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Weekend f itb MIIOn'S Independant Phamacy F ree Oelivery *AM Dnig Plans Accepted «At 74*18 We Cam487 Lau ie Av , A Metroland Commnunity Newspaper Vol. 139 No. 101 Fniday, February 26, 1999 32 Pages .750 (GST included) Photo Wy GRAHAM PAINE vKids celebrate our past Recelvlng the Milton Historical Socletys Education Award was Mr. Nagy's Grade 8 at St. Peter's School, for their work on histori- cal sites such as Crawford Lake, Town Hall and the MiII Pond. Heme the students showcase their projecta which garnered them the award at Sunday's Heritage Awards. See page 7 for more awards photos. /Teachers settie a three year deal By HOWARD MOZEL Special ta The Champion After five months of acrimony, the Halton Catholic high school teacher dispute inally ended Monday with thse endorsement of a new three-year deai. 'Thse board is very pleased that the teachers rati- tied a multi-year contract whicb will bring stability to the system for the next two years," said Halton Catholic District ScIsool Board Chair iim' Sherlock. . Mr. Sherlock charactenized the deal as a fair set- tiement for both parties that was designed to restore stability to the Catholic secondary system in Halton. Ho said both sides are eager for a fresh start and are committod to developing an improved working oelationship. This new affiliation appears to ho getting off to a good start: Extra-curricular activities, which teach- ors had refused to conduct, have already started at anme schools. Joe Pece, president of the Halton secondasy unit of the Ontario English Catholic Teachers Association (OECTA), agreed with Mr. Sherlock's assessment that the settlement was a fair one. Bitter flght "It brings resolution to what was obviously a very long and bitter battie," he said. Mr. Poce belioves the three-year deal will allow time for both sides to rebuild the relationship that was "destroyod. "This seulement does come as a relief to teach- è'rs," said Mr. Pece. "The board's actions to lock teachers out of their classrooms will ho difficuit to forget. However, ail teachers are looking forward- to having the time to teach and work with stu- dents." The teachers voted 74.4 per cent to accept the agreement on Monday. The Halton Catholic District School Board ratified tbe new contract during a special meeting beld later that day. Mr. Pece said the 25 per cent of teachers who refected the contract did that flot an much because of the deal itself, but because of the manner the agreement was forced through the February 10 lockout by the board. "'Ihroughout the past five months the most onor- ous and contentious issue was the level of trust that has eroded between the board and its sec- ondary teachers," said Mr. Pece. Mr. Sherlock said the deal would not have been esee STRIFE on page 9 Barn, bouse burn A vacant house and barn were rav- aged by a couple of rural f ires this past weekend. It took ail three Milton Fire Department stations to battie the blaze on Bumhamthorpe Road, east of Tremaîne, which destroyed a $125.000 recentiy vacated home early Saturday moming. Sunday aftemoon on Fourth LUne, a barn on an occupied farm property was reduced to rubble, aithough no estimate on damages was available. Firefighters fought the blaze for more than two hours. %MnetSmtt'ha & Save 0Semr ,Vito's Pizza -Walmart A new skirmish over payi By IRENE GENTILE The Champion In round two of a councillor wage wran- gle, throwing politics out of thse arena touched off a new donnybrook. A week after counicil voted to appoint a citizen's committee to review council salaries, thse selection pruceas of tIse review team also came under fire. The issue arose at thse admrinistration and planning committee after Councillor Rick Malboeuf objected to a staff report sug- gesting that council appoint a five-member citizens committee to revîew couticillor stipends for the firat time since 1991. Normally, council is responsible for appointing the members of ai citizens committees. When it comes to the touchy subject of their own salaries, counicil shoultI take a more hands-off approach, said Mr. Malboeuf. "la it proper to have counicil de.cide who - use MONEY on page 14