REPORT ON COUNCIL
Sept 28, 2009
Committee of the Whole Meeting: 9:05 am – 1:05 pm and 1:37 pm – 1:37 pm.
Closed session: 11.51 am to 1:03 pm.
Regular Evening Meeting: 7:00 pm – 7:31 pm.
Mayor Breckenridge, Deputy Mayor Lawrence and Councilors Claire and Warren present. Councilor Cornell absent on vacation.
CONFIDENTIAL / CLOSED SESSION: 11:52 am – 1:03 pm.
ORAL SUBMISSIONS TO COUNCIL:
Bayshore Senior Citizens Association –
Members of that organization, which has 593 members, presented their budget and explained to Council that provincial guidelines require that the municipality provide 20% of required funding if the organization is to qualify for provincial grants. Council will consider this during their 2010 budget deliberations.
Old Dumpsite, Part Lot 15, Concession 14W –
An environmental assessment of that site has cleared many of the 14 properties involved but further test wells, costing approximately $14,000 to $18,000, are required for the remaining six properties. An owner requested consideration for cost sharing by the Township. Council decided, at the evening meeting, to pay 75% of the costs capped at $18,000.
STAFF REPORTS TO COUNCIL:
Dates Set for 2010 Budget Meetings –
Council agreed to hold 3 all-day sessions — Nov. 23rd and Dec. 10th, 2009 and Jan. 18th, 2010. These meetings begin at 9 am, are open to the public, and are held in the Council Chambers.
Simcoe County Waste Management By-law –
The County has passed a new, much-improved waste management bylaw. They enquired if the local municipalities would be interested in partnering with them for enforcement. Council decided (appropriately, in our view) to decline. This year more than 400 violations have been noted and the cost of dealing with them has been submitted to the County. Most concern non-collectable items left at the roadside.
Site 41 Cancelled – Mayor Breckenridge announced that County Council had cancelled Landfill Site 41. The Community Monitoring Committee will continue to meet at least until the Certificate of Approval is revoked and Site 41 has been decommissioned. They will monitor the water situation and the infilling of the site.
NEW BUSINESS:
County Council Public Relations Initiative – Tiny’s Council passed (3-1, with Mayor Breckenridge in opposition) a resolution which reads as follows:
The actual wording of the report and resolution at County Council is:
In accordance with County Council’s approval of expenditures for a public relations plan, the Corporate Communications Department has initiated work with the public relations firm, Fleishman Hillard. This will see the commencement of a campaign to elevate the public perception of the County. The County of Simcoe, as a regional service provider, delivers significant services upon which many people depend. It is important to ensure that the County manage its reputation and effectively reinforce to residents that our services are effective, cost-efficient and valued.
Obviously there is a variance in the wording. The actual campaign has not been costed but the amount of $250,000 is significant, and is in addition to an annual public relations budget of$1,100,000. County Council approved this initiative, on a weighted vote, by a relatively narrow margin – 62-44.
