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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes-Advocate, 1987-01-07, Page 2Page 2 Times -Advocate, January 7, 1987 Three requests already over limit Stieking to four percent guhle may be tough Despite a suggestion from the ex- ecutive committee that departments develop their budgets to keep to a four percent increase this year, Exeter council learned this week that it could be a tough order. In fact. Councillor Dorothy Chap- man noted that three items appeared on the agenda calling for increases well above that four percent guideline. One of those came from the economic development committee which presented a proposed budget of $15,040 for 1987. Reeve Bill Mickle, chairman of the committee and also chairman of the town's executive and finance committee acknowledged it as "quite an increase" over last year's economic development com- mittee budget. Mrs. Champan quipped that she hoped Mickle would look favorably on similar increases that may come from other town departments, The budget was not formally ap- proved, but Mickle received direction that the committee could proceed with an advertising campaign that was earmarked at $9,040 in the budget. Mayor Bruce Shaw cautioned that if the budget was cut later by coun- HALL PACKED The Exeter town hall was filled on Thursday as citizens joined the Heritage Founda- tion in a New Year's levee to mark the 100th birthday of the building. Exeter council members to etperdiempayrnent g Following the lead of most area Be went on to explain - members township councils, Exeter council this may wish to donate it to local week agreed to provide members organizations or "for cancer. lung . with a per diem fee of up to $70 per association or your wife". day for any meetings they attend The recommendation was approv- other than council, committee or local ed without debate, board meetings. Another recommendation from the The $70 per day is over and above. executive that was approved from the council member's annual stipend. same report calls for the 1987 wage It would be paid for attendance at rates approved last year- to be im- seminars. conferences, conventions plemented for employees on their or -municipal organizations to which first pay in the new year. a member attends on behalf of the Employees whose 1987 rate was set town. at the inflation rate will receive a four Describing it as.a "major change" percent increase: If the annual infla- Mayor Bruce Shaw said members tion rate, when tabled, varies from would be expected to claim the per that four percent figure, the altera- diem "but what you do with it is your tions will be made in subsequent pay. business". Council also endorsed a suggestion GOOD SLIDING Laureen Bott many area youngsters enjoying weekend at Morrison Dam. that Reeve Bill Mickle meet with the Exeter PUC to ascertain what the Commission may be prepared to outlay for industrial servicing and this will be tied into development of a town policy in that regard. The planning advisory committee will also he asked to address the mat- ter or subdivision agreements on three topics: (a) affordable housing for labour class, ( b) multiple housing designations, number and locations, to how future subdivisions can be planned to save developers servicing costs and examine whether these sav- ings, would, in fact, be passed on to the purchaser. Ask skiers stay on track The Exeter Morrison Winter Trail received a sudden increase in use with the recent snowfall and favourable weather. This has also led to problems with skiers wandering off the designated trail. The Ausable Bayfield Conservation • • • Authority today issued a reminder to all cross country skiers that the Ex- eter Morrison Winter Trail crosses private land in many places. The ABCA noted that the trail ex- ists because the Conservation - Authority negotiates agreements an- nually with the private land owners. With the present light covering of snow: damage can be done to grass- ed areas or small shrubs by skiers who leave the trail. The golf course is -particularly sensitive to such damage. The private landowners hold the key to the continued operation of the trail so the Conservation Author': ly urges everyone to respect private property by staying on the trail: The circle route around Morrison Dam reservoir is now joined by a foot- bridge at the east end. Skiers are en- couraged to explore the Conservation Authority property east of the Mor- rison dam. Maps are available at the ARCA office. Snowmobiles are not allowed on the Exeter Morrison Winter Trail. and Tara Hunking were two of the excellent sliding conditions' on the T -A photo Few changes made in committee setup Few changes will be made in Ex- eter's committee structure for the . new year, although representation on -the economic development commit- tee has been deferred to consider an expansion of membership as recom- mended by the committee. At their December 17 meeting, the committee indicated a desi to ex. pand membership to elude representatives from indus y, com- mercial, 'finance and the B Im- provement Area. . The structure of the c ittee could also be altered to in de sub- committee structures, a otating chairman and the possible appoint- ment of an executive assistant or commistioner. Council's standing committees, ap- proved this week, see Reeve Bill Mickle as chairperson of the ex- ecutive and finance committee. That committee will also be assigned the responsibilities previously under- taken by the employee relations com- Mittee. Members include Deputy - Reeve Lossy Fuller, Councillors Dorothy Chapman and Gaylen Josephson. Mayor Bruce Shaw is an ex -officio member of all committees. Josephson is chairperson of the general government committee with Councillors Tom Humphreys and Peter Snell as members. Mrs. Fuller retains the position as chairperson of publics works with members being Mickle and coun- cillors Ben Iloogenlxxim and Morley. 1lall. Dorothy Chapman also remains as head of the police committee with Josephson and Shaw as members. Cemetery board members are Reg McDonald, Robert Simpson, Olga Davis and council_ reps_Humphreys and Fuller. Hoogenboom and Josephson return to the planning advisory committee with citizen members Bruce Eccles, Dave Newton, Robert Russell, Robert Spears, Dave Werrett and Don Winter. Ervin Sillery remains as the town's representative on the Ausable- Bayfield Conservation Authority and the current members of the South Huron rec centre board remains un- til an agreement over funding is reached with other area councils. Shaw, Mickle and Fuller remain on the fire board and Hall and Fuller will continue to be -on the seniors' advisory committee. In- good shape! If tax arrears reflect on a municipality's dconomic condition. then Exeter and its taxpayers are in good shape. Clerk Liz Bell advised council this week that all but $57,822 of the 1986 tax levy of about;2,071,000 had been paid by the end of the year. The outstan- ding taxes represent only 2.79 per cent of the levy. An the 1984 taxethave been col- lected, meaning there will be no tax sales this year and only $12,841 re- mains in arrears from 1985. "That's pretty godd," Mrs. Bell commented. "It's the best I've ever seen," Reeve Bill Mickle added. • Seek reserve for expansion Members of the Exeter economic development committee have-recom-. mended to council that the latter establish a development reserve fund or tax stabilization reserve for the purpose of funding hard services, land requirements, etc., for commer- cial and industrial expansion. Noting that over the past five years the new assessment growth in Exeter has returned an average of 820,000. new tax dollars per year, the commit- tee said part of the new funds should be set aside for future development needs which in turn would have a stabilization effect on tax requirements. A suggested method of introducing the program wasto provide $10,000 in 1987, a further 820,000 in 1988 and thereafter the returns of four mills to the reserve fund. The committee outlined some benefits of such a reserve as follows: *This reserve fund would allow for immediate response for added or new services required by a new inquiry. 'It would provide for expansion of the town at no extra costs, or limited extra costs at the time required. 'It would assist stablizing future tax hikes. 'It would provide a return on in; vestment which is beneficial to all. 'It would act as a cushion when ma- jor break -downs in the service system may happen. cil, the advertising program may have to end in April rather than December. The cemetery board also presented a proposed budget for the current year, asking council to increase their grant by 81,000 to 822,000. That's an in- crease of 4.76 percent. The board also requested permis- sion of council to use 83,000 from reserves for cemetery equipment. In 1986, the board explained, a con- taminated well forced them to drill a new well at a cost of 89,114 and a new mower had to be purchased due to a breakdown of the former equipment. The reserve fund request wasto help cover the latter expenditure of 86,600 Special needs in discussion In March of 1978, following a workshop for social service, agencies held the previous year, an organiza- tional meeting of what would become the Huron County Special Needs Com- mittee was held. This committee was to serve as a coordinating body with specific issues to be dealt with by Ad -Hoc sub- committees made up of 'interested agencies. At the October 1978 Special Needs Committee, the group discussed becoming more formalized with wider roles and activities and a sub- committee was formed. That sub- committee suggested two alter- natives lternatives to meet a list of aims and ob- jectives as identified by the Special Needs Committee. The first alter- native, the agency model would be based on co-operation and co- ordination of agencies in the county and might resemble an expanded Special Needs Committee. The com- munity model would be broader to in- clude volunteer, political and long term planning personnel. The Huron County Community Ser- vices Council came into being at the March 29. 1979 meeting of the Special Needs Committee under its present structure and has functioned as such since that time. Following the report on the Youth Needs Assessment Project, the Huron County Community Services Council was challenged to consider becoming more active and forceful and the subsequent issure as to continuing in an informal supportive role or to in- corporate will be discussed at the January 15, 1987 meeting of the Huron County Community Services Council held at 10:00 a.m. at the OMAF office in Clinton. Everyone who is interested in this important decision is welcome to attend. Contact: Dave Overboe, 524-2186. 8:30 a.m., to 4:30 p.m. M Mrs.WOGwen ScottAN of SeafoNAMEDrth has been appointed to the Huron County Housing Authority, Alvin Curling, Minister of Housing, announced today. Mrs. Scott, a registered nurse, will serve as a provincial representative on the seven -member authority that manages Ontario Housing Corpora- tion's 415 assisted.housing units in the Huron County Area. The federal. provincial and municipal governments nominate in- dividuals for appointment to the hous- ing authorities by provincial. orders - in -council. The province appoints the housing authority chairman. The day-to-day management -of OHC's 84,000 housing units is carried out by local housing authorities, although the primary responsibility for assisted housing remains with OHC. • ' Mr. Curling said: "By volunteering their time to serve on the local hous- ing authority, private citizens such as Mrs. Scott are helping to ensure that Ontario's assisted housing program is sensitive and can respond to the needs of the many communities it serves." with -the balance.coming from current operating .funds. "The board thanks council for their support in allocating tax dollars to enable the cemetery to be maintain- ed at a level we all can be proud or a letter accompanying the request for increased funding stated. • Hay okay pay hikes Members of Hay council spent over 90 minutes of the first regular session of ' the new year in camera establishing pay increases for coun- cillors and township employees. The rates were set for both 1987 and 1988. Clerk Joan Ducharnie will receive annual increments' of 81,500; bringing her salary this year to 832,500 and 834,000 next year. Assistant clerk Betty O'Brien's 1986 salary of $17,800 will increase by 81,000 in each of the next two years. Road superintendent Ross Fisher, who was paid $27,785 in 1986. will - receive a $1,715 increase this year, and a further $1,500 in 1988. The grader operators also received increases. Gord Smith's current hour- ly wage of $10.51 goes to 811.14 in. 1987 and $11.80 the following year. Mike Masse; now receiving $9.73, will get 810.60 in 1987 and $11.55 in 1988. His vacation time increases from two to three weeks. Truck driver Ross Horner's 1986 pay of $9.10 per hour increases to $9.87 this year and 810.70 next year. - Councillors also raised their own pay for each whole day session, regular,meeting and per diem at con- ventions by $2 for this year, and a fur- ther 83 in 1988. This affects the reeve's 1986 stipend of $113. the deputy reeve's $110 and councillors' $103. The $45 rate for half days was not chang- ed. Mileage of 25e per km on townshp business also stays the same. The tile drainage inspector and the building inspector had their $14.70 in- spection fees raised to $15, effective for the next two years. Each is entitl- ed to a per diem of 850 plus meals if vouchers are supplied while attending conventions and seminars. The building inspector receives an addi- tional $10.50 for each permit issued. Township hall rental was unchang- ed, as was the $6.50 per hour paid to part-time road department employees. The other item exceeding the four percent guideline was from the Ex- eter and Area Fire Board. At their meeting on December 30, members set firefighters' wage rate for prac- tice time at 87.00 per hour. That's a 40 percent increase over the present $5 rate which was established in 1982. Deputy -Reeve Lossy Fuller, responding to comments over the substantial hike, explained that some area municipalities have boosted their rates even higher than that and said the local firemen should have had increases annually rather than taking a big jump after being al the previous rate for five years. Reeve Bill Mickle. also a member of the board, said it was estimated the increase would result in an extra $5,000 cost over the year. Several council members remark ed about the hard work of The volunteer firemen and the fantastic job they do. Mayor Shaw said it appeared to he rather ironic to be talking about volunteers while addressing •their rates of pay. - Good news from the fire board was that the 19136 budget to mid-flecemlxr shows a surplus of 8.18.000. Stephen Reeve Tom Tomes' has been named chairman of the board for 1987, succeeding Mrs. Fuller in that capacity. On January 29. the four area municipalities will hold a joint session to discuss requests from Stephen and. Hay for territory reductions and amendments to - the current agreement. All mos wgectw 55.000-025000. $25.000-550.000. Marge without55.000-029000 30-59 days. Term 30.59 days. naia. SNORT TERM 250% S100.000 or more. Term 30.59 drys. ON YOUR MONEY 421 STANDARD TRUST 386 MAIN ST. S., EXETER 235-1060 Member - Canada Deposd Insurance Corporation Clinton Community CREDIT UNION Ltd. 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