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Home My WebLink AboutTimes Advocate, 1994-05-04, Page 3I N THE__NEWS Times -Advocate, May 4, 1994 Page 3 Town takes a cut in its road grants EXETER - Even though the prov- ince is boasting of keeping munici- pal road works grants at the same level as last year, town council isn't impressed. The annual Ministry of Transpor- tation subsidies to municipalities to- tal to $704.5 million, according to a news release last week. The prov- ince says that has been "sustained" at 1993 levels. The Association of Municipalities of Ontario was claiming a victory in convincing Queens Park not to go through with rumoured substantial cuts in road grant allocations. "There have been reductions, and it appears to have been taken right across the province," commented Exeter reeve Bill Mickle at Monday evening's council meeting. "Ours is down 6.4 percent, or $9,800," confirmed works superin- tendent Glenn Kells. "That's some victory," said mayor Bruce Shaw. "I'd hate to see a total loss," agreed councillor Robert Drum- mond. Air Force reunion planned CLINTON - A reunion is being planned for the 60th anniversary of Air Force Telecom in Clinton in Au- gust. All ranks and civilian associates of the Royal Canadian Air Force, the CF, the RAF, qr the WAAF tele- com trades, operators, technicians, air and ground crews, including spouses friends and widows are be- ing invited to the event. Called Reunion '94, it will be held in Clinton from August 26-28, 1994. In addition, personnel who served before and during World War II will be honoured at the event, say orga- nizers. • Anyone seeking more details or registration information can contact AFTA Reunion '94 at BOx 2058, Kingston, K7L 5J8, or telephone 613-549-3582. Does Exeter need a smaller council? EXETER - As a footnote to the recent decision by county council to adopt a population -based voting system for a downsized Huron gov- ernment, Exeter is now confronted with the possibility of a different town council next fall. With the county only requiring one representative from each mu- nicipality to attend monthly county council meetings, Exeter will only be sending its reeve to Goderich. "The question is, do we need a deputy -reeve?" asked mayor Bruce Shaw Monday evening. The deputy -reeve's position is cur- rently filled by Lossy Fuller. who if re-elected would not be attending Huron County Council meetings this fall once the downsized govern- ment proposal goes through. The issue, said the mayor, is whether Exeter should consider eliminating the deputy -reeve's posi- lion along with another councillor. or to rename the deputy -reeve's chair as an ordinary councillor. Council would have to be reduced by an even number of positions to preserve the odd number of votes on the floor. "We haven't looked at the notion of rcducing the size of council," said Shaw. and council agreed it will have to be an issue of discus- sion before the November munici- pal election. Grand Bend man fined on pornography charge LONDON - A Grand Bend arca man was fined $2,000 in London court Thursday on a conviction tor selling illegal pornography. Albert Vasily of RR2 Grand Bend was sentenced by judge Douglas Walker a month after pleading guilty to four counts of selling ob- scene videos. In his defense, Vasily had con- tended he was only trying to get rid of the pornography he had bought by mistake. New stained glass window installed Grand Bend United Church gets a new `statement in light' By Adrian Harte T -A Editor GRAND BEND - The soft col- ours of a beautiful new stained glass window grace the interior of Grand Bend United Church, a win- dow that is the work of a local ar- tisan. The 11 -pane window was in- stalled last Wednesday by Clyde Steeves of Hyde Park, the only company trusted to handle the work of stained-glass artist Christopher Wallis, the owner of a studio just north of Grand Bend. The window, a nativity scene, re- places a plain matte glass window originally installed when the church Bill O'Drowsky takes care to install each pane of the 11 -pane stained glass window. A clear glass protective window was in- stalled on the outside to guard against the elements and damage. was built in 1926. The project was started by Ruth Hendrick some years ago in memory of her hus- band Donald and son Richard. When Ruth passed on before its completion, the family made cer- tain it was finally installed, now in her memory too. A date for a ded- ication service will be set in the next few days. "It's gorgeous, just beautiful," said Pastor Colin Stover. "I've seen stained glass windows before, but this is more like a painting." The artist's work can be seen all over Canada, everywhere from the St. John's By the Lake Anglican Church just up the road, to the Bay- field Anglican Church, to Rideau Hall and the Parliament buildings in Ottawa, and to the Anglican ca- thedral in Victoria B.C. where some panes will be installed this summer. Wallis said he hopes the con- gregation at Grand Bend United will enjoy the new window, and described the church as being ideally situated to capture the sun's light. "It needed some nice glass in there," said Wallis. "You don't want to cut light from coming into County council will eliminate deputy -reeves with downsizing and new voting system By Fred Groves T -A staff GODERICH - When the next municipal election takes place, vot- ers in six Huron County municipal- ities will not be sending a deputy - reeve to county council in Gode- rich. After another lengthy discussion, council decided on Thursday that only the reeves of the 26 municipal- ities will sit on council. Exeter and Goderich as well as the townships of Stephen, Stanley, Hay and Gode- rich will have one only representa- tive. In a recorded 19-13 vote, council also agreed to go to a weighted vote system which will see smaller communities such as Zurich have one vote while Goderich's repre- sentative will be entitled to four. Hay reeve Lionel Wilder said he was upset that not all municipalities will have the same number of votes. "It stems the majority of six car- ries this council," said Wilder of those that will now be getting mul- tiple votes. "If we give the giants this. the little puppy will fall by the wayside. Let's remember the little vil lager." Under the new system, munici- palites up to 2,000 population will get one vote, between 2,000-3,000 get two, 3,000-4,000 get three and those over 4,000, like Exeter, will get four. Bill did not go through: Council had put forth a private members' hill asking for one vote per munici- pality but the province said that was not acceptable because it was not truly representing the entire population. "We have a government that doesn't know what's going on in Toronto," said Hullett Township's Tom Cunningham. "In two years who's going to be running this (county) government. We're going to have different people making the rules." On Thursday there was also con- cern smaller municipalities will be losing their identities. "I'm opposed to anyone having four votes. I'm concerned about our small municipalities losing their identity," said Jack Coleman of Stanley Township. Former warden Tom Tomes orig- inally supported the one -member, one -vote proposal, but since that was not possible, he brought the recommendation out of a Strategic Planning meeting to see the weight- ed voting system carried out. The weighted vote is allowed under Section 28 of the Municipal Act. "I don't think in my time, there's been anything with more discus- sion," said Tomes. "We don't want to be dictated to by the ministry. This may not be pefect but it gives us the say." Goderich reeve John Doherty op- posed to the new system and point- ed out that t2 municipalities would be losing a percentage of their vot- ing structure. He wanted to see Sec- tion 28 tabled. "We shouldn't hurry on Section 28," urged Doherty before the re- corded vote. "We've got until Sep- tember and maybe instead of hav- ing egg on our face we should look at the voting structure. Maybe we should give it some thought before we make a decision." the church, you just want to beau- tify it." Wallis has been in business 35 years, the last three from his studio north of Grand Bend. He deals in commissioned work from across the country, with perhaps his most impressive piece a set of windows for a church in Calgary to celebrate 1,000 years of Ukranian Christian- ity. He won the competition for the work's commission five year ago, and the last panes should be in- stalled this year. "What we are about is creating statements in light," said Wallis. mothiA Day SRVINGS Wed. May 4 to Sun., May 8 Saturday Only Special Peat Moss 4 cu. ft. 5 49 Reg. 86.99 59-4512 Hanging Basket or Patio Pots $099 ■ Reg. $ 12.99 Wonderfully decorative for entranceway, balcony, deck of patio. Your choice of many popular varieties with lasting blooms in pale -to brilliant hues. 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