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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2001-01-10, Page 20A new beginning Central Huron Reeve Carol Mitchell was sworn in at the inaugural meeting last week. With her is Clerk Richard Harding, standing and Ward 1 Councillor Laurie Cox. (News-Record photo) SWEEP You need a soybean program you can count on. That's why there's CLEAN SWEEP,' a proven, reliable tank-mix that delivers broad-spectrum, one-pass weed control — whether you're growing conventional or Identity Preserved beans. It gives you peace of mind with contact and season-long control of grass and broadleaf weeds, including the tough ones like ragweed, velvetleaf and nightshade. It's no wonder PURSUIT'÷ BASAGRAN' FORTE is the #1 tank-mix choice for soybean growers in Eastern Canada. 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The reeve, apart from wel- coming the council members, staff and guests, gave a brief address regarding the new municipality and looking towards the future: "Today we as Central Huron council members begin the process to prepare for the year 2001 and to begin long range planning for our new municipality. As all of you are aware the year 2001 will be a transition year and we will face. many challenges. We as Central Huron coun- Staff in place at C. Huron With renovations almost, complete, the relocated employees which comprise the municipal staff for Central Huron began serving residents from Clinton Town Hall when business resumed in January. The former council cham- bers were converted to work- stations for five employees including the protective serv- ices officer, utility department, facilities department, roads department and 'a clerical sup- port staff member. Clerk Richard Harding says there has been a reduction in one office position with the amalgamation of Clinton and Hullett and Goderich Twp., but the utilities department has increased by one due to provincial legislation with regards to water and sewer works. In replacing three half-time positions for a building inspec- tor in the three former munici- palities, Protective Services Officer Andy DePutter will serve as chief building official, property standards and bylaw enforcement officer. Steve Gibbings will head the utility department, overseeing the day-to-day operations and management of the Clinton Power Corporation and the management of the water and sewer systems. Facilities Manager Steve Campbell and his team will be responsible for all municipal facilities including town offices, parks, playgrounds, beaches and the arena as well as all recreational and cultural activities. Road Superintendent Tom Sinclair will also look after storm water management. The treasury department is headed by former Hullett Twp. clerk-treasurer Rhonda Fischer. All municipal business will take place at the Clinton office. cil members will provide a solid sense of direction in working toward common goals and in the best interests of Central Huron. By working as a team, together we will meet the many challenges with confi- dence, that face Central Huron in the new millenni- um. Once again congratulations to everyone on your new positions, and all the best in the new year." The members of the new council were sworn in by Clerk Richard Harding. The councillors, sworn in by alphabetical order, are: Marg Anderson, Ward 2; Bill Colquhoun, Ward 3; Laurie Cox, Ward 1; Tom Duizer, Ward 2, Alison Lobb, Ward 1; and Darren Stevenson, Ward 3. Bert Dykstra was sworn in as deputy-reeve, and Mitchell as reeve. Council passed a number of bylaws during the regular meeting which followed, including bylaws setting out the procedures for council, the remuneration members of council will receive and what members will serve on what committees. Council was presented with a remuneration bylaw, the figures for which were recommended by the transi- tion board - a group com- prised of members from the former councils of Goderich Twp., Hullett Twp. and Clinton. In the original bylaw, the reeve received an hono- rarium of $7,500, while the deputy-reeve received $3,000 and councillors $2,000. Dykstra commented on the bylaw, noting that the differ- ence in the honorariums for the reeve and deputy-reeve were "quite substantial." Colquhoun questioned whether there had been a sig- nificant change in the figures, compared to past councils, and Mitchell noted that the transition board had looked into remuneration for sur- rounding municipalities, and taken an average. "They are certainly not the lowest, cer- tainly not the highest," she said. Dykstra stated that it seemed from research carried out by Harding, that a one- third, one-third, one-third rule appeared to typically apply, for instance with a reeve receiving $9,000, a deputy- reeve $6,00 and a councillor $3,000. Anderson suggested that she VOuld support two-thirds Of the reeve's remuneration for the deputy-reeve, and Dykstra said he thought that would be more fair, taking into consideration the work the deputy reeve must under- take. Cox, who chaired the sub- committee which set the rates for remuneration, noted the pay scale was based on older models, and added that he believes the deputy reeve will now have more responsibili- ties. "The logic we were using at the time did not anticipate the roll of the deputy-reeve," he said. "I would support an increase of some kind for deputy-reeve." After some further discus- sion, it was decided to amend the bylaw, giving the reeve pay of $7,500, the deputy- reeve $5,000 and councillors $2,500. Both the amendment to the bylaw and the remuner- ation bylaw itself were passed.