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Times-Advocate, 1996-03-06, Page 2Times -Advocate, March 6,1996 Physician waits for court decision GODERICH - Dr. J.M. Shubat must wait until March 29 to hear the verdict in his case involving the charge against him of failing to report child abuse, reported the Wingham Advance -Times. The doctor's case hinges on interpretation of the wording of the charge. The charge states the doctor failed to report forthwith his suspicions of child abuse in the treatment of a Howick Township baby in June, 1995. The question raised involves the meaning of "forthwith." Justice of the Peace H. Gale will also deal with charges against two local nurses at the end of March. Hospital layoffs announced CLINTON - Due to a $138,400 cut in funding from the Ministry of Health, reported the Clinton News -Record, Clin- ton Public Hospital will lay off staff in April. Staffing changes have been implemented in the departments of radiology, maintenance, housekeeping, purchasing and laboratory. "Five full-time staff members have received their layoff notic- es, and at this point, I expect that all five will remain with us in ei- ther a different full-time capaci- ty or in a part-time capacity." Allan Halls, CPH executive di- rector told the News' -Record. Foodbank opens SEAFORTH - The Seaforth and District Foodbank officially opened at the town hall's rear entrance, in the location of the former police station, according to the Huron Expositor. The centre will be open three days a week: Saturday 2-5 p.m., Tuesday 9 a.m. to noon and Thursday 1-2 p.m. Although the foodbank can only currently handle food dona- tions, clothing can be dropped off at The Dick House on Main St. South across from the li- brary. SDHS grad produces report on local skater SEAFORTH - Mike Kelly, who graduated from Seaforth District High School in 1988, has produced a 10 -minute televi- sion piece on Seaforth native Lloyd Eisler and his figure skat- ing partner, Isabelle Brasseur for The Sports Network. According to the Huron Ex- positor, Kelly is a graduate of Conestoga College. Mayor clarifies comments MITCHELL - Mitchell Mayor. Hugh McCaughey clarified statements he made at .the Feb. 19 council meeting concerning Past Warden Walter McKenzie's expenses, reported the Mitchell Advocate. 1 want to emphasize that I in- dicated that noting of his ex- patties was out of oder," McCaughey told the Advocate. "I do not quesdon, not evert have questioned his homesty.7, .council considers bag tag collection system Uborne deferred action until more information is provided by BRA USBORNE TOWNSHIP - Coun- cil discussed the advantages and drawbacks of implementing a bag - tag garbage collection system at its Feb. 13 meeting but deferred ac- tion until statistical information on waste amounts taken to the landfill site is provided by Bluewater Re- cycling Association. Provided by BRA at council's re- quest a sample bylaw was pre - parted to employ landfill tipping fees, identify material not accept- able at the landfill (recyclable items), and establish a bag tag sys- tem. Council has also received in- formation from the Village of Al- vinston regarding their move to a bag tag system. Council asked BRA to pick up Usborne Township household waste on a bi-weekly basis so the landfill site will not incur an in- crease in cover costs. Council also recommended BRA attempt to schedule collection for the same day as Osborne so all waste can be covered at one time if Blanshard Township adopts the co -collection service and continues use of the. Kirkton landfill site: Greig Archibald of BRA advised truck scheduling will determine the outcome of this request. Bylaws Bylaw *9-1996 was passed to re- zone the property at. Part Lot 14, Concession 1 from Developmental to Highway Commercial. Norm Thomson applied for the re -zoning application to satisfy a condition of severance recently awarded. No concerns were ex- pressed at a public meeting held to obtain the public's comments on the proposed land use. In further business, council di- rected the clerk to prepare a bylaw to increase the fee for a tax certif- icate from $20 to $25. A public meeting has been set for March 19 at 7:30 p.m. regarding the re -zoning application submitted by Ron Bilcke: The 1996 low gravel tender sub- mitted by C.R. Chittick Construc- tion at $70,781.95 was accepted by council. Rioting inmates cause extensive damage to facility GODERICH - Damage totalled an estimated $250,000 after OPP were called to the Bluewater Youth Centre Thursday afternoon to assist with the containment of the facility due to rioting inmates. Inmates trashed two buildings and locked guards' out of the facility while firefighters waited on standby outside the maximum security jail for young offenders. According to police, both on and off duty correction staff and the Institutional Crisis Intervention Teani from London responded and eventually diffused the situation after two and a half hours. . Forty-six youths were sent to the Elgin Middlesex Detention Cen- tre and 12 were taken to the,Niagara Regional Detention Centre un- der OPP escort. There were no escapes and only minor injuries. Approximately 50 inmates are still inside the Bluewater Centre in another. wing titat, was pot invelved in the iugident. The Western Region's Criminal Investigation Team is now look- ing into the damaged facility. Wes Bell, superintendent of the fa- cility, reported damages included broken windows and furniture, flooding and fire. According to a union spokesperson, the riot was started after a confrontation between an inmate and staff member in a downstairs unit housing 26 youths. Soon the riot spread to the upstairs unit and emergency service staff were called in from the picket line and their' homes. There are 196 employees at the Biuewater Centre and only half of the usual number of staff, approximately 15 to 20, were on duty at the time of the riot. Lucan council supports proposal LUCAN - At a special meeting on Feb. 27, council passed a motion to endorse the proposed move of the village's current library to a larger area Biddulph Council, who also at- tended the meeting, expressed no objection to such a move. Lucan resident Mert Culbert aims to transform the old Home Hard- ware building on Main Street into a library that will contain ap- proximately 3,000 square feet of space as well as provide wheelchair accessibility. He attended Biddulph Council's Feb. 5 meeting to propose the idea. Johns' office picketed AP Comiiiusd from front page of successor rights if a section of government is privatized. Public sector workers feel be- trayed by some sections of Bill 7 and Bill 26 which they feel treat public servants Inequitably. ' The government also plans to chop 13,000 civil service jobs which has been a sticking point be- tween OPSEU and government reptes shrives talcs. OPSEU wants • to have a say in how these cuts are mode. Bucy ambulance and ponce ung servites are not a[ by the strike and some es- servites will be maintained oat * 11ha1 d bads. • He and his wife, Muriel, informed Lucan Council of their plans on Feb. 20. Although the Culberts have the support of council, the county library board must give the final go-ahead before the existing 900 square foot library is moved to the new site. V/hen Mert told council he would like a 10 -year lease for the new li- brary location, McLaughlin replied a short-term year-to-year or two -to - three year lease would be more rea-. sonable, "I would certainly want to keep my options open," he added. Councillor Rosemary Gahlinger- Beaune did not see a problem with a long -tern lease due to the current library's space restrictions and the fact that residents have discussed the need for a new library for the past three years. 1 don't want to see a library be- ing moved around every couple of years," she said. "In this com- munity, the library is a big is- sue...We need library facil- ities...Ther;'s no research area...You can go In, you can get a book and then leave - that's it." According to Merl, Lucan's Her- itage Committee members do not disagree with his proposal. The earliest approval of the pro- posed lilibrary, mid Mciitrghlin, may early March. "I would like to have it done by probably July," said Mert. The Culbem tr►et with members of the library bored Iwt Wednesday to present Hieb pdposal. "Things went to tram very dew. 1y," said Mrd, adding she doesn't expect an idtmedlale answer. Councll defeats motion to put amalgamation on hold Stephen supports a study area with participating mu- nicipalities STEPHEN TOWNSHIP - A motion put forth by Harvey Ratz and seconded by Anita Riddell at the Feb. 20 council meeting was lost in a vote of three to two .to suspend amalgamation discussions. The motion was intended to notify municipalities involved in amalgamation discussions and the Min- istry of Municipal Affairs that Stephen will not par- ticipate in meetings until it receives a clear in- dication of what Bill 26 will mean in regards to the future size of Ontario municipalities. According to meeting minutes, the motion was not intended to demonstrate support or opposition to amalgamation. The intent was to "indicate that we feel we have progressed as far as practical until we get mote information on the facts that started these discussions in the fust place." A second motion by Tom Tomes received coun- cil's support to proceed with amalgamation dis- cussions. Stephen also "supports a study area with- in participating municipalities, considering areas of interest, around Exeter and Dashwood." In further council business, a motion was carried that the Ontario Clean Water Agency return the balance of surplus funds in the Highway 21 sec- ondar'y water system to the municipalities of Grand Bend, Bosanquet and Stephen as proposed. A motion was also passed to use surplus fund of approximately 3200,000 In the Grand. Bend Sewage . Plant project to pay down the outstanding debt re- maining with the system. Council agreed to maintain Stephen's levy for 1996 at last year's rate. Discussion concerning the future operation of stream gauges was deferred un- til the next meeting with the Tri -Municipal Com- mittee. Council passed a motion to support the amend- ments to the Township of Stephen Secondary Plan Five Year Review as proposed by the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing. Bylaws Bylaw #4 to assess costs on the construction of the Gill Road Municipal Drain was passed. Bylaw #7-1996 was also passed to assess costs on the maintenance of the Fleming Morrissey Mu- nicipal Drain. Council passed a bylaw *14-1996 to change the zoning on Registered Plan 123, Lot G and Part Lot H to village residential or VRI. A zoning amendment application submitted by the Grand Bend Motorplex was accepted by coun- cil and a public meeting is scheduled for March 19 at 7:30 p.m. The resignation of Heather Love as Crediton Po- lice Village trustee was accepted with regret. Lucan and Biddulph discuss amalgamation ' LUCAN - At a special joint meet- ing on Feb. 26, Lucan and, Bid- dulph councils discussed the pos- sibility of future amalgamation. While Reeve Tom McLaughlin expressed an interest in holding public meetings to obtaincom- munity input on the issue, metnbers of Biddulph Council indicated more in-depth study is needed be- fore answering public questions. Such an approach, it was pointed out, may avoid public dis- , illusionment;or disinterest in amal- gamation issues. Biddulph also in- dicated conerere action including �furthef }irevincial direction iWridedi% ed in the amalgamation process. "I still wish they would set out some more guidelines," agreed McLaughlin. "We can sit and argue and put a package together," said Councillor Rob Brady, "but what's going on at (the) provincial level?" With Lucan and Biddulph mak- ing up a total of about 4,000 peo- ple, Councillor Reg Crawford won- dered if that number would be a large enough amalgamated Com- munity to satisfy provincial re- quirements. Concern was also ' expressed about the financial and structural changes amalgamation would make to Middlesex County. Councillor Rosemary Gahlinger-Beaune said she spoke with many residents who are wondering what financial im- pact restructuring would have on them. Councillor Harry Wraith ad- mitted his support of amalgama- tion. "I've been for this all along," he said, adding he feels the councils should make a decision that Lucan and Biddulph join in amalgama- tion. "I think Biddulph came here to- night with a reasonable proposal," concluded McLaughlin, adding the initial intentions of Lucan council consisted only of discussing the possibility of holding public' meet- ings on the issue. Lucan Council plans to discuss the results of the joint meeting at its March 5 council meeting. Authority role to change Province will continue to fund water and flood control stuctures EXETER - Manager of the Aus- ' able-Bityfield Conservation Author- ity, Tom Prout, addressed Exeter Council Monday night on the new reality facing all conservation au- thorities in the province. The ABCA is unique in that the provincial grants exceed the mu- nicipal levy; in most areas, the lev- els of municipal support equal the grants and indeed may exceed them through user fees. In 1997, the grants will be cut drastically, and it is possible at that time, the grants may . be so low the mu- nicipalities in the ABCA region may be in a position to reduce their levies to the authority. Prout cautioned council such a massive reduction in funding will force all contributing municipal- ities to examine closely what their expectations are for the authority and what services they will be pre- pared to support financially. 'Councillor Thom Hughes asked why some municipalities are able to reduce their contributions. Prout answered that in areas where the levy exceeds the grant, municipal- ities may lower their contributions as they are expected to meet the grant only. • Municipalities, through their rep- resentatives, vote on what levies will be collected and what projects will take priority. The votes are weighted to reflect "discounted equalized assessment". " Municipalities cannot opt out of authorities individttilly nor out of programs. The budget will be cir- culated throughout the area, turd the representatives will determine through majority vote what pro- grams will operate and the levies to be collected," said Prout. Councillor Bob Spears Asked if authorities will still be around in the years to coon. Proms responded he believes. they will be ' MOW and will function through amal- gamation, downsizing lard user fees. There is a definite need for au- thorities, and they will meet the ex- pectations of mugicipalities. As far as user fees is concerned Prout said; "We introduced user fees sev- eral years ago, and it was quite hu- morous: the government chastised us for doing that. Now of course, they think it's a great idea. In fact, we generate about half, a million dollars through user fees. We have talked with the Maitland Conserva- tion Authority, but the talks went no where; our board is willing to talk, but they weren't." The province is willing to fund, according to the manager, the cost of operating and maintaining water control and flood control, struc- tures, and we have three so there will be more money for us than for other authorities that might not have any such as the Maitland. Councillor Roy Triebner re- marked that there used to be a sort, of balance among municipalities so that all eventually received some direct benefit - will that still be the case? Prout replied that the users of the services will pick and choo'se what they are prepared to support' financially. Major user fees will be charged to cover not only the physical costs but also the ad- ministrative costs so there will be full cost recovery. Chief Administrative Officer Rick Hundey asked, "How specif- ically will Exeter be affect?" "You will have whatever programs you are willing to fund, even through you may not have to pay a full 100 per cent of the cost as funds from special projects may help to de- fray those costs. As well, some of our responsibilities could be passed on to the municipalities, and we will probably reduce our com- ments on planning." Prout concluded by saying ABCA pays about $60,000 in prop- erty taxes, and the Province will fund that amount; it will also fund flood control. All other services are to be determined by the municipal- ities. 1 Charges pending in accident EXETER - According to police, charges are pending after a vehicle, driven by William Mawson, of RR3 Parkhill, hit the railway tracks leaving Exeter at the end of Victoria Street early Sunday morning. At approximately 1 a.m., a 1985 Chev Celebrity struck the first set of railway tracks taking out an estimated 100 feet of track. The vehi- cle became airborne for a considerable distance, crossing the second set of tracks and a ditch before it impacted on the other side of a ditch. Minor injuries received EXETER - A vehicle driven by Katheryn Black of RR1 Ripley left 4 South and rolled over in the ditch on Saturday. Ilex report both Black and her nine-year-old daughter received minor injuries in the accident. Police warn re idents i'BR - Police remind not to give their credit card numbers over the phone to solicitors. A number of local residents contacted police after solicitors request- ed rite InfteptetiOn.