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HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News-Record, 1987-12-30, Page 3Highlights from January 1987 January 7 CLINTON - Ken Holmes was officially sworn in as the town's deputy clerk - treasurer and tax collector at council's January 5 meeting. "This is the first time in 10 months that we have had a full municipal staff," com- mented Mayor John Balfour. HULLETT TWP. - Council here held a special meeting on December 30 to choose a new councillor to fill the seat recently vacated by Vic Stackhouse. Mr. Stackhouse resigned early in December because he had sold his proper- ty in the township. Council had nine applicants to choose from, and Robert Szusz of Londesboro, got the nod. A Londesboro resident since 1972, Mr. Szusz has worked in the sales department for Howson ,and Howson Limited of Blyth for the past eight years. While he has never run for public office, he said he decided to apply because, "I'm just interested in what happens, and I want to see how everything is run. I'm very in- terested in the township and I thought this might be a way I could help out." Although he hasn't had experience in this field he noted that he is looking for- ward to his work very much and he thinks it will be interesting. Mr. Szusz's term in office will terminate in 1988. "That should give me a good feel whether to run again next time," he said. January 7 CLINTON - On Christmas Eve, the first Clinton Rover crew hosted a gala "thank you celebration" at Wesley -Willis Church. The slides taken in Australia and New Zealand and the international Rover Moot they attended earlier this year at Christchurch, New Zealand were enjoyed. As an expression of thanks to their families and friends assembled who had helped them achieve this big undertaking of the overseas trip, the Rovers sang a specially composed thank you song. January 14 BAYFIELD - Approval of Shoreline Assistance applications continues to be a main topic for discussion on the agenda of council here. At council's meeting on January 6, two loan applications for erosion control work along the banks of Lake Huron were ap- proved by council. The applications must also have the Ministry of Natural Resources seal of approval. A loan, available under the Shoreline Property Assistance Act, 1973, was finaliz- ed for Dr. Michael and Eunice Diamond, in the amount of $7,500. The money will help cover the costs of installing a steer groyne wall. As well, a $2,700 loan was approved to Keith Fryer, to assit with gabion installa- tion on his lakeside property. Clerk Pat Graham told the News -Record that council has dealt with four applica- tions over the past several months, and money figures tally over the $19,000 mark. Clerk Graham further noted that some 20 erosion control projects are now ongo- ing through various means in the municipality. January 14 CLINTON - Last fall, council here was concerned about debris that was being burned by residents in town. To try and control the problem in the future, they passed a bylaw at their January 5 meeting which provides guidelines for open air burning. Within the limits of the Town of Clinton, a person wishing to start a fire of any kind outside, must first receive written permis- sion from the Clinton Fire Department chief. Council went one step further to clarify what the word "fire" includes, adding, "burning of leaves, rubbish or other material, a bonfire, a campfire, or any other fire in a yard, field or other open place, but does not include a small, confin- ed fire, supervised at all time by a compe- tent person, which is used to cook food, such as a grill or barbecue. Those who do not obey the bylaw face a maximum fine of $1,000. January 14 HURON COUNTY - Dennis Merrall, of London, an engineer with Middlesex Coun- ty for the past 10 years, was hired as the new county engineer for Huron County at the meeting on January 8. Mr. Merrall, 38, who served as the depu- ty engineer in Middlesex County, will of- ficially start his duties with the county on January 22 for a probationary period of one year at a starting salary of $52,000 per year. January 14 CLINTON - As of January 16, Clinton's Local Architectural Conservation Ad- visory Committee (LACAC) will be without the services of its long time member and secretary, Reg Thompson. At council's January 5 meeting, Mr. Thompson presented his written resigna- tion to council, and in turn, council ac- cepted it "with regret." Although Mr. Thompson told council he would continue to help LACAC in other ways, he said he was resigning "to make a point." In his letter, he noted, "This decision results from council's action in November, in repealing the Heritage Property Designation on Glebe View. "Heritage designation is one of the im- portant components in any plan for the recognition and preservation of properties of architectural and/or historical significance m a community. The removal of such a designation is a very serious mat- ter. A precedent has been sect; Other designations are open to questi0itt"'f After the letter was read, MtiVor cPub Balfour commented, by saying, "I know we are both on different sides of the Glebe View issue. I was looking at a person's in- dividual side, but I was by no means undermining the historical value of that home. I don't think it set a precedent, but I'm sorry to see this (resignation)." Gund bear winner The Huronia Branch of the Ontario Humane Society held a draw on December 19 for a Gund Bear. Holding the lucky ticket was Isabelle Arthur of Mitchell. CLINTON NEWS -RECORD, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 30, 1987—Page 3 Employees to be evaluated for pay equity By David Emslie CLINTON - Municipal employees here will be evaluated for pay equity following a resolution passed during a December 21 council meeting. Under provincial legislation, public sector organizations, such as municipal govern- ments, or private sector firms with 100 employees or more, will be required to develop and implement pay equity plans. The plans will insure that employees of both genders receive equal pay for jobs of equal value. A pamphlet received by the town from the Ontario Women's Directorate pointed out that the legislation will effect about 87 per cent of Ontario's working women. It stated, "When pay equity is achieved, women performing jobs that are different from, but of equal value to jobs performed by men in the same establishment will receive equal pay." In order to assist local municipalities in preparing their plans, the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) have of- fered to provide a team of consultants who will evaluate the jobs. Council passed a motion to accept AMO's offer as it would be less expensive than hir- ing private consultants. If not enough municipalities are interested in the offer in Huron County, though, Clinton may have to resort to hiring private consultants. In order to develop and implement the pay equity plans, a number of steps will be in- volved. The pamphlet stated the steps are as follows: "First, employers compare job classes occupied mainly by women in their organization, with those occupied mainly by men to determine which job classes are of comparable value. "Second, employers review the salaries paid to job classes found to be of com- parable value to identify any pay inequities. "Next, employers prepare a pay equity Monday afternoon euchre results CLINTON - On December 21, Olive Neil and Marg Mair were the high winners at Monday afternoon euchre. Dorothy Wilson and Verna Glazier were the low hand win- ners while Marjori Caldwell and Margaret Taylor were the to a hand winners. Special prizes went to Mary Dale, Agnes Carbert, Marg Switzer and Minlue Rumball. ;Monday afternoon euchre results on December 28 saw Vera Colquhoun and Minlue Rumball take the high hands while Margaret Taylor and Mary Dale had the lone hands. In the low hand category, Ceacilia Edgar and Gladys Telford were the winners. WEEKLY WEATHER 1987 1986 HI LO HI LO December 22 3 -1 0 -8 23 2 8 2 -1 26 i -2 1 2 27 1 -3 1 -1 28 -2 -5 1 -2 Rain 14 mm Rain 8 MITI Snow 2 cm Boot Sale December 30th thru January 6i!°' Bring in your old boots get 109° off KAUFMAN 8" WORKBOOT CSA Approved. Regular or insulated Tractor Boots 8 9 9 Sale Price $55 a 95 6 9 9 Sale Price $5 1 a 95 Watch for TN -STORE SPECIALS Sno®Joggers Dress Boots Sorels ALSO REDUCED! AIE Luggage • Footwear • Work Wear ' Leather Goods 482 9352 r i to w 1 Itts plan document. This document will outline the comparison method used, the job classes compared and the salary ranges of only those job clasees found to be of similar value, yet inequitably paid. It will also lay out a timetable for pay equity wage ad- justments. This document will be posted in the workplace. "If no concerns are raised by employees concerning this document, the pay equity plan is considered approved. It won't be necessary for the employer to file the plan with the government. "In a unionized workplace, employers and bargaining agents will negotiate the pay equity plan. If both parties agree, the plan is considered'9approved. "Finally, employers will make the pay equity adjustments according to the timetable outlined in their pay equity plan." In the public sector, the plan will have to be posted, and wage adjustments started within two years of pay equity legislation being passed. According to the pay equity pamphlet, job classes will be compared on skill, which in- cludes education, experience or special ablilities to perform a job; effort, which in- cludes physical or mental ability; respon- sibilty, with includes decision-making, responsibilty for people machinery or budgets; and working condition, which in - eludes physical aspects of a job (dirt, noise risk) and mental stress. It also states that different methods of comparison can be used. "Employers can choose to use existing comparison systems or develop a new one. The method chosen, however, must assess skill, effort, responsibility and working con- ditions; and the method of comparison must be free of any bias based on gender. 'The method used to compare job values could be as simple as ranking the job classes according to the four factors listed above. The method chosen could also be a more complicated process in which points are assigned to the four factors and then totalled to provide a score for valuing a job class." As an example, it was pointed out that while a secretary's job might involve better working conditions than a groundskeeper's, her job might also require more responsibil- ty, effort and skill. In this instance, the secretary would deserve to be paid the same amount as the groundskeeper because her job would be of the same overall value. If pay adjustments are found to be necessary following the Clinton study, the municipality will have seven years to com- plete adjustments following the proclama- tion of the Pay Equity Act. Other employers will be able to limit the annual adjustments to 1 per cent of the previous year's payroll. Wishing everyone a blessed and prosperous New Year in 1988. Thanks for your business in '87. We look forward to serving you in '88! Gertie, Debbie, Jonathan, Darrel and Jack JACK H. GERRI CONSTRUCTION CO. LTD. "Your Commercial - Residential - Farm Builder" R.R. 1 CLINTON 482-7290 $