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www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Friday, May 17, 2013 | 14 Milton growth is intense but it has only one trustee continued from p.8 "This motion attempts to get to the deficiencies in (education ministry) policy...," Marai said in support of his plan. "We are in a very unique position; we are one of the few (student population) growth boards," in Ontario, he told fellow trustees. The board's lone Milton trustee, Diane Rabenda, who is also the chair of the board of trustees, expressed both appreciation and indignation with Marai's motion. "This motion would eliminate an extra trustee for Milton," which she described as being grossly underserviced in terms of elected representation. "I thank you for trying to help me," she said, in acknowledging some trustees offering to help with events like school graduations in Milton, "but I will look after my constituents. "I regard this motion as selfserving," said Rabenda, noting she would have no trouble lobbying the government for more funding for mental health or other programs that benefit students. "If you want to argue for kids' programming, fine, I'll be at the front of the line, but if you want to (dispute) policy (with the ministry), that's self-serving. I'd be embarrassed." Oakville trustee Anthony Danko, who attended the board meeting via teleconference, reiterated that he will not accept the reduction of an Oakville trustee position. "As much as the growth in Milton is, I don't think Oakville should be giving up (some of) its representation." Danko said Oakville shouldn't be penalized for having had land development growth in years past. Oakville trustee Ed Viana urged his colleagues to lobby the Ontario government for another trustee for Milton. "Letters don't help. I want to send a delegation" to Queen's Park, he stated. Oakville trustee Alice Anne LeMay said the lobbying of the education ministry should begin immediately. She said that Bill 177 in the Education Act, related to student achievement and board governance, gives the minister the right to add a trustee to boards experiencing growth. For context, LeMay noted the Halton Catholic board once had 15 trustees. The Mike Harris Conservative government made changes to school board governance in 1997, which included a sharp reduction in the number of boards and trustees around Ontario. Halton Hills trustee John Mark Rowe said he didn't want to make a snap decision on such an important issue. "The intent behind this letter (to the ministry) is good, but I don't want to make a decision tonight on the (trustee format of the) 2014 (municipal) election." In the end, with a somewhat rare recorded vote, Oakville trustees LeMay, Viana, Danko and Marai, and Burlington trustees Jane Michael and Arlene Iantomasi voted for Marai's motion. Voting against it were Rabenda, Rowe and Burlington trustee John Morrison.