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The code was developed by the Ethics in Mumicipal Life committee, founded in 2002, in the wake of the RIM Park financing fiasco. William Dahms, chair of the committer. said the group looked at vanous conduct polhcies ol 20 municipalities, schools and orgamzations across the aterloo city council Wnppm\'cd a new code of conduci Monday night, revising the city‘s policies regarding conâ€" flicts of interest to ensure its staff works on an impartial and t:?)j('('li\‘v basis. Waterloo city council rubber stamps stiffer code of conduct While those two other building projects brought in wellâ€"established high techâ€" nology firms to the research park. the Acceterator Centre will serve as an incubator for the commercialization of new ideas and new technolâ€" It‘s the third building to make up the first phase of construction on ihe 270â€" acre research park. located on the University of Waterâ€" loo‘s North campus, with Sybase subsidiary iAnyâ€" where officially opening its doors last month. and work on the new OpenText buildâ€" ing already underway. And before there was even a shovel in the ground for the multiâ€"tenant facility, which will house the Accelâ€" erator Centre, it was also announced that local law firm Miller Thomson LLP is also jomning the project. omentum is pickâ€" Ming up at the Uniâ€" versity of Waterions Research and Technology Park as the official groundâ€" breaking of the new Accelerâ€" ator Centre was held last 1 tiâ€" day. Latest groundbreaking marks another milestone for University of Waterioo Research and Technology Park â€" 10OKING FOR A NEW VOLVO? VoLvo tor "te By Tim Mukpiy Lor The Chronicle By Bos VkBaxi Chromtcle Saft Bâ€"K VOLVO 885â€"5091 Dahms said the commitâ€" tee felt it important to reit> erate those concepts in the report. "The new code specifiâ€" cally prohibits fraudulent employee _ behaviour." "A code of conduct or a code of ethics is a mindset; it‘s a set of morals. know!]â€" edge or values that are learned." Dathms said. Uhe new code imposes accountability on city staff, settimg a limit of $25 for any gifts they may receive before needing approval from department heads. province and country. "That was to give us a Ieel for the types of policies out there," Dahms said. ‘Or perhaps Quantum Valley with the work going on today." said Johnston, referring to research also The bricks and mortar of the new centre will help launch new ideas and new innovation that will help the Region of Waterloo become Silicon Valley North, he added. "Horizons will be opened as a consequence of what we‘re recognizing here today," said UW president David fohnston. Miller Thomson LLP, a national firm., fits in with that mudel because of its expertise in protecting intelâ€" lectual property. It also proâ€" vides patent and trademark advice, as well as advice in venture financing. tax strategies. business structurâ€" ing and mergers and acquiâ€" sitions. ogy provided by the Univerâ€" sity of Waterloo and other local entrepreneurs. [t will provide a wide range of serâ€" vices in a subsidized setting, with seed money coming [rom the federal governâ€" ment. and match up NRedgâ€" ling business with expertise and professional services to help them take flight. CITYV Dahms said codes of conduct between organizaâ€" tions and municipalities vary, and must be tailored to meet the needs of employâ€" ces. The committee consists of four community volunâ€" teers: David Jones, Thomas Hardacre and Larry Wald cock. along with Dahms. Iwo city councillors, the city solicitor and the interim chief administrative officer He said breaches of the code will result in repriâ€" mands or dismissal. "We believe this code achieves the goals of the City of Waterloo and its employees," he said. Dahms said Gerry Thompson, who recently retired as the CAO of the Region of Waterloo, is the chair of new board of directors of the Accelerator going on at the Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics. The multiâ€"tenant facility at the University of Waterloo Research and Technology Park will house the planned Accelerator Centre. The groundbreaking for the new building took place last Friday. "The document itself is partly an education tool," he said. Coun. Mark Whaley asked how the new code would affect city emplovers Dahms said the code is open to the current and future councils to amend as circumstances arise. Coun. lan â€" McLean agreed with Dahms‘ point, noting the code must be reviewed on a regular basis to ensure the needs of the public are being met. also participated "It‘s definitely not written in stone." he said. Centre and said that imporâ€" tant work is already being done in bringing in new businesses into the 22,700 â€" squareâ€"foot centre before it officially opens in 2006. "It‘s extremely significant that the project in a physical Kathy Durst. assistant Continued on page 7 "If we have a perfect kind of Christmas evening with clear skies and some snow, it will be a busy evening," he said. Osland is expecting over 200 people to come out for the evening, which begins at Neighbours will come together this Saturday to light up a 22â€"foot tree outâ€" side of the Columbia Street fire hall, according to Tim Osland. of the Laurelwood Nceighbourhood Associaâ€" tion. sense has started," said Thompson. "The building will be open and operational in 2006, however, the work of the Accelerator Centre is going to start in temporary quarters well before that." Thc neighbourhoods of Laurelwood and Columâ€" bia are starting a new tradiâ€" tion this season with the lighting of a Christmas tree. The board is still setting By Tim Mureny For The Chronicle SUBMITID GaPH C "Christmas is a special time of year, and if people want to take a few minutes out to meet their neigh bours and the firefighters. it‘s all in the spirit of Christ mas." said de Hoage. "I want our fire station to be there for more than just emergencies," he said. "We like it when kids stop by and want to see the trucks." Next year, the station plans to plant a large tree to be enjoyed every year. "And businesses that graduate out of this space will either find a home in the multiâ€"tenant building or somewhere else in the park, or in the community... and that‘s the point." DeHooge said the event is also meant to help make the station as much a part of the community as possible. "I think it‘s not too much to expect, based on the information to date, that within two or three years we‘ll have committed or under construction at least half the park," said Thompâ€" son. 7 p.m. Santa will be touring the area in a vintage fire truck, ending his drive at the fire hall where he will meet Fire Chief John delHooge. And with the Accelerator Centre now under construcâ€" tion, Thompson said the momentum‘s growing for the rest of the park. up the rules of entry and exit into the centre, as well as conducting a search for an executive team to run the dayâ€"toâ€"day operations. The Cora Group will take over the construction and management of the buildâ€" ing, and has come up with a design for the building that will make it one of the most environmentally sensitive structures in the region. That design includes a rooftop arboretum in keepâ€" ing with the Green Roof proâ€" gram being pushed by local municipalities.