OPEN FORUM 6:45 P

The meeting of the Accessibility Advisory Committee was held on Thursday, November 19, 2015 in Magna Centre - Multi-Purpose Room #1, 800 Mulock Drive, Newmarket.

 

Members Present:

Councillor Bisanz

Steve Foglia, Chair

Gloria Couves

Linda Jones

Jeremy Slessor

 

 

Absent:

Michael Morrison

Richard Wilson

 

 

Staff Present:

P. McIntosh, Recreation Programmer

C. Finnerty, Council/Committee Coordinator

 

The meeting was called to order at 10:34 a.m.

 

S. Foglia in the Chair. 

 

Additions & Corrections to the Agenda

 

None.

 

Declarations of Pecuniary Interest

 

None.

 

Presentations/Deputations

 

None.

 

Approval of Minutes

 

1.

Accessibility Advisory Committee Minutes of September 17, 2015.

 

 

 

 

Moved by:       Councillor Bisanz

 

Seconded by: Jeremy Slessor

 

 

THAT the Accessibility Advisory Committee Minutes of September 17, 2015 be approved.

 

Carried

 

Items for Discussion

 

2.

Verbal Report regarding accessible taxicabs.

 

 

The Council/Committee Coordinator provided a verbal update regarding the accessible taxicab proposal from the City of Vaughan and advised that an update may be available in early 2016 regarding the proposal. 

 

3.

2015 Status Update - Town of Newmarket Multi-year Accessibility Plan.

 

 

The Council/Committee Coordinator provided a verbal update regarding the 2015 Status Update – Town of Newmarket Multi-year Accessibility Plan and summarized the amendments to the plan since its circulation to the Committee in October, 2015.

 

Moved by:       Jeremy Slessor

 

Seconded by: Gloria Couves

 

 

a) THAT the 2015 Status Update - Town of Newmarket Multi-year Accessibility Plan be received;

 

b)  AND THAT the 2015 Status Update - Town of Newmarket Multi-year Accessibility Plan be forwarded to Council for approval.

 

Carried

 

4.

National Access Awareness Week Update.

 

 

The Recreation Programmer provided a verbal update regarding plans for National Access Awareness Week and advised that planning has been deferred to January, in order to prepare the communications plan and event outline.   

 

 

 

 

5.

Accessibility Advisory Committee Workplan.

 

 

The Committee discussed its workplan and identified priority projects for 2016, being creation of an annual Accessibility Award, development of an approved Town Accessibility logo and accessibility audits of Town facilities. 

 

New Business

 

a)

The Chair provided a verbal update on the last meeting of the York Region Accessibility Advisory Committee.  Plans for the Regional Annex building and amendments to the Municipal Act to permit alternate forms of meeting attendance were discussed.  In addition, he advised that York Region is seeking the assistance of the Committee to prepare plans for National Access Awareness Week events.  

 

b)

The Chair expressed concern with respect to the safety of the pedestrian crosswalk on Water Street.  Interlocking pavers on the street are the same colour as the Tom Taylor Trail, which creates the perception that there is a crosswalk on Water Street and causes pedestrians to assume that cars will yield to them.    

 

Moved by:       Linda Jones

 

Seconded by: Jeremy Slessor

 

 

THAT staff be directed to look at the installation of a crosswalk and associated safety measures at Water Street and Doug Duncan Drive.

 

Carried

 

c)

The Committee discussed declaring Michael Morrison’s seat on the Committee vacant as he has not attended any meetings to date and has not provided regrets.  

 

Moved by:       Jeremy Slessor

 

Seconded by:  Linda Jones

 

 

WHEREAS Michael Morrison has been absent from three Accessibility Advisory Committee meetings without regrets, that his position on the Committee be declared vacant in accordance with the Committee Administration Policy;

 

AND THAT the Appointment Committee appoint a replacement member to the Committee. 

 

Carried

 

d)

The Recreation Programmer provided a verbal update on an upcoming sledge hockey series.

 

Adjournment

 

Moved by:       Jeremy Slessor

 

Seconded by:  Linda Jones

 

 

THAT the meeting adjourn. 

 

Carried

 

There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 11:50 a.m.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Date

 

Steve Foglia, Chair