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The Oakville Beaver, Friday June 2, 2006 - 3 Election trail tears through Council Chambers Angela Blackburn OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF November's municipal election is still a long way off, but increasingly the campaign trail is taking a path straight through Town of Oakville's Council Chambers. It tore through Monday night's council meeting -- leaving little time for the real business at hand -- a legal update on north Oakville. There were again several hours of raucous debate -- through which the highly-paid north Oakville legal counsel patiently waited. In the end, debate accomplished little that was productive. On Monday, council was ready to address a notice of motion filed by veteran Ward 2 Councillor Fred Oliver and Ward 6 Councillor Janice Wright that aimed to put to rest what some councillors say is a public perception that council is doing too much behind closed doors and without public input. Others took offence that such "So-called secret meetings appear to be the election 2006 buzz term and frankly the issue has been beaten to death in this term of council." Jeff Knoll, Ward 5 councillor suggestions -- fanned by election trail campaign claims -- are unfounded and call into question every Oakville councillor's adherence to their sworn oath of office for the past three years. Council has been criticized by some members of the public for going behind closed doors so much. Council has had lawyers explain why it happens -- to protect taxpayers from financial exposure when it comes to the Town's position in legal hearings, property purchases and sales, and personnel matters. The Town is currently facing 19 OMB challenges and may be busier than other municipalities because it's in the hot seat for growth right now. Oliver said his concern was lack of compliance with the Town's new procedural bylaw and that a review would be in the interest of good management. He cited two passages from the bylaw that dealt with decorum. Ward 5 Councillor Jeff Knoll acknowledged there have been "cranky" discussions that have led to some unpleasant meetings. On the decorum note, he referred to a delegation by Rob Burton at council two weeks ago when the mayoral candidate called the advice from a top Town employee as "threatening council." The employee jumped up twice in self defence leaving the mayor warning about public exposure to lawsuit being created by the allegations. Knoll called the comments "scurrilous and horrible." "We need to get a handle on the wanton abuse of our staff," he said. "So-called secret meetings appear to be the election 2006 buzz term and frankly the issue has been beaten to death in this term of council," said Knoll. While suggestions ranged from town staff to review council's conduct, to invite a neighbouring municipality's town clerk to do the job, to hire outside consultants to do the work by June 19, to wait and do it after the new Municipal Act takes effect (though it could be some time), none of the avenues won council support. Oliver ended up withdrawing his motion, tabling it though that lost on a recorded vote and ultimately there wasn't anyone to put the item on the table for discussion anymore. Time had run out, so the issue was left, and councillors moved on to hear See Council page 24 oyster perpetual yacht-master steel and yellow gold Family says a heart-felt Thank you Continued from page 1 days after the birth of baby brother Christopher. In fact, during the last nine weeks Jack has been rushed to OakvilleTrafalgar Memorial Hospital three times and every time, says Jodi, emergency workers have been great. "It's been crazy around here," said Jodi, who praised hospital staff as well. "The nurses at OTMH are phenomenal." Jack's parents have now installed cameras in his bedroom and in the basement so they can keep tabs on him while Jodi carries medication around with her in a decorative necklace. There is a 70 per cent chance Jack will "outgrow" his epilepsy so all his loved ones are keeping their fingers crossed. The one who seems least effected by all the stress and turmoil is Jack himself who, rather than being terrified of ambulances, wants to go for a ride whenever he sees one. "Jack has no idea there's anything wrong," said Jodi. "They make it all as painless as possible." No wonder then that Jodi and David are trying to get a paramedic ­ preferably one who worked on Jack ­ to visit his preschool for some real-life show and tell. Medical professionals and EMS personnel aside, the Yeildings could have used the assistance of other parents going through simi- lar ordeals so the couple is now trying to establish an Epilepsy Ontario chapter in Oakville. After all, peer-to-peer support is vital for anxious parents, as is awareness to avoid misinformation. "The more information parents have the more in control they feel," said Jodi. "A local presence and wider awareness is important." One thing the family has learned already is that Jack will not be defined by his epilepsy. Instead, he is a happy boy who must deal with a problem, his mother says. Thoe interested can call Jodi Yeilding at 905-469-9393 or email jyeilding@yahoo.ca. SAVE $ 1100 SAVE UP TO ON COOLING FACTORY COSTS* 50% Discover New Products 's UP TO 21 SEER RATING UP TO 13 SEER RATING 15 SEER RATING REBATE DO NOT PAY FOR 6 MONTHS** OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK *SEE STORE FOR DETAILS O.A.C. OAKVILLE TOWN CENTRE I 300 North Service Rd. W. at Dorval Oak Town Centre 1 QEW Dorval 905-844-1223 North Service Road