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The Brussels Post, 1975-02-05, Page 1Short hots (By Evelyn Kennedy) of nd gh Tr. Ir. on ge rid ay ' Lra rid Ir. he •••••••• BIG BLACK HOLE — That's what these kids investigated on their way home from school Monday afternoon. The hole, in the pavement of Queen St. or County Road 16, was caused by a broken water main. These breaks "as clean as if cut with a hack saw" seem to happen every year, Clerk Bill King said and "invariably you'll find a stone underneath the - broken pipe." Village employees repaired the main, which was installed in 1948 and County employees helped them to repair the road. (Photo by Pat Langlois) • /11.11.11111411141111\miESTABLISHED len Resident objects to $15 per meeting pay Cite irregularities County could get increased rant, MOH Dr. Frank Mills, medical officer f health; told county council at ast Friday's session that- he Huron County Health Unit ould qualify for a 25 per cent ncrease in its provincial grant if it 'ould amalgamate with • other ounty health units, Provincial grants now cover 50 er cent of the health u nits perating budget but the county calth unit would qualify for a 75 er cent grant if it joined other °unties. Dr. Mills told council that the uron County health unit is being escriminated against by the rovince and agreed with Warden nson McKinley that it is simply n unfair arrangement. Health Minister Frank Miller ill visit the county Friday, Feb. 7 nd Dr. Mills urged councillors to ontest the issue with the Minister as • he makes his way hrough the municipalities in the ounty. Health Minister Miller ill be in Goderich at the board oom of the assessment office rom 10 to 11.45 a.m. Dr. Mills stated that the acilities offered in Huron County (Continued on Page 7) Brussels Council's number 1 by-law, which provides salaries or all municipal employees and names municipal representatives o area boards was defeated in an inusual move at Monday night's ouncil meeting. The matter was raised by Councillor Harold Bridge who said he felt he had been misled and that the number one by-law contained irregularities. "I'M going to demand that it be done all over again and throw it back in your laps," he said. Councillor Frank Stretton said he was concerned about two irregularities. The January 20th meeting when the resolutions contained in the number one by-law were passed was a joint meeting of council and the PUC. Councillor Stretton said that such a joint meeting was illegal and the proper procedure ' would have been for the PUC to give a recommendation on salaries (they pay 60% of,. town employee's salaries) to the council's finance committee and, for that committee to bring a recommendation to the full council. The other irregularity, he said,, occurred when council selected an appointee to the Maitland Valley Conservation Authority: The new councillor said that the reeve, as chairman, had voted on the first ballot of the MVCA elimination vote and that he had no right to vote. Both coUncillots said they had obtained legal advice on these two points. Brussels 'Clerk Treasurer Bill King, whose official hiring was in effect held up by the failure to pass the by-law told the Post Tuesday morning that according to Section 196 of the Ontario Municipal Act, the chairman has a vote on all motions. If his vote creates a tie, the motion is automatically defeated. "Precedent has been set by previous councils from year to year," Reeve McCutcheon said, when. the two councillors charged irregularities had occurred. "Then we've been wrong for years and I think we should be right," Councillor Stretton replied, and the reeve responded that he was all for it if adruinist ration would run more smoothly. "I hope you do 24 months of good hard administrative work." Councillor Stretton; seconded by Councillor Bridge, moved to table the Number 1 by-law, but he objected to the wording of the motion prepared by Clerk King which provided for passing, not tabling, the motion. The clerk , explained that it was the same thing, "All you have to de is defeat it," The motion was defeated, with Councillors Bridge, Stretton and George Jutzi voting against it. The reeve questioned conneillorS on what to do about paying village Wages. "They have been paid according to the resolutions passed at the last meeting," (1975 salary rates)," he. said. Councillor Stretton suggested going back to the 1974 , pay schedules until a new number one by-law is passed and then making the 1975 schedules retroactive to January 1 at that time. This resolution passed but later on in the meeting (which lasted until 2 a.m.) councillors passed the 1975 rate salaries in the accounts payable and asked the clerk to rescind th is resolution. Reeve . McCiitcheon asked councillors if they had understood the voting procedure at the last .meeting when the number one by-law resolutions were passed and all said they had. In a comment to the Post Tuesday morning he said "The new councillors have been influenced to hold up the procedures due to some information' which appears to be incorrect." He pointed out that councillor Stretton had seconded the motion in question which appointed Cal Krauter to the MVCA. At the meeting the reeve expressed concern that , not allowing the PUC to join in meetings where salaries are decided might cause dissensien. "The PUC have always had a say in hiring and wages becanse they pay 60%. If you Split it you might find different personS working for the MC and Council," heaid, The $15 per meeting bonus which members of Brussels council voted themselves at their January 20 meeting was in contention at Tuesday night's meeting as Brussels resident Mick Conaboy appeared to question council members. "Why this bonus system? Why not just a straight raise in salary?", Mr. Conaboy wanted to know. Reeve Jack McCutcheon said council felt the bonus was an incentive to attend meetings and said that he had fold the pre-election ratepayers meeting that council salaries would probably have to be raised. Mr. Conaboy wondered if anybody running for public office should need an incentive to attend meetings and said he was A broken water main on Queen Street, in front of the home of Mr. and Mrs. John Uniac sent a flood of water pouring over the street on Monday morning. It is possible the absence of a- heavy snow cover combined with freezing temperatures could be the cause of the problem. ****** This is "White Cane" week. This year it is not a national, but an international project, spon- sored by the C.N.I.B. and the Canada Council for the Blind. Sixty countries are involved in The World Wide Council for the Welfare of the Blind and will push towards prevention of blindness. ****** Recently this column em- it-tented. regarding the reported damage. to rural mail boxes caused by snow plowing opera- tions. We have been informed that that is not the only cause. of such &triage. As has happened befote, there are vandals once concerned, because the number of meetings per year were not spelled out, -that councillors were getting "a blank cheque." • The, reeve said• hourly paid, employees who perhaps could not afford to give up work to attend council meetings should not be discriminated against. He said attitudes toward public service are changing. "People feel 'why leave your job and lose $25 and work for the village for say $5." Councillor Hank Ten Pas said the bonus is for formal meetings only, not for committee meetings or "time spent on the street or at home on the phone.". Mr. Conaboy said that a raise' for councillors was a big issue during the election, and the reeve repeated that he had not been- (Continued on Page 4 again on the prowl with rural mail boxes as their specific target. i***** If the groundhog saw his shadow, or not, on Groundhog Day, would depend on where and when he shook himself awake and emerged to make a quick survey of weather conditions and decide how much longer he could continue his winter nap. What do we care how long he sleeps if only the wonderful sunshiny days we have had: are liberally sprinkled throughout the rest of our winter -and spring comes bright and early. * * * * Are y ou preparing to take part in "Polar Daize"? They will be with us on February 22nd, 23rd, 24th and 25th, If you are thinking of braving the icy Maitlind waters in the Polar Dip it might be a good idea to acclimatize Our body by filling your Bathtub with ice and climbing in regularly from now until then, * * o 103rd Year,— Issue No. 6 WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 1975 gBrussels Post BRUSSELS ONTARIO' New council defeats bylaw