Town of Newmarket

Minutes

Committee of the Whole - Electronic

Meeting #:
Date:	Monday, January 11, 2021
Time:	1:00 P.m. - 6:00 P.m.
Location:	Streamed live from the Municipal Offices 395 Mulock Drive Newmarket, ON L3Y 4X7

Members Present:

• Mayor Taylor
• Deputy Mayor & Regional Councillor Vegh
• Councillor Simon
• Councillor Woodhouse
• Councillor Twinney
• Councillor Morrison
• Councillor Kwapis
• Councillor Broome
• Councillor Bisanz

Staff Present:

• J. Sharma, Chief Administrative Officer
• E. Armchuk, Commissioner of Corporate Services
• P. Noehammer, Commissioner of Development & Infrastructure Services
• I. McDougall, Commissioner of Community Services
• K. Saini, Deputy Town Clerk
• F. Scott, Manager of Regulatory Services
• M. Agnoletto, Director of Public Works Services
• M. Mayes, Director of Financial Services/Treasurer
• L. Villanueva, Supervisor of Property Tax and Assessment
• J. Unger, Director of Planning & Building Services
• A. Walkom, Legislative Coordinator
• J. Grossi, Legislative Coordinator

​For consideration by Council on January 18, 2021.
The meeting was called to order at 1:00 PM.
Mayor Taylor in the Chair.

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1.

Notice

Mayor Taylor advised that the Municipal Offices were closed to the public and that this meeting was streamed live at Newmarket.ca/meetings. Residents who would like to provide comment on an item on this agenda were encouraged to provide their feedback in writing through email to Legislative Services at or by joining the meeting electronically through video or telephone. He advised residents that their comments would form part of the public record.

2.

Additions & Corrections to the Agenda

None.

3.

Conflict of Interest Declarations

None.

4.

Presentations & Recognitions

4.1

2021 Financial Relief Program in Response to COVID-19

Note: This item was dealt with under sub-item 6.1. Please see sub-item 6.1 for motion.

The Supervisor of Property Tax and Assessment provided a presentation regarding the 2021 Financial Relief Program in Response to COVID-19 which provided an overview of the current relief measures, a comparison with neighbouring municipalities, and the details of the proposed relief program. The presentation concluded with an overview of the funding sources for the relief program.

5.

Deputations

None.

6.

Consent Items

• Moved by: Councillor Woodhouse
  Seconded by: Councillor Kwapis
  1. That sub-items 6.2, 6.4, 6.5, 6.6, and 6.7 be adopted on consent. See following sub-items 6.1 and 6.3 for motions.
  
  
  
  Carried

6.1

2021 Financial Relief Program in Response to COVID-19

• An alternate motion was presented and is noted below in bold.

  Moved by: Councillor Twinney
  Seconded by: Councillor Broome
  1. That the presentation provided by the Supervisor of Property Tax and Assessment regarding the 2021 Financial Relief Program in Response to COVID-19 be received; and,
  2. That the report entitled 2021 Financial Relief Program in Response to COVID-19 dated January 11, 2021 be received; and,
  3. That Council approve the 2021 Financial Relief Program, which consists of:
     1. Waiving Penalty and Interest on Unpaid Property Taxes for Eligible Residential Property Owners until December 31, 2021;
     2. Increase Property Tax Assistance to the Elderly from $320 to $450;
     3. Increase Water and Waste Water Rebate from $354 to $420;
     4. Water Rebate of $1,000 for Eligible Small Businesses; and,
  4. That Council approve the 2021 Financial Relief Program to begin on February 1, 2021 until December 31, 2021; and,
  5. That Council approve one (1) temporary part-time staff to assist Financial Services Department in administering the Financial Relief Program in 2021; and,
  6. That Staff be directed to implement an application process for the water rebate program which includes an attestation of financial need or hardship; and,
  7. That Staff be directed to target the water rebate program to the first half of 2021; and,
  8. That Staff be directed to report back to Council if revisions to the program are required based on resident feedback, new Provincial initiatives or a substantial change in the state of pandemic; and,
  9. That Staff be authorized and directed to do all things necessary to give effect to this resolution.
  
  
  
  Carried

6.2

2020 Annual Accessibility Status Update to the 2019-2023 Multi-Year Accessibility Plan

• 1. That the report entitled 2020 Annual Accessibility Status Update to the 2019-2023 Multi-Year Accessibility Plan dated January 11, 2021 be received; and,
  2. That the 2020 Accessibility Status Update be approved; and
  3. That Staff be authorized and directed to do all things necessary to give effect to this resolution.
  
  
  
  

6.3

INFO-2020-39: Regulatory Services Review During COVID-19

• Moved by: Councillor Morrison
  Seconded by: Councillor Simon
  1. That the Information Report entitled Regulatory Services Review during COVID-19, dated December 23, 2020 be received.
  
  
  
  Carried

6.4

Item 7.3 from September 1, 2020 Heritage Newmarket Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes

• 1. That the following be referred to staff:
     1. That the Heritage Newmarket Advisory Committee recommend to Council that the location of the house at 1075 Gorham Street be taken into consideration as part of the Heritage designation.
  
  
  
  

6.5

Heritage Newmarket Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes of September 1, 2020

• 1. That the Heritage Newmarket Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes of September 1, 2020 be received.
  
  
  
  

6.6

Main Street District Business Improvement Area Board of Management Meeting Minutes of October 21, 2020 and November 18, 2020, Special Meeting Minutes of November 4, 2020 and November 11, 2020, and the Annual General Meeting Minutes of November 5, 2019

• 1. That the Main Street District Business Improvement Area Board of Management Meeting Minutes of October 21, 2020 and November 18, 2020, Special Meeting Minutes of November 4, 2020 and November 11, 2020, and the Annual General Meeting Minutes of November 5, 2019 be received. 
  
  
  
  

6.7

Accessibility Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes of September 17, 2020

• 1. That the Accessibility Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes of September 17, 2020 be received. 
  
  
  
  

7.

Action Items

None.

8.

Notices of Motion

None.

9.

Motions Where Notice has Already been Provided

None.

10.

New Business

10.1

2020 Annual Accessibility Status Update to the 2019-2023 Multi-Year Accessibility Plan

Councillor Broome recognized the work of the Newmarket Accessibility Advisory Committee and staff for their efforts to remove accessibility barriers throughout the Town. 

10.2

Damage to Lawns Due to Snow Removal

Councillor Bisanz inquired as to plans to avoid damage to lawns caused by snow removal on sidewalks. The Director of Public Works advised that staff would prepare an information report to summarize the information available.

• Moved by: Councillor Bisanz
  Seconded by: Councillor Twinney
  1. That Council direct staff to provide an information report regarding damage to lawns caused by snow removal.
  
  
  
  Carried

11.

Closed Session

• Moved by: Councillor Kwapis
  Seconded by: Councillor Woodhouse
  1. That the Committee of the Whole resolve into Closed Session to discuss the following matters:
     1. Update from ENVI - A trade secret or scientific, technical, commercial, financial or labour relations information, supplied in confidence to the municipality or local board, which, if disclosed, could reasonably be expected to prejudice significantly the competitive position or interfere significantly with the contractual or other negotiations of a person, group of persons, or organization as per Section 239 (2) (i) of the Municipal Act, 2001.
  
  
  
  Carried

  The Committee of the Whole resolved into Closed Session at 2:38 PM.
  The Committee of the Whole (Closed Session) Minutes are recorded under separate cover.
  The Committee of the Whole resumed into Open Session at 4:16 PM

  
  

11.1

Update from ENVI

[A trade secret or scientific, technical, commercial, financial or labour relations information, supplied in confidence to the municipality or local board, which, if disclosed, could reasonably be expected to prejudice significantly the competitive position or interfere significantly with the contractual or other negotiations of a person, group of persons, or organization as per Section 239 (2) (i) of the Municipal Act, 2001.]

12.

Adjournment

• Moved by: Councillor Bisanz
  Seconded by: Councillor Broome
  1. That the meeting be adjourned at 4:16 PM.
  
  
  
  Carried