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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes Advocate, 1996-09-04, Page 2Page Times -Advocate, September 4,1996 k Regional wrap :up Priest charged with assault PARKHILL - A Roman Cath- olic priest who worked in a Parkhill area parish in the 1980's has been arrested and charged with two counts of indecent as- sault of two teens. According to the Gazette, 51 - year -old Reverend Gary Roy is charged with the assaults and will appear in a Sarnia court on Sept. 16. The incidents are alleged to have occurred in Sarnia from 1981 to 1983 when the priest was chaplain to a Sarnia area high school. The complainants were 15 and I8 -years -old at the time. Roy worked at Sacred Heart Church in Parkhill from 1983 to 1987, immediately following the alleged incidents. In an Aug. 21 news release, the Roman Catholic Diocese of London stated Roy has been on lease of absence since Jan. 1. "We ask God's forgiveness and that of all who have suffered," stated the release, "and seek humbly to be the instruments of healing." Clinton gets ready for 911 CLINTON - Residents will soon have to think about their house numbers, reported the Clinton News -Record. If people fail to put up large house numbers for the 911 sys- tem expected to be implemented by late 1997 or early 1998, sug- gested Clerk -Treasurer Marie Jefferson at council's Aug. 26 meeting, a bylaw may be en- forced stating the numbers be legible. By the end of September, the town must submit updated maps including house numbers, along with an alphabetical street list. Jefferson suggested numbers be at least 10 inches high "and fluorescent if possible." Third doctor leaves Mitchell MITCHELL - Dr. Sergio Lap- pano announced he will leave Mitchell for a community health clinic in Windsor, reported the Huron Expositor. He told the Expositor he looks forward to the opportunity to have a more community in- volved practice, as opposed to the fee-for-service setup in Mitchell. Increased walking distance angers parents HURON -PERTH COUNTIES - Two parents swore at trustees and fled from the Aug. 26 meet- ing of the Huron -Perth Roman Catholic Separate School Board, reported the Mitchell Advocate. The parents were upset about the board's decision to increase the in -town walking distance for children. In an effort to cut bus- ing costs, trustees voted to in- crease the distance walked from half a mile to three quarters of a mile. Since parents were notified of the change in late June, the board has received 23 com- plaints Item parents in Zurich, St. Marys, Wingham, Stratford and Seafordh. • Committee takes marsh out of study area The boundary was adjusted after realizing a marsh that supports a community of vegetable growers would have been split By Halder Mir T -A Reporter EXETER - A recommendation presented by sub- committee 'A' to redefine the "Ausable Shores" study area was accepted by the steering committee at it's meeting in Exeter last Wednesday night. The boundary was adjusted in reponse to concern of the Thedford-Grand Bend Veg- etable Growers' Association members who believe split- ting up the marsh could serious impact their livelihoods. The marsh is managed through a drainage and pumping system operated in Bosanquet. The study area boundary in Bosanquet has been moved from the Greenway Road to the northerly boundary of Pin- ery Provincial Park; Highway 21 from the Pinery boundary south to Klondyke Road and from Highway 21 in a straight line east on Klondyke Road, extending to the Ausable River. "What we have done essentially is take all the farm land out," said Bosanquet Mayor Fred Thomas. "I think it will fit the bill." "It looks like a win, win, win situation," added Facilitator Keith Glaze. Not so fast Although the boundary adjustment issue was dealt with relatively quickly. Exeter Councillor Robert Drummond, who sits on a committee, was concerned this would create more sure. "Now that this committee has accepted a lesser portion. of Bosanquet, is this group going to be under greater outside pressure to re-evaluate the study area?" he asked. Glaze acknowledged this is a possibility. Still waiting Few other decisions have been made by the Amalgama- tion Committee regarding how a newly formed municipal- ity would operate. The steering committee made up of rep- resentatives from Exeter, Ubsorne, Stephen, Grand Bend and Bosanquet are still awaiting a financial impact analysis from KPMG, the consultants hired to conduct an amal- gamation study. KPMG anticipates a draft financial report will be available at the next committee meeting. A public meeting, planned for early September, may be delayed until the beginning of October, depending on how much imforrnation KPMG is able to provide the com- mittee. "I have some serious concerns," said Exeter Mayor Ben Hoogenboom. "Are we prepared? Do we have enough in- formation that it makes sense to hold a public meeting that will satisfy the public?" Information from the Ministry of Municipal Affairs that contrasts ward systems and elections held at large was re- ceived by the committee. Individual councils will also re- view the document that includes criteria for the determination of ward boundaries. The last criteria addresses deviation from the average population/electoral popula- tion per ward. It states the deviation should be no greater than 25 per cent from the average. "Too much emphasis is being placed on this criteria," said Exeter Councillor Thom Hughes. "Stop focusing on one is- sue." The committee seemed satisfied its guiding principles do not conflict with any of the ministry information and that representation by population is still the key element of those principles adopted by the committee. "I think we have to look at all the information," said Us - borne Reeve Pat Down. "Especially when we get hung up " "Is this group going to be under greater outside pressure to re-evaluate the study area?" sub- pies - Behind closed doors Following a break at 9 p.m., the committee and elected council members went in camera to deal with staffing is- sues and review a proposed organization model. According to Exeter Mayor Ben Hoogenboom, KPMG suggested between 40 and 50 staff would be required to operate a maximum of three departments in an amalgamat- ed municipality. "There's no doubt there is quite a reduction," he said, cit- ing Bosanquet as an example with 22 staff members. However, the committee does not intent to absorb any of the Bosanquet staff and this ommission raised concerned from Bosanquet Mayor Fred Thomas. "We cannot agree to have that much revenue disappear without you taking some of the staff and equipment," he said adding, "Am 1 getting close to an in camera issue?" KPMG update KPMG consultants reviewed its August 13 workshop held with municipal administrators. The staff were asked to list guiding principles for a new municipality. These in- cluded effective service delivery, good governance and fis- cal responsibility. Staff also offered input regarding the implementation of these components. Less supervisory staff and more "doers" was one of the suggested changes in addition to a proposal that staff be allowed to bid on delivery of a par- ticular service. "There's going to have to be very precise guildelines on how that's done," said Grand Bend Mayor Cam Ivey, who suggested this may raise concerns over conflict of interest. Zero based budgeting has been used successfully in the past to allow services to be bid on internally as well as by private contractors. User fees and special area rates were also suggested as means of implementing the main principles of effective lo- cal government. Staff also identified five core service groups in their dis- cussions. These include administration and finance, phys- ical services and protection as well as planning and com- munity service. These services were cross-checked with information gathered from the public workshops held re- cently. The only service not listed in the core group was Numerous court cases delayed EXETER - In Provincial Court in Exeter on August 27, Judge R.G.E. Hunter made decisions on charges against eight persons while appearances for 33 other persons were remanded until later court dates. Sentencing in November Robert Blakely of Lon- don pleaded guilty to six charges of false pretences and will be sentenced on November 26. On six occasions be- tween January 19 and Feb- ruary 10 of this year, Blakely is alleged to have purchased clothing from Sears in Exeter valued at $1,984.54 and paid for the items with cheques which later were returned because of lack of funds. Duty counsel David Reid told the court that Blakely had made resti- tution in the amount of $943.92. Steven Brock of Exeter will also be sentenced on November 26 after pleading guilty to charges of drinking and driving and operating a ve- hicle while his driving privileges were suspended. Brock was stopped by police in Usbome Township at 2:10 a.m. on March 17, 1996. He was travelling southbound on Concession 12-13 of Osborne when stopped and was found to have odor of alcohol on his breath and bloodshot eyes. At the Exeter OPP detachment, breatha- lizer readings of 1.80 and 1.70 were recorded. The accused lost his driving licence on January 23 of 1995 for two years which made him a disqualified driver when stopped on the latest occasion. While sentencing was delayed his driving privileges were ordered suspended immediately for 24 months. Fined for assault Daniel Wurm of Exeter was fined $400 and placed on probation for 12 months after pleading guilty to a charge of assault which occurred on June 14. On that evening the accused was involved in two altercations. In the first he lost two teeth and in the second he was alleged to have assault- ed a female victim by pulling out some hair. Jailed for drinking, driving As the result of a joint submission from the Crown and defence, Daniel Stanley of London was sent to jail for 75 days and had his driv- ing licence suspended for 24 months. Stanley had pleaded guilty on a previous Occasion. The sentence will be served on an intermittent basis on each weekend from 7 p.m Fri- days to 7 a.m. on Sundays. Falling to remain Ane A fine of $200 was levied against Darryl Chappel of Exeter for fail- ing to remain at the scene of an accident. The accident occurred at 6 p.m. on May 2, 1996 when a vehicle oper- ated by Chappel is alleged to have veered while eastbound on Rosalie Street in Zurich and struck two other vehicks. A second charge of public mischief was withdrawn by the Crown. Fines for drinking, driving Paul Dasilva of Exeter was fined $750 and had his driving licence suspended for 12 months after pleading guilty to a charge of operating a vehicle while his blood alcohol content was over the legal limit. While southbound on Main Street in Exeter at 2:30 a.m. on May 3. 1996. Dasilva was stopped by police and wM found to have an odor of alcohol on his breath and bad stirred speech. At the Exeter OPP de- tachrnent tweathaliser readings of 1.10 and 1.10 were recorded. Counsel David Reid asked for a lower fine because of the low brea- thalizer readings. A similar fine of 5750 and licence suspension of 12 months was lev- ied against Deborah Glavin of R.R. 1, Hay for drinking and driving. Olavin's vehicle was alleged to be be going ata high rate of speed on Concessions 2-3 of Hay Township at 12:16 a.m. oh May 111, 1996. The vehicle was stopped by Constables Oilmgv and McGregor and the driver was found to be unsteady on her feet and had bloodshot eyes. Peter Gunning who pleaded guilty to a drinking, driving charge at an earlier court appearance was also fined $750 and had his driving privi= leges suspended for 12 months. Ilderton Fair Most of the Ilderton Fair Queens from the past 26 years were at Thursday's Ambassa- dor competition. Shown above, from the left are Queen Carolyn (Moir) Wydeven 1979, Marilyn (McLaughlin) Bryant 1976 and Diane (Robb) Godwin 1972. Below, this year's Ilder- ton Fair Ambassador is Lora Gill. She is shown at the left with runneru- Ashley McKay. At right, the new Princess Corie Charlton is shown at the left with Prince Alex McNaughton.