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6 Independent & Free Press,Thursday, September 30, 2010 OPINION Land sharks "Shameful." "Betrayed." "Embarrassing." Those were just a few of the descriptives Town of Halton Hills councillors were tossing around Monday night after passing a bylaw that authorized a $1.3 million land deal with the Halton District School Board. That's $1.3 million the Town can't afford at this time, but really had no choice in spending in order to preserve playground and sports field at McKenzie-Smith Bennett Public School. The Town is to pay $310,000 per acre for the five acres of land, and a licence rental fee of $5 per year. The Town will also assume the annual cost (about $15,000) of maintaining the playfields and sports fields, on both the purchased and licensed land. The school board says it has allowed for a significant discount, because it didn't have the severance or development costs it would have had if the sale was to the private sector. Make no mistake the HDSB stuck it to the Town of Halton Hills in this deal. To recap, the former Town of Acton bought the 15-acre school property in 1957 and later conveyed it to the school board of the day. Over the years the land became the property of the HDSB which tried to sell a portion of the land 10 years ago, but failed thanks to Town opposition. Last year, the HDSB deemed a portion of the property "surplus"-- although you'd be hardpressed to find an Actonian that considered it such-- and declared its intention to sell a 2.62 acre strip (likely to developers) at market value. The money from the sale would help the board build new schools-- just none in Acton. Councillors are right this was a "shameful" deal and have every right to feel "betrayed" by a school board that meekly attempted to justify its "embarrassing" actions by saying they were simply acquiescing to provincial ministry demands to find money. Trying to raise that capital on the back of a small community such as Acton, where playfields are scarce, was nothing short of a holdup-- just minus the masks. 905-873-0301 Publisher: Ken Nugent General manager: Steve Foreman (sforeman@independentfreepress.com) Retail advertising manager: Cindi Campbell (ccampbell@independentfreepress.com) Managing editor: John McGhie (jmcghie@independentfreepress.com) Distribution manager: Nancy Geissler (ngeissler@independentfreepress.com) Classifieds Kristie Pells (classified@independentfreepress.com) Accounting Rose Marie Gauthier Editorial Cynthia Gamble: News editor (cgamble@independentfreepress.com) Ted Brown: Photography (tbrown@independentfreepress.com) Lisa Tallyn: Staff writer (ltallyn@independentfreepress.com) Eamonn Maher: Staff writer/sports (emaher@independentfreepress.com) WEB POLL RESULTS Where do you stand on the gun registry issue? · The registry should be abolished (56%) · The registry should be maintained (41%) · Undecided (3%) Steve Nease Go to www.independentfreepress.com Letters to the editor `Fix' a pet through UCHS's raffle Dear editor, The Upper Credit Humane Society has decided to take steps to reduce the number of homeless pets by launching a raffle. The winner will receive a voucher for a spay or neuter for any pet up to a value of $300. This voucher can be used to obtain the services of any veterinarian for the procedure and is fully transferable. The tickets are $2 each and the draw will be held December 16. Are your pets all "fixed"? You can gift the voucher to a friend or neighbour in need or even donate it back to the shelter. If we are successful with this raffle we hope to continue to have more. The best way to control the overpopulation of cats and dogs is to prevent the birth of more kittens and puppies. Did you know that one female cat can have two litters of 4 to 6 kittens per year? If she lives to be eight years old and half her kittens are female and also have litters-- well, you can do the math. Tickets are available at the Upper Credit Humane Society Thrift Shop in Moore Park Plaza and at Creature Comfort on Main Street in Downtown Georgetown. More venues will be available shortly. Be part of the solution. Let's ensure a happy and healthy life for all pets. Frances Walker, Upper Credit Humane Society shown what a great community we live in! Joyce Farmer, Alan Farmer and Lorne Collis 2010 Halton Hills Parkinson Superwalk Committee Market blocks access Dear editor, I have a question for the Acton BIA: Why do they feel it is acceptable to block a resident's driveway to hold a so-called Farmers' Market? Every Thursday I am unable to park my car at the end of the day because the market is blocking my driveway, therefore I am forced to park in the parking lot, behind my apartment. Then, later in the eveing, I have to drag my three-yearold out with me before I can move the car back into my parking spot. I'm not sure I would mind so much if this was a genuine farmers' market. I have never visited a farmers' market that sells hot dogs, body lotion and artwork. Where are the fruits and vegetables? I sincerely hope that if the Acton BIA plans to make the market a yearly venture, they take the residents into consideration. Lynne Simon, Acton Parkinson Society appreciates support Dear editor, We would like to take this opportunity to say a great big "thank you" to everyone who participated in, sponsored or provided services to the Halton Hills 2010 Parkinson Superwalk on September 11. With more than 70 walkers this year we raised more than $23,000. This will help the Parkinson Society provide vital support to the approximately 100,000 Canadians with this chronic disease, many of whom live in our community. We could not have achieved this result without the great support of many local business owners and individuals who helped in many ways. Once again Halton Hills has Letters to the editor policy Letters must include an address and daytime telephone number. Anonymous letters will not be published. Letters should not exceed 150 words and may be edited for content and/or length. Publication is not guaranteed. E-mail: jmcghie@independentfreepress.com Mail or drop off: Independent & Free Press, 280 Guelph St., Unit 29, Georgetown, ON., L7G 4B1. The Independent & Free Press The Independent & Free Press is published Tuesday and Thursday and is one of several Metroland Media Group Ltd. community newspapers. Editorial and advertising content of The Independent & Free Press is protected by copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited.