MARKHAM ENVIRONMENTAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE
TOWN OF MARKHAM
Ontario Room
February 19, 2009
7:00 p.m.
MINUTES
MembersPhilip Ling,, Chair Brent Mersey Joyce Chau Erika Lontoc Helen Mack Tom Rado Christopher Sauer Louis Priftakis Lloyd Helferty Mylene Bezerra Batista StaffLaura Gold, Committee Secretary |
RegretsDeputy Mayor Jack Heath Stephanie Chan Justin Chin |
The Markham Environmental Advisory Committee was called to order at 7:10 PM with Mr. Philip Ling presiding as Chair.
2. PRESENTATION
TO TOWN OF MARKHAM COUNCIL
Mr. Ling reported that he, and Mr. Brent Mersey, Past Chair, would be giving a presentation at the March 2, 2009 General Committee regarding the vision of the Markham Environmental Advisory Committee. Laura Gold, Committee Clerk, advised the Committee Members that they could listen to the presentation through the Town’s website via audiostream.
3. CHANGES
OR ADDITIONS TO THE AGENDA
1. Web Workspace
The Committee decided that a portion of the meeting will be devoted to viewing the display located in the Great Hall of the proposed options for the Milne Dam Conservation Area multi use pathway.
Helen Mack, Committee Member, reported that the Markham Economist & Sun would be unable to provide the Committee with print space on a regular basis, but advised that it may provide the Committee with print space (when it has space available) if it has an interesting story or article. Some ideas included writing a monthly article on the Committee’s opinions on different environmental issues.
5. ADOPTION OF THE MINUTES OF THE MARKHAM
ENVIRONMENTAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE HELD
ON JANUARY 15, 2009
Moved by Thomas Rado
Seconded by Joyce Chau
That the minutes of the Markham Environmental Advisory Committee held on January 15, 2009 be adopted as presented.
CARRIED
6. MATTERS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES
6. A. PRESENTATION
TO TOWN OF MARKHAM COUNCIL/ MEETING WITH THE COMMISSIONER
The Chair discussed the meeting that occurred with Ms. Brenda Librecz, Commissioner of Community & Fire Services. Mr. Thomas Rado, Committee Member, advised that Ms. Librecz was very receptive to the Committee’s ideas, noting she also had many great ideas. The Committee was pleased that the Town was committed to working with the Committee, and with the fact that the Town has been allocating resources to the environment. Mr. Rado reported that the Town was creating a new sustainability office and was in the process of recruiting the new Director of Sustainability.
6. B. PLANNING COMMITTEE INITIATIVES
There was a brief discussion about a presentation, attended by Past Chair Brent Mersey, made by Claudia Marsales, Manager of Waste Management, regarding the Town’s 0% waste policy. The Committee demonstrated its interest in having Ms. Marsales come and speak at a future Markham Environmental Advisory Committee meeting.
The Committee requested that a representative from the Town’s Green Print Group come and speak at the March meeting of the Markham Environmental Advisory Committee meeting.
Erika Lontoc, Committee Member, was requested to renew her invitation to Marion Fraser, Senior Policy Advisor to the Ontario Government on the Green Energy Act, to come speak at the April meeting of the Markham Environmental Advisory Committee with respect to the Green Energy Act.
The committee wanted to keep the presentation to a small group format to facilitate dialog and maintain a conversational setting, but agreed that a few more attendees could be accommodated, and the Chair volunteered to send out these invitations.
The Committee requested that the York Room be booked rather than the Ontario Room for the April 16, 2009 Markham Environmental Advisory Committee.
The Committee Clerk reviewed the absentee policy and was requested to contact Justin Chin to inquire if he is still interested in being a Committee Member of the Markham Environmental Advisory Committee, given he had not attended in several months and had not been in touch with the committee. The new Chair expressed his intention to run an active committee, and that those who were frequently absent would be asked to resign so as to make way for new members.
6. C. REPORT OF ANNUAL YORK REGION ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING
The Committee briefly discussed the report on the annual York Region Advisory Committee meeting. They commented on the report template and suggested that it be used to record future activities of the Committee.
6. D. COMMUNICATION SENT OUT BY CLERKS
The Markham
Environmental Advisory Committee requested that they receive more advance
notice with respect to receiving invitations to Town events.
6. E. WEB
WORKSPACE
The Chair provided a demonstration of the Google Application page (MarkhamMeac.org) he created for the Committee. He explained that each Committee Member would be assigned an email address, further noting that the Committee can share documents using this program. He advised that the Committee could create a presentation together, quickly and with ease by using the webpage he created and its document management capabilities.
7. NEW BUSINESS
7. A. MILNE
DAM CONSERVATION AREA
The Committee took a brief break to view the display located in the Great Hall of the different options for the proposed Milne Dam Conservation Area multi use pathway.
Chris Sauer, the MEAC member who sits on the Cycling & Pedestrian Committee, took time out from the community meeting underway in Council Chambers on the subject of pathway options, to bring MEAC up to date.
The Committee had a brief discussion about the proposed Milne Dam Conservation Area multi use pathway. The Committee noted that pathways have made other cities like Washington a nice place to visit, live, and work. It was noted that the pathway could be an environmental opportunity to reforest the area. There was some discussion about having the trail go under McCowan Road in the future so as to avoid crossing such a busy road. Also, it was felt that some flexibility should be applied in order to avoid cutting down trees that currently line the part of the path at the entrance from McCowan.
The committee generally supported the town’s preferred option.
7. ADJOURNMENT
Moved by Thomas Rado
Seconded by Brent Mersey
That the Markham Environmental Advisory Committee adjourn at 9:05 PM.
CARRIED