Halton Hills Newspapers

Independent & Free Press (Georgetown, ON), 17 Feb 2006, p. 5

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Council endorses provincial review of MPAC's property assessment method already come to council to comhe Town of Halton Hills plain. "And we're willing to be has once again shown it is part of a pilot project to see if there not a fan of the Municipal isn't something better." Property Assessment Corporation "People in my ward (2) have (MPAC) as it has sent yet another called on numerous occasions, and resolution off to the Province-- I have particularly voiced concerns this time to the Office of the on how seniors have been Ombudsman. assessed," said Councillor Joan That office earlier this year BRYAN Robson, "and hopefully this announced it planned to investiLEWIS motion, by taking a different initiagate whether MPAC's assessment tive in going to the Ombudsman, of properties was fair. Both Halton Region and the Town of Halton Hills have would perhaps yield some good results." Ward 4 Councillor Bob Inglis agreed gone on record stating they were willing to be part of the Ombudsman's pilot project that the rural area and seniors have not been the only ones affected by MPAC's to test this. The Town, and many of its residents, arbitrary decision-making, saying he, too, has always questioned the accuracy, fair- has received many calls from his ward's ness and transparency of MPAC's proce- urban Georgetown residents. "There are many difficulties and frustradures. Council has sent a number of resolutions tion from constituents on how the system in the past calling for a review of the is going and what it is doing," said Inglis. --By Cynthia Gamble, staff writer agency, which establishes assessments of all properties in Ontario on which town taxes are based. The latest resolution, brought forth by Ward 2 Councillor Bryan Lewis, and seconded by Mayor Rick Bonnette-- the two key opponents of MPAC around the council table-- endorses the Ombudsman's Halton Hills firefighters were called to a investigation. Mill St. E. Acton building last Thursday "This is far more than just any one com- morning for a fire on the roof that had ignitponent of our town, virtually the whole ed the wall of a rear apartment. town is affected (by MPAC's assessment Firefighters extinguished the blaze on the judgments)," said Lewis, noting seniors on roof and broke a window latch and glass in fixed incomes, rural and agricultural resi- a door to enter the apartments and put out dents affected already by restrictive rules the blaze that caused $5,000 in damage. such the Greenbelt legislation and Niagara A roofer was using a propane torch to Escarpment Plan, and industry have complete a roofing job when the fire started. Torch sets off minor roof blaze

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