6 - The Canadian Champion, Tusday, May 4, 1999 COMMENT Q4'AUftFJ 14W CAI o 1E FOR, 141(E, -ANP> LOWT/E~ RIC 1 Me Policy shift wrong move Municipal council is just muddying the waters by contemplating a O Ge M change to purchasing policies. What has been in effect until. 10W bas Q~Ic A r,~ worked well, as evidenced by the savings produced. According to a recent report, collectively Halton's four municipali- ties have saved $222,900 on 38 contracts in 1998 alone, thanks to chasing down the lowest bid without regard to point of origin. Milton saved $ 15,000 on $955,000 spread over 26 contracts. Councillor Rick Malboeuf, it would appear, wants to revisit this pol- icy with a view to perhaps changing it on smaller contracts. For lesser j amounts, he would like to look at favouring local bidders. The trouble is, where do you draw a lime in the sand? And how do you avoid crossmng it when, in essence, you have one policy for small- er arnounts of money and another, in direct conflict, for larger sums? Clearly, substantial local pressure would evolve to keep raising the benchmark as to what constitutes local purchasing. Could municipal council resist that type of pressure? Why bother creating the environment for it to flourish in the first place? (~ i Right 110w the policy is crystal clear. Eleven core members, includ- ' ing the four Halton municipalities, have banded together as volumeW purchasers. They buy in bulk at all levels, and they get the lowest price possible, period. That serves the interests of taxpayers as a A Tt1 I.O I 8<M KE:T E AR ( whole in Milton most efficiently. P LTg M .-ý A L v- SO UR READERS WRITE Crown adf4poie actrmpfly wIth nOw Let's flot add to town's parking problems; inonatonInShpprdm*re 014Vra planning key in new subdivisions: reader THE CAAJADIAN CHlAMPION Box 248, 191 Main St. E., TMe Candlas Champion, pubiished every Tuesday and Frlday Mitton, Ont. L9T 4N9 at 191 Main St. E., Milton, Ont., L9T 4N9 (Box 248), Is one af Tihe Metraland Plnting, Publlshlng & Dlstributing Ltd. group ni sub- QPI7Q~~1f~ urban compaties mhicit includes: Als 1 Pickering News (905)878 -2341~W Advertlser; Alliston Herald/Courler; Barrie Advancê; Brampton Guardian; Burlinaton Post; City Parent; Coilingmood I Wasaga Editorial Fax: 878-4943 Cannection; tant York Mirrar; Etobicoke Guardian; Georgetomn independentl Acton Free Press; lngnton This Week; Lindsay Titis Advertising Fax: 876-2364 Week; Manluiam Econamint & San; Mldland 1 Penetangeilihene Classified: 875-3300 Mirror; Mlsslsnauga News; Newmarket I Aurora tri Banner; Northumberland News; Northt York Mirror DaWvIe Beaver Orllla Ian Oliver Publisher Today; Oshtawa 1 Wiiby I Claringlan I Port Perty Titis Week; Peterboroagh Titis Week; Ricitmond Hill I Ttnarnhll I Vaughnan Neil Oliver Associate Publisher Liberal; Scarborsugh Mirror; Uxbrldge I Stouffvitle Tribune; Bill Degi General Manager TodaY'S Seniors. Rob Klly Eitor Advertislng Is accepted on thes condition tinat, In the event of a Rob Klly Eitortypograpitical error, titat portion of thne advertlslng space occa- Kasen Crass Circulation Manager pied by the erronenas item, together witit a reasonabie allomance TeriCas OficeMangerfor signature, wiii flot be citarged for, bat lte balance af lte Teri asas Offie Maageradvertlsement mli be paid for at lte applicable rate. Thne publisiter TlM Colles Production Manager reserves lte rigitt ta categorise advertisements or decline. Dear ditor: This letter is regarding parking and snow removal. Over Unis past winter, Uneoe was a lot of noise about Une streets not being plowed properly, especially Unose streets with cars parked along Une sides. Shortly afterward, Une town look steps to ensuiethUat Unis problem would be reduced in Une future by enforc- ing parking by-laws. Ticket Unose cars off Une street. But Une moot cause was ot addressed, Unat being Une lack of parking space in people's driveways, especial- ly in Une townhouse complexes and apartments around town. First of ail, it must be acknowledged Unat very few people use their garages for parking of a car. Mont are storage sheds for bikes, lawn mowers, and for the lucky ones of Une past winter -- snow blowers. Look at your own street. How many people actually use Une garage to park Uneir car in everyday? Thus, in Une calculations of parking spaces Unat developers use, garages can flot be included, only driveway space. Secondly, one must acknowledge Unat you need a car to get around Unis town, lending to Une f act Unat very few families in town have only one car. I believe it would be safe to say mont families have at least two, and Unose with teenagers probably have Unite or more trying to squeeze into Une driveway. The townlsouse complexes are even in worse condition for Pud These two items are what has led to Une existing sit- uation with cars consistently parking on Une street or in school lots ovemigbt. This gets to be even more of iý problem when you add into this mix the occasional ovemnight visitors with their own car. The Town now bas the opportunity to ensure that the new subdivisions do flot continue adding to this problem. When Une subdivision plan cornes to Une Town for approval, ensuit there is parking for at least two vehi- dles in Une driveways. Don't counit the garages in Une parking space calculations while at the saine time ensure Une sidewaJks remain clear. Maybe a better number might be parking Unree cars in Une driveway. Moi Walker Milton The Canodian Champion welcomes letters toW the editor. Lelters must be signed and the address and the telephone number of the writar includad. Mail letters to: The Canadian Champion, Box 248, Milton, Ont., L9T 4N9. by Steve Nease