Mayor delivers state of town report and looks to election by Michael Gregory Oakville Beaver Staff 7 | Thursday, September 25, 2014 | OAKVILLE BEAVER | www.insideHALTON.com Oakville Mayor Rob Burton presented his eighth annual status report at Town Council on Monday night, highlighting a list of the top advancements made by council as voters prepare to head to the polls in October. The mayor's annual report was first initiated by Burton in 2007, and is presented each fall. The timing of next month's municipal election prompted Burton to theme this year's report "decision making." "All of our decisions together add up to what kind of town we are creating," Burton said. "You yourselves, and all the rest of our friends and neighbours, will be making decisions later this year, next month in fact, when you vote..." During his 15-minute address, which concluded with a standing ovation from all fellow councillors, Burton laid out his perspective for the 10 most important decisions that have impacted the Town. "We have a vision of being the most livable town in Canada," Burton said. "You'll see what they've (the decisions) done for you, and you'll see what they will do for you." Among the list of policy initiatives the mayor mentioned were lower property taxes, preservation of future employment lands, fiscal responsibility and environmental protection. Burton said the current council had invested in green space by creating 2,300 budget to fight gridlock." acres of local Greenbelt across Continuing with the north Oakville. theme for his state of the "We're restoring and protectTown, Burton also turned ing Bronte Bluffs, we're upgradhis attention briefly to those ing Oakville Harbour's shoreline, decisions facing residents as we made decisions that saved 80 they consider candidates for per cent of the Merton Lands," council. Burton said. "With the new, "At every municipal elecgreener provincial policy statetion, you, the voter, judge our ment on land-use planning we decisions. Your decisions can expect to save the rest." change anything, or everyHe also touted an additional thing," Burton said. 800,000 sq.-ft of new commuBurton went onto add that nity facility space -- roughly a another council could cancel Rob Burton 70 per cent increase. the new Children's Festival, "We needed it to keep up with the growth change transit policy, overhaul the unanimous experienced by the Town," the mayor said. protection of heritage districts, and "reverse "You responded with appreciation and in- our support of the police, and our resulting six creased levels of participation and enjoyment, and we've made decisions that will create more public facilities for you." The Town and Halton Region's growth plans, Livable Oakville and Sustainable Halton, continue to manage local development, Burton said. "They protect our neighbourhoods from unwanted densification; they protect our green space; they stop us from having to finance and subsidize developer's infrastructure," he said. "We have been able to make developers pay for an almost 500 per cent increase in our roads years of being named Canada's safest place to live." Last week, the mayor, who is seeking his third consecutive term in office, announced in a news conference his sweeping endorsements for the Oct. 27 election. "A different council, in short, can take us off the path we decided to follow for the last eight years," Burton said on Monday. Several candidates running for council expressed their frustration at Burton, with one accusing him of "rubber stamping a council and an agenda." Burton said on Monday that he thought the Town was in a better place compared to when took over as mayor, but accepted that the ultimate judgment was reserved for voters. "We will see next month if you feel that we have delivered," he said. Every quote comes with a handshake. Real local people. Real local service. With State Farm® every policy comes with your own personal agent. We pride ourselves on being part of the local community so we can truly understand and best serve the needs of our customers. Get to a better State.® Get State Farm.® CONTACT A STATE FARM AGENT TODAY. Darryl R Demille Ins Agcy Ltd Darryl Demille CFP 905-842-1020 www.darryldemille.ca Andrew J Heideman 905-829-0018 www.andrewheideman.ca Angelo Gualtieri 905-257-7773 www.angelogualtieri.com Bartucci Ins and Fin Svcs Inc Deborah Bartucci CFP 905-337-3276 www.autoinsuranceoakville.ca Stephen Ostapchuk 905-238-5643 www.stephenostapchuk.ca Stacey Sutherland 905-339-3276 www.insuranceinoakville.com Grant Leslie 905-469-4499 www.grantleslie.ca Michelle Cooper Ins and Fin Sv Michelle Cooper CFP 905-826-4900 www.michellecooper.ca Daniel Durst Ins and Fin Svcs Daniel Durst 905-847-1898 www.danieldurst.com 1410008CN State Farm, Canadian Head Office, Aurora, Ontario