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Times Advocate, 1992-11-04, Page 1!hauler Serving South Hurn Gainer-Knealp !mu rance Service Experience Value 235-2420 Nominations Two seek NDP candidacy page 2 Amnesty OPP collecting illegal firearms page 2 Police villages Stephen opposes dissolution page 3 Photo store New Exeter business page 5 Woodworking A labour of love page 13 Field hockey Panthers off to OFSAA Second front Hawks Moving to second place page 18 Thieves empty-handed after grocery store break-in EXETER - After breaking into Seylers Food Market in Zurich, .thieves left empty handed. The Exeter OPP report that the grocery store was broken into through a front window at about 3 a.m. Police believe the culprits were searching for cigarettes, but gave up and took nothing. Seylers had been the victim of break and enters for cigarette thefts in the past. • The OPP are also investigating a hit and run accident in Hensall which was reported list Wednes- day. Police report that a vehicle re- ceived damage to its rear left fender from an unknown driver. Anyone with information about these crimes is being invited to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-265-1777. You will not have to identify your- self and could be eligible for a re- ward up to $1,000. Burnt hay bale, eggs tossed, but Hallowe'en mostly quiet EXETER - Both the Exeter OPP and Exeter Town Police report a quiet italtowe'en in tlic area, at least as far as mischief goes. In town, police report that some youths were out throwing eggs. mostly at each other, but some houses were hit. "If that's the worst we get - some eggs and pumpkins thrown around - then that's not too bad," said act- ing chief Brad Sadler. The OPP also report some egg throwing and one large bale of hay set on fire on County Road 6 near ElimvUle, which was quickly doused by the Exeter and Area Fire Department. The Lown police are still investi- gating an incident of mischief earli- er in the week. Apparently, .last Wednesday someone vandalized the bathroom in Elliot Park (west of the bridge), stuping the sink -off- the wall aid damaging the walls. Anyone with information is asked to contact the EaWer•police. Since 1873 Wednesday. Novembe 4 199? Exeter Public School had many colorful displays to celebrate Hallowe'en lest week and - the Grade 4 class was busy on Thursday morning carving pumpkins. This creation was done by Nicole Alexander, left; Courtney Oke, Megan Darling and Ashley Nixon who tried to hold up the big pumpkin. More Hallowe'en photo coverage on page 10. Leaf disposal Grand Bend residents still not happy with new system By Fred Groves T -A staff GRAND BEND It appears as though the Grand Bend Ratepayers` Association won't take no for an an- swer. The citizens' group continues to hound council, de- manding something be deme about leaf pickup. Monday night, Al Skinner, a representative of the GBRA, said his group is still not satisfied with paying S2 per bag for garbage pickup. The tag -and -bag sys- tem went into affect on Oct. 5 and one of the regula- tions stipulated a maximum of five bags of leaves per week. . "We're hoping to find some other solution than what was put into affect on Oct.. 5," said Skinner. He added the GBRA has met and are offering its as- sistance to the village to help the change the method in which leaves are now being disposed of. Currently, with the landfill now officially closed, leaves and all other waste are being trucked to the landfill in Watford. Village officials have tried to seek the Ministry of the Environment's permission to burn leaves at their old landfill site or even mulch and scat- ter them but that's a no go. Several suggestions came out of Monday's meeting which was also attended by Grand Bend's Waste Man- agement Committee Chairman Dave Best. One of those being to set up a compound where resi- dents can bring their leaves and then the village would have to get rid of them. Another was to have private contractors come into town. "The main problem is no one wants to be in charge of picking up the money," said Skinner of the OBRA having a contractor dispose of their leaves. Councillor Bill Uniac said about 50 percent of the village's waste right now is leaves and he also suggest- ed the idea of having a common area where residents drop off their leaves. But councillor Phil Maguire and deputy -mayor Cam Ivey clearly pointed out, the village does not want to be responsible for disposing of leaves. "We have already stated we don't want to be in- volved with leaves," said Maguire. Best said one reason for the S2 charge on each bag of garbage is to help decrease the amount of waste be- ing generated by the village. Uniac added he did a tour. of Grand Bend after Hal- lowee'en to see if there was any damage done and not- ed there were several big bags of leaves out, but few had tags on them. Maguire felt the residents have not given the new system time to be effective. "We have a plan in place and we should give it time to work, it will work. We're out of the leaf business. Were in the garbage business and hopefully we'll get out of it." The village and local residents are working on alter- native ways to get rid of leaves such as having contrac- tors collect them and fanners using them to spread over the fields as compost. Skinner said there should•be an organized method in which to get the leaves to the farms or any other dispo- sal site. "Some residents are fig alienated and it's not be- cause of garbage, it's the leaves," said Skinner. "They feel hurt because two years ago they could burn leaves. Wement from ono thing to another." He agreed with council that the MOE topes were ri- diculous and at the end of the meeting it was decided Skinner would meet with Best and the waste manage- ment committee to continue welkiag on alternative methods in which to dispose of leaves. Santa Claus to make special visit • NORTH POLE - Jolly Elf, Min liner of Cootrqunioatioms at the North Pole morally announced that Santa Claus will be waking a spc citil visit 10 the Banter area in early December. The annual Santa Claus parade jointly sponsored by the Exeter Li ons Club and Exeter WA will be Lod - Saturday, December 5 and mark the arrival of Saint Nicholas to the area. Members of the Exeter Lioness will be collating caroted and non- perishable goods during the parade, which will begin at 1 p.m. on Hu ron St. and eventually wind up at the South Huron Recreation Cen t e. Work has already begun on a day of fun -filled activities to promote that Chrisupas spirit. 'The Exeter Lions Club will kick things off in the morning by hold- ing their annual pancake and sat sage breakfast front 8:30 11:30 ani. at the Exeter Lions Youth Centre. Tour bands are on tap for the ac- tual . while activities arc to foto at the Rec Centre including a skating party, free treats and the reception of Santa himself. Prizes will be offered for floats in various categories, and more floats arc needed. Anyone interested in participating in the annual event can contact Don Haines or Glen Kel Is. A Actually on "fast track" OPP costing for Exeter coming sooner than thought `4' EXETER - Despite earlier reports that the town's hope to receive a con- tract estimate on the cost of policing Exeter with the OW was on hold due to contract problems with employees, council learned Monday evening that may not be so. in fact, council were told that information from the Ministry of the Solicitor General suggests Exeter may be on a "fast track" to receive an OPP costing estimate. Council, concerned with escalating policing costs, had asked the minis- try for an estimate of what it would cost to replace the town force with a contract from the OPP. Town administrator Rick Hundey presented council with a memo of In- formation he teamed from the ministry in past weeks. Town council and and the police services board had been concerned that the OPP costing procedure was either on hold, or being fled ftp in bureau- cracy and consultations. Hundey said the ministry has just been busy. "They have had a.lot of work on OPP coetin^s and that's why we haven't heard much," Hundey told council, and also said a ministry employee has been made responsible for Exeter's request for costing and that a meeting, likely public, can`,e expected to be scheduled soon. Hundey said he was also told the Commissioner of the OPP has indicat- ed that he would like to "fast-track" Exeter's request, but Hundey said no reason was given for such treatment. While an OPP costing will not be conducted if contracts with policing staff are under negotiation, Exeter's request was already in before the present issue of the chiefs and police secretary's contracts came under scrutiny in past weeks, explained Hundey. The chiefs and police secretary's contracts are under review because, al- though signed by the police services board in the spring, a Civilian Com- mission on Police Services determined that both had been overpaid. The chiefs suspension as of September 7 further complicates the issue. "What would be the format, what would be the way [the OPP] would de- cide the costing to the town?" asked councillor Ben Hoogenboom. Hundey said the town would be looked at as a whole, to get an under- standing of its needs, discuss it with council and board, review police ac- tivity files, and to decide expectations and needs of the community. 'That's an idea of some of the general things they would do," said Hun- dey. "Would they combine the forces all in one building or would they be looking at another store front in town?" queried Hoogenboom. "With the detachment right in town I can't see them putting up a store front," commented councillor Robert Drummond, although Hoogenboom addhe.hadltsard infortnation so the contrary. "There are going to be lots of rumours, said councillor Dave Urlin. Town staff to get two percent pay hike, overall budget again aims for zero increase EXETER - Town employees will be receiving a two -percent salary increase for --1993, accord- - ing to a report adopted by comicil Monday evening. Councillor Robert Drummond told council the wage review committee agreed unanimously that all wage grids for the town staff would be indexed by two percent in January, wider the as- sumption that inflation is running at two percent, "or a little less", and that provincial grants to the town have been capped at the same amount. "This is the only wage increase of any kind that is being applied for," Drummond told council. Reeve Bill Mickle raised the possibility that the province, fac- ing worse shortages of finances than expected, may not even be able to deliver a two percent in- crease in transfers. "I thiak we've got to be very flexible in what we're doing, be- cause I think our budget's going to be very tight for next yew, said Mackie. "We've got to Wirt look- ing at zero increase for nest year." The reeve said many Lown busi- nesses will be lucky to break even this year. and senior citizens rely- ing on investment income are suf- fering from low interest piles. He aid a bikoset must be "sympathet- k" to those interests. "We've got good employees, but they conic into the whole mix when we consider our budget," said Mickle, suggesting council may have to consider adjustments in salaries or staffing. • Councillor Ben Hoogenboom said it was good to sec a recom- mendation on wages this early in the budgeting process. "But 1 have to agree with the comments Bill made. Perhaps it is premature to make this deci- sion...adings are _ tough out there...There are people out there on feed incomes," said Hoogen- boom, who suggested council wait before fixing in a two per- cent salary hike. "When do you think this deci- sion should be made? Sometime next June Wee it was Last year," re- torted Drummond, who pointed out the whole puputse of the wage review committee was to improve relations between council and town staff. Relations which have deteriorated due to strained nego- tiations over wage negotiations. Works superintendent Glen Keys noted the purpose of an ear- ly wage settlement was to help town departments quickly set their budgets. Mayor Bruce Shaw noted the two percent increase meant an ad- ditiooal 511,000 on the overall town wage package. Councilor Tom Humphreys said that worked out to an average of 23 cents an hope for Ulna pnployees. Councillor Dave Urtin said be beard a report the private sector in Catlnda is rtwnipg an average of three -and -a -half percent wage in - cm can. Council agreed to approve the wary Maw. Shaw commend- ed Drnmnmand's committee for bringing in a "timely" recommen- dation. Mickle then made a motion to target next year's town budget as having no increase over 1992. The motion was passed unani mously. "Tee budget will have to reticx:t these [salary) increases, so conte thing else will have to be cut," ob- served Shaw.