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Harsh realities of 91 lead to hope for future Long range planning is Regions goal Town to focus on development Longrange planning will con tinue to be the focus of Halton Region in the upcoming year Over the last several months three longrange planning documents have been publicized by the Region to outline the ground work for Haltons growth during the next 20 years One document Is the 20year corporate plan for the Region Halton Regional Chairman Peter refers to the document as being as much a plan for discussion as much as anything else The document sets out the parameters Halton must abide by if it is to successfully address the issues of the environment quali ty of life fiscal strength and ef fective corporate management of Regional government Chairman Pomeroy is hopeful the public will offer their opinion on the document throughout the rest of the year Chairman says the plan as proposed is meant to maintain the inroads Halton has already made in the areas of pro viding people with a good quality of life and the preservation of agricultural lands and green To ensure this outcome Mr Pomeroy states the Region will have to lobby the provincial government for funding to im prove infrastructure Not only does the infrastruc ture have to be updated it also must be environmentally friend ly says the chairman An environmentally safe system will ensure that people and business now in stay that new businesses move into the area he said The other two important plann ing documents are the Ur ban Structure Review and the Regional Plan Review The Urban Structure Review calls for the province to provide increased funding if the Region is expected to accommodate growth in The Official Plan Review which is expected to be finalized by the end of this year calls for higher density housing in the Region in order that a pollution- reducing transportation system can be developed As well this type of development will allow for more green space and agricultural lands in Halton said the Chairman Georgetown hospital building for future needs Just as 1990 was busy for the Georgetown and District Memorial Hospital so too will 1991 Last year saw the hospital con vert the Bennett Health Care Centre into a 36bed chronic care operation the introduction of a quality assurance program to en sure the hospitals various departments meet provincial standards a new roof accredita tion ensuring the hospital meets national medical care standards and a new Executive Director John Oliver who replaced Mark Rochon last December was hired to ensure the hospital maintain financial strength Mr Oliver says the hospitals fiscal year which ended in March ended with a surplus Mr Oliver said during the up coming year his attention will be focused on securing a nursing home operator to locate a nursing home operation in Georgetown Other hospitalrelated news in cludes the upcoming upgrading of the hospitals ventilation and heating system and the replace ment of some windows he said As well renovations are ex- pected to be done to the hospitals emergency area he said JOHN OLIVER Finally Mr Oliver said hospital administration staff will complete a fiveyear strategic plan for the hospital in 1991 The plan will outline changes that must happen at the hospital and what new programs must be of fered to ensure the hospital meets the communitys future medical needs As part of the plan the hospital will carry out a study to deter mine how it can best service the local seniors community For ex ample Mr Oliver said the hospital is trying to develop pro grams that ensure seniors are able to stay in their homes as long as possible Edited by Colin Gibson Herald Managing Editor If there has been one good thing that has come out of the recession and how it has affected Hills its that the Town has had time to take stock of how the com munity should- develop says Mayor Miller The downturn in the economy has meant little construction providing council with the op portunity to focus attention on aspects of development Council has put less emphasis on in the past Architecture is one aspect of development Council has started to consider more closely said the mayor Mayor Miller stresses he doesnt oppose development as long as it is controlled One way of keeping a check on develop ment is to ensure it conforms with the Hills rural ur ban landscape and architecture Unlike in the past said the mayor Council is more adamant about seeing architect drawings when considering whether or net MILLER to approve a project The mayor said he is pleased the Town only has enough water supply to support a maximum of 60000 people There is approx imately 33000 people living in Halton Hills now Mayor Miller if the Town ever grew beyond its limit there would be difficulty maintaining Its current character As was the case last year en vironmental Issues will again dominate the local political agen da said Mayor Miller The mayor predicted the Acton land fill proposal will go to a hearing sometime during the near future Mayor Miller said he opposes the proposal saying it Is impossi ble to build a leakproof landfill Other environmental issues that will stand out this year In clude the possible expansion of the United Aggregates quarry in Acton the Transfer Sta tion application to handle more garbage than currently being produced and the ongoing con cern of protecting the Towns rivers and streams said Mayor Miller Those who decide to run in the November municipal election will have to provide to the elec torate their sincerity on protec ting all aspects of the environ ment he said