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•T h e IF P • H alto n H ills, Thursday, January 16, 2014 3 e-mail: hassellsauto@bellnet.ca www.hassellautomotive.com Warranty 2008 KIA RIO5 • Auto/4cyl • Certified & E-tested • AC • Keyless Entry $8,300 + HST/LIC CALL 2008 Suzuki SX4 JX Warranty + HST/LIC2008 Pontiac Montana Warranty $9,100 + HST/LIC 2008 Nissan Sentra Warranty • Auto/4 cyl • Certified & E-Tested • Alloy Wheels • Cruise Control • Auto/4 cyl • Certified & E-Tested • Power Windows • Cruise Control $8,300 + HST/LIC 45 Mountainview Road North Georgetown, Ontario 905.877.7958 • Auto/6 cyl Certified & E-Tested • A/C • Cruise Control $10,500 New Regional Managing Editor for The IFP The Independent & Free Press is pleased to announce the appointment of Chris Ver- non to the new position of Re- gional Managing Editor for The Independent & Free Press, Cale- don Enterprise, Orangeville Ban- ner, and Erin Advocate. Vernon has been with Metroland for more than 19 years, many of them in key leader- ship roles. For the past six years, Ver- non has been responsible for leading and managing all as- pects of one of Metroland Me- dia's largest newsrooms -- The Brampton Guardian. He has consistently produced award- winning editorial content, while also shepherding the newsroom into a digital future. Vernon is a graduate of the Humber College School of Journalism. "I am very excited to be part of The Independent & Free Press, the paper of record for this community," said Vernon. Vernon is also a former member of the Canadian Forces Lorne Scots army reserve. Vernon comes to this new role with a deep understanding of the importance of commu- nity news. At The Guardian, he fos- tered a team environment that resulted in numerous industry awards during his tenure. Vernon can be reached at cvernon@metroland.com. CHRIS VERNON Continued from pg. 1 this storm and to send a message to the fed- eral and provincial governments that they need become more effective partners in nat- ural disasters. Terry Fenton, Acting Manager, Local Gov- ernment for the Ministry of Municipal Af- fairs explained at the Council meeting that under ODRAP, municipalities could receive up to 100 per cent of their eligible costs which include: clearing and removal of trees and limbs if public safety is endangered, town-owned equipment costs, overtime for employees and those hired for the response or to fill in for regular employees, food and water for disaster relief workers, repair and restoration of pre-disaster condition of un- insured public facilities and evacuation and shelter of people and animals including op- erating expenses. Fenton said the program would not cover the cost of replacing trees. For the Town, replanting lost Town- owned trees (which includes the cost of the trees) is estimated at $750,000. Fenton said while the Province recogniz- es trees are "really important to communi- ties," they aren't considered essential prop- erty, which is what ODRAP covers. "I don't understand how trees (on Town property) cannot be included as part of mu- nicipal infrastructure," said Mayor Rick Bonnette. "They add to any community." He said in the urban area the Town lost approximately 1,500 trees. Bonnette asked if the ODRAP policy would ever be reviewed. Councillor Dave Kentner also stressed the need for the Province to reevaluate the tree replacement policy. "Trees are absolutely essential for good health. They take care of cooling for climate change, they take care of the quality of the air we breathe and they're one of the main support tools for our animal life," said Kent- ner. Fenton said an ODRAP review is under way, and Halton Hills isn't the first munici- pality to ask about tree replacement. She said in Goderich after the 2011 tor- nado, the community launched a fundrais- ing campaign to replace some of its lost trees. Councillor Bryan Lewis wanted the Prov- ince to be aware of the magnitude of the ice storm in Halton Hills. "We were the strongest, most severely hit out of all of Halton Region," said Lewis. "We got beat up big time. We are making improvements daily, and I think we should be recognized for doing that." "This is going to cost our community $64 for every man, woman and child who lives here," said Lewis. "Excluding hydro, it could be $38 for every man, woman and child liv- ing in our community. Those are significant (costs) when you're dealing with a small community that got beat up big time." HHH President and CEO Art Skidmore said they would be looking at filing a rate adjustment request with the Ontario Energy Board for recovery of costs in an extraordi- nary event. He said he suspects "it's probably a rate rider for a specific period of time." HHH submits its costs and it's up to the OEB to decide. Funding doesn't cover tree replacement cost James Young Dr. in Georgetown. Police blotter A Brampton woman is facing charges in connec- tion with a series of thefts at four different retail lo- cations in Georgetown in November. Stolen Nov. 26 were $400 worth of baby formula and perfume from Shoppers Drug Mart on Guelph St., $200 worth of alcohol from LCBO on Guelph St., $680 in baby for- mula from Acton Sobeys, and at least 12 bottles of perfume and cologne from Acton Shoppers Drug Mart. Halton Police made an arrest Sunday after releasing photos of three suspects believed to be in- volved in the thefts. Charged with five counts of theft and breach of probation is Elaine Jennings, 54. ****** A Georgetown man was charged after police stopped a vehicle on Guelph St. about 12:20 a.m. Sunday. Charged with impaired driving and having over 80 mg of alcohol in 100 ml of blood is Robert Carswell, 63. Canada Post is apologizing for fail- ing to notify customers of delivery de- lays over the past three weeks, and is implementing a new alert system to keep them better informed. "We should have notified those cus- tomers, and that's why we're apologiz- ing completely," said spokesman Jon Hamilton. Some Georgetown residents were among many frustrated people across the GTA who had empty mailboxes. Rod Taylor of Windsor Rd. said he only had mail delivered to his home once between Dec. 20 and Jan. 6. "I was in fact expecting cheques from insurance companies which were dated before Christmas and arrived only last week," said Taylor. On Mon- day he said he received mail on four days last week. Taylor said he tried to pick up his mail at the Post Office Dec. 31, but was told, "they could not find any of mine because it was all in a big pile, but that I might get delivery Jan. 2." He said he did get mail that day but it was just a few first class envelopes. He is frustrated by the "total lack of communication from Canada Post" and doesn't know now if the service is regular again. See MAIL, pg. 13 Canada Post says sorry By LISA TALLYN Staff Writer