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Home My WebLink AboutThe Citizen, 2002-02-20, Page 28Getting to know you Huron-Bruce MPP Helen Johns visited with constituents at an informal gathering in Blyth's Bainton Gallery on Friday night. Delegations had the opportunity to book appointments with her to discuss relevant issues or concerns, while everyone was welcome to come and enjoy a coffee and talk over topical issues. (Vicky Bremner photo) All of us at your Credit Union Thank You for Fifty Great Years 2002 BOARD OF DIRECTORS BACK ROW L-R: Gary Jewitt; Don Campbell; Jim DeBlock *- Vice Chairperson; Ron Merner; J. Murray Taylor. FRONT ROW L-R: Peter McFalls *- Secretary; Marjorie Dobson *- Chairperson; Jim Hunter *_ Vice Chairperson 2002 CREDIT COMMITTEE BACK ROW L-R: Les Hills; Janet Cameron; Ed Wright. FRONT ROW L-R: Ralph Schuurman - Chair; Jack Riddell. *-Denotes member of Executive Committee 48 Ontario St., Clinton Tel. (5 I9) 482-3466 Mon.-Thurs. 9 am-5 pm Fri. 9 am-8 pm 118 Main St. N., Exeter Tel. (519) 235-0640 Mon.-Thurs. 9 am-5 pm Fri. 9 am-8 pm www.clinton.on.cu • A different way of banking. TM Clinton Community Credit Un PAGE 28. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2002. Delegations have their say By Stew Slater Special to The Citizen The number of requests continues to rise calling on the Avon Maitland District School Board to wait until the effects of three key factors are known before any decisions are made about school closure. Monday, Feb. 11, at a special Avon Maitland meeting set aside in anticipation of a rush of public delegations leading up to a planned Feb. 26 closure vote, almost all presenters mentioned one, two or all three of the factors: the leadership race among Ontario Conservatives, which will produce a new provincial premier; the move to a four-year high school curriculum, which should see secondary school enrolment significantly reduced by the end of 2003; and a legislation-mandated review of the provincial government's education funding formula, potentially also in 2003. "If need be; present a deficit budget and let the cards fall where they may," pleaded Susan Aarts, representative for Seaforth's business association, after suggesting the closure of Seaforth District High School (SDHS) would adversely affect that community. Goderich Mayor Deb Shewfelt registered his support, holding up a recent London Free Press newspaper article featuring a quotation that the current funding formula "isn't working," from leadership hopeful . Ernie Eves. "I think (Eves) is sending a message and I would sincerely ask elected officials" to take this ._ into account, Shewfelt said. "I would` look at this as an opportunity .. I believe that you can take advantage of what's happening on the political scene now." The calls came not- only from ... people hoping to save their own schools; but also from Sharon Wendler, who wondered if changes at her child's school, Goderich's Victoria Public School, would be adequate or even completed in time to accommodate students relocated from a potentially closed Robertson Memorial Public School. She argued Robertson should not be closed if the quality of education- for its students can't be maintained at the same level or higher than it is at present. "It may be more prudent at this 'time to play wait and see and not close (Robertson)," Wendler suggested. Huron East Mayor Lin Steffler and tireless SDHS supporter Maureen Agar both provided data which they suggested runs contrary to information already put forward by the board. Steffler, who de-livered a report in support of SDHS to trustees on behalf of the municipality's council, said .The Municipality of Huron East has issued ' its report on the remuneration and expenses for each councillor during 2001. This report is required by the Municipal Act and must be issued by Feb. 28 of the year following. The total amount spent was $99,798.54. The bulk of this consisted of $66,350, which was paid to council members for their attendance at meetings and committees. Council honorariums totalled $15,000 with the mayor receiving $3,000, the deputy-mayor $2000 and each councillor $1,000. An amount totalling $4,654.82 was spent for employment insurance, Canada Pension Plan and employers health tax premiums to the municipality, for councillors. recent analysis of board data reveals an approximate $50,000 error. The board's plan is to send SDHS students to Central Huron Secondary School in Clinton, making room for students from Seaforth Public School and allowing for the closure of that building. Steffler suggested the board failed to acknowledge, while calculating projected cost savings from such a plan, that Seaforth Public would remain open and SDHS remain largely empty for one year during renovations. Agar estimated the board could save over $120,000 — compared to its own closure plan — by keeping SDHS open, as wel', as by relocating Seaforth Public's Grades 7 and 8 students to fill up an empty wing at SDHS. Reasons for the savings included the elimination of a need for renovations and extra transpor,tation under the board's plan, the retention of provincial "top-up" funding given to schools operating at less than 80 per cent capacity, the elimination of a portable classroom at Seaforth Public, and the sharing of a principal. Also on her list of savings was "potential court costs," a reference to her group's successful campaign of 2000 to have a previous SDHS closure vote legally overturned. Both Agar and Steffler maintained legal action remains a viable alternative this time around, as well. Steffler, who stated her municipality has retained legal counsel regarding school closure, argued that the board's revised closure policy still fails to address two key issues: addressing the effects of closures on communities; and tdentifying Seaforth Public School as a school slated for closure. "When you close a building, you close a school," Steffler said, adding that the board had voted down motions to rectify both areas of concern brought- forward by area trustee Charles- Smith. Smith was elected following his leadership of the 2000 campaign to save SDHS and has consistently voted against the completion of any step leading towards potential closures. Trustees, given the opportunity to ask "questions of clarification" regarding the delegations, largely chose only to listen. Smith made several requests air suggested timelines for deferrals, usually garnering the response of "after 2003." South Huron trustee Randy Wag ler also had a few questions. Most notably, he wondered if Agar had calculated the estimated savings the board would accrue through what she _predicted would be a loss of 37 students to the Huron-Perth Catholic District School Board. Agar countered that there would be negligible savings, but then had to Mileage paid to the councillors for their travel on council business was $6,936.34. Convention expenses for councillors were $6,857.38. The following are the total remuneration and expenses for -each member of council: Mayor Lin Steffler, $11,134.47; Deputy-mayor Bernie MacLellan, $7,816.12; Dick Burgess, $9,077.62; William DeJong, $9,848.41; Ferg Kelly, $8,708.52; Graeme MacDonald, $7,005.39; Sharon McClure, $10,802.80; Larry McGrath, $6265.70; Alvin McLellan, $9,168.39; Joe Seili, $6,651.91; Bill Teall, $5,752.22; Greg Wilson, $7,50.99. In 2000 the- expenses and remuneration for council members of the five municipalities amalgamated into Huron East were $108,107.72. admit she hadn't calculated the savings, after Wagler successfully pointed out that, averaged over the entire hoard, the loss of 37 students could lead to the elimination of more than one teaching salary, as well as other savings. Stratford trustee Rod Brown also challenged Agar over the predicted loss of students to the Catholic board, suggesting Clinton's St. Anne's Secondary School .could he hard- pressed to make room for that many new students. Agar countered that, at the high school level, the school must take children who wish to attend. _ BroWn, however, responded that's not true if a school is above capacity. At this point, Aarts rushed to the microphone in Agar's defense, listing four families which have contacted St. Anne's with the intent of transferring, should SDHS close. HE issues expenses report