www.oakvillebeaver.com The Oakville Beaver, Friday June 23, 2006 - 3 Regional Campus will proceed without Catholic board Continued from page 1 motion, as did trustees Rev. David Wilhelm (Milton), Joanne Matters (Burlington) and Irene McCauley (Halton Hills). Trustees who voted in favour were the three Oakville trustees Alice Anne LeMay, Ed Viana, and David Goch plus Board Chair Al Bailey (Burlington). As a tie vote, the motion lost. That prompted Bailey to say that without the campus there will be no board office since there is currently no provincial money forthcoming to build one. (According to senior staff, the campus could prove to be an important step in solving overcrowding at the HCDSB's cramped administrative facilities and save taxpayers even more money through a host of efficiencies.) "If we turn this down, there is no money," said Bailey. An emotional LeMay then said there is actually more at stake than just an office, namely a faith predicated on going out into the world like Jesus' disciples and not remaining insular. "We have to be able to work together to live and grow together," she said. "We have to be an inclusive society." LeMay said trustees have to listen to the will of taxpayers, who stand to save considerable money thanks to the project. "I'm really disappointed this is falling apart," she concluded. Viana argued that his board has a onetime-only chance to be one of four distinct partners in the project. "We should be at the centre, not some isolated, stand-alone location," he said. "Don't let this pass through your hands." Three of the four dissenting trustees declined to disclose their rationale for opposition and Van de Vrande refused to speak until everyone else had their opportunity. Finally, he explained that initially he was in favour of the campus and that "many valid reasons" remain to join. He said he listened to his constituents in church and at the mall, however, and was "surprised how many came out of the woodwork" against it. At that point, Bailey stopped Van de Vrande cold, maintaining that procedure dictates that Van de Vrande could vote against his own motion, but not speak against it. If he did, he'd have to withdraw his motion, which Van de Vrande refused to do. Van de Vrande then voted against his second amended (and ultimately redundant) motion to approve "the next steps necessary to move forward" with the project. Trustees Bob Van de Vrande were again split as they were for the first motion. "I'm not sure where we go from here," said Bailey. In the audience was a clearly exasperated Halton Regional Chair Joyce Savoline and Regional CAO Brent Marshall who, after the meeting, found it hard to hide their disappointment. "It's unfortunate, but the board has a right to make its own decisions," said Marshall, who made it clear the three remaining partners will keep moving forward. "The business case stands on its own." Savoline agreed that Tuesday's vote was regrettable, especially for Halton taxpayers who could have saved a lot of money, but also maintained that the project will continue perhaps with new, asyet-unnamed, partners. "More than $6.2 million was left on the table by the board tonight," continued Marshall, adding this figure accounts for the HCDSB's capital costs only and does not include a variety of other future cost savings. Marshall also explained that talks continue with the Province over the possibility of a courthouse component to the campus. "It's a green light for us as far as we're concerned," he said. Just as crestfallen by the evening's turn of events was Our Lady of Peace Catholic School Council Co-Chair Heather Belsito, who addressed the Board earlier that night after polling school councils across the system for their input. She reported to trustees that while there are some concerns, "our faith is strong" and that 81 per cent of school See Catholic page 8 Deborah E Bartucci, Agent 586 Argus 586 Argus Road Road Oakville, ON L6J 3J3 L6J 3J3 Oakville, ON Bus: 905-337-3276 Bus: 905-337-3276 deborah.bartucci.qsu8@statefarm.com Deborah E. Bartucci Agent Bartucci, deborah bartucci qsu8@sta deborah.bartucci.qsu8@statefarm.com ULTIMATE DRIVERS MARCH BREAK SPECIAL SUMMER SPECIAL 4 Day Programs ® " Training Safe Drivers of Tomorrow" Spot! 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