Loading...
Times-Advocate, 1999-02-03, Page 6Wednesday.: Fobruary : ,;1999 Lawn and garden watering bylaw passed in Exeter By Kate Moak TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF EXETER -- Exeter council had a light agenda on Mondor night, adjourning the meeting before 9:30_. p.m, Council passed a lawn' and garden watering bylaw presented by the Exeter Hydro Electric Commission (HEC). The proposed bylaw called fer town -staff to enforce it but Service Delivery Manager Dave Moyer said the staff didn'thave enough time to do so. Council passed the bylaw with the clause that the HEC staffprovide enforcement. Residential and commercial water user's on the west side of Main St. are permitted to water lawns and gardens on even numbered calendar days and the users on the east -side of Main St. are permitted to water lawn and gardens on odd numbered days. Watering is permitted •front 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. - Businesses that sell lawn and garden plants are exempt from these restrictions. Town properties including MacNaughton Park, Victoria Park, 406 Main St. Parkette and the Exeter Lawn Bowling property can water at any time throughout the day but must adhere to the even/odd number system. Offenders will be liable to a maximum fine of $300 exclusive of costs. The period of restriction is from May 1 to Oct. 31. Sound system - take two Moyer presented a proposal from Sound Advice for refinements to the council chambers sound system. Council found the system purchased in 1998 from Sound Advice• was not meeting its needs because of poor sound quality. Council passed a motion to purchase six micro- phones and related equipment, with the condition thq equipment can be returned if it's not satisfactory after a 30 -day trial period. The total price, installed,' is $1,844.60. Coup. George Robertson inquired if the town • would receive a credit from the wireless . mics that will longer be needed., In the summer of 1998, Sound Advice installed a sound system in the council chambers with wireless microphones, speakers, sound board and other associated equipment for $6-,500 (motion passed on May 4/98). • Moyer,said Sound Advice did not want to take back the used equipment. After a discussion, council agreed they wanted to negotiate with Sound Advice for a credit. Planning fees Council asked staff to put the issue of planning fees on the "front burner"."The system no longer pays for itself and is subsidized by tax dollars. Exeter is awaiting a proposal from the County of Huron. • The business of garbage Coun. _Pete Armstrong said council should discuss the business'side of the landfill site. After a brief discussion on various parts of the waste manage- ment budget, Robertson said there is "more to be said that what was said tonight." Deputy -Reeve Dave Urlin suggested it should be discussed in -camera. Mayor Ben Hoogenboom suggested it be put on the Feb. 8 Committee of.the Whole agenda. Clerk -Treasurer Liz Bell reported the landfill site operated with a surplus for several years that was put into a reserve account. In 1998, $41,000 was taken out of reserves. to lower. the defiCit from $50,537.36 to $9,537:36. Conference report Robertson reported on an electrical restructuring conference he attended in Toronto along ;with HEC Commissioners Chan Livingston and Bev Skinner. Under new legislation the supply .of electricity will be deregulated — companies can sign up customers to supply electricity — but municipalities would sup- ply the wires. Permission granted Council gave the OK for the Bank of Montreal to park an 11 -metre mobile coach on Main St.. in front of its branch on Feb. 12 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The vehicle has satellite links to world. markets and interactive facilities to allow people'th become bet- ter informed about their investments. Council also gave the go-ahead to the Children's Hospital of Western Ontario to sell $2. raffle tickets in the financial institutions In Exeter until May, 1999. Each year, these institutions raise funds for the Children's Miracle Network 'Telethon in support of Children's Hospital. AP 5 Parents want .French back in Exeter by Michele Greene STRATFORD The Avon Maitland District School)oard may have said revok." to French Instruction for rade 1 to 3 students but parents ih Exeter" aren't ready ts' it go from their school. *We believe retaining. French instruction is important to continue pro- viding a well-rounded education," said Randy Wagler of the Exeter Public School Council and the Exeter Public School Parents' Association. Last Tuesday night, Waglerurged trustees to reinstate the program for primary students. In December the board voted to eliminate it from Huron, County schools. French instruction for pri- mary students in Perth County schools was never available. Wagler had support from some -trustees who wanted the Issue dis- cussed again. • "I would like to see 'core French (Instruction) bought back ' on the floor;" said trustee Vicki Culbert. So would parents In Exeter. Wagler said the parent council surveyed 250 families on their pref- erence. Within five days, 122 surveys were returned with 101 fami- lies asking for the . pro- gram in the primary grades and 21 families who didn't want it. The parents are willing • to stand behind the _pro- gram. In Exeter, Wagler. said the parent council will cover the costs of offering French Instruc- tion in their school. "It's not an expensive program. Our parents' association raises between $5000 and $8,000 per year and we want to fund this pro- gram," said Wagler. He expects annual costs to offer the program will be about $530. No additional stat' costs will, be necessary. "Continuing the pro- gram doesn't require extra teachers and elimi- nating it doesn't reduce the number of teachers, said Wagler. French teachers cover School board education budget is set STRATFORD - The education budget is set in the Avon Maitland District School Board for the 1998199 school year. Last Tuesday night, trustees viewed the budget figures to be sent to the Ministry of Education and Training. Superintendent of business and finance, Marilyn Marklevitz told trustees that the $132 million budget actually had a $1.3 million shortfall. Money was taken out of reserves, and improvements and alterations to schools were cut back to make the books balance. Capital expendi- tures have been reduced $1.4 million from previous spending levels. Also, spending on technology is down $700,000 compared to thetechnology budgets of the two former boards. Marklevitz pointed .out the budget does- n't include many factors including adjust- ments for pay equity, additional staff, `harmonization of programs and services across the new *strict or the impact of the new science program mandated by the ministry.. In a presentation to the board on its financial future, superintendent Janet Baird -Jackson said the board is looking at reduced funding for capital expendi- tures. It anticipates an annual expense of $2.7 million to maintain its buildings next year, but the board is expecting just $2.4 million next year for capital expenditures and just $2 million in the following years. The new funding formula is based on enrolment. She outlined ways the board could boost its enrolment by implement- ing programs such as French immersion_ and supporting distance education. Next year won't be any easier. This year, Marklevitz said the board received funding from the ministry to cover expenses of restructuring. It also won't -have revenue:: from the sale of buildings to help its financial situation. preparation time for regu- lar classroom teachers and remain on staffto .ful- 1111 that duty, he reminded trustees. The program was elim- inated because funding and curriculum guidelines from the Ministry of Education and Training were eliminated. Also; the board was trying to achieve equity across the district. The former Huron County Board of Education pro- vided French instruction for Grade 1 to 3 students but the former Perth County Board • of Education didn't. To pro- vide the same opportuni- ties to all '-students, trustees were faced with. the decision of extending the program into Perth schools or eliminating it from Huron schools. RESIDENTS OF STEPHEN TOWNSHIP REMINDER Overnight parking is prohibited on all town- ship and county road- ways including streets in the urban areas. Also residents are requested not to. push snow off private prop- erty onto roadways. Council of the Township of Stephen Refuse To Be A Part Of The Retirement Crisis" 1999 RRSP Strategies Garth Turner is a bestselling author, columnist and broadcaster. wtbw.garth.ca NATIONAL BESTSELLER` How to build your mutual fund wealth and retire in comfort' • Tax efficient RRSP withdrawals • RRIF strategies for volatile times • Tax-deductible mutual fund investing • Defensive strategies for your RRSP/RRIF • Prepare now for the coming boom Free F,` eiii.ig Seminar Monday, February 8, 7:00 p.m. Oakwood Inn, Grand. Bend Sponsored by Brian Mercer, B.A. Senior Investment Advisor LIMITED SEATI G - RESERVE YOUR SEA ODAY! Call 858-2112 or 1-800-388-5149 Sponsored in part by: cDDlELL DROOP Or PONDS Templeton AptkOiidbwr FORTUNE F1.`i11ANCIAL Fortune Financial Corporation Member Montreal Exchange & CIPF AINVRgT)1*74Ta"