The Citizen, 2010-10-21, Page 25THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2010. PAGE 25.
There were six tables of shoot in
play on Oct. 8 at the Belgrave
Community Centre. The winners
were: high pink card, Jane Grasby;
second high pink card, Marie
Stewart; most shoots, Dorothy
Carter; high white card, Joann
MacDonald; second high white card,
Bev Hayden; most shoots, Freda
Scott.
The next shoot is on Friday, Oct.
22 at 1:30 p.m. Everyone is
welcome.
The community extends sincere
sympathy to Gary and Marlene
Jamieson and Brian Jamieson in the
loss of a dear mother, Treva
Jamieson and to Christopher and
Susan Jamieson in their loss of a
dear grandmother and Hayden
Jamieson in the loss of a dear great-
grandmother.
On Sunday, Oct. 17, Brayden
Joseph Black-Garrick, son of
Jennifer Black and Joseph Garrick,
born on July 12 in London was
baptized at Knox United Church,
Belgrave.
Continued from page 1to keep it that way.David Baker, another newcandidate for Morris Ward, statedthat he had worked in building,renovations and repairs. Baker
expressed some interest in problems
with building codes and stringent
rules revolving around them. He
stated that council has stagnated, and
that it need to be refreshed with new
blood, specifically new blood that
will rein in the spending of tax
dollars.
Edna McLellan, an incumbent,
cited her experience, having lived in
the area for 56 years and having
served for 13 years on council over
four elections. McLellan stated that
her experience, and her point of view
as a woman will bring a strong voice
to the council table.
The last candidate to speak for
Morris Ward was Jamie McCallum,
a Belgrave resident running to “give
Belgrave a voice”. McCallum stated
that change is needed, because water
and school decisions had not been
addressed properly by the current
council. McCallum stated he is
running to bring business to the area,
deal with the $5 landfill fee, and “be
a voice for the people, a voice for
reason”.
While Morris Ward had only one
incumbent and three new candidates,
Turnberry Ward is being vied for by
three incumbents -–Councillors R.
Lynn Hoy, Bill Thompson and
Deputy Reeve Jim Nelemans and
three new candidates – John Smuck,
Jamie Heffer and Jason
Breckenridge.
Mayoral candidate and current
councillor Paul Gowing says he is
running because he believes
residents are asking for a change of
governance. He wants to foster
growth, develop a better job market,
evaluate and control spending, and
work on relationships with
neighbouring councils.
Incumbent Dorothy Kelly stated
that her seven years and two terms in
municipal politics, and her 23 and a
half years as a clerk before that made
her the ideal candidate for another
term as mayor. Kelly stated that her
goals, if given another term, would
be to continue the work she has done
with groups such as the Maitland
Valley Conservation Authority, theWarden’s Economic Task Force andHuron County Council. She alsostated that she would continue towork with council as a team toattempt to keep taxes low and bring
jobs to the area.
The question period focused on
economic development, council
structure and remuneration and fire
coverage.
A local resident asked Gowing
specifically how he felt about
spending for projects such as Ball’s
Bridge, which was given money
from Huron County Council.
Gowing stated that he didn’t agree
with the project.
“We have to be careful with what
we donate to,” Gowing stated “That
was a terrible use of funds, we
always hear that charity needs to
start at home, and this wasn’t doing
that.”
The resident then asked about the
increased bureaucracy, and a failed
bid to have a Canadian Tire built
locally.
Gowing stated that that was one
example of not working well with
neighbours that he wished to deal
with if elected.
Contender Kelly stated that there
has not been a problem with North
Huron, and that the two townships
work together.
This proved to be a controversial
statement, however, as later
questioners would point out that
Kelly accused North Huron of
“dragging their feet” on the Belgrave
Water System and forcing fire
protection agreements for large
sums of money.
One of the most controversial
issues of the night proved to be
council remuneration. Several
residents questioned the amount that
councillors were given for their
time, stating that they had learned
other municipalities paid far less.
Candidate Smuck verified this,
reporting that he had done his own
research and found that current
Mayor Kelly and Deputy Mayor
Nelemans make more than any
neighbouring mayor. Kelly made
$22,278.91 in 2009 for her time and
duties and Neleman made
$27,164.82 during the same period.
Heads of other councils like Joe Seili
in Huron East and Neil Vincent inNorth Huron made, on average,$15,000 per year.Kelly took offense to thestatement, raising her voice andpointing at the crowd stating that
they don’t like to pay for anything.
“I know you people don’t like to
pay, but every councillor reads their
packages for two hours before
meetings, and that cuts down on
costs,” she said.
Kelly then warned the assembly
that they “get what they pay for”.
Resident Randy Scott, and several
others, questioned the fire protection
cost, asking how much candidates
would be willing to continue to pay
to North Huron for fire protection
when the new council would get to
re-evaluate the contract.
Kelly stated that, at the time,
North Huron was the only choice.
“We didn’t like it, we had to pay
what they were asking,” she said.
“We didn’t have a choice.”
Existing council members then
addressed the issue of building their
own fire department, but most
agreed that a sufficient urban area
didn’t exist in the township to
provide the volunteer basis for it.
Gowing stated that while the cost
wasn’t ideal, it was the best solution
for the fire protection dilemma.
“No one is happy about the cost,”
he said. “But this is a good solution,
we have the closest department
responding at all times.”
Councillors also weighed in on the
$5 landfill entry fee, with almost all
of them stating they would remove it
and re-evaluate the program.
Gowing explained that the fee had
been applied, not as a punishment
for people using the landfill, but as
means of inspiring people to take
advantage of curbside pickup of
garbage and recycling.
Another contentious issue was the
structure of council, with many
people stating that they would be in
favour of a reduction, and many
saying they would prefer a ward-less
system.
The issue had been taken to
residents in a survey, according to
Dorothy Kelly, in which nearly half
of the responding residents stated
they liked council the way it is. This
was the predominant view in the
survey.Each candidate, however, had theirown variation of what councilshould look like.Breckenridge stated that he wouldlike to see a reduction in the number
of councillors, and have the ward
system removed.
Heffer stated that he would need to
do more homework before removing
the ward system.
Hoy stated that he doesn’t support
the ward system, but does support
six council members over a
proposed four from the
aforementioned survey.
Nelemans wanted to put the issue
back to the public in another survey.
Thompson stated he would
support two wards, and didn’t
address the suggestion of a smaller
council.
Gowing stated he agreed with
what the majority of the audience
cheered for - to have wards go by the
wayside and to do with four
councillors what M-T currently does
with six councillors.
Edna McLellan stated that the
council should remain the status
quo, saying it has worked for this
long, and that it doesn’t need to
change.
McCallum wants to lose the wards
and drop to four councillors, while
Baker suggested that if there is only
one mayor, there should be one
council elected at large, and didn’t
address the reduction in councillors.
Kelly stated that she was wary of
doing away with wards, since it
would get rid of any guarantee of
governance by representation, and
did not state any support or criticism
of lower numbers.
Both Breckenridge and McCallum
stated that, if the system was ward-
less and people were worried about
representation, it could be just the
nudge needed to get people together
and run for council.
The last question of the evening
was directed at the timing of the
meeting and mail-in elections.
The issue divided the mayoral
candidates, with Gowing stating that
the timing wouldn’t be a problem if
they had regular ballots, and Kelly
stating that, since the inception of
the mail-in ballots, voter numbers
have increased from approximately
30 per cent of the township to more
than 60 per cent.
Ward system questioned at meeting
Blyth Festival has good 2010
It’s official, 2010 was a good
yeear for the Blyth Festival.
Deb Sholdice, general manager of
the Blyth Festival, presented the
highlights of the past year during
North Huron’s Committee of the
Whole meeting on Tuesday, October
12 in Blyth.
While all four shows were
critically acclaimed, with Pearl
Gidley and The Book of Esther being
most recognized, ticket sales did not
match.
Despite “rave reviews”, the
economic downturn is still being felt
by the theatre, according to
Sholdice. However, corporate and
business support, as well as
donations, have remained consistent
with other years.
Special events hit the overall
expected budget, according to
Sholdice, with some exceeding
expectations, and some posting net
losses.
There are seven shows scheduled
for 2011 including two world
premieres, two Blyth premieres, the
debut of the Studio shows at Phillips
Studio and Young Company’s
production.
The Studio shows will be different
and exciting according to Sholdice,
featuring two shows that were put on
at Toronto’s Summerworks Festival.
Both Young Company’s
production of Alligator Tears and
rentals of the hall saw increases in
2010, with the Young Company’s
production increasing nearly 60 per
cent in ticket sales and rentals
increasing by 22 per cent.
Other successes around ‘youth’
include the successful March break
program and special shows for
youth, like the school matinees of
Jake’s Gift at the end of September.
Young Company will be moving
to “the big house” in 2011 according
to Sholdice, allowing the youth to
use the stage in the main auditorium
for the first time in the Festival’s
history.
Sholdice also stated that the
tourist information booth has
experienced steady traffic, and that
most people are seeking family
roots, trails and hiking guides and
local accommodations.
Plans for 2011, according to
Sholdice, include adding a visitor
register for the information booth,
revamping the layout of the area and
brochure presentation and to paint
the info area and box office to make
it more appealing.
Brochures will also be delivered,
through new initiatives, to areas like
Toronto, London and Liquor Control
Board of Ontario retail locations on
the lakeshore between Sarnia and
Owen Sound.
New radio campaigns are also
slated to begin in Toronto, London
and Kitchener markets, as well as
increased visibility at festivals and
events with manned displays about
the show.
At the end of her presentation,
Sholdice was informed by Facilities
and Recreation head Pat Newson
that electrical work needed to be
done in the building. A tentative
price tag of $5,000 was put on the
project but Sholdice hasn’t heard
any new information since.
A Vote
For
EDNA
McLELLAN
For councillor in
Ward ‘M’
On October 25th, 2010
Would be Appreciated
Vote for
David Baker
for
Council
for Morris Ward
✔
By Linda
Campbell
Call
357-2188
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