HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1997-11-05, Page 2PAGE 2. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 5,1997.
Brussels candidates meet with ratepayers
Term of uncertainty
Brussels acclaimed members of council, from left, newcomer Mike Thomas, incumbents
Joe Seili, Greg Wilson and Mary Stretton, and canddiates for reeve, Councillor Ralph
Watson and incumbent Reeve Gord Workman talked about the tough decisions facing
municipal councils this election during an all-candidates meeting Oct. 29.
By Bonnie Gropp
Citizen staff
While they were small in number
there were some big questions from
those in attendance at the Brussels
all-candidates meeting, Oct. 29.
Della Baumgarten of Howick
Twp. one of the candidates for
trustee to the newly-aligned Huron-
Perth District School Board #8, dis
cussed in her opening comments
the difficulties facing the board.
While the new role of trustee is not
yet defined, the board is also busy
with the process of finding a new
administration office location and
the hiring of a new director. "And it
must all be ready and in place by
January," said Baumgarten.
The candidate said she ran for
trustee six years ago because she
wanted to be involved in the deci
sion making. "As a trustee, after
Bill 160 I may again have no
means to affect policy."
The other candidate for trustee,
Colleen Schenk of Wingham was
attending the all-candidates meet
ing in Wingham, so her husband,
John was present to speak on her
behalf. He noted the challenges that
serving a greater area will mean for
the trustee, but said that Colleen
had a plan to co-ordinate the chairs
of the local School Advisory Coun
cils. "She feels that a good repre
sentation of all schools can be
achieved in this manner,"
Reading from a statement from
his wife, Schenk said, she was
looking forward "to the challenges.
Your children are the prime reason
for the board and she will represent
this area with their best interests in
mind."
Both candidates saidthey would
be part of all the SACs represented
in their area. In the restructuring
Brussels is with Morris, Grey,
Tumberry, Howick and Wingham.
Brussels ratepayer Hank TenPas
asked what the trustees' feelings
were with regards to the Huron-
Perth amalgamation.
Baumgarten responded, "Let me
say first, that we didn't have a
choice. They (the government) pro
pose it will save money, but we've
never been shown how. I don't
agree."
Saying that the number of stu
dents represented by the board will
double to 20,000, Baumgarten
questioned whether it would be
more efficient, admitting it was
"going to be hard to represent the
community."
Schenk said that while he would
never presume to speak for his
wife, he did know her attitude has
always been to deal with the situa
tion that exists. Attending SAC
meetings faithfully is something
that she believes will help the
trustee be an effective representa
tive in the larger district. "That's
where a trustee finds out what is
affecting the children's education,"
said Schenk.
In response to a comment regard
ing the role the board had been
"pushed into with the strike",
Baumgarten said that the board is
in the middle and more or less has
to wait. "The teachers are our
employees, yet the dispute is with
the government. Most are upset that
Bill 160 is taking the powers away
and giving it to one person. It's like
giving you a list of the contents and
the rest will be filled in later."
Many questions arose regarding
the teachers’ strike and the effects
on the children. Sharon Horst won
dered whether there was going to
be a rebate as parents were paying
in tax dollars for an education their
children weren't receiving. Neither
candidate had a response.
Clerk-Treasurer Donna White
said she had been receiving the
daily curriculum homework sheets
for Grades 1-8 at the office each
morning and had compiled about
15-20 packages that day.
"Homeschooling is starting to
look good to a lot of parents," said
Horst.
Municipal candidates
For the two candidates for reeve,
Gordon Workman and Ralph Wat
son, and the acclaimed council,
incumbents Mary Stretton, Greg
Wilson, Joe Seili and newcomer
Mike Thomas, the concerns were
over amalgamation and downsiz
ing. All agreed that in this upcom
ing term of uncertainty they were
going to do the best job they could
representing the ratepayers of Brus
sels.
In his opening remarks Workman
said that it seems "with the amount
of people here there isn’t much con-
cem. But, I will certainly be here to
answer any questions, and if you've
got something to dig us about we'll
take that too."
Watson said he felt his experi
ence in the "corporate worid"would
be an asset when dealing with the
issues facing municipalities today.
He sees parallels between his expe
riences in business and with the
downsizing of provincial services
that he hopes would "help him get
the best of a raw deal for Brussels
people."
The acclaimed councillors also
spoke briefly on their reasons for
seeking another term. Stretton said
that she had kept an open mind dur
ing her council terms and wanted to
continue to do the best job she
could for taxpayers.
Wilson said the experience he
had gained through his three terms
as a councillor was something he
thought would assist him in being
the type of representative needed in
these changing times. "I have a spe
cial interest in the amalgamation
process," he said, adding that he
had been attending monthly meet
ings. "If amalgamation happens this
will be the last municipal election
and I guess I want to go down with
the ship."
Seili promised that his door
would always be open and he
would try to do as much as possible
to keep taxes in line.
Thomas added his support for the
village, saying that he was looking
forward to what he knew was going
to be a learning experience.
The two PUC Commissioners,
Dave Hastings and Henry Exel,
were also both acclaimed. They
noted that due to concerns over
electrical safety, they were plan-
Continued on page 28
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NOTICE TO THE ELECTORS
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Municipal Elections In the Village of
Brussels for the offices of:
REEVE (1 to be elected)
AND
DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD NO. 8 (HURON C)
ENGUSH PUBUC (1 TO BE ELECTED)
REGULAR POLL FOR THE MUNICIPAL ELECTION
WILL BE HELD ON:
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MONDAY, NOVEMBER 10,1997 between the
. hours of 10:00 A.M. - 8:00 P.M. AT THE
BRUSSELS, MORRIS AND GREY COMMUNITY CENTRE.
DEADLINE FOR OBTAINING CERTIFICATE TO VOTE BY PROXY
IS NOVEMBER 10,1997. A person appointed a voting proxy shall
complete an application in the prescribed form including a
statutory declaration that the person is the person appointed as
a voting proxy and shall bring the form in person to the Clerk at
the Clerk's office during normal office hours. A person
appointed as a voting proxy must be entitled to be an elector in
the municipality. A person appointed as a proxy may only act for
one person who is not a relative but can act as a proxy for any
number of relatives (spouses, parents, children, grandparents
and grandchildren). No application shall be approved by the
Clerk after 5:00 p.m. on Monday, November 10,1997.
Donna M. White
Returning Officer
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