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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes-Advocate, 1996-06-19, Page 2Page 2 Tines -Advocate, June 19,19% w Boyd claims jail bosses knew about report LONDON - According to NDP justice critic Marion Boyd, managers at a London provincial jail where teens were allegedly beaten, had access to a confiden- tial report after the start of po- lice and internal investigation, reported the London Free Press. Premier Mike Harris, who claims it took three months for allegations of abuse to reach him, is dealing with calls for the re.tignation of Corrections Min- ister Bob Runciman. Fifty-two young offenders were removed from Bluewater Youth Centre near Goderich af- ter a Feb. 29 riot that caused $250,000 damage. Forty of the youth were taken to the Elgin -Middlesex Deten- tion Centre in London and 12 to the Niagara Detention Centre. Since then, there have been alle- gations of abuse of the young of- fenders who were transferred to London. Bull injures Walton man and leads police on chase MCKILLOP TOWNSHIP - George Kreutzwiser, of RR 4 Walton, was sent to hospital with a concussion and head lac- erations after beinivftruck by a bull that escaped, fit McKillop T3vnship on June 4. According to the Huron Ex- positor, the 1,400 -pound Limou- sin bull led its owners and pro- vincial police on a lengthy chase before being shot and killed by a local hunter on the lawn of Sea - forth hospital. "Fire damages home CLINTON - Fire caused an es- timated $100,000 in damage to a Clinton home on Saturday, re- ported the Clinton News - Record. At about 4 p.m., the Clinton and Area Fire Department re- sponded to a call at the home of Greg and Sandra Burns on James Street. "When we arrived," Clinton Fire Chief Dean Reid told the Record, "smoke was coming out of the windows and eaves." Reid said the cause of the fire is undetermined but speculated it was electrical. The Burns fam- • ily was in London at a baseball tournament at the time of the blaze. Winter wheat harrned by late spring. CLINTON - Backward spring weather conditions have given fanners poor wheat crops, said Brian Hall, business manage- ment advisor with the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs in Clinton. According to the North Huron Citizen, "a drive through the country will display sporadic wheat fields with large patches of yellow crops." Hall told the Citizen a number of factors affect the crop includ- ing the poor spring weather, fall planting procedures and tilling. "It has not been a great year for winter wheat so far," he said. A star shines Andre-Phlllppe Gaon gestures while doing an impersonation during his performance at the 15th annual Dave Scatcherd Invitational Classic at Oakwood Golf Club in Grand Bend on Thursday night. The popular golf toumament raises money for the Scatcherd Children's Centre of Community Living In London and this year organizers attempted to raise a record $100,000 for the charity by bringing In Gagnon, an internationally recognized singer and comedian who is best known for his version of "We are the World" a song number in which he impersonates all of the celebrity voices. Approximately 800 people attended the event held under a giant 80 x 160 foot marquee tent set up on the Oakwood Golf Club driving range. Ratepayer �:a�fllJ,pa3 Cost. 0 r.'�a it p� viI, BIDDULPH - A ratepayer has offered to pay part of the cost to pave the road to approximately 100 feet past his driveway, reported Biddulph Reeve Earl French at council's June 4 meeting. If the request were to be approved by council, the resident would be required to pay the total cost of paving exceeding the approved construction plan. The Clerk -Treasurer was directed to explore the legal ram- ifications of allowing such a payment. It was also advised the road superintendent prepare a five and 10 -year reconstruction and paving projection for consideration. In other council matters, the tender of A.G. Hayter Contracting Ltd., in the amount of $44,217.75 was accepted for completion of the North Branch of the Elginfield Drain, provided the contract can be completed no later than Oct. 31. Present were landowners Paul Toohey and Joe Mcllhargey, who expressed concern over the timing of the installation. Work-fo r -we Ifa re to begin in September • Continued from front page retary of the board. "Of greater concern really, are the government cuts organizations are facing. It means whatever we raise at United Way is even more important." According to a press release from the Ontario Federation of Labour, "local United Ways or member agencies who choose to participate in workfare programs will threaten the continued participation of labor in the United Way partnership." A meeting of United Ways in On- tario will be held before July 31 to develop a public response to the workfare proposal. According to Huron MPP Helen Johns, work for welfare will benefit those receiving assistance by help- ing them gain skills, self- confidence and contacts to them in finding jobs. "I feel that, it is going to benefit the people that are participating in the program by giving them ex- perience," said Exeter Mayor Ben Hoogenboom. It will enhance their opportunity for getting a full-time job." Opponents argue the program is humiliating and punitive and will not provide valuable ' work ex- periences Disabled people and seniors will be exempt for the program but may participate voluntarily. As the program is phased in, single par- ents will be required to participate with the exception of single par- ents with children under three. Participants will work up to an average of 17 hours a week and community placements could in- clude jobs such as cleaning up the local environment, planting trees, or assisting with charity events. Ontario Works has received interest from community organizations across the province offering to sponsor placements. Early implementation of the pro- gram will be delivered by mu- nicipalities that were chosen be- cause they have an existing welfare infrastructure. Ap- proximately 54,000 employable people receiving General Welfare Assistance will be the first group required to participate in the pro- graM- Huron County, including the towns of Clinton, Exeter, Goderich, Seaforth and Wingham, has a pop- ulation of approximately 58,000. In 1995, the average monthly GWA cases totalled 574 and of those, 78.5 per cent or 451 cases were considered employable. As an ex- ample of average costs, the county paid a total of $53,292 in the month of March of the same year. The cost of implementing the program is expected to be $450 million over three years. The mon- ey comes from $1.3 billion saved by a 21.6 per cent cut in welfare benefits made by the province last October. Bosanquet joins local amalgamation committee The town will pay five per cent of amalgamation study costs By Heather Mir T -A Reporter EXETER - At a special meeting held last Tuesday night, the Exeter-Stephen-Usborne-Grand Bend Amalgamation Committee agreed to permit Bo- sanquet to participate fully in talks. Bosanquet was asked to pay a 13 per cent share of the amalgamation study cost based on assessment. Grand Bend and Usborne were also to pay 13 per cent while Exeter and Stephen would pay 30.5 per cent. In response, the municipality of- fered to pick up a maximum of five per cent of the study costs as well as 13 per cent of incidental costs in- cluding meeting and facilitator ex- penses. With a budget of $70,000 to complete the study, Bosanquet's five per cent share would total $3,500. Incidental costs have not yet been determined and Bosanquet has requested a budget structure be formed for these expenses. "I would very much like Bosanquet to be a part of this study," said Grand Bend Mayor Cam Ivey add- ing, "If you want to play, you're going to have to Pay." "We wo no paying cent if of B cons Even though some members of the committee shared Ivey's perspective, a motion was passed to allow Bosanquet to participate and accept its pro- posal for cost sharing. Prior to the motion, Bosanquet asked th com- mittee if the study area, which includes ap- proximately one third of the municipality, is fixed. The committee stressed the study area is not up for negotiation. "We would have no problem paying 100 per cent if the whole of Bosanquet was being considered," said Bosanquet Mayor Fred Thomas. Thomas explained Bosanquet Council must also study restructuring options for the remaining two thirds of the mu- nicipality. Although he pointed out Bosanquet was not included in de- termining the area of interest or the scope of the study, he felt the mu- nicipality has a lot to offer the pro- cess in terms of experience ad- ministrating a ward system with an urban/rural mix. The municipality met the re- quirements to join discussions by accepting the committee's terms of reference under its present time -frame and study area. Thomas clarified the fact that some minor adustments of the study area may become evident as the study progresses. As an example, he cited a • wetland area included in study area that is pumped through Bosanquet's drainage system. "I am pledging as mayor that I will cell this pack- age to our ratepayers," he said uld have problem 100 per the whole osanquet was being idered." Committee adopts principles for defining electoral system EXETER - When the Exeter - Grand Bend-Stephen-Usborne and Bosanquet Amalgamation Com- mittee met in Exeter last Tuesday night to discuss the new municipal- ity's ward structure it made some progress by adopt- ing a set of guid- ing principals. However, it has yet to determine both a ward system and the level, of accept- ' able, variance from the average num- ber of electors in each ward. Basic principles for defining the system of electoral distribution in- clude representation by population, a mayor elected at large, an odd number of council members, an "It's a l to come a ward wi munici number of wards and the con- sideration of constituercyas an im- portant part of the equation. Bill 26 requires the head of council to be elected at large. "It has been overlooked that the elector has to be the first consideration in the electoral system," said Grand Bend Councillor Bob Mann. A motion put forth by Gary, 'Vanoe,`dt Bo- ' Banquet, that a maxi- mum 17 per cent var- iance from the average number of electors per ward be established, was lost. Also lost was a motion by Cam Ivey that representation to a maximum of 10 per cent from av- toeasier up with system thin one pality. " erage. Once Bosanquet joined dis- cussion, Mayor Fred Thomas ex- plained the ward system council established has three equal sectors with a rural and an urban ward in each. Approximately 900 votes in each sector are urban while nearly 1,400 are rural in order to "make sure their voice is not lost." The system has achieved a 22 per cent variance from the average number of electors in each ward. "It's a lot easier to come up with a ward system within one municipal- ity," said Thomas. After lengthy discusssion, the subject electoral distribution was referred to Committee 'At for development of options, based oh the adopted principles. Muriel Culbert shows plans for a new library that may be situated on Lucan's Main Street. Committee approves of proposal +' Continued from front page figure, which ended up being $5.85 per square foot by the time gas, hy- dro and cleaning costs were fac- tored in. As a result, Biddulph decided to withdraw its support of the rental fee. The April 8 letter to Lucan in- dicating Biddulph's initial support stated, "The Township of Biddulph is not in favor of any additional ex- penses over the rent provided from the County Library System." Council passed a motion to re- search rental figures in Lucan's downtown area prior to making a decision. In April councillors came to the table with rent rates ranging from $3.25 to $5.59 per square foot. Based on the $5.85 rate re- quested by the Culberts, council figured it was $3,200 short on be- ing able to accept the offer. To cov- er the balance, it works out to $4.32 per Lucan family. At a council meeting in May, Councillor Rosemary Gahlinger- Beaune suggested fundraising ef- forts could help Mise the tnoney needed. "In this community we've seen thos 3 kind of fundraisers pulled off quite often," she said. The purchase offers on the herd ware store and restaurant clotted on , June 10. In addition to its six stairs apartments, the new library may include a room to hold Her- itage Committee meetings and ar- chives. The Culberts had hoped the pro- posed library would be operational by July but architects and engineers who have already begun work on the buildings have been put on hold ' until a decision is made.