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

• Labour relations or employee negotiations as per Section 239 (2) (d) of the Municipal Act, 2001

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

• A proposed or pending acquisition or disposition of land by the municipality or local board as per Section 239 (2) (c) of the Municipal Act, 2001

Stickwood Walker Farmhouse Renovation

• A trade secret or scientific, technical, commercial, financial or labour relations information, supplied in confidence to the municipality or local board, which, if disclosed, could reasonably be expected to prejudice significantly the competitive position or interfere significantly with the contractual or other negotiations of a person, group of persons, or organization as per Section 239 (2) (i) of the Municipal Act, 2001

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

665 to 695 Stonehaven Ave. - Zoning bylaw amendment application

• The Town has received an application to amend Zoning By-law 2010-40 to add additional permitted uses for the lands known municipally as 665-695 Stonehaven Avenue (the “subject lands”). The application proposes to add day nurseries (daycares) and commercial schools as permitted uses, as they are currently prohibited on this property by the zoning by-law.

Glenway high density block 164-165

• The applicant is proposing to amend the town’s Official Plan to expand the permitted uses on the subject property, to include stacked townhouse units as a permitted use. The applicant is further seeking to amend Zoning By-law 2010-40 to permit twelve townhouse buildings for residential and commercial uses, consisting of 304 dwelling units, 12 of which are proposed as live-work units.
• One deputation will be made from resident Roland Garfit, who lives in the neighbourhood and will share his concerns about vibration and noise generated by the development.