ward 6

Special Council Meeting Tonight

Mike Cluett

With the pomp and circumstance of the inauguration of Milton Town Council over, now the work really begins.

Last Monday family and friends of council members and staff filled the chambers to witness the new council for 2010-2014 being sworn in.  As I mentioned in my comments that night, it was a very humbling experience.  I had a great time meeting with other members of council and their families.  There is a feeling amongst all the councillors that over the next 4 years, we will be a close to each other as our families.

Tonight’s meeting will consist of receiving a number of reports (very LARGE reports) that we have been sifting through for the past few weeks regarding the Boyne Survey and the Derry Green Corporate Business Park.

Here is the link to the agenda from Milton’s website.

The work doesn’t end there as next weeks meeting we will be receiving the budget documents for review and that begins the process in early January of approving the 2011 budget.  (Cue the sounds of pencils being sharpened)

Over the next few weeks as these documents become available I hope that you take some time to review them and provide any suggestions you might have to either myself or other members of council.

In January when I launched my campaign, or what I call my “conversation with Ward 6 voters”, I urged people to get involved in a discussion of ideas with town council.  There are a number of councillors who are described as “connected” and they are also looking for input.  The only way we can be effective is if we have a two way conversation of ideas to help Milton grow and be as fiscally sound as possible. 

The decisions we will be making in the coming weeks will be tough.  It will be hard to please everyone.  As Councillor Rick Malboeuf made mention on last Monday night that council has been sworn in for 4 years which means we will “be sworn at for 4 years” as well.

I will also try to get as many tweets as possible out tonight.  It will be a learning process and I have to see what I can get in while listening to discussion around the table.  Easier to tweet from the gallery but we’ll see what happens.

I’ll see you at the meeting.

 

Halton Police Update

Mike Cluett

File this one under REALLY?  So far this year Halton Police have laid almost 300 impaired driving charges. 

“Halton police report that since Jan. 1, 2010, 295 drivers on Halton roads have been arrested for impaired driving. A total of 123 impaired charges have been laid in Burlington followed by 87 in Oakville, 49 in Milton and 36 in Halton Hills. Police say that of the 13 traffic fatalities recorded in the region this year, alcohol was a contributing factor in four of them.”

It seems that with the increased awareness of the problem and more RIDE programs set in place, some people are not getting the message.  13 people in Halton died unnecessarily in my opinion.  Drinking and driving is totally preventable.  Just dont do it!

After our Milton Community Policing Committee meeting earlier this week, Const. Floyd said that Halton Police will be starting the RIDE program for this holiday season and will be out in full force.

It doesnt take that much of an extra effort to do the right thing.  The Champion article outlines a number of things you can do to help make our roads safer.

• If you plan to drive, don’t drink

• Choose a sober designated driver before partying

• Take public transit, a taxi or ask a friend to drive you home

• Spend the night where the activity is being held

• Immediately report impaired drivers to police

• Always wear your seat belt

Do the right thing…and help make this holiday season safer for everyone.  There are very few people who have had their lives affected by drinking & driving.  Either you know someone personally or know of someone who has lost a friend or loved one due to this totally preventable crime.

If you see someone who shouldnt be driving, try to stop them.  If not, call 911.  You could be saving a life!

And continuing with my previous post on Lock it or Lose it here is another article from the Milton Canadian Champion on unattended vehicles being stolen from peoples driveways.

Unattended, idling vehicles become stolen vehicles: police

Don’t let that warm car result in a cold walk this winter.As the Christmas season and the cold weather have returned, Halton Regional Police are issuing reminders to residents about precautionary measures they can take to prevent their valuables, including their vehicle, from being stolen.

Police say that between Nov. 3, 2009 and Jan. 14, 2010, 25 vehicles were stolen in Halton that had been left unattended and idling by their owners. Fifteen of those thefts occurred in Milton in the Derry Road community.

In Milton, leaving a vehicle unattended with the engine running is illegal under a town by-law and could result in a $75 fine.  An unattended running vehicle that is locked, even if it is in your driveway or in your garage, is still a target for thieves.

Police also warn about leaving car doors open or any items in plain view wherever you park your vehicle.

“Crimes of opportunity occur when we don’t take the necessary precautions such as locking our vehicles and placing items out of sight,” said a Halton police press release.

While there is no guarantee against becoming a victim of vehicle theft, or having your vehicle broken into, Halton police offer the following safety tips:

• Park in well-lit and attended areas

• Never leave your vehicle unattended with the engine running. Turn off the ignition and take the keys with you

• Always lock all doors and windows

• Never leave personal identification or valuables in your vehicle. Lock all valuables in the trunk. Don’t tempt thieves by leaving packages, cameras or purses in plain view

• Remove GPS navigation and cellphone devices when not in your vehicle

• Mount CD and MP3 players inconspicuously

• If you have a garage, use it and lock your car

• Never hide a spare key in your car

For more crime prevention ideas, visit www.haltonpolice.ca and follow the link to Community Policing.

And to illustrate this even further, here is this weeks Milton Police Blotter from the Champion.

BMW stolen while left warming

A 2006 BMW 325 valued at $30,000 was stolen from a driveway after the owner left it idling before his drive to work.  The incident on Huffman Crescent took place at 5:15 a.m. Monday.

Computer equipment taken from school

Overnight Monday, a portable classroom at St. Peter Catholic Elementary School on Dixon Drive was broken into.  During the incident a laptop computer and two Alpha Smart keyboards were taken.  Their estimated value is $2,200.

Car stolen during the day

A 2008 white Ford Edge was taken between noon and 9 p.m. November 17.  The car had been parked on Main Street East.

Milton Community Police Committee Update

Mike Cluett

As regular readers of the blog will know, I am a member of the Milton Community Policing Committee (MCPC)and we have monthly meetings about community outreach with the Halton Police Department and promote programs to help raise awareness of safety / crime issues in Halton.

Its been reported recently that despite the massive growth in the area, Halton remains the safest community in Canada. I think that’s a direct result of the officers in Halton and the great job they do.

During our meeting last night, they reported on some recent statistics of different crimes that are on the rise. A majority of them included car theft / property theft from peoples driveways.

In the last couple of weeks, Halton Police have had several incidences of vehicle theft as people start their cars in the morning and leave them unattended. Its important for people to realize that even though our community is “safe” there are still people from both inside and outside the region who are on the prowl looking for opportunities.

The MO of many of them are driving around neighbourhoods looking for unattended cars that are running, quickly checking to see if they are unlocked and driving off with them. The best line of defense is to either not let your car warm up unattended and unlocked or invest in an automatic car starter that locks the doors while its running.

Another disturbing trend is property theft from vehicles. People leave valuables like cell phones, wallets, laptops etc in plain view and that’s just too much of a temptation for criminals to do the quick smash and grab. The Halton Regional Police force are now embarking on a campaign to help raise awareness of this called “Lock it or lose it”

From the Halton Police website:

Lock It or Lose It

With the holiday season on the horizon, the Halton Regional Police Service would like to remind citizens to be cognizant and diligent by locking their vehicles and hiding valuable items.

Adhering to the following proactive recommendations may deter thieves from stealing your valuables:

1. Locking your vehicle and removing all valuable items from plain view. Items such as: GPS units, laptops, wallets, cellular phones and any other item of monetary value.

2. Simply locking your vehicle while valuable items are still visible inside provides a false sense of security. Thieves will smash the windows in order to gain quick access to these valuables.

3. Be particularly cognizant when purchasing expensive electronic equipment and then storing it in your vehicle. The best alternative is to transport these items directly to your home. If this is not a feasible option, lock the valuable item in the trunk of your vehicle.

4. Do not leave your vehicle running, unlocked and unattended while warming up in the driveway. Thieves have stolen vehicles from various driveways while they have been left operating unattended.

Don’t enable these thieves to steal your valuable items. Remove the opportunity and reduce your likelihood of being victimized.

Anyone with suspect information or information pertaining to any thefts is asked to call the Burlington Criminal Investigations office at 905-825-4747 extension 2316 or anonymously via Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS.

One of the things that the MCPC will be doing in the coming weeks is handing out brochures with this information at high traffic areas like shopping malls, GO Station, grocery stores etc to help remind people to be aware of the surroundings and to do what they can to make it difficult for these types of crimes to happen.  We will be working with the principals of Milton schools to see if they can help distribute this information as well so it gets in the hands of people.

The Committee is always looking for more volunteers to help out and to join us and help take part in initiatives like this to help raise awareness in our own neighbourhoods.  There have been quite a few new people joining us and we’re always looking for more.  There are a lot of ideas that we would like to implement and the more people we have helping us out the better.  Send me an email mike@mikecluett.ca if you are interested in joining the MCPC.  We meet monthly and combined with our activities its not a lot of time to spend, but it is worthwhile.

You can find out more about the programs of the Halton Police on their website www.haltonpolice.ca

Halton MPP Says Provincial Government “evasive” when it comes to MDH

Mike Cluett

Flipping through the online version of the Halton Compass, I came across an article in the November 11th edition about Halton MPP Ted Chudleigh asking the Health Minister Deb Matthews and anyone else involved about answers to Milton’s questions … when are we getting the hospital?

He wasn’t too impressed with the ministers answers during a committee meeting.  The video below the article is of the exchange (courtesy of Ted Chudleighs website)

Chudleigh Says Liberals evasive on Milton Hospital

According to Halton MPP Ted Chudleigh, Minister of Health Deborah Matthews has more moves than a prize-fighting boxer when it comes to dealing with the expansion of Milton District Hospital.

“She bobbed and weaved so much in answering a question (about the hospital) today that she again provided no concrete answer to a legitimate question.” fumed Chudleigh on November 2.

Chudleigh asked why the Ministry has been spending millions on consultants but has been pleading poor when it comes to providing the funds necessary to expand Milton’s small hospital.

“Minister Matthews dodged, went off topic and dodged again.” said Chudleigh.  “Her refusal to answer a legitimate question in the Legislature should anger Miltonians and all Ontarioians.”

Chudleigh explained that Milton’s hospital was built with a population of 30,000 in mind.  The town now boasts more than 90.000 residents and the population keeps rising, and is expected to grow more than 180,000 in another decade.

According to Chudleigh, the people of Milton have waited three years for action to be taken on the expansion of Milton’s hospital.  The money frittered away on consultants, as detailed in the Ontario Auditor’s Report, would have easily paid for the complete and necessary expansion of the Milton facility, he said.

“It’s pretty clear,” Chudleigh said.  “that the health care of Miltonians is less important to a Liberal government than transferring taxpayer’s money into the hands of their friends.”

Ted has spoken out many times over the last few years at the provincial level about the needs of Milton’s healthcare needs.  Here is an example of Ted in action.

During the last municipal campaign, the hospital was obviously one of the big issues.  I had stated, along with pretty much everyone who’s name was on a ballot, that the new Milton Town Council would do what they could to raise this issue with the provincial government.  I used the words “get off their duff” (believe me I wanted to use stronger words than that) when it comes to the expansion of our hospital.  Give us an answer either way so we can start planning at the local level when it comes to funding ideas for our portion.  This inaction isn’t helping Miltonians at all.

We need to put some more pressure on the provincial government.  Sending copies of reports and statements by council to anyone with an “@ontario.ca” email address isnt cutting it.  The provincial government spends its days telling municipalities like Milton and other surrounding communities that we have to grow by “X” amount in the next 10 years…but provides no financial assistance to get it done.  Just do it we’re told.

As this new council gets ready to go, we need to put together a plan that will help raise awareness of this inside the provincial government.  Many thanks to Halton MPP Ted Chudleigh for raising the issue in the provincial legislature on a regular basis.  Mr Chudleighs been known for time to time for ruffling a few feathers in the provincial government and I’m sure this isn’t the last time he’ll speak out about it.

Something has to be done.  A long time ago.  Its starts with a loud voice…then it turns into more. 

Public Consultation for High School Boundaries

Mike Cluett

Thanks to “daycaremom” from the Hawthorne Villager for posting this information.

On Thursday November 25th, there will be a public consultation meeting at Milton District High School regarding the school boundaries for public high schools in Milton.  As many in our ward are aware of, a new high school is being constructed at Louis St Laurent and 4th Line.  When that school and other new ones that will be constructed come online, the school board will be looking into boundary changes.

Public Consultation For New High School in Milton (SRA 105)

The Halton District School Board invites the public to attend a Public Consultation Meeting to review and provide feedback on various boundary change scenarios for the public secondary schools in Milton.  This consultation will take place on:

Thursday, November 25th, 2010 @ 7PM – Milton District High School 396 Williams Avenue, Milton ON

Halton District School Board staff will present information concerning each of the scenarios and parents/guardians will participate in discussions about each option.  Staff will be on hand to answer questions.

Here is the link to the HDSB website for all the information you’ll need.  On the right hand side you will see the link to the proposed boundaries in different scenarios.  In each of these scenarios, you will see that our ward and most of Hawthorne Village itself will be attending the new school when its constructed.  It is still important to be informed and if you have children that will be attending high school in the coming years, you should still attend.  I might not be able to make it due to other commitments but I’m sure there will be a report from those in attendance coming shortly.

Feedback forms

Enrollment Projections (All Scenarios)

MAP Scenario 1

MAP Scenario 3

MAP Scenario 7

Milton Santa Claus Parade 2010

Mike Cluett

It was a little chilly but still an entertaining day on Main Street in Milton.  Thousands of people despite the cold wind and the snow earlier on in the day made their way to downtown Milton for its annual Santa Claus Parade.  Over 50 floats made their way down Main Street to sing songs, dance, and promote a wonderful family oriented holiday season.

MiltonToday TV was there live online … I didn’t get a chance to go over and say HI but they apparently did a very good job broadcasting the parade online.  I’ll have to go check them out.  From where we were (in front of Knox Presp. Church) you could see the MiltonToday HQ.  Milton’s parade gets better and better as the years go on and this one didnt disappoint.  Mrs. Claus apparently needed some extra time to get her make up ready according to one of the parade marshals Colin Best but it took only about 2 hours for the parade be completed.

Troy’s Diner had an amazing float and a collection of dancers that knocked the socks off of a lot of people along the parade route.  Speaking with Tiger Ali Singh at Troy’s later this evening, he said next year was going to be bigger … and better.  “TIGER STYLE” as he put it.  You know its going to be big!

The Shriners as always did an amazing job.  Anthony now wants to see if he can ride those motorized scooters around soon.  Im almost afraid of what he would do in one of those.  The dancers from all the different groups looked cold but were still going strong at the half way point in the parade.  The parade was full of energy and shouts of “MERRY CHRISTMAS” can be heard all over the route.

Here are just some of the pictures we took along the parade route.  We had a fabulous time and congratulations to the organizational committee for another well done event.