MUNICIPALITY OF ARRAN-ELDERSLIE

 

           

Budget Committee of the Whole Meeting - BCW#01-09

 

 

Friday, March 6, 2009

9:00 a.m.

 

Council Chambers

Municipal Administration Offices

1925 Bruce County Road 10

Chesley, Ontario

 

 

Chair

Councillor Ross Herron

 

 

MINUTES

 

A meeting of the Budget Committee of the Whole of the Municipality of Arran-Elderslie was held on Friday, March 9, 2009 at 9:00 a.m. in the Council Chambers.

 

The following Members of Committee were present:

 

Councillor Ross Herron (Chair)

Mayor Ron Oswald

Deputy Mayor Mary Cumming

Councillor Stacy Charlton

Councillor Mark Davis

Councillor Paul Eagleson

Councillor Jack Riley

 

The following members of Staff were present:

 

A.P. Crawford, CAO/Clerk

J. Marklevitz, Treasurer

V. Weppler, Works Manager

S. McLeod, Water and Sewer Foreman

B. McAllister, Facilities Foreman

K. Eke, Recreation Programmer

 

 

ADOPTION OF AGENDA

 

The agenda was adopted as distributed by the Clerk

 

DISCLOSURES OF PECUNIARY INTEREST AND GENERAL NATURE THEREOF

 

There were no disclosures of pecuniary interest by Members of Committee under the Municipal Conflict of Interest Act.

 

SCHEDULED BUSINESS

 

3.1       Presentation of Draft 2009 Budget

 

            Councillor Herron, Chair, made opening remarks with respect to the budget process and the need to be aware of the financial pressures facing the Municipality, including the need to undertake a number of infrastructure repair projects.

 

            J. Marklevitz, Treasurer, reviewed the notes she had provided with the draft budget documents, and advised that the final policing costs for 2008 had not yet been received, nor had the 2009 policing budget.  She also noted that subsequent to the preparation of the draft budget, the Tara Fire Department budget request had been received, which had been provided to Members of Committee at this meeting.

 

            She addressed the “uncontrollable” budget items which included bank interest, audit costs especially in light of the PSAB requirements, and the requested municipal levy to fund the Bruce Grey Huron Disability Transportation Corporation.  She also discussed the amount of overtime incurred by staff and the impact of pending retirements.

 

            V. Weppler, Works Manager, presented various matters within his departmental budget for consideration.  Discussion took place with respect to the need to closely examine service levels provided and whether any adjustments might be necessary, as well as to critically examine the proposed projects for 2009.

 

A recess was held (11:15 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.)

 

            B. McAllister and K. Eke provided information with respect to the specific needs of the Recreation Department, including items that they would like to see included in the budget.

 

            Discussion took place with respect to the potential for making application to the Federal Government to access the recently announced Recreational Infrastructure Canada (RNIC) Program grants that could pay up to 50% of the cost of eligible projects.

 

            Deputy Mayor Cumming provided an update with respect to a meeting she and Recreation Staff had with the Paisley Curling Club Executive regarding the invoice it had received for the electrical upgrade work at the Paisley Arena and the previous lack of communication with the Club.  She advised that the Club had requested further information with respect to this invoice and also further time to pay.  She also confirmed that Recreation Staff would meet on a semi-annual basis with the Curling Club Executive to foster improved communications.

 

            K. Eke, Recreation Programmer, provided an update with respect to the information she had found thus far relating to the previous Reciprocal Agreement with the Bluewater Board of Education and its current desire not to enter into another such agreement.

 

A recess was held (12:27 p.m. – 1:15 p.m.).

 

            V. Weppler, Works Manager, provided specific information with respect to the projects for which the Federal grant money received in 2008 could be used, and highlighted the fact that the sewer portion of the Chesley “Big Dig” amounted to about $382,000 of which this funding would cover one third of the cost.  Discussion took place with respect to Council’s intentions regarding submitting a further application under the Build Canada Fund program for this project or whether the focus should be changed in a new application. 

 

            Staff was instructed to contact the Municipal Engineer and arrange for a special Council meeting to discuss this and other engineering matters in the Town to determine how best to budget funds.  Further discussion took place with respect to whether or not starting the proposed 3rd Avenue project would be acceptable as the start of a multi-year project to access the previously received Federal funds.

 

            Budget Committee of the Whole referred the draft budget back to Staff for further work, taking into account the discussions at this meeting, to further reduce the projected tax levy.

 

 

ADJOURNMENT

 

The meeting was adjourned at 3:30 p.m.