2001/01/29FOURTH MEETING
REGULAR COUNCIL
ADOPTION OF MINUTES
DISCLOSURES OF PECUNIARY INTEREST
Council Chambers
January 29, 2001
Council met on Monday, January 29, 2001 at 5:30 p.m. for the purpose of
considering Regular Business matters. All members of Council, were present. Alderman
Victor Pietrangelo offered the Opening Prayer.
ORDERED on the motion of Alderman Feren, seconded by Alderman Hendershot, that
the Minutes of the Planning /Regular Meeting of January 22, 2001 be approved as printed.
Carried Unanimously.
Alderman Craitor indicated a pecuniary interest on Report F- 2001 -13, on Cheque
Nos. 257506 and 257459, because a member of his family is employed by the Region.
Alderman Wing indicated a pecuniary interest on Report R- 2001 -02 out of Corporate
Services Committee, because she is an officer of the organization involved.
DEPUTATIONS
Ms. Bernadette Secco and Margaret Dunn were in attendance regarding Niagara
Falls Minor Hockey matters.
AND
Communication No. 20 Mr. Brandon M. Boone, Solicitor, Chown, Cairns on behalf
of the Niagara Falls Minor Hockey Association. The communication advises that the
Niagara Falls Minor Hockey Association Board of Directors had agreed to have its financial
statements audited by Corfield Company, Chartered Accountants.
AND
Communication No. 21 Corfield Company. The communication advises that the firm
has been engaged to audit the financial statements for the year ended June 30, 2001 for
the Niagara Falls Minor Hockey Association.
Alderman Volpatti advised that a committee, consisting of Aldermen Craitor,
Federow, loannoni, Puttick and Volpatti had been set up to assist with some problems that
were alleged to be occurring in minor hockey, but that the committee had not, as yet, met.
She indicated that the matter wait until the committee has met and report back to Council.
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In response to questions raised, the Chief Administrative Officer stated that Council
had the authority to hear a deputation but did not have direct authority to affect any
changes within an organization.
The City Solicitor advised that he was in agreement with the comments of the Chief
Administrative Officer on the matter.
Following the discussion, it was ORDERED on the motion of Alderman Volpatti,
seconded by Alderman Campbell, that Council not hear the deputation and wait until after
the committee, established by Council, has reported to Council. The motion Carried with
Aldermen Feren, Federow, Orr, Pietrangelo and Puttick voting contrary to the motion and
with all others voting in favour.
COMMUNICATIONS
Communication No. 22 Ms. Joan Howatson, 4544 Victoria Avenue Re: Loccoco's
Green Grocer's Store. The communication expresses concerns that Loccoco's becoming
a Shipping and Truck Terminal.
ORDERED on the motion of Alderman Feren, seconded by Alderman Orr, that the matter
be referred to staff. Carried Unanimously.
REPORTS
RATIFICATION OF CORPORATE SERVICES COMMITTEE MATTERS
ORDERED on the motion of Alderman Campbell, seconded by Alderman Craitor, that the
actions taken in Corporate Services Committee, earlier this evening, be approved:
1. Adoption of the January 8, 2001 Minutes of the Corporate Services Committee;
2. F- 2001 -06 Fidelity Bond Coverage that the report be approved and that the City's
Comprehensive Crime Policy be deposited with the Director of Finance for
safekeeping and to be available for inspection;
3. F- 2001 -07 Borrowing By -law that the borrowing of $23,000,000 for current
expenditures for the year 2001 be approved;
4. F- 2001 -08 Cancellation, Reduction or Refund of Taxes Under Section 442 and
443 of the Municipal Act that the cancellation, reduction or refund of taxes as
detailed be approved and granted to the individuals listed;
5. F- 2001 -09- Municipal Performance Measures Program that the report be received
for information; it was recommended that a resolution be forwarded to the Premier
to request for an audit to determine where the municipalities stand with respect to
revenue neutrality; and it was also recommended that staff prepare a report at
budget time that would encapsulate all of the downloading costs that the
municipality has endured over the last couple of years;
6. F- 2001 -10 1999 Financial Statements that the 1999 Financial Statements be
received for information;
7. F- 2001 -11 2001 Interim Tax Rates that the 2001 Interim Tax Rates be approved;
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8. F- 2001 -12 Water Billing Transfer Update that the report be received for
information;
9. F- 2001 -13 Municipal Accounts that the municipal accounts totalling
$1,947,906.40 for the period ending January 29, 2001, be approved;
10. R- 2001 -02 Heating and Cooling System Fralick's Tavern that the tender for the
installation of the new heating and air conditioning system for Fralicks tavern be
deferred to the February 5' 2001 Council Meeting;
11. Toronto Blue Jays Baseball Club Re: Ticket Purchase for Niagara Falls
Community Day at the Ballpark that the City decline the purchase of at least 500
Blue Jays tickets to the Saturday, July 28 Blue Jays Game and that staff work with
local community groups to coordinate the sale of tickets to the public;
12. United Way of Niagara Falls Re: YWCA 2001 Budget Submission that the YWCA
2001 Budget Submission be referred to final budget deliberations;
13. That Alderman Volpatti be authorized to attend the conference in Toronto on
Amalgamation.
The motion Carried with Aldermen Craitor abstaining from the vote on Report No. F- 200 -13
on a conflict of interest previously noted; and Alderman Wing abstaining from the vote on
Report R- 2001 -12 on a conflict of interest previously noted and with all others voting in
favour.
CD- 2001 -02 Chief Administrative Officer Re: Special Occasion Permits. The report
recommends that Council indicate it has no objection to the issuance of Special Occasion
Permits to the organizations listed in this report.
ORDERED on the motion of Alderman Fisher, seconded by Alderman Pietrangelo, that
the report be received and adopted. Carried Unanimously.
L- 2001 -11 Chief Administrative Officer Re: Licensing By -law. The report
recommends that Council pass the licensing by -law listed on tonight's agenda.
ORDERED on the motion of Alderman Fisher, seconded by Alderman Pietrangelo, that the
report be received and adopted. Carried Unanimously.
See By -law No. 2001 -31
BY -LAWS
See By -law No. 2001 -28
See By -law No. 2001 -30
See By -law No. 2001 -32
ORDERED on the motion of Alderman Feren, seconded by Alderman Hendershot, that
leave be granted to introduce the following by -laws, and the by -laws be read a first time:
2(101 -27 A by -law to amend By -law 2001 -01, being a by -law to provide for
appointments to certain Boards, Commissions and Committees. (Alderman
Kim Craitor to the Fallsview Business Improvement Area)
2001 -28 A by -law to authorize the borrowing of TWENTY -THREE MILLION
DOLLARS for current expenditures for the year 2001.
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2001 -29 A by -law to amend By -law No. 79 -200, as amended. (Re: PD- 2000 -139;
AM- 38/2000)
2001 -30 A by -law to provide an interim levy of realty taxes.
2001 -31 A by -law respecting the issuance of licences in the City of Niagara Falls.
2001 -32 A by -law to authorize monies for General Purposes (January 29, 2001)
2001 -33 A by -law to authorize the execution of an Agreement with the District School
Board of Niagara and The Niagara Catholic District School Board respecting
public access and maintenance responsibilities, for the joint school creative
playground structure at Kate S. Durdan School and Loretto Catholic School.
The motion Carried with Alderman Craitor abstaining from the vote on By -law No. 2001 -32
on a conflict of interest previously noted and Aldermen Campbell and Pietrangelo
abstaining from the vote on By -law 2001 -33 because they are employed by the School
Boards and with all others voting in favour.
ORDERED on the motion of Alderman Hendershot, seconded by Alderman Feren, that the
by -laws be now read a second and third time:
2(101 -27 A by -law to amend By -law 2001 -01, being a by -law to provide for
appointments to certain Boards, Commissions and Committees. (Alderman
Kim Craitor to the Fallsview Business Improvement Area)
2001 -28 A by -law to authorize the borrowing of TWENTY -THREE MILLION
DOLLARS for current expenditures for the year 2001.
2001 -29 A by -law to amend By -law No. 79 -200, as amended. (Re: PD- 2000 -139;
AM- 38/2000)
2001 -30 A by -law to provide an interim levy of realty taxes.
2001 -31 A by -law respecting the issuance of licences in the City of Niagara Falls.
2001 -32 A by -law to authorize monies for General Purposes (January 29, 2001)
2001 -33 A by -law to authorize the execution of an Agreement with the District School
Board of Niagara and The Niagara Catholic District School Board respecting
public access and maintenance responsibilities, for the joint school creative
playground structure at Kate S. Durdan School and Loretto Catholic School.
The motion Carried with Alderman Craitor abstaining from the vote on By -law No. 2001 -32
on a conflict of interest previously noted and Aldermen Campbell and Pietrangelo
abstaining from the vote on By -law 2001 -33 because they are employed by the School
Boards and with all others voting in favour.
Council Meetings
NEW BUSINESS
Alderman Victor Pietrangelo stated that he was in favour of holding earlier Council
meetings.
Bus Purchases
Alderman Judy Orr requested information on the rumour that Niagara Parks
Commission plans to purchase approximately 30 highway coaches for shuttle service
between Niagara Falls, Fort Erie and Niagara -on- the -Lake.
His Worship Mayor Thomson advised that there was no truth to the rumour and that
the purchase would be to supplement the existing fleet; he commented that during
discussions at the last Transit meeting, it was suggested that Council be requested to
consider the purchase of two smaller buses.
Retirement Homes
Governance Issue
READ AND ADOPTED,
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Alderman Norm Puttick provided an update on the issue of upgrading and bring the
standards up with respect to retirement homes and requested the names of interested
Aldermen who wished to sit on the Committee dealing with retirement homes. Aldermen
Craitor, loannoni; Wing and Puttick gave indication of their interest to sit on the committee.
MAYOR'S REPORTS, ANNOUNCEMENTS, REMARKS
His Worship Mayor Thomson commented on the issue of governance and stated
that the Mayor of St. Catharines was aggressively pursuing the issue of having a Uni -City
due to St. Catharine's development problems and requested that Alderman Gary
Hendershot and his committee move quickly on this matter.
ORDERED on the motion of Alderman Orr, seconded by Alderman Feren, that the meeting
be adjourned. Carried Unanimously.
WAYNE'THOMSON, MAYOR