THE VOICE OF HALTON HILLS SINCE 1866 YEAR NO PAGES SINGLE COPY GST HALTON HILLS ONTARIO WEDNESDAY JANUARY Hawaiian hoedown Square dancer Margaret Parker of Scarborough flashed Georgetown dancer Dennis Hare a big smile while they exchanged hands during a squaredance hosted by the Pine Valley Squares of Georgetown The event was held at the community Centre Saturday night and packed with square dan all dressed costumes to fit the theme Hawaii at Home Herald Photo Police on alert for suspicious van Another sighting of a suspicious person in a black van has been reported to Regional Police for the third time in just over a week Three Georgetown children live on Academy in Georgetown told their vice- principal and babysitter that every morning while waiting for their school bus a strange black van seems to be watching them The children are aged eight nine and Detective Sergeant Michael of the police service said the sightings are something parents should be concerned about Any sighting of strange vehicles where there are children should be treated with caution until police have the opportunity to determine what it s all about But he s cautioning parents not to be alarmed because the incidents could be as innocent as a black van taking the same route to work everyday However he is warning parents they should instruct their children on what to do if approached by a stranger Parents should tell their children if they re approached by a to abuse te Nop teuWiig in After lift the abuse IteraCrforgttown eyes and also another report from a mother who said her infant dmigfrter wetaintd while in Nerval womans care Ms le had reportedly folic ay gup they wilt lay any other charges Ms and are c- stranger they should run away ap proach an adult or go to a Block Parent home he said In all three incidents of suspicious persons that have been reported to police the persons were all in what was described as a dark van The first incident occurred Jan 7 when two eight yearold girls were approached by a man offering them candy on Mill St in Acton At the time police believe the man tried to grab One of the girls but now say that didn t occur The second incident also took place in Acton when a teenager swore at an eight yearold Acton girl from a dark van The girl was able to get the been of the vehicle and police traced the vehicle to a Hills home The 14yearold son of the vehicleowner was cautioned According to Sgt police have not yet determined if there is a connection between all three sightings but that possibility exists Police do know that the boy who was cautioned admits be was in the Acton at the same time of the first two sightings but said there was no abduction attempt made Police are continuing their in vestigation Condo controversy a threat to town The Herald A town Site Plan Committee decision to disregard its own con dominium agreement policy could end up costing local taxpayers the Herald has learned The decision centres on a Decern ber 1990 condominium agreement between Site plan Committee and he Georgetown development com pany reemar Management concerning the industrial building at 150 Ar mstrong Avenue Town documents copies of which were obtained by the Herald reveal the letter of credit included in the agreement is insufficient to cover the work that is required to be done The work is valued at SI while the letter of credit is for only Under the agreement a retaining wall and driveway surrounding the building both have to be built As well certain landscaping work has to be done If the developer refuses to com the work the town will be for ced to either take the developer to court to obtain the necessary funds or use taxpayers money to finish the work Town Administrator Dan Costea said civil action will be taken again the developer if the work isn completed to the town He acknowledged however the town will be at a disadvantage if the matter goes to court The reason being the letter of credit is meant to reflect the value of the work to be completed Since the agreement indicates the work is valued at the judge may decide the developer isn responsible to pay any more towar ds the cost explained Mr make matters worse Site Plan Committee in agreeing to a letter of credit disregarded town policy Normally Site Plan Committee approves a letter of credit on a recommendation from the towns Engineering Department The Engineering Departments recommendation was the true value of the work Despite asphalt already being laid on the driveway town Engineer Bob Austin recently told council the work t been done satisfactorily Mr Costea agreed it will cost ap proximately to just to pave the dn properly Why would Site Plan Committee ignore its own condominium agreement policy Mr Costea said the action was taken so as not to place undue har on the applicant He was referring to the fact that leading up to the condominium agreement a site plan agreement had been passed The site plan agreement was ap proved October 24 This agreement required the same work be done as was outlined under the subsequent condominium agreement The site plan agreement applied to the original plan calling for the units in the building to be rented out A condominium agreement had to be signed when the applicant decided to sell the units Under the original site plan agreement the applicant and town agreed upon a letter of credit Based on this letter of credit it didn t seem fair to impose a letter of credit on the applicant the condominium agreement said Mr Costea However Town Engineer Peter Linn explained his department recommended in accordance with town policy the condominium agreement letter of credit equal the value of the work because the issue of ownership was involved The recommendation was made to ensure future owners of any of the condominiums in the building received proper protection said Mr Linn It turns out Mayor Miller the applicant Engineering Depart Continued on Page Kentners tops list Kentner Social Catering of Georgetown was nominated as Hills Chamber of Com Business of the Year Tuesday Jan 21 Dave Kentner will be presented with the Business of the Year award by the Hills Chamber of Commerce on behalf of Renter Catering early next month New Chamber President The Ontario Chamber of Com is pleased to announce the election of Pat Palmer as dent for Mr Palmer is currently Vice- President Retail Banking west and Northwest Region Ontario Distnct for Royal Bank of Canada He has been with Royal Bank since Mr Palmer has been active with the Chamber movement since 1981 The Ontario Chamber of Com is the recognized Voice of Business in Ontario represen ting members through its 165 community Chambers of Commerce and Boards of Trade Mr Palmer has been a resident of Georgetown for the past 15 years AN INSIDE LOOK SECTION A Community Forum 10 Police Beat 10 Council Briefs 3 People Forum Environment Nerval Nawt forum Town Gardener rtafnment Sports 1516 Money Mitten Editorial 9 Community Classified Rayikfe 10 Community Foo23 SECTION B School Newt 2B Youth Page Jade 3B Arts Meat Hone of Hie Week SB Community Service Seniors ReHgion 10B Legion Lines 11B 13B Martin Jansen is determined to keep Canada united See Lifestyles Section