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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Times Advocate, 2007-12-19, Page 17Wednesday, December 19, 2007 Times–Advocate 17 New employee — The municipality of Lucan Biddulph hired a new treasurer. At right Kate Smith is welcomed by Lucan Biddulph clerk administrator Ron Reymer. (photo/Nina Van Lieshout) Some interesting Santa facts In Western culture, where the holiday is characterized by the exchange of gifts among friends and family members, some of the gifts are attributed to a character called Santa Claus (also known as Father Christmas, Saint Nicholas or St. Nikolaus, Sinterklaas, Kris Kringle, Joulupukki, Weihnachtsmann, Saint Basil and Father Frost). The popular image of Santa Claus was created by the German -American cartoonist Thomas Nast (1840-1902), who drew a new image annually, beginning in 1863. By the 1880s, Nast's Santa had evolved into the form we now recognize. The image was standardized by advertisers in the 1920s. Father Christmas, who predates the Santa Claus character, was first recorded in the 15th century, but was associated with holiday merrymaking and drunkenness. ] In Victorian Britain, his image was remade to match that of Santa. The French Pere Noel evolved along similar lines, eventually adopting the Santa image. In Italy, Babbo Natale acts as Santa Claus, while La Befana is the bringer of gifts and arrives on the eve of the Epiphany. It is said that La Befana set out to bring the baby Jesus gifts, but got lost along the way. Now, she brings gifts to all children. In some cultures Santa Claus is accompanied by Knecht Ruprecht, or Black Peter. In other versions, elves make the toys. His wife is referred to as Mrs. Claus. The current tradition in several Latin American countries (such as Venezuela) holds that while Santa makes the toys, he then gives them to the Baby Jesus, who is the one who actually delivers them to the children's homes. This story is meant to be a reconciliation between traditional reli- gious beliefs and modern day globalization, most notably the iconography of Santa Claus imported from the United States. Crediton road "a mess" SOUTH HURON — South Huron Coun. Jim Dietrich isn't happy with the state of King Street North in Crediton. "It's a mess ... there are cars getting stuck in the damn dirt," he said, referring to con- struction work in the village on the sewer project. Dietrich, who has complained about the state of the roads in Crediton in the past during the sewer project's construction, said "we've got to do something ... it's terrible, terri- ble." He said the problem went on all summer and has to be fixed. He suggested the municipality's roads crew should go in and fix the road and send a bill to the company doing the work (Elgin Construction). New responsibilities for MPP Mitchell TORONTO — Huron -Bruce MPP Carol Mitchell is getting busier. Mitchell has added the position of Chair of the Ontario Liberal Caucus to her Queen's Park duties. Along with recently being named Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, Mitchell will chair general caucus meetings and legislative strategy meetings. She will also organize all caucus events and distribute all caucus - related information. She has also been appointed to the newly created cabinet commit- tee on poverty reduction. That committee will oversee the development and approval of a framework for Ontario's Poverty Reduction Strategy, which was a cornerstone of the 2007 Speech from the Throne. This position will allow Mitchell to influ- ence the direction the Liberal Caucus takes on key initiatives. It will involve such specific roles as chair- ing both general caucus meetings and leg- islative strategy meetings, organizing all caucus events and organizing and distribut- ing all caucus -related info. "The government caucus has a major part in setting the government's program and direction." Mitchell said. "It allows members to bring forth the issues from their ridings that are integral for continued success and growth in their com- munities." The poverty reduction strategy includes a plan that would provide dental benefits to low-income families and builds on measures already in progress such as boosting the minimum wage to $10.25 by 2010, increas- ing child care spaces, providing more affordable housing, and imple- menting the new Ontario Child Benefit. "I am very pleased to be appointed to this challenging endeavour," stat- ed Mitchell. "Our strategy will ensure that all of our families have access to better health care, stronger public educa- tion and more affordable housing. "We need everybody at their best if we're going to succeed as a society an economy." Carol Mitchell and as Correction An article in last week's newspaper attrib- uted an erroneous quotation to Bernard Murray, president of the Ontario Catholic School Trustees Association and chairperson of the Huron -Perth Catholic District School Board. Murray did not say that two trustees from "the same board" now head up the province's two trustee lobby associations. Instead, he said there are two trustees from "coterminous boards." The T -A apologizes for the error. SH to use Ombudsman for investigations By Scott Nixon TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF SOUTH HURON — Council has decided the munici- pality will use the Ontario Ombudsman's office to make investigations into any complaints that South Huron isn't complying with the Municipal Act closed meeting rules. Council made the decision at its Nov. 19 meeting. As explained in clerk Sandra Strang's report to council, as of Jan. 1, 2008, "any person will be able to request an investigation of whether or not a municipality, local board, or a committee of either has complied with the Municipal Act closed meeting rules." The investigation can be done by either an indepen- dent investigator appointed by the municipality or by the provincial Ombudsman. Generally, municipal councils can go behind closed doors (called "in camera") to discuss legal, personnel and property matters. Strang provided council with three options to choose an investigator: a service through the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) and Local Authority Services (LAS); a retired Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing municipal advisor; or the Ombudsman's office. The first two options have costs associated with them, while the Ombudsman option has no cost. Although council chose the Ombudsman office, Strang recommended the AMO and LAS option for the qualifications of its investigators, the small retainer fee, and the ongoing training, information and advice offered by them. Under that option, council would be locked into a two year agreement with an annual $300 retainer and costs of $156.25 per hour, plus expenses. Unlike the AMO/LAS option, the Ombudsman's office doesn't offer additional training or support to the municipality, Strang said. Deputy Mayor George Robertson said the hourly rate of the AMO/LAS option could add up to a lot of money and he wasn't in favour of hiring someone to do the investigation. Coun. Pete Armstrong spoke in favour of going with the Ombudsman office. He added South Huron has to keep its meetings as "open" as possible. Council eventually agreed to have the Ombudsman make any investigations. Other council notes: Transparency Council has also adopted an "Accountability and Transparency Policy," as required by the Municipal Act. Strang's report to council indicates the objective of the policy is to ensure South Huron "is accountable to the public for its actions and that council decisions are transparent and done in accordance with Municipality of South Huron policies." Strang said the municipality will ensure accountabili- ty and transparency through the following: • policies requiring notice be given to the public; • policies for the sale of public land; • nepotism policies limiting the hiring of an elected official's family members; • policies for open and closed meeting requirements; • having a meeting investigator (see above story on the Ontario Ombudsman) to investigate complaints about closed meeting policies; • a "non -delegation of powers" policy, allowing coun- cil to maintain authority for all its legislative duties; • a policy for purchasing and reporting; • the annual budget approved by council, including internal controls for financial accounting procedures and an external audit; • submission of the Financial Information Return to the province; • annual report of council remuneration and expens- es and reporting any public sector salaries over $100,000; • submission of a municipal performance measures report to the province by the municipality's treasurer; • compliance with public sector accounting stan- dards; • long-term financial planning and capital budget forecasting; • providing the public with information on the munic- ipality's website; • following the province's Municipal Conflict of Interest Act; • the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act; • attendance of the media at council meetings. Help for farmers Coun. Jim Dietrich has made available at the town office information packages from the province called, "Financial Resources for Families in Huron and Bruce Counties." The packages are developed to help farm families with financial difficulties and includes infor- mation about a farmer's help line and how to manage financial pressure. The packages can be picked up at the Olde Town Hall.