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Home My WebLink AboutTimes Advocate, 1995-12-20, Page 1SEIP'S valu-mart 4 & 83 Exeter 235-0262 Zte We bare Video Gift ertificates Hotline 135-3535 Serving Exeter and are since SEIP'S valu-mart 4 & 83 Exeter 235-0262 Reserve your Holiday Videos Novel Hotline 11711:2% 235-3535 r�ss ___C___ ' No staff cuts 1If you aren't subscribing to The 1 Times -Advocate, you're missing out. Use the coupon below and I 1111 subscribe today.! n'PUC plan ' Name:y 1 ' Address Cit 1 Prov 1 to farm out Postal Code I $U8SCHlintpN RATS: Canada ' Within 40 miles - (65 km) addressed to non letter carrier addresses $33.00 plus $2.31 O.S.T. Outside 40 miles - (65 km) or any letter ' carrtar address $83.00 + $4.41 O.S.T. Outside Canada -$99.00 end ses 40 poat.rf 1 USE YOUR CREDIT CARD 1 00000❑ 1 UCILLICLICIO Card No. 1 1 1 I Expiry Date ❑ Visa ❑ Master Card 1 1 0 Cheque enclosed Return to; TIMES ADVOCATE ` MIN EMI MIM NM Main St. Exeter, Ont. NOM 1S6J a_ a_ Inside Low fat Christmas treats See Crossroads Second front Classifieds pages 33-35 Experts page 37 Announcements. - pages 38,39 Next week's T -A one day Tater than usual EXETER - The Times -Advocate will he delivered hours later than usual next week because of the christmas holiday. it will he available at the usual Exeter outlets Wednesday evening and delivered with the mail Thurs- day. Snowmobiles stolen DASHWOOD - On Dec. 11 Brian's Service Ccgtfe reported the theft of four snowmobiles. The thefts, which occured at ap- proximately 4:55 a.m., included a blue 1995 Yamaha, a hluc 1994 Ya- maha, a red 1991 Skidoo and a black 1983 Yamaha. On the same day a purple Arctic Cat Puma was reported stolen from the lot of Becker Power and Leisure in Exeter. The theft occured that weekend. Liquor store broken into ZURICH - Once again liquor was stolen from the liquor store. On Saturday entry was gained by smashing a front glass door. meter reading EXETER - Sparks flew Monday night and Exeter councillors were elec- trified in learning the Exeter PUC was adding costs to its budget in cutting the cost of meter -reading. Lights flashed on when the Chair of the PUC, Chan Livingston, and the General Manager, Sherman Roth, said they will be contracting out meter - reading for $14,000 a year with a resultant saving of $16,000 by not hav- ing staff do the task, but there would be no job loss. Also bills will be sent out monthly, rather than every other month as is now the case with most customers. The PUC representatives came to council, believing, no doubt, they would be praised for lowering residential hydro rates by 2 per cent and street lighting charges by 22 per cent. Instead, they were questioned about where the savings were going and why wasn't the lighting reduction passed on to council years ago. Councillor Bob Spears asked,"If the billing is to be conducted monthly, what will the additional costs be in sending out twice as many bills? Will extra staff be required to process the hills?" Deputy Reeve Dave Urlin added, "i am disturbed that we're adding costs. These aren't savings." Councillor Roy Triebner, a former Public Utilities Commissioner, re- marked, "Our problem is we're looking at costs and you're adding $14,000 to your budget; it would be perhaps have been better not to re- place the staff you lost in 1995. As far as the billing is concerned, have you looked at the cost of added postage and increased labor costs?" Reeve Bill Mickle asked if council's costs would go up with the addi- tional billing for the sewer surcharge, and if not, would any savings be passed hack to the town. He later suggested that it might be appropriate to do what some mu- nicipalities are undertaking and that is assuming responsibility for the wa- ter operations. As far as the reduction of over 20 per cent for the street lighting, Mickle asked, "if there has been a recalculation by Ontario Hy- dro of how PUC's are to determine rates to municipalities, why weren't we given the benefit of the reduction several years ago when the policy was changed? It seems to me there is a potential for a claim as we Were over -charged." Livingston and Roth were obviously not prepared for all the questions, which were so negativeticjiftettect, brit they did try to satisfy the crtunT. - cillors' requests for explanations. Livingston said, '"there oett?`Se no extra charge for billing, as the new system currently in place is more efficieft, but by the same token there would he no appreciable saving for council as well. The reason the PUC has gone to more frequent billing is to reduce prob- lems associated with collecting over -due accounts. Besides, the customer, although he will have more bills, will have hills which arc smaller in amount. "In the future, we may he involved in providing services to our present neighbors, and newer systems will allow us time for training staff and do- ing some tasks which we now hire out. We have an excellent system and we want to maintain it. As far as the town's taking over the water de- partment, it might he just as useful for the PUC to take over the re- sponsibilities for sewers.; at this point, however, we have a considerable debt load with the water line from Lake Huron and the new storage tank." Councillors were still charged after the representatives left the chamber. Councillor Wendy Boyle compared the struggle the Rec Board is facing as it tries to wrestle its costs to the mat while the PUC is increasing its costs by $14,000 a year. Spears added the three-year contract could save almost $50,000 over the period instead of costing over $40,000. Urlin asked a letter he written to the commission asking the members and the manager to attend an executive meeting to clear the air. Mickle added the letter should advise the PUC the town is concerned with the added costs without the staff reductions. Mayor Ben Hoogenboom, also a member of the commission remarked, "As I read the letter before us, I see reductions; I don't see any increases. As well, I don't think the discussions should be public." Mickle shot back, "It's a public matter." Council pulled the plug on further discussion with Triebner and Spears' commentings the other side of the story should be heard before they, short- circuit the excellent relations they have with the commission. No more free booze EXETER - In an attempt to cut costs, Exeter Council looked at the expenses associated with its annual appreciation night and staff Christ- mas party. Councillor Robert Drummond suggested that since members of committees serve, in general, for the life of council there should he only one appreciation night, every three years. Deputy Reeve Dave Urlin, advised council of practic s used by other munici- palities, n Ing many don't use vol- unteers an , in fact, pay those who serve on boards and committees. Urlin went on to say Exeter gets exceptionally good value for little t tm� have everything you need to finish your Christmas cost in that the 60-70 people who serve on Exeter's boards and com- mittees are not paid a nickel. "The 51,900 is cheap, and if you calculate everything, we're paying 5180 a month to run this town, less than 530 a year per person!" said Urlin Council accepted the recommen- dation of the steering committee that the two functions would he, merged into one with the elimina- tion of entertainment and a free bar. The anticipated savings from the two events would be approximately $1,800. Ready for Christmas it was cold outside, but their hearty were full of wamrth. From back row left, Mitchell Partridge, Lindsay Blane, Kristen Ferguson, Kristy Blane, Vicki Hartman, front row, Jesse Blane and Jake Partridge sing a Christmas carol in Exeter recently. With rosy cheeks and frosty noses, the seven youngsters braved the cold wind while carolling in front of the home of a 24 foot artificial tree on the property Charlie and Carol Beausoleil of Motz Boulevard. The Beausoleil's have decorated their home with approximately 2,500 Christmas lights in an elaborate and dazzling display that has passers-by stopping for a look. The decorations are complemented by Christmas music which is piped outside. Area municipal councils discuss amalgamation Heather Mir T -A staff HENSALIJZURICH - Amalgamation was the forefront discussion at council meetings in Huron County last week. Hensall Council agreed it may participate in talks between Stephen Township and the Town of Exeter along with Usborne Township Council. The Town of Parkhill, the Village of Ailsa Craig and the Townships of McGillivary, East Williams and West Williams have undertaken a review of local government organization and municipal service delivery in the arca. Distriubuted to local councils was a report prepared by C.N. Watson and Associates outlining three alternatives including a recommendation the Northwest Middlesex municipalities "pursue amal- gamation as the best long-term option for local gov- ernment structure in the area." A public meeting was held on Nov. 28 as an op- portunity for residents to "help chart the future course of our five area municipalities into the 21st century." Hensall Council held the first meeting of its sec- ond term last Tuesday night. Reeve Cecil Pepper said council will face many challenges in the upcoming year including cuts to municipal grants and downloading of responsibilities such as highways from the province to mu- nicipalities. Some municipalities including Ste- phen, Exeter and Usborne have started the process, anticipating amalgamation may be legislated by the government. "My own opinion is we'll be forced to do something. if we get on the hall, perhaps we can do something, " said Pepper. "My feeling is we can't go any place without Hay," he gir Continued on page 2 "7 think we should start thinking about it because we are going to be forced." Department Store 309 MAIN ST. EXETER