local matters

Patio Time Soon For Milton?

Mike Cluett

It may be sooner rather than later where Milton restaurants can be able open up their patio’s and sidewalks for customers – not at full volume though.

Over the last several days, we have been working with our economic development department, planning as well as our local restaurant owners to work on a plan to get them ready to go when the call comes from the province.

I don’t even have to say how much our local businesses have been hurting since the COVID19 situation hit. The phrase “hanging on by a thread” doesn’t count anymore as many businesses would love to even have a thread to hang on to.

Obviously a lot has to do with the provincial government and allowing regions to move to Stage 2 of recovery. Last week they announced some regions who were allowed to move forward from Stage 1 … this didn’t include us in Halton Region.

The purpose of getting this approved at a special council meeting this week (Wednesday June 17) is to get our Milton residents to the starting line. For those familiar with drag racing, it’s lining up and being prepared for when the lights go from red to green.

We are hoping to hear something this week about Haltons ability to move to Stage 2. Last week Halton Chair Gary Carr, along with the 4 area Mayor’s, wrote a letter to Premier Ford requesting Halton Region be allowed to proceed to Stage 2 of the recovery process.

It’s not only our restaurants that are hurting. It’s the hundreds of small businesses in downtown and all over Milton that are hurting. Revenues down, doing the best they can to hang on and we need to fight for them as well.

Milton council will do whatever we can do to help get things moving … and that includes reports like this for our restaurants and help make sure the playing field is leveled.

Our administration needs to make sure that we “find our way to YES!” and get things like this done quickly and efficiently.

I know many around the Council table will support this and help getting the ball going in repairing this economy. It’s our job to ensure that happens. It’s our job to “get to yes” and get things done.

In the meantime… for the Troys Diners, for the Rad’s, for the Eddie’s, the Casa Americo’s and the dozens of other restaurants in Milton. Let’s help support them and all the local small businesses in town when we can.

Halton Urges Province To Add Region For Stage 2 Reopening

Mike Cluett

Earlier today Halton Region Chair Gary Carr along with Halton‘s Mayors wrote a letter addressed to the Province of Ontario outlining why our region should move to Stage 2 timeline that was announced yesterday.

It is of vital importance that we do everything we can to get our local small and medium sized companies up and running as soon as possible. The health of our residents and the health of our economy are our top priority and they need to prepare their employees and products/services and move towards our new “normal”

Milton Show That It Cares

Mike Cluett

First off I would like to thank our Milton youth & the members of our black community who put together today’s protest. It’s a great sign of the grassroots community support and the caring the large majority of our town has.

Many of my council colleagues were there along with other elected officials to also show our support but the most important part for us was showing solidarity to stand up against racism & discrimination.

I am also aware that we are still in a state of emergency due to COVID and I’m pleased that all efforts were taken to maintain safe physical distancing. It’s also important for people to be able to express their views and protest as we’re all guaranteed those rights under the Charter of Rights & Freedoms. The crisis of anti black & anti indigenous racism is real and this conversation of speaking and most importantly listening needs to continue.

After this event is over, let’s keep it going. Let’s listen to each other and work together to end racism and create a positive change for the future. Our young people have spoken … the black community has spoken … let’s listen. Together.

Thanks Milton!

Town of Milton Announces Phased Approach To Re-Open

Mike Cluett

Due to the ever changing circumstances of the COVID19 situation and doing our best to keep in line with the Province of Ontario plans for a gradual, phased in re-opening and recovery, the Town has taken a number of steps to phase in some activities and work towards future changes to some of our amenities.

Keeping in mind we are in constant dialogue with the Halton Region COVID Response team as we make these decisions.

As you will read in the news release, the Town has decided to cancel all Town run summer camp programs. This is a heartbreaking decision to make as many children and adults take advantage of Milton’s high quality, fun and educational camp programs during the summer season. I personally support this decision consulting with public health directives as well as our top priority of keeping Milton residents & employees as safe as possible. Should things change, our staff is working on possible modified programs that will be announced and advertised in the community.

Please note the directives on park activities, including off leash parks, tennis courts, and sports fields.

As always stay tuned to the Town of Milton social media for up to date changes & announcements.

From the News Release – May 21, 2020

Summer Camps:

Following the Ontario Government and public health directives, Milton is cancelling all Town-run summer camp programs. The health and safety of staff and participants is paramount and based on a variety of factors, the Town of Milton is not in a position to run our regularly scheduled summer camp programs this year.  As restrictions from the Province and Public Health are lifted, the Town may implement a redesigned or modified summer camp program where possible. If so, these modified programs will be advertised to the community.

Residents are asked to please be patient during this time as we expect it will take 2-4 weeks for staff to process these cancellations. Registrants will receive an email from the Town outlining the refund process.

Park activities and re-openings:

While parks were never closed for walk-through traffic, residents can now enjoy a few more activities in parks and green spaces, following physical distancing and with no more than five people:

  • Picnics
  • Flying a kite
  • Playing catch
  • Sitting on a blanket reading

As of Friday, May 22, 2020, the following will re-open with restrictions:

  • Off leash dog parks
  • Tennis courts
  • Park benches and shelters
  • Sports fields as open spaces

The following restrictions are in place for sports fields (such as baseball diamonds and soccer fields) or green space:

  • No more than five people gathered together
  • Must maintain physical distancing
  • No organized group or team sports

A number of park services and facilities remain closed. Visit the Town’s website to view the status of use for park equipment and services.

Town staff will continue to monitor and re-open amenities as it is deemed safe to do so, the priority continues to be the health and safety of our community.

For more information about the Town’s overall response to COVID-19, visit www.milton.ca/coronavirus

Milton Council Receives COVID19 Update

Mike Cluett

Earlier today we held a special council meeting to update us on our COVID19 response. You can find the report here

During today’s meeting we made necessary changes to our meeting bylaws that will allow virtual participation from residents who want to comment on items listed on our agenda. Having the public take part in our council meeting, watching and commenting, is vitally important to us and resident will now be able to register with the clerk and present to council.

The other item was our COVID19 update which outlines a number of issues from business continuity, plans for economic recovery, operations going forward with reduced staffing levels and road plan mapping when we get the green light from the province and medical officer of health.

Plans are in place to get the Mayor’s Business Roundtable to become Milton’s economic recovery taskforce. In my role as chair of the Milton Economic Development Advisory Committee (MEDAC) I will be with our towns business leaders to devise an action plan to phase in business life – post COVID. While we haven’t received a date from the Province of Ontario, we will be setting up the course of action to be ready when that time comes.

Check out the video above for a synopsis of this meeting and if you have any questions or comments please let me know Mike.Cluett@Milton.ca

Town of Milton Facility Closures Continue

Mike Cluett

As the situation regarding the COVID19 situation continues to change, and in many ways improve, plans are now in place to start a roadmap in Halton to begin opening things up so that life in our amazing community can get back to where it should be. This of course is determined by a number of factors including direction from the Federal and Provincial Medical Officers of Health as well as Halton Regions MOH. The province of Ontario earlier this week outlined a “roadmap” set up in different phases to bring Ontario’s economy back online, kids back in their schools and for life to return to “normal” but there are no dates set in place. I believe that is the correct course of action going forward as we are still not out of the woods yet. Residents in Milton and Halton can go to www.halton.ca/covid19 for regular updates and statistics on where each municipality stands on infections, recoveries, etc. but until the MOH’s can determine that there is good chance there wont be any 2nd wave, we need to stay the course.

Keeping all of that in mind, the Town of Milton’s Crisis Management Team has made the decision to extend the closures of our town facilities, permits and events to July 5, 2020. This extension does result in the cancelation of the first week of summer camps and in the details below it will outline how residents can be kept up to date on any further changes.

This is an unfortunate but necessary course to set into action and all I can say is our town staff and CMT are working very hard to keep people updated on what is happening and doing what we can to get back to the point we can begin to enjoy these programs, social events, charity fundraising, and fellowship that makes Milton the best community in the world to live in. We’re getting through this.

Take care everyone! Enjoy the weekend!

May 1, 2020

From the Town of Milton News Release May 1, 2020

The Town of Milton is extending the closure of all facilities and postponing all recreation programs, permits, rentals, theatre performances and special events up to and including July 5 to protect the health and safety of residents and staff from COVID-19. This continued closure supports Halton Region and the Province of Ontario’s efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19 and ongoing measures to flatten the curve.

Town staff are conscious that programs, facilities and events will not return to 100 per cent capacity the first day back after the pandemic has ended. The July 5 date was selected for the purpose of planning for the recovery phase of COVID-19. The Ontario Government released the Framework to Reopen Ontario on April 27, 2020, including a phased approach to loosening restrictions. While no specifics were included in that framework, it is anticipated that modifications to operations, including but not limited to, physical changes at facilities, policy updates, and program limitations to ensure the health and safety of staff and the public will need to occur. 

This extension date results in the cancellation of the first week of summer camps. Further decisions on the remainder of summer camp programs will be made by June 1 and communicated to participants.

Milton Council and the Town’s Crisis Management team continue to monitor the situation, in consultation with Halton Region Public Health, and reassess the Town’s service changes and operational adjustments. At this time, resources are being directed to the areas of greatest need and the Town will re-open facilities and recreational programs as soon as it is reasonable to do so.

The Town will automatically issue refunds within two to four weeks for any rentals, programs or performances that are impacted by these closures. Questions related to rentals can be sent to facilitybooking@milton.ca . For programs or membership questions, email recreation@milton.ca

The Town continues business in alternative ways and adjusts to the evolving COVID-19 situation. During this extended closure the Town will provide core business to citizens through online services, by phone, or in our community using proper physical distancing measures. We are committed to balancing our service and service levels, along with remaining fiscally responsible.

For more information about the Town’s response to COIVD-19, visit www.milton.ca/coronavirus