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The Acton Free Press Wednesday April Marks challenge budget procedure priorities MILTON PLAZA 8782629 Actons 1973 budget did not sit well with at least two members of council of the budget committee and they voted against accepting it when the resolution was put to a vote DeputyReeve G Pat McKenzle objected to the proposals because he had no chance to peruse copies of recreation and band budgets He told council he could not vote intelligently on the budget until he knew what was in it and had a chance to study It He based his objection on a statement made at the last regular meeting promising all budgets would be available for all councillors to peruse over the weekend When we didnt get them I got angry McKenzle told the Free Press He and the mayor engaged In a verbal sparring match which saw the mayor bang his gavel down and sharply criticize the deputy reeve Councillor Peter Marks meanwhile called the proposed budget a maintenance budget one that the people want to see but not necessarily what Is good for the town Turning backs We had 13tt mills looking at us he noted and tried to get them down to four which meant they had to be cut We are turning our backs on things which are needed Marks said the budget needs to be looked at more realistically referring to cuts In the recreation budget where the budget committee cut arena renovations recommended by the engineers to keep the arena safe He felt cutting the development commissions budget was another mistake since the commission would need the money to promote sale of industrial land and by paring the budget he said council was ac tually turning away revenue from the sale of land dont honestly believe a maintenance budget will supply Actons needs in 1972 Marks declared He also felt there were so many variables in the budget council could be looking at a serious deficit In 1971 In Marks view the people of Acton had to face up to their responsibilities and accept increased taxes for a year He also took issue with the centennial committee budget of like to take a far more detailed look at plans before his seal of approval was attached Prodded by the reeve Marks admitted he had reservations about last year a budget but had voted for It expressing reservations Sharp line Budget chairman Reeve Frank took sharp Issue with Marks claiming he wanted things both ways saying things were left out with one breath and then predicting a deficit with another In his view the people of Acton are getting good service from the municipality and he challenged Marks statement that the towns size limited giving PETER MARKS good service We are all afraid of 12 mills Marks replied or we could have struck it He felt If there were enough people to soak up the increase councils fears need not be warranted Mayor agreed with Councillor Marks view on the centennial project noting he was not overly impressed with the project which was based on Die views of people who attended a special meeting Half of the people there the mayor thought were oriented towards recreation I feel we need more time and discussion on the project the mayor said Councillor Chapman questioned how colleague Marks could call figures a maintenance budget since the town would still continue paying for improvements Marks replied he used the word maintenance because several growth Items were cut We have to cut the cloth to fit the pattern maintained the mayor relating that there were many things he and other members of council would like to see done which could not be included in the budget We cant commit ourselves for the new council cither he said referring to this years election Why no copies It bothers me said the deputyreeve Pat McKenzle that I haven got a copy of the recreation and Band budgets to study Why havent we he demanded How can I answer questions about the budget for taxpayers or vote intelligently on it when Ive never seen one The mayor replied that the budget committee was willing to change its mind about budgets if they were outvoted He reviewed the procedure council used and felt most were satisfied with it But there a majority of council on the budget committee retorted the deputy reeve I dont agree with that Write them down then said the mayor Come on write it down three pages of it the deputy- reeve replied with sarcasm At this point the mayor cracked his gavel down sharply and thundered object to your PAT McKENZLE attitude Mr McKenzle The deputy reeve repeated his remark It is up to council if they wont to change procedure the mayor repeated Councillor Marks said it was time to investigate the total procedure of the budget committee He commended the committee for the many hours they had spent laboring over the budget ana asked if it time to look at different methods of appointment Councillor Masales wondered If the deputy reeve had done all his own homework Earlier he questioned our budget he sold and now it seems is not fully aware of his own The deputy reeve disagreed earlier with the the budget set aside for a slush fund to buy equipment He said the budget committee was asking others to cut and then adding as they saw fit The mayor explained that there was a concern by members of public works that town trucks might give out at any time and the money would be available In the event this came to pass Councillor Norm Elliott agreed it was ridiculous for two members of the committee to ask for as had been stated and then ask the public works committee to cut from the budget It was not discussed at committee he said and was impossible to cut now Head off crisis Councillor Costs said the money was set aside to head off a crisis when funds are not available The reeve said there was also chance the adminis tration committee could need it in the event office equipment broke down It is available to cither committee he Insisted We ve lived without one for four or five years retorted the deputy The reeve noted that anyone can defeat parts of the budget with motions from the floor Some have the attitude the budget cant change he noted Amendments can be made he assured council But Marks said this was impossible unless there was some verbal support from one member of the budget committee because the committee outnumbered the rest of council But you are on record as trying the reeve emphasized That Is what democracy is all about Councillor Greer also advised his colleague Marks that in answer to renovations on the arena It was the opinion of the committee that they were not a necessity If there is trouble there Greer said all the recreation committee had to do was come to council The engineer told us three years ago there were rotten timbers there said Marks and it would cost more to repair it piecemeal He noted the recreation committee had approved the budget by a majority and they had asked for funds three years two years ago and again last year with meagre results Councillor Coats noted the budget committee had a long and pleasant meeting with representatives of Parks Board and told them there was no way their budget could go through it must be cut Council said sorry there is only so much money this year We should caution all boards of our limited funds said the mayor Money will go where It serves all the people of the town best Noway Councillor Elliott pondering the budget and listening to the discussion observed that there was no way council could Justify a large increase on the minute assessment increase during the year He agreed the budget committee hod to make some difficult decisions and there was no viable way to make evaluation but he suggested council should reexamine the way the budget was set I would have liked to look at the recreation and parks board budget he said The mayor defended the procedure noting it was customary for the budget committee to receive the budgets and suggest cuts It was normal procedure Coats agreed but pressure of time this year so the mill rate could be struck reversed the procedure Normally budgets came to committee first After some comment on the spread between the commercial and residential mill rates about which several councillors expressed concern the mayor expressed his personal appreciation to the reeve and other members of the finance committee for their handling of the budget He noted once again it was everyones perogative to question anything that goes on at council Committee set up study annexation of Eden Mills Plans to bring the entire police village of Eden Mills wilhui the boundaries of township and Wellington County were discussed at a joint meeting between representatives of and the village Monday night The village is divided between and townships now with the larger portion in A Joint committee was set up Monday to work with village trustees and proceed with plans for the annexation Each council will pick one representative to meet with the trustees and act as a liaison between the three bodies The proposed transfer is complicated by the fact that is in Hilton County and In Wellington School students on one of the village attend schools In and while on the other tide they attend Acton schools and are bussed as far as Georgetown and Burlington Attend same Under the proposed annexation all students would be able to attend the same schools In Wellington Trustees of the village told the meeting 85 per cent of the village is oriented towards Gueh They felt the majority of the people would be In favor of the annexation There la some opposition but trustees plan a housetohouse survey of the side to get the feelings of all residents Reeve Warren Parkinson the council and the clerk of Reeve Ann MacArthur and her council and clerk from and Dae Masson and secretary John Turner of the village were the principals at the meeting District dogs to appear on TV Mrs Steel and her dogs Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are to be special guests on the Elaine Cole show CKCOTV Kitchener on Friday June Mrs Steel kennels are located on W south of Acton The kennel is the only one in Canada for the Cavalier King Charles breed Lions sponsor CNIB drive Acton lions Club again sponsoring the Canadian National Institute for the Blind canvass in Acton and they are asking for volunteers to assist with the drive An organization meeting Is being held April at 7 SO pjn to plan the canvass Volunteers are requested to get in touch with Vic prior to the date for further information ACTON LIONS CLUB Spring Frolic and Dance MAY 6th ACTON COMMUNITY CENTRE DANCING 9 PM to 1 AM FEATURING Harry and the Shrimp Cocktail From Club Tlchttiavolliblo at Tirol Store IS Per Couple at the door NOTICE TO PARENTS North Halton Sunshine School for Retarded Children Mrs Jeflarei will be receiving applications at the Sunshine Schoo April from AM to PM E Bodnar J w Singleton Chairman of the Board Director of Education Over 10000 patterns at your fingertips We guarantee SAME DAY service if ordered before or next day on all wallpaper orders Ever had to buy a double 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