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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1994-10-12, Page 3Eugene Coburn Coburn runs for reeve By Bonnie Gropp There will be a race for reeve in Blyth. Councillor Eugene Coburn announced his intention to seek the reeve's chair during the Oct. 5 meeting of council. Councillor Mason Bailey who came on board council at the same time as Coun­ cillor Coburn in July of 1993, announced his intention to seek the reeve's chair last month. Mr. Cobum, who moved to Blyth in December of 1990 said his deci­ sion to run for reeve became almost immediate after Reeve Dave Lee said he would not be running again. Though he says Mr. Bailey has supported him well on council, Mr. Cobum does have some concerns about his opponent serving as reeve. "In a recent meeting on Bill 163 at the county level (which has passed a second reading), I found there is a revision to the Municipal Conflict of Interest Act. At present, a councillor states his/her conflict at the beginning of the meeting. In the future they will have to leave the room while the subject is dis­ cussed. With Mr. Bailey's many and diverse business interests, how is he going to function at a meeting as reeve if he has to leave the room?" Mr. Cobum also expressed some concern with regards to opponents' thoughts on development. "If you cut the developers' costs you are just downloading onto the ratepay­ ers. If the developer doesn't pay, the ratepayer does. Retired from the University of Waterloo where he worked for 24 as accounting manager or universi­ ty accountant, Mr. Cobum says he is prepared to devote himself full­ time to the position of reeve. In addition to his work on coun­ cil, Mr. Cobum has also held posi­ tions as president and treasurer in many organizations over the years. He was on the executive of the 6,000 member Chicopee Ski Club for 14 years, two of those as its president. During his term as presi­ dent, Mr. Cobum said he and the board guided the club out of a seri­ ous deficit crisis onto solid finan­ cial ground. Mr. Cobum says he strongly sup­ ports the idea of fewer closed ses­ sion of council and would like to sec a cohesive council working towards the same goals. He feels protecting the municipal work lore? is a vital issue, a con­ viction he feels is strong in both the contenders for reeve. "Mason and I think a lot alike on some subject," he said, "but 1 won't have to leave the r(x>m to discuss any of them." "I am a leader not a follower. I do not go along with the majority, I evaluate each situation before mak­ ing my own decisions. 1 do not rep­ resent any special interest group, but instead represent the ratepayer." Council sees budget comparison By Bonnie Gropp A budget comparison at Blyth council on Oct. 5 was a case of good news, bad news. The good news is that if the bud­ get stays on line for the rest of the year, the village should be left with a balance of $6,000. The bad news is that this amount will be deleted if the village buys out the Hullett share of the landfill site tractor. Councillor Mason Bailey expressed apprehension with this move saying the purchase wasn't in the original budget, however Reeve Dave Lee and Councillor Shirley Fyfe said that it is a clause which Hullett has chosen to exercise. The first across Harvey Sillib of Blyth was the first resident to drive over the newly constructed village bridge on Hwy. 4. Mr. Sillib who turned 90 on Oct. 11 says it was just something he has wanted to do since construction began. Man, 90, sneaks over bridge By Janice Becker For a man who has just entered his 10th decade, Harvey Sillib still has a lot of mischief in his eyes. Mr. Sillib, of Blyth, was well known to the people working on the reconstruction of Hwy. 4 through the downtown core, as he had spent many hours talking with them and promising he would be the first across the bridge, once the work was finished. On the evening of Oct. 4, Mr. Sillib fulfilled his promise. Paul Driscoll, project supervisor with the Ministry of Transportation says he and another man were sit­ ting in the field office when they heard a car speed by. Wondering what was going on, Mr. Driscoll decided to take a look and discovered Mr. Sillib and a friend crossing the bridge. "I thought everyone had gone home," said Mr. Sillib, "so I took my car across once then went and got my neighbour, Harold Cook, and took him across too. That was CORPORATION OF THE VILLAGE OF BLYTH FLUSHING OF HYDRANTS Village of Blyth Public Works Force will be flushing hydrants Wednesday, October 19, 1994 starting at 9:00 a.m. Rain Date: October 20, 1994. Helen R. Grubb, AMCT Clerk "We didn’t budget for it because we didn't know it would come up," said Councillor Fyfe. When Councillor Bailey suggest­ ed that they convince Hullett to wait another year he was reminded that that would leave things with a new council "They can't encumber a new council and neither can you," said Clerk-Administrator Helen Grubb. "I understand that," said Council­ lor Bailey, "but there was never an agreement that by 1994 we must buy the tractor. Reeve Lee agreed then added, "But they (Hullett) want to clean up their loose ends too." when we got caught." A video camera soon arrived on the scene and Mr. Driscoll recorded the two Blyth residents crossing the bridge, as part of the chronology Mr. Cook has been recording since constructionbegan. When asked why he decided to sneak across the bridge, Mr. Sillib just smiles and says, "It was just something I wanted to do. RAMMELOO RETIREMENT HOME (‘The. 9-fome, away from home.) 24 hour care For more information please visit or contact by phone Lisa or Marie Rammeloo 523-9478 523-4533 523-4969 Village of Blyth Residential LARGE ITEM AND BAGGED LEAVES PICKUP Saturday, October 15 - Large item pickup to start at 9:00 a.m. followed by bagged leaves. Saturday, October 29 - Bagged leaves to start at 10:00 a m. Helen R. Grubb, AMCT Clerk THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 12, 1994. PAGE 3. Barking pooch has dog catcher in tricky situation By Bonnie Gropp If they're not running loose, they’re tied up and barking. A noise dispute between some Blyth residents regarding a barking pooch is causing the Animal Con­ trol Officer Bob Trick some con­ sternation. Mr. Trick had arranged for the two parties to meet in closed ses­ sion with members of council Oct. 5, in an attempt to resolve what has become a no-win situation. Regis­ tered letters had been sent notifying the parties about the meeting, how­ ever, Mr. Trick was informed by Clerk-Administrator Helen Grubb that neither had been picked up. Mr. Trick told council that the dispute had been going on since May 25 and he can't seem to find a “Working with the gifts of nature” Fresh Apple Cider Fresh Apples including • Macs • Courtlands & • Spartans More varieties arriving soon! • We also have pumpkins in all sizes Open Monday - Saturday 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. We will deliver Blythe Brooke Orchards Hwy. 4 North end of Blyth 523-4383 solution. Acomplaint has been made, but Mr. Trick says he has Continued on page 11 Blyth People Blyth Euchre Club met on Monday, Oct. 3 in Memorial Hall. The winners were: .high lady, Effie McCall; high man, Ted Fothergill; low lady, Janet Lawrie; low man, Tena Empey; ladies' lone hands, Olive Neal; men's lone hands, Bill Craig.