It was 8 years ago today when Pat and I took that walk down the aisle. Its been an amazing journey and Im looking forward to many more years of happiness as our family grows.
I love you Pat.
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Do we need more regional councillors
In a recent decision by Halton Regional Council, they are going to review the number of councillors. Normally I would be opposed to something like this but I am interested in what is going to be discussed in this review.
You would have to be living under a rock to not know how fast Milton is growing. If you take a look at the existing structure you will see a drastic imbalance in the representation. Maybe a few years ago, it was fine because of the population distribution but right now, and in the coming years, Milton is out numbered.
So … when do we increase? When the growth is finished or do we make gradual changes as the population changes? Its a tough call.
Our regional councillors and Mayor Krantz (Milton’s 3 representatives) have a tough road to haul over the next few years. As Milton grows in population, so will the demand on their time and the resources available to them.
There will be some talk needed about the increase in population in all three municipalities that encompass the Region of Halton. At this point, if Milton required some changes, they could possibly be outvoted by the 2 other municipalities at the drop of a dime.
Its important to the success of regional council that there be some equity in the representation. Its a topic that needs to be discussed and a time line developed as quickly as possible in order to maintain a much needed and fair balance at the region.
As expected the possible changes were met with some resistance from Oakville and Burlington regional councillors. The overall intent of the committee shouldnt be just to figure out if we “need” more politicians, but to make sure the balance of all towns/cities is kept in Halton. Recently, the Champion did an article on the recent decision.
Committee to look at representation
Melanie Cummings, Special to the Champion
Published on Sep 21, 2007
Halton councillors may have to make room for more politicians around the council table, depending on the outcome of a newly created committee.
Regional council gave the go ahead Wednesday to establish the Regional Representation Review Sub-Committee that will examine the appropriateness of the current number of council members.
The four mayors from Oakville, Burlington, Halton Hills and Milton, plus Regional Chair Gary Carr will examine whether more councillors are needed and report back to the administration and finance committee by March 2008.
Oakville Councillor Keith Bird said that mayors and the regional chair were chosen to study the issue so as to eliminate any self-interest affecting the recommendations.
The suggestion to set up a sub-committee on the topic barely made its way to council Wednesday as it was narrowly approved at last week’s administration and finance committee meeting.
Halton Hills Councillor Clark Somerville said at the committee meeting that he was opposed to the concept.
“I don’t think there are people out there saying, ‘We need more politicians,'” he said. “I think we have a model that’s working right now.”
But Burlington Councillor Rick Craven disagreed.
“From my point of view in the City of Burlington, members of council are generally feeling overwhelmed. The paper work alone is truly amazing,” he said. “It’s time to study this question and we have the time to do it right. Let’s get on with it.”
While Milton Mayor Gord Krantz said he has no problem taking a look at the current representation, he concurred with Somerville that there’s not a big demand in the community for more politicians.
Carr said there are more fundamental issues council needs to deal with and said any decision to increase representation would have to get approval from the provincial government.
Ward One Councillor Rick Day's Father Killed In Fire
Our thoughts and prayers are with the Day family.
Man dies in fire days after wife’s death
By Sharon Boase
The Hamilton Spectator(Mar 5, 2007)
A prominent Milton businessman died in a devastating house fire early Saturday that reduced the home he and his late wife had lovingly built to a few walls, rubble and ash.
Bertram (Bert) Day, 88, was discovered dead in the hallway of his home on Steeles Avenue near Tremaine Road after fire crews managed to beat back flames that destroyed the antique-filled home.
Day, the father of longtime Milton Councillor Rick Day, had just attended a function last week honouring his wife, Marguerite, who died Feb. 18 from pneumonia and complications from Alzheimer’s disease.
Day said that because his father suffered from short-term memory loss, he kept asking after his wife’s death, “Where’s Marguerite?”
“Nature played a cruel trick on my father,” Day said. “He went through the shock of hearing about mom’s death over and over.
“We think he may have stayed in the house looking for my mother.”
Because of his mother’s condition, the home had been “Alzheimer’s proofed” as well as child proofed given that one of the caregivers looking after the couple has two small children, Rick Day said.
“It’s just a mystery how the fire could have started,” he said in an interview yesterday. “The fire marshal is working on it but, so far, it’s a mystery to them too. … There wasn’t a match in the house.”
Day, who represents Ward 1, said there were 16 working smoke detectors. There were no smokers anywhere near the house, no working fireplaces, no natural gas or propane, no jerry cans of gasoline, no car in the garage, no fuses, no oil lamps or space heaters.
Firefighters, who were alerted just after 4 a.m. Saturday, risked their lives to search for Day, said Milton Fire Chief Larry Brassard.
But after entering the home, they were pushed back by a wall of flames.
Some 40 firefighters worked in extreme cold and strong winds, bringing the fire under control in about two hours, Brassard said.
Day was thankful that the regular caregiver with two young children was away. The woman looking after his father tried to save him, but was beaten back by flames.
When she discovered that the phone lines were down from the fire, she ran barefoot to the closest neighbour.
Although the Ontario Fire Marshal’s office is investigating, Halton regional police Staff Sergeant Jeff Siemon said there was nothing to indicate the fire was suspicious.
Bert and Marguerite both became interested in antiques after building the Mohawk Inn in Campbellville, which they operated for many years. They designed and built the home themselves, with loving attention to detail. They filled it with items they found at auctions, all of which Bert refinished himself.
“That house was like the story of their lives,” said Day’s wife, Karen. “They built beautiful collections of Canadiana, glass and pine furniture. That house was like a friend to us because it was so full of all these lovely, magical things.”
Bert worked for army intelligence during the Second World War, tracking solar-powered, airborne bombs launched from Tokyo and carried to Western Canada and the U.S. via jet stream, Day said. He studied forestry engineering at the University of Toronto, working as a professor, forester and in mining and timber.
Marguerite, who died a month before her 87th birthday, studied household science and maths at U of T before marrying Bert in 1941.
The Days are survived by three children and several grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held at a later date.
What a turnout!
Close to 200 people (or even more, I lost count) filed in around 730 this evening into the banquet hall of the Milton Sports Centre tonight to hear information about the potential power plants in our area. Candidates and incumbents were circulating through the room, talking to people from Milton and some from Halton Hills as well.
The room was very close to capacity with a lot of people lining the walls to hear what Rick Day and other town councillors had to say about the proposed power plants in and around Milton. Rick talked a bit about some crisitism *:-)* he has recieved about his antics at the last town meeting. He said he did what he did to get noticed. Well he succeeded in that aspect.
He also talked about what has taken place since the October 23rd town council meeting. What we DO know is Bill 51 has passed and has received royal assent..so who knows NOW what the OPA will do.
We all wait with baited breath to hear of the decision from the OPA on the 15th to decide the next course of action.
Each of the incumbent councillors were given an opportunity to speak. Some did, and some declined. Then the floor was passed on to the council candidates for ward one (including yours truly) to speak. I chose to speak mostly on the fact that it was good that we were having a town hall meeting in the ward and I expressed my willingness to work with whomever else is elected on November 13th and pledged that these will continue. Since the beginning of my campaign I have talked about the need for communication. We need to have more meetings with residents to discuss issues like neighbourhood safety, green growth and taxation. These meetings dont happen enough and I want to make sure they continue.
Other candidates were given an opportunity to speak and again some chose to speak and others didnt. There was a petition circulated by Tony Lambert, one of the regional councillor candidates for Wards 1 & 3, to send to the provincial government to let them know we are not interested in having a power plant THIS close to the residential area. Its not what the residents want and its not what the town wants. If you want to find out how to get your name on this petition send him an email at lambert2006@canada.com .
Needless to say I hope that there doesnt have to be a divisive issue like this power plant to bring people out to town hall meetings in the future. This is something that Ive committed to as your town councillor.
Tomorrow night is halloween so the campaign and door knocking goes on hold for 24 hrs. Wednesday night is the all candidates meeting at the Milton Sports Centre starting at 7pm. Email me for details if you have any questions. I hope to see you there.
Tomorrow is Halloween Night. Please make sure everyone drives especially careful tomorrow night … lets make sure all of our ghosts and goblins make it home safe.
Happy Halloween everyone! Keep a look out for Ui-Gi-OH (ie. Anthony) Hes very proud of his costume and I’ll make sure I get some pictures.
Will the show continue?
I’m just getting ready to head out to the Milton Sports Centre for the information session on the proposed Pristine Power situation. This “town hall” like meeting is being held and organized by Rick Day, one of our current councillors for Ward One.
I would like to congratulate him on getting this all arranged on such short notice. I do have some concerns that this is the first town hall meeting in quite some time. Its sad that its taken an issue like this to get things going…better late than never. All I can say to you is that if elected, these town hall meetings will be a regular occurance and it wont take something as huge as the power plant issue to get it done.
I will be like many of you in Ward One. I will be there to get some more information on what is being planned, and the possible ramifications on what has transpired in the last couple of weeks.
What will the affect of the town council motion to oppose this proposal do? Is there something that Milton town council could have done differently and got the same result? Has that left the Town of Milton exposed to a potential lawsuit? What does the passing of Bill 51 do to the process for these plants? Will there be more banana’s available?
Lets hope we can get some answers to these questions and more in the next while. For those of you who cant make it tonight, I will be posting some opinions and information from tonights meeting.
I hope the room can handle a 500 lb gorilla or two…
Lost, Missing or Damaged Lawn Signs
I would like to take this opportuntity to thank those of you who have chosen to put up a Mike Cluett lawn sign to show your support. It is something else to see your name everywhere you go while knocking on doors and driving around the ward.
Just taking a quick break at this point to let the hail/rain/snow simmer down before heading out again. I also wanted to remind you that if you do have a sign that goes missing or is damaged by the freaky weather we’ve been having, please email me at signs@mikecluett.ca and I can get it fixed or replace it for you.
You can also email me at signs@mikecluett.ca or call Pat at 905-878-1327 if you would like to have a lawn sign to show your support of Mike Cluett for Local Councillor. Your support is much appreciated and I look forward to working with everyone as your town councillor after November 13th.
Time to get back at it. Many thanks everyone.
I’ll see you at the doors.