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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes Advocate, 1993-09-22, Page 26Page 26 Times -Advocate, September 22,1993 $20 million should go to Hydro debt. they argue Klopp agrees with PUCs over Social Contract CLINTON - Local PUCs want their share of the Social Contract to stay within the utility sector. In- stead of paying down the provincial deficit, they want it to help lower the Ontario Hydro debt. Representatives from local PUCs, including Exet- er and Zurich, met with MPP Paul Klopp Friday to =voice their support for the Municipal Electric Asso- ciation's proposal. What they found was an ally. "He [Klopp] seemed to be on side before we got going," said Exeter PUC manager Hugh Davis. Klopp assured those he supported the notion that any savings from PUC wages through the Social Contract be kept with Ontario Hydro. At stake is some $20 million, according to the Municipal Elec- tric Association. The Social Contract was aimed at cutting provincial public sector wages and subsi- dies, but the PUCs argued they operated as a separ- ate companies, not a government agencies. "The hydro department operates without any grants," pointed out Davis. "It's self-sustaining." The Municipal Electric Association, on behalf of the utility sector, agreed to include PUCs in the So- cial Contract, in the hope that the savings could be applied to Ontario Hydro's huge debt. "Our sector signed on the basis that this would be resolved at a later date, otherwise there would have been no signing," said Davis. "I think it's a good idea," said MPP Paul Klopp when contacted Monday. He said he would press to have those Social Con- tract funds allocated to Ontario Hydro. Other MPPs who agree with the MEA proposal will be lobbying provincial treasurer Floyd Laughren and Minister of Energy Bud Wildman, said Klopp. An upcoming caucus retreat may bean ideal time to bring the subject up with cabinet ministers, he said. "They [the PUCs] want it back in the system, which is more than fair," said Klopp. Province washes its hands Town shortchanged on restitution :for street light crash EXETER - Court judgements re- quiring restitution don't hold any water, concluded town council Monday evening. Council has been trying to get full restitution for damage clone to an Exeter street light pole in 1989 .by an unlicensed and uninsured driver. The driver Geoffrey Bates, was ordered by court :to •pay the $2,612.03 for repairs to • the street light, but after paying $1,734.91, the Essex Crown Attorney conclud- ed the sporadically employed .man had paid enough and considered -the case closed. Unimpressed, town council sent a letter to provincial Attorney Gener- al Marion Boyd in the summer. Her reply was :received by council Monday. Boyd said she concurred with the Crown Attorney's decision and said the "criminal aspect of this case, being whether there .was a wilful' Poison gas monitor fitted to Exeter arena ice machine EXETER - A repeat of the near - tragedy last Christmas at the Ste- phen Township Arena is hoped to be avoided in Exeter, town council was told Monday evening. Last December, several young hockey players were taken from the Stephen ice surface on stretchers after passing put from carbon mon- oxide fumes. It was later found the fumes came from a malfunctioning ice resurfacing machine. Stephen Township has since rc- fiued the machine with a device to monitor its output and warn the op- erator of any malfunctioning. Nor- mally, the propane -powered ma- chines burn their fuel very cleanly if properly a0justed. The Olympic ice machine at the Exeter arena now has a similar de- vice fitted, costing $1,011.04, but which will prevent running the ma- chine with itstngine out of adjust- ment. "It's11'ell-spent money," said councillor Dave Urlin ht Monday's council meeting, to which all coun-t cil members agreed. 1 0 01 ► • failure to pay,has been dealt with by the Crown Attorney". "I can't lest this go by without a comment," said councillor Bob Spears who said he was still "ap- palled" that the restitution could go unpaid. "They walk away from the whole decision if• someone decides the guilty party cannot pay," said Spears, calling the situation an "amazing precedent," that could be exploited by all kinds of people brought before the courts. "Well, that's probably the end of that, folks," said mayor Bruce Shaw, but councillor Dave Urlin suggested that Boyd's advice be heeded and the matter pursued with "civil litigation" through small claims court. 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Rai.se_s $2.140 for Children's Hospital Man leaves wheelchair behind for swim-a-thon at Vanastra pool VANASTRA - Glen McLachlan of Vanastra, who is a member of the DIAMONDS, (a county group for the physically challenged) suc- cessfully completed a swim-a-thon at the Vanastra Recreation Centre on May 8, 1993 raising $2100 for Children's Hospital of Southwest- ern Ontario. He completed his goal of 200 lengths in approximately four hours. This is the second year that DI- AMONDS have raised money for the Children's Hospital. Last year McLachlan did a wheel-a-thon in his wheelchair in Goderich which covered six kilometres. McLach- lan has several reasons for doing his fundraising. He and his wife, Sandra, have supported the hospi- tal since two of their six children were patients there. Also, as past Co -chairperson of DIAMONDS he wants to make people with physi- cal challenges more visible. On May 31, along with members Norinne Brindley and Don Forrest, Glen presented a cheque from the DIAMONDS to the Children's Hospital on the Children's Miracle Network Telethon on CFPL-TV London. McLachlan expressed apprecia- tion to everyone who supported him by way of pledges and also those who cheered him on. Anyone who would like to learn more about DIAMONDS may call McLachlan at 482-9581 or Co - chairperson Don Forrest at 482- 7038 or Ron Airdrie at 482-3463. The next meeting will be on Sep- tember 18 at 12 (noon) at the Hu- ron Adult Day Centre in Clinton. Guest speakers include Linda Gir- ard and Mark McCormick who will be discussing the provincial government's plans for changes in long-term care services. DIA- MONDS are seeking public help to express their concerns and ap- preciations for the proposed changes. Anyone needing transportation can call Community Information Services at 1-800-267-0535 or 482-5666. WAREHOUSE BLOWOUT SALEII! All instock Carpet, Vin l.fir. 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