Richmond Hill Recognized for Outstanding Performance and Innovative Practices
Richmond Hill proudly received the Association of Municipal Clerks and Treasurers of Ontario’s (AMCTO) E. A. Danby Award for the Town’s Procurement Planning Process. This award recognizes the spirit of vision, demonstration of initiative and willingness to explore innovative techniques that produce tangible results related to the efficiency and effectiveness of the municipal corporation. Richmond Hill’s Procurement Planning Process was created and adopted in January 2015 to improve procurement planning with a key focus on the elimination of waste, specifically non-value added time between the decision to acquire a good or service and its delivery. As a result of using this model, Richmond Hill now has reliable way to measure a number of purchasing-related activities on an annual basis. The results can be used to forecast and plan for the future and to identify opportunities for continuous improvement. To date, the information collected by Procurement and shared corporately has had direct impact on Richmond Hill’s budgeting, spending and resourcing. For more information, visit AMCTO.com or contact Lise Conde, Manager of Policy and Inter-governmental Affairs at lise.conde@richmondhill.ca or 905-771-9996, ext. 6410.

Grant Strategy Helping to Fund Major Projects in Richmond Hill
Council received an update on the status of grants and gas tax funding and the role that it plays in accelerating infrastructure renewal and financing innovative projects. Richmond Hill has received $52.9 million in gas tax funding since the program began in 2005. Key projects supported by gas tax funding include the environmentally friendly, LEED Silver Oak Ridges Community Centre, the Pioneer Park Stormwater Rehabilitation Project and construction of the Oak Ridges Corridor Conservation Reserve Trail. A plan to allocate gas tax funds is reviewed and established annually as part of Richmond Hill’s Grant Strategy and included in the capital budget process. Richmond Hill is set to receive $5.9 million in gas tax funding in 2018. In addition to gas tax funding, approximately $37.1 million in grant funding from a number of federal, provincial and other grant programs has been received from 2007 to present. Approximately 33% ($12.1 million) of this was from the federal government, 65% ($24.3 million) from the provincial government and 2% ($0.7 million) from other sources such as Ontario Tire Stewardship and the Region of York. Major projects funded by these grants include the rehabilitation of Elgin Barrow, Elvis Stojko and Bond Lake arenas, the restoration of the George Forster House and Barns, several road reconstruction and stormwater management rehabilitation projects, parks infrastructure renewal at Richmond Green, Crosby Park and Morgan Boyle Park and accessibility upgrades at Richmond Hill’s main Municipal Offices. For more information, contact Daniel Olding, Manager of Grants and Strategic Initiatives, at daniel.olding@richmondhill.ca or 905-771-5505.

Richmond Hill Updates Council Code of Conduct
Council approved changes to its Code of Conduct and Integrity Commissioner Procedures as recommended by its new Integrity Commissioner, ADR Chambers. The new Code and Procedures take into consideration best practices, as well as the upcoming legislative changes. A number of sections have been expanded upon to provide clarity which will assist Council, Town staff and the public in understanding, interpreting and applying the Code. Updated sections include Definitions; Application and Responsibilities; Acceptance of Gifts and Benefits; Confidential Information; Council, Staff and Public Relations and Use of Municipal Property, to name a few. Council first adopted its Code of Conduct in 2010 and it was last updated in 2012. For more information, contact the Director of Legislative Services/Town Clerk, Stephen Huycke at stephen.huycke@richmondhill.ca or 905-771-2529.