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Home My WebLink AboutTimes Advocate, 1993-09-15, Page 16Page 1€ 7tmes•AdvoCRte, ellggililber15,1993 Civilian Commission gsilourns agHln OCILIANOT 1 mow dimes Sur 41IPP of Exeter polka EXETER - The latest word on the disbandment of the Exeter Town Police and the beginning of OPP con- tract policing is it will all happen on October 1. But some are still a little skeptical of that prediction. October 1 w. announced as a likely date for the arttransition at last Wednesday's brief hearing of the On- :[io Civilian Commission on Police Services. The -ung reconvened in Exeter after adjourning June29. The dispute between the police chief Jack Harkness and the police services board was put on hold by the commission while OPP costing was pursued. Had the OPP tako- ver occurred on September 1 as expected, there would be no fur- ther need to hear .testimony on al- legations of wrongdoing by the chief or the board. Harkness was fired by the:board Non September 7, 1992. No official •-:reason was offered at the time, but it was later stated the board had a:lost confidence in his management +: of the town force. Harkness was brought back to duty in November, on the advice of the town's lawyers. 'When the Ontario Police Chiefs Association fried a complaint witteisheiflommission, the police board countered with its -request for an investigation. After a week of hearing testimony from mayor :fBruce Shaw and police board member John Stephens in May, the hearing was adjourned to consider the ef- fect of disbanding the town police for OPP costing. It was agreed the hearing would reconvene in Sep- ..tember when the dispute would be a -moot point, but Harkness was removed from active duty under an agreement he would be on a paid leave of absence. Police board lawyer Iohn Judson asked the =mis- sion last Wednesday it adjourn once again until Octo- ber 14, by which time the OPP takeover should be a reality. Judson said the hearing, and later issues raised: at council over the past weeks have generated a lot • of controversy, and he suggested there was no needd to add to the acrimony with more testimony. "It is in everybody's interest that a prolonged, expen- sive, .upsetting and certainly 4 necessary heating not go ahead," submitted Judson, who asked 'that the "status - quo" be maintained and the chief remain on a paid - leave of absence for another month. Commission chair Douglas Drinkwalter asked Jud if the October 1 date for a town police disband was realistic. Judson said - with the-OPP contract tobesigned by town this week, imminent Treasury Board approval and the liklihood of Cabinet approval the -day after "1 doe't see that it's impossible for that too be accomplished hi the next the; weeks." Judson said such approvals ale now virtually "routine—for the gov- ernment. James Caskey, representing chie Jack Harkness, said the chief was "very, very anxious to have an agreement' with the OPP so he can; carry on his services." Caskey said Harkness is..ready;, "to get back into policing. That's what he wanwtodo." Caskey referred to the recent controversies:attown,' council over the chiefs status, and the reports:ofthose< in the newspaper. He said the issues were often based on erroneous information. "I would hope any information put forth atthe munic- ipal council level will be more accurate," said Caskey. Drinkwalter said he too was concerned about what he had been reading in the paper, and stated the hearing wasadjourned for the summer for no other reason than to allow for the OPP takeover to proceed. ' "We haven't heard sufficient evidence to determine whose fault [the board/chief dispute) that -might be," said Drinkwalter, -and restated his position :that the Commission did -not approve any convention-meetiegs for.ihe chief, nor bas it played a part in the delay of,the OPPlakeover. Judson .assured Drinkwalter he has been doing his 'best to clear up any misconceptions that have arisen at council or the board. —.The hearing will reconvene October 14, at 10 a.m. "it is in everybody's interest that a prolonged, expensive, ;upsetting and certainly -anecessary hearing not go ahead..." Report !mss percentages of Lucan tax L MAN :.At its latest meeungon This -report will be made available _September -7 , village council -.ac- to taxpayers informing ahem of -.txpted.a sport m:treasuerBolt ,.where their municipal tax dollars :,Mrs:erns.amtWrongthedistribntion :tare being.sent. '- of _tax:doliars for she -year 1993. There is no increase in the gener- i busy with =Res aim' it i i ctrons EXETER -.Last Tuesday, justice of the peace Karen Sturdy heard .five cases involving un- safe operation of vehi- cles. Pauli 1Chadwich, ,of Stratford.; -pleaded guilty to a July 22, charge :of .:careless driving. -The ..court heard Chadwick -.had .been driving west- bound on Highway 83 in Stephen Township when the vehicle left the road and hit a pole. Chadwick was fined $90. No insurance The court also heard charges against Patrick Williams, of Dublin. He pleaded guilty to March 31 charges of operating a vehicle with no insurance and operating a vehicle without valid plates. -An Exeter police officer observed Williams vehicle in town with- out a sticker. The officer found out the vehicle was not insured. Wil- liams was fined $626 with four months to pay. T. Del&es Guindon, of Ailsa Craig, pleaded guilty to chargesof: operating a vehicle with no insurance, operating a vehicle with no authonzed plates and failing to apply for a permit. The court heard that on April 21, an OPP officer was called to Stephen Township where a car was in a ditch. The officer checked the plates and found they belonged toatllliaake car and there was no insurance on the vehicle. Guindon was fined $1,255 for the three charges and given 30 days to pay. Invalid licence Kevin Collings, of Usborne Township pleaded not guilty to a April 26, charge of operating a vehicle without a valid licence. ' The Court heard.an Exeter OPP officer observed a. tractor travel- ling northbound on Concession 4/5, without front plates. The officer observed the tractor pull ipto the Collings property -and at that point the officer.went.to the house. Collings told the officer the plates had fallen off. The officer d0 - covered the accused licence had expired in April 1987. In court Collings, testified it was his wife driving the tractor. The officer said he wasof one hundred percent sure -who was driving. • The,justice of the$eace fined Collings $265 with 30 days to pay. Todd Jinkerson, of Goderich, pleaded not guilty to a June 3 charge of careless driving. The cant heard an Exeter police officer observed the accused car moving southbound on Highway 4 in Hay Township, passing off the roadway on the shoulder. Jinkerson was fined $90 with four months to pay. Cripamisal court In criminal count on August 31. Agdcew VanAltena of Exeter was charged with assault and fined $275 for an March 6 incident. He was also bound to keep peace and ordered to stay away [rem the mother of his children except for visitation. He was also placed on 12 months probation. Also in criminal court August 31, John Glavin of RR 1 Hay 'fswnship, was given a conditional discharge of 12 uhwxnths octan as- sault charge. He was also ordered to keep peace. Douglas Meson of Dashwood was charged with daugereus opera- tion. of a motor vehicle in criminal court August 31. The incident occurred April 4. He was Linea $1.050 with three months to.pay and given a 12 month licence suspension. Wendy Dymond of ClipWn was fined 5600 in criminal court on. August 31 loran April 7 incident. She was charged with opetraWug a vehicle ,with a suspended licence and baying a blood alcohol Tavel exceeding 80 mg to 100 ml of blood. Raymond was given, nine ups, topay lite tine and a further 12 month n. -1 al municipal levy or in garbage col- lection, but a small •increase .of $2.60 for recyclingrdttettoiprovin- cial grant reduction. The money kepuin.Luran solely for village purposes isa4.3-percent of the total tax collection. The sec- ondary and elementary and school boards receive -56.2 percent while the corintrinfAiiiiddlesex receives 10.4 percent. Garbage and recy= cling accounts for 9.1 perceni. of the total. In actual tax dollars;.$268;949 is designated for village purposes along with $100,186 for garbage and recycling; $115.516 to the county of Middlesex ;and $621,903 for school board requisitions. Firefighter practice time could be cut. GRAND BEND There is a slight Concern in Grand Bend that the practice time of the volunteer fire department will be cut. Monday night, Administrator Paul Turnbull told council there would have to be some budgeting done as far as the fire department budget is concerned. Grand Bend, along with the townships of Bosanquet and Ste- phen are in the process of buying a new fire truck which will cost $180.000. Turnbull said the suggestion of ruing ,down on the ,firefighters practice rime, in order to save mon- ey, has been met with opposition drum Fire Chief Jack Hebden. Hensr'�I I :council :questions skate -park • Subject Approved Credit HENSALL - Remember the push toga a skateboard park in Hensel!? The idea was brought to council a number of months ago by village teenagers and parents who wanted a place ,for the kids to ride their skateboards safely. It sparked interest for ,similar e parks in other towns such as EAet= Cr.• here is no better time to buy than right ;row at inneys. Choose from this area's largest selection of quality home furnishings , window coverings and flooring**. Get our usual value prices plus free delivery acrd free set-up.. YaU'LL HAVE YOUR PURCHASE IN YOUR HO 1' Rt . FORE you:START TO 11u1 the idea las scienued to fizzle out in Hensel!. Although the skateboard ramps WC set up, council has heard noth- ing concrete from the group who were going to oversee the project. That means the skateboarding area is not yet insured. The end result seems to be the skate board uamps.frri town proper- ty, .will be getting a tree pne trip to the village4 mp. Fine .Furntiur'•e, 'iooriny and. WO.0;19.1.0 Fashions 467 Main Sired Exeter. On; 235-01 L;