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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1994-04-06, Page 6PAGE 6. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 6, 1994. County council to re-examine voting structure With several county municipali­ ties opposing the new voting struc­ ture for county council, the issue will be taken up afresh at the strate­ gic planning meeting of Huron County Council Friday at the Ben- miller Inn. That recommendation of the Administration, Finance and Per­ sonnel Committee was supported by county council Thursday, after considerable debate. The county has a private members bill before the Ontario legislature which would give all municipalities, no matter what size, one vote at county coun­ cil. That structure, arrived at after months of debate, both at the coun­ ty level and with local municipal councils, was originally supported in county council by representa­ tives of all municipalities but Exeter. Since then, however, Goderich, Wingham and Howick have announced their opposition. Given that opposition, Huron MPP Paul Klopp who was sponsoring the private members bill has indi­ cated it would be useless to proceed with the bill. County Clerk Administrator J.A. Murray told council there probably isn't time to get a new bill through the legislature before this fall's municipal election but other coun­ cillors disagreed. Goderich Reeve John Doherty said he understood the new bill could simply be put in place of the current bill. Zurich Reeve Robert Fisher said he under­ stood, from his conversation with Mr. Klopp, that a bill could still be passed if county council could come up with a new proposal by its April 28 meeting. Unless a private members bill is passed, the county has two options, it can keep the same rules under which it now operates, which would mean that several more municipalities, because of an increase in the number of eligible voters, would be eligible to send a deputy reeve to county council, or it can adopt Section 28 of the Municipal Act which would give each municipality one member, but the representatives of larger munic­ ipalities would have more than one vote. The debate was triggered by Tuckersmith Reeve Bill Camochan who proposed a compromise voting structure that would modify Section 28 to give only Goderich more than one vote. But Bill Clifford, deputy-reeve of Goderich, pointed out that even if the council accepted the Tucker­ smith compromise, unless the councils of each municipality had a chance to review the proposal and accept it, council could be right back in the same situation it is now, with councils withdrawing their support. Bill Mickle, reeve of Exeter warned that councillors should be aware of the position of the minis­ ter of municipal affairs who is pushing for closer representation by population. This has gone to the point in Ottawa-Carleton where the minister has set up a ward system, something Mr. Mickle called "scary". Ms Murray pointed out that this was the one criteria of the ministry that Huron County's bill had not met, moving closer to representa­ tion by population. But Tom Cunningham, reeve of Hullett, said that while the minister is pushing for representation by population, he is also proposing new planning rules, an outgrowth of the Sewell Commission Report, that would hinder growth in rural areas. "We will never grow to the 2,500 population (the amount need­ ed for a second representative). There's got to be a compromise." Marie Hicknell, reeve of McKil- lop despaired that a compromise could be reached. "We will never gel a unanimous decision here at county council I don't think. That makes me very sad." Councillors will tackle the sub­ ject again when they retreat to Ben- miller this Friday for a strategic planning session to look at smooth­ ing the operations of county gov­ ernment. This meeting is open to the public and begins at 8:30 a.m. County supports Stanley appeal Over the recommendation if its Administration, Finance and Per­ sonnel Committee, Huron County will provide financial support to Stanley Township in its appeal of a huge reduction in the assessment of a local campground. In a recorded vote, council turned down a committee recommendation that the county give no assistance with the $4,661 legal costs of the appeal of a decision that reduced the assessment of Wildwood by the River by nearly $1 million. Jack Coleman, deputy reeve of Stanley, pointed out the lost assessment would cost the county $2,600 a year in lost revenue. The Huron County Board of Education, which also stands to lose if the reduction stands, has already paid its share of the appeal costs, he said. Bob Hallam, reeve of West Wawanosh, pointed out that the county had indicated last fall that it would support Stanley's appeal. "I know because I voted against it." Having said it would give support, Contingency fund Continued from page 1 contingency. The contingency fund also antici­ pates the reduction in unconditional grants for things such as roads. A 10 per cent grant reduction would cost the county $76,000. The contingency fund comes from the one per cent growth in assessment in the county this year. Paul’s Perspective Continued from page 5 • Ontario/Quebec Summer Student Job Exchange Program • Ontario Ranger Program A toll-free jobsOntario Summer Employment information line has also been set up, giving youth province-wide access to information on all the government- funded summer programs Ontario has to offer. The number to call is 1-800-387-0777. Information on other summer employment opportunities within the Ontario government will also be available through jobsOntario Summer Employment. The co-ordinated efforts of jobsOntario Summer Employment demonstrates the government’s commitment to putting Ontario back to work. Like other jobsOntario programs, jobsOntario Summer Employment is one component of the government's overall approach to economic renewal that includes significant investments in people and infrastructure, with an emphasis on education and training. he said, the county should go ahead. "If our word’s no good, we're no good," he said, pointing out the county's share of the bill would be only $800. Bill Mickle, reeve of Exeter, felt municipalities must stand together to prevent erosion of the lax base. But Tom Tomes, reeve of Stephen Township said he remem­ bered the county's position being only to support the appeal in princi­ ple. If it was going to support one municipality it would have to sup­ port all, he said. He pointed to one factory in his township that had its assessment reduced by nearly $1 million. If a 1964 building could be reduced by that much how much could the century-old buildings that make up most main streets be reduced, he wondered. Also losing assessment were municipalities in which hydro power corridors passed through where many nearby property own­ ers appealed and won an eight per cent reduction in assessment. This, said Warden Allan Gibson, set a precedent for any property owner near a power corridor to appeal his assessment. Warden Gibson said he had brought that issue to the coun­ ty's Executive Committee when it affected Ashfield Township but the committee opposed lending support for an appeal. But Howard Armstrong, reeve of Stanley, said the assessment loss for the campground was 45 per cent and this precedent would affect campgrounds in municipalities all along the Lake Huron shoreline. Councillors eventually defeated the motion of no support for Stan­ ley, then passed a new one to pro­ vide the share of the township's legal costs in mounting the appeal. HuronIBruce Fed. Lib. party meets The annual general meeting for the Huron-Bruce Federal Liberal Riding Association was held in Walton on March 30. Guest speaker, Paul Steckle, newly elected Member of Parliament for the riding, addressed the well- attended meeting on issues he has encountered since becoming MP Oct. 25. As Rural Caucus co-chair and committee member on the standing committee on Agriculture arrd Agri-Food, Mr. Steckle is pleased with how the new government is tackling tough issues and making a serious effort to reform practices and institutions. The newly elected executive includes president, John Gates, Kincardine Twp.; vice-president, Rod MacDonald, Kincardine; second vice-president, Norm Pickell, Goderich; membership chairman, Cyril Gingerich, Zurich; treasurer, Mark Penhale, Usbome Twp.; and secretary Donna Thiel, Hay Twp. Delegates were also selected to attend annual meetings in London and Ottawa. REMINDER NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING CONCERNING A PROPOSED OFFICIAL PLAN AMENDMENT AFFECTING THE TOWNSHIP OF GREY THIS NOTICE is a reminder that Council of the Corporation of the Township of Grey and County of Huron have scheduled a public meeting for Wednesday, April 6, 1994 at 7:30 p.m. In the Cranbrook Community Centre, Township of Grey, to consider a proposed Official Plan Amendment under Section 17 of the Planning Act, R.S.0.1990. The purpose of the public meeting is to gather comments on a policy that could permit the severance of surplus residences subject to a number of criteria. The policies would apply to lands designated “Agriculture" or “Restricted Agriculture" in the Township of Grey. ANY PERSON may attend the public meeting and/or make written or verbal representation either In support of, or In opposition to, the proposed Official Plan Amendment. Additional information is available for inspection during regular office hours at the Township of Grey Municipal Office, (519-887-6268) or the Huron County Department of Planning and Development (519-524-2188). DATED AT THE TOWN OF GODERICH THIS 6TH DAY OF APRIL, 1994. Brad Knight Clerk-Treasurer Township of Grey R.R. #3 Brussels, Ontario NOG 1H0 J.A. 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