milton canadian champion

More Vehicles Stolen

Mike Cluett

An update to my previous post about leaving your cars running and vehicles being stolen, there have been more cars taken from driveways as of this past Monday.

Vehicles left warming up in driveways stolen
// Police Blotter
Nov 27, 2009

Two more vehicles were stolen Monday morning when owners left them running in their driveways to warm up.

At 7 a. m., a thief stole a black, four-door, 2004 Honda from a Lamont Crescent driveway, police said. It was worth $10,000. Then at 8 a. m., a 2008 Honda Accord idling in a Kennedy Circle driveway was stolen. It’s valued at $32,000.

Police continue to remind residents to make sure their vehicles are locked at all times. Since November 13, six vehicles left running in driveways have been stolen.

Cap'n Krantz and Shipmate Day & Derry Green Update

Mike Cluett

Sifting through some of the older editions of the Milton Canadian Champion, I found this article from Tim Foran about a spirited discussion on growth a couple of town council meetings ago. Just goes to show that the battle between “growth vs no growth” still rages on in the council chambers. 

I dont know about you but I really enjoy Tim’s point of view…sometimes not quite agreeing with him, but he is definitely detailed and thorough.

Here’s the article.

Cap’n Krantz spars shipmate Day on Milton’s voyage

Tim Foran, Foran Affairs

Published on Oct 30, 2009

The resurrection of an old but tired battle was played out between two older but spirited warriors at Milton’s council session Monday night.

Councillor Rick Day, who’s been around more than his surname indicates, woke himself and kicked off the kerfuffle during debate of a fiscal analysis that estimates Milton’s taxes would have to rise about 1.8 per cent a year above inflation between 2021 and 2031 to pay for the growth currently being planned for that time period. That’s actually less than the 2.5 per cent increase estimated for the growth currently under construction in the southwest and west ends of town, noted the Town’s treasurer Linda Leeds.

In mischievous spirits, Day, likening the analysis to a ‘doomsday report’, put the question to Leeds:

“Are all these problems related to growth?” a question that elicited an awkward silence amongst the assembled.

Leeds, ever the civil servant, hesitated to reply, wary of feeding a political agenda.

“It’s an easy answer,” Day pushed, smiling. “One syllable; three letters, not two.”

“You’re killing me,” Leeds finally replied, laughing.

“None of us are proud to be the fastest growing municipality in Canada, we’re embarrassed by it,” Day continued, getting serious.

That shot across the bow of the good ship Milton, in particular pro-growth Cap’n Krantz, drew a proportional response.

Noting Milton’s residential property tax rate is the second lowest in the GTA after Toronto, Krantz defended the Town’s containment of service levels the past decade: “In my opinion, over the years the councils have made some pretty wise decisions.”

In reality, both men are correct.

Day’s implied position that something has been lost here beyond dollars — perhaps not the community spirit, but the small town feel — is believed by those who engage in old vs. new Milton debates.

But Krantz’s push more than a decade ago to bring up The Big Pipe — the Lake Ontario water that allowed growth — was a recognition of the inevitable expansion of Milton, though it likely moved up the process a decade or so.

It’s time though for these old foes to scabbard their swords and pull out a pen; to work on finding a way to make new Milton work as well as the old one; to stop signing off on development applications on paper and then letting the bureaucrats deal with them; to get involved in the design of these multiple thousand-home communities – from the street layout to the driveway lengths to the placement of drive-thrus, noise fences, and even a store residents can walk to for milk.

And speaking of growth, there is a public meeting at the Town Hall Chambers on November 16th at 730pm regarding the new development plan for the area east of James Snow Parkway.  There are lots of changes coming down the pike and if you live in the area, like I do, its best to be informed of those changes.

You can find out more about the Derry Green Business Park proposals on the Milton website under projects.  Here’s that link.  The details of the public notice can be found here as well.

TOWN OF MILTON

DERRY GREEN CORPORATE BUSINESS PARK

SECONDARY PLAN & RELATED STUDIES

STATUTORY PUBLIC MEETING

1. BACKGROUND

The Town of Milton and the Region of Halton have been involved in the Halton Urban Structure Plan (HUSP) – a strategy for managing Regional and local growth for the next 20 years. In relation to the proposed growth, the Milton Official Plan provides for approximately 2000 hectares (4940 acres) of additional land for new growth, which is referred to as the “Urban Expansion Area”. Milton Council and Regional Council ratified a plan for the phasing of this new growth in May and June 1998 respectively. The first phase of employment development in the 401 Industrial/Business Park Secondary Plan Area is currently underway. The Derry Green Corporate Business Park lands (see map) represent Phase II of the proposed employment development.

In accordance with the policies of the Milton Official Plan and HUSP, the Town of Milton is currently preparing for the development of the Derry Green Corporate Business Park lands through the preparation of a secondary plan and supporting background studies.

Study Area:

The purpose and current status of the various studies is as follows:

The Study Area includes the area within the Milton Urban Expansion Area, bounded by Highway 401, the Middle Branch of Sixteen Mile Creek (west edge of floodplain); Sixth Line; Centre Tributary of the Middle Branch of the Sixteen Mile Creek (north edge of floodplain); and James Snow Parkway. Derry Green Corporate Business Park Secondary Plan

The Derry Green Corporate Business Park Secondary Plan is being carried out in accordance with Sections 17 and 21 of the

Planning Act, and the policies of the Town of Milton and Region of Halton Official Plans. A draft secondary plan has been prepared for public review which provides detailed policies on matters such as land use, urban form and design, transportation, servicing including stormwater management, and other related issues. Master Transportation/Transit Plan

The Derry Green Corporate Business Park Master Transportation/Transit Plan (MTTP) is being prepared in conjunction with the Derry Green Corporate Business Park Secondary Plan and related studies. The Master Transportation/Transit Plan is being carried out in accordance with approved procedures contained in the Class Environmental Assessment for Municipal Road Projects. The MTTP defines a functional road network with the study area, provides long-term need and justification for major transportation improvements serving the study area, and identifies transit opportunities and major transportation improvements for implementation over the next 15 to 20 years.

Sixteen Mile Creek Subwatershed Update Study and Functional Stormwater and Environmental Management Strategy

The above-noted studies are being carried out in accordance with approved procedures contained in the MEA Class Environmental Assessment for Municipal Sewage and Water Projects, June 2000 as Updated 2007. These studies which have been prepared in draft for public review provide general guidance with respect to stormwater and environmental management. They provide an evaluation of various stormwater management and servicing strategies for the Secondary Plan area, and recommend a preferred environmental and stormwater management servicing plan.Study Area

: The study area for the subwatershed and environmental studies includes the secondary planning area, as well as the external area draining to it and the downstream part of the associated subwatersheds. The study area includes the East Branch of the Sixteen-Mile Creek. See map attached showing the East Branch of the Sixteen-Mile Creek and the Functional Stormwater and Environmental Strategy area under study within this secondary planning exercise. Functional Water and Wastewater Servicing Master Plan

The Functional Water and Wastewater Servicing Master Plan is being carried out in accordance with approved procedures contained in the Class Environmental Assessment for Municipal Sewage and Water Projects. The purpose of the study is to prepare a detailed Functional Water and Wastewater Servicing Master Plan, which in conjunction with the Secondary Plan will be used as a basis for development in the Derry Green Corporate Business Park Secondary Plan area.

2. PUBLIC INPUT

Public consultation is an essential component of the preparation of the secondary plan and related studies. Members of the public wishing to obtain further information with respect to the secondary plan preparation and background studies should contact the Planning & Development Department at 905-878-7252 x2398.

Copies of the draft secondary plan and draft information related to the background studies will be available for review as of Members of the public, who wish to participate in these undertakings and require notification of future public meetings or other matters related to the study, should contact Bronwyn Parker, Policy Planner at (905) 878-7252 x2307 or at the address noted below. Written submissions regarding the draft Secondary Plan and Related Studies should be submitted to the Town prior to

Ms. Barbara Koopmans, Senior Manager of Planning Policy

Planning and Development Department

150 Mary Street, Milton, Ontario L9T 6Z5

Tel: 905-878-7252 ext. 2304 Fax: 905-876-5024

E-mail:

3. STATUTORY PUBLIC MEETING – DERRY GREEN CORPORATE BUSINESS PARK SECONDARY PLAN & RELATED STUDIES

October 26, 2009 in the Planning & Development Department, (2nd Floor, Town Hall East), 150 Mary Street, at the Milton Public Library or on-line at www.milton.ca under the “Business Park II” link off the ‘Projects’ page (draft secondary plan is the only document available on-line). November 24, 2009 and should be directed to: Barb Koopmans The public is invited to attend a statutory public meeting as follows:

Place: Milton Town Hall, 150 Mary Street, Milton

Date: Monday, November 16, 2009

Time: Public Meeting 7:30 p.m. (Council Chambers)

Purpose of Meeting:

The meeting will provide an opportunity for the public to review and discuss the draft Secondary Plan & Related Studies formally with Town staff, the consultants and Council. Secondary Plan and Supporting Studies Available For Review:

Copies of the draft Secondary Plan and background papers completed to date will be available for review as of October 26, 2009, in the Planning & Development Department, (2nd Floor, Town Hall East), 150 Mary Street, at the Milton Public Library or on-line at www.milton.ca under the ‘Projects’ page, “Business Park II” link. Written Submissions:

Written submissions should be made prior to November 24, 2009 to the attention of Ms. Barbara Koopmans as noted above.

So its not just me…

Mike Cluett

Someone sent me an email awhile back asking me why I keep on the fact that there seems to be a lot of poor drivers in town.  While I wont go so far as to say the drivers are poor, but there does seem to be people who for whatever reason, dont pay attention and obey the rules of the road.

That got me thinking…is it just me?  Am I being too picky?  Apparently not as more and more letters to the local paper seem to justify my analysis that there are people taking liberty with the rules of the road when it comes to stop signs, speeding in residential areas and aggressive driving.

John Airyo’s letter to the Champion this week seems to outline the same concerns I, as well as many other people in Milton share.

Here’s his letter.

DEAR EDITOR:There’s a growing trend in Milton that in my own opinion is gradually reaching a frightening dimension.

It concerns the way many people treat traffic stop signs. I can recall more than 15 times recently where drivers haven’t used traffic stop signs properly — with a few of them nearly causing an accident.

In all those cases, it happened that I got to the stop sign and stopped by the white line. My tire touched the white line and I made a complete stop. Then I went forward.

I knew I touched the line before some drivers, but they proceeded before me as if they were blind.

A couple of times I almost ran into those drivers because I had no inkling they were going to advance before me. I don’t know whether they were impatient, rude or simply inexperienced — or a combination of these.

These incidents have happened all over Milton, so I can’t really pinpoint a particular place.

Please use our traffic stop signs properly to avoid an accident.

JOHN ARIYO, MILTON

It’s not an unreasonable request is it?  The stop signs are there for a reason.  To safely control the flow of traffic and help keep drivers and pedestrians alike as safe as possible.  We can go back a couple of years to Yates Drive where a number of these problems lead to a house being hit by a car…twice…in less than a year.  A car driving down Yates at a high rate of speed (for the record a “high rate of speed” was perception based on cars driving the speed limit) drove through an intersection with a stop sign.  The person at the stop sign didnt fully stop and did what was described by witnesses as a fast, rolling stop turning left onto Yates.  The car with the right-away swerved to avoid the car coming from the stop sign, lost control, jumped the curb and sidewalk to slam into this persons home.

The second occurence happened almost identical with the result being the same less than a year later.

I’m sure youve seen it too.  On your way to work in the mornings, or coming home at nights many people take liberty with the rules of the road and most times, nothing ever happens.

A friend commented to me that there should be mandatory retesting for our licences on a regular basis to make sure we remember and comply with the rules of the road.  I dont think that would make much difference because anyone can put on good behaviour during the test, shine the like star that they are and when its securely in their hands…speed off  and fly through a stop sign on the way to make it to the 401 parking lot in the morning.

More people agree about aggressive drivers

Mike Cluett

As I pointed out in a previous post, and commented on by another Milton blogger Zeeshan Hamid, there was a letter to the Champion outlining several instances of aggressive drivers in the Town of Milton.  It seems to be an ongoing problem with no real direction on what changes can be made.

Here’s Jean Paul’s letter this week.  It echos Cristina’s letter from last week.

What can be done?  There seems to be two different problems here.  One of them is aggressive driving and speeding in residential areas and the second being on the main roads like Derry and James Snow Parkway among other major intersections.

traffic calmingI’ve talked about traffic calming zones with speed bumps for residential streets to force drivers to slow down in areas around schools and where kids walk and play.  On the Hawthorne Villager Forum, people have talked about other ideas that possibly include a form of photo radar.

Raising awareness doesnt seem to work well.  You can have blitzes by police on a regular basis, but it seems that people go back to their old habits of driving 10km/hr over the speed limit because they can get away from it.

Why not make the speed limit 40km/hr in every residential area…no execptions.  If youre driving around homes, where there could be children crossing the street or bikes on the road the limit is 40km/hr.  This way if police do catch speeders, the fines will be increased and maybe someone will think twice about going over the speed limit.

There have been comparisons to speeding on the highways and the main streets and residential streets, and to me there is a huge difference.  Highways have an “allowance” of being over the speed limit.  Thats what fast lanes are for I’m told.

The fact of the matter is there are no fast lanes on Derry Road, Clark Blvd, Ferguson, Louis St Laurent, Trudeau or any other residentail street.  That arguement is mute.

It seems to be an ongoing issue.  Any ideas out there?  Let’s discuss.

mcclogo
 
Sep 04, 2009
DEAR EDITOR:

In regard to Cristina Drapeau’s recent letter about aggressive drivers in Milton, I couldn’t agree with her more.

I have lived in Milton for about seven years now and shortly after moving in I started to notice the exact same problems at the same intersections — Derry Road at Trafalgar Road and Derry at James Snow Parkway.

Other drivers have always used the merging lane as a quick pass lane and feel they have the right of way to merge aggressively.

I’ve witnessed a large amount of road rage and aggressive driving. Many of these drivers I see offend repeatedly on a daily basis. At least a few give a wave when you let them in.

Although I understand that the police can’t be everywhere all the time, I feel that everyone should know there’s something citizens can do about this problem. It’s called Community Road Watch.

It’s a community program where if you witness another driver demonstrating unsafe driving behaviour you can report that driver and incident.

The police will send the driver a letter explaining their unsafe behaviour and ask for their voluntary compliance.

If the driver receives multiple letters, then the police may contact the driver and potentially lay charges if they feel it necessary.

It’s quite simple to do. Just remember or jot down the information of the incident, including licence, vehicle, time, driver description, time, and location. You then report it by giving the report to your local police station.

There’s even an on-line system for reporting at www.haltonroadwatch.ca to make it even easier.

However, I do feel it’s important that one takes their time and considers what they’re reporting and if it’s correct or if we are letting our frustration get the better of us.

JOHN-PAUL DELSENY, MILTON

Aggressive Storms and aggressive driving

Mike Cluett

All I can say is WOW!  Last Thursday is a day I’ll be remembering for sometime.  For a number of reasons, and moving from my home on Yates Drive is the least of them.

The Champion has a couple of articles on what happened and the confirmation that it indeed was a tornado that hit Milton last Thursday evening.  Jennifer Smith has a few pictures on her website from that day as she was even closer to the line of the storm that day.

Needless to say many Miltonians will have their “where were you when the storm hit” stories.  Here’s mine.

As I mentioned before Pat, Anthony, Miranda and I have moved from our home of the last 6 years on Yates Drive to our new home on Arthur’s way…exactly 2.7 kms away.  Thursday was our closing date and the movers were doing their thing over the course of the day getting our furniture and memories packed up on the truck.  I have to admit, it was hard leaving.

There were some hiccups with the closing, as most closings go, and we were delayed a bit in getting the second half of the delivery completed.  Thats when things got very eerily quiet.  The air went very still for about 3 minutes and I had this funny feeling something was about to happen.  Standing in my garage, I looked out towards the road and I heard a very loud rumbling sound, almost like a train.  Before I knew it the sky went very dark…almost black and then sheets of rain suddenly appeared.  There were no drops of rain to announce its arrival but it was like someone turned on a very large faucet and it came down.

Winds were blowing madly as the very young trees on our street bent over from the force of the wind and the rain.  The movers were making mad dashes to get off the moving truck and leaving all the metal objects where they were for shelter.

The movers then had to call off the move because of the weather and the potential for more lightening.  Thankfully the new owners of our house were moving in the next day and let us keep our belongings there until the morning.

I am very grateful that no one was injured in Milton but the pain of the damage will live on in many peoples minds.  As my parents always told me, you can replace belongings but you cant replace a person.

***

RoadRage

Another thing caught my attention in the Champion was a letter to the editor from Christina Drapeau who detailed her experiences while driving in and out of Milton along Derry Road.  The reason why it caught my attention was I was witness to some very questionable driving skills from an individual going south on James Snow Parkway to Waldie.

As I was coming home in the right lane, a blue Pontiac Sunfire blew past me at a higher rate of speed.  I was doing 70km/hr and they must have been going almost 90km/hr.  This car was driving in the left lane and as we got around the bend towards the light at Waldie the car cut in front on another car in front of me, slammed on the brakes and made a very dangerous right hand turn into the subdivision at Waldie.  Thankfully there was no collision, but it does illustrate that there are some people out there who are driving to aggressively. 

A little shaken up, I continued down to Derry Road to continue towards Louis St Laurant.  I am now in the left lane for those of you who are keeping track…as the right lane ends shortly after Derry.  There was a large pickup truck in that lane waiting for the light to turn green.  The lane we are in is adjacent to the left turn lane to go east on Derry and after the light turns green the truck in front of me, instead of going straight makes a bee line left turn and almost cuts off 2 cars in the process.

So I understand what Christina is talking about when she voices her concerns on continued aggressive driving in Milton.

Do we really have to be in that much of a hurry?  Think twice.

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