Richmond Hill Council Meeting Wednesday December, 8, 2022 at 9:30am
View agenda here and Meeting Video Part 1 & Part 2 & Part 3
Very busy agenda including 15 delegations speaking about the Operating Budget, developments at 0 Elgin Mills Rd East and 227 Harding Blvd. West, the Official Plan Update Key Directions report and the Integrity Commissioner report.
Integrity Commissioner Investigation Report Complaint by City Manager Mary-Anne Dempster against Councillor Carmine Perrelli
The IC's recommendation of a Reprimand was APPROVED (5-2)
In Favour DiPaola, Chan, West, Cilevitz, Liu Opposed Beros, Muench (Perrelli step away)
The most contentious part of the meeting was the IC report (starts at timestamp 34:03 Meeting Video Part 2)
Councillor Muench put forth a motion to just receive the IC report as he felt that "shaming somebody who's running in a political context is a form of reprimand" so no further reprimand is required. Councillor Beros agreed with Muench he felt that when "reading the report the word stretching comes to mind" also "the integrity commissioner's office was never meant to be this tool to attack each other"
Councillor Perrelli did not declare a pecuniary interest and took the opportunity to read a prepared statement stating "this is an attempt to silence me" and "anyone who thinks that they can silence the voices of Richmond Hill residents by trying to muzzle or embarrass me into submission is sadly mistaken" (55:09 Video Part 2)
Muench's motion to only receive the IC report with no reprimand FAILED (5-3)
Opposed DiPaola, Chan, West, Cilevitz, Lui In Favour Perrelli, Beros, Muench
DiPaola then came back with a motion to approve the IC's recommendation of a reprimand (64:31 Video Part 2) which was finally approved after much chaos.
Request for Approval – Official Plan Amendment, Zoning By-law Amendment and Draft Plan of Subdivision Applications – 1430518 Ontario Inc. – 0 Elgin Mills Road East
APPROVED (7-1) - Councillor Cilevitz voted against
There were 5 delegations, 6 letters and a petition of 1200 in opposition to this development for 56 townhouses and 2 apartment buildings ranging up to 14 storeys next to the Hindu temple at Bayview and Elgin Mills.
2022 Draft Operating Budget - APPROVED UNANIMOUSLY
Request for Endorsement: Official Plan Update Key Directions - Deferred to February 9th Council meeting (5-3)
In Favour DiPaola, Perrelli, Chan, Muench, Lui Opposed West, Cilevitz, Beros
All other items passed on consent
Interesting items on the agenda include:
Draft Operating Budget for approval
0% tax increase for 2022
There are increases in the Capital Asset Sustainability Fee and the Water, Wastewater & Stormwater Budgets
Parks Use By-law Review – Key Findings and Directions
This report provides an update on the comprehensive review of Richmond Hill’s Parks Use
Request for Endorsement: Official Plan Update Key Directions
The purpose of this staff report is to seek Council endorsement of the Key Directions Report for the Official Plan Update
(Executive Summary Pages 4 to 7)
Letter from Charles Harnick, Integrity Commissioner, ADR Chambers, regarding Investigation Report Complaint by City Manager Mary-Anne Dempster against Councillor Carmine Perrelli
Ms. Dempster complains about an email survey sent by Deputy Mayor Perrelli to a number of residents on May 17, 2021 and corresponding information posted by him on Instagram. Her complaint is that the statements in these communications were in her view false, misleading and devoid of context.
The IC finds that it is reasonable to conclude that the email and Instagram post contravened the Code of Conduct.
The IC recommends that Council reprimand Perrelli.
This is the third IC complaint against Councillor Perrelli during his term in office
Back in September 2019 the IC found that Perrelli contravened the code for abusive conduct and unwarranted public humiliation and the IC recommended a reprimand that time as well however Council chose not to accept the IC's recommendation and the report was received but no reprimand was given. Let's hope this time the IC's recommendation is approved.
In April 2021 Perrelli also breached York Regional Council's Code of Conduct for Twitter blocking a Richmond Hill resident. Read the IC Report here
See below if you want to make or submit any comments regarding the agenda items.
Public Comments: The public may submit written correspondence regarding agenda matters by email to clerks@richmondhill.ca. Written correspondence must be submitted by 12 p.m. Tuesday December 7th.
Electronic Delegations: The public may apply to appear as an electronic delegation by video conference or by telephone. Applications to appear as an electronic delegation must be submitted by 12 p.m. Tuesday December 7th by email to clerks@richmondhill.ca or by using the on-line form. The Office of the Clerk will provide instructions on appearing as an electronic delegation.
Public Forum: Any person who wishes to speak to Council on a matter not on the agenda must pre-register with the Office of the Clerk by 12 p.m. Tuesday December 7th by email to clerks@richmondhill.ca or by using the on-line form. Public Forum will be by video conference via the internet or telephone only. A maximum of five persons will be allowed to register for the Public Forum on a first come first serve basis.