Special Council Meeting

Minutes

C#09-20

Friday, March 13, 2020 at 3:00 P.m. - 5:00 P.m.

Council Chambers

225 East Beaver Creek Road

Richmond Hill, Ontario

Council Members Present:

• Regional and Local Councillor DiPaola
• Regional and Local Councillor Perrelli
• Councillor Beros
• Councillor Muench
• Councillor Liu
• Councillor West
• Councillor Chan

Regrets:

• Mayor Barrow
• Councillor Cilevitz

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1.

Adoption of Agenda

• Moved by: Councillor Beros
  Seconded by: Councillor Liu

  That the agenda be adopted as distributed by the Clerk.

  Carried Unanimously

2.

Disclosures of Pecuniary Interest and General Nature Thereof

There were no disclosures of pecuniary interest by Members of Council under the Municipal Conflict of Interest Act.

3.

Scheduled Business

3.1

Emergency or Time Sensitive Matter regarding a COVID-19 update from the Interim City Manager

Mary-Anne Dempster, Interim City Manager, made a presentation to Council regarding an update on Richmond Hill’s response to COVID-19. She reviewed City staff’s involvements to monitoring COVID-19, and highlighted internal activities and precautionary measures to ensure the health and safety of staff, residents and visitors to the community.

Interim City Manager Dempster, reviewed the Ontario government’s announcement to close all publicly-funded schools until April 5, 2020, and highlighted 3 key recommendations from the Ontario Chief Medical Officer of Health. Interim City Manager Dempster outlined staff’s recommendations which included implementing a number of precautionary measures and advised that staff were present to answer questions.

Steve Kraft, Fire Chief, advised that they are closely monitoring the emerging COVID-19 situation and continue to communicate with various government partners.

• Moved by: Councillor Beros
  Seconded by: Councillor Liu

  a) That, notwithstanding any policy or by-law to the contrary, the Interim City Manager’s authority to take any and all necessary actions in respect to the COVID-19 virus outbreak including, without limitation, the following actions be confirmed:

  i) to close and/or restrict public access to any municipal land, building and facility effective 11:59 p.m. on Friday March 13, 2020 up to and including April 5, 2020

  ii) to cancel and/or restrict any municipal programs or service, including any recreation program or camp, and approve refunds for cancelled programs

  iii)   to make adjustments to the City’s Human Resources policies and practices, including Council approved pay and sick-leave policies, to ensure fairness and business continuity.

  b) That all Council or Committee meetings currently scheduled on or before April 5, 2020 be cancelled.

  c) That the Interim City Manager report back to Council on any funding from the City’s reserves that may be required as a result of the City’s response to the COVID-19 virus outbreak.

  Carried Unanimously
• Moved by: Councillor Beros
  Seconded by: Councillor Liu

  In addition, the following recommendation was considered:

  a) That for the duration of the COVID-19 virus outbreak, the City’s Procedure By-law # 74-12, as amended, be deemed amended to include the following provisions:

  1) That Members of Council be permitted to participate in Special Council meetings by any electronic means deemed acceptable to the Chair, subject to the following requirements:

  a) in accordance with Section 238(3.1) of the Municipal Act, 2001, a Member of Council participating in a meeting electronically does not count towards the quorum for that meeting.

  b) any Member of Council participating in a meeting electronically may discuss and vote on any matter, unless prevented by Law, provided that the Chair is satisfied that it is the Member voting, in accordance with c) below.

  c) after putting a motion to a vote, the Member of Council participating electronically will be required to identify verbally how he or she wishes to vote.

  d) in accordance with Section 238(3.2) of the Municipal Act, 2001, a Member of Council is not permitted to participate in a Closed Session meeting by electronic means.

  2) That should the requirements of Section 238(3.1) of the Municipal Act, 2001, be amended, by any legislative or regulatory means, to permit any Member of Council participating in a meeting electronically to count towards quorum section a) above shall not apply.

  3) That should the requirements of Section 238(3.2) of the Municipal Act, 2001, be amended, by any legislative or regulatory means, to permit a Member of Council to participate electronically in a Closed Session meeting, section d) above does not apply.

  Carried Unanimously

4.

Closed Session

4.1

Resolution to Move Into Closed Session and General Nature Thereof

• Moved by: Councillor Liu
  Seconded by: Councillor Beros

  That Council resolve into a closed session meeting:

  a) To consider matters regarding labour relations or employee negotiations with respect to COVID-19 (Section 239(2)(d) of the Municipal Act, 2001).

  Carried Unanimously

4.2

Resolution to Reconvene in Open Session

Council moved into closed session and then returned to open session (3:43 p.m. to 3:58 p.m.)

4.3

Adoption of Recommendations Arising from Closed Session, if required

There were no open session recommendations.

5.

By-law to Confirm the Proceedings of Council at this Meeting

• Moved by: Councillor Chan
  Seconded by: Councillor West

  That By-law 34-20, A By-law to confirm the proceedings of Council at this meeting, be passed.

  Carried Unanimously

5.1

By-law 34-20

6.

Adjournment

• Moved by: Regional and Local Councillor DiPaola
  Seconded by: Councillor Beros

  That the meeting be adjourned.

  The meeting was adjourned at 4:06 p.m.

  Carried Unanimously