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Councillors resist the urge to merge "Tf it ain't broke, don't fix it." That was the unanimous senti- ment of Halton Hills councillors in response to two proposals -- one from Burlington, the other from Flamborough -- to change the re- gional system of government in Halton. Along with a strong 'no thanks' to the overtures -- backed up by a unanimous recorded vote -- Town Council also asked Queen's Park for some assurance that if the Conserva- tives win the up-coming election, the regional government system in Halton will be left alone. The debate was sparked by Burlington's offer to share its White Paper on governance with Town councillors, and a request from Flamborough to take part in a study for a possible co-operative services board instead of the current upper and lower-tier municipal system. In its White Paper, Burlington, which has made several merger- amalgamation overtures to Hamil- ton, Flamborough and Milton, sug- gests four governance options. The favoured option would have the ex- isting four local municipalities in Halton and Region transformed into a non-taxing, non-government co- operative service board with just one representative from Halton Hills. Mayor Marilyn Serjeantson sug- gested Council re-affirm its support for the current system of regional government in Halton to let people know Council isn't just "shoving this (governance debate) under the carpet." "We want to confirm that there is no need to discuss (governance) because the system we have today is working," Serjeantson said. Acton Councillor Rick Bonnette, who noted there have been at least three reports on Halton's future, called Burlington's White Paper a "Trojan horse" that would end up taking responsibility from the Region and putting it on the municipalities. "On paper that sounds great un- til you find out the costs of say, tak- ing over the roads," Bonnette said, adding there's been a lot of fear mongering by Burlington that Halton will be forced into some kind of restructuring because the Prov- ince won't accept the status quo. The mayor will write both Flamborough and Burlington saying Halton Hills is not interested in dis- cussing governance matters. MOTOR PRODUCTS CONVERTIBLES FROM Rockwood * 856-2222 What's Inside Something we could all use: a good-news story in- volving teens. See Page 3. Volunteers, including Ed Footitt, were recog- nized by Halton Hills Com- munity Support and Infor- mation last week. See photo on Page 4. It's Animal Health Care Week. Check out the local products and sery- ices offered on Page 7. Its time again Newstand price: 40¢ + GST | 1994 Cavalier IT'S WORTH THE DRIVE TO Merchants want choice over bylaw By FRANCES NIBLOCK The New Tanner Customers, not politicians, should decide if smoking is allowed in local bars and res- taurants according to an in- formal survey of Acton busi- nesses that will be affected by Town plans to go 100 per cent smoke-free by 2001. None of the business con- tacted by The New Tanner knew the Town has been hold- ing public meetings and ask- ing for comments on plans to make all public and workplaces smoke-free. "It's stupid and ridicu- lous," said Red Dog Café manager 'K' Kolia when asked about the proposed total smoking ban. "Tf they want to implement that kind of rule, rather than attracting business it will de- ter it because people come into our restaurant and they have a choice...and if they really feel that negatively about smoking, then they don't have to come in here," Kolia said. Kolia said two-thirds of Red Dog's upstairs dining room is designated non-smok- ing, more than the 50 per cent as required by the existing 1993 bylaw. "To force everybody not to smoke is ludicrous. I'd, at that point in time, even start Taxpayers get value: treasurer A decrease in regional taxes, no expected tax in- crease in school board taxes and a 1.2 per cent increase in Town taxes means Acton rate- payers with a property as- sessed at $185,000 will pay $11 more --a 0.4 per cent in- crease -- in taxes this year for a total of $2,583. The budget approved by Halton Region last week in- cludes a 3.1 per cent or $45 reduction in regional taxes from last year to $1,088. Po- lice services make up $269 of that total. Halton Hills Coun- cil is expected to approve capital and operating budg- ets resulting in a 1.3 per cent increase for municipal pur- poses for a total Town tax bill of $644. School board taxes of $851 are not expected to change for this year. Halton Hills treasurer Ed DeSousa used a cost com- parison to show what a good deal Halton Hills taxpayers get for $644 in Town taxes. "Tf you take the (cost of) a newspaper subscription, ba- sic cable and basic telephone (service) on an annual basis, it's about $700 for those three basic services," DeSousa said, adding that for $644 a taxpayer gets fire protection, libraries, parks and recreation programs, snow removal, roads maintenance, capital spending, planning, building and finance services. "So, you are getting value when you put it in that per- spective." basically weighing the ideas of moving out of town to a place where you can still do it -- give the customers an op- tion," Kolia said, adding that if his customers told them they didn't want smoking, it wouldn't be allowed. TimBri Tea House co- owner Tim McElhone said they took the "radical" step of going 100 per cent smoke-- free five years ago when cus- tomers complained about the smoke and said they wouildn't be back unui smok- ing was banned. t "The individual establish- ment, I think, should have some say in regarding if they want to go completely smoke free or not," McElhone, a non- smoker, said in an interview on Saturday. "Some of the decision should be left up to each in- dividual establishment and if people don't want to patron- ize a place that allows smok- ing, then that's their choice." When the Acton Tim Hortons franchise banned smoking-on Jan. | this year in line with head office policy, owner John Malinosky ex- pected to lose some business initially, but then gain new, non-smoking customers. "J have found there's been no negative effect on my busi- ness," Malinosky said, add- ing that some smokers haven't come back, but busi- ness has increased. Acton Bowling Lanes co- owner Gord Labombard, a non-smoker, said a smoking ban would drive some of his adult league players to See SMOKING, Page 3 LITERACY WEEK: National award-winning illustrator Karen Reczuch of Acton, shows Robert Little school students (from left) Megan McCluskey, Amber DeBruyn, Melissa Vivian, Dylan McPhail and Matthew Hanselman a drawing from one of her books on Monday as the school celebrated Literacy Week. - Frances Niblock photo for our annual FREE SERVICE CLINIC You are invited to bring your vehicle in on the following dates for a Free 12-Point Inspection ............. ON US! FREE 12 POINT INSPECTION NO CHARGE RESERVE YOUR SPOT SPACE IS LIMITED Achilles 357 Queen St. Acton (519) 853-0200