2023-08-24 Finance Committee Minutes - Open Session
Finance Committee Meeting
Open Session
August 24, 2023
MINUTES – OPEN SESSION FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETING
AUGUST 24, 2023 AT 1:45 PM
MEETING CONDUCTED BY ELECTRONIC PARTICIPATION
Present: Mayor D. Noade Reardon
Councillor G. Sullivan
Councillor G. Norton
Councillor D. Hickey
Absent: Councillor P. Radwan
Also
Present: Chief Administrative Office B. McGovern
Commissioner of Finance and Treasurer K. Fudge
Commissioner Transportation & Environment M. Hugenholtz
Fire Chief K. Clifford
Commissioner Utilities & Infrastructure I. Fogan
Commissioner Human Resources S. Hossack
Senior Manager Community Support Services C. Coe
Director Growth and Community Planning (Acting), D. Dobbelsteyn
Director Financial Services C. Lavigne
Intermediate Accountant V. Parikh
Operations Manager Finance & Administrative Services K. Loughery
Director Transit and Fleet I. MacKinnon
Administrative Assistant K. Tibbits
Administrative Assistant A. MacLean
1. Meeting Called to Order
Councillor Sullivan called the Finance Committee open session meeting to order.
2. Approval of Minutes
2.1 Minutes of June 28, 2023
Moved by Mayor Noade Reardon, seconded by Councillor Hickey:
RESOLVED that the minutes of June 28, 2023 be approved.
MOTION CARRIED.
3. Approval of Agenda
Moved by Mayor Noade Reardon, seconded by Councillor Hickey:
RESOLVED that the agenda of August 24, 2023 be approved.
MOTION CARRIED.
4. Disclosures of Conflict of Interest
No disclosures.
5. Consent Agenda
Finance Committee Meeting
Open Session
August 24, 2023
6. Business Matters
6.1 Thermal Interconnect Capital Project Funding Application
Moved by Councillor Hickey, seconded by Councillor Norton:
RESOLVED that as recommended in the submitted report “Thermal Interconnect between the Canada
Games Aquatic Centre and the Market Square Funding Application”, the Finance Committee direct staff
to apply to the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) under the Green Municipal Fund (GMF) for
Thermal interconnect between the Canada Games Aquatic Centre and the Market Square Project.
MOTION CARRIED.
6.2 Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation Funding Application – Lantic Sugar Site
I. Fogan reviewed the submitted presentation “Lantic Sugar Site: Disaster Mitigation Adaptation Fund.”
Moved by Mayor Noade Reardon, seconded by Councillor Hickey:
RESOLVED that as recommended in the submitted report “Application to Disaster Mitigation and
Adaptation Fund” the Finance Committee direct staff to pursue an application to Disaster Mitigation and
Adaptation fund to enable the development of the former Lantic Sugar Site for recreation and possible
commercial/recreational development and to add storm water capacity to the Central Peninsula
Neighbourhood system.
MOTION CARRIED.
6.3 Fair Taxation Report Update
K. Fudge reviewed the submitted presentation “Fair Tax Benchmarking Update.”
Moved by Mayor Noade Reardon, seconded by Councillor Hickey:
RESOLVED that the Finance Committee receive and file the submitted presentation; direct staff to include
the Harry Kitchen Update Fair Tax memo as a supporting document at the Finance Summit in Fredericton
on September 21, 2023; and endorse the following:
Province vacate property tax or provide more tax room to municipalities (Harry Kitchen report);
Province support expert panel recommendations for equalization;
Province remove limits in legislation on property tax multipliers;
If removal of barriers is not possible, Province offer more flexible fairness limits (as benchmarked
in Harry Kitchen report); and
Municipalities obtain control setting rates and classes of customers
MOTION CARRIED.
6.4 Shape Your Budget Public Engagement Results
C. Lavigne reviewed the submitted presentation “2024 Operating Budget – Public Engagement Results.”
Moved by Mayor Noade Reardon, seconded by Councillor Norton:
RESOLVED that the submitted presentation “2024 Operating Budget – Public Engagement Results” be
received for information.
MOTION CARRIED.
6.5 2024 Draft Operating Budget Presentations
C. Lavigne outlined the 2024 General Fund and Utility Fund Operating Budget tentative timelines.
6.5.1 Saint John Fire Department
Chief Clifford reviewed the 2024 draft operating budget for the Saint John Fire Department.
Moved by Mayor Noade Reardon, seconded by Councillor Hickey:
Finance Committee Meeting
Open Session
August 24, 2023
RESOLVED that the 2024 draft operating budget for the Saint John Fire Department be received for
information.
MOTION CARRIED.
6.5.2 Growth and Development Services
D. Dobbelsteyn reviewed the 2024 draft operating budget for Growth and Community Services.
Moved by Mayor Noade Reardon, seconded by Councillor Hickey:
RESOLVED that the 2024 draft operating budget for Growth and Community Services be received for
information.
MOTION CARRIED.
(Mayor Noade Reardon withdrew from the meeting)
6.5.3 Saint John Transit Commission
I. MacKinnon reviewed the 2024 draft operating budget for the Saint John Transit Commission.
Moved by Councillor Norton, seconded by Councillor Sullivan:
RESOLVED that the 2024 draft operating budget for the Saint John Transit Commission be received for
information.
MOTION CARRIED.
6.5.4 Saint John Water
I. Fogan reviewed the 2024 draft operating budget for Saint John Water.
Moved by Councillor Hickey, seconded by Councillor Norton:
RESOLVED that the 2024 draft operating budget for Saint John Water be received for information.
MOTION CARRIED.
7. Adjournment
Moved by Councillor Hickey, seconded by Councillor Norton:
RESOLVED that the Finance Committee meeting be adjourned.
MOTION CARRIED.
The Finance Committee open session meeting held on August 24, 2023, was adjourned at 3:15 pm.