SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES Wednesday November 14, 2012a9:10 a.m.

Transcription

1 SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES Wednesday November 14, 2012a9:10 a.m. A meeting of the Town of East Gwillimbury Special Municipal Council was held on Wednesday November 14, 2012 at 9:10 a.m. in the Civic Centre Council Chambers, Leslie Street, Sharon, Ontario PRESENT: Councillors Marlene Johnston Tara Roy-DiClemente John Eaton STAFF: Chief Administrative Officer Municipal Clerk General Manager, Legal & Council Support Services General Manager, Community Programs & Infrastructure Fire Chief Thomas Webster Kathleen Foster Don Sinclair Wayne Hunt Ken Beckett ABSENT WITH NOTICE: Mayor, Virginia Hackson Councillor, Cathy Morton OTHERS: (9) Community Programs & Infrastructure staff A. CALL TO ORDER K. Foster, Municipal Clerk called the meeting to order at 9:10 a.m. and a quorum was present. She advised that Mayor Hackson and Acting Mayor Morton were unable to attend and asked for a motion to appoint an Acting Mayor to preside over this meeting. BE IT RESOLVED THAT Councillor Johnston be appointed as the Acting Mayor to preside over this meeting. Carried. SC

2 Page 2 of 5 Acting Mayor Johnston took the Chair at this time. B. DECLARATION OF INTEREST There was no declaration of interest. C. PRESENTATION(S) 1. C. Kalimootoo, Director, Engineering & Environmental Services advised that this Standard of Care Training Session is to address Council and Senior Staff responsibilities related to the Safe Drinking Water Act. He introduced B. Jobb, Manager of Training Institute for the Walkerton Clean Water Centre at this time. B. Jobb provided a presentation on the Safe Drinking Water Act - Standard of Care at this time reviewing the introduction outlining the legislation, responsibilities and liabilities and the multi-barrier approach to drinking water treatment. He continued the presentation reviewing the risk management including the contextual risk management principles and common risks facing drinking water systems. residents have expressed concern with dirty tap water after a rain storm and that the Region of York staff have advised him that it is not an issue with the treatment but the dirty tap water could be caused by a problem between the lot line and the tap. B. Jobb advised that the expressed concern by the resident regarding the dirty tap water after a rain storm is something that should be looked into, in his opinion. the largest commercial development in East Gwillimbury has no backflow preventer in place, he has provided pictures illustrating the problem to his Manager and he feels he has done all he can. J. Vandenburg, of the Community Programs & Infrastructure Department confirmed that the lack of the backflow prevention has been identified as a risk and he is aware that if we know about it and do nothing we could be liable but the risk is located on private property. He asked what authority the Town has to do something about the problem if it is located on private property. W. Hunt, General Manager, Community Programs & Infrastructure advised that backflow preventers are dealt with under the plumbing code.

3 Page 3 of 5 the subject land used to be located within Newmarket and was constructed when there was no backflow preventer by-law. Council recessed at this time. (10:48 a.m.) Council resumed at this time (11:10 a.m.) C. Kalimootoo, Director, Engineering & Environmental Services addressed Council at this time and advised that the lack of a backflow preventer was brought to the attention of the Manager and the information was provided the same day, November 19, 2012, to the Chief Building Official who is on vacation. He stated that a backflow preventer at the property line is not required. T. Webster, Chief Administrative Officer advised that another staff member would act in the Chief Building Official s capacity in the absence of T. Gibson and that the Building Department will follow up and report back to Council with an update at the meeting to be held November 19, C. Kalimootoo, Director, Engineering & Environmental Services advised that the development was built to the old standard which has created the issue. W. Hunt confirmed that backflow preventers are regulated by the Chief Building Official and only required at the premises if identified as a hazardous use. He stated that a problem resulting from no backflow preventer is very rare and would require that all the water be sucked out of the building where there is a very large demand for water, as would be the case when fighting a fire at the property. Councillor Roy-DiClemente noted that the facilitator has advised that negative pressure events occur more frequently than most people would anticipate. Council requested that staff provide an update on this specific property at the meeting to be held November 19, 2012 and that staff also advise if there are any other potential areas of concern in the other older industrial areas of the Town. B. Jobb resumed the presentation at this time reviewing the case studies including Walkerton Ontario, North Battleford Saskatchewan and Milwaukee

4 Page 4 of 5 Wisconsin. B. Jobb concluded by advising that achieving a culture of prevention is important and Council they should review the Ministry of the Environment Inspections that are provided annually and ensure that action is taken to address any areas of non-compliance identified in the report including administrative non-compliance. He also advised Council to ensure staff are provided with training and a succession plan is in place to address the significant number of licensed operators in Ontario that will be eligible to retire over the next 5 years. Moved by: Councillor Roy-DiClemente Seconded by: Councillor Eaton BE IT RESOLVED THAT the presentation by B. Jobb, Manager of the Training Institute for the Walkerton Clean Water Centre regarding the Safe Drinking Water Act Standard of Care, be received. D. CONFIRMING BY-LAW 1. To Confirm the proceedings of Special Municipal Council Carried. SC BE IT RESOLVED THAT By-law No being a by-law to confirm the proceedings of the Special Municipal Council Meeting held on November 14, 2012, be taken as read, enacted and signed by the Acting Mayor and Municipal Clerk. Carried. SC E. ADJOURNMENT 1. To adjourn the Special Municipal Council meeting

5 Page 5 of 5 BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Meeting of Special Municipal Council adjourn at 12:17 p.m. Carried. SC Virginia Hackson, Mayor Meeting Minutes adopted on December 3, Kathleen Foster, Municipal Clerk