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Home My WebLink AboutThe Wingham Advance-Times, 1988-03-15, Page 22-ft— .': .. +n.' "...4M..: .) .)S:.«�✓. �..Mqi>.'"lhX+.E::'.^-..'Ji.±`:i,C.Y. .. �<_ -,. r,• • ly Com m itt. thei.r '88 b MI municipal departments are being asked by Wingham Town Council's, finance and management committee to trim their 1988 budget proposals in, '. order to educe the impact of major expert tures the town faces this year. Councillor James . McGregor, committee chairman, told council at its regular March meeting that although it appears the town' finished 1987 with a slight surplus, "we are looking at some very major expenditures this year." With this in mind, he said all -per committees must be'-r'y. review their individual budget proposals to determine where cuts can be made. "We (finance and management) are not only looking at the 1988 budget, but also taking a peek at the situation down the road a bit and it's not good," he said. If council had to approve the in- dividual departmental budgets as originally presented to the com- mittee, the total would exceed $2 million, he said'. Roads (public works), property, and recreation were three departments identified as proposing major expenditures. "That's not to say these budgets as initially drawn up are not -proper," he said. "However, I urge all departments to look at the hard reality of (establishing priorities) ." One area in which members of council could set an example, Dr. McGregor said, is in their own remuneration and asked each to consider taking a `' 10 per cent reduction this year. The only reaction expressed was that of Councillor Ron Beecroft who said the suggestion was reminiscent of one Dr. McGregor made last year at budget time. As he did then, Mr. Beecroft said, he still feels the 'remuneration is anything but ex- cessive, particularly in view of the demand the posit oil.Makes on their The final budget pr"oposalowill be f4 presented for council's approval at the regular April session. time. Dr. McGregor did, however, commend council' and its corn- mittees for, coming through 1987 "very much on budget". Although faced with minor problems- during the year, the town was able to ride them out and the actual revenue exceeded actual expenditures by about $20,000. According to theunaudited financial statement, revenue in 1987 amounted to $1,614, 260 'while ex- penditures were $1,595,817, leaving what appears to be a surplus of $18,443 to start of this year. The budget forecast for 1987 was $1,584,600. Action taken by Wuighhm '.own erkino-- meeting will likely resultin the azctU3l costa of , natenance:untt„ provision of an additional 10 or 11 town develops thepari ing lo't. parking- spaces. _ --Agree to 50 development costs in 1988 to a maximum. of $1,000. At the option of the Town of f. THIS SCREECH OWL, found dehydrated and nialnotiriehe' sea weeks ago near the Wingham dump by Les Thompson,a Iocat- hunter, is to be released back into the wild' this week..Mr. Harrison's Grade 6-7 class at the East Wawanosh Public School aid Lyn Hunter at Sleepy Hollow Rabbitry nearrWhifechurclihave been" car- ing for the owl for the past several weeks until it regained its strength. Council's action assists WBA to expand parkin project could proceed under local improvement Wingharn Town Council wants to know if the development of the Moore subdivision vision -can proceed under the Local Improvement Act. At its regular March session, council decided to explore the possibility of developing the sub- division under the act, a move which could remove obstacles -- including the recent deregistration of the subdivision's registered plan — which have brought the proposed development to'a standstill. If the subdivision qualifies under the terms of the act, the town will go ahead with providing water and sewer services to the subdivision. These costs will be recovered from the new homeowners through an assessed rate on their tax bills over a number of years. The town's public works com- mittee recommended investigation of pursuing the development under the -act. ,,,> • Reeve Bruce'Mohan, commftt ohafrman, 'said it "is Ume~ c unei1 went ahead with this approach. "We've sat and spun our wheels on this one for at least four years," he said. Mr. Machan said he had under- stood the recommendation would be coming from the finance and - management committee, but the chairman of that committee, Councillor James McGregor said that was not the. case. "While. finance and management is in.favor .of co=operating with the developers,' it is opposed to lending money in 1988 for payment in 1996," Dr. McGregor said. A suggestion that the issue be referred again to finance and management was criticized by Councillor Bill McGrath who said council must deal with the matter. "We have to make,, deecision," he sari -` e, .. d r�rea y - ut n'`;lo p ,;t"of ` WOr-k into th7 : ' Councillor Ron Beecroft said -council is ' looking at a subdivision which has the potential of being filled in ; two to three years and recommended seeking more in- formation on the project's eligibility under the Local - Improvement Act. Councillor Ward Robertson reminder Dr. McGregoy• tit will be the municipality which; -benefits from the development of the sub- division. In. a related matter, council also learned that the Ontario Ministry of Environment's comrnitrnent for allocation of sewage servicing for the Moore subdivision still stands. Council received this information in a letter from P. Bye, senior en- vironmental officer with the MOE's southwestern region. _ Gaunt told the Wingham and Area Council at its re ii g moi' .Mnr+� �"�-€o pad �O :Ilei -cent �-ttlp �e At the meeting, council approved a public works committee recom- mendation to take a number of steps which will allow the Wingham Business Association to pptrpbese a art of thae fornisr adjacent the recently .d+ed; WBA parking: lot On Victoria Street West. With its decision, council agrees to a donation of $5,000 to the business association for which the association will: -Increase the proposed monthly payment to'cover operating costs — from the association to the Town of Wingham — to $165 (from $145) following development of the Driver training program plans are announced The Wingham Area Fire Department plans to hold a driver training program, Fire Chief Harley PUPPETS, OupperS and` more puppets is the theme' of this- Grade 8 class prole. at Tur Public School. The solis'ttrdenta made their- own puppets and demonstratednberry Central Kindergarten and &radO 't.tI sses� their handlwclrk to the iiimmorseeire Fire Board at its ' regular March. meeting. Mr. Gaunt, in his monthly report, said there is a shortage of qualified driver's to operate the fire depart- ment vehicles and work is coot ntly underway to prepare a training program to alleviate the situation. pay per "cent of any Wingham, the lease for the parking 19t also .Vie. renewable at its ex atron � � ;erlaitroii`a ten yam. TCWn sells industrial lot to Beecroft The Towij oi' V `inghai lid soI 15,000 -square foot •seri/keit, twai and sewer) propent-gin tits nnciust park to Councillor Ron Beecroft for $6,500. At its regular March session, council agreed to the sale of Park Lot 15, Plan 10 — on Cedar Avenue — to Mr. Beecroft who intends to construct an auto body shop on the site. Closing date of the sale is May 31, 1988. At the meeting, Mr. Beecroft declared a conflict of interest and left the council chambers during:dis- cussion and council's vote on the item. Turnberry sells its half -ton truck Turnberry council has accepted the bid of Rob Stafford of Wroxeter Standby crews for the township's 1980 GMC half -ton truck. will cover are', Mr. Stafford's bid of $1,259was the highest of four received at the first regular March meeting of council long weekends Members of the Wingham Area Fire Department have been divided into four crews to provide standby coverage during long holiday weekends this year. In his -report to the regular March meeting of ° the Winglm and Area Fire Board, Fire Chief Harley Gaunt said each crew will be designated responsibility to be on standby for two of the long weekends. If a firefighter is not going to be available, it is that person's responsibility to make sure he is replaced, Mr. Gaunt said that although there were a few objections to the plan, it has been generally accepted by the firefighters. planned for 2 p.m. Township council recently pur- chased a new truck. No. 2 fire hail opens AprfU2O The official opening of the Wingham Area Fire Departrnent's Number 2 station at Gorrie will take place April 30, the- Wingham and Area Fire Board learned at its regular March meeting. Fire Chief Harley Gaunt made the announcement during presentation of his report to the board. An open house has been scheduled from 1 to 4 p.m., Mr. Gaunt said, with the official opening ceremony