Town of Newmarket

Minutes

Emergency Council

Meeting #:
Date:	Wednesday, March 18, 2020
Time:	3:00 P.m. - 5:00 P.m.
Location:	Council Chambers Municipal Offices 395 Mulock Drive Newmarket, ON L3Y 4X7

Members Present:

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

Members Absent:

• Councillor Simon
• Councillor Kwapis

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
• L. Lyons, Director of Legislative Services/Town Clerk
• M. Mayes, Director of Financial Services/Town Treasurer
• J. Grossi, Legislative Coordinator

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1.

Message From the Mayor

Mayor Taylor provided remarks regarding the current COVID-19 pandemic and advised residents to follow the advice of our Public Health officials. 

Mayor Taylor declared a State of Emergency in the Town of Newmarket and advised that the Emergency Operations Centre would be activated on March 19, 2020.

2.

Additions & Corrections to the Agenda

The Clerk advised that a draft agenda was published to the Town's website at Newmarket.ca/meetings on March 17, 2020. The reports and other items were distributed to Council throughout the day on March 18, 2020 and all items are now available on the Town's website with the agenda.

3.

Conflict of Interest Declarations

None.

4.

Deputations

The Mayor advised that the Municipal Offices were closed to the public and that this meeting was livestreamed 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 [e-mail]. He advised residents that their comments would form part of the public record.

4.1

2020 Residential Property Taxes

The Mayor read aloud the correspondence provided by Rachel Bausch regarding the possibility reducing 2020 residential property taxes for residents in the Town of Newmarket. 

4.2

Town Closures

The Mayor read aloud the correspondence provided by Nancy Furzecott regarding the closure of essential services in the Town of Newmarket.

• Moved by: Councillor Woodhouse
  Seconded by: Councillor Bisanz
  1. That the correspondence provided by Rachel Bausch regarding 2020 Residential Property Taxes be received; and, 
  2. That the correspondence provided Nancy Furzecott regarding Town Closures be received. 
  Carried

5.

Items

5.1

Update on Town Closures regarding COVID-19

The Mayor advised that the COVID-19 Update document was placed on the agenda to provide Counicil and the public with information on the Town closures in response to COVID-19.

5.2

Postponement of Meetings due to COVID-19

• Moved by: Councillor Twinney
  Seconded by: Councillor Morrison
  1. That the report entitled Postponement of Meetings due to COVID-19 dated March 18, 2020 be received; and,
  2. That all regularly scheduled Council, Committee of the Whole, Board and Advisory Committee meetings be suspended effective immediately; and,
  3. That any special or emergency meetings continue to be scheduled as determined necessary by the Mayor in consultation with the Chief Administrative Officer; and,
  4. That regularly scheduled Council, Committee of the Whole, Board and Advisory Committee meetings resume at any time prior to August 2020 under the direction of the Mayor in consultation with the Chief Administrative Officer; and,
  5. That Staff be authorized and directed to do all things necessary to give effect to this resolution.
  Carried

5.3

2020 Residential Property Tax Deferral

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

  Moved by: Councillor Woodhouse
  Seconded by: Councillor Morrison
  1. That the report entitled 2020 Residential/Commercial Property Taxes dated March 18, 2020 be received; and,
  2. That Council direct staff to devise an appropriate tax deferral plan within the next thirty to sixty days in coordination, to the extent possible, with the Regional Municipality of York and other local municipalities and that the Chief Administrative Officer and Mayor be delegated the authority to approve the plan; and,
  3. That as an interim step, Council waive the charging of tax penalties and interest that would otherwise be levied on April 1st; and,
  4. That the Treasurer, Chief Administrative Officer and Mayor be authorized and directed to do all things necessary to give effect to this resolution; and,
  5. That the correspondence provided by David Kempton regarding 2020 Property Taxes be received. 
  Carried

5.3.1

2020 Property Taxes

The Mayor read aloud the correspondence provided by David Kempton regarding the possibility of providing residents of the Town of Newmarket the option to defer 2020 property tax payments. 

5.4

Community Support

• Moved by: Councillor Twinney
  Seconded by: Councillor Broome
  1. That Council approve up to $25,000 to be allocated towards community support such as enhanced food bank operations, meal programs or other community needs.
  Carried
• Moved by: Councillor Woodhouse
  Seconded by: Councillor Bisanz

  2. That Council direct Staff to coordinate with the Newmarket Food Pantry and the appropriate community partners to understand and plan for the potential need for providing a Town-supported community meal program and enhanced food bank operations.

  Carried

5.5

Memorandum regarding Noise Exemption for Delivery Trucks during COVID-19 Pandemic

The Director of Legislative Services/Town Clerk advised that the Town of Newmarket's Noise By-law expressly permits an exemption to the identified time restrictions in the event of necessity for the maintenance of essential services.

5.6

Amendment to Delegation By-Law 2016-17

• Moved by: Deputy Mayor & Regional Councillor Vegh
  Seconded by: Councillor Twinney
  1. That the report entitled “Amendment to Delegation By-law 2016-17” dated March 18, 2020 be received; and,
  2. That Council approve the amendment to Delegation By-law 2016-17 as provided in Attachment A to this report; and,
  3. That By-law 2020-19 be enacted; and,
  4. That Staff be authorized and directed to do all things necessary to give effect to this resolution.
  Carried

6.

Closed Session

• Moved by: Councillor Broome
  Seconded by: Councillor Morrison
  1. That Council resolve into Closed Session to discuss the following matter:

  1. 1. Business Continuity Plan - Labour relations or employee negotiations as per Section 239 (2) (d) of the Municipal Act, 2001.
        
        
  Carried

  Council resolved into Closed Session at 4:36 PM.
  The Emergency Council (Closed Session) Minutes are recorded under separate cover.
  Council resumed into Open Session at 4:51 PM.

  
  

6.1

Business Continuity Planning

• Moved by: Councillor Woodhouse
  Seconded by: Councillor Morrison
  1. That Closed Session Report CL-2020-02 dated March 18, 2020 be received; and,
  2. That staff be authorized to implement the direction provided in closed session and as provided for in Closed Session Report CL-2020-02; and,
  3. That the recommendations in Closed Session Report CL-2020-02 dated March 18, 2020 be adopted.
  Carried

7.

Confirmatory By-law

• Moved by: Councillor Bisanz
  Seconded by: Councillor Broome
  1. That By-law 2020-15 be enacted.
  Carried

8.

Adjournment

• Moved by: Deputy Mayor & Regional Councillor Vegh
  Seconded by: Councillor Woodhouse
  1. That the meeting be adjourned at 4:57 PM.
  Carried