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THE HERALD OUTLOOK Saturday February 24 Page 3 Halton will set up task force to review police commission the Herald After a heated debate Halton Regional councillors approved the Regional Police budget Wednesday which calls for an in crease in police spending of almost 15 per cent this year Halton police will spend just over million compared to the million spent last year The police budget represents well over SO per cent of Haltons 1990 propos ed tax supported operating budget But councillors also passed a resolution questioning trie report on which the budget is based A special task force will be established to review the Ontario Police Commissioners report which recommended the Regions force hire police officers this year The analysis will be sent to Ontarios solicitor general and to members of the The task force will be made up of Regional councillors John Graham a strong opponent of the police budget and the police commission Joyce Regional treasurer Joe and representatives from the board of police and the Halton Regional Police force Regional Chairman Peter introduced the resolution last Wednesday after questioning why the OPC recommended the hiring of police officers when it says Haltons crime rate is below average during the Regions ad ministration and finance commit tee meeting Misinformation may have been factored into the report he said at the time Councillor and member of the board of police commis sioners James Grieve supported this view at Wednesday s council meeting It the OPC is way out of step said Grieve It operates in the dark ages in many respects The OPCs recommendation of police officers is based on the old benchmark of police required per population It doesn take into count that many jobs police used to do are now performed by civilians and therefore the OPC s recom is too high Coun Grieve told councillors Coun and the rest of the Halton board of police commis recommended that the force hire 23 police officers and ll civilians New staff accounts for the ma jonty of the budget increase Police Chief James Harding has attributed the hiring of new peo ple to an increase population and the number of ser vice calls to police and provincial legislation mi effect The Watch ROBERT BATEMAN 416 8777491 348 Guelph Street NCXTtOBtU GLASS IN THE CREST CENTRE Georgetown FINE FURNITURE CUSTOM DESIGNED FURNITURE ReUpholsteryl 8531359 38 Mill St EACTON Court security is an example of a provincial responsibility that has now become a municipal respon The new resolution against the OPC is just one more example of councillors dissatisfaction with the provincially appointed body Councillors object that they have no control over the police budget If council had opposed the 1990 police budget Halton police could have appealed the decision to the OPC The OPCs decision is final Councillors argue the would reject a decrease in the police budget because it has already recommended Halton police hire 15 more police officers than is in dicated in the budget Robert Forbes called the process ridiculous at Wednes days council meeting The council has already passed a resolution that the provinces solicitor general revoke the OPCs appeal power and as part of this recommendation councillors also called for changes to the Halton Police Board of Commissioners so that the majority of members are elected officials Although all council members supported the resolution question ing the OPC report some including Halton Hills Regional Councillor Joe Hewitt objected to passing the police budget We have to get down to single digit tax bills said Coun Hewitt He argued since council only acts as a rubber stamp for the police budget it shouldn t be held accountable for passing the budget Instead the OPC should be held publicly responsible he said Coun Graham said he can t ac cept a double digit budget when ratepayers incomes will only in crease by six per cent or not at all if they are on a fixed income Ready for dutch treats The Knox Presbyterian Church on the corner of Main and Church Slreeta In Georgetown staged a garage sale last Saturday to raise funds for the Choral Societys proposed tour of Holland in April Pictured above from left to right Choral Society DENTURE THERAPY CLINIC AW TRENTON 18 CHURCH STREET GEORGETOWN in ACROSS FROM LIBRARY IS AND CULTURAL CENTRE 8772359 Does your car dream of better days Do you remember how your car looked when it was new Do you wish it could look that way again Tidy car can bring back that new car look feel and smell for you with our Revitalization Package NEW AND USED CAR REVITALIZATION PACKAGE Our mosl popular combines A Shine Upholslery Gard and Rust Rebel with savings in the bargain FREE ESTIMATES 8730570 265 Guelph St Georgetown OPEN Monday Thursday Sara 6pm Friday Bam 9pm Saturday KQPJNG CABS IN SHAPE WORLDWIDE A SMn Rati Card Wind Toned Molding members Sandy Patey Barbara Kosiler and Tom Schenk help man one of the booths offering Items for sale According to Choral Society members the garage sale was very well received by the public Herald photo