The Citizen, 1999-09-22, Page 24PAGE 24. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 1999.
Colborne Twp.
holds referendum
on restructuring
In trying to come to an agreement
on amalgamation, the Town of
Goderich and Colborne Twp. have
gone to the residents, but in very dif
ferent ways.
Goderich held a public meeting
Sept. 14 which drew approximately
70 taxpayers. Attendees were asked
to complete a four-question survey.
In discussing the results the fol
lowing evening, it was re-affirmed to
Goderich council that there was no
clear consensus.
Twenty people most preferred the
restructuring option which would see
Goderich and Colborne Twp. amal
gamate with expanded boundaries
into Goderich Twp. However, six
listed this as their least preferred.
The second choice appeared to
result in Goderich standing alone and
remaining • as is, with 14 votes.
Nineteen least preferred this option.
The option of Goderich just
expanding into Goderich Twp.
received six votes as the most pre
ferred (nine as least preferred) and a
straight amalgamation between the
Town of Goderich and Colborne
Twp. had three top votes (13 least
preferred).
The vast majority of respondents
believed Goderich was a community
of interest for both Godericlj and
Colbome Twp. residents, however
Goderich Twp. received 43 yes votes
with Colborne only given 23.
Twenty who answered the survey
had no opinion on Colbome’s con
Bus drivers, OPP
watching drivers
Schools in Huron-Perth Counties
are back in full swing.
The Avon-Maitland School
Board is responsible for 300 bus
routes carrying approximately
11,000 students on each and every
day. That doesn't include area
students from Catholic and
Christian school areas.
In May of 1999 the Avon-
Maitland School Board and the
Huron-Perth Catholic School board
conducted a two-week study on the
number of motorists who failed to
stop for school buses when the bus
wheels were stopped and the red
lights were flashing. The results
were staggering with over 30
vehicles failing to stop.
Sr. Const. Don Shropshall said,
“Supposedly, these drivers have
some special power, that allows
them to see that no little kid
heading home from junior
kindergarten, no teen on the way to
school - no one at all - will step
out from in front of that bus and
into the path of their car. That
doesn’t seem to matter to the
drivers who just keep going.”
Then there are the other drivers
who are so preoccupied, distracted
or inattentive they claim not to
have see the bus, he said.
In the past 10 years, 1 I children
have died in Ontario and more than
80 children have been injured from
drivers who have gone through the
flashing red lights. School boards
and bus companies are using
heightened intensity bulbs on the
stop arms and now have added
strobe lights on the back of the roof
of the bus to help wake up
motorists. Offending drivers can be
nection while only three were unsure
of Goderich Twp.’s.
Fifty-four people completed the
survey with 13 from Goderich, 10
from Colborne Twp., 16 from Cone.
4 of Goderich Twp. and 13 others
from Goderich Twp.
A notice of motion, presented to
council for their consideration, will
be sent to Colbome Twp. advising
them of Goderich's plan.
The notice of motion states that the
administration prepare*a restructur
ing plan for Goderich and that por
tion of Goderich Twp. from Cone. 4
north, excluding Bluewater Beach.
If a triple majority vote is not
received, council will consider ask
ing the Minister of Municipal Affair
and Housing to appoint a commis
sioner to consider Goderich’s pro
posal.
A motion to inform Colbome Twp.
of the decision and request informa
tion on their position was carried by
a five-two vote, councillors Grace
and Reeve Doherty did not support
the motion.
Meanwhile, Colbome Twp. has
decided to hold a mail-in referendum
to seek their ratepayers' opinions.
The questions for the referendum
were to be determined at last night’s
council meeting with the hope mail
ing would be completed by Sept. 24.
Respondents will have until 4 p.m.
on Oct. 2 to return their ballots to the
Colbome municipal office.
prosecuted with the assistance of
the bus driver in helping identify
the person driving. Older students
and witnesses can be helpful by
taking down the vehicle licence
plate number and a description of
the driver.
Operation Bus Watch in
September of 1999 went into full
operation in both Huron and Perth
Counties. Packages were placed in
all buses to help drivers record the
required information and assist
them in what to look for to help
police prosecute these offending
drivers.
In all cases the owner of the
vehicle offending is contacted to
find out who the driver is. These
drivers are spoken to or charged if
they admit to not stopping or can
be identified.-
Fines can be as much as $2,000
for a first offence and up to $4,000
for a second, plus six demerit
points on a licence. Drivers can
also have their licenses suspended,
even face jail time.
The Avon-Maitland School
system in the first weeks, has had
two reports of drivers not stopping.
One of those drivers has been
charged.
Ontario Provincial Police officers
will continue to assist bus drivers
in trying to stop and deal with these
serious driving offences. When you
see that school bus stopped, the red
lights flashing and the stop arm is
out all vehicles in either direction
by law, must stop. “Every time a
car, truck or any other type of
vehicle blows by a stopped yellow
school bus, a child’s life could be
in danger.” said Shropshall.
BETTY CROCKER
SUPERMOIST
CAKE MIXES
NEILSON'S
YOGURT
510 g
CELERY
CANADA #1
BRUCE PACKERS
ALLEN’S
APPLE
JUICE
1.36 L 79
BROCCOLI
.69
DELI COOKED
HAM 4 59
| lb.
Specials in effect from Wednesday, Sept. 22, 1999 to Friday, Sept. 24, 1999
Vvatamart
CORRIE’S
23 Huron Street
Clinton, Ontario
STORE HOURS
SAT. ...............8:30 AM - 6 PM
SUN....................12 PM - 5 PM
MON.-FRI......8:30 AM - 9 PM
12x175 g
SELECT
BACON
lb.
CLOVER LEAF
TUNA
170 g