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What's coming up at council: Budget 2020, Glenway development

Two development applications set for a public hearing Nov. 25 at 7 p.m.

Newmarkettoday.ca
November 20, 2019
Kim Champion

Budget 2020 talks get down to brass tacks next Monday, Nov. 25 as Newmarket council is a step away from making decisions on its capital and operating budgets, tax increases, water, wastewater and stormwater rates, changes to recreation and culture user fees and charges, and what big-ticket capital projects get the nod or get nixxed.

It’s not too late to let the town know how you would like to see your tax dollars invested. The town’s elected officials are aiming to approve the draft budgets on Dec. 2.

You can attend the budget meeting Nov. 25 beginning at 10 a.m. in the municipal offices, 395 Mulock Dr., or livestream the meeting here. The regular committee of the whole meeting resumes at 12:30 p.m.

You can also share your opinion at the town’s Hey Newmarket page, and access budget documents that fully explain what’s being considered and why.

Here’s a recent comment made by a resident on the 2020 budget deliberations at Hey Newmarket: “How about giving us a break for once. No tax increase or even a tax decrease. Newmarket government has too many employees. Too much management. Needs to be right sized to find efficiencies.”

The Newmarket Public Library board will ask Newmarket council to approve a motion that calls on the federal government to investigate the barriers faced by libraries in acquiring e-books and other e-content and the problems that poses for vulnerable demographic groups in Canada.

The motion also appeals to Ottawa to develop a solution that increases access to e-books and other e-content across Canada and assists libraries in meeting the cost requirements to acquire e-books and other e-content.

“Libraries in our community recognize that our users increasingly seek to access e-books and other e-content offered by multinational publishers, and that access to those publications is too often curtailed by prohibitively high licensing fees,” the motion states.

You can read more about the Canadian Urban Libraries Council campaign #eContentForLibraries here.

Emergency Response Plan

The Town of Newmarket is updating its emergency response plan to be better prepared for the extraordinary measures that may have to be taken to protect the health, safety, welfare, environment and economic viability of the residents, businesses and visitors of the Town of Newmarket when faced with an emergency.

The updated plan enables a coordinated and controlled response to emergencies in Newmarket, and meets the legislated requirements of the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act.

Emergencies may occur within the Town of Newmarket, and the most likely scenarios, determined by risk analyses, are related to epidemic disease, transportation and extreme weather conditions.

Three items are listed on council’s closed agenda, including:

Labour Relations - Central York Fire Services Collective Agreement

Old Fire Hall - 140 Main Street - request for Proposals for Adaptive Re-use

Stickwood Walker Farmhouse Renovation

Public Hearings Monday, Nov. 25 at 7 p.m.

665 to 695 Stonehaven Ave. - Zoning bylaw amendment application

Glenway high density block 164-165