A2 - The Canadian Champion, Tuesday, September 19, 2006 Councillors score weI on attendance, records show Ry Melanie Henressey CANADIAN CHAMPION STAFF For the most part, town council is getting top marks in attendance, with only a small handful of councillors missing 10 or more meetings this term. According to records kept by the Town clerk's depart- ment, the majority of councillors have only missed between two and five council and committee meetings since being elected in 2003, while one councillor and the mayor haven't missed any Council members are required to attend council and planning. During the current council term, 51 council meetings, 24 administration and planning committee and 21 community services committee meetings have been held. Topping the list in absenteeism is Ward 2 Councillor Mike Boughton, with eight council and six committee meet- ings missed. But thats largely due to the time he needed off to recover from having a brain tumour removed. Ward 1 Councillor Rick Day and Wards 1 and 3 Councillor Barry Lee are tied for second place, each missing 10 meetings over the past three years. Day was absent for eight council and two committee sessions and Lee for seven budget committee meetings and sit on one additional com- council and three committee meetings. in his schedule and nothing that would allect Ward 1 specif- ically was on the agenda. "1 judge my attendance on what my input is," he said. "I have nothing to hide or apologize for." He pointed out that with two councillors assigned to each ward, hes able to call fellow Ward 1 politician Brian Penman to make sure hes in attendance at the meetings he can't make. He also highlighted the fact he attends many meetings for the committee he doesn't sit on. Meanwhile, Lee said he sometimes has conflicts between Region business and Town meetings. He also noted that he bas missed meetings when away overseas, like when he took part in an agricultural study group in China for the Region, and while attending conferences such as the Ontario Good Roads Association conference. "I can defend my record of attendance over the past 18 years," he said. "I make every meeting that I possibly can." He added that conflicts also arise for him as a result of his involvement with other agencies and committees, like the Halton Agricultural Advisory Committee and the Grand River Conservation Authority. Lee represents the Region on its board. Other council members' attendance records are as fol- lows: • Ward 4 Councillor John Challinor, four council and one committee meeting missed. • Ward 2 Councillor Mark Curtis, four committee meet- ings missed. • Ward 4 Councillor Wendy Schau, two council and two committee meetings missed. • Wards 2 and 4 Councillor Ron Furik, two council and one committee meeting missed. • Ward 1 Councillor Brian Penman, three council meet- ings missed. * Ward 2 Councillor Cindy Lunau, two council meetings missed. Mayor Gord Krantz and Ward 3 Councillor Jan Mowbray sit at the head of the class with perfect attendance. Mowbray said she felt if people showed enough confi- dence in her to elect her, then she should be sure to attend every meeting. She noted shes also never been late. "I take pride in that," she said. "I just want to know what's going on. I think if it matters enough for there to be a meet- ing, it matters enough for me to be there." Furik, Lee and Krantz al represent Milton at the regional level as well. During the past term at the Region, Lee bas missed four council meetings and three planning and public works committee sessions, Furik, two council and four health and social services committee meetings and Krantz, one council and two administration and finance committee meetings. Since 2003, 41 regional council meetings, 45 health and social services committee, 52 planning and public works committee and 40 administration and finance committee meetings have taken place. Melanie Hennessey can be reached at mhennessey@milton- canadianchampion.com. NO SECURITY DEPOSIT UN AU 2006 LEASES 400 Steeles Avenue 1-800-617-4025 www.mytoyotaplace.com CADET CORP COMPASS ROSE HAS MOVED 'a%% Cadet Corp Compass Rose T H E A C TON 1, EG 10N Wed. N jghts, 6:30 - 9:00 p.m. [MLOe & TOYOT M