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mm OK CORPORATE INC MAPLE AVE Pickup Towtno FAST FRIENDLY SERVICE RfCKSTAITE 8734014 The Halton Hills HERALD 14500 DISTRIBUTION 32 PAGES FRIDAY MARCH Home Newspaper of Halton Hills Established 1 866 in stores fcO Fire damage and fire calls drop drastically The Herald Property damage caused by fire in Hills last year ex perienced a drop for the first tune since 1985 while fire calls in 1990 were lower than they have been for the past three years The local fire departments fire prevention programs are being touted as the reason for the decreases According to Hills Fire Departments 1990 Annual Report Fire Department Chief Bill Cunningham writes alarms and damage resulting from fire are down significantly This is an encouraging sign because it is the first decrease in damage loss in five years It is my opinion that the ongoing efforts of our Fire Prevention Division is bearing results also marked the third con secutive year there have been no firerelated deaths in Town said Chief Cunningham An Inside Look PoBceBeat Opinion 11 Environment 12 Features 3 Sports 1315 Seniors 6 Sprint Car 7 Care Editorial 10 Youth Page Weirs World 10 Entertainment Poets Comer 10 Peoples Forum Classified 25 32 Fire last year caused approx imately 2 million in property damage which is down from 1989s peak of million states the report Chief Cunningham notes the decrease is even that more significant in light of the continued rise in inflation Firefighters answered approx imately fire alarms last year representing a drop of 100 calls over the previous year and Chief Cunningham is hopeful the trend continues during the next decade Town Fire Prevention Officer Dave Ford said in an interview Wednesday there is no one pro- that has resulted in people being apparently more fire cautious Its the combined effort of all programs that has more people to have a better respect for what a fire can do and therefore to be less careless explained Mr Ford The department has three fire prevention officers and their focus has been on getting out into the community to educate the public about fire prevention said Mr Ford The officers use the local media through adver tisements visit schools and other community groups and par ticipate in high profile events such as the Halton Hills Chamber of Commerce BIG show he said Mr Ford highlighted the departments ongoing Portable Continued on Page Bantam Hockey Tournament The Kincardine kicks out a shot while a Georgetown forward wails lor the rebound during their game at Arena on Wednesday evening Georgetown lost their game and needed a win against Nepean on Thursday to hate a chance of ad vancing to the of their Annual Bantam Tournament Organiiers of event are encourag ing the public to come out to the playoffs today and Saturday especially with two other local teams Ac ton and in the running for the championship Herald photo Taj mi A Mystery Madness activities Can yon recognize the faces behind the masks Behind the beards and glasses are Georgetown students left to right Michael Adams JiUian McDougall Kalnerine McDongaU Joanne Taberer and Amy McDongaU who themselves as detectives at the Georgetown library Wednesday as pari of the libraries March Break Mystery Madness activities Herald photo by Lisa BooostoppelPot Town needs new Deputy Clerk ByBENDUMMETT The Herald While Hills Council refuses to fill four vacant staff positions in as an austerity measure the same practice wont apply to the Town position of Deputy Clerk when its long time employee French retires at the end of July During an session Monday in which members of the public and press are banned Council directed staff to start searching for Mr Frenchs replacement with the intention to hire someone by July 2 Town AdministratorClerk Dan Costea said Tuesday the positions salary will be deter mined during the interviewing The four vacant staff positions to remain unfilled for at least tins year include Records Manager Development Engineer Adult Recreation Supervisor and Building Inspector Asked if council considered not filling the Deputy Clerks position during Mondays meeting Mr Costea said no The decision not to fill the four vacant positions was based on economic grounds while the decision to replace Mr Frenchs job was based on its specific duties said Mr Costea The Deputy Clerk is responsi ble for all council and committee and the arising from those meetings signing Oaths of Commission and runn ing mtmicipal elections said Mr Costea An example of an Oath of Com mission would be a document cer tifying that a person Is a resident of Hills he said Town Budget Chairman Pam Johnston pointed to the up coming election as a reason why the Deputy Clerks position must be filled There wouldnt be enough staff in the ad ministrative department to carry out Mr Frenchs duties plus the additional work of running a municipal election for November she said Contrary to Mr Coun cillor Johnston said Council did have some discussion not to fill the position But personally I believe we cant afford not to fill the position she said The existing administrative staff is already o said the councillor She pointed out the new person will be a Clerk in stead of a Deputy Clerk Since Mr French is a Deputy Clerk Mr Costea will now be responsible for some duties that could be done by a fullfledged Clerk such as signing bylaws The hiring of a Clerk will free up Mr Costea to target all his time at adrnunstrating the Town a full tune Job in itself said Coun Johnston Mayor Miller said it would be ridiculous not to replace Mr French Every municipality must have a Clerk to bet ween the council staff and the public Its an important posi tion said Mayor Miller