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Mother Goose played by Paul Kerry Wright, peruse the c! Georgetown Little Theatre’s production of “1 John Elliott Theatre in Georgetown. There are tion. Two shows today (Saturday) and Sunday, at 3 p.m. P = i} An avid reader PEntremont (right) and her daughter Jill, played by Jassifieds in Halton Hills This Weekend, during ‘Mother Goose” currently playing at the four shows remaining in:this produc- and 7 p.m. jhoto by Simon Wilson/HHTW Chief Harding leaves his mark By Cathy Vint Special to HHTW Although James Harding, former chief of the Halton Regional Police Service, has moved on, he’s left his mark behind, which will affect members of the police service for years to come. On Harding’s initiative, Halton police are the first in Ontario to have an employ- ee-driven Member Charter of Rights. “Many private sector companies have similar statements,” explained Jim Watson, director of admin- istrative services, who added he hasn’t heard of any other police force with a similar agreement. The document, jointly signed by the former chief, a member from the police services board, police asso- ciation and officers’ associ- ation, outlines basic human rights philosophies in the workplace, and offers the employees a simple griev- ance procedure, where they can resolve a dispute inter- nally, using independent sources, while acting anonymously. Although the police already have a grievance procedure through their col- lective agreement, the char- ter encourages a quicker, non-stressful way to deal with misunderstandings, explains Watson. “Policing can be a very stressful environment. This offers a way to alleviate the stress, and clear up the dis- pute internally.” The document is based on the belief that everyone, id. our belief of how we should deal with one another,” adds Watson. Taking more than a year to develop, the agreement does not replace or super- sede the employees’ collec- tive agreement. At his final police ser- vices meeting last month, Harding: spoke about democracy, describing the charter as a way people can express concerns without fear of retaliation. “This will stand as an example to other police forces,” commented Harding, “I intend to take this to my next job.” On Jan. 1, Harding will become chief investigator for the Special including an senior staff, is accountable under the charter. “It is a basic: statement of r Unit, a provincial watchdog organi- zation which oversees polic- ing. iw WEENEND = ~ 24hr. pager ~ Call Brenda 877-5165 JGfiivson s_ BRENDA PAYTON ASSOCIATES ‘Sales Representative Vol. 2,No. 23 Saturday, December 11, 1993 28 pages ue 232 Guelph St., Georgetown 873-2254 ‘Your independent voice in Halton Hills* Halton Police chop service hours _ Editor's note:The follow- i _release..was received from Halton Region Police Service. As a result of the 1993 Provincial Government Economic Control Plan and the Social Contract, the preparation of the 1994 Halton Regional Police Service Operating Budget has been a very difficult ocess. To cope with chal- lenges of our current eco- nomic constraint, our man- agers and staff have been able to streamline and reduce costs (in addition all staff volunteered to take time off in lieu of pay for overtime and to take one day off in 1994 without pay). However, the first draft of the Operating Budget still came in over the Provincial/Regional guideline. To further reduce the Operating Budget meant reducing the level of service to the public which is of great concern to the Halton Regional Police Services Board and management of the Halton Regional Police Service. In an effort to find dollars to..accommodate Regional Budget Guidelines, the Halton Regional Police Services Board made the decision to restrict the hours police buildings are open to the public. A new schedule for police buildings open to public access as follows: Oakville, Burlington and Georgetown (Halton Hills): Monday to Thursday — 8 a.m. - midnight; Friday and Saturday — 10 a.m. - 2 a.m; Sunday= 8a.m. - midnight. Regional Headquarters: Monday to Friday — 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. (after hours by con- trolled access). To facilitate the restricted schedule will mean the ter- mination or redundancy of seven (7) civilian positions within the Police Service. Every effort is being made to accommodate the affect- ed personnel within present and future vacancies.’ This procedure will determine the phase-in of the new hours. At this time only the Oakville District Station will operate under the new hours as of Jan. 1, 1994. To. minimize the impact of the station closures, telephones will be installed at the entrance of each building to give the public direct access to a Staff Sergeant within the building or to our Radio Communications Centre. Calls to 911 or the Halton Regional Police Switchboard are dispatched to Halton Regional Police officers assigned to patrols in communities across Halton. Officers will contin- ue to respond to calls as required. In the past, the staff of the Halton Regional Police Service has been innovative in the generation of new ideas to keep our per capita cost of policing to one of the lowest in the province. It is anticipated that as we are forced to cope with the challenges of our current economic constraint, we will continue to be in the forefront of providing an acceptable level of service to the public. ily members include, with Darryl Patterson of Webster Way in Georgetown wit them on their new family additions, triplets who were Victoria and 3-year-old Alanna. me, Halton Hills Welcome Wagon hostess Debbie Butler (left) presented Donna and ith a gift basket to congratulate | born Oct. 7. The Patterson fam- Donna (née Picoulas) Teresa and Jaclyn, and with Darryl, photo by Simon Wilson/HHTW 50 cents includes G.S.T. liday season, Mayor Miller an cancel the New Year's Levee and ler and it's-Here! The Great Canadian Coat Sale Every Leather, Suede and Shearling coat or jacket is now on sale — shop today! the olde \ Hide House Plus great gift ideas such as leather writing cases $19”, or wallets from only $18”. Thurs-Fri 10-9, Sat-Wed 10-6