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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes Advocate, 1999-05-19, Page 20Wednesday, May 19. 1999 & eUrrrs Tivinosilkkeilullot Community 19 Amalgamation group continues afterTuckersmith withdraws By Scott Nixon TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF HENSALL -- And then there were five. The group formerly known as the "Original Six" is going to need a new name after Tuckersmith Township officially quit amalgamation talks last Wednesday at the group's meeting in Hensall. That leaves the villages of Hensall, Zurich and Bayfield and the townships of Hay and Stanley in the group. The meeting began with Tuckersmith Reeve Bob Broadfoot thanking the group for working with the township on amalgamation talks and being patient with them. He said Tuckersmith council's position "is that we're going to withdraw from this table," explaining that Tuckersmith has a stronger commu- nity of, interest with Seaforth and McKillop Township. Another factor in Tuckersmith's decision is a pro- posal for construction on a bridge between Egmondville and the Seaforth Golf acid Country Club that would provide sewage and water for 200 Tuckersmith homes. After Tuckersmith's announce- ment, Hensall Reeve Cecil Pepper said, "We're very sorry to see you pull out." Not all members of the committee were satisfied, though. "I think this group deserves more of tion," Stanley Reeve Jack Coleman said. Also, residents of Tuckersmith .Township were on hand to express their displeasure at the township's decision to pull out. As reported tri last week's T -A, a Tuckersmith group polled 1,061 residents, which is 45 per cent of the township's eligible voters. According to the poll 62 per cent want to stay with the Original Six and only 28 per cent want to join Seaforth and McKillop. Jim McIntosh, representing the group at the meet- ing, said the group is concerned Tuckersmith is ignoring the wishes of the people. Bayfield Coun, Diane Denomme said she is also concerned about council ignoring the wishes of its people. "The voice (of the people) is pretty loud and clear . .. I have concerns certainly." Stanley Deputy Reeve Bill Dowson, explaining that the Original Six have spent a lot of time and money on amalgamation talks, made a motion that the other five municipalities force Tuckersmith to join the group under the triple -majority law. Tuckersmith Reeve Bob Broadfoot, though, reminded the group that they promised Tuckersmith at an April meeting that no unwilling municipality would be forced to join. Bayfield Reeve Doug Grant, while explaining the group has the power to force Tuckersmith, said there would be no point having an unwilling partner. Pepper also reminded the group they previously agreed not to force any municipality to join and Hay Reeve Jim Love said, "I think it's very unfair to pull anyone in." Dowson's motion to pull Tuckersmith in was defeated. A fur- ther suggestion to have Tuckersmith council hold an official poll to hear the residents' concerns was also defeated. Bob Bell, a. Tuckersmith resident, spoke at the end of the meeting and said he is "very unhappy and disap- pointed" with Tuckersmith's decision. He described council's decision to pull out of the Original Six — despite opposition from residents — "probably the most undemocratic thing I've seen in Tuckersmith in my time." Dowson then explained that while the Original Six promised it would not pull in any unwilling partners, he made the motion to pull in Tuckersmith because it is Tuckersmith council that is unwillingto join, not the residents. After Tuckersmith's announcement to leave, the group decided to continue amalgamation talks as a group of five. Hay still worried about office location Ie the group has already decided to locate the municipal office for the new municipality in Varna at the Stanley Complex, Hay Township requested that decision be left up to the transition board along with staffing. k's "probably the most undemocratic thing I've seen in Tuckersmith in my time." — TUCKERSMITH RESIDENT BOB BELL ON THE TOWNSHIP'S DECISION TO PULL OUT OF THE ORIGINAL SIX an explana- A letter from Hay states: "With only the live munic- ipalities, the boundaries of the new municipality have shifted and we feel that the transition board should have the authority and responsibility to set the location of the municipal office. We feel it is diffi- cult at this point to know the most efficient and eco- nomical location of a municipal office without know- ing the composition and numbers of the staff." Bayfield Reeve Doug Grant, though, said the Stanley site "is the only rational" location, and added that it won't take many renovations to make the building able to house the new amalgamated munici- pal council and offices. Stanley Reeve Jack Coleman said he wanted the location issue finished before the group goes to the transition board, otherwise another municipality may drop out in another few months. Despite pleas from Hay Reeve Jim Love and Coun. •a Fred Campbell, the .motion to defer office location to the transition board was defeated. What's next? With the withdrawal of Tuckersmith from talks, staff from the remaining five municipalities will have to go through the draft proposal and remove Tuckersmith from all the decisions already made. Also of issue is how the five municipalities will split transition costs. Tuckersmith clerk Jack McLachlan presented to the group a sheet of five possible ways to break down the costs: by population, households; electors, assessment or owner entries. Under all categories, Hay has the highest percent- age of costs, leading Love to comment that while Hay will be paying the most costs, it will still have only two votes on council, the same amount Stanley will. have. "I think it's long overdue that something changed," he said. There was no decision made oetransition costs and the matter is to; be further discussed at the group's next meeting. Staff from the five municipali- ties will also use 1998 tax figures from the five municipalities to come up with an answer on what will happen. to taxes after amalgamation. The group meets again on June 16 at 7 p.m. at the Bayfield Municipal office. Seed packages and letters sent toAfrica by children By H. Davis SAINTSBURY CORRESPONDENT SAINTSBURY - The Rev. Stanley Jay was at St. Patrick's on May 16, the seventh Sunday of Easter, to celebrate the Holy Eucharist. The children's focus was understanding "Ascention Day". Margaret Carroll and Heather MacGillivray read the scripture lessons and Courtney MacGillivray assisted with the lighting of the Pascal candle and was server for the service. The Sunday School chil- dren wrote letters and are sending a number of gar- den seed packages to Africa which were pre- sented by Caleb and Corbin MacGillivray and blessed at the Lord's Table. There will be no service on May 23 at St. Patrick's. An evening prayer ser- vice will be held on May 29 at 7 p.m. to celebrate the Trinity. St. Patrick's will cele- brate their 139th anniver- sary on June 6 at 10:30 a.m. Linda Durnin of Auburn was Tuesday lunch guest - with Heather MacGillivray. Hazel Davis enjoyed lunch on Saturday at a restaurant in Komoka with a number of cousins. Those attending were Helen and Nish Johnson, Audrey McFalls, Ken McFalls, Ann Robinson, Joyce and Ralph Simpson, Bonnie and Ross Lester and Hazel Davis, who also visited with cousin Mabel Needham who is at the Country Terrace Nursing Home in Komoka. Bob MacGillivray was visiting in Lions Head on Sunday with mother Stevie MacGillivray. Suzanne and Crystal Davis visited with sister and family Donna and Mike Martin and children in London on Sunday. Michael Davis, Travis By Joan Beierling VARNA CORRESPONDENT sale this weekend VARNA - The Community yard sale will be this Saturday May 22 and Sunday May 23rd from 9am - ? There will be all kinds of treasures and also Goshen U.C.W. will have a bake table. Church on Sunday was in Goshen and will be in Goshen on May 23rd with Confirmation and also Communion. There will be no church service in Goshen or Varna May 30. This is Conference Sunday There will be a Five Alive Service at Brucefield with Rev. Cheri Dinovo at 11 am. There will be a pot -luck lunch to follow so bring sandwiches and dessert. Relishes and drinks to be provided. Choir Practice dates for this are May 20 and May 27th at 7:30 pm in Brucefield There will be special music by Tenor James Dundass from London. The offering will go to . the London Conference Ziquala Water Project. Happy 29th Anniversary to Marg and Gerald Hayter on May 16th. Any adults interested in Confirmation, please contact Elly as soon as possible. June 13 will be Decoration Sunday at Baird's Cemetery. The Youth Groups spaghetti supper was a success. Approximately 95 peo- ple and Starr attended the Moto Cross races in Barrie on Sunday where Harley was racing. church spring cleaning to The church women are be held May 25. asked to remember the" Quilt winners The Hensall CIBC raised $204 through a quilt raffle for. theiChildren's Miracle NetworkTelethon. Irene Dunn of Exeter who made and donated the quilts is joined by Wilma Truemner (left) accepts the first prize quilt on behalf of her daughter Amy, and Gail Reid who won the second prize quilt. der