The Times Advocate, 2006-09-20, Page 22
Exeter Times -Advocate
Wednesday, September 20, 2006
Trustees' pay
looked at
By Stew Slater
SPECIAL TO THE TIMES -ADVOCATE
HURON/PERTH — Citizen committees meet this
month to decide what recommendations should be
made regarding increasing the remuneration for
school board trustees in Huron and Perth counties.
They'll also suggest whether or not any increased
payment should be provided retroactively to trustees
who served from Sept. 1, 2005 to Nov. 30, 2006.
Since the late 1990s, when provincial legislation
was passed to put trustees from all Ontario school
boards on an equal footing, trustees have received a
base amount of $5,000 per year. Some may have
earned more if they were selected by their counter-
parts to serve as chairperson or in other legislative-
ly -mandated roles.
Under recent changes to the Education Act, new
maximum base amounts have been established for
each Ontario school board. Those vary from board to
board depending on enrolment and geographical
size, but they are maximums; trustees may choose to
receive any amount between the current $5,000 and
the new maximum.
"The board shall not establish its policy ... until (a
citizen's advisory) committee makes the recommen-
dation," states the new regulation under the
Education Act.
That same regulation sets out the size of the com-
mittee — six — and requires the participation of
three "parent members" and three "community rep-
resentatives."
In Huron and Perth, committees have already been
chosen and are expected to meet this week to dis-
cuss trustee remuneration.
"Hopefully, we'll be able to bring a recommenda-
tion to the board at its next meeting," explained the
Catholic board's director of education, Larry Langan.
Neither Langan nor Avon Maitland counterpart
Geoff Williams would speculate about what the
respective committee's recommendation might be.
But both said they had heard from other boards
about citizen committees in the Toronto area com-
pleting their work and returning with recommenda-
tions that trustees receive the new maximums set
out in the Education Act.
In a report to trustees, scheduled to be presented
at the board's next regular meeting Sept. 26,
Williams explains that "there have been verbal indi-
cations to staff (from the Education Ministry) that
additional funding will be received to cover these
costs."
He cautions that "there is no indication that addi-
tional funding will be received to cover any retroac-
tive costs."
For the Avon Maitland board, the new maximum
base amount is $9,360 per trustee. According to
Williams' report, in the future, this will translate into
about $48,000 in extra expense per year.
Paying the maximum retroactive amount under the
Act, meanwhile, would translate into about $49,000
in extra expenses.
For the Catholic board, the new maximum for
future years is $7,591.
Klopp seeks third term
Continued from front page
Klopp said he will con-
tinue to lobby at the fed-
eral and provincial level
against downloading
services to the county
level.
The municipality, said
Klopp, had to create a
new level of bureaucra-
cy to manage services
such as police and
ambulances which used
to be handled at the
provincial level.
"It used to be done at
the provincial level and
was a seamless system,"
said Klopp.
One thing Klopp said
he won't be doing in this
election is putting up
candidate signs, which
he described as a form
of pollution.
"You can lead and set
an example," said Klopp.
"I'm already deputy
mayor and my record is
there."
Another reason for not
putting up signs, accord-
ing to Klopp, is the cost
issue and whether it is
an efficient use of
money, saying he does-
n't accept donations
because when someone
comes to him with an
issue he doesn't want it
to be influenced by any
money that has been
donated.
One of the best parts of
politics at the municipal
level, says Klopp, is the
freedom from political
parties.
"You're in charge of
what you want to do."
Seip enters South Huron election
By Scott Nixon
TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF
EXETER — New faces continue
to run in this fall's municipal
election, with Cathy Seip looking
to represent the Exeter ward on
South Huron council.
The ward has two positions on
council with incumbent Pete
Armstrong, Wayne Deluca and
Leroy Hoffman also running.
This is Seip's first run at poli-
tics and she says she decided to
get involved because as the for-
mer owner of Seip's valu-mart
(along with her husband, Tom)
Seip said the community support-
ed her business for 13 years and
she wants to give back.
She considered running in the
previous election but decided not
to.
Seip, who attends South Huron
council meetings regularly, says
she finds them "very interesting"
and encourages the new council
to have a four-year vision for the
Cathy
Seip
municipality.
Seip would like
to see the South
Huron Chamber
of Commerce,
the Exeter
Business
Association, ser-
vice clubs, busi-
nesses and
council commu-
nicate and work
together on a
large event or
festival "to make
Exeter a spot people
want to come to."
Seip gives credit to
council for doing a
good job updating the
infrastructure and
says it will help bring
economic growth and
nication between council and the
residents to explain to them what
the bylaws are and what purpose
they serve.
She says the new council needs
to keep working on infrastruc-
ture improvements and plan
ahead.
"You have to work as a team to
do that," Seip says, adding she
wants the community to pull
together.
The much talked about new
Lake Huron water pipeline and
the Hensall ethanol
"You have to
work as a team:'
— CATHY SEIP
EXETER WARD
CANDIDATE
jobs to the area and
help keep youth here.
Bylaws are an issue Seip would
like to see addressed. She says
there needs to be more commu-
Ratz leaving politics
Continued from front page
last six on South Huron
and the previous nine on
the former Stephen
Township council, where
he was reeve for the final
three years before amal-
gamation in 2000.
He will continue living
in the municipality on his
property east of Shipka
on Black Bush Line, but
says he's leaving council
because he wants more
free time to spend at his
cottage south of
Tobermory.
Ratz said he enjoyed his
time on council and is
proud of the work he did.
Pointing out highlights of
his time in politics, while
it isn't in his ward, Ratz
says he enjoys seeing the
development of the
Snider subdivision in
Exeter and says it has
"come together very
well."
He's also pleased with
the recent movement
towards privatization in
Huron Park, although he
admits he isn't sure what
the future holds for the
airport and the former
Centralia College.
Other changes in
Stephen that Ratz points
out are the success of the
Grand Bend Motorplex
and the Huron Country
Playhouse.
He said roads in
Stephen are gradually
being improved.
While Ratz has enjoyed
his time on council, he
admits it isn't for every-
body.
Ratz said people have
asked him to run for a
higher position on coun-
cil, such as mayor or
deputy mayor, but he
wasn't interested.
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Hunters - Bring us your Game!
HomHome of the DASHWOOD SAUSAGE
70963 Bronson Line, DASHWOOD
1/4 mile south of the main intersection in Dashwood
519-237-3668
res: 519-237-3510
plant "will only do
South Huron a world
of good," she says.
Seip has served 25
years on the board
of directors for the
Exeter Agricultural
Society, volunteers
for the Exeter
Hawks, has been involved with
the Exeter Lioness Club and has
lived in Exeter since 1978. She
and Tom have three children.
(1),-• esh boti eked �*
• •
1'!IK:" •• • �`
Ni t; • Weare more th .'!P`' i'f
` - just Honey:
•
ggit
o 1 We carry:
'r / • Beeswax • Skin Food • Candles
!i • Lip Balm • Soaps • Bee Pollen
FERGUSON APIARIES
519-236-4979 Hwy #84 between Thurs. to Sat.
Hensall & Zurich 9 am -5 pm
A TRIBUTE TO OUR
FIREFIGHTERS
The Exeter Times -
Advocate is printing
a special supplement
spotlighting our
local firefighters.
If you would like to add a personal
experience which happened which
recognizes the bravery and hard
work of our local firefighters,
please send to:
424 Main St. Exeter, ON NOM 1S6
or phone Nina Van Lieshout
(519) 235-1336 ext. 107
or e-mail Nina at
nvanlieshout@southhuron.com
WE WILL BE SPOTLIGHTING THE
FIRE STATIONS IN EXETER,
GRAND BEND, LUCAN, GRANTON,
HURON PARK, DASHWOOD, ZURICH,
HENSALL, BRUCEFIELD & BAYFIELD.
Deadline for submissions: Sept. 21 I—
If you would like to offer your
PERSONAL CONGRATULATIONS in
our "A Tribute to Our Firefighters"
supplement please drop off your
submissions to the Times -Advocate
by Sept. 21. THE CHARGE WILL BE $5.30
THIS OFFER IS ONLY FOR NON -BUSINESS PERSONNEL