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www.oakvillebeaver.com · OAKVILLE BEAVER Thursday, January 7, 2010 · 10 Burlington lawyer leaving police services board post By Tim Foran OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF A vacancy will be opening up on the seven-member civilian board that oversees the Halton Regional Police Services as Burlington lawyer Rick Burgess has decided not to accept another term as a provincial appointee. Burgess, who placed a close third in the race to become Burlington's mayor in the 2006 municipal election, said he will leave the police services board when his term expires Jan. 26. He has been on the board for the past five years as one of three provincial appointees, the other two being board Chair Bob Maich and Oakville resident Andrew Tyrrel. Burgess said the Province asked him in November if he wanted to serve another term, but he declined the opportunity. His law practice has become much busier over the past five years and he was satis- do in s to hing T 2010 staire e d Au d i o s r CallaF ce St D n www.fredastaire.ca fied with what the board had achieved during his term, he explained. As accomplishments, Burgess cited collective agreements that have been signed with the union representing Halton's police officers and civilian staff and the hiring of Chief Gary Crowell and two deputy chiefs. Burgess said he has made no determination whether he will seek public office in this year's municipal elections. However, he said that decision had no bearing on his leaving the police services board, noting he ran for mayor in the last election while continuing his service on the police services board. The Province's public appointments secretariat confirmed no decision has been made on who will replace Burgess on the board and that interested candidates could apply via the website https://www.pas.gov.on.ca/scrip ts/en/appl_how.asp. A final decision on the appointment is made by provincial cabinet based on a recommendation by Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services Rick Bartolucci. Burgess, a noted volunteer with community groups in Burlington, said his own appointment to the board developed from a personal friendship he had with former Liberal Finance Minister Greg Sorbara. "Greg Sorbara and I have been good friends going back to the early 1980s," Burgess said. "He asked me five years ago whether I'd be interested in a provincial appointment." His connection with Sorbara was not political, he clarified. "We practiced law together going back to the early 80s." Whoever replaces Burgess could be entering a challenging period for the police services board. While Halton's crime rate is relatively very low, it also has a lower ratio of officers to population than some other large municipalities. The board will also have to finalize a new collective bargaining agreement with its officers and civilian staff in early 2012. The past two agreements with officers, over six years, have included average annual wage increases of more than three per cent, higher than seen on average in the private sector during the economic downturn, according to government statistics. The police services board oversees police services in Halton. It also approves police budgets, primarily paid for by property taxes and ratifies collective bargaining agreements. Halton's police services board also includes north Halton resident Randy Hammell, a civilian appointed by regional council, as well as Halton Regional Chair Gary Carr, Burlington Councillor Carol D'Amelio and Milton Councillor Colin Best. While the elected members receive no remuneration, the four unelected board members receive a salary from Halton Region. In 2008, that remuneration was about $10,000 for the part-time service.