10 18 2007 OMEGA MinutesTOWNSHIP OF ORO-MEDONTE
ORO-MEDONTE ENVIRONMENTAL GROUP ADVISORS (OMEGA}
MEETING MINUTES
Thursday, October 18, 2007 ~ 7:02 p.m.
Council Chambers
Present: Bob Barlow Simon Kennedy
John Bosomworth Wilf McMechan
Vera Cameron-van Amelsvoort Jacinto McNairn
Lynette Crawford-Mader Andy McNiven
Steve Cromwell Gerry Murphy
Meryl Drake Avery Parle
David Edwards Jim Purnell
Ruth Fountain Doug Shelswell
Susan Grant Mike Vandergeest
Don Hanney Kim Wand
Margo Holt Peter Wigham
Allan Johnson Jim Woodford
David Kennedy
Regrets: Andria Leigh Beverley Smith
Josephine Martensson-Hemsted
Council/Staff Mayor H.S. Hughes Deputy Mayor Ralph Hough
Present: Councillor Mel Coutanche Councillor Sandy Agnew
Doug Irwin, Clerk
Also Present: Jim Hodgins
Councillor Coutanche called the meeting to order, and introduced Co-Chairpersons
Councillor Agnew and Councillor Coutanche, and Doug Irwin, Clerk.
1. REVIEW AGENDA:
Councillor Coutanche provided an overview of the Agenda.
2. WELCOME AND REMARKS:
Mayor H.S. Hughes welcomed the Members of the Oro-Medonte Environmental
Group (OMEGA) and provided an outline of the process which Council undertook in
striking this Technical Support Group.
3. REVIEW MANDATE AND BY-LAW:
Councillor Agnew provided an overview of By-law No. 2007-100, Being a By-law to
Establish a Technical Support Group entitled Oro-Medonte Environmental Group
Advisors (OMEGA), and of the Mandate of the Group.
4. PERSONAL INTRODUCTIONS:
Everyone present introduced themselves, provided a brief background and identified
two to three issues. The following issues were identified:
• Agriculture in forefront -keep in perspective
• Air & noise pollution
• ATVs
• Bass Lake
• Efficiencies through technology
• Electronic recycling
• Garbage
o clean up on roads
o waste collection public education
o reduction, composting
o dumping
• Growth
o development pressures
o increase in Simcoe County
o influx of people
o Smart Growth
• Headwaters -protection of
• Hiking trails
• Improve environment -affordable, workable
• Lake Simcoe
o Lake Simcoe & streams that feed it
o Lake Simcoe management
• Model for other communities
• Official Plan policies
• Oro Moraine
o protect, enhance, conserve
o same protection as Oak Ridges Moraine
• Pits
• Preservation of heritage including environment
• Propert}r standards
• Rural quality of life
• Shoreline planting & trees
• Sign pollution
• Sustainability
o for farming community
o sustainable development
• Tree preservation
• Visual environment
• Water quality
0 of Lake Simcoe
• Watercourse habitat protection
• Wetlands
o preservation
o create or re-establish
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OMEGA Meeting -October 18, 2007
5. OVERVIEW OF PROCESS:
Councillor Coutanche provided an overview of the process far identification of
initiatives for t~MEGA.
6. PRELIMINARY LIST OF ISSUES AND OPPORTUNITIES:
Councillor Agnew provided a brief overview of the issues and opportunities identified
during the personal introductions.
7. QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS:
The following were raised by OMEGA members:
Comments:
• Lead by example
• Group could provide input to Simcoe County committees
• Work with neighbouring and other municipalities
Questions:
• Will Council refer items to OMEGA?
• When will funding and alternative energies become an issue?
• How to determine if an initiative is being done by an existing group?
$. NEXT MEETING:
The next meeting is scheduled for Thursday, November 15, 2007 at 7:00 p.m. in the
Council Chambers at the Township of Oro-Medante Administration Centre.
9. OTHER:
None.
10. ADJOURN:
The meeting adjourned at 8:50 p.m.
A digital recording of the meeting is available for review.
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~Co-Chairperson, Councillor Coutanche Co-Chairperson, Councillor Agnew
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'1erk, J. Dougtas Irwin
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OMEGA Meeting -October 18, 2007