MARKHAM CONSERVATION COMMITTEE

1. CALL TO ORDER

Brent Mersey, Chair, called the meeting to order at 7:18 p.m.

2. AGENDA

The agenda was accepted with the following additions:

a) Communication with the Town of Markham’s Clerk’s Office

b) Profiles of Committee members

3. ADOPTION OF THE MINUTES OF THE MARKHAM ENVIRONMENTAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING HELD ON JUNE 19, 2008

Moved by Tom Rado

Seconded by Philip Ling

THAT the minutes of the Markham Environmental Advisory Committee held on June 19^th, 2008 be adopted as distributed.

CARRIED

4. MATTERS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES

a) Annual York Region Environmental Advisory Committee Meeting

This meeting has been set for Wednesday September 24, 2008, from 6:30 – 9:30 PM in the Canada Room of the Town of Markham Civic Centre. The room will be available for set up from 4:30 PM on.

The Committee reviewed plans for the meeting:

- Town of Markham Mayor Frank Scarpitti and Deputy Mayor Jack Heath have confirmed their availability to speak at the meeting

- The agenda has been finalized and has been distributed to Committee members

- Serena Chin has developed a “sign in” sheet for meeting attendees

- Joyce Chau has developed an evaluation form to be completed by attendees

- Jack Heath has been asked to provide pens, folders with pockets, and environmental brochures for attendees; it is hoped that pads of paper imprinted with the Town of Markham logo will also be provided

- Sandra Malcic, York Region Regional Greening Coordinator, will provide materials relating to York Region initiatives

- Serena Chin has arranged for a photographer to attend

- Tom Rado has made catering arrangements with the Town of Markham’s caterer, who will be asked to forward the invoice to the Town of Markham

- Laura Gold, Clerk’s Office, will be asked to provide 40 name tags for meeting attendees and a black medium tip marker; in addition, it is hoped she will be able to provide pre-printed name tags inserted in plastic holders (worn like a necklace) for Committee members

- Committee members will need to prepare meeting packages for attendees prior to the start of the meeting

- Christopher Sauer is preparing an Official Report Template so that the Committee will be able to report on this event to Town of Markham Council; he will distribute it the day after the event for each member to complete the section that pertains to their role in planning the meeting.

b) Committee Field Trip to a Green Bin Facility

Chair Brent Mersey has contacts at the Halton Recycling Facility and will investigate the possibility of Committee members visiting there later in the year.

c) Social Sustainability Workshop

Chair Brent Mersey spoke briefly about a Social Sustainability Workshop hosted by the Town of Markham that he had attended. He suggested the Committee might want to consider inviting the York University staff presenters to a future Committee meeting.

5. NEW BUSINESS

a) Copy for Advertisement on Town Page

The Committee has decided that such an advertisement is not required.

b) Request for Town email address

A written request with rationale must be sent from the Committee to the Town of Markham Information Technology Services department in order to have a Town email address created for the Committee. The Information Technology Services department will then consider the request.

c) Communication with Town of Markham Clerk’s Office

Committee members expressed disappointment that information about, and an invitation to, an event for Volunteers hosted by the Town of Markham was only forwarded to Committee members after the date for confirming attendance. Chair Brent Mersey will follow up on this matter.

d) Profiles of Committee Members

Chair Brent Mersey advised that he will draft his profile and circulate it to committee members so they might use the same style in drafting their profiles.

6. OTHER BUSINESS

a) Extending Terms of Committee Members

It was reported that the term of five current members is due to expire in November 2008. Laura Gold, Clerk’s Office, will be asked to provide information to Chair Brent Mersey about extending the term for these five members.

b) Committee Role and Mandate

Committee members discussed the role of the committee and voiced frustration that there do not seem to be opportunities to exercise the Town of Markham approved mandate for the Committee.

Moved by Christopher Sauer

Seconded by Tom Rado

THAT the Markham Environmental Advisory Committee would like to resolve issues relating to the role and mandate of the Committee by making a presentation to and discussing these matters with Town of Markham Council by the end of 2008 in order to fulfill the mandate of the Committee.

CARRIED

Chair Brent Mersey will work with the Clerk’s Office to schedule the Committee’s presentation on the agenda for an upcoming meeting of Town of Markham Council.

c) Information Items

- Chair Brent Mersey distributed information about the 2008 Provincial Environmental Advisory Committee Symposium, to be held October 3 and 4, 2008 and encouraged Committee members to attend.

- York Region will hold a Public Meeting about the Yonge Street Subway initiative on September 25, 2008 from 7 – 9 PM at 9019 Leslie Street, Richmond Hill.

7. NEXT MEETING

The next meeting of the Markham Environmental Advisory Committee is scheduled for Thursday, October 16^th, 2008 at 7 p.m. in the Ontario Room.

8. ADJOURNMENT

There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 9:00 p.m. on a motion from Serena Chin, seconded by Lloyd Helferty.

ATTENDANCE

Members

Staff

Regrets