HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Wingham Advance-Times, 1989-02-07, Page 5It
• • .
4'
Iiiat...V.114.11.0.eattaci.44
. .
`t.
;tag.
4 fir
•
•
Islands in the stream
•
Writer asks why council
considers hefty increase
EDITOR'S NOTE — The following
letter was sent to the Howick Town-
ship Council with a copy mailed to
this newspaper
Township of Howick,
Gorrie, Ontario
NOG 1X0
• Dear Council:
An article in the January 24 edi-
tion of The Advance -Times, which
dealt with council giving verbal
agreement to employee and council-
lor wages, was disturbing. The fact
that council only approved the mat-
ter verbally must mean some mem-
bers have reservations about the
new salary package.
My question is why council is con
sidering hefty wage increases to
some employees in lieu of a benefit
package? I trust councillors are
aware of the consequences if bene-
fits are removed from the salaries of
the deputy -clerk, secretary, clerk
and road superintendent. And coun-
cil has also surely done its home-
work to ensure Howick Township's
wages are in line with other rural
municipalities.
The inherent danger of removing
benefit packages, but including
those "lost" dollars in an employ-
ee's salary, in future salary negotia-
tions and raises will be reflected on
the total salary. This, if the, clerk
who now earns $35,000, is increased
to $40,000, the four or five per cent
raise next year will unfairly be
granted on asalant that allows -for a
lost benefit package. It's unfair to
grant raises on benefit packages,
and instead, benefits must be kept
separate. It's obvious to -see why
employees would not want the town-
,
ship to provide a benefit package.
Council muStalse remember why
employees are given benefits — ther
are not part of thesalary, but a bon-
us or a perk. Benefits are an extra,
given above and beyonitSalary.
would be a step in reverse,for coun-
cil to remove benefits. But, if it
Wishas tO310,1A 'salatios-should not
ri HIlito 110)1(4101 (I) 4°)Si7t1
Attu, Ul.i100
be increased to reflect that loss.
Maybe an employee didn't want
benefits in the first place because a
spouse receives benefits. This hap-
pens in business, and in such cases,
benefits are not given, nor is an em-
ployee given the cash in lieu of bene-
fits.
The second danger by removing
benefits is people forget. They will
forget council's decision in January
or February 1989. A new council and
new employees will wonder about
benefits. No, Fees not think about
what could happen. Instead let's
keep the benefits. And give the clerk
a $1,750 raise instead of more than
$5,000.
For your interest, Walkerton hired
a new clerk, one with five years' ex -
Letter merits
publication, but
has no signature
Occasionally, we receive letters to
the editor without any signature
and, since our policy is to not publish
unsigned letters, they are usually
consigned to the waste -basket.
Some of these, however, contain
opinions .and -or rebuttals which
merit publication.
These opinions stand on their own
and their author should have no mis-
giving about attaching a signature to
them.
One such _letter arrived at our
office this past week.
Written by "a very concerned 4-1i
member", it presents arguments to
those who, in the writer's opinion,
have been unfairly putting down the
organization.
Since it appears as though the
missing signature could have been
nothing more than an. oversight, The
Advance -Times invites the Author to
come into our office and sign the
letter in order that it may then
comply with our policy for
publication.
E. To) rVr04R,T04 A
ro4A06,8 9r1l 'ovo
perience with a rural municipality.
His salary is $32,000, and he has a lot
more duties than when he worked
for the township. He gets benefits
too.
The last matter council must look
at is the hefty raises being consider-
ed for council members. Explain to
me why the reeve should receive a
$600 raise and the deputy -reeve and
councillors $400. Did councillors not
receive raises last year, or raises for,.
thelast five years? And then there's
the remuneration for attending spe-
cial meetings, board meetings, all -
day meetings, and conferences that
require overnight stays. This system
does not reward effort, only atten-
dance.
I trust council will reconsider its
verbal decision of Jan. 17, by taking
a close look at the problems being
created and the consequences a bad
decision will cause.
Sincerely,
Ron Wassink
RR1, Wroxeter
Council opposes
trails proposal
Morris Township Council has gone
on record. as opposing a plan to
convert abandoned rail lines to a
trail system.
Council is not in favor, at the
present time, of Maitland Trail
Association's proposal to have the
• Canadian . Pacific Railways- line
assunied by the province -and- con-
verted to a trai1 system.
Letters were sent to the trail
association, Huron MPP Jabk
..Riddell and the ministry of trans-
portation
Memberssay they are not in favor
of the proposal because it is not
known who would be responsible for
fences and drains along the route.
A delegation of ratepayers op-
posed to the trail association
proposal will attend today's,
rmisdafs). meeting
Of ()As, e pia( 3c1 i I otirio
944% ,et . fil,6111
I
rough 4)
•
a set of *OVA V* proposals
at pr�teeting..e* arkthe-Sob
lYgricers:
TITIOUlteed AS 4.Mendments -
overhaul the 040npatt
and Safety Act ..by
Gregory Sorbara, r�f�rm..
reflect the government's basic belief
that safety in the workplace de-
mands the, active partteinatbni
both employers and empleYees:
Proposed changes are designed
to:
-Give workers and employers
greater joint responslbi, lily for
health and----Safetn and greater
-
authority to reduce Workplace risks.
--Provide 'labor And ma_nageroe
With the edueatieirriiid trainiog they
need to exercise their, authority
'fectively.
--Provide for the stricter en-
forcement of health and safety legislation by workplace parties and theOntario Ministry' of Labor. This in-
cludes raising-, twenty fold — to
S500,000 — the maximum, fine for
corporations which violate the law.
Creation of Agency
One of the major highlights of the
package of proposed amendments is
the creation of a new joint labor-
• management agency.
• The Workplace Health and Safety
Agency is designed to take the lead
role in educating and training
workers and employers in effective
health and safety practices.
As part of its mandate, the agency
will engage in research and con-
sultative services.
In addition, it will provide advice
to the minister of labor on future
directions.
Committee Expansions
Another major thrust of the legis-
lation calls for the expansion of the
workplace health and safety com-
mittees.
These committees, consisting of
representatives from both labor and
management, will have greater
responsibility for inspecting work- _
places and better access to informa-
tion about workplace hazards.
The law also will extend the
requirement for health and safety
committees to iirlude retail stores,
flOtcOwor&
joto,adftvt
.
1,660*
be. Oefitisetediet it* Wileit•
takes- workplace parties to 'invest'.
gate a refusal.
to endanger, such as"liftmg hey
'The -single unwavering purpose of -
these, Aniendinents is to imalte
wOrkp1aee*"4$ saZe .as hinikanlY
passible. In undertekingto meet that
jSVOMIntf„.thtstMenfhlrentswillalsn-
place Ow responsibilities on em-
P17e
.triPtong these are requirements to
establish health and safety policies,
• and training programs that meet
new standards;. an obligation to
respond in writing within 30 days to
any recommendations made by a
joint cOmtnittee or worker rep
resentative; the placing of a duty of ,
care on corporate officers and
directors in order to safeguard the •
occupational health and safety of
workers.
Relationship Update
Ontario Hydro, North America's
largest utility, is to become more
responsive to government policies
and public priorities.
This was the message from En-
ergy Minister Robert Wong in an-
nouncing that the government has
undertaken the first major review of
the Powe r Corporation Act in 15
years.
The legislative package introduc-
ed by the minister establishes the
government's role, to outline the
policy framework within which
Hydro operates, acknowledges
areas where Hydro excels, while
recognizing that it is a public utility
with a responsibility to serve the
public interest.
This review is one part of the
government's speech from the
throne, undertaking to encourage
energy conservation and greater
public input into the development 01
energy policy.
stablish
OPP hope to e
community-based committee
The Wingham detachment of the
Ontario Provincial Police hopes to
bring the police and larger commun-
ity closer together through the
formation of several committees.
John McKee, Wingham OPP ser-
geant, attended last week's meeting
of East Wawanosh council to inform
members of the OPP's plans,
The Wingham detachmeilyserves
five townships and two incorporated
villages, explained Sgt. McKee in an
interview after last week's meeting.
What he is proposing dividing the
iiiirionson•,•••=nr
PRESS COUNCIL
The Wingham Advance -
Times is a member of the
Ontario Press •Council
which will consider writ-
ten complaints about the
publication of news, opin-
ions and advertising. If a
complaint cannot be re-
solved with the newspa-
per, it should be sent to
the Ontario Press Coun-
cil, 11 Slater St, Suite
708, Ottawa, Ontario K1 P
5H3
');V
entire area into three zones with a
liaison officer for each.
Within each of these three zones, a
committee would be formed of in-
terested citizens and possibly
elected municipal officials. This
committee would meet periodically
with its liaison officer to discuss
policing concerns in their vicinities.
Community-based policing is not
new to Ontario, but it is new to this
district. Sgt. McKee says he hopes
the committees can be in place by
April 1.
In the meantime, the police will be
meeting with municipal represent-
atives and informing them of their
plans. Sgt. McKee says the police
soon will be approaching people to
sit on the various committees.
East Wawanosh
issues
permit
for new barn
One building permit was approved
M last week's meeting of East
Wawanosh Council.
The permit, for a barn, is for
Siebolt Siertsema, east part of Lot
31, Con. 1. The esthnated value of the
60 X 60 foot structure is $250,000.
f, '," '