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Print | YORK REGION>Regional Government>Agendas Minutes and Reports>_2006 |
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[The following link opens a .pdf file of this page]
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INAUGURAL MEETING
COUNCIL
OF
THE
December 7, 2006
Commencement
The Inaugural Meeting of Regional Council for the term of office December 1, 2006 to November 30, 2010 convened at 7:10 p.m. on December 7, 2006 in the Council Chambers, York Region Administrative Centre,
Procession
Regional Chair Fisch and the Members of Regional Council were piped into the Council Chambers by Detective Peter Fleming of the York Regional Police.
Attendance
The following Members of Council were in attendance:
Mayor Black (
Mayor Barrow (Town of
Mayor Emmerson (Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville)
Mayor Grossi (Town of
Mayor Jackson (City of
Mayor Morris (Town of
Mayor Scarpitti (Town of
Mayor Van Bynen (Town of
Mayor Young (Town of
Regional Councillor Ferri (City of
Regional Councillor Frustaglio (City of
Regional Councillor Heath (Town of
Regional Councillor Hogg (Town of
Regional Councillor Landon (Town of
Regional Councillor Rosati (City of
Regional Councillor Spatafora (Town of
Regional Councillor Taylor (Town of
Regional Councillor Wheeler (Town of
Regional Councillor Wong(Town of
National Anthem
Deborah Baber of the York Regional Police led the singing of the National Anthem.
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 Mr. Justice Michael Brown of the Ontario Superior Court of Justice and Reverend Dr. Francis Mpindu,
Statutory Requirements
The Regional Clerk advised 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 the meeting to order.
Members' Declarations of Office
His Honour Mr. Justice Michael Brown led the elected 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 nominated and seconded by a Member of Council. The Regional Clerk then provided a brief overview of the procedure that would be followed for the appointment of the Regional Chair.
Nominations
The Regional Clerk declared nominations to be open for the office of Regional Chair. He advised that he had received a completed Nomination Form by the requested time of Monday, December 4, 2006 at 4:30 p.m., indicating that Regional Councillor Danny Wheeler wished to nominate Bill Fisch for the position of Regional Chair, seconded by Mayor Scarpitti, and that Mr. Fisch had consented to the nomination.
Regional Councillor Danny Wheeler and Mayor Scarpitti confirmed that they were the mover and seconder of the nomination of Bill Fisch for the office of Regional Chair.
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.
Remarks—Mover and Seconder
Regional Councillor Wheeler and Mayor Scarpitti each made brief remarks commending Bill Fisch for his leadership as Regional Chair over the past three terms of Council.
It was moved by Mayor Black, seconded by Regional Councillor Frustaglio, that nominations for the office of Regional Chair be closed and that Bill Fisch be appointed as Regional Chair.
Carried Unanimously
2 Acclamation
The Regional Clerk declared that there was an acclamation and that Bill Fisch was appointed as Regional Chair.
Declaration of Office
The Honourable Mr. Justice Michael Brown, Ontario Superior Court of Justice, administered the required Declaration of Office to Mr. Fisch. Regional Chair Fisch assumed the chair.
3 Regional Chair's Inaugural Address
In his Inaugural Address to Council, Regional Chair Fisch outlined the numerous achievements of Regional Council during the past three years including the launch of VIVA Rapid Transit, various waste management initiatives, an increase in police and emergency medical services personnel, investment in roads and water protection, acquisition of environmentally-sensitive lands, successful implementation of the Ontarians with Disabilities Act and the Region's No-Smoking By-law and more affordable housing and services for seniors.
The Regional Chair also addressed the various challenges during the upcoming term, specifically the management of the provincial "Places to Grow" initiative, solutions to traffic congestion, subway expansion into York Region, solid waste management, sustainable growth and continued environmental protection, more police officers and emergency medical services personnel - all within the financial constraints imposed on the Region. Regional Chair Fisch indicated that Council would need to continue to address the issue of fair and equitable funding from other levels of government, including funding for Phase 2 of VIVA and the subway expansion into
4 Introductions by Regional Chair
The Regional Chair introduced each Member of Council and the dignitaries in attendance, including the following:
Julian Fantino, Commissioner,
Armand P. La Barge, Chief,
Eric Jolliffe, Deputy Chief,
Bruce Herridge, Deputy Chief,
John Molyneaux, Regional Fire Coordinator
Gerri-Lynn O'Connor, former Mayor of Uxbridge
Regional Chair Fisch introduced the former Members of Regional Council in attendance, namely Garfield Wright, Ralph Aselin, Carole Bell, Fred Cox, Al Duffy, Ken Dunphy, Jeff Holec, Dick Illingworth, Tim Jones, Eldred King, Ron Moran, James Mortson, John Rogers, Gordon Rowe, Fran Sainsbury, Bob Scott and Tom Taylor.
5 Introductions by Members of Council
Each Member of Council then introduced his or her guests including family members, past and current local Members of Council in attendance and Chief Administrative Officers and other staff. Each Member of Council made a few remarks regarding the opportunities and 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 and Council. He indicated that York Region's staff is committed to providing continued excellent support to Council.
He then introduced the Commissioners and other senior staff consisting of Jim Davidson, Commissioner of Corporate Services; Joy Hulton, Regional Solicitor, Lloyd Russell, Commissioner of Finance and Treasurer; Bruce Macgregor, Commissioner of Transportation and Works; Bryan Tuckey, Commissioner of Planning and Development Services; and Brad Meekin, General Manager of Emergency Medical Services. Mr. Garrett advised that Joann Simmons, Commissioner of Community Services, Housing and Health Services was unable to attend due to illness.
7 Appreciation
Regional Chair Fisch thanked Lina Bigioni, Lea Steenhoek and all of the other staff who worked so hard on the Inaugural for their assistance.
8 Confirmatory By-law
[The following link opens a .pdf file of the By-law]
It was moved by Mayor Barrow, seconded by Regional Councillor Landon, that the following by-law be enacted to confirm the proceedings of this meeting of Council.
By-law No. M-0734-2006-001
To confirm the proceedings of Council at its meeting held on December 7, 2006.
Carried
The Council meeting adjourned at 9:05 p.m.
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Regional Clerk
Minutes confirmed and adopted at the meeting of Regional Council held on the 14th of December 2006.
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Regional Chair
