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HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News-Record, 1986-01-08, Page 1NO. 2 121 YEARS WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8,1986 Up to nine per cent increase for county heads Huron County department heads will °receive increases of up to nine per cent a year after Huron County Council endorsed a comprehensive salary package for its nine department heads at its regular mon- thly meeting Friday. The sal ry increases, covering a three - ear peri(d to 1988, were granted after 50 CENTS ' council deliberated in closed session at length. By a vote of 18-13, council endorsed a salary schedule prepared .by its ex- ecutive committee which proferred the document after meetings with the depart- ment heads. A preface to the report suggested the salaries were arrived at by taking the average paid to similar or comparative positions in the adjoining counties or in Southwestern Ontario in 1985 and adding cost of living increases of four per cent in each year for 1986 through to 1988 in- clusive. The increase means the county Medical Officer of Health will earn $61,672 in 1986, a 7.2 per cent increase. The salary will . in- crease by 7 per cent in 1987 to $66,014 and by 7.1 per cent in 1988 to $70,694. The administrator of Huronview Home for the Aged, currently earning $37,544, will get $41,002 in 1986, a 9.2 per cent in- crease; $44,460 in 1987 which represents an 8.4 per cent increase and a further 7.7 per cent increase in 1988 will boost the salary to $47,892. The social services administrator, cur- rently earning $32,578, will receive $35,334 in 1986; $38,090 in 1987 and $40,820 in 1988. The increases average over 7.8 per cent over the three years. The county clerk -treasurer „and ad- ministrator will have his present salary of $51,974 boosted to $55,172 this year. In 1987 the administrator will receive a 5.8 per cent increase to 858,370 and a 5.4 per c.nt ear's Baby. for 1988 b l Ann Haipean: Council agrees to aim at thre('per cent By Anne Narejko CLINTON - While looking ahead to a monumental task, council has agreed to aim for a three per cent increase for the costs which they can control in the 1986 budget. The recommendation was made by Coun- cillor Ross Carter because he felt it was *line council started to work on the budget. "A number (such as three per cent) has to be 1,oIced at. I'd like to see something definite in the parts of the budget that we can control see we will try to stay within three per cent. We need a firm statement so we can make a start,".he told council. Councillor Carter originally stated he would like to see the overall total not exceed three per cent, but later changed the wor- ding when other councillors explained that the board of education and the county rates m increase more, forging the budget total o er three per cent. "We haven't got the foggiest notion as to what our income will be," Councillor John Cochrane explained. "I'd be in favor of try- ing to told it to three per cent...The overall budget can't be controlled but we can con- trol the costs within the town." Council also agreed that zero. base budgeting of the operational budget may be necessary. "We have to ask the committees 'why the increase, and let them explain. We don't have to automatically give them an in- crease," said Councill C9rter. Salary Ne t1ations - A negotiation comm tee was formed by council during their nuary 6 meeting. This committee will handle the 1986 salary negotiations of all town employee$,_ "It's important that an overall piotuz kept," said Councillor Carter. • The committee is comprised of Coun- cillors Carter and Cochrane and Mayor John Balfour. Borrowing Bylaw Council passed a bylaw which will allow Rabies program is successful HURON COUNTY - It's been 10 weeks since the 12,700 baits containing modified live virus rabies vaccine were dropped in the county. Since that time, staff from the Rabies Research Unit in Maple have been collec- ting carcasses and blood samples from the local trappers. Brain tissue, extracted from the carcasses, is frozen and sentto gligriculture Canacja, to be tested for the esence of rabies. The upper two canine teeth are extracted and sectioned. The sec- tions are placed tinder ultra -violet light in order to detect the presence of the trace ele- ment tetracycline, which indicates. a - bait has been eaten. This year it was determined that one fox ate at,least one bait each day over a 15 day period, for a total of 15 baits at a minimum. Last year the Most nuniber of baitS eaten by a fok was nine. The blood samples are reeeived and are spurt in a centrifuge to separate the serum. The serum is frozen and sent to the 'Univer- city of Toronto to determine the presence ann potency ot° the vaccine or Vaccine an- tibodies. Over the period since the drop, it is estimated that nearly 1000 carcasses were collected or turned in. These included foxes, raccoons, coyotes and skunks. Last year 780 carcasses were turned. in. The carcasses came from both within the drop area, an the periphery of the drop area and from just outside of the drop area. Analysis of these carcasses gives indicators of the animals' .migration habits in and out of the study area. This year, one oppossum was trapped, the first one ever to be trapped near Seaforth. It has not yet been tested for any indication of eating the bait. following 1984, within a 28 day period the bait drop. 89 fox carcasses were turned in, 64 percent of tnetir showing bait accep- tance. In 1085, within the same time period, 78 fox carcasses were turned in, 58 percent of them showing bait acceptance. From a biological point of view, this year's program can be deemed to be a PA Cuss. them to borrow the sum of $4,400,000 until the taxes are collected. "This is usually the first bylaw considered every year by council," said Clerk Cam Pro- ctor, explaining that it is standard pro- cedure. "The bylaw must be in place in case you need to borrow money. According to Mayor Balfour the town is not contemplating borrowing money at the present time. ° New Londe increase to $61,542 in 1988.. -. The county engineer's salary of $48,074 will increase by 6.7 per cent to $51,272 this .year and by 6.2 per cent to $54,444 in 1987. The report suggests his salary increase by 5.9 per cent in 1988 to $57,642. The deputy clerk -treasurer, presently earning $44,460, will receive a 6.7 per cent increase this year to $47,450 and 6.3 per cent in 1987 to $50,440. The salary` will in- crease by 5.9 per cent in 1988 to $53,430. The county planning director, currently earning $45,188, will receive a 7.4 per cent increase this year to $48,542 and 6.9. per cent in 1987 to $51,896. A 6.4 per cent in- crease in 1988 will boost the annual salary to.$55,224. The county librarian's salary will in- crease 5.8 per cent to $36,894 from $34,866. A 5.5 per cent increase in 1987 will boost the salary to $38,922 and a 5.2 per cent in- crease in 1988 will push the salary to $40,950. The salary of the museum director will increase by four per cent each year from $34,060 to $38,298 in 1988. Goderich deputy -reeve John Doherty argued that there was no need for council to go into closed session to discuss the salaries of department heads. The motion, however, 'passed with five councillors voting against. Both Doherty and Goderich Reeve Harry Worsell voted, against going into closed session as did Goderich Township deputy -reeve Laurie Cox: Warden Leona Armstrong told Doherty the motion to close the session was in- troduced because there were several new members on county council and she "didn't want them intimidated by reporters." The salary increases passed by a margin Of 18-13. Ball's Bridge in Colborne Township could be replaced with a new bridge two kilometres downstream on the Maitland River connecting the county road running through Benmiller with Londesboro. County engineer Bob Dempsey told the monthly meeting of county council Friday that the most favorable alternative to. replacing Ball's Bridge was to construct a new bridge to line up with the county road out of Benmiller. He estimated it would cost $1.8 million in 1986 dollars to construct a new bridge exclusive of land costs. The engineer said five alternatives were being considered in relocating or reconstructing the bridge. The first option was to constructa new bridge ata cost of onnection Some fa . ve to travel 18 km. to get across the Maitland River to Londesboro for - ' d or supplies. "It would create a better traffic pattern and provide better -service to the residents but it also' depends on landowners selling land to create a new road," Dempsey said. He also told council that an environmen- tal impact hearing would be required when the Environmental Assessment . Act becomes law later this year. "When it comes to law, then that's when it affects the municipality so it's good to get going on it so it will have less cost impact." e B.M. Ross, and Associates of Goderich is preparing a reconstruction feasibility study on the project and a representative $1:8 million 2 lam. downstream'from its. of the firm, Dempsey and affected lan- -pi Sentlocation; (2),tar eplaca-thotridge,A dO. ecs4Nwi1Ltxolilprivater neeting to:,.._. in its existing location at a cost of $1.2 discuss the matter: million; (3)reroute the bridge 1000 metres downstream or (4) rebuild the bridge in the proximity of the existing structure. "The bridge was built a century ago and there are not many of its kind left in On- tario so it has some possible heritage value," Dempsey explained adding that he thought relocating the bridge downstream to connect Benmiller and Londesboro would be the most attractive route. , The engineer was asked to request a study of the Ministry of Transportation and Communication and the Ministry of Citizenship and Culture to determine the heritage value of the bridge. He was also asked to obtain legal advice with respect to the proper process for closing a boundary bridge. In the meantime, load limits will be plac- ed on the bridge. Bayfield could get horse- drawn carriage taxi service By Alan Rivett BAYFIELD - Prior to the meeting on January 6, council here thought they had merely received a request to run a taxi ser-. vice in town. At the meeting, however, they soon discovered the request was a horse of a different color. Patrick Van Kerrebruek of Grand Bend attended the meeting to discuss with council the possibility of operating a horse-drawn carria a taxi service in the village during the s er months. Th taxi service would consist of a six passenger surrey and a nine passenger sur- rey which would operate during business hairswithin the town limits. The horse- drawn carriage would take passengers on a tour of the town or take them to local hotels or to the harbor "just like a regular taxi ser- vice," said Mr. Van Kerrebrueck. "It would be a novelty taxi which would cater to the tourist industry and the boating people," ,said Mr. Van Kerrebrueck in describing the taxi service to council. He asked council if there were any bylaws prohibiting the stabling of livestock within the town limits. He also inquired into the possibility of setting up a taxi stand at Clan Gregor Square where the horses can be fed and watered and relief horses can be kept. In response, Reeve Dave Johnston said he assumed the village's bylaws have "something against stabling in town." However, council, because of the • unique Turn to page 2 -` aid it's in. full force. While Metes no mistaking it, is here i'irr motorists were advised to stay off the Highways on January' 6, Shane MacDonald;., (leftit Danny Glhbings, Joey Madflonkld and Lee Gibhinti s were enjoying the large snow hills by the Clinton oun residents who have Public5i:hool. They are lour Huron C iearnet1 td najoy+ the white stuff. i Anne Narejko photo)