public function startTimer(evt:MouseEvent=null):void {

				hours = parseInt(timer_hours.text);
				minutes = parseInt(timer_minutes.text);
				seconds = parseInt(timer_seconds.text);

					gateway = new Gateway("getProjectPrefs", this, this, "select * from ProjectPrefs where Project_projectID="+timerObj.projectID);

				if (!t) {
					t = new Timer(1000);
					startDt = new Date(new Date().getFullYear(), new Date().getMonth(), new Date().getDate(), new Date().getHours(), new Date().getMinutes(), new Date().getSeconds());
					customDateField.timerStartDateFormatter();
					t.addEventListener(TimerEvent.TIMER, timePlayHandler);

					t.start();
					//startBtn.label = "Pause";
					startBtn.selected = true;



				//	gateway = new Gateway("toggleTimers", Application.application.holder.navDisplay.vs.getChildByName("timerUI"), this, this);
				} else if (!startBtn.selected) {
					// take hours, minutes, seconds variables and convert them to seconds
					// this allows for editing the time in the text inputs
					elapsedSeconds = (hours * 3600) + (minutes * 60) + (seconds%60);

					t.start();
				//	startBtn.label = "Pause";
					startBtn.selected = true;
				//	gateway = new Gateway("toggleTimers", Application.application.holder.navDisplay.vs.getChildByName("timerUI"), this, this);
				} else {
					t.stop();
				//	startBtn.label = "Start";
				startBtn.selected = false;
				}

			}

			public function pauseTimer(): void {
				gateway = new Gateway("getProjectPrefs", this, this, "select * from ProjectPrefs where Project_projectID="+projectID);
				t.stop();
				//startBtn.label = "Start";
				startBtn.selected = false;
			}

			public function resetTimer(): void {
				t.reset();
				t.stop();

				currTimeInHours = "00";
				currTimeInMinutes = "00";
				currTimeInSeconds = "00";

				//startBtn.label = "Start";
				startBtn.selected = false;
				elapsedSeconds = 0;
			}