Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes-Advocate, 1996-03-13, Page 2Page 2 Times -Advocate, March 13, 1996 e Township clerk quits GODERICH - Clerk -Treasurer Sue Vodden resigned on Feb. 5 due to a difference of opinion with council, reported the Clin- ton News -Record. Vodden, who held the position for more than a year, refused to comment on her resignation. Linda Cranston has been con- tracted by the township to fill in as acting clerk -treasurer for 90 days while council fills the posi- tion. Police caution about suspicious calls SEAFORTH - Seaforth OPP are advising residents to beware of suspicious calls, reported the Huron Expositor. Elderly residents, frequently widows, have been receiving re- peated phone calls from people claiming to be stockbrokers and attempting to sell stocks to them or their deceased husbands. OPP advise people who re- ceive what they believe to be a suspicious call to get informa- tion such as a company name that can be checked out with the Better Business Bureau. Police chief suspended MITCHELL - Due to allega- tions presented : to the police board, Police.Chief Chuck Zehr was informed of his suspension on March 4, reported the Mitch- ell Advocate. The board held a special meet- ing on Feb. 28 to discuss the matter and handed out the sus- pension. Promoted to sergeant in 1983 and sworn in a chief in 1988, Zehr has been with the Mitchell police service for 19 years. Exeter OPP Staff Sergeant Donald McInnes was appointed as Acting Chief. Citizen of the year named LOGAN TOWNSHIP - Carol Francis, a Community Outreach mobility bus driver, was named citizen of the year, according to the Mitchell Advocate. A school bus driver for 18 years, Francis works four or five days a week with Outreach. Bus appointments are scheduled through the social service de- partment at the Ritz Lutheran Villa. The mobility bus in owned by the Town of Mitchell and the Townships of Hibbert, Logan and Fullerton. Although statistics indicate ridership has declined, Francis claims the bus is used by many riders. Hospital task force formed CLINTON - task members have been appointed by the Hu- ron Perth District Health Coun- cil to form its Hospital and Re- lated Health Services Planning Taik Force. According to the Clinton News -Record, the force will em- ploy the Ministry of Health's hospital restructuring guidelines for the province. Equal numbers from each county will fonn its membership. • Amalgamation Committee hopes' to negotiate with Hay Township Brenda Burke T -A staff CREDITON - At its March 8 meeting, the Exeter, Grand Bend, Stephen and Usborne Amalgamation Committee de- cided it may form a sub -committee in an attempt to negotiate with Hay Township, although Hay has clearly stated it is not interested in amalgamation talks. "Moved by (Stephen Deputy -Reeve) Tom Tomes, sec- onded by (Usborne Reeve) Pat Down, that we amend the study area and proceed within the current northerly boun- daries of Stephen and Exeter, and pursue those areas ad- jacent to Exeter and Dashwood in negotiation with Hay Township as part of this process," reads the motion that was amended by changing the term "consider" to "pursue." "I think we should study this (Hay) area," said Grand Bend Councillor Phil Maguire. Committee Chair and Stephen Reeve Bill Weber ac- knowledged the immediate need to negotiate with Hay. The conunittee then launched into a lengthy discussion about boundaries. "We are being polite not talk- ing boundary changes here but I think there will be (some)," said Tomes. "We're not saying that the boundary has to be straight." Concem about Hay Town- ship's reaction was expressed along with discussion of other areas of interest to the. com- mittee. "How can we respect Hay's wishes and ignore (them)?" asked Exeter Councillor Roy Triebner, adding Hay, Zurich, Hensall and Bosanquet have made it clear they do not wish to participate in amalgamation talks. The issue that had the committee reeling was the fact sec- tions of these areas appear to be interested in restructuring. "We have to be fair to these municipalities," suggested Weber. "We're not a bunch of umpires here to determine who's going to win over what land. We're here for the peo- ple." "I see the area that's affected and I don't think it's that big...I don't want to stop at the north boundary of both our municipalities," said Tomes, adding it may be difficult to gather information from unwilling areas for the purpose of the study. Maguire was concerned about the potential splitting of communities. "My feeling personally is that we're going to miss the boat "We are being po- lite not talking boundary changes here but I think there will be... We're not say- ing that the boun- dary has to be straight." by not having all of Hay come to the table," said Triebner. "If we can't come to an agreement," added Down, "a com- missioner will deride what the area will be." "There is no perfect boundary," concluded Larry Brown, committee coordinator and Stephen administrator -clerk treas- urer. "Wherever you set that boundary there will always be dis- cussions about the perfect fit...There will always be a messy boundary." Grass roots interest In a separate study area issue, Bosanquet resident Jake Shields presented a "grass roots proposal" in the form of a delegation to the committee expressing views of com- munities immediately south of Grand Bend including Van Dongen, Huron Woods and Beach Of Pines as well as South- cott and Dalton subdivisions. "With any restructuring of local municipalities, the arc mentioned area should be adjusted to be included aloe the Village of Grand Bend," said Shields. "This shou cohesive eorpmunity with no political boundaries separa.t.., it." The group, which supports the work of the amalgamation committee, wishes to be kept informed and remain part of changes that affect its community. Recreational property The committee discussed its Feb. 28 recreation report, pay- ing special attention to the issue of property. One recommendation of the report was rephrased. The recommendation states, "All the real property, assets and liabilities of the participating municipalities related to the provision of recreation services be transferred to the new amalgamated corporation." The phrase, "with regard to the area and users," was added. Down felt ownership of property should remain in par- ticular municipalities in order for members of those com- munities to benefit. "We're talking about maintaining the identity of small communities," she said. "They view those buildings as theirs and rightly so." Concrete plan Exeter Administrator Rick Hundey presented a plan out- lined by council suggesting certain goals be established by the committee according to time frames. "The Town of Exeter has felt some things are not being dealt with early or quickly enough," said Hundey, adding much of the committee's discussion has centred around tech- nical issues. "You've got to be able to do it in a short time span and get routine issues out of your hair." Hundey suggested Exeter discuss issues and bring results cCurdy stUcfrpt,, learn Abouttit P: .CMi9. pit L:', !i} -117.ffarnous �anadian McCurdy Public is named after the first Canadian to fly an aircraft Chris Skalkos T -A staff In 1952, McCurdy attended the of the aircraft for free. EXETER - McCurdy Public opening ceremony of the public He presented it to the 'school School is named after one of the school named in his honor. But not while making a short presentation most famous men in Canadian his- enough is known about the Ca- to the students about John. A. D. tory. Last Wednesday students nadian pilot who later went on to McCurdy and his accomplish - learned who he was. become the lieutenant -governor of ments. A question and answer pe - John A. D, McCurdy, the first Nova Scotia, so principal Marry El- riod yielded just as many questions Canadian to fly a "lighter -than -air" about the model as the history be - machine. The highly detailed hind it. On February 23, 1909 he flew a Cann used blueprints of the Sil- primitive airplane powered by a model of the Silver ver Dartfrom a museum in Ottawa water-cooled motorcycle engine, in order to make the miniature look for three-quarters of a mile. as realistic as possible and he Dubbed by McCurdy as the "Sil- scoured hobby stores looking for ver Dart," the awkward looking air- parts, improvising when exact rep - craft took off from Baddeck Bay, len Walsh did something about it. licas could not be found. Nova Scotia making a one-time She solicited the aid of Jack Cann, The highly detailed model of the flight at 40 miles per hour and from London, who built a detailed Silver Dart is hanging in the climbing to a height of 30 feet. scale model of the Silver Dart for school foyer. Suspended from the Aided by inventor Alexander the school. ceiling, seemingly frozen in flight, Graham Bell, McCurdy's journey Cann, a retired RCAF pilot who it is both an honor to John A. D. into the skies with the Silver Dart was stationed at Centralia Air Base McCurdy and a reminder to all stu- was the first in the British empire, in 1950-52, is also experienced in dents who pass underneath, about permanently embedding McCurdy building radio controlled airplanes. the famous Canadian their school into the history books as an avia- He waived a fee and offered to is named after. tion pioneer. build the 1/4 scaled-down model Dart is hanging in the school foyer. McCurdy Public School students, left, Jackie Glover and Dolly Chansamone pose with Jack Cann and the model of the Silver Dart he built for the school. The two students were the first to recognize Feb. 23 as the day John A.D. McCurdy became the first Canadian to fly an aircraft In 1909 when principal Marry Ellen Walsh posed a quiz over the school intercom. to committee meetings. Weber agreed with the idea but re- quested reports of Exeter meetings. The plan is divided into two streams or sections. Stream. one includes establishing a study area as a first priority with growth and servicing areas as the next issue to tackle. The next step deals with determining constituency. Stream two involves reviewing services, conducting a fi- nancial analysis and identifying options as well as assessing and deciding on a restructuring proposal. According to the plan, an operational report would be due in November. Issues some committee mem- bers noted were left off the plan included servicing and personnel management. Tomes felt a personnel policy r ' place soon. hould be upfront `,.; ,t.,tf," he said. "We dont t .utt Item left out." Communications Plan Amalgamation questions put forth recently by the public will be presented and addressed at the committee's next meeting. "We haven't answered the big question, 'Why are we amalgamating,"' noted Brown. The committee mentioned some of these questions such as 'How will the public be involved?' "We want more than comment," replied Grand Bend Councillor Bob Mann. "I don't think we should suggest to the public that they're not going to have a say in the mat- ter...We want their input and their ideas." "We're providing questions and answers before we've completed a study," added Exeter Councillor Tom Hughes. Disapproval of road superintendents It was brought to the attention of the committee that some road superintendentsidisagree with the transportation plan. "I think our road superintendents took it personally that they weren't doing a good job," said Brown. "They know the business. We don't." Permanent chair/facilitator The committee discussed the appointment of a permanent chair/facilitator. "I think myself, we need a neutral chair," said Tomes. "A permanent chair might keep us all moving." Next meeting The amalgamation committee's next meeting will be held at the Exeter Town Hall on March 21 at 7:30 p.m. "We have to be fair to the mu- nicipalities... We're not a bunch of umpires here to determine who's going to win over what land." Strike persuades council tou private test lab BIDDULPH TOWNSHIP - According to Road Superintendent Hugh Davis, a private lab will test the Granton Water System for a cost of $12,480 per year. Davis brought the quote to council's attention at its March 5 meet- ing in an effort to continue water testing despite the provincial strike. Sampling has since been reinstated on a no -charge basis by the Middlesex London Health Unit. In a separate matter, Ted Halwa and Associates will complete the. $18,000 Comprehensive Zoning Bylaw. Although the assessed total cost of the project was between $13,000 and $15,000, the bill to the end of last year totalled $13,651.89, not including GST, with out of pocket expenses of about $4,500. OPSEU strike affects rural businesses s Continued from front page plied to the Ontario Labour Re- lations Board for a review of the board's decision of May 1995 that ordered no meat inspection services would take place in the event of a strike. The board also ordered es- sential service would be restricted to monitoring for illegal slaughter. The government originally asked that meat inspection be an essential service and has now requested the application be reviewed by the board as soon as possible. "Although the monitoring of meat processing plants has been go - plied to the Ontario Labour Re- lations Board for a review of the board's decision of May 1995 that ordered no meat inspection services would take place in the event of a strike. The board also ordered es- ing on to ensure there is no illegal slaughter taking place, we feel it is imperative to the public interest to restore meat inspection services and allow plants to proceed with slaughter," said Noble Villeneuve, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. According to Huron MPP Helen Johns who spoke to the T -A Friday, OPSEU opposed the province's re- quest for meat inspection to be considered an essential service. If the board does not rule in favor of the province, municipalities would take the liability for meat in- spection if they contract in- spectors. The act requires mu- nicipalities to use their Medical Officer of Health to direct the in- spectors they have appointed. County Council will set up a pro- cess for the inspection. "You have to balance the two sides; the need of the agricultural community to move forward, which is really important in the number of people who work In that area, plus the food safety side," said Johns. Hay opposes separate school board resolution HAY TOWNSHIP - in education matters, council stated it does not support the resolution of the Hu- ron -Perth County Roman Catholic Separate School Board in regard to school boards being exempted from municipal user fees. Concerning drainage affairs, drawings for the proposed crossing of the Black Creek brain on Part Lot 10, Con. 5 Was recognized as requiring approval by the township drainage engineer before construc- tion begins. The engineer's costs are to be paid by the property own - en: Also, a petition for a ditch crossing through Lot 28 Con. 10 was accepted as a municipal drain. J; i