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Councillors stick to budget plan to hire four full-time firefighters expecting some savings out of the snow plowing budget," he said. year representing a 1.3 per cent increase on But DeSousa explained in doing so, it would taxes-- subject to annual review. be reducing the ongoing base budget for "Right now we have a part-time comfuture years by $150,000 and the council plement (of 90 firefighters) that are supwould have to make up the difference ported by a full-time staff (20) during the through a future tax hike. day," explained Acting Fire Chief John No action was taken on O'Leary's sugMartin. "After hours we have no guarangestion. tees that staff will be available. What we The winter control savings will also go propose... is a progressive plan to provide into the surplus, which is projected to be full-time staffing on a 24-7 basis over the very small this year-- less than $175,000 next 20 to 25 years." (excluding the $325,000 that will be used DAVE "I have to go with the fire master to top up the reserves, which finances the KENTNER plan," said Ward 3 Councillor Dave capital works program and Kentner. "We're raising a generation of equipment/facility repairs and purchases). people who are not as quick to volunteer ...and so (Cynthia Gamble can be reached at I think we are going to need that full-time comcgamble@independentfreepress.com) plement and this is the only way we can reasonably do it, otherwise we're going to be looking at a million dollar increase if we have to hire all at once." Changes to a personnel policy manual Bonnette pointed to a recent Town survey that revealed that Town of Halton Hills non-union showed that fire services were a top priority by staff would be receiving a 3 per cent wage residents. Duncan's motion lost with only Councillors increase in 2007. The changes to the salary grid have been Clark Somerville, Joan Robson and Mike O'Leary allowed for in the proposed 2007 operating budsupporting him. Opposed were Bonnette and get. Council will formally approve the operating Councillors Jane Fogal, Jon Hurst, Inglis, budget at the Feb. 5 meeting. The pay increase Johnson and Kentner. Councillor Bryan Lewis will be retroactive to January 1, 2007. who originally seconded Duncan's motion, The Summer Program Leader, the Summer declared a conflict in the midst of debate-- his Supervisor and the Summer Co-ordinator-- all brother is a firefighter. part-time employees-- will also get the 3 per ··· cent increase. Finally, Councillor Mike O'Leary questioned Another change in the manual was an whether the Town could use the $150,000 sav- increase in the gas mileage repayment from 47 ings in the 2006 winter control budget due to the cents per kilometre to 48 cents. This will cost an mild weather as a tax credit on 2007 tax bills. estimated $3,400-- already included in the 2007 "This is a unique situation... and people are budget. Continued from pg. 4