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Page J the Herald Town Buyer Sunday December Tourism Minister checks out Acton News at a Glance Future provincial funding towar the construction of recreation facilities in Hills first depen on the completion of a Town Park Master Plan Thats the message Ontario Tourism and Recreation Minister Peter North left with Mayor Miller during a recent meeting held at the Old Hide House in Acton A Park Master Plan highlights a municipalitys long term goals con recreation related capital projects The province needs to con sider these plans in order to prionze which municipalities receive fun ding for their respective projects Mayor Miller said the Town ex to finish its Park Master Plan sometime this spring For his part Mayor Miller asked the minister to consider trying to eliminate some of the bureaucratic red tape municipalities are sub jected to when applying for cial funding to help finance capital projects In an interview after the meeting Mayor Miller explained it costs the Tcwn thousands of dollars to com the preliminary studies the province requires be done before it considers providing provincial money Mayor Miller asked Mr North to look into finding a way to reduce the red tape without diminishing public participation in the process Others participating in the meeting included North Halton Noel Duignan who arranged the meeting and Old Hide House President Steve The meeting was part of a tour Mr North was taking of tourist at tractions in North Aside from the Old Hide House Mr North visited the Campbellville area in eluding Mohawk Race Track Not surprisingly Mr North told Mayor Miller the province has limited funding he did say his government wants to help fund as many projects as possible Mayor Miller said the minister was receptive to the idea of a new Acton arena and senior centres for both Georgetown and Acton I think well the Town get the funding for the Acton arena once we secure some land for the project said Mayor Miller It was a good meeting I glad I went added the Mayor The Old Hide House In Acton was one of many North tourist attractions Ontario Tourism and Recreation Minister Peter North vlsted on a recent tour of the area with local Noel Duignan Mr North was touring the area to find out more Information about the local tourist Industry and what might be done to improve it Pictured above left to right Town Mayor Russ Miller Peter North Steve Old Hide House President and Mr Duignan Herald Photo Pomeroy reign continues fiscal responsibility is stressed ByBENDUMMETT The Herald The first and foremost challenge facing the new Regional Council is the economy pure and simple said Regional Chairman Pete at Wednesday inaugural Region Council meeting Chairman Pomeroy delivered his message after receiving unanimous support from Regional Council to retain the chairman position for the its three year term Mr Pomeroys bid for reelection went unchallenged However a recorded vote was still required He was nominated by Burlington Regional Councillor Joyce Savoline Hills Regional Coun Bill seconded the nomination Questioned why he seconded the nomination replied Im impressed with his focus on fiscal responsibility As leader of Region said Coun he has to be credited with Halton maintaining Its Triple A Credit Rating in light of the recession Aside from electing the Regional Chairman the inaugural meeting also marked the official swearing in of Hills Regional Bill Pam Johnston Mayor Miller Marilyn Ser and Rick as well as the rest of the new Regional Council Chairman told Council members and approximately 150 onlookers in the gallery the economic challenge means meeting the demands of our residents businesses and the en in a truly different way than we have before We need to find better economic ways to manage our programs said Chairman Offering few specifics during his address Chairman Pomeroy was more candid in an interview following the meeting Chairman said to keep the Regional operating budget increase in line with inflation something residents want services will have to be cut The preliminary budget is ex to be first considered by Regional Councillors Dec 18 However it won t go before Regional Council for approval until next March The Chairman predicted the budget will call for between a seven and nine per cent tax increase for 1992 Even at a seven per cent in crease services would probably still have to be cut said Chairman Pomeroy To reduce the budget to five per cent some major will be reguired he added He attributes the impending of keeping down the 1992 tax rate increase to the substantial jump in the welfare caseload and public pressure on the Region to finance the hiring of more police of On the issue of the ongoing police investigation into possible wrongdoings by elected and non elected Region officials Chairman Pomeroy said he didnt want to make any comments on the investigation until it is complete Chairman Pomeroy did say he talked with the new Regional Coun cillors prior to Wednesdays meeting about his knowledge of the investigation With respect to conflict of issue matters Chairman said after conferring with Regional legal staff and the provinces Ministry of Municipal Affairs on what constitutes conflicts of in terest he will disclose whatever personal information is required He predicted that information will centre on any properties he owns and how those properties are administered I have two small properties one here Halton Region and one in Florida said Chairman He also has two investments both of which are outside the Region The Chairman didn t offer any specifics on these investments Chairman has come considerable scrutiny by the local press over the Florida proper because it is a condominium in the same building in which con owner Albert who has building interests in Region also owns a condominium However as m the past Chairman said the Florida situation in no way conflicts with his position as Regional Chairman Chairman said in future he will disclose ownership of property that he legally isnt required to if he thinks it could be perceived as putting him in conflict with Regional business He stresses the condominium has been no secret in the building the Regional building in Oakville or among Regional Councillors Chairman said he will definitely be declaring a conflict of Interest on Regional staff wage issues because of his planned marriage to Pat Regional Deputy Clerk Since they have decided to for their relationship in marriage Chairman Pomeroy said he is now m a conflict of interest situation with respect to wages and therefore must declare it Environment fair The Town of Hills En vironment Initiatives Committee will be hosting an Environmental Fair this upcoming week at the Civic Centre to promote waste reduction acitivites in the work place and in the home There will be a wide range of displays including those set up by Halton Hills Hydro and Consumers Gas promoting energy saving tips others set up by the Town and Region demonstrating recycling and composting methods and another set up by Waste Wise a local organization dedicated to promoting the 3Rs reduce reuse and recycle said Paul Sargent Town Refuse and Reduction Coor dlnator The Towns Environment Initiatives Committee of which Mr Sargent is a member was formed a few months ago to teach Town em what they could do within their respective departments to reduce waste Some suggestions the committee has relayed to Town employees in elude using scrap paper on which to write memos and using both sides of a piece of paper when writing memos explained Mr Sargent Although the committees man date is to focus on teaching Town employees how to be more en vironmentally conscious com members decided to open next weeks fair to the public because all members of the com can benefit from it said Mr Sargent The fair starts this Monday and runs through to Friday at the Civic Centre The fair is open to the public during business hours 8 30 am to 30 pm Inflammatory rhetoric Turn up the heat famed American environmentalist Lois told approximately 75 people attending the Protect Our En vironmental Resources POWER Annual General meeting Wed nesday at Georgetown District High School Ms used this rallying call to encourage POWER members to become more aggressive in their at tempts to stop the Acton dump proposal The coffin lid is shut on the proposal all that is left is to ham mer in that final nail Ms Gibbs told her audience Ms was the driving force behind the evacuation of families from the chemical dumping ground known as Love Canal in Niagara Falls New York Full details of the meeting will appear in this Wednesday s edition of the Herald Following the inaugural Halton Regional Council meeting Wednesday the five Halton Hills Regional representatives and Halton Chairman Peter Pomeroy decided to start off the new threeyear political term with a show of mutual support Pic tured above left to right Bill Rick Bon Chairman Pam Johnston and Marilyn se jeantson Herald Photo Tour of the Lights The Seniors Tour of the Lights sponsored by the Georgetown Kinsmen is set to roll once again on Wednesday December 18th The tour in its 13th year has become a tradition in Georgetown The Kinsmen will be starting out to pick up the seniors at 30 p m The pick up points include Preston General Store Georgetown Legion on Mill Street Bennett Centre Kincourt Durham Street Apartments Sargent Road Apartments Delrex Smoke Shop Moore Park Plaza Silver Creek Towers and the Sands The Kinsmen are also looking for any community minded business to donate door prizes for the party to be held at St Andrews United Church after the tour For further in formation call Kinsman Randy Schaefer 7981 J