Annual General Meeting

Wednesday, October 11, 2006
Hodgson Senior Public School

DRAFT MINUTES

  1. Welcome Jim Walker (Hillsdale E), Chair for the 2006 AGM
    Attendance about 60
  2. Approval of Minutes 2005 AGM
    Motion to Accept Minutes: Desmond Scott; Seconded Josh Matlow. Approved.
  3. Activities by the Board on behalf of SERRA and with affiliated Associations
    Jim Walker - President's Report
    • Jim Walker thanked members of the Executive
    • Jonathan Colford has taken over the OWL and communication with our major
    • Cheryle Creatore helped with membership and other activities
    • Shelley Laskin taken over responsibility as Secretary
    • Brian Abbey expertise in local planning
    • Ron Lalonde Fundraising Chair sends regrets
    • Brad Buss, John Holland and Paul Newbigging send regrets
    • Margaret Walker Membership
    • Paul Pelton has moved outside of the neighbourhood
    • Part of rebuilding trying to improve our financial position - first major fundraiser - participated in Maurice Cody's Garage Sale - raised some funds
    • Our cash position was $391 last year; this year $2100. On top of that there is no change to the legal trust fund
    • Two OWLs were published last year as well as two information circulars - working on the Fall OWL
    • A number of articles and reactions in the local papers
    • Local advocacy - Brian has taken over and stepped up in one appeal re: building at 18 Brownlow; John Holland active in FONTRA and CORRA
    • Volunteers - this year we hope to pay attention to our website and needs a volunteer to actively care of it

    Brian Abbey - Statutory Approvals - invited by Margaret Walker to help out

    • Involved in construction/architectural business for the last 40 years-permits, committee of adjustments, OMB matters - as a committee we respect the zoning by-laws and everyone's rights to development within the restraints of the by-laws - purpose of Committee of Adjustment - SERRA reviews agendas to safeguard our neighbourhood
    • 18 Brownlow presented - we were not in agreement with regard to density - took part in pre-conference hearing in OMB - decided to support our neighbourhood and will attend the 10-day hearing in January

    Margaret Walker - Membership Report

    • Potential membership of 4000 household not counting condominiums and high-rises - in 2004 222 households; 2005 162 households; 2006; 129 households
    • Planning to mount a membership drive - last Legal Fight cost SERRA $8-10,000.00 - speak to friends and neighbours
    • Jim responded that the challenge in our neighbourhood is to keep our young families engaged and involved

    Margaret Walker - Minto Liaison Group

    • They have turned into good corporate citizens - aware of what goes on in the neighbourhood - we fought tooth and nail against the project - but we lost; we were invited to have representation on the site committee and joined them and now we find they are very responsive - neighbourhood issues are addressed and dealt with - took an issue like Minto to get the neighbourhood engaged - when there is an issue the neighbourhood comes out

    Board of Directors (2005-2006)
    Present

    • President Jim Walker, Vice-President John Holland (Manor), Directors: Brad Buss (Balliol), Paul Pelton (Hillsdale E); Secretary: Shelley Laskin (Balliol); Member at Large Margaret Walker (Dunfield)

    Regrets

    • Past-President Joseph Pacitti (Belsize); Treasurer Paul Newbigging (Mt. Pleasant)

    Guest Speakers

    • Police Constables Mike Connor, Brian Yule
    • Councillor Michael Walker, Ward 22
    • Trustee Josh Matlow, Ward 11
    • Mellissa Rola and Cara O'Hagan, Representing The Honourable Michael Bryant, M.P.P. St. Paul's
    • P.C Leah Benham - Grundstad and P.C. Erwin Huber, Toronto Police Services, 53 Division Community Response Team

    Regrets

    • Dr. Carolyn Bennett, MP St Paul's (Chairing a previously scheduled Town Hall Meeting in the Riding)
    • The Honourable Michael Bryant, MPP St. Paul's (Attending a Conference of Provincial Attorneys General in NWT)

    (Note: SERRA was unable to work around these conflicting dates which impacted seriously on attendance at the 2005 AGM)

  4. Annual Reports (2005-2006) presented by Chair Jim Walker

    Financial Report, prepared by Paul Newbigging, Treasurer
    General Operating Account Balance Aug 23, 2006
    $2,125.31
    Legal Trust Fund Balance May 23, 2006
    $1,853.24

    Membership Report, prepared by Margaret Walker, Secretary
    Registered Members:

    • 2004 - 222 households
    • 2005 - 162 households
    • 2006 - 129 households
    • Discretionary Memberships (Condos, etc) - 20

    SERRA area has the potential for 4000+ local members
    Increased Membership must be a top priority in 2006

  5. Dissolution of the current Executive and Board of Directors (2005-2006)
    • In compliance with current By-Laws, the present Board stood down
    • SERRA Members present were invited to volunteer as Directors for the New Board 2006-7 and serve a 1-year term
    • The following members volunteered: Jim Walker, Jonathan Colford, Cheryle Creatore, Shelley Laskin, Ron Lalonde, Brad Buss, John Holland, Paul Newbigging, Margaret Walker, Margaret McKelvey, Helga Teitsson
    • The Executive positions are filled from the Board of Directors BY VOTE at the first Meeting of the NEW Board. Date TBA by Chair

  6. Guest Speakers introduced by Chair, Jim Walker
    In order of presentation decided by the Chair

    • PC in attendance - Sgt Rick Gibillini, 53rd Division, PC Mike Kahnery and PC Brian Yuile, Community Response Unit
    • Dr Carolyn Bennett sent regrets
    • Catherine LeBlanc-Miller, Trustee, TCDSB sent regrets
    • Nancy Medieros for Attorney General Michael Bryant, MPP
    • Regrets for Michael Bryant currently in Newfoundland at Attorney General's Conference - work in the Constituency Office - love coming to the SERRA meetings - please feel free to call me in the office - here to listen to your concerns and address your issues in the riding
    • Councillor Michael Walker - Ward 22, St Paul's, spoke on the following issues of local interest or concern:
      • Congratulate new blood on the Executive
      • Suggest we don't need new issues - but understand the need to take
      • Have had major issues with Minto at a different site
      • Several issues - planning issues and property tax reform
      • New official plan - inadequate in my opinion-need surety about what the plan permits and doesn't permit - open-ended and open to interpretation and adjudication at the OMB
      • A few of us at city hall want to re-open the discussion so they are maximums in terms of density and height
      • OMB takes away the right of elected officials making the final decision on your behalf and takes away the accountability of your local politicians
      • Examples that this Council has approved - Sheraton Four Seasons on Yorkville - put a permanent shadow on Jesse Ketchum Public School - bought off the school board for $2M - not good planning - permitted 11X coverage and 46 stories when the official plan was 5 stories
      • Other part is taxation-present system of property tax assessment doesn't work - confirmed by the Ombudsman of Ontario - inherently unstable and penalizes successful neighbourhood-driving up market values-paying more taxes and getting less service
      • Houses in our neighbourhood are now selling for over $1M-with assessment and general tax increases - shifted $330M of commercial taxes onto residential tax base over the next 15 years - people on fixed incomes are really hurting
      • Concerned over the lack of affordable housing - old city of Toronto used to build 20,000 units of social housing a year - mixed housing - we don't do that anymore because there are no provincial or federal programs available - city in decline
      • Trying to establish assessment tax reform working group - going before the new Executive Committee - trying to start looking at assessment system to try and stabilize - something that we can sell to Queen's Park - California form of MVA - if you stay in your home you don't pay increase - it is only at point of sale for reassessment
      • Transparency in open government - in the last few weeks - 3 big ticket items - special one day meetings committing tax payers to $1B of new money - no fiscal discipline at the City level
      • First one was TTC Bombardier deal-still paying $20M based on Justice Bellamy's report on MFP - but first big contract of $750M was sole source to Bombardier - could have ensured Canadian content through RFP - opinion is no justification for sole sourcing
      • Garbage Contract - commitment to dump into St. Thomas - $500M
      • Creating a new ice ring on the Lakeshore for the Lakeshore Lions - $29M and two mortgages to underwrite over 35 years - Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment - City will need to pick up the mortgage after 10 years-budget represents the entire capital budget for Parks and Recreations - there was no public debate
      • Shortfall in operating budget that we have to find
      • Have to build the subway system-into a true grid system-expansion of Eglinton line and expansion into Scarborough-need to make a real commitment to public transit
      • Spoken on 4 pieces of legislation at Queen's Park-against the 4 year term; commitment to Community Councils - need to double the number that we currently have - planning issues should be made at Community Council level
      • Need real public policy debate on the Gardiner Expressway
      • Questions - Island Airport-costing $35M not to build the bridge - planning should begin with the Committee of Adjustment - there are by-laws - but every by-law and change
      • Question - directed to Michael Bryant to update the OMB and not let it be used against its citizens
      • Question - regarding traffic flow - Mt. Pleasant and Yonge Street - pedestrian crossing - why is the time so short - check into Belsize Drive
    • Josh Matlow Trustee, Toronto District School Board
      • Emerging issues at the TDSB that impact neighbourhoods directly - believe at the TDSB as well as fiscal deficit, there is democratic deficit - at the TDSB Trustees have no policy to ensure we consult and work with you to ensure consultation - local trustee in Rosedale made the decision to sell out to developer - checkbook management
      • NTCI redevelopment - school in disrepair - our facilities department has close to $1B in need for repair - commitment made to NTCI to keep it - created a template with the local community and ratepayer's association recognizing their concerns and worked with them - signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the local residents
      • New project at Northern Secondary School - moved ahead with Field of Dreams - field turf to replace run-down field - part of the project would be a bubble for 5-months to allow the partner - NT Soccer Club could use the site - local residents have concern about the bubble - initiating committee to help with recommendations that come to board to approve
      • Hodgson new landscaping project - local community, TDSB and City put resources together to build new outdoor classroom
      • TDSB $84M deficit - in about a week we may go under Supervision if we don't make the cuts we need too - 77 of the 80 swimming pools, parenting centres and nutrition programs, outdoor education centres and programs - in this situation because of the Harris government's funding formula that didn't take into account local needs - rates for electricity - same rates in 1998 - formula didn't take into account the issue of inflation - feel TDSB is a monstrosity - need to trim e.g. Communications - bottom-line funding formula doesn't meet reality - government needs to be changed - it doesn't support students in communities - meanwhile if the Ministry of Education doesn't fund pools, parenting centres, etc. figure out which ministry should fund it
      • Tired of school board crisis year after year - take the opportunity to ensure school board governance works well
      • Your community politicians come together to support schools in St. Paul's
      • Question - North Toronto and Northern are our schools - 3 T's - transportation, traffic and teaching
      • Question - plan for security in our schools - Hall monitors in NTCI and Northern; cameras in front doors of the school; efforts to support our most vulnerable students - collect race-based students to be supporting - voted against it - know what students are struggling - police service initiated street crime unit - work in plain clothes - kids are more open with the police; work in partnership with the schools
  7. Other Business - from SERRA Members
    • None presented
  8. Closing Remarks - by the Chair
    • Jim Walker advised that the Executive Board of SERRA is formed by the President, Vice President, Treasurer, and Secretary. These positions are filled from the Board of Directors BY VOTE at the first meeting of the New Board. He invited ALL members who volunteered to serve as Directors for 2006/7 to attend this next meeting October 16th
    • The date of the 2006 AGM would be decided by the incoming Board of Directors.
    • Chairman Jim Walker closed the SERRA 2005 AGM at 9:00 p.m.

Margaret Walker/Cheryle Creatore