Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuron Expositor, 2003-10-29, Page 7Municipal Election 2003 Incumbent Burgess wants to provide services to town Dick Burgess, current councillor for Seaforth ward in Huron East, is a retired teacher from Seaforth District High School who manages a family farm in Tilbury East, Kent County. He is married to Jeannette Finnigan, a Seaforth librarian and has three children. He is secretary -treasurer of the Seaforth community development trust, a member of the Seaforth BIA, past chair of the Huron East police services board, past chair of the Seaforth police services board and Huron East representative to the Avon Maitland District School Board's accommodation review process. He is also a director on the Seaforth Community Hospital and its foundation, a director of the Huron. Hospice volunteer services and past president of the Seaforth District High School school advisory council. What inspired you to run for office in Huron East? When I first came to Seaforth in 1964, the warm welcome I received from the community soon made me realize this was where I wanted to pursue my career and raise my family. I have never regretted that decision. I chose in the fall of 2000 to give back of my time and talents to the community' in which I passionately believe. Now, in the fall of 2003, I wish to build on the contributions I have been able to make to Seaforth and Huron East. What are the personal strengths and experience you bring to the job of municipal representative? I have a strong work ethic. I have demonstrated in my first term as councillor that I am prepared to commit the time and effort required to make informed decisions at council. I listen well. I appreciate and understand different points of view. I have demonstrated that I am prepared to speak up vigorously for for the interests of the ratepayers of Seaforth ward. What are the greatest challenges you see facing your ward? Huron East? How to you plan to meet them if elected? The greatest challenges Dick Burgess facing both Seaforth ward and Huron East will be to continue to provide the services that the members of our community expect and deserve: e.g. safe roads health care, recreation, clean water, policing, day care, at a cost that is affordable. Collectively Huron East council will have to grapple with difficult decisions during the budget process. I want to be a part of those decisions, defending the interests of the ratepayers of Seaforth ward, while considering the good of Huron East as a whole. How do you plan to ensure that council and its committees, such as the Seaforth community development trust, operate in as. public and accountable a fashion as possible? I support the recommendation of the municipal auditor for more timely reporting of financial information by the Seaforth community development trust to Huron East council. I have studied and support the new Ontario Municipal Act, which requires that municipal councils be more open and accountable. In camera sessions of council must be limited to certain restricted topics. On several occasions, I have reminded council of this requirement for openness. Huron East has been grappling with a deficit from the Tuckersmith Day Nursery and with a concern about providing support to daycare centres throughout the municipality. What are your views about the municipality's responsibility in regards to daycare? I look at the daycare issue both from the standpoint of a parent whose four children have attended the Seaforth Co -Operative Children's Centre, and from the standpoint of a taxpayer and councillor representing Seaforth ward. Providing quality, affordable day care makes economic good sense for Seaforth and Huron East. If we are to attract young people to live and work in our community, affordable day care is essential. We must provide a balanced level of support that is fair to all regions of the municipality. What are your views about how well amalgamation is working for Huron East? The members of Huron East council are doing a better job than many neighbouring municipalities in dealing with the challenges of amalgamation We will continue to do better as an amalgamated municipality as we learn to appreciate the needs, and the strengths of the various parts of Huron East. What are your views about economic development in Huron East? I have been a strong supporter of economic development in Huron East since the beginning of my term on Huron East council in 2001 for many reasons. For generations, our young people have been the most valuable export from this area. I want our young people to have the opportunity of returning to this area to work and raise their families in the community of their roots. I want to keep taxes down. Taxes can only be kept down by increasing -the commercial and industrial tax base, and by adding productive, tax -paying workers and their families to our community. Huron East council, on Oct. 21, passed a motion extending the contract of Ralph Laviolette, economic development officer, to 2004, and a motion to significantly increase the budget for economic development. This action signals a major shift among councillors towards supporting economic development from our first tentative beginnings in 2001. Maloney's priority is more industry/jobs for Seaforth Lou Maloney is married to Therese and they have two daughters. He is the owner of the Seaforth Laundromat and Seaforth bake shop and a member of St. James Church and the Seaforth Knights of Columbus. He has 10 years' experience as a trustee in Dublin, six years' experience as trustee for the Huron - Perth Catholic School Board, three years' experience as councillor for Hibbert Township and six years' experience as councillor for West Perth, Hibbert ward. What inspired you to run for office in Huron East? I have been in business most of my life and I enjoy working for and with people. What are the personal strengths and experience you bring to the job of municipal representative? I have been involved in politics for 25 years. I also have lots of time to serve the people of Seaforth ward. What are the greatest challenges you see racing your ward? Buren East? How de year plan to meet theft lf My number onety is to get industry in Sesforth to create jobs. Local jobs keep our "young people in town and shopping locally. Empty stores on Otic Main Sheet aro not good for the town. If Lou Maloney elected, I intend to spend a lot of time trying to get industry in Seaforth. How do you plan to ensure that council and its committees, such as the Seaforth community development trust, operate in as public and accountable a fashion as possible? As for the Seaforth community trust fund, I think the committee was structured wrong. If elected, 1 would like to change how the committee functions so the council and ratepayers of Seaforth ward know how the committee is spending this money. Huron East has been ra:pliag with a deficit the 1bckernlfth Day Nursery and with a concern about providing support to daycare centres throughout the municipality. What are your views about the municipality's responsiblity in regards to daycare? I think daycare centres are very important and they should have grants from Huron East and every daycare centre should be funded equally. What are your views about how well amalgamation is working for Huron East? How would you seek to improve the situation? I do not like to read in the local papers how council is bickering from ward to ward. I would like to try and create harmony on council. I sat on West Perth amalgamated council for six years and our meetings went really well. We did not always agree but got along well. You can disagree without fighting. What are your views about economic development in Huron East? Are you satisfied with the direction Huron Brat is going is attracting new businesses and proantiag what the area MB to of r? I think there has to be a lot more done. THE HURON EXPOSITOR, °CToawn 29, 2003-7 Steffler wants to see water system up to new standards Joe Steffler has been married to current Huron East Mayor Lin Steffler for 36 years and they have one son and two grandchildren. He is second vice-president of the Seaforth Lions, co-chair of the Seaforth Santa Claus Parade, and chair of the community betterment committee. He serves on the executive of the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 156 Seaforth, co-chairing the recent kitchen renovation project. He is a provincial director on the Association of Road Supervisors, representing the Huron County Road Supervisors' Association for the past seven years. He was recently appointed to review grants for the local Trillium Foundation. He is an active member of St. James Church. What inspired you to run for office in Huron East? Having worked for County of Huron highways department since 1970, I have always been interested in municipal government. I am going to retire in 2004 and will have the time to devote to the work that has to be done. I have a strong desire to someday be the warden of Huron County. What are the personal strengths and experience you bring to the job of municipal representative? Being a municipal employee for the past 33 1/2 years and in middle management since 1981, I feel that my experience preparing and managing a budget of approximately $1 million yearly gives me great knowledge in how to administer the tax dollar in getting the best bang for your buck. "Cheap always isn't the best way to spend tax dollars." Also, I served for 11 years as a Public Utilities Commissioner for the town of Seaforth. I was quite proud of our accomplishments, buying new equipment with not one penny borrowed. Also, we did water main upgrades every year so that we would not end up with a system that was continually deteriorating. To my knowledge, water main upgrades are not being done since the municipality took the Joe Steffler water over from the P.U.C. What are the greatest challenges you see facing your ward? Huron East? How to you plan to meet them if elected? One of the greatest challenges facing Seaforth is getting the water system back up to Ministry of Environment standards as quickly as possible. The ratepayers of Seaforth are looking at a huge financial obligation in the near future to do so. I believe Huron Fast should lobby the Ontario government for assistance. One of the greatest challenges facing Huron East is getting all five municipalities to act as one. Even the thought of going. back to five municipalities is ludicrous. With all the money that has been spent to amalgamate and then just throw it away is a very big disservice to the taxpayers of Huron Fast. I plan to support all five wards. How do you plan to ensure that council and its committees, such as the Seaforth community development trust, operate in as public and accountable a fashion as possible? I believe all committees should report to council providing that the subject matter is not coming from an ."in camera session" where personnel and real estate transactions are being discussed. As a present member of the Seaforth trust, I believe our two council reps should have been more open with council. I also am very pleased that we as the Seaforth community development trust stepped up to the plate and purchased the post office. My personal belief is that Huron East would not have purchased the post office leaving a very large building on Seaforth's main street to fall down. I will make sure council is kept up to speed on the happenings at the Seaforth trust. Huron East bas been grappling with a deficit from the Tuckersmith Day Nursery and with a concern about providing support to daycare centres throughout the municipality. What are your views about the municipality's responsibility in regards to daycare? First of all, I think the day nursery is subsidizing the Vanastra Rec Centre by the amount of rent and hydro they are paying to the rec centre. All these figures must be looked at very carefu4 I firmly believe that Huron East has a responsibility to provide support to any of the three daycare centres in Huron East whether municipally or privately -operated. What are your views about how well amalgamation is working for Huron East? I think amalgamation has gone fairly well in Huron Fast compared to other areas. Amalgamation was not wanted in any area. However:it was demanded by the province oat - the idea that it would save money. I will encourage the next council to be more proactive rather than reactive when discussing the future of Huron East keeping in mind what is good for one ward is good for the all of Huron Fast. What are your views about economic development in Huron East? I think Huron Fast has a lot to offer with one of the largest cattle sales barns in Ontario in Brussels and a railway line running through Seaforth. I will promote the municipality's budget for economic development and retain an economic development officer for Huron East. I think more land in Seaforth has to be purchased adjacent to the rail line to take advantage of this resource. trefifir HURON EAST PUBLIC NOTICE MUNICIPALITY OF HURON EAST 2 03 MUNICIPAL ELECTION OTICE OF POLL NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN to the Municipal Electors of the former municipalities of Brussels, Grey, McKillop, Seaforth & Tuckersmith, in the County of Huron that in compliance with the Municipal Elections Act, a ballot will be held on MONDAY NOVEMBER 10TH. 2003, FOR THE OFFICES OF: Mayor one (1) to be elected by all Wards Deputy -Mayor -one (1) to be elected by all Wards Grey Ward Councillor two (2) to be elected Seaforth Ward Councillor two (2) to be elected English Language Public School Trustee one (1) to be elected by English Public. (Avon Maitland District School Board) School Electors The voting places will be open from 10:00 a.m. and will close at 8:00 p.m. at the following locations: Bnrssel4 Ward Poll *1 Comprising all properties in the Village of Brussels Grey Ward Poll *1 Concession 1 to 4 inclusive, All Lots Poll #2 Concession 5 to 8 inclusive, All Lots Concession 9 Lots I 1 to 35 inclusive Poll #3 Concession 9 to 18 inclusive, Lots 1 to 10 (except the Village of Brussels) Poll #4 Concession 10 to 18 inclusive, Lots 11 to 35 McKillop Ward All Polls Entire Township of McKillop SmitorthiYard All Polls Entire Town of Seaforth PoII #1 Lob 1 to 9 inclusive, Concession I HRS Lots I to 10 inclusive, Concession 2 HRS Lots 1 to 10 inclusive, Concession 3 HRS All that portion of Egmondvilk east of Kippen Road Poll #2 Lots 12 to 20 inclusive, Concession 1 HRS Lots I1 to 15 inclusive, Concession 2 HRS Lots 11 to 15 inclusive, Concession 3 HRS All that portion of Egmondvilk west of Kippen Road Poll #3 Lots 26 to 40 inclusive, Concession 1 LRS Lots 26 to 40 inclusive, Concession 2 LRS Lots 26 to 40 inclusive, Concession 3 LRS Lots 26 to 32 inclusive, Concession 4 LRS All Lots on Concession 5, 6 and 7 LRS Lots 21 to 30 inclusive, Concession I HRS Lots 16 to 30 inclusive, Concession 2 HRS Lots 16 to 3b ii elusive, Concession 3 HRS Lots 21 to 26 inicluisive, Concession 4 HRS Lots 21 to 24 inclusive, Concession 5 NRS Lots 1 to 25 inclusive, Concession I LRS Lots 1 to 25 inclusive, Concession 2 LRS Lots 1 to 25 inclusive, Concession 3 LRS Las 15 to 25 inclusive, Concession 4 LRS All Lots on Concession 6 so 15 HRS inclusive Lob 1 to 14 inclusive, Concession 4 HRS Las 1 to 14 Inclusive, Concession 5 HRS AU Lots on Concessions 1, 2 and 3 LRS North of Lot 40 - Huronview (County Home) Aq t.ots on Concession 1, 2 and 3 HRS west of La 30 Aad Registered Pens 131 and 133 known as Vanastra Pull #4 Poll n5 Po11 06 voting Place Brussels Moms Grey Community Centre Grey Municipal Building Grey Municipal Building Brussels Moms Grey Community Centre Cranbrook Community Centre McKillop Township Work Centre Northside United Church Egmondville United Church Egmondville United Church Brucefield United Church Tuckersmith Communications Huronview Vanastra Recreation Centre ADYNNIZZQUAL Someday November 1st, 2003 between the hours or 10:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. M VOIING Brum& & Grey Wards Brussels Maris Grey Community Centre McKibp, Seaforth & Tockesn ith Wards Mauicipat (Mice, Seaforth Moms voting will be held for the purpose of receiving the votes d electors who.eapect to be cable to vote on the regal" %dog . A catiRale lo rale by proxy may be obtained at the Office of the Clerk, weekdays between 8:30 a.m. fwd 5:00 p.m. The last day for making application to the Clerk for a certificate to vote by proxy is 5:00 p.m. November 10th, 2003. J.R. McL.ad.t Ret.ra arta► • 2003likaioai Mwkipolity of Halla Wit.