November 2014 Highlights

Transcription

1 O G Board H I G H L I G H T S OGRA is led by 15 Directors drawn from member municipalities across Ontario. Directors are either elected municipal representatives or municipal staff officials. Collectively they represent several areas of municipal expertise. Elections to the Board of Directors are held at the OGRA Annual Conference in February. The Board meets at least seven times a year. Most meetings are in the Greater Toronto Area. R A OGRA Board of Directors OGRA.org November 2014 Highlights Working for Municipalities

2 NOVEMBER 2014 HIGHLIGHTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Board & Committee Meetings - Executive Summary... Page 3 EXECUTIVE COMITTEE Recommendations to the Board... Page 5 POLICY COMMITTEE Actions taken by the Committee Recommendation... Page 6 MEMBER SERVICES COMITTEE Actions taken by the Committee Recommendation... Page 7 BOARD OF DIRECTORS Agenda: Friday, November 28 th... Page 8 NEXT MEETING The Executive, Policy and Member Services Committees will reconvene on January 22 nd at the Fairmont Royal York, Toronto. The Board of Directors will meet January 23, Following the January 2015 meetings, highlights will be ed to the membership and posted to the OGRA website.

3 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The Board of Directors and Committees met in Toronto on November 26 th, 27 th and 28 th, On November 26 th OGRA held its third Advocacy Day at Queen s Park. The OGRA Board and senior OGRA staff descended upon Queen s Park and met with 65 members of the Provincial Legislature. During these 30 minute meetings OGRA raised three important issues: Standardizing Asset Management Plans Replicating the Success of the Municipal Bridge Data Collection Program New Revenue Tools for Municipalities OGRA staff will be following up with all MPP s to encourage support of these issues. On Thursday the Member Services Committee had a full agenda. David Leckie, Director of the C.S. Anderson Road School reported on the 2014 program and John Tarantino from Marmak reported on numerous initiatives with Municipal DataWorks. One of the more important items on the agenda was a presentation by Strategy Corp on OGRA s Education Survey. OGRA has seen a declined in attendance in some of our long standing education programs and retained Strategy Corp to survey the membership and conduct interviews to try and determine what the root causes were. The findings of the survey confirmed that OGRA is facing strong competition from other non-profit and private sector trainers and that the demographics of our market are changing. OGRA staff will develop a strategy on how to strengthen OGRA s program. The Policy Committee reviewed the following pieces of pending legislation: Bill 30, Highway Incident Management Act, 2014 (Support) Bill 31, Transportation Statute Law Amendment Act, 2014 (Support) Bill 37, Invasive Species Act, 2014 (Requested deputation at Committee) The Committee also received an update from the Ministry of Transportation on the Municipal Public Improvement Program; Cycling Strategy, Northern Strategy and the 5 year review of the Minimum Maintenance Standards. The Ministry continues to review the impact of cancelling connecting link funding. At the Board meeting on Friday the Board received a report from staff that despite some revenues being down, OGRA is expected to end the year with a small surplus of approximately $30,000. The Board also approved the 2015 Budget with projected revenues of $4.4 million and a projected surplus of $2,300. The most recent municipal election had a big impact on the OGRA Board with four Directors leaving. OGRA has had a tradition of alternating its presidency between staff Directors and political Directors. The loss of so many politicians, and the three year minimum tenure required before being eligible to be elected as 2 nd Vice President means that this rotation will not be possible. To attempt to give the Board some flexibility the Board approved a Constitutional Amendment that would allow the Board to waive the three year tenure if they so wish. The amendment will have to be approved by the membership at the AGM next February. Finally the Board was provided with an update on the planning for the 2015 OGRA/ROMA Combined Conference. The planning started much earlier this year which means that we are much further along with locking down the program. A number of new initiatives will be forthcoming in February including a special Small Town Roundtable; a student forum to attempt to attract youth to the conference and to the municipal profession and a tour of the Union Station rehab that, to anyone that has traveled to downtown Toronto the past 4 years will know, is massive.

4 All this in addition to keynote addresses by Premier Kathleen Wynne, PC Interim Leader Jim Wilson, NDP Leader Andrea Horwath and Nik Nanos, President and CEO of Nanos Research and the conference is shaping up to be a good one. In a related matter the Board received a letter from the ROMA Board requesting to meet to review the Combined Conference agreement. The agreement has been in place for 14 years and it was agreed that a review was appropriate. If you have any questions or want more information on any of the issues dealt with by the Board please contact the OGRA at OGRA (6472) or by at info@ogra.org. J. W. Tiernay Executive Director

5 EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE The Executive Committee shall review governance, financial and personnel issues and report on same to the Board of Directors. Membership: President First and Second Vice-Presidents Immediate Past President One Director elected at the first meeting of the Board of Directors following the annual general meeting Actions Taken by the Committee: The investment summary as of October 31, 2014 was received for information. The balance sheet and financial statements as of October 31, 2014 was received for information. A variance report detailing variances greater than $1000 was received for information. The revised 2014 projected year-end is estimated to be $30,100 in comparison to $1000 reported in September. Recommendations to the Board That it be recommended to the Board that the 2015 Final Budget be approved as circulated. That OGRA respectfully declines the request by Region of York for OGRA to contribute to their MMS legal costs. That the executive Director s 2013/14 Evaluation be received and that the 2015/15 work plan be approved.

6 POLICY COMMITTEE The Policy Committee shall provide the Board of Directors with policy advice on a wide range of municipal transportation issues. The committee shall: review relevant policy proposals and government legislation and develop a response where appropriate. initiate policy reports for submission to the Board of Directors. develop timely recommendations to the Board of Directors on emerging issues. identify issues of interest to the membership and recommend appropriate action by the Board of Directors. act as the Resolutions Committee and develop recommendations to the Board of Directors. Actions Taken by the Committee The Committee received for information an updated on policy issues for the period September 6 to November 14, The Committee received an update on MTO activities from Allan Moore and Robert Hazra. Recommendations to the Board That OGRA write to MPP Gila Martow, the Minister of Transportation, the Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services, the PC Transportation Critic, the NDP Transportation Critic and the Commissioner of the Ontario Provincial Police expressing support for Bill 30, Highway Incident Management Act, That OGRA write to the Minister of Transportation, the PC Transportation Critic, the NDP Transportation Critic to express support for Bill 31, Transportation Statute Law Amendment Act (Making Ontario s Roads Safer) 2014, and; That OGRA request to be engaged in the consultation process on Bill 31. That with respect to Bill 37, invasive Species Act, 2014 that OGRA work with member municipalities to ensure that municipal concerns are identified and shared with provincial officials, and; That OGRA make a deputation to share municipal concerns to whichever standing committee Bill 37 is referred. That OGRA plan for 2015 Queen s Park Advocacy Day by building on the successes of the 2014 Advocacy Day, That the report on AMO Gas Tax Outcome Measures be received and that OGRA staff share this information with AMO Gas Tax representatives.

7 MEMBER SERVICES COMMITTEE The Member Services Committee shall provide the Board of Directors with recommendations on a wide range of member services including education and training programs, infrastructure management services, information services and marketing/communications initiatives. The committee shall: Provide recommendations to the Board of Directors on new education and training programs Pursue partnerships with contractor and supplier associations, professional associations, and educational institutions, wherever appropriate Provides representation and input into the development of standards, policies and procedures regarding municipal transportation and public works Provides recommendations on marketing/communications initiatives to the Board of Directors Actions Taken by the Committee The Committee received a report on the CS Anderson Road School from Director David Leckie. The Committee received a report from Chris Loreto and Amber Crawford, Strategy Corp, on OGRA s Education Survey. The Committee received an update on MDW Lighthouse Initiative from John Tarantino. The Committee received a verbal update report on Premature Pavement Deterioration. The Committee received the report on Member/Technical Services Questions for the period September 29 November 14, The Committee received the Technical Services, Performance Measurement, Best Practices, Asset Management, Standards and Infrastructure Services Update for the period September 29 to November 14, The Committee received the Web-Based Services Update for the period ending November 14, The Committee received the Communications and Marketing Update for the period ending November 14, The Committee received the education & training Update for the period September 29 to November 14, Recommendations to the Board None

8 BOARD OF DIRECTORS Agenda: Friday, November 28, /2016 Meeting Schedule ROMA Request Financial Statements and Review of Agreement OGRA Board Composition 2015 OGRA/ROMA Combined Conference Update Executive Committee Report Member Services Committee Report Policy Committee Report Correspondence a) Ernie Hardeman, MPP, Re: Appointment as official opposition critic for Municipal Affairs & Housing Board of Directors (In photo on front cover) BACK ROW (LEFT TO RIGHT): Chris Traini, County Engineer, County of Middlesex; Michelle Hendry, Director of Public Works, City of Kawartha Lakes; Terry McKay, Deputy Mayor, Township of Chatsworth; Robert Burlie, 2 nd Vice President, Manager, Road Operations, City of Toronto; ; Ken Lauppé, Manager, Road Operations - East, Planning & Infrastructure Services, City of Brampton; Mark Grimes, Councillor, City of Toronto; Rick Harms, Project Engineer, City of Thunder Bay; Rick Kester, CAO, City of Belleville; Joe Tiernay, Executive Director. FRONT ROW (LEFT TO RIGHT): ; Luc Duval, Director of Public Works & Engineering, City of Timmins; Duncan McKinlay, Councillor, County of Grey; Rick Champagne,1 st Vice President, Councillor, Municipality of East Ferris; Tom Bateman, President, County Engineer, County of Essex; Joanne Vanderheyden, Immediate Past President, Mayor, Township of Strathroy- Caradoc and Warden, County of Middlesex; Steve Desroches, Deputy Mayor, City of Ottawa; John MacEachern, Mayor, Township of Manitouwadge.