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Minutes of HVRA Board Meeting: September 18, 2007

 

Harbord Village Residents' Association

Board Minutes

Tuesday, September 18, 2007

Kensington Gardens

Convened at 7:23 p.m. Ended at 9 p.m.

Regrets: Sandra DeAthe, John Pham, Leslie Thompson, Richard Gilbert, Michael Heydon, Katrina McHugh

  1. Chair's Welcome
  2. Approval of Agenda
  3. Approval of minutes:  August 21, 2007

Tim and Dave provided amended wording to the Solar
Report in the minutes.

Minutes approved.

4. Business Arising

AGM: Kensington Health Centre, Oct. 16

a. Re suggested motion for AGM regarding tax increase, as discussed at the board meeting of August 21, 2007...

Original wording from Richard Gilbert:

* "that the Harbord Village Residents' Association, after all other avenues have been fully explored, would prefer increased taxes to service cuts.

If yes,

* we further have no objection to broadening to other [taxes] than the recently proposed Land Transfer and Vehicle Registration taxes."

*****Amended by Stuart Schoenfeld:

"that the Harbord Village Residents' Association would prefer, after all other avenues have been fully explored, that the city use its new powers of taxation to raise revenue rather than make substantial reductions to public services."

Summary of discussion:

Board is looking for direction from the AGM.

- Does the association want to take a position on the issue of increased taxes vs. service cuts?

- Does the association want to take a position on ways to solve the city's budget crisis?

- If yes, what is that position?

The board is prepared to respect the will of the association.

Structure of AGM discussion:

* Brief background on the new City of Toronto taxing powers.

* Discussion of city's financial situation in separate caucuses with recommendations then brought back to the general meeting.

b. Checklist with Councillor Vaughan

Need to get on Councillor's radar screen:

Two macro areas: land use and civility.

Bloor Visioning Study

University of Toronto Liaison

patios on College St. - development from Community Council, Sept. 10 meeting. Letter regarding the patio trial leading to mandatory compliance in 2008.

Non-conforming and illegal uses:

20 Brunswick

580 Spadina Ave. - house behind a house

38 Brunswick

72 Robert St.

Brunswick Parkette

414 College St. (club behind a club)

Section 37 monies (subtext, Robert St. Rink)

60 Borden follow-up

Part II plan

Gus to prioritize this list for the board and add a few lines of explanation.

c. Fire Education money

* Tim reminded us of the money we are holding as a result of the Robert St. fires. There was discussion of what to do with the money earmarked for education. There were suggestions about creating an educational flyer, perhaps in tandem with providing smoke detectors.

Amount of money in question: $2700

Tim and Gus: to consult and recommend to the board a new fire education plan, in discussion with Neil Wright of the Harbord St. BIA.

5. Committee Reports

Discussion was held to devote more time to AGM discussion.

    1. Environment
  • i. Trees
  • ii. Solar
  • iii. Graffiti
    1. Membership
    2. Community Liaison
    3. College St. 
    4. Zoning
    5. Communications

     i. Newsletter update - remove Tree Watering Tips section and replace with Police Report.

    1. U of T Liaison
    2. Community Police

The School Board has transferred ownership of the Heydon Park School for the new premises of 14 Division.

Summary of recent meeting:

No change in B&Es; robberies up slightly - not a trend; two ongoing assaults - Christie Pits swarming, The Grown Man Business Gang - stole goods from people, then beat them up.

"Loss of vagrancy" laws - discussion of this. These laws had been misused (by the police).

Margaret raised the issue of 60 Borden. "Well, you can't be there 24/7" was their response.

Committee now meets on Wednesday, same place.

Sept. 22, Police Day coming up at the Rogers Centre, 7 p.m.

    1. Fall Fair - Gus filed a financial summary of the event. *See attachment from Gus. While still a very healthy profit-making event, revenue was down this year. Reasons: costs were up (especially for security), and attendance was lower, probably owing to cooler weather that day. Still, actual profit was close to $1,700.

6. Other Business 

Resignations from the board:

Jane Auster

Margaret Beare

Sandra DeAthe

Michael Heydon

Richard Longley

Potential new board members

Gus has approached some new recruits who have said yes; others have been suggested. The potential new boardies will be introduced at the AGM.

Respectfully submitted,

Jane Auster (for the inestimable Sandra DeAthe)