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THE OAKVILLE BEAVER A5W ednesdsay June 23, 1999 f Aquinas student on school board Nicole McNally, a Grade 12 student at Oakville's St. Thomas of Aquinas Secondary School, will represent nearly 22,500 Catholic students at Halton Catholic District School Board meetings next year. At the board's regular meeting on Tuesday night, board chair Jim Sherlock, announced the appointment of the new student representative to the board for the 1999/2000 school term. Sherlock commended McNally on the formida­ ble task which she has agreed to undertake in representing the Catholic students of Halton. McNally, a top acade­ mic student, contributes to her school community both in the classroom and out. She has partici­ pated in several student council activities at St. Thomas Aquinas this year and acted as liaison between her fellow stu­ dents and the board dur­ ing the secondary school negotiations. Her leadership and communication skills have developed through her roles as an actor with the Aquinas Arts pro­ gram, as an active mem­ ber o f the school's Senior Girls Soccer Team and the Swim Team, and as an ambas­ sador in the student exchange program with Neyegawa, Japan. As the student repre­ sentative with the board, McNally will have the same rights as trustees to participate at meet­ ings of the board and at meetings of the commit­ tees of the board. xzHowever, the student representative does not have voting rights or the right to be present at in­ camera sessions. Thieves key in on laptop computers You might think an office attached to a 24-hour Tim Hortons would be safe, but a thief proved that wrong in March. During the weekend of March 26th- 29th, someone gained access to the sec­ ond floor offices for the Tim Hortons on Wyecroft Road. The Culprit attempted to break into one office before being successful at a second. The suspect grabbed a laptop computer, a projector, and a leather carrying case before sneaking out of the building undetected. Thefts of laptop computers have become so common that it is recom­ mended they be locked away when not in use. Thieves know that most busi­ nesses will have at least one in their buildings. Crime Stoppers would like to hear from anyone who can identify people active in stealing computers. If you have any information that leads to an arrest in this or any other case, you may be eligible for a cash CRIME - STOPPERS Call 825-TIPS or 1-800-668-5151 reward. You need not give your name, and your information can be taken with complete anonymity. Crime Stoppers does not subscribe to Call Display. Please call 1-800-222-TIPS or 825- TIPS (that's 825-8477) or on the net at w w w .enlightning.com /~crim estop- pers.html. Abuse group meets The Survivors of Sexual Abuse and Molestation group meets tonight at the Halton Centre for Sexual Abuse, 461 North Service Rd. West. There is also a non-offending par­ ents group. For more information, call Jolene at 825-3242. Wide range of heating/cooling products LENNOX' 1200 South S erv ice R oad, O akv ille 847-2669 P r e c i s i o n - b a l a n c e d , d i r e c t d r iv e f a n fo r u l t r a - q u i e t p e r f o r m a n c e F e w e r m o v in g p a r t s f o r g r e a t e r e f f i c i e n c y a n d l o n g e r life H ig h e f f i c i e n c y r a t i n g o f u p t o 1 2 .0 5 SEER e x c e e d s C a n a d i a n s t a n d a r d s N o n - c o r r o s iv e s t e e l c a s t i n g 10 - y e a r l im ite d w a r r a n t y o n t h e c o m p r e s s o r 5 - y e a r l im ite d w a r r a n t y o n c o v e r e d p a r ts * Utility to be retained (Continued from page 1) "We were given a task and we rose to the occasion," said Mulvale, who explained much more work remains to be done. "There are still huge decisions that have to be made." The new corporation will be 100% owned by the Town of Oakville. Council also endorsed the for-profit model in order to ensure Hydro's continued viability. In the past, electrical power delivery was considered a public service. Under the Act, the sale of Ontario's electricity is considered the sale of a commodity which is subject to competitive pricing. According to the Steering Committee report, the for-prof­ it model "would have the objective of providing a reasonable rate of return to the Town as shareholder and preserving the value of the Oakville Hydro business for the future." Hydro Commission chair Sean Weir says the for-profit option - at least in the initial stages - is prudent. After all, he said, the utility in its current form has a history of solid man­ agement and fiscal solvency and is prime asset for the peo­ ple of Oakville. This may prove especially important if the Town ever decides at some future point to sell off the utility. Some municipalities may decide to sell their utilities right off, but Weir cautioned the Town to retain Oakville Hydro and see how events unfold. Given the uncertainties, this makes sense, said Weir. He assured Oakville residents, however, that from their point of view it will be very much business as usual. Selling might not be as easy - or as profitable - as it sounds: sales of municipal utilities are subject to a 33% transfer tax unless the buyer is the province or another local utility. This exemption, however, will apply only to transac­ tions before Nov. 7, 2000, after which all sales will be sub­ ject to the full tax rate. . Mulvale said the adoption of the Steering Committee's recommendations give the Town and the new corporation "maximum flexibility." Although no specific corporate structure is mandated, legislation does require that any business activities other than the regulated distribution of electricity be conduct­ ed through separate corporations. The Town is looking at a model in which the munici­ pality is sole shareholder of a holding company that owns all shares and manages the various corporations delivering regulated and non-regulated competitive ser­ vices. On Monday, Council authorized the investigation of several lines of business for future approval by the new corporation's board of directors. These include customer equipment services, billing services, competitive energy supply and even power generation. The corporation will have a permanent seven-member board, with directors serving one-year terms, with suc­ cessive terms to be decided at the Town's discretion. A Transition Board will be recruited forthwith to hold office from the time of incorporation until Nov. 7, 2000. Retired teachers rehired (Continued from page 1) Phasing in of secondary school reform next fall could make extra demands for guidance, she said. "There'll be two different sets of diplomas, with old and new systems in the schools," the superintendent noted. Retired guidance teachers are being brought in as supply teachers to ease the situation at some schools, Shelswell added. The budget approved for September 1, 1999-August 31, 2000 is about $300,000 below last year's total. McNally said it will likely be adjusted in October of November when enrolments are settled for the school year. Other budget highlights: • $1.2 million was allotted to pay for cleanups made of mould in portables and another $500,000 provided for demo­ lition of portables; • $300,000 has been set aside for ongoing financing of the conversion of Abbey Lane school in Oakville; • Additional provisions of $200,000 for in-service cur­ riculum training for elementary teachers and $200,000 to provide special education in-service; • Provincial transition funding for preparation time and department heads totalled $2.65 million this year, but will not be provided in 1999/2000; • Provincial top-up funding for 1999/2000 is estimated to be $2.9 million for school operations and $500,000 for school renewal. FOUR DAYS ONLY! JUNE 24TH TO 27TH selected items storewide SAVE UP TO AN ADDITIONAL 50% 40% off all permanently reduced women's and men's fashions, women's lingerie and sleepwear. 25% to 50% off all previously reduced fashion jewellery, handbags and fashion accessories. 50% off • men's casual spring and summer outerwear • regular price of Soft Touch towels 40% off • Vanity Fair hosiery, tights and trouser socks m en's spring and summer sports coats and dress pants 30% off • all swimwear for women, men and kids • all shorts for women, men and kids • all m en's ties and hosiery 25% off • regular-priced designer bed fashions from Ralph Lauren, Tommy Hilfiger, Nautica & Esprit • all non-e lectric frypans, skille ts, saute pans, s tir fry and grill pans NO TAXf • on all women's, m en's and children 's shoes and a th le tic footwear.** More great deals in store. Eoo E A T O N 'S T im e s have c h a n g e d . •Savings are on the original ticketed price unless otherwise specified. Sale offers cannot be combined. Offer excludes Warehouse Stores and Clearance Centres. ' Excludes regular-priced shoes by Stuart, Via Spiga, and Mr. Seymour; selected regular-priced shoes by Easy Spirit, Enzo Angiolini and Nine West. 'Eaton's will deduct the equivalent of the PST and GST from the total purchase price. Personal Shopping only. Sale offers good June 24th to June 27th only, unless otherwise specified. http://www.enlightning.com/~crimestop-pers.html http://www.enlightning.com/~crimestop-pers.html