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2011 CAMA E-Brief Partner: September 1, 2011            

CAMA Awards of Excellence

CAMA award being presented at the Council meeting on July 12, 2011.  From left to right: Mayor Rob Ford,  Debi Wilcox (AMCTO), Ulli Watkiss (City of Toronto, City Clerk), John Elvidge (Director, Secretariat), Peter Tebbutt (Manager, Legislative Information, Standards & TMMIS) and Councillor Paul Ainslie, Ward 43

Willis Award for Innovation for a Municipality with a Population Over 100,000

City of Toronto:  Innovations in Municipal Management:  Toronto Meeting Management Information System (TMMIS)

Innovations in municipal management have allowed the City of Toronto to develop a meeting management information system that provides information to staff, Council and the public quickly and easily – all in an effort to provide open and transparent government.

The Toronto Meeting Management Information System (TMMIS) is a suite of browser-based applications developed by the City of Toronto and has made tremendous advances in how the City manages legislative information.

TMMIS streamlines the assembly of City Council and Committee decision materials, allowing staff to work collaboratively on one document at the same time.  With a database approach to meeting information, elements can be revised and published more quickly.

To begin, staff implemented an internal decision-management system, which allowed staff to establish standards and streamline internal processes.  The system requires no special software and can be supported in municipal meeting rooms with an internet connection to the City’s network.

The Meeting Monitor – an on-line desktop and mobile application – was launched as part of the first phase and provides a scrolling self-refreshing list of virtual agenda items.  The second phase, launched in December 2010, was www.toronto.ca/council.  This new user-interface provides the public with easier access to legislative information.

The first objective of the new application was to enhance the agenda- and decision-publishing process by making items easier to find and access.  Another objective was to provide new, integrated web tools for the public to register as a speaker, submit comments, subscribe to event notifications, and e-mail or print an item.

Designed to support a range of browsers, the project recognizes the emerging trends in technology and the increased use of mobile devices/PDAs/Tablets.  TMMIS is the first of its kind in Canada, if not North America, and is emerging as the e-government benchmark for online access to Municipal legislative information.

Congratulations to the City of Toronto on this award!

FCM's Green Municipal Fund Council Seeks New Members

Green Municipal Fund (GMF) Council members provide strategic oversight of the Funding Agreement with the federal government and make recommendations on the approval of all funding applications, strategies, criteria, policies and procedures. Council members have the opportunity to make a contribution at a strategic level to the environment and the broader community and to develop and share their professional knowledge and expertise while working with like-minded colleagues from across the country.

If you are a representative of the public, academic, environment or private sector who has technical or financial expertise and is interested in serving on the GMF Council please complete and submit your expression of interest by midnight (Eastern Daylight Time) on Thursday, September 15, 2011.  All Expressions of Interest will be confidential.  For more information and to download the application form, please visit http://gmf.fcm.ca/About_Us/default.asp

Interdependence 2012 Conference and Exposition

The Rick Hansen Foundation (RHF) and the Rick Hansen Institute (RHI) are pleased to announce Interdependence 2012 – a global conference and exposition designed to accelerate progress toward accessible communities for all and a cure for paralysis after spinal cord injury (SCI). Over 2,500 delegates from around the world – who share Rick Hansen’s vision for a healthier, more inclusive and sustainable world – will gather in Vancouver, Canada in May 2012 to showcase ground-breaking innovations and explore solutions to some of the critical challenges being faced in the fields of SCI research and accessibility.

Don’t miss out on your opportunity to hear from highly-renowned speakers and interact with industry and government leaders, SCI-affiliated researchers, clinicians and allied health professionals.  For more information, visit www.rickhansen.com/interdependence2012.com .

Profil Nouveau membre du conseil: Marie-Hélène Lajoie - Directrice par mandate-spécial, Ville de Gatineau

En sa qualité de directrice générale adjointe à la Ville de Gatineau, Marie-Hélène Lajoie est  actuellement à la tête d’une équipe de direction multidisciplinaire axée sur l’amélioration  continue dans les services de proximité à la population. Sa formation d’avocate, son leadership visionnaire et son dynamisme professionnel sont des atouts indéniables pour  orienter les services municipaux sous sa responsabilité, soit Travaux publics, Sécurité  incendie, Police, Arts, culture et lettres, Loisirs, sports et développement des communautés,  ainsi que le centre d’appels non urgents 3-1-1. Avec une quinzaine d’années d’expérience municipale, Mme Lajoie a réalisé plusieurs projets majeurs reliés au plan stratégique et a occupé diverses fonctions, notamment la direction des Services juridiques. Engagée dans sa collectivité, elle participe à diverses activités publiques. Entre autres, elle a présidé la division municipale de la Campagne de financement de Centraide Outaouais pendant 3 années consécutives et est membre du conseil d’administration du Centre de santé et de services sociaux de Gatineau, ainsi que de sa Fondation. Mme Lajoie est mariée et mère d’un fils âgé de 9 ans.

As Deputy City Manager for the City of Gatineau, Marie-Hélène Lajoie currently leads a multidisciplinary management team that is focused on increasing the effectiveness and efficiency of their departments by continual improvement of their service delivery models to Gatineau citizens. Her experience as a lawyer, her visionary leadership and her professional dynamism are undeniable assets when it comes to guiding the municipal units under her responsibility, which are Public Works, Emergency and Protective Services (Police and Fire Departments), Cultural and Library Services, Recreation and Community Services and the 3-1-1 non-urgent call centre.   In her fifteen years in municipal government, Ms. Lajoie has carried out several major projects related to the strategic plan, and has held several functions, in particular heading up the Legal  Services.  She is involved in her community and takes part in a number of public activities. She chaired the municipal division of the Centraide Outaouais fundraising campaign for three consecutive years and is on the Board of Directors for the Centre de santé et de services sociaux de Gatineau (Hospital services and it’s Foundation). Ms. Lajoie is married and has a nine year old son.

Apples to Oranges - Comparing Pension Plans

If you're thinking of changing jobs, make sure you're making an apples-to-apples comparison between pension plans.  Making the decision to change employers is not easy.  There are many complex issues to consider. While salary is the obvious factor, the pension and benefits package is also an important part of your compensation.  By working through the Pension Portability Checklist - created specially for CAMA members by our partner Aon Hewitt, and located in the CAMA Members Section - and using the other assistance available to you as a CAMA member, you'll be much better equipped to make an informed decision.
 

Canadian Dinner at the Milwaukee ICMA Conference

If you are attending the upcoming ICMA Conference being held in Milwaukee City from September 17-21, 2011, watch for details in the near future on the Canadian Dinner taking place on the evening of Monday, September 19th, 2011 at a local Milwaukee restaurant.  We look forward to seeing you there!

Welcome New Members

Welcome to the following new members:

  • James Moller, City Manager, City of Humboldt, SK
  • Brian Carruthers, Chief Administrative Officer, City of Williams Lake, BC
  • Regina Pfeifer, Executive Director, LGANT, Yellowknife, NT
  • Patrick Savard, Directeur général, Ville de Brossard, QC

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