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Ilalton District School Board Reducing delegation time Ishot down from the start By DEnNISMIT Special ta The Champion The door seems tightly closed on reducing delega- lion speaking time' at Halton District School Board meetings. There's no possibility of the issue being retumed by the current hoard, bylaw review commitfe chair Debbie Marklew said Thursday. "Il's up to the trustees to decide and I doubt if they would. 1 don't foresee il happening," said the Oakville trustee. "There's not enough support to reduce delega- lion time to fOve minutes." Currently, public delegations are allowed 10 minutes to speak and a recent proposaI suggested cutting this limit in haîf. In both cases, trustee questions of delegates must he included in the overaîl time limit. Other pmoposals included requir- ing delegations to provide 20 copies of presentations to the board by 4:30 p.m. on meeting day and limiting delegations to one speech per month on the samne topic. Combining committee recom- mendations and reporta in the agenda was alto suggested. "lThere was flot a chance to present the rationale behind them. They kBIed this before it got out of the starting gate." OMI! MAILEW At last week's board meeting, the recommendations were returned for information, but not brought forward for a vote. "Why table something if every- one is going to shoot it down any- way?" said Ms Marklew, who added early criticism of thse propos- ais ruined their chances. Ms Marklew was absent fromn the December 15 board meeting when an information update wan provid- ed on the recommendations. "There waa not a chance to pre- sent the rationale behind them," she said. 'They killed this before il got out of the starting gate." Reduced time for delegations was suggested to speed up board business, not to censor people, she said. "Trustees get 1 to 2 minutes each at election time to speak 10 parents' meetings," said Ms Marklew. "Why should delegations gel 10 minutes 10 tell me how lousy 1 am?" As for delegalions providing speeches before meetings, the aim was to review them and warni speakers if any statements were untrue or slanderous, she said. But deadlines for 20 copies and reduced lime limits and frequencies for delegations were criticized hy some trustees and the public. At st week's meeting, a mat said proposed reduced time limits and appearances are aimed at sti- fling public participation in dehate. "This really means that your minds are made up and you don't want anyone bothering you or the media with what may be alterna- tive views and dissent," said Tom Muir. "That's dictatorship, not democracy." As for delegations speaking on the same topic during the samne month, Mr. Muir said they want to participate further in the debate and it's their only chance. "They have something cise to say, new ideas and the agenda item itself being the samne doesn't change this fact," he noted. The Canadian Champion, Tuesday, February i, 2010- Board looking for funding The Halton District School Board is contacting Halton MPP Ted Chudleigh to determine if it will receive- another $2.7 million in funding. Recent 'corresponclence from Mr. Chudleigh indicated thte board could be getting the additional funding, said Milton Trustee Erica Andrew. Ms Andrew satd a letter dated December 8 stated the numnbers weren't final, but "it is my understanding the Halton District School Board will receive an additional $2.7 million with increased allocations in evety area of operation." The board decided to seek a meeting on the issue with Mr. Chudleigh. *Conveniently located LUBE, OIL & FILTER within walking 1 Serice aistance to GO station e24 years automnotive experience Tune-Up' 4 cy .. 69 6 cyI ...$7495 8 cy .. 89 *applies ta Most cars & Iight trucks " Bra ke Service " Steering & Suspension " MOT Safety Inspection " Computer diagnostics * Tires " Auto Electric& Charging Systemns * General Repairs