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THE NEW TANNERTHURSDAY, APRIL 8, 2010 9 Free Mortgage Assessment Before the April Guideline Changes!! RBC Mortgage Specialist at the local RBC in April. Come in Tuesdays and Wednesdays or by appointment when and where its convenient to you. Please contact Kimberly Singh, RBC MMS at 905-864-1365 to book an appointment or stop by the Branch for your free mortgage second opinion. - Debt Consolidation? - Mortgage Renewal? - Mortgage Switch? - New Home Purchase? Advice you can bank onTM INDOOR & OUTDOOR FURNITURE Furniture Hut 136 Guelph St. Georgetown 905-873-9791 O P E N 7 D AY S A W E E K Largest Selection of Patio Furniture in Halton Hills Since 1998 FRE E DEL IVER Y! Across the road from Christ the King School HALTON HILLS COMMUNITY ENERGY CORPORATIONS BOARD OF DIRECTORS The Town of Halton Hills is inviting applications for an appointment to the Board of Directors of Halton Hills Community Energy Corporation Inc. Persons interested in being a Director must reside in and have a good knowledge of Halton Hills and, a reputation for personal integrity and honesty. Candidates will be appointed based on meeting any or all of the following criteria: Experience in business operations, development, promotion and analysis; Experience in energy policy; Experience in management and operation of regulated assets, such as electricity distribution and generation; Experience in dealing with government and regu- latory agencies; Experience in corporate governance; Experience in corporate finance and account- ing; Experience in human resource management; and Experience in corporate structuring. In order to express your interest in a position on the Board of Directors for Halton Hills Community Ener- gy Corporation Inc., please submit your confidential Letter of Interest with background and qualifications no later than 4:30 pm on Friday, April 16th, 2010: Town Clerk The Town of Halton Hills 1 Halton Hills Drive, Halton Hills, ON L7G 5G2 Applicants must ensure that no conflict of interest will exist with this appointment. 1 Halton Hills Drive, Halton Hills, ON L7G 5G2 Insurance claims As spiralling insurance rates and claims spark demands for provincial reform by Association of Municipalities of Ontario, Halton Hills Council learned it has poten- tial exposure on 30 open insurance claims totalling $212,924. That includes 12 open claims in 2009, plus 18 remain- ing open claims received prior to 2009. The Town paid $93,218 in claims last year. In an annual insurance claim activity update to council last week, the Towns Financial Analyst, Sandi Kirsey, noted a total of 105 claims in 2009, 93 which were closed. The majority of the claims (85) were for general lia- bility which includes third party claims such as bodily injury relating to slips/trips and falls, road maintenance or property or vehicle damage claims. Fifteen per cent of the claims involved Town oper- ated vehicles, while there was one claim for errors or omissions for financial loss arising out of any actual or alleged wrongful act committed by Town staff. New pumper Dependable Emergency Vehicles of Brampton won the tender to supply Acton with a $452,239 rescue pumper. Theres $400,000 already approved in this years budget to replace an 18-year-old pumper assigned to the Churchill Road station. It is one of five front-line pumpers and described as a key piece of equipment in the Towns fleet, but has been very unreliable ac- cording to Deputy-Chief John Martins recent report to council. He said the company that made the fire pump is out of business and replacement parts are not available. This will be the second piece of equipment the Town has purchased from the Brampton company. Dependables low bid of $407,280 (net) exceeds the amount approved by Council by $7,280 because of the new Harmonized Sales Tax being introduced this July. The overage will come from the Towns Fire Services Reserve. The Town takes delivery in December. Building permit report Halton Hills issued 719 permits last year 630 were building permits and the balance of 89 were pool en- closure permits. Revenue from the permits in 2009 was estimated at Town Digest $1.4-million but only $1-million was generated, a short- fall of $455,859. While the number of permits issued last year compared to 2007 and 2008, the value of the permits was down with a shift to smaller permits and a decrease in building permit applications for new resi- dential subdivision units. In an annual activity report to council, staff said of the expected 353 subdivision units, 169 units relied on get- ting water from Halton Region, which did not happen. Of the 177 new permits issued last year, 81 permits were applied for and paid for in 2008. The Town is only allowed to charge permit fees that cover the direct and indirect expenses of issuing permits and doing Building Code inspections. The staff report said the department has been proactive in cutting costs, including cutting seven full-time equivalent positions (saving $619,000) without hurting the service. The shortfall in building permit revenue will be partially covered with $140,903 from the Tax Rate Sta- bilization Reserve and will be repaid in coming years when water becomes available for new developments. Geothermal for Georgetown library Town Council wants the new Georgetown library/ cultural centre facility to be heated and cooled with an environmentally friendly geothermal system with a price tag between $400,000 and $500,000. Town Council approved applying for a $4-million Green Municipal Fund loan /grant to help pay for the project. The grant could be 10 per cent of the amount borrowed or $400,000. At the suggestion of Acton Councillor Jon Hurst, if they dont get the Green Fund money, instead of pro- ceeding with an energy efficient rooftop heating/cooling system, they will explore other funding options for the geothermal system that would reduce energy costs and the impact on the environment. At a recent council meeting, Hurst said it was pre- mature to vote to go with a rooftop system without looking for other funding options if the application for Canadian Federation of Municipalities Green money is not approved. One of the options would be to ask Halton Hills Community Energy Corporation for a loan. Libraries director Jane Diamanti said they would need to know about the funding by September, when the design work will begin. The capital cost for the ex- panded/renovated Georgetown library/cultural centre is $12.5-million. Looking Back 10 Years Ago Thirty-seven jobs at the Eagle Ottawa Canada leather finishing plant on Mc- Donald Boulevard were saved with the purchase of the plant by an international company, Permair Leathers Limited. Acton Councillor Rick Bonnette said Acton citizens are not ready to roll on their backs and play dead when it comes to the potential sale of school board land at McKenzie-Smith Bennett School. ClubLink invests $4.1-million in Golf- North owner of the Acton Golf Club, formerly Acton Meadows giving golfers reciprocal privileges. Five Years Ago After-hours medical care is now avail- able in Acton with the opening of a walk-in clinic at the Acton Medical Centre where three doctors will rotate to see patients three nights a week. Two social services groups the Can- adian Mental Health Association and ADAPT (Alcohol, Drug, Gambling Assessment Pre- vention) are new tenants in the refurbished former YMCA building on Mill Street. Acton student Joseph Querques, a student at St. Joseph Catholic School, won $2,000 and a $2,000 scholarship at the 45th annual Bay Area Science and Engineering Fair. CARE AND COMFORT Jean Somerville (left) and Betty Armstrong display some of the shawls and lap blankets knitted and crocheted by members of the Knox Presbyter- ian Church Ladies Aid group for those who need some comfort. The group recently donated 14 shawls/blankets to the Eden Place nurs- ing home. If you know of someone who would benefit from a shawl, call the church office at 519- 853-2360. Frances Niblock photo