MARKHAM CONSERVATION COMMITTEE

1. CALL TO ORDER

Brent Mersey, Chair, called the meeting to order at 7:08 p.m.

2. AGENDA

The agenda was accepted with the following additions:

a) Provincial Environmental Advisory Meeting

b) Meeting with Town of Markham Mayor Scarpitti

c) Rouge Park Implementation Task Force

d) Holiday Dinner

3. ADOPTION OF THE MINUTES OF THE MARKHAM ENVIRONMENTAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING HELD ON SEPTEMBER 18, 2008

Moved by Lloyd Helferty

Seconded by Tom Rado

THAT the minutes of the Markham Environmental Advisory Committee held on September 18^th, 2008 be adopted as distributed.

CARRIED

4. MATTERS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES

a) Annual York Region Environmental Advisory Committee Meeting

This meeting was held on Wednesday September 24, 2008; there has been much positive feedback and Committee members felt the meeting was a success.

Joyce Chau distributed and reviewed the results of meeting evaluations. Meeting attendees appreciated the refreshments that were provided, thought the meeting was well organized and recommended promoting dates for similar meetings well in advance.

Serena Chin had arranged for Justin Henderson to take photos during the meeting. Committee members viewed the photos in a computer slide presentation and were impressed with the high quality of the photos.

The Committee wishes to prepare a report on this meeting for Town of Markham Council. Chair Brent Mersey will contact Christopher Sauer to determine if he has completed the Official Report Template so that Committee members may use it to report on their role in planning the meeting.

A recurring theme reported during the meeting by the various Environmental Advisory Committees (EAC) was the EACs relationship with their local Council. Committee members suggested holding another meeting to discuss this issue only.

b) Request for Town email address

Chair Brent Mersey is working with the Clerk’s Office to request the email address be created by the Town of Markham Information Technology Services department. Mylene Bezerra Batista advised that the Committee had had an email address in the past; she will forward this information to Chair Brent Mersey.

Chair Brent Mersey is also requesting a filing cabinet to hold the Markham Conservation Committee material that has been gathered over time. He plans to compile a history of the Committee’s efforts over the years.

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 with Judy Kee in the Clerk’s Office to ensure Markham EAC members are advised of future events on a timely basis.

d) Profiles of Committee Members

Chair Brent Mersey encouraged Committee members, who have not yet submitted their profile, to do so as soon as possible.

e) Extending Terms of Committee Members

Chair Brent Mersey has been working with Judy Kee in the Clerk’s Office about extending the term for five members whose term ends in November 2008. A recommendation to this effect will be presented for approval to General Committee and then, Town of Markham Council; it is hoped that approval will be received within a few weeks.

f) Presentation to Town of Markham Council

At the September Markham EAC meeting, Committee members passed a motion they 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. Chair Brent Mersey will advise Judy Kee in the Clerk’s Office that the Committee would like to make this presentation; it will likely be two months before the meeting can be scheduled. Using Philip Ling’s letter as a starting point, the presentation to Council will advise who the Committee members are, where the Committee is now and where it would like to be in terms of its role and mandate.

5. NEW BUSINESS

a) Provincial EAC meeting

Mylene Bezerra Batista attended the meeting and found that doing so was worthwhile. She appreciated the opportunity to meet members from EACs all over the province and to hear their ideas and concerns. Mylene reported that some very interesting sessions, particularly about water pollution, were presented. She recommended Committee members visit a website www.thinkoutsidethebottle.com for more information.

b) Meeting with Town of Markham Mayor Scarpitti

Chair Brent Mersey reported that Philip Ling, Tom Rado and he met with Town of Markham Mayor Frank Scarpitti to explain the Committee’s current frustrations and its desire to become more involved in working with the Town on environmental issues. It was felt that Mayor Scarpitti is supportive of the Committee’s ideas and efforts. He realizes Markham EAC members are well educated in environmental matters and wants to get them involved.

Mayor Scarpitti advised that Town of Markham Council places considerable importance on environmental issues and therefore, is taking a number of steps to support them, including establishing an Environmental Sustainability office and an environmental portal, a talent pool of people that the Town of Markham could call on for their expertise. A Green Standing Committee will also be established – the Markham EAC will have a seat on this committee and therefore be an active participant. Mayor Scarpitti encouraged Markham EAC members to become involved in other environmental committees such as Greenprint and Trees for Tomorrow. The Markham EAC will also be added to the Council’s information distribution list so that Committee members will be aware of environmental issues as they are brought forward and will be able to provide input on a timely basis.

c) Rouge Park Implementation Task Force

Deputy Mayor Jack Heath advised that the task force has prepared a report with recommendations on amenities and activities for Rouge Park in order to best preserve it. It’s possible that the recommendations may be controversial and he would like to first present them to the Markham EAC for its input. The report may be ready for review at the next Markham EAC meeting.

d) Holiday Dinner

Committee members agreed to meet for a holiday dinner on Thursday, December 4, 2008 at 7 PM at Bombay Bhel Restaurant, 230 Commerce Valley Dr E, Thornhill (Highway 7 and Leslie Street area).

6. OTHER BUSINESS

Deputy Mayor Jack Heath advised that at a future meeting, he would like the Markham EAC to discuss the reforestation of private lands and how to inspire private residence owners to take the initiative in this regard.

7. NEXT MEETING

The next meeting of the Markham Environmental Advisory Committee is scheduled for Thursday, November 20^th, 2008 at 7 p.m. in the Ontario Room.

8. ADJOURNMENT

There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 9:15 p.m. on a motion from Tom Rado, seconded by Lloyd Helferty.

ATTENDANCE

Members

Staff

Regrets