TOWN
OF
Ontario Room
MINUTES
Brent
Mersey, Chair
Philip
Ling, Vice Chair
Mylene
Bezerra Batista
Serena
Chin
Lloyd
Helferty
Tom Rado
Christopher
Sauer
Bev Shugg
Barbeito, Committee Secretary
Joyce
Chau
Justin
Chin
Lisa
Wilson
Deputy
Mayor Jack Heath
1. CALL TO ORDER
Brent
Mersey, Chair, called the meeting to order at
2. AGENDA
The agenda was accepted with the following additions:
a) Social Sustainability Workshop
b) Applications for Committee Membership
3.
ADOPTION OF THE MINUTES OF THE
The Committee passed the minutes with quorum by means of the arrival of Mylene Batista Bezerra, Christopher Sauer and Philip Ling.
Moved by Philip Ling
Seconded by Serena Chin
THAT the minutes
of the Markham Environmental Advisory Committee held on
CARRIED
Moved by Serena Chin
Seconded by Philip Ling
THAT the minutes
of the Markham Environmental Advisory Committee held on
CARRIED
4. MATTERS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES
a) Update On Retail Pesticide Outreach Program
It was reported
that the Pesticide Ambassador Program took
place on May 17-19 at Sheridan Nurseries and Home Hardware, both located on
Highway #7. Town of
It was also reported that Bill 64, An
Amendment to the Pesticide Act, had been passed by the Ontario Provincial
legislature. The committee expressed its disappointment that the provincial
legislation did not feature standards as rigorous as those of the Town of
b)
Appointment to the Cycling
& Pedestrian Committee
Christopher Sauer has volunteered to represent the Markham Environmental Advisory Committee on the Cycling & Pedestrian Committee.
Moved by Philip Ling
Seconded by Serena Chin
THAT Christopher Sauer represent the Markham Environmental Advisory Committee on the Cycling & Pedestrian Committee.
CARRIED
Lloyd Helferty also volunteered to attend meetings; Committee members saw this as an excellent way to share ideas and get more out of the meetings.
Chair Brent
Mersey encouraged all Committee members to become involved in Town of
c)
Annual
It was reported that the date of this meeting has been set for
The Committee indicated that it would like to enhance past agendas. It was felt that there would be a need to feature high power speakers at the meeting, but also to allow time on the agenda for speakers other than York Region staff. Chair Brent Mersey will investigate whether Markham Mayor Frank Scarpitti, Markham Deputy Mayor Jack Heath or Markham Chief Administrative Officer might be available to speak at the meeting.
Lloyd Helferty reported he has contacted the York Region Environment
Alliance; it expressed interest in the meeting. It and the
- a staff member from York Region Planning,
- a specialist who does public outreach such as the presenters of the Social Sustainability Workshop (Social Innovation Centre)
- Jose Echeverry (David Suzuki Foundation)
Other ideas relating to the agenda included:
- Feature a presentation from York Region staff followed by break out sessions to discuss the issues faced by the municipalities
- Include a practical component on the agenda
- Keep the focus on diversity and sustainability in public spaces
- Keep the agenda exciting – break out sessions were considered a great way to ensure attendees became engaged in the meeting
Chair Brent Mersey has material from past York Region Environmental Advisory Meetings; Serena Chin agreed to provide archival assistance to organize the material. Brent Mersey will consider presenting a 7-8 minute historical perspective of the Markham Environmental Advisory Committee and its achievements.
All Committee members were asked to email Chair Brent Mersey with specific ideas for the meeting agenda. The agenda will have to be finalized by email during the summer.
Tom Rado volunteered to
-
Organize catering through Wendy
Bond/Town of
-
Arrange with Jack Heath for
Environmental Advisory Committees representing
d)
Field Trip to the MRF
Facility
Photos and video of the Committee’s field trip to the MRF Facility
in
e)
Committee Field Trip to a
Green Bin Facility
Chair Brent Mersey will investigate the possibility of Committee members visiting a Green Bin facility, perhaps the Halton Recycling Facility, later in the year.
f)
Committee Action Plan
Committee members agreed that the Action Items document works well in assisting them to remember actions to be accomplished in between Committee meetings, and will provide a valuable record of Committee achievements.
5. NEW BUSINESS
a)
Copy for Advertisement on
Town Page
This item was deferred to the next meeting.
b)
Request for Town email
address
This item was deferred to the next meeting.
6. OTHER BUSINESS
a)
Biochar
Lloyd Helferty reported that he has started a group interested in “bio-char” a process of putting charcoal in
to soil to enrich it.
b)
Social Sustainability
Workshop
Chair Brent Mersey reported that, that day he had attended a Social
Sustainability Workshop hosted by the Town of
c)
Committee Membership
Chair Brent Mersey reported that nine applications had been received
for the vacant positions on the committee. Chair Brent Mersey, Vice Chair
Philip Ling and Deputy Mayor Jack Heath will interview the prospective
applicants.
7. NEXT MEETING
The next meeting
of the Markham Environmental Advisory Committee is scheduled for
The Markham Environmental Advisory Committee will try to schedule a working luncheon or other meeting during the summer.
8. ADJOURNMENT
There being no
further business, the meeting adjourned at