Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1994-03-16, Page 3Penalty upsets dog owner By Bonnie Gropp Paying the penalty for a dog license is a little much for one Blyth ratepayer. Arnold Cook appeared before Blyth council on March 9 to protest the fact that he had been unaware the dog license fee was due, yet was expected to pay the penalty when he was late. Mr. Cook said that Clerk-Treasurer Helen Grubb told him there had been notification in the local papers, but he did not read the paper so felt it had been an unfair situation. License fees are $20 and the late fine is $15. Mr. Cook had paid $30 but was reluctant to pay the addi­ tional $5. Clerk-Treasurer Helen Grubb told councillors that notification had been sent after March 1 to the dog owners from last year who had not yet purchased a 1994 tag. In addition to the notice in the Blyth/Brussels and Clinton papers the notice had been printed on the PUC bill. "We have never done it any other way," Ms Grubb said. Councillor Steve Sparling felt that if the license fees are due on Feb. 15 every year, he was curious as to why notification needed to be sent at all. "You know when the PUC bill comes due every month and you know if you're late you're going to pay the penalty," he said. Councillor Mason Bailey, how­ ever felt that a courtesy call to remind people wouldn't be a prob­ lem. "It's just public relations, to keep harmony in the village," he said. Ms Grubb explained, however, that she doesn't know who all the dog owners are in town, so a letter would need to be done for every home which would take a consider­ able amount of employee hours. Councillor Sparling said that Ms Grubb must abide by the policies set by the village. "The most con­ sistent word I've been hearing since coming on council is precedent. Now, that can become an obsession but it's the way the system works. We have set the guidelines," he said. Councillor Eugene Coburn agreed that a followup by telephone was not something the clerk's office could get into as it would increase cost and the village is running on a Council briefs Motion passes Following a request from Wheels tight budget. Councillor Bailey likened the running of the village to running a business. "You have to treat people differently," he said. "Family business is one thing," Councillor Cobum countered, "but in a municipal business you've got to lay down rules and abide by them. Once you pay a late penalty charge you start to mark things on the calendar. The service Council­ lor Bailey is suggesting is nice, but that type of service costs money. While I sympathize with Mr. Cook, my view is he owes the $5." "The onus is on the ratepayer to hit the deadline, "Councillor Cobum added. "If you don't know when it is, you come in to ask." Mr. Cook reminded council that remembering a bill that comes every year is a little different from a monthly bill. Another ratepayer present at the meeting asked council why the penalty was so high. Reeve Dave Lee said it was rec­ ommended by the Animal Control Officer as a way of enticing people to pay on time. Also, Reeve Lee said, the more time the officer has to spend tracking down the dog owners who have not purchased a tag, the greater the cost to the vil­ lage. "I do think you are spending too much on dog control," Mr. Cook said. Reeve Lee said that while that may be, there was no doubt the ser­ vice was working. "The complaints we had to deal with in the past have dwindled." Councillor Sparling said that council listened to taxpayers and the message was "They wanted more bang for the buck. If we're to suggest the system is user pay, to set up a procedure for sending a bill, allowing people to be late with payments, then it's absurd," he said, adding that the consistent message is that council be fair and treat everyone the same. "Therefore the due date is the due date and if Helen accepts anything less, then she's not doing her job because she does not have permission to do oth­ erwise." To improve on the situation council agreed that the notice should be included on the PUC bill for two months prior to the dead­ line next year. Councillor Bailey was less than happy with the solution however, saying, "For a $5 bill I think we're out to lunch." He made a motion that council forgive the $5 Mr. Cook owed, but there was no sec­ onder for the motion. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16, 1994. PAGE 3. New Guide Andrea Cardiff, front and centre, is the newest member of the Blyth Guides. With her are the other members, in front: Jackie Falconer, left and Amanda Bailie. Back row: Sonya Schultz, Rosalyn Hartman, Rachel deBoer and Jamie Lewis. Blyth People Four tables of lost heir were in play at the hall on Wednesday evening. Winners were: high lady, Erma Cook; high gent, Anna Snell, playing as a man; low lady, Phyllis Boak; low gent, Edythe Snell, playing as a man. To save water, install a toilet dam or a water displacement device in your toilet tank such as a glass bottle with a weight in it and a tight lid. SPRING TREE CATALOGUE Coniferous and Deciduous Seedlings, Potted Spruce and Pine varieties -1’2’ high Deciduous trees from 7-12’ Call or write for catalogue. ^.auzn 527-1750 Master RR'2'SEAF0RTH 'The tree people for variety & quality" Old Tyme Country Breakfast at the Londesboro Community Hall SUNDAY, MARCH 20 9 a.m. -1 p.m. Pancakes, Bacon, Eggs, Toast, Coffee, Juice, Sausage or Ham, Hash Browns. Maple Syrup supplied by Pullen Maple Products, Clinton. SPONSORED BY: Londesboro Lions Club DAN'S AUTO REPAIR INCLUDES ‘ up to 5L 10W30 oil * oil filter * chassy grease * labour Away Blyth council at its March 9 meeting authorized payment based on 1993 ridership in the amount of $393.51. It was noted that the number of rides from the village for the spe­ cial transit service had increased from 12 in 1992 to 68 in 1993. Total rides for that year were 1,755 making the Blyth percentage 387 percent. Council also passed a motion to enter into a cost-sharing agreement with other participating municipali­ ties on a use by resident basis for 1994. ♦♦♦ Council endorsed a letter from Exeter to the Minister of Education and the Chair of the Huron County Board of Education with regards to the financial difficulties facing ratepayers due to increased educa­ tion axes. Council also added a recommen­ dation that education taxes be removed from property taxes. ♦♦♦ A grant of $150 was given to the Belgrave, Blyth and Brussels School Fair Board. Spring Yellow Tag Sale begins at CHRISTMAS & COUNTRY Blyth 20 - 50% ®« Many items - Look for yellow tags throughout store. Please note: Spring Classes - Still a few openings for Spring Wreath and Dried Wreath March 23, April 18 & April 20 Can 523-4820 »*« OIL and FILTER CHANGE 20.95 ENDS MARCH 31/94 CHECKING * fluid levels (add as required - extra) * tires - pressure & condition ‘ exhaust parts * belts Watch Jor April Specials on exhaust parts! * tune-ups * brakes - turn drums & rotors * exhaust * headlight aiming * tires - sales, repairs, computerized wheel balancing * service & winterize * oil changes * battery sales - testing & service * vehicle Inspection statior j Wingham BelgravePhone 523-9501 for an appointment Open Mon. - Fri. 8:00 - 5:30 Located at Snell Feed & Supplies Ltd. t + 1 08 Vestfield toad Auburn Blyth