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www.insidehalton.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Thursday, November 9, 2017 | 8 Toronto handyman now facing 2 3 charges for jobs not done A Toronto handyman is facing a total of 23 fraud-related charges after several elderly resi dents allegedly handed over their cash for jobs that were never completed. Police said the suspect would travel door-todoor in Oakville and Burlington and offer ser vices like eavestrough cleaning and chimney repair. On multiple occasions, police allege the individual took cash deposits for promised jobs, which he failed to complete. Police also allege the individual has no regis tered business or insurance coverage. The victims were generally older residents. On Aug. 23, the Oakville Criminal Investiga tions Bureau concluded a seven-month investi gation into these incidents and made an arrest. At that time Elwood Bowler, 54, of Toronto was charged with nine counts of fraud under $5,000 and one count of fraud over $5,000. Following further investigations Bowler was rearrested on Oct. 30, at which point police in Oakville and Burlington laid another 12 charges of fraud under $5,000 and one charge of fraud over $5,000. Bowler has since been released with a pending court date. Halton police are cautioning residents against engaging in door-to-door sales activities and ad vise them to seek out products and services from reputable licensed companies. They say homeowners should be aware of their rights as consumers and follow some basic safety precautions such as: · Obtain three quotes for a job with references · Don't pay the balance for work up front or in cash · Research the companies involved One resource the public can use is the Con sumer Protection Ontario website, which displays complaint reports on companies and indi viduals who may be trying to sell products and services residents may not need door-to-door. For more information, visit wwwontario. ca/page/consumer-protection-ontario. Anyone with information about these incidents can call Burlington Elders Investigator Det. Const. Der ek Gray at 905-825-4747, ext. 2344 or Oakville Elders Investigator Det. Const. Tim Nichols at 905-825-4747, ext. 2214. Fraudulent activity can also be reported to the Halton police Fraud Intake Office at 905-465 8741. P G> OA K V I L L E To learn m ore, jo in us at our B udget C om m ittee m ee tin gs oakville.ca All meetings are open to the public and held in Council Chamber at Town Hall, 1225 Trafalgar Road. Dates include: · Tuesday, November 21, 2017, 9:30 a.m. release o f 2018 Budget book, plus rates and fees · Thursday, November 23, 2017, 9:30 a.m. staff presentations · Tuesday, November 28, 2017, 9:30 a.m. public delegations · Thursday, November 30, 2017, 7 p.m. public delegations If you would like to attend the meeting and have any accessibility needs, please contact Kathy Patrick at 905-845-6601, ext. 4235 (TTY: 905-338-4200) or fill out the accessible online feedback form on oakville.ca. B u d g e t 2018 Be informed. Be part of the process. Can 't m ake th e B ud get Com m ittee m eetin gs in person? Watch them live on our YouTube channel or email your comments to budget@oakville.ca. Visit oakville. ca fo r details. All submissions whether in person, w riting, email or social media, w ill be considered as part of the Budget Committee deliberations. The 2018 Budget process runs from November 21 to December 18, 2017. Oakville is committed to offering valued services and programs to residents and making strategic investments in community priorities. Each year the town's annual budget is one of the most im portant tasks facing Town Council, and Council has directed staff to prepare a budget th a t keeps the overall tax increase in line w ith inflation. A p p ro val o f the 2018 O perating and C apital budgets: · Tuesday, December 12, 2017, 9:30 a.m. Budget Committee deliberations · Monday, December 18, 2017, 7 p.m. Council approval Those wishing to appear before the Budget Committee as a delegate can register by emailing townclerk@oakville.ca or calling 905-815-6015. B ud get Open H ouses Speak w ith Councillor Tom Adams, Budget Committee Chair in person: · Saturday, November 25 from 10 to 11 a.m. Queen Elizabeth Park Community and Cultural Centre - Main Lobby, 2302 Bridge Road · Tuesday, December 5 from 7 to 8 p.m. Iroquois Ridge Library - Creation Zone 1051 Glenashton Drive Contest details: · Original entries must be submitted in the form of a drawing, sketch or painting · Artwork size should be between 4"x 6" and 8.5"x 11" · Acceptable materials include paper or canvas · Please do not bend or fold artwork · A rtw ork must be accompanied by a signed entry form (available online at oakville.ca/mayor or in person at the ServiceOakville counter in Town Hall) Calling all student artists! Enter th e M ayor's student h o lid a y card contest Enter your original artwork fo r a chance to be featured on Mayor Rob Burton's 2017 holiday card. Two winning submissions w ill be chosen -- one from the Grade 1-5 level and one from the Grade 6-8 level. Your artwork should depict a holiday scene or event in the Town of Oakville. Submit your artwork in person at the ServiceOakville counter at Town Hall or by regular mail to Lisa Wedmann, Mayor's Office, 1225 Trafalgar Road, Oakville, ON, L6H 0H3. Mailed entries must be received prior to the submission deadline. Su b m ission d ead lin e is Tuesday, Nov.28, 2017 at 4:30 p.m. For more information, contact ServiceOakville at 905-845-6601 or visit oakville.ca/mayor. Driveway Snow Windrow Clearing Program Registration is now open! If you are 65+ or have a physical disability or medical condition, you may be eligible fo r the Town of Oakville's driveway snow w indrow clearing program. Our w inter service w ill clear the snow pile left at the end of your driveway after the road has been plowed. Pick up an application form at Town Hall, any Oakville library, community or seniors' centre. You can also download a form at oakville.ca. R e giste r in person until N ovem ber 24 Town Hall, 1225Trafalgar Road-ServiceOakvillecounter Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Only $100 ($88.50 plus HST) fo r the season! For more inform ation, contact ServiceOakville at 905-845-6601 (TTY 905-338-4200) or visit oakville.ca.