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Knoll fails to find support for council committee reviewContinued from page 1On the topic of investigating the contribu-knew as individual members of the board andset up, he said.tions further Town Solicitor Douglas Carr said awas this issue ever discussed at the board levelTheres no power to summon. Theres noEven so, anger over the contributions couldnumber of options had been examined includ-either before or after the donation was made?sanctions for perjury. Theres no way to compelstill be heard during the evenings only delega-ing holding a judicial inquiry, a review by aI do believe council is qualified to do this forevidence. You cant protect someone fromtion.committee of council, review by a citizens taskone key reason. All of us, all 13 of us, were elect-breeching a confidentiality agreement and noneWhether this amounted to paper clips, a hillforce, an integrity officer investigation and aed by the public. If there is anybody that has theof the councillors here have any judicial train-of beans or thousands of dollars, it was simplystaff investigation.qualifications and the credentials to serve theing. One of the issues I also have is that it sets awrong in principle and should never have beenEach of these options had advantages andpublic interest and safeguard the public pursevery dangerous precedent when we say fellowallowed to happen on your watch, said residentdrawbacks.its us. Thats what were elected to do, saidcouncillors have a duty to or are required toRuss Robertson.A judicial inquiry, for example, would resultKnoll.investigate other councillors.You are not a national or provincial govern-in a thorough investigation conducted by anI do think the quantity of money is not asWard 3 Town Councillor Dave Gittings saidment. You have no role in partisan policy. Yourindependent, respected person with experience,important here as the perception that there hashe would support Knolls motion stating thatjob is to deliver commonly-needed services,however, it would also be very lengthy andbeen an abrogation of the public trust and Iclosing this issue in an open and transparentlocal services, on a cost-effective basis.expensive.think we need to do what we can to try to makeway was important.A report by the Towns Internal AuditTown staff conservatively estimated such ansure that our electorate, our voters and neigh-Oakville Mayor Rob Burton, who tookDirector Pierre Sauvageot, presented to councilinquiry could cost at least $500,000 with thebours, our fellow community members believeresponsibility for the contributions back onon Monday, examined these donations andpotential for the costs to climb considerablythat we have done everything we can to solveNov. 15, also raised objections to Knollsfound Oakville Hydros former president andhigher if the proceedings were conducted in anthis issue.motion.chief executive officer (CEO) approved them inadversarial fashion with many witnesses andNumerous councillors, including Ward 2To spare the Town, in my mind, the ridicu-accordance with the Oakville Hydrolengthy examinations and cross-examinations.Town Councillor Pam Damoff, Ward 4 Town andlous situation of spending more money on thisCorporations purchasing policies and proce-Other options had credibility and jurisdic-Regional Councillor Allan Elgar, Ward 4 Townthan was spent in the first place I stepped for-dures and expense limits for the CEO.tional disadvantages while others would notCouncillor Roger Lapworth and Ward 6 Townward and took responsibility for that, he said.The report also found Oakville Hydro had noactually have the power to compel witness par-and Regional Councillor Tom Adams spokeHow it happened and who authorized it written policy to provide a framework for theticipation.against Knolls motion stating many of the ques-done, plugging it so it cant happen again management of donations and sponsorshipWard 5 Town and Regional Councillor Jefftions surrounding the donations had alreadydone, investigating it, actually done. Theactivities.Knoll promoted the committee of councilbeen answered, that the public did not want anreports everyone has quoted tonight are beforeThese policies have since been changed withoption and introduced a motion calling for theexpensive investigation, and that such donationsyou. As a matter of fact, as I look at this list ofcouncil voting Monday to alter Oakville Hydrosinvestigation to determine such things as whowould never happen again because of the prohi-questions there is nothing on here that has notshareholders agreement to prohibit the corpo-approved the contributions, who was involvedbition placed in the shareholders agreement.been given so for that reason I, too, will not beration from making any donations of cashin the approval process and/or who directedWard 6 Town Councillor Max Khan attackedsupporting this motion.and/or goods and services, including the pur-Oakville Hydro management to make the con-the idea of using a committee of councillors toIn the end, Knolls motion was defeated withchasing of tickets to political events, to anytributions?investigate the contributions stating thisonly Knoll, Gittings and Ward 5 Townpolitical party, constituency association, candi-The investigation would also seek to find outmethod would not be valid.Councillor Marc Grant voting in favour of it.date or for any other partisan political purposewho attended the two events in question inCouncillor Knoll has said this is not a kan-Ward 2 Councillor Cathy Duddeck and Wardwhatsoever at any level of government, includ-2008 and 2009 and whether the board of direc-garoo court, but I would submit this would be3 Councillor Keith Bird were absent from theing federal, provincial, municipal or schooltors was aware of the donations; if not, whonothing but a kangaroo court if this was to bemeeting.board.Tax Savings StrategiesRRSP, RRIF, TFSAFOR INVESTORS OVER AGE 50 WHO WANT TOAVOID COSTLY TAX MISTAKESDATESLOCATIONTHURS Jan 2710 am,2pm, 7 pmPETER WATSON INVESTMENTSSATJan 2910 am220 Randall Street Oakville DowntownPeter WatsonMBA, CFP, R.F.P., CIM, FCSITo reserve your seats email us at info@peterwatsoninvestments.comor call us at (905) 842-2100 Ext: 7 (24 hours)3 Wednesday, January 19, 2011 OAKVILLE BEAVER www.oakvillebeaver.com