The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

Page THE HERALD Wednesday January 251989 I Population growth may change complexion of council By BRIAN MacLEOD Herald SOW Despite two previous attempts to reduce the size of Hills town council it remains a 13member caucus which will preside over the next few years a period expected to bring major growth prospect of changing the for mula for representation of town council should come up within the next two years with the expected influx of new residents in Halton Hills Village Most councillors believe that the ward boundaries should and will be changed to reflect changes in the makeup of the town Most councillors also believe that town business could well be conducted with just eight councillors and the mayor but most don want to see that happen The composition of Hills council was set down by the pro vince m to be enacted for the first year of Regional government in 1974 Many formulas were ban died about said Mayor Miller but the idea was set down by the province There are four wards in Halton Hills Ward is urban Acton with a population of about Ward is the towns huge rural area with a population of Ward 3 is the western end of Georgetown con sisting of about people while Ward the eastern end has 8000 people Each ward has two town coun cillors and one Regional represen tative who sits on town and Regional councils In 1976 Mayor Miller attempted to get the size of council reduced to eight people plus the mayor one town councillor and one Regional councillor for each ward Although that attempt failed Mayor Miller still feels the nine- member council would better fit the towns style I feel there would be better co operation if there was one Regional councillor and one local councillor in each ward Mayor Miller said I really havent changed my opinion Having to locate three coun cillors to discuss an issue pertain ing to a particular ward can be a cumbersome process the mayor said Because of the expected cent growth in population the town expects to experience in the next 15 years Mayor Miller is not as con cerned about the size of council now However Mayor Miller said I wouldnt be upset if it was the desire of our council to reduce the I would support it If that were to happen coun cillors salaries might have to in crease to compensate for the in creased workload said Mayor Miller who often puts in 60hour Currently councillors are paid a year and Regional coun cillors receive an extra a year The mayor is paid a year for bis town duties and another for his work at Region In 1984 a second attempt this Local ratio is the lowest Halton Hills has the lowest counculcTtoconstituent ratio in Halton Region With a population of about 35000 Hills has coun cillors representing four wards phis the mayor Not including the mayor who represents everyone In town that works out to one councillor for every 2900 people In other three municipalities the councUlor-to- ratios are higher In Milton which has about 33500 people 10 councillors plus the mayor conduct town business That means there is one coun cillor for every 3350 residents Oakvllle has councillors plus the mayor representing a popula tion of about people That works out to one councillor for every 8250 residents Burlington with a population of 118000 has 16 councillors plus the mayor That translates into one councillor for every 7375 people in that city On Regional council the numbers are higher yet There are 24 members plus the Regional chairman Nine are from Burlington seven from five from Halton Hills and Milton has three Together Halton has a population of 285000 That works out to be one councillor for roughly every people But the ratio of representation in what would later become Halton Hills was even lower before Regional government In 1973 township had five representatives including the Reeve with a population of just over people or one coun cillor for every 2425 residents Acton with a population of just under 5900 had nine council members including the mayor or one council member for every 740 people And Georgetown with a population of about had a ninemember council also in cluding the mayor meaning there was one representative for every 2125 people time by then Coun John McDonald failed to reduce the size of council to eight councillors plus the mayor A study conducted that year showed other municipalities with the same population as Halton Hills about 35000 typically had between five and nine councillors said Mr McDonald who did not run again last year still question the size of coun ell he said With such a large council quite often you get numerous people all saying the same thing he said And the salaries of four coun cillors could be saved he added Ward Coun Bowman thinks council could be reduced in size We could probably get by with less councillors she said And the workload wouldnt in crease on the remaining town councillor much she added If youve got a problem in your ward people are going to call both local councillors I dont think that because there is just one local councillor that the phone calls would nearly double Ward 2 Regional Coun Joe Hewitt thinks the size of council could be reduced to nine people and it wouldnt have that much of a damaging effect But since most councillors are doing the- job parttime 12 people allows the workload to be appor tioned out more he said He favors reducing the numbers only if coun cillors were to take on the job full- time Mr Hewitt said be often put 8770109 8770100 Simon CHARTERED ACCOUNTANT Phone 416 8770109 132 Mam Street South Georgetown Ontario 8770109 STEVEN C FOSTER BALLB BARRISTER SOLICITOR 37 MAIN ST SOUTH GEORGETOWN ONT L7G3G2 41 68734961 fax in 20 hours a week as a town coun cillor before moving up to the Regional job this term Former Ward 3 Coun Betty Fisher likes the size of council but she wants Regional councillors off the town council With local and Regional councillors sitting on the same council it sometimes sets up confrontation between people she said However she added I dont believe that 13 people making deci sions on behalf of all the people in Halton Hills is really too much Regional Rick Bonnette says a 13member council allows representation from each ward on the towns many subcommittees During 1988 budget deliberations I was glad there were 12 coun to share it around he said Four years ago maybe he said of possible reduction in size But with administrative duties associated with the new Civic Cen tre building and expected growth 12 councillors plus the mayor is a good size he said Ward 3 Regional Coun Johnston likes the status quo Sometimes its nice to have two opinions from a ward on the local front she said For me its not a big issue Veteran Councillor Marilyn Ser jeantson thinks the current 13- member council is working well But she added If it were reduced to one Regional councillor and one local councillor Im sure it would work out fine as well The council is a good size she said adding that she often puts in 30 to 40hour weeks Ward 4 town Cook has no problem with the size of council If we werent anticipating the growth that we are expecting then there would be a possibility of reducing the size of council he said Newly elected Coun Robert likes the size of council at first glance The 13member coun cil is needed to be responsible to cover all the issues and all the ferent areas he said The Performance RSP How to profit from the winning performance at TRJMARK Canada generating impressive returns or our clients even through difficult times Whet behind our success A unique investment philosophy which us to uncover and react to promising and unusual opportunities before other Plus an emphasis on customer service that second to none Because we know our depends on working hard or your money Not ours Contact us for details and discover how much difference the TRIMARK winning performance can your financial future There more your contnbulion than a tax benefit In many ways It represents your best opportunity to maximize your future financial security That s how w see it at And thai why our management and investment philosophies are especially attractive to the longterm investor As proof consider this FOUR FUNDS TO ENHANCE YOUR FUTURE Fart has averaged 15 return pet year since its launch in Over ft yur OB phenomenal 5 return on investment Trinart Fved is a very attractive alternative bank and trust company deb investments nmg an average of over the year ending December 1 exposing none your capital risk Grawtt Faad provides a steadily growing dividend income lor unit holders The fund Investors over the year ending December making It he top Canadian bananafund NEW Met Fan is structured tor long term growth With no atoms Hon lee every dollar goes lor you from day one Annual compound rales return lor 1 3 and year periods November were 22 FgtitosoMbyprospeclus FOR MORE INFORMATION ON TBS AND ANY OTHER RRSP MVESTMENTS CONTACT REGAL 10 Fagan Drive PLANNERS LTD OVER 20 YEARS OF SERVMG CANADIAN HVEST0RS HOURS MondayFriday 900 am 530 pm Saturday 930 am 100 pm Print Display Calculators New taring a baring tor flue printout and data Hewn count round and AC 16495 15995 Fire Safe File 55900 Fire Safe numb lock CODE SPECIAL 6380 UN 1 sssitsi w INM SUSHIS ftwstjffl DM GSS OFFICE SUPPLIES SECRETARIAL SERVICES 348 St Unit Blvd 7 Georgetown 8466947 BE