The Wingham Advance-Times, 1989-02-21, Page 51
11
COUNCIL CHAT
By Ian Moreland
Editor's 8 l: The following is the
first in what is, likely to be a monthly
series on the Wingham ®uniclpal
scene. The author is the present
mayor of the Town of W,inghamo
The municipal ,-government
system has worked. successfully for
many years, but in recent years it
has become increasingly complex
and more demanding of the people
who accept the challenge of public
office.
In an effort to achieve a better
understanding of the role of your
local councillors and an insight into
the day-to-day workings of your
municipal government, I plan to
- write a series of `-.4-newsletters”.-
This,
-newsletters''. This, the first, will attemptto
define the role of a council member.
On being elected to council, there
are many new and:coniplexissues to
be dealt with, and the council
member must be prepared to work
hard to educate him -herself to meet
the demands of the job.
The councillor must consider
many issues and be subject to
conflicting demands. Deciding what
is best for the community as a
whole, and making decisions based
on information which is sometimes
not known to the general public,
requires sound, judgment and a
grasp of allaspects of the situation.
To assist councillors intim* work,
councils have provided policies for
the direction of the operation of the
municipality. Established policies
are of great value in assisting
councillors to carry out their task.
Establishing new policies is one of
the most important phases of a
councillor's work. Briefly, the policy
making process consists of:
-Identifying issues requiring
attention.
--Agreeing on the facts of the
issues , and objectives to be met by
council.
Identifying alternative solutions
andanalyzing there thoroughly and
systematically.
--Making a decision based on
choices available, and developing a
policy.
-Implementing the policy through_',
municipal staff and monitoring its
effectiveness.
All of this must be carried out by
council members who, for the most
part, have limited time at their
disposal due to the demands of their
regular job or profession, and
normal family life.
Municipal staff can often provide
information and assistance to
council members by obtaining in-
formation from provincial gover-
nment or counties, researebing for
precedents, and carrying out
correspondence.
-One of the key- roles which a
enur e�br pier ' 46..s _,!
�Wa� � � �•�d ua- a rxaeariitxer
of a standing committee.
Ratherthan sill ' nouncillors at-
tempting to make themselves ex-
perts in -all facets of municipal
operations, they are appointed to
one or more of the standing com-
mittees and concentrate on the
areas of, particular concern to .these
committees. -
The reports from these com-
mittees help reduce discussionsat
council meetings and speed up the
decision making process.
Members of council also represent
council on various boards and
committees where they 'transmit
council's views on issues and report
back to council.
As you can see, the councillors
duties are challenging, complex,
and time consuming. Members of
council must be dedicated and quite
unselfish in order to fulfill all of the
functions of their office.
ire my next newsletter, 1 will deal
with the councillor as a lawmaker, a
financial manager, and a land use
by m MPP JacRiddpli
fcktY %.' ,J�e:•$. /� %�' f' �'l}%� ''' //f f/ � i�'/' w %."%�fl/l.�i�•Q
Premier David Petersoneon-
firmed that the provincial reduction Mr. Peterson said the most
of sulphur dioxide emissions under appropriate approach:tor the•> .0.4o
theC
is on schedule, and called for: the in sulphur dioxid -01111 siou$
United States: to follow Ontario's be through acid rain abatement
lead by passing acid -rain abatement legislation. Ile rejected pursuit;
legislation. of a bilateral treatybetween Canada
Speaking on the eve of U.S. and the United States ,because it is
�9r�n* !'-nroso�ro, �>--�-r
m e k lent George Mare's res Ottawa. not the most effective means of
visit, Mr. Peterson reported that achie ingreal and timely. lts
Canada is proceeding to.;meet its.A bilateral treatyreq ;
would , utrt
1994 goal of cutting its sulphur two-thirds approval, by the U S.
dioxide pollution by 50 per Bent from Senate, rather than the' simple-
1960...levels. As part of the Canadian : majority needed CO passaa aced: rat -
effort, Ontario is committed. to a 60 abatement law. Moreover;.: the
per cent province -wide reduction. prospect of treaty;negotiations:dold
Most of Ontario's reductions will easily freeze all. action in U:S.
corns from: the four big polluters -m Congress, extending an efght yeah,
Inco and Falconbridge nickel period of inactivity with- respect to
smefrSS�_in Sud -
bury_,_-Algonna's iron Y:Heid-ra in �aha�ternent� � ..; � _
ore roasting plant in Wawa, and all. Describing acid rain as an enemy
of Ontario Hydro's coal and other that knows no political boundaries,
fossil -fueled generating plants — Mr. Peterson said he was hopeful
which generate four-fifths of the that the U.S, will join Canada in
emissions. stopping. this environmentally:
The -province's emission .reduc- , threatening form. of pollution, it.
tions are taking place under the warned Canadians against err:.
government's 1985 Countdown Acid bracing American acid rats
Rain Program. reduction plans that do not
Countdown Acid Rain requires the adequately protect Canadians and
big acid rain polluters to cut their Canadian resources.
collective sulphur dioxide emissions Mr. Peterson promised that
by two-thirds from 1980 levels by the Ontario would continue to exercise a
fixed 1994 deadline, ad report every "leadership role in both a national
six months on the. research and- and international scontext in the
planning they were doing to meet the battle to stop acid in
Countdown
Acrd Rain Program accomplish the required °redueti�oi
planner. new limits
Seniors' Awards
• ® Compliance reports recently As part of the celebration of Senior
received from the three companies Citizens' Month in June, the Ontario
and Ontario Hydro show that they government will again be awarding
have all found ways of doing what Senior Achievement Awards to
they once said was impossible. They seniors who have made significant
estimate that they will collectively contributions to their communities
spend a total of more than $3 billion . and to thequality of life in Ontario.
to stop Ontario -generated acid rain. Everyone is invited ` to *Omit
Decision to stop training
sets off "warning bells"
Dear Editor:
Recently, the First Canadian
Parachute Regiment and the Royal
Canadian Horse Artillery (RCHA),
which is a component of the 1st Para
Regiment, lost 11 members.
Naturally, this is most la-
mentable,, particularly ain .peace
time. However, sir,.: as a retired
professional military person, I must
say that a decision made following
these deaths seems rather incredu-
lous tome and sets off warning bells.
These warning bells are: has the
Canadian , prafessional military's
lasycho ogicaf..and,mental toughness
deter.,xorated to the point .where they
stop airing :4iUe:.to .the .unfortunate
loss of -life? - . .
"Mini uniti have lost . far mere
casualties and regrouped, cou-
solidated and gone forward. Our
police forces lose people also, but it
does not stop them from carrying
out their duties.
There are certain professions in
our society which require a
psychological toughness and
strength to carry on regardless of
the difficulties and conditions. Yes,
they are highly trained, and the rest
of our society relies on them to keep
the infrastructure of our society
together.
Police, firefighters, doctors,
nurses and others - certainly the
military -- are in that category.
I recall one dark night in Europe
in 1956, when the Canadian Brigade
was moving up as part of the British
Army of the Rhine. The Royal 22nd
Regiment (the Vandoos) ran up the
back of our convoy into one of our:
guns. Four Vandoos were killed.
Both the Vandoos and our
regiinent were most shaken and
remorseful about this, but we
carried on. Both regiments com-
pleted their allotted tasks and still
paid their proper „respects to the
fallen.
Certainly, this particular'exercise
was a severe cold weather teat for
this unit..Hardship and adversity
would have to be met. That it be
completed with the additional ad-
versity of loss of comrades would
have told the Department of
National Defence and military com-
manders that, indeed, it did have a
force that could produce under
extreme adversity.
It would seem the Department of
National Defence and military com-
manders have forgotten 1914-18,
1939-45, 1950-53, and the . military
people and lessons learned prior to
1970.
The 1st Para Regiment has for-
gotten Anzio,D Day and Nijmegen.
I wonder what the American ex-
ercise commander thought? Did this
leave a flank open, or the centre?
Did he have to rewrite and issue a
new, set of battle plans? Are we like
some of the troops ,that Field
Marshal Erwin Rommel (The
Desert Fox) had under his . com-
mand?
Yes, I question our integrity, our
standards and our training.
No doubt, the military comman-
ders of other countries have taken
note of this incident in the Canadian
military.
Most sincerely
BertrandP. Morin
ex Warrant Officer
Retired
Preserve sports history.
now, is writer's challenge
Dear Editor :
The Town of Wingham will cele-
brate its 110th birthday this year.
Over the past century, sports has
helped put Wingham on the map
across Ontario,
Recently, the Wingham Midget
Hockey Tournament celebrated its
silver anniversary. I read in the To-
ronto Star on Sunday that DOug
Wood cleared. 5.5 metres to capture
the Canadian `indoor pole vault,
championship, arid also heard that
Jeff Bloernberg has been (Ailed up to
the New York Rangers from Den-
ver.,,
Each week in the paper we read
about the efforts of teams and in-
dividuals capturing alhOntario and,
yes, even all -Canadian champion-
ships in hockey, ball, and in track
and field.
Recently, I had the pleasure of
presenting ,Brett Martini with a
cheque for $I,000 from the (lest Ever
Athlete Assistarioe Program te
further his education. He will also
receive full tuition.
Bevin Flett, a member of the
Wingham Lake Huron Movers Mid-
get softball club, was recently in -
vited to attend the fmal selection
camp at Brock University in St.
Catharines for the all-starstball
team which will play in the Canada
Summer Games in Saskatoon this
year.
Wingham has also played host to
the provincial championships in
softball and this summer will host
the all -Ontario Junior C provincial
championships.
I would very much like .to' see the
history of such teams as ° the Craw-
ford Dodgers, BPs, Jokers, Stainton
Spitfires and others preserved. I feel
nowis the time to begin the lengthy
process of research, data collection,
interviewing, and carding. We also
require a site to display the
memorabilia.
I challenge the town council to
kook into -this 'important area and
possibly get, the ball roiling through
the recreation department. I'm sure
this Would qualify for grants, and
gainfully employ some summer
students.
What better week to start than
during Heritage .Week?
Sincerely
Allan R. Harrison
Mr:" Peterson warned, however, names of individuals in our 'Coin -
_
that while Ontario and Canada have munity who could be considered for
taken a leadership role in reducing an award.
sulphur dioxide emissions, half the - Nomination forms are available
acid rain that falls on the province by contacting any of my riding of -
comes from smokestacks in the flees, or from the Office for Senior
United States. > Citizens' Affairs, Queen's Park,
Scientists tell us that there must Toronto.
be a 50 per cent reduction in sulphur A selection committee will review
dioxide emissions originating in the nominations and a special ceremony
United States if we are to reduce will be held at Queen's Pa a June
acid rain to levels necessary to to present the awards.
Writer says 4-W is target
of some unfair criticism
Dear Editor:
I am writing this letter because I
feel that 4 -II is getting put down, un-
fairly by some people. I have been a
4-11 member for seven years.
Lately, some people have been
saying that 4-H is too much like
school and isn't any fun. It also has
been publicized the enrollment in the
4=H program is dropping and this is
being blamed on the lack of fun.
Firstly, I don't agree that 44# isn't
fun. In fact, I believe that 4111 is
becoming more fun. There is a
greater number of activities to do at
a meeting. I believe, however, that it
depends upon the leaders and the
members. If the leaders and
members are able to get along and
are enthusiastic about what they are
thing, there is no reason for the
meetings not to be fun.
Secondly, I disagree with the fact
that#here is too much Work and that
4-I1 is becoming iike<school. I am a
Grade 13 student, and'' H is nothing
like school. In fact, there areless
filllin-the-blanks than ever. Con-
sidering the_fact that when 4-11 first
began, the members had to write up
minutes for each of the meetings and
these minuteshad to describe the
entire meeting, there is less, there-
fore, for the members to do in the
Bos.
Thirdly, I don't think the falling
enrollment is because 4-H is not fun.
One reason why enrollment is falling
could quite simply be because there
are no youth in the area who are of
age. Also, it could be because 4-14 is
not being properly advertised.
Finally, i . am concerned that we
only are hearing one side of the story
whenever 4-11 is talked about in the
media. I am tired of hearing many 4 -
II leaders putting down 4-H. No
wonder the enrollment is dropping.
Yours truly
Karen Elliott
Man claims he
was treated
poorly by council
Dear Editor,
I, Don Cook, attended a Turnberry
,6ouncil meeting in Bluevale in
regard to garbage disposal.
1 feel that I should not pay tax or
tax increases on the landfill site that
is not convenient for .me to use.
I have been to council meetin
before, but have never seen any con-
ducted so ridiculous.
Before I was finished discussing
my complaint, I was told to shut -up
by one of the councillors, that he
would do the talking. I feel this was
very ignorant and out of line.
I feel quite sure that if any woman
in
Turnberry Township would con-
sider to run for council, she would do
a better a job than that.
Don Cook