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Huron Expositor, 2004-01-28, Page 2S -THS HURON RXPOSITOR, January 28. 2004 When It Comes To Protecting Your Assets.... Rim to the Professionals at GRAY INSURANCE BROKERS INC. Specializing in L • Farm — Commercial — Auto — Property 5 MAIN STREET, SOUTH SEAFORTH, ON (519)527-2500 Open Monday to Friday 9:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. - OR by appolnment H naadad •: =` ATTENTION RESIDENTS OF SEAFORTH & EGMONDVILLE The Welsh Street Water Well has been taken off line to con- duct pump tests for future upgrades. In the interim, while the Welsh Street Well is off line, the Chalk Street Well will be used. The Chalk Street Well water exceeds the Ontario Drinking Water Standards for Radon 222, Uranium and Radium, however the Medical Officer of Health and the Ministry of the Environment indicate that there is NO IMMEDIATE HEALTH RISK for short-term use. We encourage users to reduce water consumption while this work is being done. If you have any questions please call the Huron County Health Unit at 482-3416. News Agar says London investors serious about creating `first class' Jr. D team From Pogo 1 said. Even though the Seaforth Junior D Centenaires folded two years ago and McGafka- Pro Group has to reapply to the Ontario Hockey Association as a new franchise, Agar said the team name will remain the Centenaires and new jerseys are already being made. "We were told by (Seaforth arena staff member) Kevan Broome and (Huron East Clerk Administrator) Jack McLachlan that whether we called them the Seaforth Seagulls or anything else, they'd always be the Centenaires," laughed Agar. While Agar had hoped to ew Inventory I arriving r weekly! / • • • • OVING SAL NO TAXES S TORE VVIDE!! THURSDAY, JAN 29 & FRIDAY. JAN 30 ONLY! We're closed Sat. & Sun. to move to our NEW. BIGGER, LOCATION at 90 Main St, Seaforth (formerly Sparky's Restaurant) lassic Touch LIQUIDATION 60 Main St. S., Seaforth 527-0661 MENU OPEN Thurs 10-5 Fri 10-5 Sat 9-5 Sun 11-4 meet with the Seaforth arena board last Thursday night for a fmal time before making a proposal to the Ontario Hockey Association, he was stopped from travelling to Seaforth by stormy weather. He said his deadline for submitting the proposal to the OHA is Jan. 31 and he hopes to have the OHA'S approval by March 15. "We'll be sending in the proposal so it'S basically up to the OHA now whether or not Seaforth has a Junior D team," he said. Because the application is considered a new franchise, the McGafka-Pro Group has to pay the OHA $5,000 for an entry fee and $1,000 for an entry fee. As well, he projects that the annual cost of running the team will be $40,000. "Without bragging, we want everyone to know that this is not going to be a second class team. We plan to run a first class organization and we want to be a real competitive team. We have a big board that's 100 per cent dedicated to make sure it works," said Agar. He said players will be provided with new uniforms, helmets, gloves and sticks. "We know we're outsiders trying to move into town and we're not naive enough to think we aren't going to have to win people over but we're confident we can do that," he said. Agar said that while he hasn't had time to talk to a lot of Seaforth community members yet, he has secured a letter of support from Seaforth minor hockey president Kevin Williamson and has heard from a dozen local businesses that they're "thrilled to death" to see junior D hockey back in Seaforth. "We stopped at the local coffee shopt to talk to some people and we never got one negative answer," he said. Agar, who needs the approval of other junior D teams in the area, said he's also heard some positive responses from other general managers. "They want to see us back to round out the schedule to 10 teams, with five in the north and five in the south." Agar said he's also fairlj confident that he can convince local players to come back to the Centenaires from the teams they've dispersed to since the former Centenaire team folded. "I was told a lot of the boys will come back once they see we're serious and sincere and not a Mickey Mouse organization. We'd love to see them back," he said. Agar added he wants to contribute towards Seaforth minor hockey. "We'd like to help minor hockey out - it's our future for players," he said. The Feb. 10 meeting is planned for 7 to 10 p.m. at the community centres. Minutes, municipal auditor, investment list and financial statements added to agreement From Pogo 1 cause problems down the road? I don't know," said Steffler. Mayor Joe Seili was not swayed by the Seaforth councillors' arguments. "The reason I voted the way I did is I didn't want to waste anymore money and time," said Seili. Deputy -Mayor Bernie MacLellan argued that council is allowed to amend ou can heti) us fend ea,Jorth's est &rt Kindness... 1. The state, quality or habi of being kind 2. kind act or treatment 3. act of affection or goodwill. Has someone helped you or someone you know and asked for nothing) in return? Random acts of kindness often go unrewarded and this is your chance to say "Thank You" to your good samaritan! THE WINNER WILL RECEIVE A PRIZE PACKAGE WORTH OVER $300! Here's how: Simply write a letter explaining how your nominee helped out and why they are Seaforth's Biggest Heart. The deadline for entries is Feb 9 at 12 noon Entries will be judged on Feb 9 and the winner announced in the Huron Expositor Feb 11. Submit entries to: The Huron Expositor, 11 Main St, Seaforth or The Municipality of Huron East, c/o BIA Secretary, 72 Main St, Seaforth, NOK 1 WO. Brought to you by... eafo�rth. BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION its own bylaws and added that both parties are in agreement with the changes to the trust agreement. "I see no sense in sending this through the court system. What's the sense if the trust committee agrees to it?" said MacLellan. MacLellan asked Clerk - Administrator Jack McLachlan to make sure the Brussels trust agreement will be also amended to reflect the changes in the Seaforth agreement. "I don't want it to appear that we're not treating both trust funds equally," he said. Seili added that he'd already asked the Brussels trust and the members agreed. "If someone wants to tell us it's illegal, they can take us to court," added Brussels Coun. David Blaney. Huron East council and two visiting members of the trust, Maureen Agar and David Preszcato;, had a thorough discussion of the trust agreement amendments and of a report in last week's Huron Expositor of the trust committee's first meeting of council's current term. MacLellan and Grey Coun. Mark Beaven expressed concerns about whether or not trust committee members intend to be open about the workings of the trust. "I had a hard time believing what I was reading in the Huron Expositor, not that I question the reporting. I thought we had come to an amicable agreement and were trying to work together. But, to me it sounds like (the trust is saying) we'll do what we want and it doesn't matter what everyone else thinks," said MacLellan. He added that he doesn't want to control the money managed by the trust but wants to be sure the trustees are being responsible to the ratepayers of Seaforth. Beaven said he was concerned that trustees are "still having problems with transparency." He said that because most of the trustees are not elected, the trust must be held accountable to the people of Seaforth through Huron East council. "Wc were asked to trust the trust fund. But, after reading the paper, we're being told to trust it," said Grey Coun. Alvin McLellan. Blaney said council should not beeeacting to the tone of a newspaper article when making decisions regarding the Seaforth trust. However, he had sharp words for the trustees saying they've "missed the point that they have a constituency in the same way we do. The chair should go and tell his members the reality of life and very firmly." Steffler responded that he cannot control what the trustees say or what the newspaper reports. "Yes, we were too secretive but the trust meetings are now open to the public - that's a standing invitation. We have nothing to hide," he said. Steffler gave his "scout's honour" that the trust will be giving "full and accurate" minutes to council and will only be going into closed session when allowed under the Municipal Act. Responding to questions from Tuckersmith Coun. Bill De Jong, Steffler said Alf Ross's pay of $27,000 consisted of a rate of pay of $200 a day, following a motion passed by Huron East council on Feb. 5, 2002, four months before the trust was formed. He said that Ross worked for 56 days negotiating a lease for Canada Post in the Seaforth post office building and then worked for 79 days for the trust renovating the post office building. "There was a motion by the trust to carry on at the same rate," said Steffler. Brussels Coun. Frank Stretton and Blaney said they had problems with the trust's practice of not tendering for large projects. "I wonder if all the local people got a chance to take part in the projects," said Stretton. Maloney responded that he agrees public tendering should be done by the trust. But, he also told council he didn't know what more the trust can do to earn council's trust. "Bernie's got a thing about this - he's causing the most trouble. And, Beaven. Just leave us alone and we'll do it," he said. MacLellan responded that as deputy mayor, he represents the people of Seaforth and sees it as his responsibility to address their concerns. "I plan to do that and if there's something going on, I'm going to bring it to council's attention," be said. Seaforth trust member Dave Preszcator told council that everything quoted in the Expositor was said at the meeting but that he agreed with all three of the amendments to the trust agreement. "If you give us time, the four of us want to be open," he said, referring to the four trust members at the council meeting. Maureen Agar told council that it's not fair for the new committee to be branded as the same as the first committee. She said she wanted the trust to publish a monthly newsletter in the newspaper "to keep track of what we're doing." "I can't keep my mouth shut, so honestly, you'll hear everything," she told council.