HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1985-11-06, Page 24wfY�+"(1'�1 1,a,!
DR. JIM PETERS
A former town councillor and commis-
sion member for nine years, Dr. Jim
Peters is also seeking a fifth term on the
PUC.
Dr. Peters has been one of the commis-
sion members dealing with the PUC's big-
gest constrcution in recent years, the ex-
pansion of the water storage and distribu-
tion system, from the ground level. While
the project proceeded "much too slow"
and literally put a stop to any major
development in town, the wait has proven
to be much more cost effective.
"There was no water for development or
industry but the interest rates were too
high," he explained. "We reached a com-
promise with the surcharge and invested
the money at high interest rates."
Dr. Peters said that the $45,000 mor-
tgage on one of the pumping stations will
be paid off and that the utility's philosophy
is to set water rates as a result of ex-
penses. "As expenses go down, the rates
will go down," he said. "We have to strike
a budget and set the rates."
With respect to the commission's role in
the negotiation of a contract with its
employees, Dr. Peters was satisfied with
the end result. "It was negotiated to a suc-
cessful completion. We took a stand and
the union took a stand and we reached a
(happy settlement."
The three-year term requires a "big
commitment" from candidates and a
"priority of lifestyle" for Dr. Peters.
The next commission will have to turn
its attention to a few problem areas, Dr.
Peters said, including the upgrading of
some mains and powerlines. He added that
billing, business and computing pro-
' cedures will have to be streamlined to
makethe-utilitymore cost efficient.
Dr. Peters has also been' active in the
district municipal hydro association and
has served on the board of directors of the
Ontario Municipal Electric Association,
(OMEA) a politicial entity that represents
Ontario utilities and formulates policy for
70 per cent of the municipal customers.
A man who works with tenacity and
determination, Dr. Peters said he would
like to pursue his involvement with the
provincial association one day citing a
definite interest in the broad picture of the
distribution of electricity.
He suggests the commission is working
on behalf of the customer and while "85
per cent of the budget goes to uncon-
trollables" that utility rates will increase
less than the inflation rate this year.
BEN SHEARDOWN
The longest standing member of the
Public Utilities Commission (PUC),Ben
Sheardown was first elected in 1972 and
has served on the utility board ever since.
A native of Goderich and a retired
businessman, Sheardown thought careful-
ly about seeking re-election in November.
"I would like to see younger guys com-
ing along and learning the business," he
said. "If other had run I would have drop-
ped out. We need younger poeple and
should be bringing one or two along."
Over the past three-year term, the com-
mission has tackled one its biggest capital
projects, the upgrading of the water
storage and distribution system. The cost
of the project will exceed $2 million and
Sheardown is satisfied with the commis-
sion's work.
"I am satisfied with the way the project
is coming on stream and it could be in use
by the end of the year," he said. "The new
system will give us needed fire protection,
better pressure and double the capacity of
. the system."
The first component of the phased pro-
ject, the construction of the underground
water storage system, is almost complete
and in the next year the water filtration
plant will undergo extensive modification.
The project is funded by a provincial
grant covering 45 per cent of the cost and
the commission established a surcharge,
on the water rates to establish a reserve
fund.
"Using a reserve of surplus funds is a
real asset and evens out the cost so there is
no one big capital cost," he said. "You
should prepare in advance for these
things.
Satisfied with the outcome of contract
negotiations between the PUC and CUPE,
which resulted in a 10 -day strike, Shear -
down said employees should vote on con-
tracts by secret ballot.
The next commission will have to con-
cern itself with a continuous program of
upgrading over the next three years, in-
cluding substations and lines, and Shear -
down says the local PUC has a good record
of service to the customer.
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A resident of Goderich for nearly 30
years, Dr. Tom Melady is seeking a second
three-year term on the PUC.
Discouraged that the local commission
did not have the "authority and scope"
that he had hoped, Dr. Melady has enjoyed
his initial foray into the municipal politics
and hopes to carry out the PUC mandate
for another three years. .
"Between Ontario Hydro and the
Ministry of the Environment the rates are
set and only about 15 per cent of the budget
is discretionary," he explained. "I have
enjoyed the commission work and took a
great interest in it."
Over the past term, the commission's in-
itiatives have been directed towards the
water storage and distribution project
valued at over $2 million. the underground
water storage tank is almost functional
and the distribution capabilities will be
phased in.
"The water system will be functional by
the first of the year and the project has
moved ahead well in the past three years,"
he said. "The funding fell in place with the
provincial grant covering 45 per cent of the
$2.3^million cost."
The PUC's share of the project is
covered by a surcharge on the water bills
but Dr. Melady said he , hopes the sur-
charge is removed once the project is paid
for. Along with other oytst„ai sleben-
tures, he said water bills could be reduced
substantially: •• 1'
Ultimately, the new storage facility and
upgrading of the water filtration plant will
double the town's capacity for storage and
distribution.
"It will satisfy underwriter re-
quirements for fire protection and we'll be
able to service more people," he said.
"The water supply will not run out."
Formerly employed as a veterinarian
with the Ministry of Agriculture and Food,
Dr. Melady also has one year of post-
graduate training in water treatment and
communicable disease control and three
years of general farming experience.
He brings a common sense approach to
the commission and suggests that ex-
perience and continuity have benefits.
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DON MCMILLAN
A PUC employee for 17 years, Don
McMillan is one of five candidates seeking
a seat on the four -member Public Utility
Commission.
McMillan has extensive experience in
dealing with consumer complaints and
concerns with respect to hdyro and water
service and feels his career at the PUC will
stand him in good stead as a commis-
sioner.
"For 17 years I was office manager and
secretary to the commission," he explain-
ed., "During that time I did minutes and
observed the commission. I know the work
invlolved and acted as a resource person to
the commission."
The expansion of the water storage and
distribution system has been in the works
for "a long time" McMillan said adding
that water meters are the fairest method
of administering costs. Over the next
term, he said the commission will have to
meet the demand for new lines whil
eupgrading existing lines.
McMillan has been in retirement for one
year and a three-year commitment poses
"no problem."
"I have the background and the time and
I am a native of the town which is an asset.
I am well acquainted with the residents
and hM'e handled consumer complaints,on
the job, so I know the concerns of the tax-
payer," he explained. "The , role of the
commission never changes. It's role is as
policy maker only and not to perform the
manager's job or make managerial deci-
sions."
The former PUC employee says com-
mission members have to be honest and
people have to know what they're paying
for.
McMillan, whose family has travelled
extensively as a musical group, is involved
with the Goderich Laketown Band, is a
member of the Foghorns musical group,
he serves on the board of directors of
MacKay Centre for Seniors and is chair-
man of the board of North Street United
Church.
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A veteran of nine years service to the
PUC, Herb Murphy is seeking a fifth term
on the Public Utility Commission.
First elected to the commission in 1976,
he has served as chairman three times.
Reflecting on the accomplishments of the
commission over the past nine years, Mur-
phy has seen plans for the expansion of the
water storage and distribution system
come to fruition.
"The storage system will be complete
and filled in January or February but
there's still work to do at the treatment
plant. I feel quite good about it. It's taken a
long time and we've had to wait for provin-
cial grants, which was frustrating, and
(then we had to move quickly," he said.
The next phases call for improvements
at the water filtration plant and a new
main line from the plant. The project was
designed to be phased over three to four
years with no long-term borrowing.
A surcharge on water rates is "open end-
ed" and could be eliminated from
ratepayer's bill unless new demands or
projects require major funding by the
PUC. "We're trying to look to the future
and it's nice to have a reserve."
With respect to the strike by PUC
employees, Murphy said it was difficult to
understand why it came about in the first
place addling that the settlement was not
far off the commission's offer.
The three-year term off office is getting
mixed reviews and Murphy suggests it has
advantages and disadvantages.
"It worked well in that it gives you an op-
portunity to see things to completion but it
is also a bit long," he said. "I almost decid-
ed not to run because it is a bit more con-
straining, It requires a -candidate to make
more of a commitment."
The next term will be one of
maintenance for the commission Murphy
suggests making sure some needed
underground work is completed,
upgrading services and equipment and
keeping an eye on the water distribution
project.
The principal of Goderich and District
Collegiate feels he brings organizational
talents to the commission along with the
ability to comprehend and understand
technical and people questions. He sees the
commissioner's role as one of setting
policy and delegating.
Murphy and his wife, Linda, have three
g►lildren.
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