Over the next couple of weeks (maybe) I’ll be doing some major changes to my website to make it a little easier to get around. As always you can always head here…but in time www.mikecluett.ca will be the only site you’ll need to discuss Milton, our ward and town council issues.
Thanks in advance for your paitence….and I’ll see you at the doors!
There are a lot of drivers in Milton who use James Snow Parkway south of Derry as a route to get home and around town. That road didnt even exist a year or so ago but has now finished its construction but the effects are still being felt.
While this road was under construction the speed limit was reduced to 50km/hr, as most roads under construction are. Recently reported in the Champion back in December, that stretch of road was approved for an increase in the limit to 70km/hr by Halton Regional Council. When changes are made to the speed limits, the Region or the municipality in charge of the road should, within a reasonable amount of time, put new signs up showing the different limits.
Many drivers who take that road found the limit difficult to change as most were coming south on James Snow Parkway from the 401 and the speed limit dropped from 70 km/hr to 50 rather quickly. Halton Regional Police responded to a number of complaints from drivers who speed excessively down that stretch of road took it upon themselves to set up “speed traps” as a way of educating drivers and of course, hit them in the pocket book.
Problem is, according to a new article in the Milton Canadian Champion by Tim Foran, the police force were informed of the speed limit change but yet this past week, held a speeding blitz where a number of drivers were hit with speeding tickets.
Over at the Hawthorne Villager forum people were speaking out how unfair this practice was and it also raised a few issues legally speaking about the validity of the speeding tickets. Sure the limit was legally 70km/hr but the posted speed limit was still 50km/hr.
I consulted a good friend of mine and paralegal extroridinare Dave Sokolowski of Sokolowski Legal Services for an answer.
He said, “A law or a by law may be passed at any time, but until it is enacted it is not in effect. The councils decision to increase the speed limit on this stretch of road although passed in December technically was not in effect until the signs were changed.
The Highway Traffic Act is clear that all drivers must obey the posted signs, much like if you were travelling through a construction zone and the speed limit is reduced. You may have driven on that road 900 times at the speed limit of 80, but once the signs go up that its 60, that is the rate of speed that you must travel at.
Although I cannot speak as to why the officers were running the “speed trap” before the signs were changed, I can say that they were not doing anything wrong at the time.
Everyone who has recieved a ticket does have the right to be able to fight it. I cannot say that the Crown involved that day would have the charge withdrawn, but they may have it reduced so that there are no points against your license. “
If you found yourself to be one of those people with the traffic tickets and would like to get some legal advice or representation, I recommend speaking with Dave at Sokolowski Legal Services to find out what, if anything you can do about the tickets.
This of course provides me an opportunity to remind everyone that the limits you must drive at are the posted speed limits. Please take your time around town and obey the speed limits.
I’ll see you at the doors.
Cluett to try once more in Ward 6A Milton man who came close to securing a seat on council in the last municipal election is hoping the second time’s a charm.
Mike Cluett, who was only 93 votes shy of unseating long-time Councillor Brian Penman in 2006, has filed to run for councillor in the newly-created Ward 6 this fall.
The local blogger said he’s throwing his hat back in the ring because he feels town council needs to refocus its priorities.
“I think the Town is spending a lot of money without focusing on infrastructure and roads,” he said. “There seems to be a disconnect when it comes to issues relating to the growth in town and the concerns of the population.”
Cluett, a father of two and a sales consultant for a payment processing company, has lived in Milton since 2003.
He served on Milton’s 150th anniversary committee and has also been active in the community by working with residents on safety issues like residential speeding, parking and stop signs.
Ward 6 is framed by Derry, Thompson and Britannia roads and Fourth Line.
You can follow the exploits of the Mike Cluett campaign through a number of resources.
As always you can go to www.mikecluett.ca and this blog to see whats going on in town. Also you can follow me on Twitter by entering www.twitter.com/mike_cluett
Finally you can join my fan page, as many of you already have, by clicking here.
In on of Milton’s most popular sites, MiltonSearch.com reported on one of Milton’s “worst kept secrets”
In another message from the ‘worst kept secret in Milton’ department, Mike Cluett confirmed this morning via his Twitter account that he has indeed filed his paperwork and is officially a candidate in Ward 6.
Its official! Mike Cluett is a candidate for Ward 6 in the Town of Milton! #miltonvote
Mike is a great guy and his passion for the Milton community is second to none. He campaigned tirelessly around Hawthorne Village the last time around in 2006 and looks to be one of, if not THE favourite in Ward 6 in 2010.
Cluett is also visibly in touch with the community through his popular Milton blog, which he’s been posting on for at least five years now, and is also a regular contributor to the Hawthorne Villager forums.
MiltonSearch.com would like to wish Mike all the best in his run for Town Council in 2010. Mike truly is one of the good guys. As we have opined before, we strongly urge Miltonians to get out and vote in our Municipal Elections this October and elect the right people who will help to shape a positive future for our town.
As of this morning, I have filed my nomination papers for the position of Local Councillor for Ward 6. The election is to be held October 25, 2010.
I didn’t come to this decision easily. Over the past several years I have seen town council lose focus on the priorities of Milton taxpayers. There seems to be a disconnect when it comes to issues relating to the growth in town to the concerns of the population.
Many Miltonians don’t even know who their councillor is and that has to change.
My platform is simple. Accountability to taxpayers, sound financial management and smart growth. It’s important that there be a two-way dialogue between elected officials and the taxpayers. You can count on me as your town councillor to begin that conversation not just during election campaigns, but in between as well.
Stay tuned to this blog in the coming days to find out more about how we can secure Milton’s future…together.
You can join my Facebook page HERE for up to the date information on the campaign. Twitter me here as well.
I look forward to hearing from you over the next several months and I hope to count on your support.
See you at the doors!
Happy New Year everyone.
For those of us who enjoyed the fact there was very little snow on the ground, we sure got an eye opener yesterday. While the amount of snow was nothing to write home about, it was a reminder that we really havent hit the peak of winter yet and more of the white stuff will be coming….stay tuned for that.
I didnt get a chance to blog about it on New Years Day but I had the opportunity to attend the New Years Levee at Town Hall and the induction of the newest members of Milton’s Walk of Fame. More on that later but it was quite the enjoyable day that ended with Walter Gretzky serenading my wife. (Dont worry, she came home with me) Walter Gretzky, as if it hasnt been said a million times already, is an amazing man.
During the levee there were a number of children running around and he was right there with them, entertaining them and helping them sneak extra pieces of cake and cookies. Always with a smile on his face, he definatly is someone to be admired. He was there from beginning to end signing autographs making sure he didnt miss anyone who wanted to speak with him. Mr. Gretzky is truly a gentleman.
Whenever there is something to be done in his community, or any community for that matter, you can always count on Walter being there to lend a hand. He helps out regularly in the Town of Milton and especially with Troy Martin from Troy’s Diner in a number of charitable events. I wish that the world had a few more Walter’s.
The Milton Canadian Champion has put out its top news stories in Milton for 2009 and I thought it was quite interesting to see how many changes there have been in the last 12 months. The story that had the biggest impact on Milton would be the closure of Meritor and SKD putting hundreds of people out of work. Other obvious choices like the tornado that hit Milton (and pretty much ignored in the main-stream media of the area. I guess it was because no one died or the rest of Ontario STILL hasnt realized that its the GMA (Greater Milton Area) 
Feel free to comment on the news stories from the Champion.
The past 12 months have held no shortage of controversy, tragedy and unusual circumstances for local residents. In other words, it was another news-rich year for Milton.
Here, in chronological order (as much as possible) are the top 10 events that made the biggest headlines.
Meritor, SKD shut down
Milton’s auto parts sector was hit hard this year, with two businesses closing their doors and putting hundreds of people out of work.
After 55 years in operation, Meritor Suspension Systems Co. announced its plans in March to permanently close its Steeles Avenue coil springs plant by the end of the year, leaving 165 people unemployed.
The decision, which the company said was made to reduce overall capacity and costs, left long-time employees and Miltonians shaking their heads in shock and disbelief.
Around the same time an Ontario court approved the sale of SKD Automotive’s assets, leading to the closure of the Wheelabrator Way plant, which employed 220 people.
The sale and shutdown of the plant had been widely expected since SKD went into creditor protection earlier this year.
Storm, tornado wreak havoc
Mother Nature was less than kind to Milton this year, with a severe storm pummeling the town in April and a tornado blowing through in August.
Both incidents left behind a messy trail of downed hydro wires and trees, along with damaged homes and businesses.
The tornado, which largely hit the older parts of Milton, was an F1 on a scale that ranges from F0 to F5. An F1 storm can produce winds up to 180 km/h.
Starting at about 5:30 p. m. on the night of the tornado, the sky filled with lightning and torrential rain pounded down. The twister made its appearance between 6:30 and 6:40 p. m. Several residents described a noise that sounded like a train roaring through.
Afterward, the community rallied together to help the tornado victims.
Raitt under fire
Halton MP and Natural Resources Minister Lisa Raitt made headlines several times this year, starting when she came under fire after a binder that included documents marked secret was left behind at the Ottawa bureau of CTV. The politician’s press secretary resigned for the indiscretion, and Raitt also offered to resign but Prime Minister Stephen Harper didn’t accept it.
Shortly after that, the new MP was caught on tape describing the country’s medical isotope crisis as a “sexy” situation easily solved with more money. Raitt apologized for the comments she made in a private discussion and said she never intended “to show any disrespect” to cancer sufferers and their families.
Later in the year, Raitt was under attack in the House of Commons for circumstances surrounding a Halton Conservative Association fundraiser. The MP was questioned on why an employee of the Toronto Port Authority (TPA) — the government agency where Raitt was CEO— sent e-mails about the fundraiser.
Raitt’s press secretary acknowledged in an e-mail to the Champion that “this use of Toronto Port Authority resources is inappropriate.” She also said the error was an isolated occurrence and such incidents wouldn’t occur again.
The local politician was also criticized for a cement association lobbyist’s involvement in selling tickets for the fundraiser. Raitt agreed to refrain from contact with the lobbyist.
Hit-and-run driver guilty
Three years after the hit-and-run death of 18-year-old Lauren Cooper, a man was found guilty of leaving the scene of the accident.
The Milton girl was tragically struck and killed by a pickup truck — driven by 37-year-old Halton Hills man Stephen Alchin — while rollerblading just metres from her Second Line home on the night of July 13, 2006.
Alchin was sentenced to 12 months in jail. Lauren’s mother, Deborah, said although it doesn’t change anything, the sentence conveys something important.
“It sends out the message that you can’t walk away. You have to take responsibility.”
Attack at skateboard park
Ten young people were swarmed and robbed — and one was stabbed — by thugs armed with a knife, bat and semi-automatic handgun at the Milton Skateboard Park.
The group of men and women aged 18 to 25 were hanging out at the Thompson Road park when they were approached by four masked men in black, who demanded personal items from the victims. A 20-year-old Georgetown man was stabbed in the shoulder; he was taken to Milton District Hospital and released.
An extensive police search was conducted that included the canine unit, but with no success.
Milton teen mourned
Bishop Reding School students mourned the loss of 15-year-old Anthony Marziliano, whose lifeless body was discovered floating in the Trent Severn Waterway while on a fishing trip with his friend. Foul play wasn’t suspected.
Students gathered for a prayer service at the school to remember the teen. A Facebook page, which garnered hundreds of members, was also created in Marziliano’s memory.
Push for hospital expansion continues
Miltonians showed overwhelming support for the Friends of Milton Hospital’s ongoing push for a much-needed hospital expansion by signing almost 35,000 petition postcards addressed to Ontario’s Minister of Health.
“The incredible enthusiasm in this community is amazing,” said Pete Pomeroy, cochair of the Friends of Milton Hospital.
A second group, the Milton Hospital Action Committee, also circulated a similar petition to present to the provincial legislature.
H1N1 clinic draws thousands
In a turnout that no one expected, more than 3,500 people flocked to the region’s first H1N1 vaccination clinic at the Halton Regional Centre.
Shortly thereafter the Halton Region Health Department opened clinics across Halton that initially provided vaccines to high-risk individuals and later to all residents who wanted it.
The H1N1 virus hit Halton hard early in the year, with 219 confirmed cases in spring and summer, with the majority of cases being school-aged children. Schools were major sites of transmission.
The second wave of outbreaks started in the fall, with eight to 10 people being admitted to local hospitals daily with influenza-like symptoms.
Three Halton residents died from H1N1 influenza this year.
Mourning family awarded $3 million
The family of a much-loved local dentist who died five years ago finally got some of the justice they’d been seeking in a lawsuit that awarded them more than $3 million.
A jury found responsible an Orillia-area tavern, its operator and the bouncer working the night Dr. David Dumencu died from head injuries sustained during a brawl in the bar’s parking lot.
David’s widow, Sue, said she was pleased that someone had finally taken ownership of what happened.
She also said the case wasn’t about money, but rather about loss of life.
Olympic flame comes to town
Miltonians came out by the thousands to see the Olympic flame pass through Milton on its journey across Canada.
Joyce Scott, Kathy Kulina and Kevin DiGiuseppe were the three local torchbearers among the 14 who carried the flame along Main Street from Bronte Street to James Snow Parkway.
“It was definitely an experience I’ll cherish forever,” Kulina said.
The community spirit continued at the Milton Lions Club Hall, where more than 500 people turned out for a Knights of Columbus pancake breakfast.
Its getting close to election time, as you can tell by many of the comments on my blog the last few weeks. Who is going to be running where and for what positions seems to be a hot topic.
With a new ward system in place, possible date change of the election and a number of other issues coming to the surface many people will be paying attention to the upcoming campaigns. Nominations open in January for the open positions as there looks to be quite a few changes coming for Milton Town Council.
This week Mayor Gord Krantz answered the question in an article by Melanie Hennessey of the Milton Canadian Champion.
The head of Milton council told the Champion in a recent interview that he plans to seek re-election in the 2010 municipal race.
If his bid is successful, he’ll have been the mayor of Canada’s fastest-growing community for 34 years by the end of the four-year term.
“It’s like an addiction,” he said of his decision to run again. “It’s a passion to want to better the community.”
While there may be those naysayers who think it’s time for the 72-year-old politician to hang up his chain of office and retire, the mayor couldn’t disagree more.
“I retired 30 years ago,” he said, referring to when he sold his oil business in 1980 soon after he was elected mayor.
“Age is just a number. If I’m re-elected I’ll only be 73 (when the term starts).”
Krantz noted he’s also blessed with good health, which makes it easier for him to keep up with the demands of his job.
“I’m always on the go,” he said. “When the Town Hall shuts down for 10 days (at Christmas), I wander around like I’m lost.”
The long-time Miltonian served as a councillor for 15 years and will soon enter his 30th year as mayor.
He was born in 1937 in Milton Heights and raised alongside four sisters and two brothers. He met his wife, Olive, in his teenage years and married her in 1958. They went on to have two children.
Krantz started out working for Trinidad Leaseholds in the oil sales field, but later went on to open his own oil business.
In 1960 he joined the local fire department and proceeded to move through the ranks over his 21-year tenure to ultimately become a captain.
He was officially sworn in as a member of council in November 1965 after handily winning the election. But his second run for office proved to be more of a close call as he won by a mere two votes.
There may be a few close races in the November 8, 2010 municipal election as well, with new ward boundaries possibly pitting current councillors against each other in the contest for one seat.
Currently, the town has only four wards with two town councillors elected to serve each one. The two regional councillors are elected to servce two wards apiece.
Under the new system, the municipality has been split up into eight wards, with only one purely rural, and an individual councillor will serve each ward.
One regional councillor will be elected to serve the four northern wards and another will serve the four southern wards, which will see most of Milton’s population growth over the next decades.
The Town Clerk’s office will begin accepting nominations on Monday, Jan. 4. For more information visit www.milton.ca/council/elections.htm .
Melanie Hennessey can be reached at mhennessey@miltoncanadianchampion.com .
As I posted a few weeks ago, there have been several vehicles stolen from driveways in Milton over the past few months. Many of these cars were idling in the driveway warming up while people are getting ready for work.
It continues to happen as outlined in the Champion’s police blotter this week. Theives have been targeting our area for some time now and we have to be more cautious with them. Dont leave your car running unless you have one of the auto starters and once the door is opened its disabled. If you leave your cars running, you open yourselves up to these criminals.
I had someone post on my blog moments after his car was stolen and he wanted to get the word out. Its shocking to read in the Champion of the number of vehicles stolen. Dont let yours be one of them.
In the same police blotter we find that some people are still not getting the message about drinking and driving. You will get caught. Some local papers actually print the names of those charged but the Champion doesnt.
Its dangerous and wrong. Be safe. If youre going out and dont want to leave your car parked anywhere, here is a great company to look for. DDADD. Designated Drivers Against Drinking Drivers.
They are in our area, but at this point dont service Milton directly. The way it works is that you call them up and say where you are. They dispatch two people to come to you, pick you up as well as your car and drive you home. Tell Nicole I sent you. www.ddadd.ca
This is something people should be thinking not only during the holidays, but everyday. Its not worth it.
Drive safe.
If youre against the Olympics there are much better ways to protest than through physical violence. It doesnt matter if it was a Milton resident who was on the receiving end of it, as its just plain wrong!
She was treated by Olympic Torch Run medical staff at the scene.
The flame was not extinguished during the incident, which happened as about 1,000 people had gathered to watch the torch relay.
A Kitchener woman, 19, has been charged with assault and will appear in court in February.
 | Mike Cluett on Relaunching www.mikecluet… |
 | Thomas on Relaunching www.mikecluet… |
 | John Saxton on Speed Limit Change on James Sn… |
| John Saxton on Speed Limit Change on James Sn… |
 | jason on Local Media Coverage of Mike C… |
