey, Commissioner of Planning and Development Services; Dr. Helena Jaczek, Commissioner of Health Services and Medical Officer of Health; and Joann Simmons, Commissioner of Community Services and Housing. He also introduced Elizabeth Wilson, one of the Region's solicitors, who was assisting with the Inaugural Meeting.
7 Appreciation
Regional Chair Fisch thanked Lina Bigioni, Sonia Carnevale, Lea Steenhoek and all of the other staff who worked on the Inaugural for their assistance.
8 Confirmatory By-law
It was moved by Mayor Bell, seconded by Regional Councillor Jackson, that the following by-law be enacted to confirm the proceedings of this meeting of Council.
By-law No. M-0700-2003-001
To confirm the proceedings of Council at its meeting held on December 4, 2003.
Carried.
The Council meeting adjourned at 9:15 p.m.
Denis Kelly
Regional Clerk
Minutes confirmed and adopted at the meeting of Regional Council held on the 11th of December 2003.
Bill Fisch
Regional Chair
