The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

The Canadien Champion, Tuesday, October 30, 2001 - -5 Trustee says he 's not ready toresign us ye Ellis says a couple of things must happen before he will officially resignfrom position A Halton District School Board trustee has indicated he won't formnai- ly resign until at least the middle of next month. Michael Elus verbally announced bis intention to vacate bis seat as Ward 1 trustee for Burlington carlier "bi monUi, a day after board cbair EUicl Gardiner made a public requcst for hlm to step down. Howcver, M. Ellis, in bis second terni on Uic board, told The Burlington Post (The Champion's sister newspaper) last Tuesday bie won't fonnalize bis retignation wiUi a lenter to Education Director Dusty Papkc until he's ready. Mr. Ells bas been in Uic cyc of a board proce- ducal and policy storru since lait June of Uiis year, wben he cailed for an extemal investigation into certain practices of Uic board. He continues to ailege Uic board illegally prolonged a meeting in May, at wbich turne a new contract for M. Papke was approved, and Uiat Uic minutes of Uic meeting didn't reflcct Uic actual proceedings. On anoUier issue, he also alleges Uic board present- cd incompicte information to Uic public regard- ing future school closures. Mr. Ells' charges were refuted, Uiougb, by an extemal audit conducted by a consulting compa- ny. The report's fmndings, wbicb cleared Uic board of any wrongdoing, were presented aithUi Octobcr 17 board. meeting. Ms Gardiner Uien asked for Mr. Ellis' resignation. M. Papke and Ms Gardiner say trustees can't gct on wiUi Uic business of fitiing any vacancy on Uic board until Uic elected official in question makcs a resignation official. "I read in Uic ncwspaper Uiat he's resigning but be basn't told me Uiat. As fac as l'mn concemed, he's stilI a member of Uic board," M. Papke said. M. Ells said a couple of Uiings must bappen before hc resigns officially. "Tbey still baven't forwardcd me a copy of Uic investigative findings. I want to look Uiat over. t've only beard about it (results) Uirough Uic media. I'm obviously not Uirillcd wiUi Uic fmd- mngs. Mr. Papke said a report package waa sent to M. Ellis' home immediately after the meeting. Aside fromn wantmng to see the report ticst before hie acts, Mn. Ellis said hie plans to attend a meeting with members; of the Aldershot Community Council (ACC). He said some constituents and ACC members have asked to meet with him about the report and to ask hlm more questions. That meeting was tentatively set for tomorrow, but has been pushed back to November 14. Mr. Ells said be's "99 percent" sure belIl sub- mit a written lenter of resignation soon after read- ing the report and meeting witb the ACC. Mr. Papke said the board can proceed in one of two ways to fill a trustee vacancy according to the Editcation Act. If the opening occurs in a non-municipal election year, wbicb tbis is, it cas appoint an individual witbin 60 days of the vacancy, or it can pass a resolution to hold a by- eleetion in the ward. Mr. Papke said that, teebnically, Uic act states a trustee automatically forfeits bis or bier seat if Uiey miss Uiree conreutive regularly-scbeduled- board meetings. Mr. Ellis bas missrd two in a row wiUi the next one on November 2 1. "If be bas made thc decision to resign, Uien Uic soonier Uic board knows Uiey can have someone in place to represent Uic area (ward) Uic better." Mr. Papke nbserved. Despite about two years left in Uic current board's mandate, Ms Gardiner indicated Uic replacement of Mc. Euls by board appointment might be preferable to a by-election. "Personally, 1 tbink a by-election is extremely costly, and I don't know bow mucb interest is in Uic Aldershot area. Mike (Ellis) was acclaimed." M. Papke said a by-election would cost any- wbere from $50,000 to $70,000 and that Uie scbool board would foot Uic entire bill. Meanwbile, Uic investigation prompted by Mr. Efls' allegations will cost Uic board in excess of $50,000. There bave been tbcee trustees replaced on Uic Halton public scbool board in Uic last tbree years. Burlington's David Bird and Oakville's Debbie Marklew tcft in 2000, weeks before the municipal elections, to live outtide Uic region and were replaced wiUi appointees Dan Drohan and Kelly Amos. Oakville's Mary Dempster resigned in 1998 and was replaced in a by-election by Lyrn Roberts. a> 0~ rhe most fuel efficient vehicles in their class. Limited 1400 Litres of gas for just lIgiII oniy IVC WILII dialy lIUW Venture Van O0 O Retail crediit of financing Up on cash pu re to 48 Months AVAILABLE ONLY ON 2001 VENTURE VANS MW RicaRDSGUN CHEVROLET-GLDSMOBILME HWY. 25 S. AT DERRY RD., MILTON