December Mayor‘s Report

Chief Administrator Officer (CAO)

·         Human Resources and Dave Weldon performed initial interviews with (5) candidates

·        Short listed candidates to (2)

·        Council, along with Human Resources & Dave Weldon performed second interviews on the recommended (2) candidates

·        Strong candidates for position

·        An announcement will be made shortly

 Best Practices and Organizational Review

 ·         Report will be presented by Covenco December 20^th

·        Copy of report will be on Town Page December

OPP Investigation

·        OPP investigation regarding allegations surrounding the construction of the Gravenhurst Centennial Centre has been completed

·        In conclusion, the contractor did not employ a sophisticated kickback scheme

·        No criminal activity was identified

·        The OPP now consider the investigation closed

Prov/Fed Funding Agreement

·         Province indicated they are in discussion with Fed’s regarding funding agreement

·        Town has received confirmation that the flow of funds would begin again, at this time, no date has been confirmed

·        Total funding commitment between Prov/Fed’s $12,351,432, Town has received $7,756,786.92 outstanding $4,594,645.08 

Cost Accumulated w/Dalton Kickback Scheme

Professional Service cost to the end of October

·         KPMG (Forensic Audit)                       $ 97,011.21

·        Marshall Murray (Quantity Surveyor) $ 34,267.95

·        Lawyer Fees                                        $175,901.12

TOTAL  $ 307,180.28

Currently speaking with funding partners regarding sharing some of the cost that the Town has incurred, the above amount will be a part of Town’s capital cost for project.

 Corporate Services,  Deputy Mayor Jeff Watson

Municipal Roof

·         Main roof panels now in place with final valley completion mid December

Insulation Municipal Office

·         Work has been completed

Opera House Painting

·         Work has been completed

Building Automation

·         In progress, 99% complete

·        Require IT to provide date drops and static IP addresses

·        Opera House on line

Building Hazardous Materials Inspections

·         Field work has been completed, have not received reports to date

Train Station Washrooms

·         50% complete, contractor has started tiling washrooms, rough plumbing has been completed and work has been inspected

Corporate Services Continued,

Muskoka Boat & Heritage Centre

·         Have not received proposal from Architect, is being prepared

·        Contact has been made with Mechanical Engineering Firm as well as Structural Engineering firm

Budget Process

·         Well underway

Corporate Sponsorship

·         Working with various service clubs and local businesses for corporate sponsorship at Centennial Centre

Community Services, District Councillor Rosemary King

Recreational Facility

·         Tiling of pool nearing completion

·        Once tile completed final inspections required prior to filling of pool

·        YMCA very successful with tours, currently 500+ memberships have been sold

·        Will advise opening date of YMCA once inspections have been completed

·        Skateboard park is now completed

Airport Advisory Committee

·         Appointed to this committee, first meeting December 12^th to begin process of selecting community members

Ministry of Tourism

·         All tourism partners attended Township of Muskoka Lakes Committee meeting

·        Discussed the process of identifying any overlap or redundancy in order to make tourism more streamlined and efficient in Muskoka

Accessibility Committee, Councillor  Joe Donoghue

·         Reviewing audible lights throughout District

Heritage Committee, Councillor Joe Donoghue

·         Looking at a consistent plaque design for buildings

Economic Development, Councillor Lola Bratty

Downtown Revitalization

·         Marilyn DeLang meeting business owners and work has begun on branding

·        Hosting a public launch in January, date will be announced in the near future

Ministry of Transportation

·         Hosting a public information session for re-alignment of Hwy 11, December 13^th between 4-8 @ Gravenhurst Legion

BIA, Councillor Heidi Lorenz

·         BIA offering a STAYCATION package worth over $4500.00 in prizes from local merchants

·        Tentative date for BIA Annual Meeting, January 11^th 2012 @ 7:00 pm at Opera House

·        Promoting a shop local campaign

·        Purchased a weather day from The Moose, second day of the month, to feature advertisements regarding BIA merchants

Library, Councillor Heidi Lorenz

·         Purchased a coin operated printer with help from Service Ontario and a CAP Federal Government Grant

·        Muriel Pedersen retired from board, wish to thank her for her support and wish her well

Gravenhurst Community Policing, Councillor Heidi Lorenz

·         Lorne Edgar, President  and Andrea Edgar have resigned from Community Policing, a special thank you for all the work over the years

·        Rita Young has taken on the role of President

Gravenhurst Community Policing continued,

·         Liz Rice will be attending council in the new year to provide information on 211.ca service which is brought to us from the Federal and Provincial government

Gravenhurst Chamber of Commerce, Councillor Randy Jorgensen

·         Chamber has a silent auction of items donated by local business displayed at the Chamber office beginning December 19^th , the last day of bidding will take place December 20^th until 3pm at the Muskoka Boat & Heritage Centre.  A free light turkey lunch buffet will be provided from noon – 2 pm.  Please confirm attendance with Chamber.

·        Revamping website to allow for more flexible and frequent updates as well as adding event registration

·        Work has commenced on both the Muskoka Tourism Guide and Gravenhurst Visitors Guide for next season

Gravenhurst Environmental Advisory, Councillor Randy Jorgensen

·         Presentation made to Council on Dark Sky Lighting, Council directed staff to work with the Committee to continue work on the By Law to bring forward to Council in the new year

·        Presentation made to committee regarding the impact of wakes on the shoreline and consultation that is underway to look at managing some of these issues on Muskoka Lakes

Marshall & Murray Cost Consulting Report on the Centennial Centre & Aquatic Centre Expansion
 
The report that the Town of Gravenhurst had done by the cost consultant company, Marshall & Murray re the pool and Centennial Centre has been made public as of June 18th, 2011.  It is a complete report of 18 pages.

If you would like to read it, click on the highlighted words right below to go to the Full Report

Marshall & Murray Report - June 16th, 2011

GGRA Board 
 

President's message:  May, 2011

Hello:  It's hard to believe that a year has gone by since the last annual meeting.  So much has happened in just the past month or so.  Gravenhurst has taken a few big bumps, lately, and we hope you did accept our invitation, and joined us on May 19^th, to discuss our future.

We seemed to be pretty busy right after our last annual meeting, which as always, was in May.  In June, we were notified of a proposed development on North Street, and were asked to help the residents with their opposition to this detrimental proposal and zone change.  We joined with other associations and groups and the residents of the area, and FILLED the Council Chambers on the date of the zone change approval.  The public asked Council to turn down the application and Council listened!  A true accounting of how there is strength in numbers. 

Over the summer, we wrote many letters to Council, supporting or opposing many different issues, and have had Board members on the Highway 11 Committee, the Transportation Committee, and the Heritage Committee.

In the fall, of course, was the municipal election.  Once again, we offered to help with that, by providing scrutineers for the candidates that were interested.  One of our Board of Directors assisted with questions for the candidates and provided their answers, to our members, via email, so you could make informed decisions.  We also held an All Candidates meeting, which our Board Secretary very competently Chaired, and it was well attended by our members and the public.  As a result of the election, we have a new Mayor and a  largely new Council as well.  As recent events have unfolded, they have been handed a VERY difficult job.  We will try to keep you informed as information becomes available to us.

The Town summer events have been planned.  Some of our Board of Directors are working on committees to try to better the downtown area, and in lieu of recent events, such as the devastating fire, it is going to be a very difficult time ahead, with lots of decisions to be made.  Town Staff changes have also been effected, and this will AFFECT some of these decisions.  Our Board of Directors is extremely busy, trying to help, inform, AND cover Council meetings so that you find out quickly the business at hand, and the continuations of some of these things we hope to discus at our meeting. 

 Evelyn Matson, GGRA