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By ANGELA BLACKBURN Special to the Beaver Region agrees to pay $69,300 HRCA shortfall 4; he ongoing budget dispute between _ Halton Region and the Halton Region ._â€" Conservation Authority (HRCA) is over, at least for now, as regional council voted Wednesday to pay its $69,300 1994 budget funding shortfall to the HRCA. "I‘m pleased. It‘s an acknowledgment that the HRCA has the right to levy," said HRCA chair and Milton councillor Brian Penman. "In acknowledging, they‘re going to pay the .noney; it demonstrates their actions to date Paper A Metroland Community Newspaper ii,. Vol. 32 No. 117 SPECIAL SUPPLEMENTS The Bay, Food City, Canadian Tire, A P, Biway, M M Meats, Hot Professionals, Canadian Tire NESBITT "Canada s Best mw@ /Véwyyw CCNA Better Newspapers Competition 1993 Canadian Publications Mail Product Agreement #435â€"201 Transfer point Oakville and Burlington link transit services 100% Government Guaranteed Strip Coupons Maturing in 2004 Mark Slipp (416) 359â€"4633 BURNS LIMITEE Crossing guard Steve Robinson celebrated his 75th birthday, Thursday, and it definitely didn‘t go unnoticed by the students and parents who appreciate his work at the intersection of Linbrook Road and Chartwell Road. The crossing guard, who has manned his post for the past 10 years, was given a Happy Birthday sign, balloons, flowers, presents and personal greetings from students and even some parents parents who stopped their cars to shake his hand. Among the wellâ€"wishing students was Eric Monkman pictured here with Robinson. SUNDAY, OCTOBER 2, 1994 : 28 Pages 75 Cents (GST included) Of the dispute that‘s spanned three years and, for the second time, it has ended just short of the courtroom, Penman said, "I‘m disappointed at the history of this, and I hope it puts it to rest." have been unfounded and illegal," he charged. The HRCA decided in May to go to court when the Region fell short, by $69,300, on its $1.9â€"million share of the HRCA‘s 1994 $6.9â€" million budget levy. Earlier this month, the Authority conâ€" firmed its intention based on legal advice. "Under the Conservation Authorities Act, it‘s our right to have our levy," said Penman. "We said we‘d take them to court and seek legal costs and punitive damages," said Penman, adding that "sobering reality" appears to have ended with the Region paying up. No price tag was attached to the punitive damages sought, but Penman said, "It could be quite significant, and it could make the $70,000 pale in comparison." With a confidential legal report before them Wednesday, regional councillors voted to forward $69,300 to the HRCA out of the Region‘s corporate contingency reserve and a $1.9â€"million payment to the Credit Valley Conservation Authority. The Region will also seek clarification of its funding agency rights and obligations, and a court interpretation of the Conservation Authorities Act on the issue. Penman said the HRCA‘s position has always been the issue is one of provincial downloading; that the public frowns on two government bodies challenging each other in court, and that the Region should "stop heatâ€" ing up" on the Authority and instead take on the Province. Halton regional treasurer, Joe Rinaldo, explained the Region â€" which must provide (See ‘Region‘ page 5) (Photo by Peter McCusker) 338â€"6550 24 Hour BIG ON SERVICE