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Council wants funding options to fix seniors centres `problem' sideration for Gellert Centre Phase 2 and the Acton Seniors Centre before the Au"Which indicated to me at that time, gust 2012 budget meeting which sets the that council was prepared to support the 2013 budget directions. One option could project(s)," said Chambers. be a special dedicated levy. Council apBut last week they found out different- proved the motions unanimously. ly, when learning through an Independent Fogal said the Town, in her opinion, & Free Press Nov. 22 article, that design, overcommitted itself on the three-arena engineering and construction of both the project at a time when there was a lot of $18 million Gellert Centre Phase 2, which financial unknowns, such as housing deincludes a Georgetown Seniors velopment, reassessment and Centre, and the $2.5 million the recession. As well, the Town Acton Seniors Centre were rehad to kick in $2.7 million for moved from the 2013-2021 the Georgetown Hospital redeCapital Forecast. velopment and $1.3 million for Town treasurer Ed DeSousa the McKenzie-Smith Bennett had stated the projects were School lands. placed on the unfunded list "So here we are in a situabased on the fact that projecttion where I believe we promed development charges (DCs) ised the seniors community funding that the Town would be that we would build these comreceiving over the next couple munities," said Fogal, "and JANE of years would not be enough now we're not. ... We have to fix FOGAL to help pay for them. DCs are this problem and we have a lot developer dollars provided to of people here tonight counting the Town to help pay for road on this." and infrastructure improvements. "Yes, we are well extended as far as our But both Jones and Chambers said the capital expenditures over the next several seniors had proceeded ahead with fund- years, but this is an absolute priority and raising plans-- $400,000 for the Acton has been for several years," said Councilcentre and $500,000 for the Georgetown lor Ann Lawlor. centre-- based on previous council deJones said the current seniors space in cisions. The groups have already spent the Acton Arena & Community Centre is thousands of dollars on conceptual plans, too small to accommodate existing proarchitectural drawings, funding feasibility grams, let alone expand its program offerstudies and hiring a financing consultant. ings. However, a lack of commitment from Similarly, the Georgetown Seniors the Town could jeopardize the centres' Centre is an expensive rental facility on ability to raise future funds, said Jones. Guelph St., inefficient to operate and will Councillor Jane Fogal and Councillor not meet the needs of the projected numJon Hurst motioned to add amendments ber of new seniors, said Chambers. to Capital Budget/Forecast calling on "I support this recommendation to go Town Chief Administrative Officer Dennis back and look at how we can do it (fund the Perlin, DeSousa, and director of Recre- projects)," said Councillor Moya Johnson. ation and Parks Terry Alyman to develop "However, the recommendations may be funding strategy options for council con- difficult from a taxpayers' point of view." Continued from pg. 1 9 Independent & Free Press, Thursday, December 1, 2011 New Technology | Affordable | Nearly Invisible | 6 Months The Six Month Smiles cosmetic braces system is a new, fast, and affordable option for straightening your teeth. At half the cost of traditional braces and Invisalign and a fraction of the time, Six Month Smiles can give you the smile that you have always wanted. Call Now For Your Free Consultation Great for Adults and Teens Dr. Noel Ananthan & Associates DDS, General Practitioner Candice Roy, RDH Mississauga | Georgetown 647 - 678 - 0978 www.6monthsmiles.ca HEARING SCIENCES Give the gift of BETTER HEARING... and get a gift! For the month of December, we will give you a Tim Horton's gift card worth $50 for each hearing aid purchased for yourself or others. We believe that Hearing is a very special gift. Don't miss out on the fun of the holiday season, be a part of it. Listen with confidence again! The first step to better hearing is a hearing test. Audiology and Hearing Aid Centre $ 100 value gift Happy Holidays! VALID UNTIL DECEMBER 23, 2011. AGE 55+) GEORGETOWN 905-877-0099 211 Guelph St., Suite 1 (in the M&M plaza, across from Winners)