The Wingham Advance-Times, 1989-08-15, Page 3Co_:. � � ittee recommends
parks, recreation combine
The ad-hoc committee studying
recreation in Wingham has recom-
mended that the parks function be
moved to recreation from public
works.
Councillors John Schenk and
Ward Robertson, assisted by con-
sultant Melanie McLaughlin of the
ministry of tourism and recreation,
compiled the report, which was
accepted in principle at last week's
August meeting of town council.
A bylaw would be required to
institute some of the changes
included in the report, said Mr.
Robertson, which has been for-
warded to the recreation committee
for its consideration and comments.
The town has been without a
recreation director since July 7,
Leslie Marxheimer's last day on the
job. The ad-hoc committee recom-
mends that a parks and recreation
director be hired for the town.
In a telephone interview follow -
last week's meeting, Qerk-Trea-
5... er Byron Adams said the town
may start to advertise for a new
recreation director by next month.
Most members of council ap-
peered pleased with the contents of
the report, which includes several
changes to the town's or; nization-
al structure.
For example, it was decided that
the new parks and recreation direc-
tor, whoever he or she may be, will
report once a month to council
rather than to the largely -volunteer
recreation board.
It also recommends that the facil-
ity manager's position be trans-
ferred to recreation from public
works because the transfer "recog-
nizes the natural flow between the
facilities and the programs that use
them".
All complaints concerning recre-
ation int the town must be brought
to council in a signed statement,
added Mr. Robertson, "no more
rumors and hearsay". The parks
and recreation director will receive
a job description, as will members
of the recreation board, he adds, so
Minor injuries
in accident
A 32 -year-old Wingham resident
received minor injuries with the
vehicle he was driving struck a tree
at the intersection of Victoria and
Helena Stre'erVin the'loWer tt Wl
area late Saturday evening.
Terry Nesbitt was eastbound on
Victoria St. at about 11.30 p.m. Sat-
urday in a 1974 Ford when the
vehicle's brakes failed in the inter-
section. He was taken to Wingham
Hospital by a passing motorist and
was treated for minor injuries.
Anna Sakasov
is member of
Ontario team
A young Wingham athlete, Anna
Sakasov, left late last week for the
Canada Games at Saskatoon.
A discus record holder, Ms.
Sakasov will be competing with
athletes from all across Canada.
She is one of 350 members who
make up the Ontario contingent for
the games. For one week prior to
the games, she attended a training
camp at the University of Western
Ontario at London.
The games' opening ceremonies
were televised Sunday over CBC
and it will provide daily highlights
of the competition each evening at
7 o'clock. The games run until Sat-
urday, Aug. 26.
Fox sighted
in Lower Town
Ministry of natural resources offi-
cials at Wingham continue to ask
the public to be on the look -out for
strange -acting animals.
Ken M-aronets of the Wingham
MIN office, confirms that a fox was
spotted late last week in Lower
Town. He says he is not sure
whether the animal was rabid or
just out foraging for food.
However, he has alerted people
in the area to watch out for wild
animals acting in a strange fashion.
Earlier this summer, a suspected
rabid fox was shot in the Zehrs
parking lot.
Risk -management
committee formed
Acting on a recommendation of
its property committee, town coun-'
cil has agreed to establish a risk..
management committee.
This committee will be com-
prised of the town clerk -treasurer,
the chief custodian and Councillor
Don Carter.
It will regularly review the vari-
ous town lands and buildin , not-
ing any areas of potential and
making recornrttend Flom t
to the property committ
ing these risks.
that the limits of authority are dear-
ly defined.
Reeve Bruce Machan said council
must have regular input into recre-
ation in the town, as it is one of
council's larger budget items.
Mr. Machan also said he is con-
cerned about an equipment overlap
if the parks function is transferred
to recreation from public works. He
even su ested that recreation take
over maintenance at the cemetery
since it now will have the equip-
ment.
However, Councillor Ron Bee-
croft said he felt the works depart-
ment and recreation should be able
,,., "1:.•,r, .t ,,.
to work together to pool the town
equipment to the benefit of both.
He lauded the report as a step
toward a year-round recational
plan for the town which would uld pro-
vide enjoyment for area rest ents.
Mayor Ian Moreland agreed.
"Recreation has become a major
item in all communities. What we
need in this town is good, year-
round recreation, both physical and
cultural."
"If council is willing to make this
work, it will work," said Mr.
Robertson. Finally after some fur-
ther discussion, the report was
adopted in principle by council.
TWO WAGON LOADS OF STRAW sat in a local driveway.one day last week. The'Nvegons were
pulled by two teams of horses.
iton
loo
e same.
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