Relaunching www.mikecluett.ca

Over the next couple of weeks (maybe) I’ll be doing some major changes to my website to make it a little easier to get around.  As always you can always head here…but in time www.mikecluett.ca will be the only site you’ll need to discuss Milton, our ward and town council issues.

Thanks in advance for your paitence….and I’ll see you at the doors!

mikecluett.ca under construction!

Welcome to mikecluett.ca — my new website is currently under construction and will be up and running soon. In the meantime, I invite you to go straight to my blog page located at: mikecluett.wordpress.com.

You can also join my Facebook Group here as well as follow me on Twitter here.

I’ll be announcing the date of the “relaunch” of MikeCluett.ca so stay tuned.  Until then, I’ll see you at the doors.

[email_link] [print_link]

Speed Limit Change on James Snow Parkway

There are a lot of drivers in Milton who use James Snow Parkway south of Derry as a route to get home and around town.  That road didnt even exist a year or so ago but has now finished its construction but the effects are still being felt.

While this road was under construction the speed limit was reduced to 50km/hr, as most roads under construction are.  Recently reported in the Champion back in December, that stretch of road was approved for an increase in the limit to 70km/hr by Halton Regional Council.  When changes are made to the speed limits, the Region or the municipality in charge of the road should, within a reasonable amount of time, put new signs up showing the different limits.

Many drivers who take that road found the limit difficult to change as most were coming south on James Snow Parkway from the 401 and the speed limit dropped from 70 km/hr to 50 rather quickly.  Halton Regional Police responded to a number of complaints from drivers who speed excessively down that stretch of road took it upon themselves to set up “speed traps” as a way of educating drivers and of course, hit them in the pocket book.

Problem is, according to a new article in the Milton Canadian Champion by Tim Foran, the police force were informed of the speed limit change but yet this past week, held a speeding blitz where a number of drivers were hit with speeding tickets.

Over at the Hawthorne Villager forum people were speaking out how unfair this practice was and it also raised a few issues legally speaking about the validity of the speeding tickets.  Sure the limit was legally 70km/hr but the posted speed limit was still 50km/hr.

I consulted a good friend of mine and paralegal extroridinare Dave Sokolowski of Sokolowski Legal Services for an answer.

He said, “A law or a by law may be passed at any time, but until it is enacted it is not in effect. The councils decision to increase the speed limit on this stretch of road although passed in December technically was not in effect until the signs were changed.

The Highway Traffic Act is clear that all drivers must obey the posted signs, much like if you were travelling through a construction zone and the speed limit is reduced. You may have driven on that road 900 times at the speed limit of 80, but once the signs go up that its 60, that is the rate of speed that you must travel at.

Although I cannot speak as to why the officers were running the “speed trap” before the signs were changed, I can say that they were not doing anything wrong at the time.

Everyone who has recieved a ticket does have the right to be able to fight it. I cannot say that the Crown involved that day would have the charge withdrawn, but they may have it reduced so that there are no points against your license. “

If you found yourself to be one of those people with the traffic tickets and would like to get some legal advice or representation, I recommend speaking with Dave at Sokolowski Legal Services to find out what, if anything you can do about the tickets.

This of course provides me an opportunity to remind everyone that the limits you must drive at are the posted speed limits.  Please take your time around town and obey the speed limits.

I’ll see you at the doors.

Local Media Coverage of Mike Cluett Campaign

Cluett to try once more in Ward 6

Published on Jan 21, 2010

A Milton man who came close to securing a seat on council in the last municipal election is hoping the second time’s a charm.

Mike Cluett, who was only 93 votes shy of unseating long-time Councillor Brian Penman in 2006, has filed to run for councillor in the newly-created Ward 6 this fall.

The local blogger said he’s throwing his hat back in the ring because he feels town council needs to refocus its priorities.

“I think the Town is spending a lot of money without focusing on infrastructure and roads,” he said. “There seems to be a disconnect when it comes to issues relating to the growth in town and the concerns of the population.”

Cluett, a father of two and a sales consultant for a payment processing company, has lived in Milton since 2003.

He served on Milton’s 150th anniversary committee and has also been active in the community by working with residents on safety issues like residential speeding, parking and stop signs.

Ward 6 is framed by Derry, Thompson and Britannia roads and Fourth Line.

Tweet tweet

You can follow the exploits of the Mike Cluett campaign through a number of resources.

As always you can go to www.mikecluett.ca and this blog to see whats going on in town.  Also you can follow me on Twitter by entering www.twitter.com/mike_cluett

Finally you can join my fan page, as many of you already have, by clicking here.

Cluett Joins The Race

On one of Milton’s most popular sites, www.MiltonSearch.com, they reported Milton’s “worst kept secret.”

Cluett officially joins the race
 

In another message from the ‘worst kept secret in Milton’ department, Mike Cluett confirmed this morning via his Twitter account that he has indeed filed his paperwork and is officially a candidate in Ward 6.

Its official! Mike Cluett is a candidate for Ward 6 in the Town of Milton! #miltonvote

Mike is a great guy and his passion for the Milton community is second to none. He campaigned tirelessly around Hawthorne Village the last time around in 2006 and looks to be one of, if not THE favourite in Ward 6 in 2010.

Cluett is also visibly in touch with the community through his popular Milton blog, which he’s been posting on for at least five years now, and is also a regular contributor to the Hawthorne Villager forums.

MiltonSearch.com would like to wish Mike all the best in his run for Town Council in 2010. Mike truly is one of the good guys. As we have opined before, we strongly urge Miltonians to get out and vote in our Municipal Elections this October and elect the right people who will help to shape a positive future for our town.