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November 2/05 Report
Start time: 9:41 a.m. Start In Camera: 10:08 p.m.
Attendance:
Councillors
- P. Bruckler (in 9:30 )
- C. Collins (in 9:40 )
- M. Ferguson (in 9:45 )
- M. Pearson (in 9:25 )
- A. Samson (Vice Chair) (in 9:22 )
- D. Braden (Chair) - Absent
Also Present:
- Councillor B. McHattie (in 9:30 )
- Councillor T. Whitehead (in 10:05 )
- J. Rinaldo - General Manager, Finance & Corporate Services
- P. Barkwell - City Solicitor
- A. Leitch - Hamilton Utilities Corp.
- C. Graham - General Manager, Human Resources
- Kevin Christenson - City Clerk
- Carolyn Biggs - Legislative Assistant
Media
CATCH
1. CHANGES TO AGENDA
(a) Request to Appear:
Joanna Chapman and Margaret Robertson respecting the audit of Mayor Larry DiIanni's campaign finances
Councillor Collins "Just move that the delegations requests be referred to Committee of the Whole [COW]. I think to date that we've dealt with the audit issue at Committee of the Whole, so I think it would be a first - maybe I'm wrong on that, maybe I can check with the clerk that to date we've dealt with that issue at the Committee of the Whole. Today we have four council members here. I think it would be more appropriate to make that referral. So we would enterain the request, and we would allow the delegation, but it would be at a Committee of the Whole."
K. Christenson : "We have received the reports at Council as well as the report that came initially from the auditor was referred by Council to staff. I think it's a timing issue here on the basis that we will be reporting back to Council at the next council meeting, which is a week today [Wednesday Nov. 9]
Collins : So that report goes direct to Council instead of COW?
Christenson : That's correct.
Collins : Well I think there should be an opportunity to deal with that at COW. It's kind of awkward - a report goes straight to Council - so my recommendation would be that we entertain the delegation at COW, rather than here at the committee.
Councillor Samson : You're asking for a special COW?
Collins : A request to a COW meeting and if that takes place before Council, then so be it.
Samson: "Can I ask the clerk. The timing of this is to come to the next council meeting?"
Christenson : Council has a requirement to deal with the report within 30 days from when it was presented to Council, which was now a week ago (Oct. 26). The timing is right now I don't have a special - I don't have any COW meeting scheduled between now and next Wednesday. If the Councillor is suggesting that we arrange a special COW meeting prior to that, even prior to the Council meeting, which is, I think you're aware, held out in Glanbrook?
Collins : We have one on the 7 th - COW?
Christenson : I believe we do, but I think - what's on the - I'm not sure what's on the agenda.
Collins : I would move it to the 7 th then.
Christenson : We can try and fit that in on the 7th then.
Collins : Or if we find that there's another meeting that's appropriate - but it should be COW. To have 4 members of Council to entertain this issue when it's been dealt with by Council as a whole to date - I'm not sure what purpose that serves anyone, quite frankly, regardless of where you stand on the issue.
Collins moves to refer to COW meeting "and I would ask that Clerk come back with whatever that appropriate date is, prior to the report - I think that's the issue - being entertained by Council.
Councillor Pearson seconds the motion. "We do have the meeting on the Monday. We also have the COW meeting on the 9 th , in the morning.
Samson comments that an unusual step at the COW will be allowing people to speak, in regards to Maple Leaf. "Normally don't do that type of thing, as long as we realize that we're doing that thing. That's all."
Collins : It's a referral to a COW, and obviously COW would have to decide if the delegation is entertained. That's my motion.
CARRIED
(Councillor Ferguson arrives at end of this discussion)
(b) Item 8.2 - Restructuring Plan for Stelco - Report withdrawn - verbal update from staff
(c) Item 12.1 - Labour Negotiations - Hamilton Emergency Services (HURO5020 ) Report withdrawn
Time on this item: 7 min.
5. CONSENT ITEMS
5.1 Quarterly Status Report on the Use of Policy #10 - Emergency Purchasing and Policy #11 - Negotiations, for the 3 rd Quarter 2005 (FCS05046(b) (City Wide)
http://www.myhamilton.ca/NR/rdonlyres/584EA28F-0005-4E0E
-90CC-DCA5C7844284/0/Nov02FCS05046b.pdf
(Pearson/Bruckler )
Bruckler comments re item in report "37 purchases identified as single source" and would like to see that number reduced. J. Rinaldo responds "they will take that under advisement."
5.2 Monthly Status Report of Tenders and Requests for Proposals
for September, 2005 (FCS05023(g)) (City Wide)
5.3 Quarterly Investment Update to September 30, 2005
(FCS05060(b)) (City Wide)
5.4 Hamilton Future Fund Quarterly Investment Update as at
September 30, 2005 (FCS05061(b)) (City Wide)
5.5 Red Hill Valley Project Financial Status Report
(FCS05027g/PW05023g)
No further discussion on Consent Items.
All Consent Items CARRIED
(Time on this item: 2 min.)
8. DISCUSSION ITEMS
8.1 2004 Salaries - Hamilton Utilities Corporation (No copy)
(deferred from October 29 committee meeting.)
Collins raises an issue for C. Merulla who is not present. Merulla is looking for additional information to what has been released, such as "expenses related to the Board and it's members" such as stipends, travel expenses, training, etc. and asks that information be forwarded to Council. "This would be apart from the issue of salary disclosure . publishing individuals who might earn more than $100,000 per year." "Great to see that this will be more public and transparent, but still the remaining issue is in regards to Board expenses", and asks on behalf of C. Merulla "where this issue sits."
A. Leitch : "We gave that information to the Mayor and expenses for the Board are zero." The Board's compensations are in the report, "and even though they are supposed to put in expenses for traveling, they don't."
Collins asks if that will be part of the reporting structure in the future and Leitch confirms it will.
Motion to Receive the report.
(Pearson/Ferguson) CARRIED
(Time on this item 3 min.)
8.2 Removed from agenda. Support for the Restructuring Plan for Stelco Inc. (FCS05111)
Rinaldo informs they have reached an agreement with Stelco, "utilizing the setoffs that we have for vacancy rebates to apply against the outstanding arrears. .we have recovered all of our funds that the City was entitled to in regards to taxes, water arrears, and ??? interest."
(Pearson/Ferguson)
CARRIED
8.3 2004 Statement of Reserves (FCS05111)
(Due to bulk, paper copies of the 2004 Reserve Report are available from the Office of the Clerk.)
Rinaldo comments on the report without using mic which is malfunctioning.)
Pearson asks if changes to the library board policies have been discussed with the board. (Unable to hear what Rinaldo replies without mic on.)
Samson : "So that won't cause any problem."
Bruckler finds the document helpful and beneficial and thanks staff for it. Refers to p. 130-131 Capital Reserves re consolidation of former parkland, and states that Stoney Creek has set aside some funds for "a large community park below the escarpment." - notes that the fund is somewhat depleted - trying to resurrect because of strong identified need, similar to West Mountain Sports reserve - opening balance seems low - less than ½ a million when $3 million plus from Taro as initial payment - set aside in another account?
Rinaldo : funds transferred to the project in 2002 - set aside for that purpose.
Bruckler also mentions another fund of $350,000 for addition to Valley Park and asks staff to track it to see where it is.
Ferguson : In a year or so do you expect this book to be half as thick?
Rinaldo responds that they are a big organization and have attempted to consolidate some of the reserves.
Feguson asks why "Auchmar rentals go into capital - why not into operating?"
Staff (John?) explains that it's a timing issue of when they actually collect the rent and when it is expended - kept in a reserve until they use it - operating budget is yearly - expenditures may happen the following year - so kept in a reserve for that purpose.
Rinaldo : We use the reserves to match the revenues against expenditures.
Bruckler asks about reserves for upkeep of cemeteries and Rinaldo responds that they are under Trust Funds and will let the committee know by email how much is in the fund.
Ferguson approves recommendations in the report.
Seconded by Pearson - "subject to what Mr. Rinaldo said that he will speak with Ken Robertson on the Library Board."
CARRIED
(Time on this item 8 min.)
8.4 Violence in the Workplace Prevention Policy (HUR05001)
C. Graham - City feels it's important as part of the overall code of conduct to have a policy that specifically speaks to the commitment to educate staff and to take every step to insure that there is no violence in the workplace - this is just a policy that supports an updated procedure
(Bruckler/Pearson)
Approving recommendations in the report.
CARRIED
11. GENERAL INFORMATION/OTHER BUSINESS
Ferguson asks for clarification of delegation going to COW - was it a request or ??? (He was absent for almost all of the discussion.)
Samson explains to Ferguson what transpired earlier before he was present.
12. PRIVATE AND CONFIDENTIAL
Withdrawn
MOTION TO MOVE IN CAMERA.
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