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Times Advocate, 1996-11-13, Page 11 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Amalgamation talks Exeter pulls out Without the issue of Bosanquet resolved, Exeter decided it can no longer continue with amalgamation talks By Heather Mir T -A Reporter GRAND BEND - Exeter is out. After nearly one year of talks, the frustration level involved with the South Huron/North Lambton amal- gamation process rose to a boil. Following Bosanquet's response not to accept any offer of com- pensation last Wednesday night, Exeter told the amalgamation com- mittee town council will meet and likely decide to leave amalgama- tion talks. Although the balance of committee members claim the study area remains intact, Exeter Council confirmed at an emer- gency meeting held Thursday night it will withdraw from amalgama- tion discussions. "Our council's had many dis- cussions about this issue and given 'the comments made tonight, I think our council will withdraw from the amalgamation pro- cess," said Councillor Roy Triebner. "If we insist they(Bosanquet) remain in the study area, they have said they will call a com- mission. It's not a risk that we're willing to take." At Exeter's special meeting, council also decided to send a letter to all the municipalities involved in amalgamation. The letter urged the committee to cancel the public meeting scheduled for Nov. `20 at the Exeter Recreation Centre after what has happened. "We should point out the report is flawed because of the action we have , taken," said Exeter Reeve Bill Mickle who explained the fig- ures presented in the KPMG report are "meaningless" without Exeter. By Friday, members of the com- mittee were contacted and un- amimously agreed to cancel the public meeting. Exeter has clearly stated through- out the process it believes the pro- cess would be seriously under- mined if any issues are left unresolved, resulting in a member of the study area requesting the Ministry of Municipal Affairs to call a commission. Although ministry representative Dan .Hammond has told the com- mittee that calling for a commis- sion does not guarantee one will be formed, Exeter feels risking the chance of the decision being taken out of local hands would be a mis- take. "Whether Lambton opposes or Bosanquet opposes, the only chance of getting this proposal ac- cepted is through a commission. In other words, the province would appoint someone to decide for us. Exeter Council is not prepared to take such an important decision out of the hands of local councils," stated a draft press release from council. Accusations fly Wednesday's amalgamation meeting erupted when ( rand Bend Councillor Bob Mann, as a mem- ber of the gallery, chargt d that Ex- eter has its own agenda regarding the process which he claimed may have been discussed in illegal in camera meetings. At this point, Ex- eter walked out of the meeting. "If that's the level of trust...it's symp- tomatic of a very deep problem," said Mickle at Thursday night's special meet- ing. Mann "It's difficult to comment on a process that's falling apart." 7P vale -mart 4 83 Exeter 235-0262 Nov. 26 Independence Day - Reserve yowls sow 4 ' SEIP'S valu-mart 4 fc 83 Exeter 2354262 This Week Mission impossible $16.99 s �t$ — ani MI MI MI axil 1 It you . . .. . to Th. ' Ti Advovocate, you're out. Use silbsc= 'Wow today! I Name: Address ,City 1 Prov 1 Postal Code t�$aetn 1 I VW S36 ♦ 2.45 0874 yaw $83 . 4.41 OST nta�ttotsttaaetn 1 1 year $63. 4.41 0874 year $118.8.33 OST txmt(1rrsueos MOO find. $88.40 postage) USE YOUR CREDIT CARD uuUCLICEI 1 uu0uC ouu card No. 1 Expiry Date ❑ visa 0 Master Card 1 ❑ Cheque enclosed I Saturn to; TIMES ADVOCATE ■ 424 Main St. Exeter, Ont. NOM t 56mo MN MI sup MINIle Wednesday, November 13, 1996 is Inside Parkette plans viewed See page 2 TE . Diabetes Month See Crossroads Second front Bill Batten Memorial tournament See page 14 • Theft from parked vehicle reported GRAND BEND - A theft from a motor vehicle parked on the shoul- der of Highway 21, north of High- way 402, occurred on October 29 between 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. Police remind drivers the holiday season is approaching and motor- ists should not leave valuables in plain view if the vehicle is unat- tended. Legal battle finally over EXETER - Former Exeter Police Chief Jack Harkness and the Town of Exeter have reached a negotiat- ed settlement in which Harkness will receive x20,000. Harkness was fired from his posi- tion as police chief in 1993. No de- . tails of the action by the town have been released but Harkness responded with a law suit which sought damages of up to half a mil- lion dollars. Shortly after Harkness' firing, the policing duties for Exeter were • taken over by the OPP as part of a cost saving measure for the town. Harkness accepted a position with the OPP in Orillia. The cost to Exeter taxpayers will be $10,000 with the other half of the settlement, including legal fees being paid by the town's insurance Company. `Take Our Kids to Work' an eye-opener Grade 9 students learned what their parents do at their workplaces, as they followed them through a day's routine. Angela Pickering T -A Co-op Student EXETER - Last Wednesday lo- cal grade 9 students participated in 'Take Our Kids To Work' day. This is the second year the pro- gram has operated and more than 220 students participated as par- ents took them to their workplaces and showed them the ropes. They were put to work doing tasks and sub- sequently learned about what their parents really do every day. Students completed a report on how the day proceeded and what they dis- covered. "Based on the response from the public and parents, everything went over smoothly. Community support was unbelievable," said Janice Walker, a program co- ordinator. Many businesses hosted grade 9 students but Huron Tractor had five teens shadowing their par- ents. Erin Traquair was one of the five. Her father Gerry, is a me- chanic and during the day she helped him with. various jobs such as fixing tractors and com- bines. "I helped my dad fix the head- er on a combine in the morning, then filed papers in the after- noon. It went pretty well. I know I won't be doing paper work or fixing tractors for a living," laughed Erin. Matt Hummel also helped his father, Andy, fix tractors. Kelly Stephens aided her mother Linda, by sitting at the front desk taking phone calls and doing odd jobs such as bank deposits. Jeff Finkbeiner also helped his mother, Dianne, in her office. "It's to help the students make better career choices for the fu- ture," said Walker, who ex- plained times are changing and it will be difficult for the children of today to find jobs in the fu- ture. "It's to help the students make better career choices for the future. Erin Traqualr helped her father, Gerry, fix a combine last Wednesday on 'Take Our Kids to Work' day. Part y recognizes Johns as best new candidate y recognizes TORONTO - Helen Johns, MPP for Huron, was recognized at the Annual Progressive Conservative Meeting in Toronto as the Best New Candidate in the 1995 elec- tion. Established in 1986, the All On- tario Awards were created to recog- nize both talent and service in the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario by individuals and associa- tions whose exceptional contribu- tions have strengthened the Party and Government initiatives. The award recognizes the indi- vidual who was the most outstand- ing first-time candidate. Johns, was considered for this award based on the nomination selection process, campaign team recruitment and ac- tivities during tae campaign. Johns was chosen for her effective utiliza- tion of resources available to her. A panel of judges selected the honourees based on the nominees' achievements or contributions in a number of areas. Activities are rec- ognized in aspects of party organi- zation, individual achievement and service, the provincial election campaign, and her role in the gov- ernment. "It truly is an honor to be recog- nized by my peers and the Party with this award of distinction," said Johns. also sug- gested Bosanquet has manipulated the amalgamation process by im- posing an outside solution by means of calling for a commission. He said Bosanquet hag only suc- ceeded in representing the people outside the study area and not those included in the amalgamation study. "It's difficult to comment on a process that's falling apart," said Mann referring to Exeter's in- tention to step out of the talks. "You've allowed yourself to be de- railed by the very people you are trying to treat fairly." Bosanquet remained at the table and countered Mann's claim it has intentionally set out to manipulate the process. 'I've tried to represent the people in Ward 6 as well as I could," said Bosanquet Councillor John Walsh. "We are trying to find the best solu- tion for everyone concerned. I take exception to what Bob Mann has said." Compensation When the issue of compensation was discussed by the committee, Bosanquet responded it's council is not prepared to discuss com- pensation and will pursue other op- tions that "do not penalize some to the benefit of others." The resolu- tion made by Bosanquet Council states the municipality is "not in favor of the inclusion of a portion of the municipality in return for compensation." Mayor Fred Thomas added the town doesn't accept annexation and may need to take the issue to the province. Around the table, opinions re- garding compensation differed. Usborne Township passed a mo- tion at its last council meeting not to award compensation "of any kind to anyone." "Usborne has never been in favor of Bosanquet or Hay being in- cluded in the study area. We want- ed to negotiate with willing part- ners only," said Usborne Reeve Pat Down. Grand Bend Council resolved at its last council meeting to endorse the compensation proposal to the annexed area.as outlined in the Oct. 29 amalgamation committee meet- ing minutes. Hay Township responded to the compensation offer by stating the municipality remains opposed to annexation, adding council was not given sufficient time to review the proposal before last Wednesday's meeting. When available Hay corn-. ments will be forwarded to the committee. i Council perspectives Although councils have not ac- cepted the report, municipalities discussed the study and presented their perspectives. Disappointed in the way issue) such as county ser- vices were addressed, Usborne re- ceived, noted and filed the report. "We're not in favor of amalgama- tion the way it's going," said Coun- cillor Brian Hardeman. Grand Bend received the report and although council agreed the county section is incomplete, the mayor considers it a starting point. "Personally, I'm satisfied with the scope of the document," said Mayor Cain Ivey. Bosanquet stated its position hasn't changed and council cannot support the document. Stephen stated it would reserved further comment until after a public meeting. Individual councils may also hold public meetings. Chair says agreement won't diminish fight to save hospital EXETER - The Times -Advocate recently learned South Huron Hos- pital Administrator /Don Currell has an agreement in place with the hospital board for financial com- pensation if the hospital is closed or is amalgamated. According to board chairperson Verla Russell, who confirmed the agree- ment exists, a "let- ter of employment" for South Huron "He is working harder than ever to try and keep this hospital open." After attempts over the past sev- eral years to put in place such an agreement, it was achieved only last week. "He is working harder than ever to try and keep this hospital open." Hospital's • ad- ministrator won't affect the fight to ensure the hos- pital's future and only comes into effect if the board is told the hos- pital must amalgamate or close. "He doesn't want to lose his job," said Russell of Curia's commit- ment to the future of the hospital. "I've had the op- portunity to see con- tracts from other ar- eas. The letter that we have is far below 50 per cent of the other contracts that are out there. It's a bare bones," said board member Bev Skinner. When asked what the terms of the agreement are, board members declined to comment, however both stressed it in no way dimishes the effectiveness of Correll in lead- ing a fight to save the hospital in the event of a decision to close it. "There's never been any question about my loyalty or my drive to keep this hospital open," Currell said Monday. "We've been work- ing on this now for over two and a half years. It has just culminated now." The Huron -Perth District Health Council Task Force is continuing to collect public input about local hospital and health services through focus groups as well as phone and newspaper surveys. An open house will be held in Exeter at the -Rec- reation Centre onDec. 11 from 4 to 9 p.m. and a second is scheduled for January 8 to review the pre- ferred restructuring option that comes out of the first open house. On January 23, the final report will be made public. Audio & Video -Specialists 63 Main St. S. E Iter. 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