Regional Council observed a minute of silence in memory of Regional Councillor Michael Collins, and expressed their condolences to his family.
Councillor Collins was a graduate of Carleton University and a retired Niagara College English teacher. He served three terms on the St. Catharines City Council before being elected to Regional Council in 1985 where he served on numerous boards and committees. He was also an elected board member of the Association of Municipalities of Ontario.
Regional Council received an update respecting the reinvestment of social assistance cost savings towards increasing prosperity for Niagara families living in poverty. Throughout Niagara, communities are meeting and focusing on poverty reduction and prosperity building and the BEC and Community Services staff will continue to share information from the Neighbourhood Mapping Tool and Niagara Region Council's investment in increasing prosperity at the neighbourhood level. Community engagement will continue and a questionnaire is being developed to help inform investments for 2010 in neighbourhoods that require attention across Niagara.
Opportunities to Increase Waste Diversion and Improve Efficiencies with the New Collection Contract
In preparation for the new collection contract, new service levels have been proposed as part of the new seven year contract, in order to simplify the collection contract options; standardize services across the Region; improve efficiencies and increase waste diversion.
Regional Council approved the standardization of service levels for recycling, waste and organics collection for the low density residential sector (one to six units) across the Region, including Green Bin collection service to the Townships of Wainfleet and West Lincoln; provision of recycling services to multi-residential buildings Region wide; discontinuation of collection services to properties in industrial parks/zones, properties with commercial buildings and plazas over 7,500 sq. ft. in total floor area located outside of designated business areas, and to all commercial buildings greater than three storeys in height; elimination of municipal collection boundaries and same side of the road set out on rural roads.
Regional Council approved as amended the report respecting the Region of Niagara 2009 Development Charge Background Study and Proposed By-law with the new Development Charge By-law to come into force on September 1, 2009.
This year marks the eighth year for the award of the Regional Chair's Bursary, an annual, one-time bursary of $1,500, awarded to one first-year student entering Brock University and one first-year student entering Niagara College. In addition, the Adjudication Committee came to a tie for the finalists of the bursaries for both Brock University and Niagara College. All of the finalists will receive $350.00.
Julia Inneo, the 2009 Recipient of the Regional Chair's Bursary for Brock University, a resident of Grimsby who graduated from Eden High School in St. Catharines. Ms. Inneo has been accepted at Brock University in the Health Sciences program, after which she plans to attend The Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine and pursue a career in either naturopathic or sports medicine.
Guliano Portanova a graduate of St. Francis Secondary School in St. Catharines has been accepted at Brock University in the Bachelor of Health Science program and Jenny-Lind Poulin a graduate of Notre Dame in Welland has been accepted at Brock University in the Honours Bachelor of Education program, the finalists for the 2009 Regional Chair's Bursary for Brock University
Natasha Smagata, the 2009 Recipient of the Regional Chair's Bursary for Niagara College is a graduate of Adolescent's Family Support Services of Niagara's, Young Mother's Outreach program in Welland. She has been accepted at Niagara College in the Office Administration Program.
Jocelyn VandenBeukel a graduate of Heritage Christian School in Jordan Station has been accepted into the Educational Assistant-Special Needs Support program at Niagara College and Katelyn Easby a graduated from Eden High School in St. Catharines and has been accepted at Niagara College in the Dental Hygiene program, the finalists for the 2009 Regional Chair's Bursary for Niagara College.
For further information contact the Regional Clerk's office at 905-685-1571 or 1-800-263-7215