Mayor: Barrow, Black, Emmerson, Grossi, Jackson, Morris, Scarpitti,

Van Bynen and Young

 

Regional Ferri, Frustaglio, Heath, Hogg, Jones, Landon, Rosati,

Councillor: Spatafora, Taylor, Virgilio and Wheeler

 

Staff: Davidson, Hulton, Kurji, Llewellyn-Thomas, Kelly, Macgregor, Mahoney,

Neill, Raynor, Russell, Simmons and Tuckey

APPOINTMENT OF REGIONAL COUNCILLOR VIRGILIO

Council considered the following communication:

Kimberley Kitteringham, Town Clerk, September 17, 2009, forwarding a resolution adopted by the Council of the Town of Markham at its meeting on September 15, 2009, regarding the appointment of Joseph Virgilio as Regional Councillor.

 

It was moved by Regional Councillor Heath, seconded by Regional Councillor Jones that Council receive the communication.

MOTION

It was moved by Regional Councillor Heath, seconded by Regional Councillor Jones that Council adopt the following motion:

WHEREAS subsection 262(1) of the Municipal Act provides that if the office of a member of council becomes vacant, the Council shall declare the office to be vacant at either of its next two meetings;

 

AND WHEREAS the office of the Regional Councillor for the Town of Markham has become vacant due to the passing of Regional Councillor Tony Wong;

 

AND WHEREAS Subsection 263(2) of the Municipal Act provides that if the offices of a person who is a member of council of both a local municipality and an upper tier municipality become vacant, the local municipality shall fill the vacancy by appointment or by-election;

 

AND WHEREAS by letter dated September 2009, the Town of Markham has advised that it has appointed Joseph Virgilio to the office of Regional Councillor for the Town of Markham;

 

AND WHEREAS Joseph Virgilio has been sworn in to his new office on Regional Council

 

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT Regional Council declare a vacancy in the office of Regional Councillor for the Town of Markham and recognize the appointment of Joseph Virgilio to this office.

Regional Councillor Joseph Virgilio then took his Declaration of Office as administered by the Regional Clerk.

 

(Please refer to Minute No. 133 for appointment of Regional Councillor Virgilio to the Community and Health Services Committee and the Environmental Services Committee.)

 

 

PRESENTATION

 

Council then received the following presentations:

Lois Brown, M.P. for Newmarket-Aurora addressed Council regarding funding for the Local Immigration Partnership Strategy. The program is a partnership between the federal and provincial governments and the Region. Ms. Brown advised that the Region will receive $447,865 for this program which is designed to co-ordinate and strengthen settlement services for newcomers.

 

Regional Chair Fisch thanked Ms. Brown and asked that she convey Council's gratitude to the Minister and the Prime Minister. He also thanked staff members, particularly Cordelia Abankwa-Harris and Lisa Gonsalves of the Community and Health Services Department, for their hard work and assistance with this program.

 

It was moved by Regional Councillor Virgilio, seconded by Mayor Morris that the presentation be received.

Bruce Macgregor, Chief Administrative Officer provided an update regarding the Region's assistance to the City of Vaughan following the tornado on August 20, 2009. Mr. Macgregor specifically noted the contributions of staff from the Community and Health Services, Transportation Services and Environmental Services Departments, the Chief Administrative Officer's office and York Regional Police in opening reception centres, closing roads, providing transit, extending waste facility hours and providing emergency coordination and media releases.

 

Regional Chair Fisch indicated that he became involved very early after the tornado struck and that he was proud of the manner in which staff from the Region and the City of Vaughan handled the emergency.

 

Mayor Jackson expressed her appreciation on behalf of City of Vaughan Council and residents for the Region's assistance, as well as assistance received from the Township of King and the Towns of Markham and Richmond Hill.

 

It was moved by Regional Councillor Virgilio, seconded by Mayor Morris that the presentation be received.

It was moved by Regional Councillor Landon, seconded by Regional Councillor Wheeler that Council confirm the Minutes of the Council meeting held on June 25, 2009 in the form supplied to the Members.

COMMUNICATIONS

Council considered the following communications:

Len Bulmer, Vice President Public Relations, TROY Toastmasters, September 1, 2009, requesting that the Region recognize October 2009 as "Toastmasters Month".

 

It was moved by Mayor Grossi, seconded by Mayor Van Bynen that Council receive the communication and recognize October, 2009 as "Toastmasters Month".

Don Head, Commissioner, Correctional Services Canada, requesting that November 15th to November 22nd, 2009 be recognized as Restorative Justice Week 2008.

 

It was moved by Regional Councillor Wheeler, seconded by Mayor Scarpitti that Council receive the communication and recognize November 15th to November 22nd 2009 as Restorative Justice Week.

Armand Scaini, President, Friuli Benevolent Corporation, September 20, 2009, regarding the Friuli Benevolent Corporation and requesting deputant status.

 

It was moved by Regional Councillor Frustaglio, seconded by Regional Councillor Ferri that Council receive the communication and grant deputant status.

It was moved by Regional Councillor Spatafora, seconded by Mayor Jackson that Council grant deputant status.

Council then heard the following deputations:

Ms. Marissa Zanini, Secretary of the Friuli Benevolent Corporation advised that she was speaking in place of Mr. Armand Scaini, President. Ms Zanini provided a history of the Friuli Benevolent Corporation and its previous agreements with the Province prior to the responsibility for social housing being downloaded to the Region. Ms Zanini requested Council's support for the specific housing mandate for Friuli Terrace.

 

Mr. Karim Ahmad Tahir representing Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama'at identified the need for more housing within the Region and also requested Council's support for the specific housing mandates.

 

It was moved by Regional Councillor Frustaglio, seconded by Regional Councillor Spatafora that the deputations be received.

It was moved by Mayor Jackson, seconded by Mayor Young that Council resolve itself into Committee of the Whole to consider the following reports:

 

Report No. 1 of the Community and Health Services Committee

Report No. 1 of the Environmental Services Committee

Report No. 6 of the Finance and Administration Committee

Report No. 6 of the Planning and Economic Development Committee

Report No. 2 of the Spadina Subway Transit Oriented Development Advisory Task Force

Report No. 1 of the Transportation Services Committee

Report No. 1 of the Yonge Subway Advisory Task Force

Report No. 2 of the Yonge Subway Advisory Task Force

Report No. 2 of the Chief Administrative Officer

Regional Chair Fisch chaired the Committee of the Whole.

 

The Committee of the Whole rose and recommended that Council adopt the recommendations in the following reports:

Report No. 1 of the Community and Health Services Committee

 

Report No. 1 of the Environmental Services Committee

 

Report No. 6 of the Finance and Administration Committee

 

Report No. 6 of the Planning and Economic Development Committee

Report No. 2 of the Spadina Subway Transit Oriented Development Advisory Task Force

Report No. 1 of the Transportation Services Committee

Report No. 1 of the Yonge Subway Advisory Task Force

 

Report No. 2 of the Yonge Subway Advisory Task Force

 

Report No. 2 of the Chief Administrative Office

 

It was moved by Mayor Scarpitti, seconded by Mayor Grossi that Council adopt the recommendations of the Committee of the Whole.

Carried

 

It was then moved by Regional Councillor Hogg, seconded by Mayor Morris that Council defer consideration of Clause 8 of Community and Health Services Committee Report No. 1, pending receipt of a response from the Province.

 

A recorded vote on the deferral motion moved by Regional Councillor Hogg, seconded by Mayor Morris was as follows:

 

For: Hogg, Morris and Taylor (3)

 

Against: Barrow, Black, Emmerson, Ferri, Frustaglio, Grossi, Heath, Jackson, Jones, Landon,

Rosati, Scarpitti, Spatafora, Van Bynen, Virgilio, Wheeler and Young (17)

A recorded vote on adoption of the main motion moved by Mayor Scarpitti, seconded by Mayor Grossi, to adopt the recommendations contained in Clause 8 of Community and Health Services Committee Report No. 1, was as follows:

 

For: Barrow, Black, Emmerson, Ferri, Frustaglio, Grossi, Heath, Jackson, Jones, Landon,

Morris, Rosati, Scarpitti, Spatafora, Van Bynen, Virgilio, Wheeler and Young (18)

 

Against: Hogg and Taylor (2)

The main motion moved by Mayor Scarpitti, seconded by Mayor Grossi to adopt the recommendations of the Committee of the Whole carried.

 

It was moved by Mayor Scarpitti, seconded by Mayor Morris that Council introduce and approve certain Bills in the form as noted on the Revised Agenda and enact them as By-laws.

 

By-law No. 2009-38

A by-law to authorize the borrowing upon amortizing debentures in the principal amount of $2,334,000.00 towards the cost of certain capital works of The Regional Municipality of York.

 

By-law No. 2009-39

A by-law to authorize the borrowing upon amortizing debentures in the principal amount of $2,100,000.00 towards the cost of certain capital works of the Regional Municipality of York.

OTHER BUSINESS

It was moved by Mayor Emmerson, seconded by Regional Councillor Frustaglio that Council approve the 2010 Calendar of Council and Committee meetings.

It was moved by Regional Councillor Heath, seconded by Regional Councillor Jones that Council confirm the Regional Chair's appointment of Regional Councillor Virgilio to the Community and Health Services Committee and the Environmental Services Committee.

Regional Chair Fisch announced the retirement of Don Gordon, General Manager of York Region Transit effective the end of September, 2009. Mr. Gordon started his career with the Town of Markham and has been with the Region for the past nine years, having been the first General Manager of the amalgamated transit service for the Region. The Region's transit system has expanded rapidly from about seven million users in 2000 to almost 20 million users per year today.

 

Regional Chair Fisch and various other Members of Council noted Mr. Gordon's 30 plus years of municipal service and thanked him for his communication, leadership, hard work, integrity, commitment and overall contribution to the success of York Region Transit.

 

Regional Councillor Spatafora invited all Members of Council to attend the Tastes of the Hill event in the Richmond Hill on Sunday, October 4, 2009.

 

Regional Councillor Taylor advised that the Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority was recently awarded the Thiess International Riverprize Award, the world's most prestigious award for excellence in watershed management, and congratulated the Authority on this achievement.

 

Regional Councillor Frustaglio announced that the kick-off for the York Region Food Drive Campaign will be held on Tuesday, September 29, 2009 at 12:00 p.m. in the Great Hall of the Regional Administrative Centre.

Regional Councillor Ferri reminded all Members of the Communities in Bloom event being held in the City of Vaughan from September 29 to October 4, 2009

 

Regional Chair Fisch advised Members that a Council Workshop regarding the draft Regional Official Plan Amendment will be held on Thursday, October 1, 2009 at 9:30 a.m. in the Seminar Room of the Regional Administrative Centre.

It was moved by Regional Councillor Virgilio, seconded by Regional Councillor Taylor that Council convene in Private Session for the purpose of considering the following:

1. Private Report of the Commissioner of Community and Health Services - Recommendations for Funding Under the Canada-Ontario Affordable Housing Program 2009 Extension – Security of Municipal Property.

 

2. Private Report of the Commissioner of Community and Health Services - Opportunities to Increase the Supply of Affordable Housing – Request for Proposal – Security of Municipal Property and Proposed or Pending Acquisition of Land.

 

3. Private Report of the Commissioner of Corporate Services – ONA Collective Agreement – Bargaining Results – Labour Relations.

Council met in Private Session at 12:16 p.m. and reconvened in Council at 12:37 p.m.

 

It was moved by Mayor Scarpitti, seconded by Regional Councillor Wheeler that Council rise and report from Private Session.

It was moved by Regional Councillor Wheeler, seconded by Regional Councillor Ferri that Council adopt the recommendations contained in the Private Report of the Community and Health Services Committee dated September 18, 2009 as follows:

 

1. Regional Council recommend to the Province the following six projects receive capital funding under the Canada-Ontario Affordable Housing Program 2009 Extension:

• Voices of Vedas Cultural Sabha Inc. (25 units) – Town of Richmond Hill
• Markham Interchurch Committee for Affordable Housing (84 units) – Town of Markham
• Ja'Fari Islamic Housing Corporation (42 units) Town of Richmond Hill
• DeafBlind Ontario Services (1 home with 4 beds) – Town of Newmarket
• DeafBlind Ontario Services (1 home with 4 beds) – Town of Newmarket
• Birchcliff Homes Corp. (72 units) – Town of Markham

2. Subject to receiving a Conditional Letter of Commitment from the Province, the Commissioner of Community and Health Services, or designate, on behalf of the Region, be authorized to execute the necessary agreements with each of the recommended proponents, subject to review by Legal Services.

The balance of the report to remain private under the provisions of the Municipal Act as it pertains to the Security of Municipal Property.

It was moved by Mayor Scarpitti, seconded by Mayor Young that Council adopt the recommendation contained in the private report of the Commissioner of Corporate Services as follows:

 

1. Regional Council receive this Report outlining the results of collective bargaining with the Ontario Nurses' Association ("ONA").

The balance of the report to remain private under the provisions of the Municipal Act as it pertains to labour relations.

It was moved by Regional Councillor Rosati, seconded by Regional Councillor Heath that Council enact the following by-law to confirm the proceedings of this meeting of Council.

 

By-law No. 2009-40

To confirm the proceedings of Council at its meeting held on September 24, 2009.