Soccer fields and history were the winners at the 2009 capital budget meeting Monday night at the Civic Centre.
Halton Hills budget committee (all members of council) began its 2009 budget discussions with approval of what Mayor Rick Bonnette called an “ambitious” capital budget of 85 projects. It still needs to be ratified by council at the December meeting.
“This year’s capital budget is approximately $24 million, which is a substantial capital budget, but the result of good financial planning,” said Treasurer Ed DeSousa. “The money is set aside ... it is a fully-funded 2009 capital budget and 2010-2018 capital forecast.”
DeSousa added only one caution: while 2009 and 2010 projects utilizing development charges are okay, beyond that, depending on water servicing, “we may have to revisit our development charges funding.”
Georgetown Soccer Club president Alice Strachan presented her club’s case to move funding for more soccer fields at the Trafalgar Rd. Sports Park from the 2011 capital forecast to 2010. The club gave its assurance that it would contribute $100,000 of the $1 million price tag for three soccer fields. The fields would be built near the 17 Sideroad entrance, and could be easily split into nine mini fields to accommodate the club’s overflowing registration lists of younger players.
Budget committee unanimously agreed to move the project forward a year, after getting assurances from Director of Recreation and Parks Terry Alyman that the...

Town's top-10 spending list for 2009
Tuesday November 18 2008 The top-10 capital projects total $18.7 million, and represent 79 per cent of the 23.7-million capital budget. They are:
1. Georgetown branch library expansion and renovation: $10,377,000
2. Cultural Centre improvements: $1,900,000
3.... Serving seniors
Tuesday November 18 2008 Ted Brown At the recent 54th annual Rotary Club of Georgetown Seniors' Dinner, RBC Guelph Street at Mountainview branch manager Mario Galante served Rita Van Wouw, as 11 volunteers from RBC helped the Rotary Club serve the group at Holy Cross... Council approves capital forecast for 2010-2018
Tuesday November 18 2008 By Cynthia Gamble, staff writer

Halton Hills Council also took a look at— and approved in principle— the 2010-2018 Capital Forecast totaling more than $153,000 in capital projects at its budget committee meetings this week.
A capital forecast outlines future spending...

Families say Habitat homes will change their lives forever
Tuesday November 18 2008

Lisa Tallyn

“This house represents love to me,” said Millicent Walala after receiving the key to her new Habitat for Humanity home on John St. Sunday afternoon.
“My smile on my face is not as big as the smile in my heart,” said an emotional Walala, who...

Town to take part in WWF Good Life initiative
Tuesday November 18 2008

Cynthia Gamble

The Town of Halton Hills has been selected to be one of five pilot communities in Ontario to help develop a new tool to make communities greener.
Town Sustainability Co-ordinator Damian Szybalski received word recently that Halton Hills has...

Teen charged after pair threatened
Tuesday November 18 2008

Halton Police arrested and charged a 16-year-old male youth Friday after threats were made to cause bodily harm to students at Christ the King Secondary School.
Police say two students were approached at separate times by another student who...

Board, caretakers reach tentative deal
Tuesday November 18 2008

A tentative settlement has been reached between the Halton District School Board and the union representing its schools and facilities caretakers and maintenance workers.
The tentative deal between the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE)...

Santa Parades 2008: Plenty of H2-Ho-Ho-Ho
Tuesday November 18 2008

Lisa Tallyn

Despite the dismal weather Saturday, streets in both Acton and Georgetown were lined with people who came out to watch the Santa Claus parades.
Bill Spielvogel, co-co-ordinator of the Acton parade sponsored by the Acton Firefighters...

Meeting the needs
Tuesday November 18 2008

Ted Brown

At a recent post-mastectomy clinic held at Young's Pharmacy, Nicole Kutney (left) of Amoena, a clothing manufacturer, addressing the needs of post-mastectomy women, was joined by Young's staffer Liliane Ferley, as they showed off one of the...

Glen board looking for new faces
Tuesday November 18 2008

Lisa Tallyn

The Glen Williams Town Hall Board is looking for some fresh, new faces.
Trustees are elected to serve on the board each year at the annual general meeting, which will be held tomorrow (Thurs-day) evening, at Glen Williams Town Hall at 7:30 p.m....

Happy 50th
Tuesday November 18 2008

Ted Brown

Past presidents of the Georgetown Hospital Volunteer Association gathered to place the final shovelful of soil at the base of a redwood, which the group planted in recognition of their 50 years of service at the hospital. Past presidents on hand to...

Armoury demolition delayed until end of September
Tuesday November 18 2008

Cynthia Gamble

The old Georgetown armoury building in the Georgetown Fairgrounds can stand at ease— at least until next fall.
The building, which was built in 1867 in response to the Fenian raids, earned a small reprieve at the 2009 capital budget meeting...

Board, ESL teachers agree to deal
Tuesday November 18 2008

The Halton Catholic District School Board has ratified a four-year settlement with its English as a Second Language (ESL)/Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada  (LINC) instructors, who are members of Canadian Union of Public Employees...