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A4 THE OAKVILLE BEAVER Wednesday August 22 , 2001 Violent crime up 1 6 .5 % in Halton By Fannie Sunshine SPECIAL TO THE'BEAVER Violent crime increased 16.5% in the region during the first six months of the year compared to the same peri od in 2000, according to statistics released by Halton Regional Police. D om estic assault increased 36%(from 136 to 185), followed by sex offenses at 31.1% (from 74 to 97). Robbery and fraud were also on the rise at 26.8% (from 41 to 52) and 29.9% (from 274 to 356) respectively. Hit and run occurrences increased 8.4% (from 666 to 722). Halton Police Chief Ean Algar said he had no meaningful reason why sex offenses and domestic assaults have increased. He said perhaps domestic assaults are "a sign o f the times" and a reflec tion of problems in the family such as unemployment. On a positive note, the report showed crime involving stolen proper ty in Halton dropped by 38.6% (from 88 to 54) and offensive weapons offenses also fell by 34.1% (from 124 to 81). Impaired driving occurrences went down 6% (from 199 to 187). Sue-Ellen Slater, a spokesperson for Halton W omen's Place, said the Milton and Burlington facilities, oper ating at capacity, turned away 540 requests, for shelter during the year ending March 3^, 2001. T hat's an increase o f almost 53% over the 353 women and their children denied shelter during the previous year. Trustee putting job on the line M ich ael Ellis says h e 'll resign if no w rongdoing found a t B o a rd By Paul Mitchison SPECIAL TO T H E BEAVER There has been little public fanfare but strong reaction from trustees - to an external audit o f the Halton District School Board. Responses to the call for investiga tion have ranged from `reprehensible' to `welcome and long overdue'. Investigators have met this summer with Chair Ethel Gardiner, Education Director Dusty Papke and Burlington trustee Michael Ellis. M ore interviews are anticipated, with results expected sometime in September. Ellis sparked the probe on June 20 by calling for an independent investigation and ministry takeover o f the board. He also asked for resignations o f the chair and vice-chair. One week later, trustees reluctantly approved an external audit, which could cost taxpayers up to $50,000. `T o spend much-needed dollars on an inquiry is reprehensible to me. These dollars will come directly from class rooms," said Burlington trustee Debbie Downs. "But it is for the good o f the school board to prove trustee Ellis wrong." Ellis complained o f the following alleged irregularities in board proce dures. -- M isrepresentation o f financial matters and failure to disclose financial inform ation affecting school closure votes last November; -- Inappropriate appointment proce dure o f trustees; -- M isadm inistration o f trustee allowances; -- Abuse o f board policy/bylaws regarding staff hiring and negotiations; -- Violation o f bylaws in private ses sion concerning the recent approval of the director's contract and pay increase. The latter situation was `the last straw' for Ellis, w ho considered taking action for months. "W e're not above the law and we do not make the law," he said. Ellis believes the board has violated the Education Act. "I've raised concerns in private ses sion and said they couldn't do this, but it fell on deaf ears," said Ellis. "I knew a couple o f bylaws were being broken." He believes the probe could prevent legal action threatened over the closure o f Burlington's W. E. Breckon School. Supporters o f the school have argued the board failed to disclose critical financial inform ation. Ellis believes the audit could either clear the board or uncover an inadvertent wrongdoing that can be rectified. "Either way you look at it, w e're going to save a large amount in legal costs," he said Chair Ethel Gardiner said the investi gation was needed to prevent the allega tions from festering. She said Ellis' charges were designed to plant seeds of distrust and suspicion o f wrongdoing. "Being a trustee is not about col league bashing and staff bashing," said Gardiner. "It's about recognizing, valu ing and respecting an education system." SJie added that being cheerleaders for the board is a trustee's most important job. Oakville trustee Drew Currah said Ellis' action was `a little extreme', but he expressed concerns about board opera tions. "We have to be an independent board," he said. "There's a place for cheerleading and that's on the football field, not at the board," he said. Currah is concerned policy gover nance will take trustees off negotiating and hiring committees and give too much power to the education director. "Dusty Papke is a pretty good direc tor, but this is a public institution with 5,000 employees and no one person should have that much power," he said. But Papke said policy governance will increase the education director's accountability and encourage trustees to bring forward policy initiatives. "Some say the changes in education have downplayed the role o f the trustee," he said. "B ut th at's not inevitable. Trustees are very relevant as the local connection. They are the ones who are setting directives to see achievements in schools." Papke added there will still be room for disagreements and public input. And the policy governance model can be amended, he added. Two other Oakville trustees, vice chair Mary Chapin and Kelly Amos, said Ellis' allegations have no basis. But they agreed the board needs an investigation to clear its name. "It's important for the public to see there's nothing behind th is/' said Amos. "I'd hate to see the cost if this is done externally, but it would remove all points o f doubt." Ellis said he has served on commit tees, but gave up on policy governance sessions because they were too closeminded. "Basically, they say `You do it our w ay'. They're not listening," he said. Ellis wondered how his accusations can be called petty, when he hasn't revealed full details. The trustee said he'd save those for investigators. Ellis has staked his trustee career on the investigation, saying he will resign if no wrongdoing is found. 'Canada's Original Super Store For Your P et!1 NUTRIENCE TRUCKLOAD IV iN T Alt, NUTRIENCE PRODUCTS ON SALE! SPECTACULAR SAVINGS! 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The Oakville Horticultural Society will hold its Annual Flower Show Saturday at anew location, Oakville Place. The show, which runds from 9.30 am. to 6 p.m., will fea ture floral arrangements, cut flowers, vegetables and a Junior Competition. M ayor Ann Mulvale will present the awards at 4 p.m. The society's Junior program has been in operation for about two years, and provides instructors to schools interested in demonstrations and hands-on horticulture for students. In addition to schools, the Oakville Public Lbrary has also featured instructional sessions on its Saturday morning pro gram. Projects include hands-on creation of miniature tenrariums, (in a plastic sundae cup and particularly appreciated by younger children) planting of paper whites in see-through con tainers, planting of seeds (both annuals and perennials), trans planting o f herb seedlings to create an herb pot and the creation o f initials using water cress. `T o date we have touched 1,420 young people, hopefully in a positive way," says Libby M onkman of the Oakville Horticultural Society. "We also sponsor a Garden Club in one o f the elementary schools with a varying membership of 10 to 30 students." During the summer the society runs a Teaching Garden program involving 15 children between ages 6 and 12. Six adult volunteers helped, on occasion, by participants' parents, ensured a minimum o f four adults in attendance at each meet ing. "We are very fortunate in having the support o f Oakville Parks & Recreation and to be allowed to use ground adjacent to the greenhouse on Cornwall Road for this project. "We started in March with instruction in the greenhouse and were, allowed to utilize a little space for seeds planted by the children, moving the young plants out doors in June both to individual plots operated by each child and to the commu nal ground where both vegetables and flowers are flourish ing." At last years' annual Flower Show all gardening partici pants were entrants not only in horticulture but in the decora tive section also. "The children were delightfully enthusiastic, particularly in the creation o f their `decorative,' says Monkman. Similar to last year, the children will be given uniform con tainers pre-prepared with oasis and an ample supply of fresh cut conditioned flowers. Two adult `instructors' will be avail able to the children for advice only. All entries are to be com pleted between 9:30 and 10:30 a.m. Flowers and vegetable grown by the children in their own plot at the .Teaching Garden will be on display forjudging by the professional judge in attendance. Because of space limita tions participation is restricted to children already registered. For more information abut this year's show, call the Oakville Horticultural Society at 905-825-3509 or visit its web site at www.oakvillehorticulturalsociety.com. PET CONTAINMENT SYSTEM : Keep your pet in your yard without the u i c need a c e u ifor u i traditional m u i u u u fencing. DELUXE.......... INSTANT FENCE C '8'S*tP TMsSS' 4 s 3490 0 *449°° Kills algae, parasites and harmful bacteria, making pond water cleaner, clearer and safer for all pond inhabitants. 16 watts. MSRP $249.99 *14** ` ? I I | OAKVILLE ( 905) 829-9999 HW Y. 4 0 3 & D U N D A S PINE SHAVINGS UV STERILIZER 56 litre press pack. MSRP $8.99 d i n I A^UMsplAU. 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