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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1992-11-11, Page 28PAGE 28. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 1992. County councillors raise salaries 2% Despite pleas that they not com­ mit themselves to a salary increase until the budget situation is more clear, Huron County councillors Thursday voted to increase their salary next year by two per cent. Exeter Reeve Bill Mickle pointed to the initial budget projection for next year which required an extra $1.7 million to be raised in taxes. "That to me is unacceptable. If we look at what is happening in Huron County committee to study travel issue The Executive Committee of Huron County Council will be asked to study the county's policy on travel by staff and councillors to conferences. The decision came after several councillors balked at a request to allow County Engineer Denis Mer- rall to go to the National Associa­ tion of County Engineers conference in San Antonio, Texas. Goderich deputy-reeve Bill Clif­ ford led the revolt saying he didn't see the need to go to a U.S. conven­ tion when he understood American road standards weren't as high as Canadian standards. He noted that Mr. Merrall's time serving on the Ontario Good Roads Association committee on restructuring is already taking away from county business. Tom Cunningham, reeve of Hul- lett said he too was concerned. He said he supports county councillors and staff being involved in province-wide committees "but there comes a time when maybe we spread ourselves a little thin". He pointed out the county had already hired a deputy engineer because Mr. Merrall was too busy. He said he wasn't saying Mr. Merrall shouldn't go but he thought the executive committee should exam­ ine the whole situation. But Jack Coleman, deputy-reeve of Stanley, and chairman of the road committee, pointed out Coun­ ty Council had agreed two years ago that Mr. Merrall should serve as a director on the National Asso­ ciation of County Engineers and that meant attending the confer­ ence. Brian McBumey of Turnberry supported the trip, saying it wasn't the first time councillors or staff had gone out of the country and that Huron has always supported involvement at a higher level. If the executive was going to look at any­ thing it should be at trips for county* councillors, he said. Former warden Lionel Wilder, reeve of Hay also said the county had made a commitment when Mr. Merrall was allowed to sit on the Association. "How the heck can he do his job" if he can't got to Hous­ ton, he said. ""If you're going to send it back to Executive you're saying he can't go", Reeve Coleman said, noting there wasn't time to make arrange­ ments after the next road commit­ tee meeting. In the long run, permission was made for Mr. Merrall to go to the meeting. After that approval, Bill Vanstone, reeve of Colbome, made a motion to have executive re­ examine the policy on outside involvement of staff and council members. County we have businesses that are struggling to keep their doors open; high unemployment and I under­ stand the farm community is facing difficulty with weather and eco­ nomic times." Seniors, he said, are facing problems because low inter­ est rates are reducing their invest­ ment income. "I sincerely hope we can work toward a 0 per cent increase. "I think we're premature to be dealing with our own salaries until we know more about the budget." Nigel Bellchamber, county clerk­ administrator, assured council that the 1993 projection is just a prelim­ inary one and staff is aware of the need to cut that projection. Goderich Reeve John Doherty said he didn't think $1.75 per meet­ ing (the amount the two per cent increase would mean) was exces­ sive. If councillors hold back their salary, somewhere down the road "you have to pay the piper" and it could mean a five per cent increase. The motion for the increase car­ ried with about five councillors voting against it. Peace keeper Corporal Scott Machan performs the evening maintenance on his Steyr dump truck after hauling gravel to the Nigerian sector where sites are being prepared for accommodation trailer. CpI. Machan, a heavy equipment operator with the 1 Combat Engineer Regiment from Chilliwack, B.C., arrived in October to serve a six-month peacekeeping tour with the United Nations Protection Force in the former Yugoslavia. CpI. Machan is originally from Blyth. PRICES IN EFFECT FROM MONDAY, NOVEMBER 9,1992 UNTIL CLOSING SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 21,1992 HOURS MON. - SAT. 8 A.M. - 6 P.M. FRI. OPEN UNTIL 9 P.M. BEATRICE/SEALTEST PURE 2 LITRE CARTON ABC 4 LITRE BOX ORANGE JUICE 1.99 ULTRA q QQ DETERGENT O.UU LIBBY'S DEEP ASSORTED VARIETIES 14 OZ. TIN MOTT’S ASSORTED VARIETIES 1 LITRE BOTTLE BROWN BEANS CLAMATO JUICE 1.99 GOOD HUMOR/MEADOWGOLD 2 LITRE CARTON ICE CREAM 1.99 McCAIN ASSORTED VARIETIES 510 G. PKG. SCHNEIDER'S 175 G. PKG. SHEPHERDS PIE DEEP ’N DELICIOUS CAKES 1.99 IN-STORE SPECIALS" HEINZ 48 OZ. PRODUCT OF U.S.A. WHITE OR TOMATO JUICEpink c i nn GRAPEFRUIT O/.yy COKE or SPRITE 750 ML BOTTLE PLUS DEPOSIT UNIT PRICE 7.90/100 ML .59 12X355 ML TINS UNIT PRICE 9.40/100 ML 3.99 PAPER ROYALE ASSORTED VARIETIES PKG. 100 FACIAL TISSUE ROYALE 2 ROLL TOWELS 1.29 "KELLOGG'S" BLUE JAY EDITION (525 G) Autographs of all FROSTED the Toronto Blue Jays FLAKES 3.99