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Times Advocate, 1993-07-28, Page 2Page 2 Times -Advocate, July 28,1993 Regional z wrap u Coupon club employees still waitingr for pay GODERICH - Tfie London- based Great Canadian Coupon Club has added their Goderich employees to the growing list of workers to have pay cheques bounce. The company sold coupon books, offering discounts at Goderich area businesses, over the phone in June. About a dozen Goderich area residents worked for the compa- ny during the coupon sweep from May 25 to June 30. Some have not received their cheques and other received NSF notices from banks, it was re- ported in the Goderich Signal - Star. Det. Sgt. Don Perkins, of the Loudon OPP Detachment Anti - Rackets Branch, said the compa- ny Abad previously been in simi- lar predicaments in Exeter, Port Elgin, Si. Thomas, Stratford, Orillia, Chatham and Strathroy. Area OPP changes won't affect Mithheil As far as Mitch- ell. Mayor 'McCaughey is concerned, the town's police force is not in jeopardy. With area municipalities switching from municipal police service to OPP coverage, the question was asked during the casncil meeting last Monday, it waS'sbported in the Mitchell Ad- vocate. "I'm still in favor of our own police force," the mayor said. "There's no savings fin going OPP]," he said. "I was always under the °im- pression that there were, but there really isn't." Town worker forced off PUC PARKHILL - The new munic- ipal law enforcement officer/ works department employee is disqualified from continuing to serve on the Public Utilities Commission, which he has chaired for five years. Larry Smith told the Parkhill Gazette that he sought advice from an expert last week and was told that the provincial Mu- nicipal Act disqualify employees of a municipality from serving on an elected. Jeff Otterbein, a PUC repre- sentative said there appears to be no set policy on filling vacan- cies. Conservation area cost cutting may force closure KIRKTON - Unless the Upper Thames River Conservation au- thority can spark interest in pre- serving the Kirkton Conserva- tion Area, closure may be immi- nent. According to UTRCA opera- tions co-ordinator Alex Shivas, without support from the munic- ipalities and possibly the public, keeping the conservation areas open may be difficult, it was re- ported in the Journal Argus. In April the province cut trans- fer payments by $10 million of which $345,000 was cut from UTRCA. This cut in transfer payments led to program and salary. In some instances it also meant layoffs. Constitution Challenge Teachers challenge social contract against charter CLINTON - The Federation of Women's Teacher's Associations of Ontario intend to challenge the con- stitutional validity of the Social Contract Act under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. In a news release on Thursday, President Margaret Dempsey an- nounced the challenge will focus on three grounds. The teachers' associations will argue the social contract violates the right to collective bargaining. They are taking the position that it violates freedom of association be- cause it imposes penalties on un- ions and employees who . choose not to negotiate on the terms set by the government. They also said the social contract violates the equality rights of wom- en elementary teachers by imposing limitations on collective agreement Compensation and staffing levels. One of the amendments to the so- cial .contract will deprive teachers of the salary benefits they have ne- gotiated, the teachers' associations said. They will also argue --the :social contract violates the right .4o life, liberty and security of the person because it does not dete:mine how layoffs will `occur. The social .contract will impose concessions on 950,000 -public ser- vants and over ride collective agreements for three years if .the government can't -negotiate .deals with public sector unions by Aug. 1 to save $2 billion in payroll costs. The Huron County Board of Edu- cation is expected to cut some $2.48 million in costs. The constitutional challenge by the teachers' associations is not ex- pected to have an affect on the so- cial contract deadline. If the board is close to negotiat- ing a local agreement by the dead- line they would be given a 10 day extension to finalize details, but if they are not "We are back to the no fault provision," said Janet Baird - Jackson a representative with the board. "Our understanding is that if there is no sectoral agreement as well as local agreement, it will mean more money out of our pock- ets," she said. At press time Baird -Jackson said the Teachers' Associations were .at the bargaining table with the prov- ince. ' "The federation recognizes, time is running out for an agree- ment," she said. Other unions have also threat- ened to challenge the social con- tract, but constitutional experts have held out little hope of success because of previous court rulings that support .the right of govern- ments to develop wagerestraint programs. The federation represents the 42,000 women in the_pmv- ince's elem blit schools. Zurich If air Ambassador 1 Kendra Fenwick looked ,gal Friday night in her new crown. Fenwick, who received many gifts, such es the sheepskin rug and trophy she is holding, will be represent- ing the agricultural society as the Zurich ambassador for the 199394 year. Runner up was Tara Bedard, second runner up was Jenny Smale. Court case of open alcohol in Huron_ Park EXETER - An Atwood man pleaded not guilty to having open liquor in an illegal place at Justice of the Peace court last Tuesday. Justice of the Peace Karen Sturdy heard that on March 27, in Huron Park a function was being held for University of Western Ontario students bused in from London. An Exeter OPP officer was on duty in a marked vehicle when he noticed Aaron Pilon exit the tear of a bus with open liquor in his hand. The accused saw the officer and throw the bottle. Pilon was found guilty and fined $105 with 0 days to 'ay New JP sworn in 7flte'tswthretiae<of'drfePanca for Exeter, 'Susan Stewart was-awwom in at ceremony in the town -council Chem - ben s>Monday moon. 'Here Judge .Gerald l pkln, coor- dinator :of Justices of The -Peace in Ontario :presents -5tewartwvlth htsr gown. Stewart+will -be serving as :apart- time, a ptime, non=preslding JP in the -Exeter area. The ceremony was attended by -family and friends, Including Stewart brother Don ,anther, chief judge: -of Newfoundland. • New field may be answer Are Grand Bend's soccer nets safe? GRAND BEND - Safety con- cerns may be forcing a resolution to a conflict of too -crowded recrea- - lional facilities in Grand Bend. Grand Bend administratoi - aul Turnbull told council Monday eve- ning that concerns have been raised about the goal nets on the village's soccer field. The nets, he said, are falling apart from being frequently moved. Apparently, one net is moved onto the outfield of the ball diamond for games, and moved back when the baseball field is be- ing used. . "The most -westerly net should be on rollers, the way its being moved all the time," said Turnbull, who said he got a letter from coach Steve Martins "who has some real safety concerns about the nets." Councillor Bill Uniac said • "they're rightly so upset about the situation" and added that even aside from the safety problems, the con- stant moving of the nets was an in- convenience for both soccer and baseball groups. • Turnbull said one solution sug- gested to him was the installation of an outfield "home run" fence on the ball diamond, but Uriiac.siddhe too had cousit Dred (haW iulfou d such a.fence would.cut into the size of the soccer field anyway. He argued that moving the soccer field to a new location, such as Port Blake, might be better. Mayor Tom Lawson said he would like to see the matter turned over to the parks and recreation committee, so they could discuss it with the involved organizations and to bring a recommendation to the August 2 council meeting. "Let's get on with it. If there's a safety concern, something should be done with it," said Lawson. Lucan wants fair share of annexation compensation LUCAN - Village council is ask- ing the county of Middlesex for a portion of the 56 million the county will be receiving from the province for compensation from the recent annexation by the city of London. Reeve Tom McLaughlin has asked clerk Ron Reymer to write to the county asking for a portion of the $6 million to solve Lucan's present infiltration problem, espe- cially in the southwest quadrant of the village. Deputy reeve Harry Wraith asked if the annexation money would not be split vp according to population. McLaughlin replied, " It's my un- derstanding of the legislation that the county must only give this mon- ey out for worthy capital works projects". Wraith then suggested that the village apply for sonic of the an- nexation money to extend sewers down Kent street and to complete Public meeting for day camp AILSA CRAIG - A public meet- ing will be held on August 3, to dis- cuss an amendment to a zonieg by- law so a summer day camp can be established. McGillivary Township council. decided last Monday to go ahead `, with public discussion of the issue at its next council meeting. Rharles Corbetajta�d dtif the amendment is approved the camp would be established for up to 25 children. Duchess Avenue. At the July 20 meeting of coun- cil, clerk Ron Reymer reported that arrangements have been made with Ilderton area auctioneers Hugh Fil- son and Tom Robson to sell the for- mer booster station site by auction on Saturday, Septmber 11 at 10 a.m. A reserve bid will be in place. New Grand Bend official Plan in works GRAND BEND - A new Official Plan for the village of Orand Bend could be in the works later this year. When asked by mayor Tom Law- son for an update on the Official Plan review, administrator Paul Turnbull told council he is already negotiating with Lambkin County Planning to determine how the plan will be reviewed. The Official Plan is the main doc- ument under which a municipality lays out its land -use zones, and es- tablishes development policies. The plan quite often plays a big part in the shaping of future devel- opment within a community's boundaries. Turnbull said he would be meet- ing with county planning represen- tatives this week to "formulate the first steps to tackle the Official Plan review." "What we're trying to do is move into striking position by September 1," said Turnbull, adding that be hoped the review of the village's zoning and development policies could begin by then. Property designation will cost applicant CREDITON - Increased costs have led Stephen Township coun- cil to make changes to who pays when an application is made for a property to be covered under the Heritage Designation Act. Council agreed last Thursday that applicants who have requested the Township designate their properties under the Act be invoiced for the cost of mandatory advertisements. The Township will pay the cost of bylaw registration. But in the future all costs in- curred by the Township will be paid by the applicants who volun- tary applies for special designation of their property. Sumrrier student hired for Huron Libraries GODERICH - The Huron County Library announced last week theta summer student was hired for eight weeks through an Experience '93 program. Holly Reeves will be designing and creating interior signage and customer forms for all Huron County branch libraries. Clear language, larger print and improved design will' result in signs and forms that improve access to li- brary services for all customers, es- pecially seniors and people with visual disabilities. In addition, Reeves will take in- ventory of library furniture, shelv- ing and equipment at all 20 library service points. She will be visiting all library branches over the summer. HOLIDAY ADVERTISING DEADLINE for next week's newspaper Because of the holiday Monday, all advertising must be in our office by Friday afternoon in order for us to maintain our publishing schedule. a h, A