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www.oakvillebeaver.com The Oakville Beaver, Friday March 16, 2007 - 11 Meter ticking as Catholic board looks for new offices By David Lea report has come too soon. "I'm not happy with the process as it's going now because I think A new administrative building for assumptions are being made that the Halton Catholic District School may or may not be valid. I think Board could cost more than bringing consultants in at this point $22,000,000 and the spending has is premature and we need to take a already begun with the report created couple of steps back to look at what to research this costing $25,000. options we want to pursue." With the Halton Regional Campus Board Chair Al Bailey said the misProject no longer an option, the take lies with the trustees for not board voted on July 4 to direct staff to being specific enough in their resolupresent alternative options for an tion when they asked staff to present administrative site, which Giacomo alternative options to solve the Corbacio, Superintendent, Facility board's accommodation issues. Management "It might not be Services, did at the "I was somewhere between what everybody most recent board surprised and shocked that wants at this point meeting. in time, it was a any money was being spent The options general resolution, at this stage." report included but I think that structural ideas, by with the meetings Burlington Catholic the consultant that we'll be havSchool trustee Mekinda Snyder ing we'll get it fine Bob Van de Vrande Architects tuned down to a Incorporated that direction that called for a site area of between 3.9 they'd like to see," he said. and 5.4 acres. On June 20, 2006, the board voted The size of the property depends against joining the Halton Regional on the final height of the facility. Campus Project, a proposed governSchematics and drawings for the ment office intended to house not proposed building, which included a only the Catholic board headquarters, four-storey version, were also includ- but offices for halton Region, Halton ed in the report. Regional Police and the Halton The expertise of the consultants District School Board, as well. Watson & Associates Economists Ltd. Those who voted against involvewere brought into the report to try ment in the project cited everything and put a price tag on the board's from doubt in the venture's cost savendeavor. In every scenario they ing ability to fears that sharing office conducted the total capital and oper- space with non-Catholics would ating costs for the new building erode the board's Christian values. exceeded $22 million. Despite the setback Burlington Conflict erupted during the meet- trustee Bob Van de Vrande said the ing when it was revealed that the reasons for moving operations out of information contained in the report the board's current facilities are as had already cost $25,000 to compile. pressing as ever. "I was somewhere between sur"There are several facilities that prised and shocked that any money need to be consolidated and brought was being spent at this stage," said under one roof. Economics dictates Van de Vrande. that it's much better to run one facilWith no decision being made as to ity," he said. what the facility will look like or The poor condition of the buildwhere it will be located, Van de ings, particularly the facility at 802 Vrande voiced concerns that the Drury Lane, is also motivating efforts OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF to move. "This facility is literally falling apart. It was raining on the inside of another one a month ago and staff have had to be relocated out of that," said Van de Vrande. "They're deteriorating right around staff and those are not acceptable working conditions." The board will convene again on March 20 where they will look over the report in depth to determine where to go from there. "We have to do something, the question is what and how and how can we do it cost effectively, because it's all taxpayer money," said Van de Vrande. Natural gas water heaters Save $ Annual Costs ($) With natural gas, you'll save over * 50% when compared to electric. That means over the average 13 year lifespan of your water heater, you can save up to $2,457 on your water heating energy bill. 2457 * up to , Pandemic flu expert speaks at next Canadian Club meeting A flu virus expert will talk about the possibility of a deadly worldwide outbreak and how to prepare for one at the next meeting of the Canadian Club of Halton Peel. Scientist Kirsty Duncan will discuss pandemic influenza as the guest speaker at the Oakville Conference Centre, 2515 Wyecroft Rd., on Thursday, March 22. Duncan, an environmental and human health expert, professor, author and international speaker, will discuss the current threat of a pandemic, how the worldwide 1918 influenza impacted society and business, and what we can do to prepare for a modern pandemic, which some believe could kill millions of people. In Canada, tens of thousands could die. The 1918 Spanish Flu is estimated to have killed 20-40 million people. Duncan last spoke at a Canadian Club of Halton Peel dinner three years ago on her expedition to Norway that searched for traces of the killer 1918 Spanish Flu virus. She wrote a book about that outbreak. The Canadian Club dinner starts at 7 p.m. Cost to attend is $15 for students, $30 for Canadian Club members and $40 for non-members/guests. Seating is limited. For tickets or more information, call 905-827-6302 or send an e-mail to bwylie@globalserve.net. The Canadian Club's website is www.canadianclub.ca. 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