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Home My WebLink AboutTimes Advocate, 1997-04-23, Page 10Page 10 • Times -Advocate, April 23, 1997 C'niViMt 1;RI1TY Local poet Philippa Steckle gives a poetry reading at -the Blue Water Rest Home on Wednesday afternoon. She -holds her poetry book, Reflections, which was compiled two years ago. "This is a collection of mom's thoughts over the years," reads the book introduction by her family. Grand Bend passes zero mill rate increase The $450,000 mu- nicipal budget will be balanced GRAND BEND - Despite con- tinued block funding grant re- ductions, coundtil passed arzero. per cent mill rate increase at Monday night's council and planning meet- ing. Council explained although the $450,000 municipal. budget, joint fire board budget and water utility budgets were approved, the total 1997 rate cannot be established un- til the Lambton Board tit' Education sets its mill rate. Mayor Cam Ivey said the Lamb - ton County portion of the mill rate has decreased by 0.18 per cent, however, this is tempered with a $1 per tonne landfill user fee. Grand Bend's municipal budget is balanced with no surpluses or deficits anticipated.. A small sur- plus from last year will be -trans- • ferred to this year's working fund. 'Ivey commented the village was not hurt as. much as some mu- nicipalities by block funding re- ductions because it did not rely as heavily on them for revenue. Some of the downloading the mu- nicipality will see this year include the severing of connecting links agreements as well as user fees for some services including those done by the Conservation Authority. The budget offered some good news for village residents who can look forward to a 'reduction in wa- ter rates. Sewer fees will now be included on the water bill at a rate of $117 for residential and $187 for commercial properties. OPINION- Is PINION Is council being too secretive? By Bruce Shaw T -A Reporter To many people, it probably doesn't make any difference if coun- cil meetingsarc held in private (in camera) or in the open - just don't raise our taxes. To others, a fundamental freedom is at stake - the 'public's right to know. At one time, practically all important issues were discussed be- hind closed doors, to iron out the bugs, and a final solution was pre- sented (or some times not presented) to the public. The best ex- amples were the past practices of former Huron County boards of education and county councils. Even our own town bodies were not exempt. For such situations, the province enacted rules of conduct that would prevent "abuses". Exeter Council, years before the leg- islation, established a protocol of discussing most issues (except property, personnel and legal matters) openly. . it appears the current council has abandoned its tradition of openness. So many matters are now discussed privately that, on oc- casion, the councillors themselves have forgotten what they know and what the public knows. Assumptions are.made and either chaos or embarrassment follows. The examples are not few in number. The public is frequently left with the impression that a particular course of action is to be followed or a particular mind -set prevails within the opposition, but we are not told things have changed; they are no longer what they appear to be. The major issue has to be.the amalgamation and/or restructuring talks. in my humble opinion, success eluded these representatives of the people because the discussions were conducted in private. The public is left in the dark as to the pros and cons of amalgamating with our neighbors - did you know that there is a present fear that taxes in Exeter may rise dramatically in order to cover the loss of ru- ral farm rebate if we unite with Usborne and Stephen? The debacle (of course, that word is too strong) concerning the cemetery opera- tions could easily be avoided if people had talked openly and honest- ly since day one; no one should be worried now about maintaining the quality of our cemetery, but they are. it is no longer acceptable to excuse this secrecy by saying that all these issues fall under the provincial guidelines. It is no longer acceptable to say that councillors will be intimidated or strategies betrayed if discussion is held in front of the people. We elected eight men and one woman to lead us by, among other things, making the "big" decisions and sharing information with us. This is not being done! Stop worrying about what some people will thinkand do the right thing. Special service planned at Thames 'Road. Rhoda Rohde Thames Road correspondent • THAMES ROAD - The church service at Thames Road Church be- gan on Sunday morning with the singing • of the Gathering Verse. Rev. Jock Tolmay , conducted the service. Rev. Tolmay had the children Panther Profile By Bill Kline Gavin's Super Duper Freak- a-holic Funkfest is tomorrow night in the large gym. It is $3 to get in and you get 10 free tickets. You can play black- jack, roulette, crown and an chor, hoop it up, go bungee running, play Nintendo 64, sing karaoke, or challenge Mr. Robilliard to a sumo wrestling match. It starts at 7:30 p.m. and he'll be waiting for you. The school show "Listen to. the Wind" starts next Wednes- day, April 30 and ends on Fri- day, May 2. Tickets are $5 each and can be purchased at the high school or at Greeting Card World. . . Tonight is McDonald's Fun Night. Fifteen per cent of all money from the fun cards goes towards our school...- Crossroads chool.Crossroads Career Expo is next Wednesday, April 30. -All. students can view over 30 ca- reer displays. Senior students can meet and talk with almost 40 different presenters, and be- gin planning your future. There is a P.A. day on Fri- day. Until next week...Bill•Kline read "The Good Shepherd" from the Service Book.'The choir sang' "He's Still the King of Kings* ac- companied by the organist Jean Hodgert. • Murray Dawson and Diane Jef- fery received the offering. The ser- vice closed with the singing of • "Through All The Changing Scenes." The Community •of Area Rural Churches steering committee has planned a combined service of worship. music and fellowship. for May 25 at 10:30 a.m. at Thames Road United Church. Guest speak- er will be Kevin Stewart. •Ilse joint choir will practice on April 27 at •. Zion Church, May 4 at Elimville Church and May 1I and 18 • at Thames Road Church. All practic- es will begin at 7:30 p.m. Everyone is invited to become part of the choir, orchestra, worship service or congregation. The steering•commit- tee representatives are Bruce Del - bridge and Judith Parker. Personals • Inc. 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