Committee · Q1 2024
Finance COW #01
Feb 6, 2024
Recorded present
Solomon Awa · Kimberly Smith · Harry Flaherty · Methusalah Kunuk · Simon Nattaq · Kyle Sheppard · Romeyn Stevenson · Samuel Tilley
Recorded absent
No absence shown in the quarterly grid.
DECISIONS AND ISSUES
- Written minutes reviewed; questions and motion totals indexed.
- Audio has not been audited and the written-question count remains a floor.
DOCUMENTED QUESTIONS · WRITTEN MINUTES
Deputy Mayor Smith asked about the $3 million cost for the Apex Cemetery upgrade and the amount of additional space.
- Answer recorded
- Sumon Ghosh, Director of Engineering and Capital Planning, explained that the long- term strategy plan would be completed this year and the expansion would be carried out in phases.
- Result or follow-up
- The written minutes record the exchange; no separate later result is identified here.
Alternate Deputy Mayor Flaherty asked for a summary of existing projects.
- Answer recorded
- Councillor Sheppard commented that a workshop should be held to discuss the Engineering and Public Works projects that are being carried out. He advised that public consultation during the budget process had not been carried out.
- Result or follow-up
- The written minutes record the exchange; no separate later result is identified here.
He asked if the Capital planning process included community consultations.
- Answer recorded
- Councillor Sheppard commented that a workshop should be held to discuss the Engineering and Public Works projects that are being carried out. He advised that public consultation during the budget process had not been carried out.
- Result or follow-up
- The written minutes record the exchange; no separate later result is identified here.
Alternate Deputy Mayor Flaherty asked if the new Capital Spending Plan projects could be highlighted.
- Answer recorded
- Councillor Sheppard pointed out that the first section listed the 2023 carryover projects, which were budgeted in 2023 and would be completed in 2024. He pointed out that the ongoing sewer and water upgrades had different projects budgeted each year.
- Result or follow-up
- The written minutes record the exchange; no separate later result is identified here.
Mayor Awa asked if it was possible to coordinate vehicle purchases with other hamlets to obtain a bulk purchasing price.
- Answer recorded
- Rod Mugford, Director of Human Resources, said staff had to follow the Procurement By-law but could investigate bulk purchasing with other hamlets. Councillor Kunuk suggested checking whether City vehicles could be included in Government of Nunavut purchasing, and Councillor Sheppard said the idea had merit.
- Result or follow-up
- Administration could investigate a joint bulk purchase; no later result is identified in this written-record pass.
He also asked if consideration had been given to replace the Apex Bridge with two lanes.
- Answer recorded
- Councillor Sheppard pointed out that Council did review the options for the Apex Bridge replacement and agreed that the replacement should have two driving lanes and a walking path.
- Result or follow-up
- The written minutes record the exchange; no separate later result is identified here.
Alternate Deputy Mayor Flaherty asked if the Procurement By-law required purchases to be called under a public tender process.
- Answer recorded
- Mr. Mugford advised that the Procurement By-law outlined how to call a public tender and the standard and practices for procurement are followed.
- Result or follow-up
- Check later records for a result.
Councillor Tilley asked if the upgrades to the hot tub and sauna at the aquatic centre were included in the proposed Capital Spending Plan.
- Answer recorded
- Steve England, Chief Administrative Officer, advised that repairs to the sauna would be completed by the end of February and the repairs to the hot tub were anticipated to be completed by the end of March.
- Result or follow-up
- The written minutes record the exchange; no separate later result is identified here.
Mayor Awa asked if the City receives any money from the scrap metal removal.
- Answer recorded
- Mr. England advised that the contract for the removal of scrap metal required the scrap metal to be shipped out. This was an ongoing contract, which was approved by a previous Council. Mr. England advised that he would review the terms and conditions of the contract to determine if the City receives any funds from the sale of the scrap metal. Mr. England understood the importance of value-added and suggested that this concept could be added to future projects.
- Result or follow-up
- Check later records for a result.
Deputy Mayor Smith asked about the decrease in government funding for recreation.
- Answer recorded
- Mr. Tumilty was unable to provide the details for the decrease in the funding, however, he did explain that if revenues were under estimated and additional revenues were received, it was a benefit.
- Result or follow-up
- The written minutes record the exchange; no separate later result is identified here.
Mayor Awa asked if utilidor and trucked services could be separated under the Water and Sewer Revenue and Expenditures.
- Answer recorded
- Mr. Tumilty explained that separating revenue and expenditures for utilidor and trucked services was possible as there are separate line entries. If Council requests this separation, staff would have to work with the auditors to determine if future statement presentation could be modified. He noted that if it was not possible, staff would be able to provide a supplementary breakdown, which could be used for discussion purposes.
- Result or follow-up
- Check later records for a result.
Deputy Mayor Smith noted that the only sport listed under expense was a soccer program and she asked the details of this expenditure.
- Answer recorded
- Councillor Sheppard advised that the cost was in relation to the artificial turf at the Arctic Winter Games (AWG) Arena.
- Result or follow-up
- The written minutes record the exchange; no separate later result is identified here.
Councillor Stevenson asked whether the $90,000 increase for business travel and education was for an additional councillor to attend the Federation of Canadian Municipalities conference and trade show.
- Answer recorded
- Steve England, Chief Administrative Officer, said the increase gave Council the option to send an additional councillor to the conference.
- Result or follow-up
- The written minutes record the explanation; no separate later result is identified here.
Councillor Stevenson asked for an explanation of the reduction in aquatic-centre revenues from 2022 shown in Schedule 11.
- Answer recorded
- Cameron Tumilty, Director of Corporate Services, said he would review the revenues and provide an update to Council.
- Result or follow-up
- A staff update was promised; no later result is identified in this written-record pass.
Alternate Deputy Mayor Flaherty asked for clarification on Public Works and Transportation, contracted costs.
- Answer recorded
- Councillor Sheppard explained that the contracted costs related to the water breaks and the requirement to call in third-party contractors.
- Result or follow-up
- The written minutes record the exchange; no separate later result is identified here.
Councillor Tilley asked if the residents would see a difference in the water rates.
- Answer recorded
- Councillor Sheppard advised that this budget does not reflect a change in the water rates. He noted that substantial work was currently being carried out and it was hoped that there would be a reduction in water rates.
- Result or follow-up
- The written minutes record the exchange; no separate later result is identified here.
He asked for the definition of a capital item.
- Answer recorded
- Mr. Tumilty explained that capital assets were long-term assets that were expected to have a useful life of more than one year and are depreciated over time to reflect their use. He also noted that capital expenditures were purchases of assets that exceeded $5,000 or $10,000. Mr. Tumilty pointed out that normal repair and maintenance was not considered a capital expense, but whenever it is improved, the costs are capitalized and the value added to the asset.
- Result or follow-up
- The written minutes record the exchange; no separate later result is identified here.
Deputy Mayor Smith asked about the Budget Priorities Workshop where councillors spoke about what they wanted to see in the community and there were items that were not included in the proposed budget.
- Answer recorded
- Mr. England pointed out that the municipal election and orientation has an impact on getting budgets approved within the required time frame. He noted that committees provide the structure for councillors to indicate to Administration their suggestions. Mr. England also noted that Administration follows master plans.
- Result or follow-up
- Check later records for a result.
She asked the process to have items included in the Capital budget before it was submitted to the Committee for recommendation to Council for approval.
- Answer recorded
- Mr. England pointed out that the municipal election and orientation has an impact on getting budgets approved within the required time frame. He noted that committees provide the structure for councillors to indicate to Administration their suggestions. Mr. England also noted that Administration follows master plans.
- Result or follow-up
- Check later records for a result.
Each entry is a concise paraphrase of the written minutes, not an exact quotation. Distinct requests for information count separately; comments and routine procedural prompts do not.
PRIMARY RECORD
Read the City’s documents
This page is an index, not a substitute for the underlying record.
RECORD RULE
Unknown is not zero
A blank motion or question count means that layer has not been audited for this meeting. It does not mean no motions were moved or no questions were asked. Attendance names reproduce the City’s quarterly grids unless another basis is stated.