The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

Backyard Touch 318 Guelph Street Georgetown 905.873.8835 WINTER HOURS CLOSED MONDAYS Upgraded Premium Accessory Kit with All In-Stock Models Save $250 While Supplies Last! Independent & Free Press, Wednesday, March 12, 2008 3 The present system of seven reps each in Oakville and Burlington and three each in Milton and Halton Hills is only 12 years old after regional council was downsized by four members (Halton Hills lost two) due to a provincial government request for all munic- ipalities to trim the number of politicians. The previous system had been in place for 22 years since regional amalgamation. Theres been no tremendous increase in a politicians workload due to the population changes over those 12 years, said Perlin. When one looks at the current popula- tion data... there is nothing at this point that would suggest that there is an urgent need for any change to the present formula, Perlin told council. Oakvilles seven regional councillors rep- resent 165,000 people (1:23 ratio); Burlingtons seven represent 164,000 (1:23), Miltons three represent 54,000 people (1:17) and Halton Hillss three represent 55,000 (1:18). The average ratio in GTA municipalities is 1:23. The 2006 Census did not reveal any pop- ulation shifts among the four municipalities significant enough to affect repre- sentation. A review must not just focus on population changes, he said, but continue to take into account the geography of each municipality. We have very large rural areas in our municipality and in Milton, and theres also the distance from the primary centres (Oakville and Burlington) in the region and the whole land-use issue (urban ver- sus rural), Perlin said. Part of his recommendation to the regional sub-committee is assurance that Halton Hills is provided with a minimum 15 per cent representation (which exists now) on regional council. Wards 3&4 Regional Councillor Jane Fogal, who had vigorously fought the forma- tion of the sub-committee last year, was unimpressed with the reports from Burlington, Oakville and Milton councils supporting the review. Unfortunately some municipalities, without giving it a lot of thought, are saying yeah, lets do a review, but none of them are saying we have a problem and there needs to be a review. So its lets go through this process like its no big deal, but it would be a big deal, said Fogal, who hoped Perlins report will put a stop to it... until theres a demonstrated need. Wards 1&2 Regional Councill- or Clark Somerville agreed, adding that any of south Halton representatives claims of increas- es workload can be remedied at the local council level. Fogal added that doubling the population does not mean double the number of reports and meetings. Acton Councillor Mike OLeary pointed out the south politicians (unlike those in the north) have their own offices and staff to help them cope with their workload, I cant help but feel that this is a gambit on the part of some of the southern munici- palities to tip the balance even more in their favour than what it is right now, said OLeary. I would caution our regional councillors to really take a firm stand against this. Mayor Rick Bonnette said any review calling for more politicians would be a bur- den on taxpayers. I dont think the public has the stomach to be supporting any more politicians at the table, he said, noting that the majority of politicians complaining about workload are first-timers. Dont run for office if you cant handle it, was the mayors message to them. Acton Councillor Jon Hurst summed up the issue with the tried, but true, clichIf it aint broke, dont fix it. Bonnette, who is vice-chair of the sub- committee, said he plans to introduce new voting rules that would ensure each munici- pality receives a vote on each issue. As it is now the Towns three regional representa- tives sit on three different committees, Planning and Public Works (Bonnette), Administration and Finance (Fogal) and Health and Social Services (Somerville). If one of the Halton Hills representatives is not at a meeting (although all three have excel- lent attendance records), this municipality does not get a vote (unlike Burlington and Oakville). Bonnette wants the rule changed so that one of three Halton Hills regional councillors can step in and vote in place of his/her absent colleague. After four incidents of vandalism over the past couple of years Sheridan Nurseries is fed up. The 10th Line nursery is offering a reward for any information about the incidents. Bart Brusse, container farm manager at Sheridan, said once in late 2006, twice last year, and just last month, someone ripped holes in the plastic of polyhouses located on 20 Sideroad, damaged plants and tampered with the heater that was keeping the plants from freezing throughout the winter. In each instance the damage was approximately $1,000. In the most recent incident that occurred sometime Tuesday (Feb. 26) or Wednesday (Feb. 27) one poly- house was entered, plants were dam- aged, sprinkler heads broken off and the heat was turned up. A lot of people at the nursery have worked very hard to grow top quality plants. Its very frustrating to see them ruined in this way, said Brusse. Brusse said Sheridan has been very open with its property allowing access to neighbours and hikers. If we had to take further steps to deter this type of thing it would mean potential inconvenience for the hik- ers, he said. Anyone with information is asked to call Sheridan Nurseries at 905-873- 0522, Halton Police at 905-878-5511 ext. 2114 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800- 222-TIPS. Bart Brusse of Sheridan Nurseries inspects the dam- age after vandals cut open one of the polyhouses on 20 Sideroad, and vandalized the plants, trampling many in storage, as well as breaking off some of the irrigation equipment. Photo by Ted Brown Nursery targeted four times Sheridan frustrated by vandalism LISA TALLYN Staff Writer Town politicians see no need to expand regional council DENNIS PERLIN The Town of Halton Hills spent nearly a quarter of a million dollars on emergency and unfunded repairs of its facilities in 2007. Thats in addition to the $312,000 that was included in the 2007 budget for repairs and maintenance of build- ings and equipment. The Recreation and Parks Department, however, was able to generate more than projected rev- enues to offset the $232,000 spent to fix items such as: doors, roofs, fire alarms, furnace, heating and cooling systems, arena floor leaks, sewer and septic systems. The largest single expense $25,000 was for replacement of the control system of the Mold-Masters SportsPlex elevator, because passen- gers were becoming stuck between the first and second floors. Funding for this came from Facility Repair and Revitalization Reserve. Wards 3&4 Regional Councillor Jane Fogal wondered why money was not budgeted for potential repairs. Is it our fault (council for reducing budget) or (staffs for) coming in with only half the money we needed for these repairs? she asked Recreation and Parks director Terry Alyman. The director agreed that council did reduce the repair and mainte- nance budget about six or seven years ago. In essence, overall between our operating and capital budgets, we are not putting in as much money as we need to considering the scope and age of building stock. Fogal said council needs to remem- ber that at budget time. Either we put it in the budget and fix it, or we dont put in the budget, and we still have to fix it, she said. Its sort of a reality check in my mind. ... If we dont budget for it, it will come back to bite us. Fogal questioned the number of repairs to the Acton Arena and Community Centre for a relatively new facility. More than $60,000 was spent on the 10-year-old building compared to more than $20,000 for the 80-year-old Memorial Arena. Alyman said some of the money was related to the new skateboard parks security system such as close circuit television. Facilities emergency repair tab hits $232,000 CYNTHIA GAMBLE Staff Writer Continued from pg. 1