Harbord Village Residents’ Association
Minutes of HVRA Board Meeting
August 15, 2006 7:00 p.m.
Kensington Gardens

Present: Gus Sinclair, Jane Auster, Susan Pfeiffer, David Booz (acting secretary), Richard Longley, Tim Grant, Sue Dexter, Stuart Schoenfeld, Maria Perin, Margaret Beare, Richard Gilbert, Michael Heydon

Regrets: Sandra DeAthe, Gord Brown

Guests: Jim Sairoglou and Aiden Doyle, Brunswick House

1. Chair’s Welcome: The meeting commenced at 7:07 p.m.

2. Agenda: The agenda was approved with the addition of the following items: Fire Insurance Money (Other Business); Membership Renewal Notices (Membership); Web site (Membership); Filming on Brunswick (Other Business). Moved by Sue Dexter, seconded by Jane Auster. Carried

3. Approval of Minutes: The minutes of July 18, 2006 were reviewed. The following changes were presented, seconded by Richard Longley, and Carried:

a. Moved by Stuart Schoenfeld, under Other Business, Robert Street Rink, that the minutes show that the discussion was quite robust. There will be ongoing discussions.

b. Moved Tim Grant, under Solar Energy, to correct some minor mistakes - Toronto Hydro not Hydro One; “West Toronto Imitative for Solar Energy”; Hydro “may”.

c. It was noted that Maria Santos is from St. Stephen’s House, not Church.

4. Visitors: Jim Sairoglou and Aiden Doyle from the Brunswick House made a brief presentation. Jim approached Gus through Councillor Silva. Jim gave a brief biography of his career, including Myth restaurant on the Danforth, The Eleventh Hour in the Entertainment District, and Piccadilly Circus. Abbas Mahmoud owned the Brunswick, but was finding it challenging, so he sold half of the business to Jim and now is a silent partner. Larry Sdao owns the building.

Jim and his team have a number of plans and new ideas, including opening 7 days a week, cleaning up the bad history, changing the sound system, cleaning up the bar, featuring live entertainment with local talent, trying to rebuild strong ties with U of T, and putting in a wine cellar and a higher end menu while still keeping prices affordable. Jim likes to run a very strict, law abiding establishment and doesn’t entertain underage patrons or riff-raff. Jim is very active but behind the scenes with his businesses.

Aiden, his partner, has been in the restaurant business all his life and runs the front of house. Before they purchased the Brunswick, he spent a lot of time looking over the operation. As soon has they took over Jan 1, he fired all of the staff. He has people who have worked for him for years and he brought them along to the new operation.

They have a new web site with a lot more information. He said they want to open up from 11:00 am to 2:00 am so they need a new package, wines to suit the menu, etc. He noted that most of the competition in the area have patios and their goal is to have a patio at the side of the building. They want to offer lunch and provide wireless Internet access.

Tim asked about the wine cellar and the second floor, and Jim noted that Champions has the lease on the second floor. Gus noted that people want to have a beer and walk home and that the Brunswick House has a very negative history to overcome, with an incredible noise problem in the past. Jim noted that the City has new law to control noise that is being brought in over the next 45 days, and they have already changed the sound system. David recalled that there was a noise problem in May 2006. Tim noted that with a patio, the doors are open and the sound leaks. Jim replied that the plan is to build a vestibule and add more soundproofing to the doors.

Sue noted that the HVRA does not make the decisions, and that they need to form relationships with the immediate neighbours and have a public meeting. Richard Gilbert noted that patios are a good things if well run – they liven the place up, opens the business out in the street – a good patio is welcome. David noted that the Madison Ave Pub seems to work well. Richard Longley suggested that the Brunswick become a Drake on Bloor, and Jim agreed that the Drake has done well. Jane observed that there was graffiti on the side of the building. Jim committed to remove any graffiti within 2 weeks.

5. Committee Reports

a. Environment

i. Solar Energy David Booz

David presented his report. Tim reported that he met with Jenny Lee from Martin’s Silva’s office who is going to organize two meetings, one at Harbourfront and one at Trinity-St. Paul’s. They will deliver a flyer. If we get a good response we will break the project up into several smaller projects (max 100-200 installations) and solicit other volunteers to organize local initiative in their own communities. The meeting needs to happen around the end of September. We are planning a small meeting August 30 and need to have a display at the Fall Fair on September 17.

Richard Gilbert noted that suspicion over Toronto Hydro motives is generally justified and it might be worth exploring an intermediate institution, such as the Better Buildings Coalition. He also noted that Canadian Tire is selling solar panels and small wind turbines, but the prices on the solar panels are not realistic and that solar is a long way from being economically attractive. He suggested that we need funding – government or private sector. Stuart wondered what is the optimum size for the project, and Tim said 50 minimum, 200 maximum. Tim suggested that the ratio of water heating and PV participants will be about 50/50. Sue wondered if hydro would rent her roof space.

ii. Trees Tim Grant

Nothing new to report. Tim is still chasing the city about the trees we were promised last year. Richard and Gord offered to water the trees at Brunswick and College trees but Jim from the city is sure they are fine. Tim offered to Gord Brown to find people to take responsibility for trees along College Street. Jane wondered how her Sakura cherry trees are doing, and Tim replied that the chicken wire is gone.

iii. Graffiti Michael Heydon

Susan reported that she recently caught PC Scott Mills and three miscreants removing graffiti. They painted over “Yo Mama Oink”. They left the penis that shouts “BRAA”. Michael says that Scott is working out of Michael’s house. They may or may not have permission to remove the graffiti. Three owners have specified “don’t touch my graffiti”. Michael met with PC Mills and 30 students this morning and they plan to finish the entire lane by the end of the month. City TV will be doing a story.

b. Membership Maria Perin

Maria will e-mail the revised list this weekend and will print up the materials needed for the Fall Fair. Tim suggested that we should be proactive and send out membership renewals before the Fair. He will make copies of the application form and bring them to the September meeting. We need to make return envelopes with the HVRA address. Maria will bring labels separated by quadrant and we will stick them to envelopes. Richard noted that he has been doing labelling and it is a big hassle and wants to move to web based membership, but it isn’t going to happen right away.

c. Website Gus Sinclair

Gus reported that volunteer labour has not been successful with the Web Site. Gus believes we need to pay someone to set this up. All agreed that it was worth spending. Moved by Richard Gilbert, seconded Richard Longley, to authorize Gus to spend $ 500 to hire someone right away to create the web site. Carried.

d. Community Liaison

Robert Street Pinch point – Tim Grant thinks that Thom (resident at top of Robert Street) has sent a letter to the city (with Sandra DeAthe’s help) responding to the staff report suggesting that a pinch point is a problem. Tim to follow up with Thom.

e. College St. Gord Brown

Gord sent an e-mail about progress on College Street. He is very frustrated and concerned about the Thanksgiving patio rush.

f. Zoning

Gus wants to finish off the planning study. He is chasing Nick Luka about this.

g. Communications Jane Auster

Jane needs copy for the fall Newsletter by September 18, 2006. Gus wants a report on the Fall Fair. She buttonholed each executive member to ensure they submit their report.

h. U of T Liaison Sue Dexter

No report. Sue distributed her press release about the U of T by e-mail.

i. Fall Fair Gus Sinclair

Gus reported that we are moving forward. Our new co-chair Linda Yeremian is all set. Gus is going to Turkey from August 21 to September 7 and she will take care of the Fair in his absence.

j. Robert Street Rink Stuart Schoenfeld

Committee of Gus, Sandra, Stuart, and his neighbour Rene Roy will meet with U of T’s Bruce Kidd, who is keen to talk with us. He thinks the city will spring for the rink. The University really wants the field. We have to tell him that the field is problematic.

k. Recognition of Cathy Naismith Richard Longley

Richard presented his letter of congratulations on her award. Richard Longley moved, Jane Auster seconded, that the HVRA send her the letter. Carried unanimously with loud rejoicing.

6. Business Arising
None

7. Other Business

a. Fire Insurance – what are we going to do with this $ 1200 to $1500 of money that was raised for the fire? The plan was to spend the money on an activity to promote fire prevention in the neighbourhood. Susan suggested that we need to identify the number of attached buildings in the neighbourhood and that we develop a map showing which houses don’t have a fire wall. Sue suggested we speak to the Fire Department and ask them what we can do, perhaps hire an off-duty fireman to knock on doors in our neighbourhood. Gus noted that the fire truck came to the Fall Fair last year. Maybe the HVRA buys smoke detectors to be distributed in the neighbourhood. Sue Dexter agreed to contact the Fire Department to discuss.

b. Filming on Brunswick – Gus reported that there was a lengthy film shoot on Brunswick and the filmmakers approached us to facilitate. One family was unhappy about it. The HVRA received $ 1250. Sue noted that this pays for two cops in the Fall Fair.

c. HVRA Leadership - Tim observed that the HVRA has enjoyed Rory “Gus” Sinclair’s leadership for 6 years. Moved by Tim Grant and Sue Dexter, Seconded by Margaret Beare, that the HVRA Executive ask Gus to continue for another year. Carried unanimously.

The meeting adjourned at 8:58 p.m. Next meeting September 19th, 7 p.m., same place.