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Times Advocate, 1993-07-28, Page 1Cone inning our Storewide Sale 25-70% Off Selected Items cash &cam' GP COUNTRY FLOWERS Exeter Inside Students Working for the environment Page 5 Local band Making their debut Page 10 Trainer Working with the top horse Second Front Community Centre agreements on the carving block AILSA CRAIG - Two Town- ships have expressed interest in ter- minating their involvement in Com- munity Centre agreements. McGillivray Township council agreed last Monday not to endorse London Township council's request to leave the Lucan Community Centre agreement. "It is unclear what might happen to the Community Centre agree- ment if members begin to change it," Corbeu said. London Township has indicated for several months .that they would prefer to get out of the agreement. A majority of the participating municipalities of Lucan, Biddulph, London and McGillivray must en- dorse any proposed changes in the existing contract. Council also received notice that Ailsa Craig wants out of its role in the North Middlesex Community Centre agreement. All participants of Parkhill. Ailsa Craig. East and West Williams as well as McGillivray must endorse any proposed changes to the con- tract. Second car dealership hit by recession Norte Middlesex & Lambton EXETER - The second new car dealership in Exeter has closed its doors this year. After eight years service Miles Ford closed down on Thursday. "Itwas due to poor economic conditions," said dealer Bob Ser- geant on Friday. Eight people will be without jobs as both the dealership and service department close. Earlier in May, Frayne Chev-+ Olds -Geo which was Exeter's long- est established new car dealership also closed down operations. Friedsburg days set for weekend DASHWOOD - This Friday will mark the beginning of Friedsburg '93 celebrating heritage with -the theme, show your true colors. The three day event will begin at 6 p.m. followed by the first year for Bingo at 7 p.m. in the community centre. "This year we added a few new attractions said Elaine Hayter who is heading up the Friedsburg Days Committee. This year will also see a farm toy show, but the big draw Hayter said will of course be the Parade on Sat- urday. Surprisingly, she, said the tug-of- war event is growing in popularity. "We get a lot of participants and just as many observers," she said, There is also a youth talent show and anyone under the age of 16 is urged to register. "It's just for fun, the performers won't be judged." The weekend will wind up with a community breakfast on Sunday. 'ott don't bite the hand that... This billy goat sure wasn't gruff for Michael Crete who was touring the livestock barns at the Zurich Fair Saturday afternoon. More fair photos on page 8. Court aeO soo ea�ks areument Students win right to attend Ceittralia in fall By Catherine O'Brien T -A staff HURON PARK - The fate of Centralia College of Agricultural Technology is not sealed yet. On Monday, the court ruled that Centralia should not be closed until the trial of a proposed class action suit against the Ministry of Agricul- ture and Food is heard, said Najeeb Hassan, a lawyer representing stu- dents involved in the case. This means the more than 160 students who had applied to the col- lege for first year courses in the fall have the right to attend. In his ruling Judge J.C. Kennedy of Ontario Court provincial divi- sion said the seven students who challenged the college closure have a strong case against the pro- vincial government for breach of contract. They launched the •suit in late May arguing that their futures are in jeopardy if the college is closed as scheduled in May 1994. The action was taken in response to OMAF's announcement on April 23 that the college would be dos- ing. Originally, the closure meant first year courses in Agriculture Busi- ness Management and Food Ser- vice Management would not be of- fered in the fall. Students enrolled in Veterinary Technology course would have had to transfer to another college in their second year of study in 1994- 95. Lawyers for the students had argued that OMAF entered into written contracts with the students when letters of acceptance were sent out and deposits taken. Judge Kennedy agreed contracts had been made between the stu- dents and the college. At press time, CCAT director Kathryn Biondi said OMAF is re- viewing what this means. "There are lots of ramifications," she said. "You'll have to stay tuned for the next few days at least to see what other developments might come." It is also unclear at this'time as to when the trial might take place. "The trial is to be expedited," is theonly comment Hassan could make. This news comes two weeks after the Ontario Development Corpora- tion was named as the body head- ing future studies into possible uses for the college. An agreement had been made then between ODC, the Tri - municipal Liaison Committee which is made up of Grand Bend and the townships of Stephen and Bosanquet; and the South Huron Economic Development Commit- tee. But ODC will not be making any firm plans until a verdict is reached regarding the lawsuit. "Everything is in limbo until we leam of the final verdict," Tom Tomes, Reeve of Stephen Town- ship said last week. ..7 ' Pre :f<O `. :10R !.'.. _ Not Yt R..Y town's responsibility, claims reeve --W [[ Council wants legal fee tab picked up by province EXETER - It may be little more than a political complaint, but Exet- er Town Council are looking to the provinceyto pick up the tab on legal bills arising from the recent Civil- ian Commission on Police Services inquiry. Council is facing a $42.337.29 to- tal of legal expenses racked up by the town police services borgd be- fore and during the inquiry into the actions of the board and the chief. The police chief was fined by the board last September and subse- quently rehired. The inquiry, which convened in May, and will not resume until September, is like- ly to remain inconclusive. The en- tire town police force and the chief are expected to be hired by the OPP as the town switches to OPP con- tract policing. However, left holding the bill, council has fired off a loner to So- licitor General Dave Christopher- son, reminding him that police ser- vices boards are now provincially appointed, and suggesting that their legal expenses should also be pro- vincial responsibilities. "Citizens of this •town must not be penalized in their taxes for these costs particularly since they are be- yond the normal protection services provided by a Police Services Board, an agency appointed by the Solicitor General. As you know, a Police services board is not re- quired to be accountable to Council for its fiscal needs or expendi- tures," reads the letter to the minis- ter signed by reeve Bill Mickle. "Mr. Christopherson, the Exeter Council looks forward to the re- ceipt of the above -noted tum to cover this extraordinary expendi- ture. After all. the Police Services Boards are monitored and con- trolled by the Province, not the mu- nicipality," concludes the letter. Mickle acknowledged that he didn't know if the minister might take council's request seriously, es- pecially since the ministry has not responded to two earlier letters from council complaining about the lack of financial control municipali- ties now have over their own police forces. "I think it's worth explaining to them the lack of accountability, the lack of control over police budgets and this [legal bill] is a symbol of Outgrows _»rand Bend plant _pfter four years Bluewater Recycling on the move to Huron Park GRAND BEND - The Bluewater Recycling Asso- ciation is heading inland. Although the move wont take place until next spring, a deal has already been signed to relocate the municipally -owned recycling operation to a facility in Huron Park. When Bluewater opened its doors in September 1989, the Grand Bend industrial park location be- side the airport was considered to be more than ade- quate for the future needs of the then -fledgling recy- cling industry. "The place was huge when we took on this facili- ty," explained association administrator Francis Veilleux. But with a limited blue box program starting up in only seven member municipalities, the 13,400 square feet near the airport at the west boundary of Stephen Township seemed plenty large enough. Four years later, Bluewater trucks now collect re- cyclable materials in 44 municipalities in four counties, and those blue boxes now collect about what they used to. � Y,with industries and 1 isinesses getting more .4peageged in recycling, especially with increased user -fees for garbage at landfills in local communi- ties, Bluewater is feeling pressed for space. "When somebody comes in with a truckload of cardboard, virtually all our floor space is gone," said Veilleux. "Our piles are starting to touch and were getting some contamination," he added, but noted the prob- lem is not yet bad enough to cause any loads of re- cyclables to be rejected by customers. Next April, Bluewater's 44 employees, 25 of them full-time, will be able 10 stretch out in 40,000 square feet of leased industrial space in the Ontario Development Corporation's Huron Park. Veilleux said the building's size will allow all processing and storage to be once -again done indoors out of the ele- ments. Veilleux said several options were considered over the past two years before setting on a reloca- tion to Huron Park as the best solution to the over- crowding problems. Apparently, 20 possible loca- tions were analyzed throughout the Bluewater Association's membership area. Veilleux described the lease with ODC as a good deal, working out to "substantially less" cost per square foot of space, compared to the present build- ing. The operation still has an eye on the future. Veil- leux hinted at upcoming plans to expand the range of recyclable items even further, with the possibility of textiles being added to the list of things that no longer are classed as useless garbage. The larger building will play a part in those plans. "It's certainly going to be advantageous to all the members," promised Veilleux, who said while the move is still months away, hopes are high it can all be accomplished within about 10 days, and without any interruption to blue box service. it," Mickle told the Times Advo- cate. Mickle said council has nothing against the people on the local po- lice board, which includes the may- or, or the actions followed by the board in the recent hearing. .He said council's concern is their Toss of control over police budgets un- der the new Police Services Act. Mickle said he hoped that since copies of the letter have also been sent to opposition party leaders, the minister will have to at least make himself aware of the problem in case the issue is brought up in the Legislature. Quicker action sought for cleanup Ugly properties next Grand Bend target GRAND BEND - With parking problems now coming under control, Grand Bend council has acknowledged a new goal in trying to upgrade the village's image in (ic eyes of visitors - derelict or unkempt properties. Mayor Tom Lawson spoke of "four or five properties in the community which require 'tidying up' if you can use that word," and said quicker ac- tion is needed to be taken than allowed under the old property standards bylaw. Unkempt cottage properties frequently bring complaints to council from neighbours who are upset by overgrown yards, debris, derelict buildings, and possible safety hazards. Village administrator Paul Turnbull said] one particular property of Elm- wood Street has not been cleaned up since it was identified as a problem in 1991. Since that property has been broken into he said action can now be taken without waiting for a 30 -day warning period. "That's why we can move quickly on property standards in this case," Turnbull told council. Lawson agreed and said the village did need provision for taking quicker action against owners of untidy properties, or charging them for having them cleaned by village staff. The mayor said council took towing of illegally parked cars seriously last summer, is taking parking deterrents seriuusly this summer, and should now consider cleaning up unruly properties as the next step to a better resort village. "1 think this property situation is the next piece to the puzzle," said Law- son. "All we know is the status quo is not the answer." Lucan unhappy with new treatment plant LUCAN - Village council continues to be unhappy with the perfor- mance of the new sewage treatment plant and has sent a complaint to the Ministry of Environment and Energy with copies to the engineering firm of M.M. Dillon. At the July 20 meeting of council, reeve Tom McLaughlin said, " 1 am very disappointed and upset that more than six months after assuming ownership of the plant we arc still not running properly with problems such as calibration of the effluent flow meter, the major filter capacity problem and Landscaping yet to be completed." McLaughlin continued, " 1 get inquiries daily from our residents con- cerning the treatment plant problems and I assure them that we are still holding Nick $600,000 in contract payments. We won't pay until it's right". 11