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The Huron Expositor, 1999-01-20, Page 22 -THEY HURON EXPOSITOR, January 20, 1999 Stumbling block in amalgamation talks BY NELLIE EVANS Lakeshore Advance Staff many members at that time," ' said Love, referring to the last round of talks which identified nine councillors and a mayor. "if it's not in the right place,' then move it, but don't have two (offices)," said Carnochan, Bayfield Reeve Doug Grant concurred that Stanley has !enough space. "it certainly won't go by our council without a fight," added Love. . "Us too," said Zurich Reeve Dwayne LaPorte. He said the municipal office should be located where there are other. services like a post office and bank and where it's easily accessible to ratepayers' Bayfield Coun. Diane Denomme said many ratepayers most drive to a municipal office now: • - "But now people will have to drive 20 miles" added Love. Several representatives around the table agreed that more people are using telebanking to pay their bills and garbage tags are available at retail outlets. "We won't be building sometime down the road," said Grant. "The municipal office will shrink because we'll eventually be one tier." Holmes agreed, adding she's been saying that for a while. "So who settles this issue?" asked Dowson. Hensall Reeve Cecil Pepper suggested a triple majority vote while Coleman said a majority vote of steering committee members could decide. - "If some don't like it, they can leave," Coleman added. Grant suggested each council should discuss the matter and report each opinion at the next steering committee meeting. Tuckersmith Coun: Bob' Broadfoot said the committee is delaying finalising the report by one month if this issue is brought back. . "Most' know their position now." added Dowson. "We haven't discussed this ..with the new council," said Pepper. Love said the committee has no idea how many employees will be required by the new town, to which Coleman replied that the MRC restructuring proposal contains a number, as he flopped a red. softcover book on the desk. Love said another municipality had to change its employee numbers "so don't go to the damn book." Hensall Coun. Rod 'Barker suggested the new town could operate two offices for the first year when it will know how much space ii needed: -- The group decided to bring the matter back to the next meeting scheduled for Feb. 24 at 7 p.m. at the 'Stanley' -municipal office in Varna. The venue was suggested so committee members could see how the office is configured. Proposal review continued As the steering committee worked through the restructuring proposal from where it left off at last meeting. members again discussed the wording that determines whether current employees will be hired by the new town. The clause was changed at the last meeting but Grant said he is still worried that the clause implies'that•all• .current employees are discharged prior to the official' amalgamation date. After various suggestions on hoW to'eword-the1tem•;-a• motion was passed changing the .wording to "employees of the former municipality' 'shalt when possible,' become employees of the new town". Regarding the issue of area rating. Love again voiced his strong opinion that the six municipalities should outline what aspects they believe A stumbling block was raised, in local amalgamation talks last week when Hay Township's reeve voiced his strohg opinion that the new town should have two administrative offices. Jim Love believes a 12 - member town council (as suggested by a member at last month's meeting) won't physically fit in existing • council. chambers at the Stanley Township, Municipal Office in Varna. (A consultant's report suggested the new council would have l0' members.). The office plus works department sbed was identified as the' new municipal administration building nearly two years ago because of its central location. • "1 have a lot of trouble:with_, that." •said Love. "There: s loom for a north and south; office.". He believes some administration can be done from Hay Township's municipal office. in Zurich, which was built a few years _" ago.- (The- consultant's Tepon said -all departments would be housed in Varna. but• if space isn't• available the fire chief could have an office in a local fire station;• the ' roads superintendent _could work out of the works building and the recreation director would work out of -an arena.) Love said the new town . shouldn't spend money -to .remodel the Stanley building when there's a new building elsewhere. - Hay Township plus Bayfield. He,Dsall, Zurich and the townships of Stanley and. • Tuckersmith met Jan. 13 in •Bayfield as the Municipal Restructuring Committee" for Its:.. second meeting' of. amalgaination -talks. Talks. - resumed in December after a 12 -month hiatus when the six dropped talks because of the 1997 municipal election. The six had approved a restructuring proposal which •they are now.reviewing to determine .w,hat needs to be changed. • .Tuckersmith Township Reeve Bill Carnochan said the object of the .province's municipal restructuring mandate was to eliminate duplication and save money. He said the Stanley office has plenty of expansion space. • - "Remember •what we're doing here. he said. • Love said one office could be used for a pertain function and the second used for another. "It"s better to have it all uhdcr one roof," . said. Carnochan. "i really wonder. If that's the case. then maybe we: should . all keep . our offices." - Stanley Coun. Bill Dowson, who wasn't involved in the last round of talks. asked what ' ic%s the clerks had on, the issue. Stanley clerk Ansberth Willett said the township office is physically closest to a landfill site and works shed, adding the Hay municipal. office could become private- office space because it's located in an urban centre.• Zurich Coun. Marg Holmes said consultant McNeely- Tunnock Ltd. recommended the new municipal office be located at the Stanley building. "Where would we put (the councillors)! Don't tell me •yob can fit ahem' info the council chamber today," said cove. Stanley Reeve Jack Coleman said there's room for over '25 people now. . Carnochan: added . the chamber's tables can. be changed to accommodate the new council. . "You weren't proposing that Repaving planning Repaving of a portion of Highway 8 won't take place until 2001 or 2002, said Public Works Superintendent John Forrest reported to council, Jan. 12. The application to have a stretch of road repaved from Mac's Milk to Centennial Drive has been submitted to the Ministry , of Transportation (M'W) which indicated it won't be able to do the work until at least 2001. Forrest said the MTO will pave the boulevard on the south side of the highway. from Coleman Street to Centennial Drive but that will mean some sidewalk repairs are needed. (why pave that part and when will it take place) Forrest said council will have to decide whether or not to do the sidewalk repairs or put off the road work for a year. Our highway will last another two years. 'There's no problem there, he said. should be area -rated. He brought the issue forward at the last meeting. "It should be spelled our so the urban centres know where they're going," he said. • "The transition board works through the details," said Carnochan, "We're trying to get the agreement done so we" can get on with the transition." • Coleman agreed that a list of area -rated items should be done. adding "My council may want to know when they vote what is area rated. "- Grant said Bayfield council has discussed the issue, but . said discussion of the issue will take a long .time and should ' be done s by the transition board. "What's the difference if ynu . do it now or one year from now," said Love. • • "This committee is -trying to rough up an agreement acid this is not the final agreement. This is prior to any agreement to amalgamate," said Grant. As all agreed to ask the clerks to draw up a list and present it at the next meeting,. some representati ves. admitted there are few things in their municipality that are currently area -rated. For . Hensall, services are user pay while Stanley has area rating along Highway 21 for municipal - water service: -When it was suggested that such things as streetlights and sidewalks would be area rated. Holmes asked why •village ratepayers would pay 'for rural. roads when township ratepayers won't be paying for sidewalks. Others :gave. an explanation that sidewalks are paid by each 'residential development created. "If that's what's out there. then we're doomed before we start," said ' Coleman. Denomme agreed there "needs to be an attitude change". The steering committee agreed that municipal bylaws. - Official Plans and .zoning bylaws of . the former municipalities would govern the new ward in the new town. The group previously agreed that each former municipality would become a ward. . The new transition board will contain all members of the former councils, while• sub- committees' will contain two • - members from each council. The question of how the six municipalities . will: fund transition costs will remain open for .another month. The existing proposal says costs should be. billed to the former municipalities "according to each municipality's share of the costs except where the board determines that a cost has• been incurred -to benefit solely one or more of the municipalities". Deriomme said.the costs should be based on population while others said,it should he based on - assessment. The matter will he brought to the next meeting. The steering .committee also had to fix the boundary map because it" didn't_=show a portion of Bayfield and Hay Township. • The name -of the new town still hasn't been selected. Love suggested electors could, vote on it at the next municipal election in 2000 white Hay Township Coun Fred Campbell' added", -'1;'s .too early to fight about that." 'Fight over Dashwood Regarding the police village of Dashwood,. which half of its assessment- is paid to Hay Township but -its business • affairs. are managed by Stephen.Township, there is still .question of which direction it would go. The ' village could go entirely to. ' Stephen or Hay; " "It will take a public Meeting. or a;meeting with Dashwood (trustees)." saidLove. One night prior to the ,MRC .• Meeting, the Exeter, Stephen. Usborne: amalgamation group discussed the same issue and decided to senda delegation to Monday night's Hay Township council meeting. • Voure invited to a CONGRATULATIONS Christina Gordon Whitney-Ribey Funeral Home is -pleased to congratulate Christina Gordon and fellow Elderton Junior Ladies Curling Team -who placed 7th at the Provincial Championships in .Minden. Fond memories of keencompetition, good fun and new friendships will be yours for keeps. 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