This is a regular CATCH summary of votes at committee and council meetings. This report covers the month of December 2016. The first line of each entry identifies the issue, followed by a brief description. This is followed by the location of the vote. Multiple votes on the same issue are reported together. Absentees are only listed where reported in the minutes and where the missing councillors are members of that committee or decision-making body. Links are provided to source documents. Note that the vast majority of council decisions are unanimous and the votes are not officially recorded. Changes to the city’s website mean it is no longer possible to provide direct links to motions and staff reports.
Land acquisition
In closed session councillors discussed “potential acquisition of the former Hamilton Psychiatric Hospital lands” and voted to refer the item to a closed session discussion at the December 14 council meeting.
At General Issues Committee, December 7 Minutes p17, 43
Recorded opposed to the deferral: Green
Housing stability benefit shortfall
A motion by Merulla pointed to a shortfall in the Housing Stability Benefit which assists with rent arrears, utility arrears, last month’s rent payments, and mattresses for ODSP recipients, and proposed shifting $500,000 from the emergency and community services budget surplus to the program. Committee heard from several delegations before unanimously approving the motion in a recorded vote.
At Emergency and Community Services Committee, December 12 Minutes p2-3, 7-10 (8-0)
For: Farr, Green, Jackson, A Johnson, Merulla, Partridge, Skelly, Whitehead
Against: None
Audit of Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority
A motion by Brenda Johnson called on the Premier of Ontario to order a forensic audit of the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority. The wording of the motion matched that provided to council in correspondence from the City of St Catharines. It was approved unanimously in a recorded vote.
At City Council, December 14 Minutes p12-13
For: Collins, Conley, Eisenberger, Farr, Ferguson, Green, Jackson, A Johnson, B Johnson, Merulla, Partridge, Pearson, Skelly, Whitehead
Against: none
Absent: Pasuta, VanderBeek
Bylaw enforcement in McMaster neighbourhoods
A motion by Aidan Johnson to hire two additional students for a one-year pilot program of increased enforcement of yard maintenance bylaws in the McMaster neighbourhoods, and to re-deploy a parking bylaw enforcement officer to the same neighbourhoods was approved.
At City Council, December 14 Minutes p13-14
Recorded opposed: Ferguson, Green