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14-The Canadian Champion, Fnday, February 18, 2005 I 2vf7 F-i )LASL3L~ Ends February 28th ~®~Er ~®r~T oei EWRYTHING hi tii. siore hicludlngfumlture oe~s., Plus $200offakids ~J~3C~-mnattress with the purchase oN a b.d ~jreat~'l$1 ~ iî~(s(x,~~/ 4~~/ a Me,~' ~ ~A Y\I~ COR~EP. FIJRNITSJRE BEoDING & FlaN STUFF ( Fn - /Towns public consultation By MELANIE HENNESSEY The Champion The Town's proposed public consultation guidelines came under fire at the community services committee meeting Monday night. The guidelines are designed to provide staff and residents with an understanding of the principles to follow when planning or participat- irtg in public meetings. The principles cover things like accountability. two-way communi- cation, mutuat respect, privacy, timeliness artd accessibility. Milton Rural Residents Association (MRRA) President Mike Grimwood told the commit- tee while the citîzens' group strongly endorses the Town's fîrst step to address concems of a "dem- ocratie deficit," it feels the princi- pIes are incomplete. "Matters such as transparertcy and answerability have been missed - time frames, timeline definitions and measure- ment procedures have not been identified," he said. "These omis- I sions need to be addressed in order that the guiding principles be a working practice, rather than a philosophical wish list." Campbellville resident Jim Harding told committee he'd like to see a separate topie of clarity put in the guidelines, instead of being included with accessibility/diversi- ty/inclusiveness. "Issues ot clanty need to be expanded to outline how the Town staff reports to council and to the publie." He also asked that the principle of transparency be included, and Mr. Grimwood suggested the com- mittee add both of Mr. Harding's proposaIs to the document. But no motions were made to that effeet. The clerk's office was initially dîrected by council to work with interested citizens and council members on defirting the guiding principles for public consultation about a year ago, afier receiving a public request so establish a com mittee on the subjeet. A report from Town Clerk Troy McHarg sdid the implementation of the guidelines will impact the Town in a variety of ways, such as: * certain projeets will take longer to complete in order to ensure ade- quate consultation. * there'll be an increase in costs in order to publicize consultations. * staff will be directed to ensure adequate time for public comment between public meeting/initial report and presentation of bylaw or final report for approval. The committee endorsed the guidelines, which will go before Milton council Febmary 28. Delegation rules discussed During the discussion on the guidelines, Milton resident Carolyn Caldwell also brought up concems she bas with delegation rules in the Town's procedure bylaw, saying she feels residents who wjsh to appear before a stand- ing commince or council shouldn't have restrictions placed on them. Currently. residents must appear before a standing committee ftrst and can only make a delegation to council if they have new infortna- tion to present that wasn't available to them at the committee meeting or if a staff report bypasses com- mîttee and s presented directly to council. But councillors can also bring a motion to the council meet- ing to have a delegate added to the speaker list and if it receives sup- port from the majority of council, the delegate can speak. "The present system demeans delegates," Ms Caldwell said. "If someone wants to appeal to a fuI council on an issue, it should be their right to get the vote from aIl members of council." Ward 3 Councillor ian Mowbray agreed, noting she doesn't think council should put the publie through the procedural point of making a motion for them to speak at council. Mayor Gord Krantz then made a motion calling for staff to review the procedural bylaw on delega- tions and report back to council, which the committee endorsed. Melanie Hennessey tan be reaî'hed ar nihennessev(gŽmillon canadianehampion.com. MILTON CHAMBER 0F COMMERCE PRESENTS r ~hg~ç~i~JV1iit n * more than a Home and Leisure Show! MAY6,7&820 5 at the Milton Sports Centre IF YOU ARE A MILTON BUSINESS--- YOU NEED TO BE PART 0F MILTON'S LAFWEST CONSUMER SHOW! Reach thousands of new and established residents - your potential customers - in one weekend!! ~ p~p~ 'il Cail the Milton Chamber of Commerce 905-878-0581 or check out our webslte at www.chamber.milton.on.ca before it's too late. Thank you to our Generous Sponsors to date: ~ GoodLik y For - information cal Showcase Manager Ahlison Mang at: 905-878-0581 showcase@chambe~mIbn.on.ca