2011-11-28_Minutes--Procès-verbal96 -519
COMMON COUNCIL/CONSEIL COMMUNAL
NOVEMBER 28, 2011/LE 28 NOVEMBRE 2011
COMMON COUNCIL MEETING — THE CITY OF SAINT JOHN
CITY HALL — NOVEMBER 28, 2011 - 5:00 P.M.
Present:
Ivan Court, Mayor
Deputy Mayor Chase and Councillors Farren, Higgins, McGuire,
Norton, Snook, Sullivan, and Titus
-and -
P. Woods, City Manager; J. Nugent, City Solicitor; G. Yeomans,
Commissioner of Finance; K. Clifford, Acting Fire Chief; E.
Gormley, Common Clerk and K. Tibbits, Administrative Assistant.
SEANCE DU CONSEIL COMMUNAL DE THE CITY OF SAINT JOHN
TENUE A L'HOTEL DE VILLE, LE 28 novembre 2011 A 17 H
Sont presents :
Ivan Court, maire
le maire suppleant Chase et les conseillers Farren, McGuire,
Norton, Snook, Sillivan, Titus et la conseillere Higgins
- et -
P. Woods, directeur general; J. Nugent, avocat municipal;
G. Yeomans, Commissaire aux finances; K. Clifford, chef du
service d'incendie par interim; E. Gormley, greffiere communale
et K. Tibbits, adjointe administrative.
1. Call To Order — Prayer
Mayor Court called the meeting to order and Councillor Snook offered the opening
prayer.
1. Ouverture de la seance, suivie de la priere
La seance est ouverte par le maire Court, et le conseiller Snook recite la priere
d'ouverture.
2. Approval of Minutes
2. Approbation du proces- verbal
3. Approval of Agenda
3. Adoption de I'ordre du jour
4. Disclosures of Conflict of Interest
4. Divulgations de conflits d'interets
5. Consent Agenda
5.1 That as recommended by the Commissioner of Finance in the submitted report
Gas Tax Fund (GTF) - 2010 -2013 Capital Investment Plan that that the Mayor and
Common Clerk be authorized to execute the Agreement Contract (Reference No.
6932.078.000) under the Canada -New Brunswick Agreement on the Transfer of Federal
Gas Tax Revenues for Cities and Communities, which Agreement Contract is attached
to November 23, 2011 correspondence in this regard from the City's Commissioner of
Finance, the latter having been received by Common Council in open session of
November 28, 2011.
On motion of Councillor Titus
Seconded by Councillor McGuire
RESOLVED that the recommendation set out in the
consent agenda be adopted.
Question being taken, the motion was carried.
96 -520
COMMON COUNCIL/CONSEIL COMMUNAL
NOVEMBER 28, 2011/LE 28 NOVEMBRE 2011
5. Questions soumises a I'approbation du conseil
5.1 Que, comme le recommande le commissaire aux finances dans le rapport
soumis intitule Fonds de la taxe surl'essence (FTE) — Regime d'investissement de
2010 -2013, le maire et la greffiere communale soient autorises a signer le contrat
no 6932.078.000 presente en vertu de 1'entente sur le transfert des revenus provenant
de la taxe sur 1'essence pour Ies villes et Ies collectivites conclue entre le gouvernement
federal et la province du Nouveau - Brunswick, Iequel est joint a la Iettre adressee par le
commissaire aux finances en date du 23 novembre 2011 a cet egard et revue par le
conseil communal Tors de la reunion publique du 28 novembre 2011.
Proposition du conseiller Titus
Appuyee par le conseiller McGuire
RESOLU que la recommandation formulee
relativement a chacune des questions soumises a I'approbation du conseil soit adoptee.
A I'issue du vote, la proposition est adoptee.
6. Members Comments
Council members commented on various community events.
6. Commentaires presentes par les membres
Les membres du conseil s'expriment sur diverses activites communautaires.
7. Proclamation
7.1 World AIDS Day
The Mayor proclaimed Thursday, December 1, 2011 as World AIDS Day in The City of
Saint John.
7. Proclamation
7.1 Journee mondiale du sida
Le maire declare le jeudi ter decembre 2011 Journee mondiale du sida dans The City of
Saint John.
8. Delegations /Presentations
8.1 Cherry Brook Zoo Inc. 2012 Budget Request
8.1(a) Cherry Brook Zoo Inc. 2012 Budget Request (Revised)
Alice O'Neill and Lynda Collrin, referring to the submitted presentation, provided an
overview of the Cherry Brook Zoo and addressed questions from members of Council.
Ms. Collrin noted that after reviewing the audited financial statement, they were able to
reduce the submitted budget by approximately 20 %.
Ms. Collrin explained that the Cherry Brook Zoo is an accredited zoo, adding that in
order to maintain this status, financial support from the city is critical. She stated that if
the zoo were to lose its accreditation, it would result in the closure of the zoo and the
displacement of the animals. She stated that all accredited zoos receive financial
support from either the province or the municipality.
Responding to a question, Ms. Collrin stated that ideally they would like to have a
financial contribution of approximately $100,000 from the City of Saint John.
On motion of Councillor Titus
Seconded by Councillor McGuire
RESOLVED that Item 8.1 Cherry Brook Zoo Inc.
2012 Budget Request be referred to the 2012 budget deliberations.
Question being taken, the motion was carried
96 -521
COMMON COUNCIL/CONSEIL COMMUNAL
NOVEMBER 28, 2011/LE 28 NOVEMBRE 2011
8. Delegations et presentations
8.1 Demande de credits budgetaires de Cherry Brook Zoo Inc. pour 2012
8.1a) Demande de credits budgetaires de Cherry Brook Zoo Inc. pour 2012
(demande modifiee)
Faisant reference a une presentation antsrieure, Alice O'Neill et Lynda Collrin brossent
un tableau du zoo Cherry Brook et rspondent aux questions posses par les membres du
conseil.
Mme Collrin fait remarquer que 1'examen des stats financiers verifies a permis de rsduire
le budget soumis d'environ 20 %.
Mme Collrin explique que le zoo Cherry Brook est un zoo accredits et elle ajoute que
pour conserver ce statut, un soutien financier de la Ville est indispensable. Elle dsclare
que si le zoo venait a perdre son accreditation, it serait oblige de fermer ses portes et les
animaux devraient titre transfsrss ailleurs. Elle precise que tous les zoos accrsditss
regoivent un soutien financier de la part de la province ou de la municipality.
En rsponse a une question posse, Mme Collrin dsclare que I'idsal serait que le zoo
regoive une contribution financiere d'environ 100 000 $ de la part de The City of
Saint John.
Proposition du conseiller Titus
Appuyse par le conseiller McGuire
RESOLU que le point 8.1 Demande de credits
budgetaires de Cherry Brook Zoo Inc. soit soumis aux dslibsrations budgetaires de
2012.
A I'issue du vote, la proposition est adoptse.
8.2 River Road Community Alliance, Inc.
Jim Stubbs, Chair of the River Road Community Alliance Inc., provided an overview of
the submitted report and he responded to questions from members of Council. He
indicated that the River Road Community Alliance is asking Council to approve the
completion of Phase A and the design study for Phase B. He added that they are asking
for Council's continued financial support year by year until completion of the project.
On motion of Councillor Titus
Seconded by Councillor McGuire
RESOLVED that Item 8.2 River Road Community
Alliance Inc., be referred to the 2012 budget deliberations.
Question being taken, the motion was carried.
8.2 River Road Community Alliance Inc.
Jim Stubbs, president de la River Road Community Alliance Inc., donne un aperqu du
rapport soumis et rspond aux questions des membres du conseil. II indique que la
River Road Community Alliance Inc. demande au conseil d'approuver I'achsvement de
la phase A et de 1'6tude de conception pour la phase B et qu'elle requiert de ce dernier
un soutien financier continu chaque annse, et ce, jusqu'a ce que le projet soit termins.
Proposition du conseiller Titus
Appuyse par le conseiller McGuire
RESOLU que le point 8.2, River Road Community
Alliance Inc., soit soumis aux dslibsrations budgetaires de 2012.
A I'issue du vote, la proposition est adoptse.
8.3 Saint John Community Arts Board "State of the Arts" Report to Saint John
Common Council
8.3(a) Saint John Community Arts Board Presentation dated November 28, 2011
David Adams, Chair of the Saint John Community Arts Board, reviewed the activity
report for 2010 and 2011 and the Board's 2012 funding request. Mr. Adams emphasized
the importance that cultural activities have on the overall well -being of the community
and he responded to questions from Council members.
96 -522
COMMON COUNCIL/CONSEIL COMMUNAL
NOVEMBER 28, 2011/LE 28 NOVEMBRE 2011
On motion of Councillor Titus
Seconded by Councillor McGuire
RESOLVED that Item 8.3 Saint John Community
Arts Board "State of the Arts" Report to Saint John Common Council, be referred to the
2012 budget deliberations.
Question being taken, the motion was carried.
8.3 Conseil d'administration des arts de la communaute de Saint John
Presentation du rapport sur « I'etat des arts » au conseil communal
8.3a) Presentation du Conseil d'administration des arts de la communaute de
Saint John effectuee le 28 novembre 2011
David Adams, president du Conseil d'administration des arts de la communaute de
Saint John, passe en revue le rapport sur les activites pour 2010 et 2011 et la demande
de financement adressee par ce dernier pour 2012. M. Adams insiste sur le role
primordial que jouent les activites culturelles dans le bien -titre general de la collectivite
et it repond aux questions des membres du conseil.
Proposition du conseiller Titus
Appuyee par le conseiller McGuire
RESOLU que le point 8.3, Conseil d'administration
des arts de la communaute de Saint John : Presentation du rapport sur « I'etat des
arts >>, soit renvoye aux deliberations budgetaires de 2012.
A I'issue du vote, la proposition est adoptee.
9. Public Hearings 7:00 P.M.
9. Audiences publiques a 19 h
10. Consideration of By -laws
10. Etude des arretes municipaux
11. Submissions by Council Members
11. Interventions des membres du conseil
12. Business Matters - Municipal Officers
12.1 Common Clerk: Committee System form of Governance (Tabled on
September 19, 2011)
Ms. Gormley, referring to the submitted presentation, outlined the proposed committee
system form of governance. She noted that the presentation is supported by research
based on the Chartwell report and prior staff reports on the subject.
Ms. Gormley suggested that the committee system form of governance provides more
opportunity for citizen input/participation and it allows Council to focus more on policy
issues, noting that it also aligns with the recently approved organizational service based
re- alignment process.
Responding to a question, Mr. Woods commented that the Chartwell report described a
committee system form of governance in which the committees were comprised of both
elected official and citizens, noting that such a model is not consistent with what he
would consider to be good governance. He explained that under the system proposed in
the Chartwell report, non - elected members of the public could hold the deciding vote in
policy making decisions, adding that councillors are elected by the community and
should be ultimately accountable for decisions.
Mr. Woods stated that a change to a committee system form of governance is a
fundamental change in the governance system of the community. He explained that a
recommendation from a standing committee is not binding on the council, noting that
council would continue to receive the benefit of professional advice throughout the
process.
96 -523
COMMON COUNCIL/CONSEIL COMMUNAL
NOVEMBER 28, 2011 /LE 28 NOVEMBRE 2011
Responding to a question, Ms. Gormley noted that the standing committee meetings
would be open to the public unless there is a reason, as identified in the Municipalities
Act, to discuss an item in closed session.
Mr. Nugent, responding to comments from members of council regarding the transfer of
responsibility to a committee and a diminished role of the city manager, explained that
the committee system form of governance is designed to avoid those possibilities. He
stated that one of the fundamental principles of the committee system is that it could not
affect or erode the role of the City Manager. He added that the City of Saint John has a
City Manager form of government, noting that any changes to that would require a
review of the City Government Act.
Mr. Nugent advised that all recommendations from the standing committee to council will
be required to include a recommendation from the senior city staff member who provided
the information or recommendation to the committee. He noted that it is the responsibility
of the members of the standing committee to assess the recommendations provided to
them from City staff.
Mr. Woods, responding to concerns of transparency and citizen engagement, noted that
citizens will not be bound by the rigidity or legal formality as seen in the current format,
adding that it would be within the role of the standing committee to have as much
community engagement as desired.
On motion of Councillor McGuire
Seconded by Councillor Titus
RESOLVED that Common Council move forward
with the recommendation to proceed with the Committee System form of Governance.
The question was not taken as a referral took precedence over the main motion.
On motion of Councillor Norton
Seconded by Councillor Farren
RESOLVED that the Common Clerk be directed to
send a request to representatives from the City of Fredericton to provide a short briefing
on the Committee System form of Governance.
Question being taken, the motion was carried with Councillors Higgins,
McGuire, Sullivan and Titus voting nay.
12. Affaires municipales evoquees par les fonctionnaires municipaux
12.1 Greffiere communale : Mode de gestion du systeme des comites (point
reporte a la reunion du 19 septembre 2011)
Faisant reference a une presentation anterieure, Mme Gormley met I'accent sur le mode
de gestion du systeme des comites propose. EIIe fait remarquer que la presentation
s'appuie sur un travail de recherche reposant sur le rapport Chartwell et sur Ies
precedents rapports du personnel dans ce domaine.
Mme Gormley suggere que le mode de gestion du systeme des comites off re aux
citoyens davantage d'occasions de donner Ieur avis et de participer et qu'il permette au
conseil de mettre I'accent sur Ies questions d'ordre politique. EIIe ajoute que cette
demarche s'inscrit dans le cadre du processus de restructuration base sur Ies services
qui a ete approuve.
En reponse a une question posee, M. Woods precise que le rapport Chartwell fait etat
d'un mode de gestion du systeme des comites dans Iequel Ies comites sont composes
de representants elus et de citoyens. En outre, it fait remarquer qu'un tel mode de
gestion ne reunit pas Ies criteres d'une bonne gouvernance. 11 explique qu'en vertu du
systeme propose dans le rapport Chartwell, Ies membres du public non elus ont une
voix preponderante dans le processus decisionnel politique. En outre, it ajoute que Ies
conseillers sont elus par la collectivite et que ce type de decision devrait Ieur revenir.
M. Woods declare que toute modification apportee au mode de gestion du systeme des
comites entraine un changement fondamental du systeme de gouvernance de la
collectivite. 11 explique qu'une recommandation emise par le comite permanent n'a pas
force executoire aupres du conseil et it fait remarquer que le conseil continuerait a
beneficier des conseils de professionnels tout au long du processus.
96 -524
COMMON COUNCIL/CONSEIL COMMUNAL
NOVEMBER 28, 2011/LE 28 NOVEMBRE 2011
En reponse a une question posee, Mme Gormley souligne que le public pourrait assister
aux reunions du comite permanent, sauf en cas de raison valable, comme le precise la
Loi surles municipalites, pour qu'un point fasse ('objet d'une discussion lors d'une
seance a huis clos.
Repondant aux commentaires des membres du conseil au sujet du transfert de
responsabilite a un comite et au role amoindri du directeur general, M. Nugent explique
que le mode de gestion du systeme des comites est justement conqu pour eviter ce
genre de situation. II declare que l'un des principes fondamentaux du systeme des
comites est de faire en sorte que le role du directeur general soit preserve en toute
circonstance. II ajoute que The City of Saint John possede une « structure administrative
dirigee par un directeur general » et it souligne que toute modification de cette structure
necessiterait une revision de la City Government Act (loi sur les gouvernements
municipaux).
M. Nugent signale que toutes les recommandations faites par le comite permanent au
conseil devront titre accompagnees d'une recommandation du haut fonctionnaire
municipal qui est a l'origine de ('information ou de la recommandation transmise au
comite. II fait remarquer que c'est aux membres du comite permanent qu'incombe la
tache d'evaluer les recommandations qui leur sont faites par le personnel municipal.
En reponse aux preoccupations a 1'egard de la transparence et de 1'engagement des
citoyens, M. Woods fait remarquer que les citoyens ne seront pas concernes par la
rigidite ou la formalite juridique du format actuel. En outre, it ajoute que la decision
relative au niveau d'engagement communautaire reviendra au comite permanent.
Proposition du conseiller McGuire
Appuyee par le conseiller Titus
RESOLU que le conseil communal valide la
recommandation voulant que l'on aille de l'avant avec mode de gestion du systeme des
comites.
On ne procede pas au vote etant donne que le renvoi a preseance sur la proposition
principale.
Proposition du conseiller Norton
Appuyee par le conseiller Farren
RESOLU que la greffiere communale soit chargee
d'adresser une demande aux representants de la Ville de Fredericton pour qu'ils
presentent un court expose sur le mode de gestion du systeme des comites.
A ('issue du vote, la proposition est adoptee. Les conseillers McGuire,
Sullivan, Titus et la conseillere Higgins votent contre la proposition.
13. Committee Reports
13. Rapports deposes par les comites
14. Consideration of Issues Separated from Consent Agenda.
14. Etude des sujets ecartes des questions soumises a I'approbation du
conseil.
15. General Correspondence
15. Correspondance generale
16. Adjournment
The Mayor declared the meeting adjourned at 8:15 p.m.
16. Levee de la seance
Le maire declare que la seance est levee a 20 h 15.
96 -525
COMMON COUNCIL/CONSEIL COMMUNAL
NOVEMBER 28, 2011/LE 28 NOVEMBRE 2011
Mayor/ maire
Common Clerk/ greffiere communale