HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Huron Expositor, 1994-04-27, Page 22—THE HURON EXPOSITOR, Aril 27, 1994
News and Views
Ferguson reflects on council
BY DAVID SCOTT
Expositor Staff
More debate, a vote on the future
of Seaforth Police and a strategic
plan for the town are a few of the
suggestions by one of the town's
newest councillors.
The Huron Expositor approached
Coun. Brian Ferguson for his per-
spective as a new member of town
council:
More Debate
"There's more debate needed. In
general council there's not enough
debate on issues...Many times
there's just an acceptance of what's
presented," said Ferguson, who sits
on the Finance & General Govern-
ment Committee and the Parks and
Recreation Committee.
"Another problem I have is all the
requests for support...the way we're
asked for support for a whole var-
iety of things, I kind of feel uncom-
fortable with it. We're always send-
ing letters out to support this or
that. I don't know whether it does
any good or not."
Vote on Town Police
Ferguson is concerned about
what's going to happen to the town
police with the ongoing talks about
OPP costing. He thinks it should be
made part of the fall election.
"I think it's an important issue. I
think it should be on a ballot - a
plebiscite (for the municipal elec-
tion Nov. 12).
"I think the people in town should
NEW COUNCILLOR'S IMPRESSIONS - Seaforth Council
member Brian Ferguson recently gave the Huron Expositor his
impressions of his first few months as a councillor. (file photo)
be given a choice. There's no doubt
the OPP can do it (the service).
Maybe local people want to have
their own police force and they're
wiiling to pay for it. Have it on the
election ballot."
The Future of Seaforth
"For us to do a better job we
have to be more forward-looking.
We have to develop a strategic plan
for the future," said Ferguson, who
works as Maintenance Engineering
Supervisor with Ontario Hydro at
the Bruce 'A' nuclear station near
Tiverton.
He thinks Seaforth should be
attractive to new business. "It's a
competitive market. We have to
show people why they should come
here or what benefits are they going
to obtain from coming here. How
many small towns in Ontario are
almost identical? I think you have
to be aggressive. You can't just sit
back."
Ferguson also thinks the town
can't spend a fortune trying to draw
in new business.
"We have limited resources. It's
hard to justify to the taxpayers to
hire a bunch of expensive front men
to go find business for the town."
As far as keeping town spending
to a minimum, Ferguson says:
"We have to be tough with school
boards, the provincial and federal
governments. We have to try and
reduce our costs on pose items."
He added that Seaforth doesn't have
any control over what school boards
do.
Being A Councillor
Ferguson has enjoyed his first
five months as a member of
Seaforth council.
"It's been a lot of fun. A•chal-
lenge. It's really different from
what I do at wolk. Coming from a
technical job it'i nice to come and
deal with an administrative job...It's
an interesting way to spend even-
ings."
What impressions does Ferguson
have of his fellow councillors?
"I think they're dedicated, moti-
vated and interested. They're all
very polite. There's no Sheila
Copps." He said people are some-
times reluctant to stand up in coun-
cil meetings and maybe that's
because of peer pressure.
"One thing I'd like to see in the
upcoming election is new people
showing interest in council because
I think it's a challenge," said
Ferguson.
Brian Ferguson plans to run in the
upcoming municipal election.
Stories of each individual candi-
date will be carried prior to the
next municipal election.
. Dumping at township shed
BY TIM CUMMING
Expositor Editor
are found guilty due to a 'bona fide
error in judgement.'
Tuckersmith Township has prop -
Insurance for Tuckersmith Town-
ship Council will cost more than
$20,000 this year. Council renewed
its insurance through the Frank
Cowan Company.
The cost of insurance for the
township rises about 12 per cent
with a five per cent premium
increase and a new provincial sales
tax of $1,568. The cost of insurance
through the township, excluding the
new sales tax, is $20,245.
The renewed insurance package
for Tuckersmith Township Council
features $25,000 accidental death
and dismemberment coverage. This
pays in the event of accidental
death whether or not a councilor is
on council business.
Municipal conflict of interest
coverage will reimburse councillors
for legal fees up to $100,000 if they
are found not guilty of conflict of
interest or, in some cases, it they .o prevent further incidences.
erty insurance of $5 million with a
$1,000 deductible fee. The insur-
ance is a 'third -party liability' pol-
icy which covers only damages to
the property of parties other than
the township.
* * *
Household garbage including a
toilet seat were found at the site of
the Tuckersmith Township shed.
"It's going to be a shame if we
have to man it and fence it off
because of a few idiots," said Coun.
Larry McGrath.
Reeve Bill Carnochan said there
would be a large cost to having the
recycling bins watched by an
employee. If the dumping of illegal
garbage continues the facility might
only be open on Saturdays, he said.
He asked Tuckersmith ratepayers to
report any incidences of ratepayers
illegally dumping garbage.
Better lighting was recommended
Tuckersmith Township Council
met on April 19 with the principal
of Vanastra Public School. At his
request, council went into a closed
(in camera) session. The school had
proposed that school children could
'adopt' a township road but the
township had expressed liability
concerns.
* * *
Tuckersmith Township Council
accepted brine and calcium tenders
at its April 19 meeting.
The Holland tender was accepted
for brine at a rate of $21 per tonne.
Pollard Brothers' rate for calcium
was accepted at $144.95 per flake
tonne.
* * *
Garbage taken to the Mid -Huron
Landfill Site has dropped in volurf)e.,
by 40-60 per cent, Tuckersmith
Township Council was told on
April 19. Options for the landfill
board may include raising the $35
per tonne tipping fee or reducing
expenses.
Singers support mental health
Juno award winner, Cassandra
Vassik and Jim Witter are
coming to Huron County in May
for two concerts. These new
country artists will be appearing
at the Goderich Arena on May
27 and at the South Huron Com-
munity Centre on May 28. This
is the first time that Jim or
Cassandra have played in this
area of Ontario. All proceeds
from this event will be used to
fund The Canadian Mental
Health Association/Huron pro-
jects.
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Tuckersmith Township Council
approved the proposed 1994 budget
for the Clinton 4ea Fire Budget.
* *
County council would become
smaller under a proposal supported
by Tuckersmith Township Council.
Council, at its Apr. 19 meeting,
decided to support an option which
would give larger municipalities
more votes (on certain recorded
votes) but would reduce the size of
council.
The proposal was not the
township's preferred option. The
township's preferred choice would
require a private member's bill in
the provincial legislature and this
seems unlikely to pass with an
impending election.
Under that proposal a county
representative would have two votes
if representing a municipality with
a 2,500 to 5,000 population. A
municipality with more than 5,000
would have three votes.
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