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CORPORATE OFFICE
200 Broadway, Tillsonburg, Ontario, N4G 5A7, Telephone # (519) 842-6428, Fax # (519) 842-9431
Web: www.tillsonburg.ca
TOWN OF TILLSONBURG DEVELOPMENT
COMMITTEE
MINUTES
DATE: Tuesday, December 9, 2015 TIME: 7:30 AM
LOCATION: 10 Lisgar Ave – Board Room, Customer Service Centre
Committee Members in Attendance: Andrew Burns, Lisa Gilvesy, Jesse Goossens,
Councillor Jim Hayes, Kirby Heckford, Scott McLean, Mayor Stephen Molnar, Ashton
Nembhard, Randy Thornton, Cedric Tomico, John Veldman, Steve Spanjers
Staff Present: David Calder, Cephas Panschow
Regrets: Mike Bossy, Lindsay Morgan
1) Call to Order
Meeting was called to order at 7:32 AM.
2) Adoption of Agenda
K. Heckford – 1st
R. Thornton – 2nd
“That the agenda as circulated be adopted”
“Carried”
3) Disclosure of Pecuniary Interest
None
4) Adoption of Minutes of November 9, 2015
R. Thornton – 1st
J. Veldman – 2nd
“That the Minutes of November 9, 2015 be approved.”
“Carried”
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CORPORATE OFFICE
200 Broadway, Tillsonburg, Ontario, N4G 5A7, Telephone # (519) 842-6428, Fax # (519) 842-9431
Web: www.tillsonburg.ca
a) Business Arising from the Minutes
5) Standing Items
a) Community Strategic Plan
No update.
b) Post-Secondary Education
No update.
c) Tillsonburg Hydro Inc
John Gilvesy has been appointed as the new Chair. Vice-Chair position to be filled.
d) Town Hall Task Force
Five proposals were received and have now been reviewed with a recommendation being
made to Council at their December 14, 2015 meeting.
6) New Business
a) Operations Department Restructuring (CAO)
D. Calder advised that the management of Airport operations will be moved under the
Director of Operations effective January 1, 2016. More specifically, the new Manager of
Public Works will be the direct manager. This will enable increased focus on strategic
Economic Development initiatives by the Developer Commissioner. Transition will take
place over 2016 with some real estate and high level strategic support continuing to be
provided by the Development Commissioner.
The management of Customer Service Representatives has been moved over to the
Manager of Regulatory Affairs in order to streamline operations and based on the new
manager’s strong Utility experience and background.
7) Economic Development Update
a) 253 Broadway
Staff has met with the new architect for preliminary review of the revised plans and a
formal submission is expected shortly.
b) Report – SOMA Asia Mission
Staff provided an overview of the mission including a SOMA presentation prepared by one
of the members. Research shows that from 2003 to 2015, the SOMA member
communities attracted 20% of the investment projects by Japanese companies accounting
for 43% of the investment dollars (as researched by Town staff). Jobs were also more
than in major centres like Toronto and Mississauga. Mission included:
8 visits to local company head offices
3 Embassy meetings
3 Information Events hosted with over 40 companies represented
10 meetings with companies and national industry associations
2 meetings with development agencies
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CORPORATE OFFICE
200 Broadway, Tillsonburg, Ontario, N4G 5A7, Telephone # (519) 842-6428, Fax # (519) 842-9431
Web: www.tillsonburg.ca
SOMA’s approach to maintaining contact and visits to Japan has been recognized as one of
the best by consular staff in Japan.
Staff is finalizing their reporting and follow up and a more detailed report will be brought
forward at a future meeting.
c) 2016 Business Plan and Budget
C. Panschow to circulate. Branding update at next meeting.
8) Liaison Updates
a) Departmental Reports
None.
b) Tillsonburg District Chamber of Commerce
Five Oxford County Chambers of Commerce were invited by County Warden to a meeting
regarding Future Oxford to discuss the formation of an Economy Oxford committee to
steer the economic aspects of the plan. More information to follow.
c) Downtown Business Improvement Association
Christmas Crawl was very successful with passport registration up significantly from last
year. Many stores/venues were full and most merchants were very happy with the event.
Façade Improvement projects are underway with five in process. Overall, estimated that
$60,000 in funds awarded has generated $300,000 in private sector investment.
d) Tillsonburg District Real Estate Board
Real estate continues to be busy with strong transactions.
e) Physician Recruitment/Oxford Physician Recruitment
The www.PracticeInOxford.ca website is now live and opportunities are being posted to it.
Two new internists have been recruited to the hospital.
9) Roundtable
Vacant real estate on Tillson Ave has been a conditional agreement in place by a local
investor and is scheduled to close in 2016.
Elgin Innovation Centre, which is located in the former Imperial Tobacco building in
Aylmer, continues to be repurposed and includes tenants like WeedMD and the recently
announced Planet Shrimp, which will produce shrimp for the North American market.
Quite a success so far.
Nu-Décor has been approved as a government approved paint recycling depot and they
provide a coupon for paint cans returned for recycling.
Chamber Christmas Business After Five this Thursday.
Onward Thrift operations are going well and committee was advised that they allocate a
portion of their proceeds for community projects, with specific focus on Education and
Care.
Jenkins Gilvesy has hired a new lawyer.
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CORPORATE OFFICE
200 Broadway, Tillsonburg, Ontario, N4G 5A7, Telephone # (519) 842-6428, Fax # (519) 842-9431
Web: www.tillsonburg.ca
10) Date of Next meeting – Tuesday, January 12, 2016
11) Adjournment
S. McLean moved that the meeting be adjourned at 9:20 AM.