201021 MPRAC MINThe Corporation of the Town of Tillsonburg
Memorial Park Revitalization Advisory Committee
October 21, 2020
Electronic meeting
MINUTES
Present: Joan Weston, Eugene Todd, Jane Ann McLean, Mel Getty, Rosemary
Dean, Councillor Chris Rosehart, Scott Vitias, Ken Patterson
Absent with Regrets: Terry Smith, Sharon Howard, Mike Cerna, Kim Sage
Staff Present: Christopher Baird, Margaret Puhr
1. Call to Order
The meeting was called to order at 5:40 p.m.
2. Adoption of Agenda
Resolution #1
Moved by: Joan Weston
Seconded by: Eugene Todd
THAT the revised Agenda as prepared for the Memorial Park Revitalization Advisory
Committee meeting of October 21, 2020, be adopted.
Carried
3. Minutes of the Previous Meeting
Resolution #2
Moved by: Rosemary Dean
Seconded by: Jane Ann McLean
THAT the Memorial Park Revitalization Advisory Committee Minutes of September
23, 2020, be adopted.
Carried
4. Disclosures of Pecuniary Interest and the General Nature Thereof
There were no disclosures of pecuniary interest declared.
5. General Business & Reports
5.1. Committee Terms of Reference – there were some items brought up about the
terms of reference by the members; The committee needs minimum of 7
members, which this committee exceeds; The term is 4 years, appointed to
match council term, some other municipalities have 2 or 3 year term; Committee
must hold minimum 4 meetings per year – everyone is busy and the participation
is appreciated. This committee is halfway through the term and this is a good
time to review the terms. Discussion: there is overlap with some other
committees, possibly combining some of those would be practical; four meetings
per year is not enough, should have at least eight. Review other committees’
mandates and provide the information to this committee – Margaret; the
Memorial Park Master Plan and the Recreation Master Plan should be combined
and updated together as they overlap in number of ways. The committee makes
recommendations that might duplicate recommendations from other committees
or groups on the same items. The committee will review where the overlaps
between committees are and make recommendation based on the review.
5.2. Departmental Service Review report to Council – Clarico review provided
approximately 70 recommendations to the department, some of them have
already been adopted or are in progress, some are going to be in future budgets
and some are just too expensive to implement in near future. It was helpful to
have a 3rd party review, though it is difficult to make comparisons with other
municipalities as everyone is quite different in size and departmental allocations.
Some efficiencies are already in place, other are difficult due to the size of the
municipality. The Director was asked to show Council how the review
recommendations are being implemented and that is what the report speaks to.
5.3. Parking Lot update – the site received final grading, asphalt will be installed
shortly, weather permitting. The additional lot will add about 60 parking spaces
and improves access to the cattle barn. Because the contract came higher than
the budget available, some extra items such as sod around the lot etc., have
been postponed to 2021. Fair Board is hoping for new rollup doors on the Cattle
barn to be installed this year and possibly some paint to improve the looks of the
Barn. Tillsonburg will be hosting the next two baseball finals in 2021 and 2022.
The Optimist Parking area near the tennis courts is going in the budget in 2022
for upgrading.
5.4. Master Plan priorities – the Committee would like to see the signage
addressed in 2021 - this is in the budget for next year. Committee members are
asked to come up with ideas for the next priorities such as beautification near
the bandshell and other areas of the Memorial Park for the next meeting.
5.5. Parking priorities – the expansion will continue to the parking lot near the
tennis courts in 2022. The Director will be working on a 10-year capital budget
for the Community Centre and Sports Fields in Memorial Park – this information
will be shared at the beginning of the next year by the Director.
6. General discussion: Fair – scheduled for the week of August 20-22, 2021. The Fair
Board will start preparation in November after their elections; Rotary Club had a
successful book fair and is working on cleaning up the area near the tennis courts;
the club has been doing a lot of cleaning up this fall; Ken will be meeting with the
director in near future to discuss tree planting and further improvements. Lake Lisgar
Revitalization Project group dredged one pond and is getting ready to dredge
another one this fall, two of the aerators needed repairs this year, otherwise all went
well. Camper parking was brought up by Councillor Rosehart, COVID makes it
desirable open parking for campers – will discuss further with Director.
7. Next Meeting: November 18 at 5:30pm.
8. Adjournment
Resolution #4
Moved by: Joan Weston
Seconded by: Eugene Todd
THAT the October 21, 2020 Memorial Park Revitalization Advisory Committee
meeting be adjourned at 6:36 p.m.
Carried