Newmarket Taxpayers Advocacy Group Inc.

The price tag for turning Mulock Property into a landmark community gathering place is $40 million. The majority of the funding will come from development charges, the fees put on new construction projects to pay for new infrastructure, such as roads, sewers and recreation facilities. Should Development Charges be used to fund the Park, and to what extent? Are you concerned that the fund will be depleted?

Sunshine List Town of Newmarket

NTAG thanks The Madsens for their generous support and provision of meeting space.

https://www.newmarkettoday.ca//newmarket-residents-can-hav

https://www.newmarkettoday.ca//newmarket-library-ceo-resig

https://www.newmarkettoday.ca//newmarket-may-pocket-region

Help for small business: One of the options expected to be put forward is a water rebate program for small businesses devised by Mayor John Taylor. Last month, the mayor convinced council not to lower Newmarket's water rate increase to reflect the fact that York Region decided it would forgo raising its own water rates in 2021. ... That means the portion of the additional money collected from ratepayers that would have gone to York Region will be pocketed by the Town of Newmarket. Taylor wants to see that money used to give small businesses a substantial rebate on their water bills. Staff members have been working on the details of how such a program would work.... https://www.newmarkettoday.ca//whats-coming-up-at-newmarke

The town has already created some preliminary estimates showing that the pandemic could cost the Newmarket $1.9 million in next year's municipal budget. https://www.newmarkettoday.ca//whats-ahead-in-2021-newmark

https://www.newmarket.ca/towngover//News-Description.aspx

We will keep moving forward on key projects like the outdoor skate park, the Mulock Arboretum, and key infrastructure projects." https://www.newmarkettoday.ca//whats-ahead-in-2021-newmark

https://www.newmarkettoday.ca//newmarket-ranks-in-top-10-f

https://www.cbc.ca//collingwood-inquiry-marrocco-report-co

https://www.newmarkettoday.ca//newmarket-spending-200k-to-

https://www.newmarkettoday.ca//southlakes-covid-19-assessm

The upcoming Committee of the Whole meeting Oct 5 will provide an update of the status of the 8.5 million deficit. It is now projected to be zero, and the deficit should have no impact on the 2021 tax rates. All of this has been accomplished while retaining all permanent full time staff.

https://www.newmarkettoday.ca//newmarket-hydro-zapped-with

https://www.bradfordtoday.ca//completely-irresponsible-uni

https://www.newmarkettoday.ca//newmarket-mayor-cautiously-

Newmarket receives $1.8M in pandemic emergency funding https://www.newmarkettoday.ca//newmarket-receives-18m-in-p

For those who may have missed this in The Era, the Mayor has commented on the 8.5 million dollar budget shortfall due to Covid-19 and how this will present a challenge at budget time.

Newmarket Council is meeting on Tuesday, May 19 at 2 p.m. for a Special Council Meeting. As the Municipal Offices are closed to the public, the meeting will be streamed live online. This meeting will also be recorded and posted online after. View the agenda and details at newmarket.ca/meetings. The COVID-19 pandemic could create a deficit of up to $8.5 million for the Town of Newmarket’s tax-supported operating budget. Some mitigating measures can be applied to this but they have not been quantified yet. The NTAG Board has submitted comments specific to the Financial Update Staff Report 2020-34 to be read into the public record at the Special Council Meeting.

NTAG Deputation covered by NewmarketToday.ca https://www.newmarkettoday.ca//newmarket-taxpayers-group-a

Special Council - Electronic on April 27, 2020, Live Stream The meeting will be streamed live and a copy of the archived video will be made available after the meeting. We have submitted the following written deputations to the Town: NTAG comments re Lunch Program (page 11):...Continue reading

Town of Newmarket lays off 350-plus https://www.newmarkettoday.ca//covid-19-closures-lead-to-3

City of Barrie Staffing Changes https://globalnews.ca//city-of-barrie-lays-off-portion-wo/

City of Richmond Hill Staffing Changes https://www.yorkregion.com//9936163-coronavirus-crisis-mo/

Town of Aurora Announces Staffing Changes https://www.yorkregion.com//9936326-aurora-lays-off-280-r/

Council Expenses for Website Admin & Management. Thoughts?

Full report in Link - Town of Newmarket Statement of Remuneration and Expenses 2019 https://newmarket.ca/TownGovernm/Documents/INFO-2020-11.pdf

March 20 Update from Town

FYI from the mayor of the town of Newmarket: Covid-19: Mayor’s Update I have asked staff to call an emergency meeting of Council to deal with issues related to Covid-19 it will be held tomorrow March 18th at 3 pm. The meeting will deal with issues related to Covid-19. I have asked staff to bring reports forward for Council consideration on the following topics: 1. A property tax deferral program... 2. Financial support for our Food Bank 3. Logistics and planning for potential Town run food bank to support our Food Pantry 4. Delegated authority for Mayor and CAO 5. Consideration of reassignment and support for workers who are laid off from the Town. I can assure you that the Region, the Province, and the Federal government are also taking significant steps to support those who are economically at risk due to Covid-19. I have spoken with Chair Emerson and CAO McGregor, I have spoken with MP Van Bynen and I am speaking with Minister Elliot today to provide input into their planning. We also have a Newmarket-Tay Hydro conference call today. The Town will continue to monitor all developments and take further steps within our jurisdiction if necessary. The Town Offices are closed to the public. We will continue to value public input so please watch the live stream of this meeting at Newmarket.ca and please send comments to your member of Council or to staff. Finally please be an active participant in our effort to slow the spread of Covid-19. Please follow the advice of Public Health officials, please practice social distancing, and please support those in need. If you are in a position to please make a cash contribution to the Newmarket Food Pantry. We are strong community and together we will work through this challenging time! See more

NEW CEO at NT Power https://www.newmarkettoday.ca//newmarket-tay-power-welcome

Provincial Funding for Roads and Bridges https://www.newmarkettoday.ca//ontario-sends-16m-to-newmar

https://mobilesyrup.com//envi-newmarket-municipality-owne/

Some of the findings from the recent "Administrative & Service Delivery Review" were presented verbally at the presentation on December 16. "Best practice is to have 3 to 5 different layers from front-line staff to the most senior executives. Excluding Library and CYFS, Newmarket is 5.25. Some areas have a lot more supervisors than staff" Thoughts?

Funded by the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing’s Audit and Accountability Fund, the Town of Newmarket retained StrategyCorp to conduct an adminstrative and service delivery review. Key findings include: * Staff feel that top-down transparency in some areas could be improved.... * An absence of clearly defined service levels, despite a commitment to customer service. A perception of a "never say no" culture. * A willingness to collaborate within the Town is challenged due to current processes, roles and responsibilities which reinforce "silos". * Strategic priorities are not cascaded to the frontline workers through formal processes. And, lastly, something that NTAG has lamented in the past: * Lack of a performance management framework - quality, efficiency and effectiveness of service is not well understood nor managed consistently. Thoughts?

The Town has approved the 2020 budget. All-in (Town, York Region and School Board) there will be a tax increase of 2.39 per cent (subject to tax shifting and finalized tax rates from York Region and the School Board). The total approved 2020 Operating Budget is $134.6 million and the Capital Budget is $37.8 million, with a combined total of $172.4 million. Thoughts?

The 400 seat theatre... operates at a $250 - 300 thousand annual deficit NTAG has questioned the management and business practices of the theatre, and it’s ongoing financial losses (on the taxpayers dime) for several years.

https://www.newmarkettoday.ca//drivers-at-fault-in-collisi Town of Newmarket CAO Jag Sharma explained that the program is about managing the costs associated with providing emergency response, rather than a source of revenue. It certainly is important that we respond to the incident appropriately and it’s about cost recovery, Sharma said. A new job will be created as a result. A part-time, permanent administrative assistant will be hired at a cost of $47,000/yr before the... motor vehicle collision cost recovery program could be implemented. The report recommends approval for that position in October for a January 2020 launch. Thoughts?

The absolute value of being neutral is zero. Toba Beta

I always cheer up immensely if an attack is particularly wounding because I think, well, if they attack one personally, it means they have not a single political argument left. - Margaret Thatcher

The former administration of the Town of Newmarket chose to install a bike shelter for employees at the town. We understand there are 3-4 employees that cycle regularly. After installation began, it was promptly terminated as a building permit was required. This "hole" has existed for a couple of months, and construction, with the necessary building permit, will resume in October. Of concern - the lack of communication among Town departments existing in the same building, and the amount of time and resources ($$$) spent on a small project. Of note - the Town CAO got back to NTAG immediately, and promptly reviewed and resolved the issue. We are grateful for his leadership.

Accountability is the essence of democracy. If people do not know what their government is doing, they cannot be truly self-governing. Garry Wills

Every four years we go through the same cycle of hope and disillusionment. Sheri Holman

Living in a democratic society means that I can express my opinion, having a democratic government means that they don't have to listen. Anthony Hincks

It is the people who control the Government, not the Government the people. - Winston S. Churchill

Nothing in all the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity. - Martin Luther King, Jr.

The greatest threats to Democracy are comfort and apathy. T. Rafael Cimino

Noted on a library receipt, for borrowing books: "You saved $40 using the library". Do we really save money? Are taxpayers not paying for the books, staff, maintenance and operation of the building, etc.? Thoughts?

https://www.theglobeandmail.com//article-block-the-vote-s/ This occurs at all levels of government, including municipal and regional. Thoughts?

Happy Canada Day! Visit NTAG on Main St from 10:00-4:00 todayHappy Canada Day! Visit NTAG on Main St from 10:00-4:00 today

July 1 meet the volunteers of NTAG at our booth on Main Street. Happy Canada Day!July 1 meet the volunteers of NTAG at our booth on Main Street. Happy Canada Day!

https://www.newmarkettoday.ca//newmarket-mayor-grilled-on-

Q & A with Mayor John Taylor tomorrow, Wed June 19 7:00 PM @ Madsen’s Greenhouses. With CAO Jag Sharma. All welcome.Q & A with Mayor John Taylor tomorrow, Wed June 19 7:00 PM @ Madsen’s Greenhouses. With CAO Jag Sharma. All welcome.

https://www.yorkregion.com//9395603-newmarket-s-stickwood/ Thoughts? This home was used as a residence by a Town employee for over 10 years. It was purchased over 15 years ago, and the Town still owes $5 million for it's purchase.

https://www.newmarkettoday.ca//former-newmarket-mayor-seek Thoughts?

The Town of Newmarket has published "summaries from various reports related to the Mulock Farm" https://www.newmarket.ca//Park/Mulock%20Farm/Reports.aspx Thoughts? Do the summaries provide full and transparent details surrounding the purchase? While the entire purchase cost (principal and interest) will be paid directly by property owners through a tax-bill levy, the operating and maintenance costs will be budgeted through ongoing annual tax budgets.

https://www.newmarkettoday.ca//newmarket-disbands-downtown Thoughts? NTAG has consistently been concerned with committee members (tenants and property owners) making decisions with taxpayers money, AND receiving grants as committee members.

Does receiving significant donations from developers influence politicians? Thoughts? https://www.newmarkettoday.ca//half-of-newmarket-deputy-ma

A new secondary plan could transform Newmarket’s Mulock Drive and Bayview Avenue area into a transit-friendly hub. Thoughts? https://www.yorkregion.com//9285421-newmarket-town-hall-n/

$100K of taxpayer money will go to this developer to renovate existing buildings prior to sale. Thoughts? https://www.newmarkettoday.ca//developer-pulls-out-of-cloc

Should the former mayor have received $90K in severance upon retirement? Should the Elected Official Expense policy have additional checks and balances, or (as stated) are expenses at the discretion of the elected officials? Are expenses such as $679.23 for a "Welcome to Summer Celebration", hosted by the Mayor for Council and Senior management, proper use of taxpayers money?... Thoughts? https://www.newmarkettoday.ca//newmarket-council-compensat

The Newmarket Downtown Development Committee provides interest free loans and grants to landlords and businesses in downtown Newmarket. This program has been in existance for years. On today's agenda: "The owners of the building known municipally as 47 Main Street South are required to physically expand and substantially improve the premises prior to leasing to Mercato on Main. They are seeking support for a no-interest loan of up to $100,000, subject to confirmation of fi...nal costs. A new venture called Mercato on Main is proposed at 47 Main Street South. This will feature an Italian bakery, deli, prepared food and hot table specializing in Italian cuisine. Extensive expansion/enhancements to the existing building are proposed, with the Project Feasibility grant request the first of several anticipated "as the project proceeds." There are other $100K interest free loans for other businesses on Main Street. This is all funded by taxpayers - thoughts?

Thank you to those who attended our AGM last evening. Congratulations to our new Board of Directors and Ward Reps: President - Kathy Kumpula Vice President - open Treasurer - Brendan Matthias... Secretary - Donna Evans Director - Peter Burdon Director - Ron Eibel Ward 1 Rep - Wasim Jarrah Ward 2 Rep - Paul Robinson Ward 3 Rep - Dianne Wood Ward 4 Rep - Mark Johnston Ward 5 Rep - TBD Ward 6 Rep - Lucille Abate Ward 7 Rep - Jamal Massadeh

A short review of some of our events this past year. Thanks for your continued support.

Canada Day - Main Street Newmarket 2018