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Regional councillors grill chief over police pay hikesBy Christina Commissosee, and I dont expect,officers, six civilian posi-ning. And while the ratethe rise in salaries.METROLAND WEST MEDIA GROUPour officers to be paidtions and the conversionof criminal offences, vio-Theres no clearmuch different than theof seven part-time civil-lent crimes and propertyexpectation that theEquating the proposed taxother police services inian positions to full-timecrimes are up 5.5 pereconomy will get aincrease for police services to athe province.ones. The new hirescent, 5.4 per cent androbust recovery. Is thislarge cup of coffee each monthA starting constableaccount for $1.8 million6.3 per cent, respectively(on par) with respect todidnt sit well with some regionalwith Halton police makesof the budget. Another the crime rate inthe other members ofcouncillors, who questioned the$46,725 and a 1st Classbig-ticket item is anHalton is significantlysociety, and my questiondepartments string of wage increas-Constable earns $80,770. increase of $2.4 millionlower than that of sur-for you: Is there sociales during last weeks budget meet-The most recent col-for contract and benefitrounding regions. justice in this? he askeding.lective bargaining agree-costs. We have 9.5 per centCrowell.Halton polices request of $116.4ment spread out a 9.2 perDuring Crowells pres-poverty, we have eightLast years policemillion from the Region means res-cent wage increase overentation, he pointed outper cent unemploymentbudget translated to aidents who paid on average $460 ofthree years, whichthe ratio of police to pop-and 73 per cent of non-0.1 per cent tax increase.their residential taxes for policing,included a 3.1 per centulation in Halton is thegovernment workers doThis years budget, ifwill now be paying $480 a vari-increase on Jan. 1. Haltonlowest in the GTA, as isnot have pensions, saidapproved, will result in aance police chief Gary Crowellpolice are in line forthe cost of police perSharman, questioning1.5 per cent tax increase.equated to a monthly cup of joe.Halton Police Chief Gary Crowellanother raise in Januarycapita ($206.21 in 2009).The $20 is not the problem,2012.The region has also beensaid Burlington Councillor Johndid say Halton police officers wereThe 2011 budgetnamed Canadas safestTaylorsomewhere in the middle, of the. Its the 20 every year for theincludes the hiring of 13the last three years run-pay scale, compared to neighbour-last five to 10 years, and going for-HugeSaleonElectricFireplaces,ward its the $21, $22, $23. Thats aing forces.Fireside Tools, and Screensproblem because everyone elseI can tell you while we dontwants a double double.remain at the top were certainlyThe police budget shows a 6.9not at the bottom, he said. per cent or $7.6 million increaseSharman said hes heard fromhis constituents of a quantumfrom 2010. Following the presentation,change in salaries, which continueTaylor asked the department toto increase year after year. Referringreturn to council in the spring withto a recently published Globe anda plan to keep future budgets in andMailarticle on the price of policing,around the rate of inflation.the Burlington councillor asked,The people cant pay this rate ofWhen it comes to negotiating con-January 29 & 30, 2011tracts, police units look to make topincrease anymore.Burlington Convention CentreCouncillor Paul Sharman alsowages across the country. So when1120 Burloak Drive & QEWquestioned the increase and askedone city gives police a generousCrowell about the cumulative payraise, it drives up the cost in severalShow Hours:other municipalities. Is that cor-increase of a median-level police11:00 AM to 5:00 PMofficer over the last 10 years.rect?While Crowell said he couldntIm sure it is, Crowell replied.MASONRY & FIREPLACE DESIGN SPECIALISTSwww.cobblestonembers.caprovide the numbers, as wages areIm sure we want to, as any other406 SPEERS RD., OAKVILLEdetermined by way of collectivepolice service, remain competitiveACROSS FROM RONA LANSING905-337-2066agreements with various boards, heto those around us. I dont want toVision To be the most livable town in CanadaPublic Open HouseThird LineProposed Skateboard Park at Glen Abbey ParkThursday, January 27, 2011Drop-in from 79 p.m.Glen Abbey Room B, Glen Abbey Community CentreCommunity CentreTennis 1415 Third Linecourtsat the Oakville MuseumResidents will have the opportunity to provide Sobeys input and feedback into the development of a PlazaCelebrate the birth of Scotlands greatest poet proposed skateboard facility at Glen Abbey Park.Robbie Burns on Sunday, January 23, 2011 from 1-4 p.m. If you are unable to attend the meeting in person and wish to provide comments, please email Tickets are sold in advance for $10 per person floconte@oakville.ca or fax to 905-338-4188. For (tickets are limited).additional information, please call 905-845-6601, ext. 3158. For details contact the Potential Baseball diamondOakville Museum at Erchless Estateskateboard park location8 Navy Street, Oakville905-338-4400 www.oakvillemuseum.caN9 Wednesday, January 19, 2011 OAKVILLE BEAVER www.oakvillebeaver.com