Cover Image

The Corporation of the City of St. Catharines

BUDGET STANDING COMMITTEE MINUTES

Thursday, January 28, 2016

 

Members

Present:

Mayor Walter Sendzik (arrived at 3:05 p.m.)

Councillors Mike Britton (arrived at 3:05 p.m.), N. Carlos Garcia,

David A. Haywood, Bill Phillips, and Mathew Siscoe (Chair)

 

Officials

Present:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Guests:

Dan Carnegie, Chief Administrative Officer

Shelley Chemnitz, Commissioner of Corporate Services

Kristine Douglas, Director of Financial Management Services

Jeanette Pillitteri, Director of Corporate Support Services

Cindy Upshall, Manager of Corporate Communications

Bonnie Nistico-Dunk, City Clerk

Margaret Kreuk, Budget Analyst

Maggie Riopelle, Corporate Research Officer                        

Deanna Haine, Council & Committee Coordinator

 

Dave Sherlock, General Manager, St. Catharines Transit

 

 

1.

Call the Meeting to Order

Committee Chair, Mathew Siscoe, took the chair and called the meeting to order in Council Chambers at 3:02 p.m.

 

2.

Adoption of Agenda

Moved By:  Councillor Phillips

That the Budget Standing Committee adopt the agenda for the meeting of Thursday, January 28, 2016.

Carried

 

3.

Declarations of Interest

There were none declared.

 

4.

Adoption of Minutes

There were none at this time.

 

5.

Chair's Report

The Chair had nothing to report at this time.

 

6.

Discussion Items

 

6.1.

Office of the Chief Administrative Office Department Presentations -

Dan Carnegie, CAO

Corporate Communications - Cindy Upshall, Manager

(Deferred at the meeting of January 26, 2016)

Cindy Upshall, Manager of Corporate Communications, presented the departmental overview, including the draft operating budget which contains an unfunded request for the part-time position to change to full-time.

 

Moved By:  Mayor Sendzik

That the Budget Standing Committee direct staff to revisit the budget to reallocate $34,000 to the Communications budget to move the part-time position to full-time and come back to the Committee at the meeting of February 3, 2016.

Carried

 

6.2.

Department Presentation

Transit - Dave Sherlock, General Manager, St. Catharines Transit Commission

Supporting Documents:

         2016 Proposed Budget

         Transit Analysis

         Budget Presentation

Dave Sherlock, General Manager for St. Catharines Transit Commission, having presented the Transit's budget to Council at the meeting of January 25, 2016, was available to answer questions from the Budget Standing Committee.

 

Moved By:  Councillor Phillips

That the Budget Standing Committee receive the information provided by the St. Catharines Transit; and

That the Committee direct the St. Catharines Transit to develop a plan to service the Museum and area development and provide this information for the next budget cycle.

Carried

 

6.3.

Department Presentation

Corporate Support Services - Jeanette Pillitteri, Director

Jeanette Pillitteri, Director of Corporate Support Services, presented the departmental overview and draft operating budget.

 

 

Moved By:  Mayor Sendzik

That the Budget Standing Committee direct staff to complete an audit (roadmap) in order to develop a technology plan; and

That staff be directed to provide information regarding staff's review of the current service contracts; and

That staff be directed to review the name of the Technology Plan account and change it to reflect a more suitable name.

Carried

 

6.4.

Department Presentation

Financial Management Services - Kristine Douglas, Director

Kristine Douglas, Director of Financial Management Services, provided a department overview and the draft operating budget.

 

Moved By:  Mayor Sendzik

That the Budget Standing Committee direct staff to provide information regarding the corporate insurance premiums and liability insurance, and include municipal comparators.

Carried

 

6.5.

Staff Complement Update Report - Shelley Chemnitz

 

Moved By:  Councillor Britton

That, due to the length of the meeting, this item be deferred to the meeting of February 3, 2016.

Carried

 

7.

Information Items

 

7.1.

See Agenda for attached items:

         Report - Referral's to Budget Standing Committee

         Revised Budget Standing Committee Schedule

         2015-2016 Budget Standing Committee Work Plan

         Emails to Budget Standing Committee

With the exception of the Revised Budget Standing Committee Schedule, these items are for information purposes only. The Schedule was deferred to the next meeting.

 

 

 

 

8.

Other Business

There was none this evening.

 

9.

Adjournment

Moved By:  Councillor Phillips

That this meeting be adjourned at 5:02 p.m.

Carried

 

 

Certified Correct:Confirmed by:

 

 

 

_____________________________________________________________________

Council & Committee CoordinatorCommittee Chair