2009-04-27_Minutes--Procès-verbal April 27, 2009
27-2009
Minutes of the Portion of the Committee of the Whole Meeting Open to the Public
Monday, April 27, 2009, 5:00 p.m.
8tn Floor Boardroom, City Hall
Present:
Mayor Court,
Deputy Mayor Chase and Councillors Court, Farren, Higgins, Killen, Mott, McGuire,
Sullivan, Snook and Titus.
- and -
F. Beaulieu, Solicitor; G. Yeomans, Commissioner of Finance and Treasurer; E.
Gormley, Common Clerk, J. Beltrandi Chown, Administrative Assistant.
1.0 Committee of the Whole Closed Session Preamble
On motion Deputy Mayor Chase
Seconded by Councillor Snook
RESOLVED that item 1.0 Committee of the Whole Closed Session
Preamble be approved with a revision that item 1.5 Labour and Employment Matters 10.2(4)Q)
regarding a Pension presentation by an Ad Hoc Committee of Employee groups, be moved to
Committee of the Whole Open Session.
Question being taken, the motion was carried with Mayor Court and Councillors Court and Mott
voting nay.
1. Meetinq Called To Order
The Mayor called the Committee of the Whole Open meeting to order.
2. Discussion of Confidential Matters
On motion of Councillor McGuire
Seconded by Deputy Mayor Chase
RESOLVED that the public be excluded from the meeting for the
duration of the discussion on the following matter(s): 1.1 Financial / Labour Matters 10.2(4)Q);
1.2 Legal Opinion 10.2(4)(g); 1.3 Personal Matters 10.2(4)(b); 1.4 Financial / Land Matters
10.2(4)(c)(d); and item 1.5 Labour and Employment Matters 10.2(4)Q) to be held in Open
Committee of the Whole immediately following the closed session.
Question being taken, the motion was carried.
Common Clerk
Record Pursuant to Section 10.2(4)
April 27, 2009
28-2009
The meeting of the Committee of the Whole of Common Council held on April 27, 2009
was closed to the public pursuant to Section 10.2(4) of the Municipalities Act during the
Committee's discussion of the following matter(s): 1.1 Financial / Labour Matters 10.2(4)Q); 1.2
Legal Opinion 10.2(4)(g); 1.3 Personal Matters 10.2(4)(b); 1.4 Financial / Land Matters
10.2(4)(c)(d).
Common Clerk
Monday, April 27, 2009, 6:15 p.m.
Council Chamber, City Hall
3. Representatives of Manaqement/Professional Non-Union Association, the Barqaininq
Units, and the Retirees Association of the City of Saint John Pension Plan.
Kim Phillips representing CUPE Local 61 introduced himself and other representatives from the
City's Union groups, the Management/Professional Non-Union Association, and the Retirees
Association of the City of Saint John Pension Plan.
Referring to a submitted report and presentation, Mr. Phillips provided background information
with respect to the City's Pension Plan and he commented on the potential implications of the
Council resolution from February 2, 2009, which directed the City Solicitor to draft amendments
to the Pension Plan. Mr. Phillips presented Council with the following requests on behalf of the
Committee:
1) Honourthe existing agreement
2) Rescind current resolution of proposed pension changes
3) Establish a committee of Council and Employee groups to work together to find a shared
solution.
Referring to the submitted report and presentation, Paul Duxbury, K. Paul Duxbury Actuarial
Services, explained how the Council resolution from February 2, 2009, requesting the City
Solicitor to draft amendments to the Pension Plan, will not eliminate the deficit problem or
ensure long-term sustainability of the Pension Plan. He discussed potential long term solutions
and the willingness of the unions to create a committee with Council to explore options for
reducing the pension deficit.
Referring to the submitted report and presentation, George Buchanan representing
Management-Professional/Non Union Association outlined many of the employees concerns
with respect to proposed Pension amendments.
On the motion of Councillor Titus
Seconded by Councillor Snook
RESOLVED that Council receive the reports and presentation
from the Ad Hoc Pension Committee of Union, Non-Union and Retiree Representatives for
April 27, 2009
29-2009
information; and further, that this information, including the recommendations, be referred to
Morneau Sobeco for consideration.
Deputy Mayor Chase took the Chair at the request of the Mayor.
Councillor Titus withdrew the motion.
On the motion of Mayor Court
Seconded by Councillor Court
RESOLVED that Council honour the existing Memorandum of
Agreement between the City and its unions; and further that Council rescind the following
resolution from February 2, 2009: "RESOLVED that Council direct the City Solicitor to draft
amendments to the Pension Plan for adoption by the Legislature in 2009 that would result in the
following:
1) Eliminate the rule of 85 effective January 1, 2012
2) Remove the disability provision from the plan
3) Reduce future indexing provisions from 2% to 1%
4) Change the best three year averaging provision to a 10 year averaging provision."
And further, that Council direct the Ad Hoc Pension group consisting of CUPE Local 486, Local
18, Local 771, Local 61 and the MPNU group, through Morneau Sobeco, to form a committee
with Council in order to find a solution to the pension plan deficit collectively.
The Common Clerk stated that Council is presently in Committee of the Whole where
resolutions of action cannot be made but direction can be given to staff. Ms. Gormley stated that
a rescinding motion would have to be made in a regular Council meeting.
On the motion of Councillor Titus
Seconded by Councillor McGuire
RESOLVED that the presentation by representatives of
Management/Professional Non-Union Association, the Bargaining Units, and the Retirees
Association of the City of Saint John Pension Plan, be referred to the regular Council meeting
later this evening.
Question being taken, the motion was carried.
Adjournment
The Deputy Mayor declared the meeting adjourned at 7:15 p.m.
Common Clerk