mike cluett

Priorities

Mike Cluett

An interesting letter to the editor earlier this week from Zeeshan Hamid regarding Milton Town Council.  In his letter he outlines that Milton Town Council directed staff to apply for some funding from the federally run Recreation Infrastructure Canada and the provincially run REC for two projects of interest.

In a motion earlier in June, town council had approved the application for $5.3 million for renovations and improvements for John Tonelli Sports Centre and the Nassagewaya Tennis Club.  In that application, $2.9 million would be directed to improve the NTC which has approximately 200 members.

The Town of Milton already has arrangements with the NTC which include $100 per year rental and a 50% sharing of some improvement costs among other perks.  As Mr. Hamid points out, that funding works out to be roughly $15,000 per member.

Is this a priority for the Town of Milton?

The problem that comes up is the NTC is a membership only club.  Does council have the justification to apply for and spend that much taxpayers money on a club of 200 people when the organization receives so much already?  Can that funding be used for something else that would benefit more people in the town of Milton?

Here’s his letter.

Club renovation costs outrageous

Letters
Jul 01, 2009
DEAR EDITOR:
This letter is in response to the recent Champion article entitled ‘Town of Milton applies for recreation stimulus funding.’

The article mentioned the Nassagaweya Tennis Club, which is a private club that the Town subsidizes by paying 50 per cent of the court re-surfacing costs, 100 per cent of the exterior and structural clubhouse upgrades and 100 per cent of the cost of security and damages. This is in addition to the fact that the club only pays the Town $100 a year in rent.

All this may actually make sense, but I couldn’t help but be appalled to read that town council directed staff to submit an application for a $2.9 million redevelopment of the club that only has 191 members. That translates to more than $15,000 for each member.

Am I the only one who’s shocked at this waste of public money? Is this really the right time for this? Wouldn’t this money be better spent on some of the urgently-needed infrastructure improvement projects that far more residents could benefit from?

ZEESHAN HAMID, MILTON

Milton Canada Day 2009

Mike Cluett

Its here again…

Fireworks, fun, frolic, and fun times.  All the information can be found at www.miltoncanadaday.ca

Heres some highlights.

“Canada Day” at MILTON FAIRGROUNDS – 136 Robert St.
Wednesday, July 1, 2009 – 12:00 p.m.
Free Admission & Transit Service

Enjoy a whole day of fun celebrating “Canada Day” in Milton

“Milton Canada Day” celebrates the richness of Canadian culture and heritage attracting over 10,000 people to Milton Fairgrounds. An array of exciting events include fantastic live music, wide variety of entertainment, diverse food choices, arts and crafts, fun activities for people of all ages, and the grand finale featuring spectacular fireworks under the stars.

HIGHLIGHTS
Breakfast with The Veterans at Victoria Park
Swearing-in Ceremony for New Canadians
Live music featuring “Hotel California”
Kids Zone, Teen Zone and Family Activities

TRANSPORTATION
FREE Canada Day Shuttle Service Courtesy of Mattamy Homes

PARKING
Parking available on nearby streets and Downtown.  There is paid parking available at north entrance.

SPECIAL NOTES
We ask kindly to leave pets at home due to the animal attractions on site.  Please refrain from smoking in the following designated non-smoking areas:

Pathways, refreshment areas, family tent, kids and teen zones and nursing station

NEW FEATURES
Resting station for nursing mothers

ATM Machine on site for the day

We are always in need of volunteers to make the event a success!  Volunteers are required before, during and after the event.  June 27tth – July 2nd Set-up, day of event and dismantle  High school students are welcome to participate and receive community volunteer hours.  
Call Kirsten Pedersen at 905-691-7470 or email: kirsten@MiltonCanadaDay.ca

Milton Canada Day promotes waste reduction, reuse and recycle initiatives.

SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
Want to become an official Canada Day Sponsor? Sponsor this year’s Canada Day Celebrations and have your logo displayed on official Canada Day advertising and at the fairgrounds on Canada Day.
Call Pat Rideout at 905-875-7040 or email: Pat@MiltonCanadaDay.ca

Letter to the Editor

Mike Cluett

 

DEAR EDITOR:

I thought I was reading one of the Champion’s Time Capsule articles about a pay increase, but alas it was real and recent.

Milton councillors have now received three pay increases since taking office in 2006.

I understand completely that Town staff need to have salaries reviewed on a regular basis in order for them to be paid fairly for the work they do.

My only question is why does it have to include our town councillors?

When this council was elected in 2006, the base salary, not including the regional councillors’ portion, was roughly $21,000. From my calculations, they’re now being paid more than $26,000 — and that doesn’t include the council perk of having one-third of that salary tax free.

That’s a substantial increase in pay for a part-time position. Politics is perception, and I don’t think this will sit well with Milton taxpayers.

In the last three years, we have had three higher-than-normal increases in our mill rate — with what to show for it? We now have more Milton Transit buses that run empty throughout town, and for that they have spent more than $3 million in the last three years.

Milton taxpayers are now the proud owners of a Town Hall glass wall, albeit beautiful and majestic, that cost more than $1 million. They couldn’t have found something just as beautiful and majestic locally for much less?

And that’s just the tip of the iceberg, as there are many more examples of Milton council spending beyond its means.

How many more roads could have been developed for that money? Who knows? There’s been lots of spending and lots of taxes, but does that mean they deserve three pay increases in three years?

Elected officials on town council shouldn’t be included in the same pay grid as other Town employees. They should have a separate and distinct category due to the job type and to avoid any appearance of a conflict of interest.

Town councillors are a different kind of employee compared to other Town staff, seeing how they’re the only ones elected to their positions.

This way when salaries are reviewed annually, they won’t be able to vote for an increase in salary that would eventually benefit themselves.

Most municipalities, like Milton, use citizen advisory committees to come up with what their increases should be. But, in the case of the councillors, the pay increase should also take effect when the next council sits.

I don’t want to seem like I’m against paying a fair salary for our elected officials. There are many examples of how politicians at all levels are grossly underpaid for the amount of work they do.

But in the end, the salary for town councillors should remain the same throughout the term of council.

Some might say these increases are minor, and they probably would have an argument. We might hear some responses from members of council saying their job may be considered part-time but they put in more than normal amounts of hours working for their wards.

The problem is we’re in some pretty tough economic times right now, and municipalities need to focus on saving taxpayers dollars, not spending more when they could wait.

MIKE  CLUETT, MILTON

Milton Strawberry Festival 2009

Mike Cluett

This coming Saturday one of my personal favourites returns again…the Milton Strawberry Festival.

The event is being held again at the Milton Fairgrounds from 8am to 4pm in support of the Milton District Hospital Auxiliary.  For those of you who attended in previous years, you know what to expect.  If you haven’t you’re in for a surprise.

Strawberries as far as you can see.  Great treats for everyone in the family, games for the kids, and did I mention….STRAWBERRIES!!!

There are lots of vendors as well and food galore.  Each year it gets bigger and better and this year wont be any different.  Admission is free but donations are greatly appreciated and there will be volunteers running around so make sure you help them out as much as you can.

Here’s some information from www.milton.ca Community Event Calendar

Strawberry Fair – MDH Auxiliary

When:  Saturday, Jun 27, 2009

Where: 136 Robert Street, Milton, ON (Milton Fairgrounds)

Description:  8:00 am to 4:00 pm

Food Concessions, children’s entertainment vendors marketplace all day fun for the whole family.

Cost – free admission – donations welcome

Contact – Sheena Drennan 905-878-6626
Email – jdrennan2@sympatico.ca
Website – www.haltonhealthcare.com

Wheelchair Access/Washrooms – yes
Service Animal Allowed – yes
Accessible Parking – yes

Use it or lose it

Mike Cluett

0x0_637853That was the message last week by town councillor Mike Boughton regarding the state of Milton Transit.

“Use it or lose it.”

Nothing really of note came out of this meeting from town councillors on how we can make the transit system better or find ways of saving money, or encouraging people to use the buses more.  Does the lack of attendance show that people don’t care about our transit system?  Hands up to those people who knew there was a meeting at town council discussing Milton Transit?  I thought so.

I recently heard someone joke about the contest Milton Transit had a couple of years back when the new buses were unveiled.  People were encouraged to take a picture of the bus if they saw one driving around town.  The contest should have been if you can see a bus driving around town WITH people in it.

Maybe town council should have thought about it more before they decided to invest over $3 million in buying new buses for the town.  Maybe they should have realized ridership was lower than they expected before they sent the cheque for several brand new, state of the art buses, to drive around town on a daily basis…empty.

Every year the report on Milton Transit came out and it showed what they called an “increase in ridership” for Milton Transit.  This report didn’t take into consideration the “free days” throughout the year.  If the buses are free, more people use them. 

The main problem with our transit system is convenience.  For instance, it’s not convenient for someone in the south eastern part of town to take the bus to go to downtown Milton.  If someone from Hawthorne Village wants to go downtown Milton to have a meal at the Ivy Arms or Pasqualino Cafe they would have to take at least two buses there and two buses back.  Or if someone who lives at Bronte Street and Ontario wanted to go to Montana’s or shop at Walmart at James Snow Parkway and Steeles, they would again have to take two buses there and two buses back.

Convenient?  Check the maps and see where you would be able to go if you were to take the bus.  I live at Thompson and Yates Drive and I wouldn’t even be able to go to one of my favourite places to get a coffee, Cafe Deda at Trudeau and Derry Road by bus.  If I wanted to go downtown Milton to Main Street Yarns to buy something for my mother, I wouldn’t be able to without taking two buses.  That means that during the day it would take me close to 45-50 minutes to go downtown Milton where I could take my car and be there in less than 10 minutes.

Has town council actually gone to the Milton Chamber of Commerce or the Milton DBIA to ask them what they think would help get people to take the bus?  I’m sure that the DBIA would love to see more people walking the streets of downtown Milton. 

The main reason why people take public transit is for work related travel.  So if you work and live in Milton there’s an option right?  Not likely.  Lets say you work at the new business park at the top of Hwy 25 and 401 and you live south of Main Street…you have to take two buses there and two buses back.  I don’t think there has been any study in town to find out how many people work and live in Milton but the numbers would definitely be interesting.  My guess, and that’s all it is, would be roughly 15% of people work and live in Milton.  As its been described before, Milton has become a bedroom community with a majority of people working outside of town.

There’s a trend forming here and it didn’t take too long for me to figure it out.

The focal point of the Milton Transit system is the GO Station and people who need to take the GO Train out of town SHOULD be encouraged to use the transit system.  Its perfectly set up for them.  Where is the advertising from Milton Transit to those riders?  Why don’t we see any programs available for these individuals like reduced rates, free days, etc to help promote the ease of taking the transit to the GO Station instead of trudging up Thompson Road first thing in the morning to complain about the number of lights and how slow it is.

If I had to take the GO Train out of town, Id be taking the bus believe me.  Problem is that aspect of the convenience of Milton Transit isn’t being talked about.  They just went ahead and spent millions on new buses and thought people will come in droves.  That kind of thinking reminds me of the movie FIELD OF DREAMS… “If you build it they will come.”

Not the case in the real world.  So instead of making comments like “use it or lose it”, we need to see some leadership and out of the box thinking.  Maybe the routes need to be changed in order to accommodate people who would like to shop and eat downtown to take the bus instead of a car.

Just imagine if they could go back in time and do some market research to find out if the system that was in place was acceptable to the potential transit rider.  Imagine if they surveyed people who drive from all parts of Milton to the GO Transit station and informed them of the routes in place, and offered an incentive for them to use.

There is a current promotion right now for free rides to the Milton Library for people under the age of 14.

Read and Ride Program for Summer 2009

Milton Transit and the Milton Public Library are teaming up for the Read and Ride Program. If you are 14 years of age or younger, you can ride the bus for free to the library to enjoy special summer reading programs, books, magazines and more, courtesy of Milton Transit. (Ride all over town for free, too!)

Visit the library as of mid-June to obtain a transit sticker for your library card. Ride Milton Transit all over town for free by presenting your stickered library card on the bus. Stickers are valid from July 6 to August 28; parent/guardian fare still applies. For information on summer reading programs at the library, visit Milton Public Library or call 905-875-2665.

Great idea but…people are still going to be required to take a bus, then transfer to another bus in order to get to the library no matter what part of town they are coming from outside of Route 2 on the map.  If someone from north of Main Street along Route 1 or Route 4 or Route 5 wants to take advantage of this program, transfering buses WILL be required.  Also, the fare is free for the child under 14 but not the parent or guardian taking the child to the library.

Will this promotion work?  Will having this available to students under 14 years old intice a parent or guardian to take their kids to the Milton Library on Milton Transit?  What do you think?

Our town has grown rapidly in the last several years and will continue to do so in the near future.  A new campus of WLU is being built shortly and there will be lots of students with or without cars who will need the convenience of a transit system to get about town.  Hundreds of homes are being built on the west side of town which means more congestion on the streets for people travelling around town.

Given these future changes, I think its time for our local government to take a long and hard look at the transit system that’s in place, admit that its been a colossal failure and the millions spent on the new buses was a mistake, and try to find a way to fix it before any more money is wasted.

This goes back to something I talked about during the last municipal campaign…door knocking.  Everyone, including myself, knocked on doors during the campaign.  What I talked about was continuing that in between election campaigns.  How do you know what the people are thinking if you don’t ask them.  You can continue to hold meetings that a majority of people wont attend and then say “see…no one cares.” or you can get out there and talk to people directly.  You can ask them face to face what they think and what advice they might have.

Democracy is a two way street.  People expect that their elected representatives wont forget about them the 3 or so years in between votes.  Problem is, no one is seen going door to door to get peoples opinions.  Maybe they’re afraid of what they hear?