REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING

DATE: TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2005

OPEN SESSION COMMENCING AT 1:00 P.M.

8.1 John Gerretsen, Minister of Municipal Affairs & Housing CC2005-05.8.1

Response to Mayor Kelly’s Letter – Municipal Restructuring

Moved by Councillor Jack, seconded by Councillor Letham,

WHEREAS the Council of the City of Kawartha Lakes has repeatedly requested the Minister

of Municipal Affairs to consider the results of the Minister’s Question whereby a majority of

those who voted recommended that this municipality be restructured to its previous 16 lower

tier and 1 upper tier governance structure; and

WHEREAS the Minister of Municipal Affairs advised this Council in his February 18, 2004

letter that he is not prepared to de-amalgamate this municipality into its previous municipal

structure and in all three letters reiterated his serious concerns about the financial viability of

many of the former municipalities “given the present-day roles and responsibilities”; and

WHEREAS the Minister in both his February 18, 2004 and his December 16, 2004 letters has

made it clear that restructuring is not a priority of this provincial government; and

WHEREAS the Minister has also made it clear that his government has no budget for

municipal restructuring and that this municipality would be responsible for the entire cost of

any restructuring; and

WHEREAS the Minister has stated that there are no provincial plans to change the legislation

regarding municipal restructuring which currently does not allow for any increase to the

number of municipalities within this community or any other community within the province;

and

WHEREAS the Minister strongly encouraged this Council in his letter of February 18, 2004 to

turn our “full attention to our mandate” of ensuring the delivery of municipal services for our

three year term; and

WHEREAS this municipality has many issues and priorities to address in order to ensure

financially responsible yet effective municipal service for our citizens regardless of structure;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the correspondence from Minister Gerretsen to Mayor

Kelly is response to Council’s January 18, 2005 resolution be received;

AND FURTHER THAT for the remainder of this term of Council, Council focus its attention on

its primary mandate of providing good municipal service to our constituents and to improve

upon such services within our current structure;

AND FURTHER THAT staff be instructed to receive and forward to the Ministry of Municipal

Affairs and Housing any communications regarding restructuring issues, proposed

presentations, or other proposals.

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Moved by Councillor Robinson, seconded by Councillor Lawder,

RESOLVED THAT this matter be deferred to the next Regular Council Meeting.

Motion to defer put and DEFEATED

Council recessed at 1:25 p.m. and reconvened at 1:33 p.m.

A recorded vote on the original motion was requested by Councillor Lawder.

CARRIED CR2005-101

Moved by Councillor Polito, seconded by Councillor Robertson,

WHEREAS the Minister of Municipal Affairs has responded to the correspondence sent to him

by the Mayor as a result of Resolution Number CR2005-031; and

WHEREAS the City has received a response outlining that the total costs of any restructuring

of the municipality will have to be borne by the municipality 100%; and

WHEREAS resolution CR2005-031 has been adopted by Council at its meeting held January

18, 2005; and

WHEREAS this Council has also adopted a resolution to direct staff to present a zero percent

budget increase; and

WHEREAS Resolution CR2005-031 would add an approximate $2.4 million plus increase to

the 2005 operating budget; and

WHEREAS Robert’s Rules of Order state that “the unexecuted part of an order, however, can

be rescinded or amended”;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Council of the City of Kawartha Lakes rescind that

portion of Resolution Number CR2005-031 as follows:

THAT Council approves restructuring costs, the municipally funded portion to be at a

minimal cost not to exceed $75.00 per household for City of Kawartha Lakes residents;

and

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THAT the funding be a one-time cost.

A recorded vote was requested by Councillor Polito.

CARRIED CR2005-102