Clinton News-Record, 1987-06-24, Page 11\4. ➢8.1
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NO. 25
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 24, 1987
50 CENTS
Donald Knox, a student at Huron Centennial School in
Brucefield, graded those people throwing balls at the dunk tank
Saturday, with his mocking comments. The dunk tank was set
up as part of the festivities marking the school's 20th anniver-
sary. (Heather Mcllwraith photo)
Service at Clinton Post Office
minimally effected by postal strike
CLINTON - Although some areas have
been hard hit by the ongoing walkouts of the
postal carriers, the effects of the strike are
minimal in this area.
According to Richard Bowness, who
works out of the London office as a manager
of media relations for the Huron division,
the volume of mail being moved through the
area is down, but this is partly due to
citizens being wary of mailing anything out.
"It's just the confusion, or reluctance on
the part of the mailers," he noted, adding
that Canada Post is trying to maintain
delivery.
Some slowdown has also occurred
because of strikers attempting to stop the
trucks carrying mail to and from the plant,
but Mr. Bowness pointed out that the mail
was getting out more smoothly on the se-
cond day of the walkout, June 23.
Because Clinton does not have door-to-
door delivery, they have not been effected
directly by the walkouts, however, the
reduction of flew has had an indirect effect.
As London is the distribution centre for this
area, mail coming to Clinton has to first
pass through that plant.
Mr. Bowness explained that overall the
flow of mail has dropped by an average of
about 30 per cent. Some areas have been ef-
fected marginally, he said, while others
have seen up to a 40 per cent reduction.
During the June 23 telephone interview,
Mr. Bowness ventured a guess as to how
long the walkouts might last.
"From tradition, or past experiences,
they have all been 48 hour walkouts. This is
day two, so we're hoping that's all."
Salary agreements reached
The Huron County Board of Education
and three of the employee groups have
reached new salary agreements, including
one with the 265 teachers represented by
district 45 of the Ontario Secondary School
Teacher's Federation.
Gino Giannandrea said the latter was
the earliest settlement "in many, many
years" and has been reached prior to the
expiration date of the old pact. It is one
year for 1987-88 school year.
The other are two-year agreements with
the cleaners, custodians, painters and
maintenance craftsmen represented by
local 210 of the Service Employees Union
and the clerical, secretarial, teacher aide
and audio visual technician employees of
local 1428 of the CanadianUnion of Public
Employees.
The agreement with the secondary
school teachers calls for a 4.45 percent in-
crease on all grid salaries and vice-
principal salaries. Principal salaries will
be increased four percent.
Giannandrea said the new minimum for
teachers with no experience with be
$22,710 and the maximum will be $50,450.
The vice -principals will be from a
minimum of $54,340 to a maximum of
$58,690 and the corresponding rates for
principals will be $61,650 minimum to
$67,060 maximum.
Officials at the board office have listed
that the average secondary school
teacher's salary in Huron under the new
agreement is $45,483.
There will be no increases for respon-
siblity or extra degree allowances, while
the summer school and night school rates
have been hiked three percent.
The Staff Improvement Plan fund,
which enables staff to attend conferences,
workshops, etc. will be increased by three
percent on January 1 and the new figure is
now $66,950.
While the contracts for the Service
Employees Union and the Canadian Union
of Public Employees cover a two-year
Don't ride
on sidewalks
CLINTON - Those riding their bicycles
on the town sidewalks should be prepared
to pay a $50 fine.
At council's June 15 meeting, it was
noted that there have been several "near
misses" with people coming out of
buildings and cyclists riding on the
sidewalk.
According to the town bylaw, the only
exceptions are bicycles with training
wheels.
Parking to be changed on Isaac Street
By Anne Narejko
CLINTON - For the sixth time. Maynard
and David Corrie appeared before town
council to "ask for nothing more than is
logical" concerning parking on Isaac and
Mary Streets by Kuenzig Food Market.
After meeting with council five times, the
men felt there was "continual procrastina-
tion" on the part of council. However, after
their meeting on June 15, Maynard felt some
progress had been made, stating they were
"on the right track."
Council passed a motion to continue with
angle parking on Mary Street with the pro-
per signage (a 30 foot setback at the cor-
ners) and allow only parallel parking on
Isaac Street (Kuenzig side and put in a
marked walkway.
Before going through the steps which his
father and himself followed prior to the June
meeting, David said 37 town parking spots
are available in this area, 28 of which are in
a marked no parking zone. Continuing with
his case, David said, that once pointed out to
them, council was in agreement that the
sidewalks were blocked. At this point, coun-
cil referred the matter to the town planning
hoard and they discussed the issue and
replied to council.
The result of this was that council was "in
full agreement" that the parking bylaw he
enforced on Isaac Street and that an
engineering study be conducted.
in a meeting between the Corries and
Mayor John Balfour, David said parallel
parking on both Mary and Isaac Streets was
suggested.
The men also had a meeting with Police
Chief Lloyd Westlake.
"Up until two weeks ago, nothing has been
done... it's almost like you think the problem
will go away if you leave it alone," said
David. "The bylaw is not being enforced.
We don't know why."
Mayor Balfour said some action had been
taken with pillars erected, allowing a proper
walkway.
Trying to get council's thoughts, David
said, "We want to poll each councillor on
their opinion and where they stand."
Councillor Gord Gerrits was the first to be
asked. He told the men that he had been
keeping his eye on the parking situation and
felt that the cars which parked on an angle
ARTICLE IS MISLEADING
on Mary Street were not out any further on
the street than if they were parallel parked.
Councillor Gerrits also commented on the
setback at the corners, stating the planters
used to indicate no parking should be replac-
ed with something more permanent.
As for parking on Isaac Street, Councillor
Gerrits said he had believed tickets were be-
ing handed out.
Councillor Case Buffinga said he "felt
awkward" speaking on the subject.
"We dealt with it in committee of the
whole and brought our decision back. We
should support that," he said.
Deputy -Reeve John Cochrane said if the
area in question was returned to its original
Turn to page 2
No formal bid for OPP
By Anne Narejko
CLINTON - An article in the June 22 edition of the London Free Press raised a few
eyebrows as well as a few questions for Clinton citizens.
Headlines such as "Town cops out the door as OPP take over" and "Some Citizens
unaware of I Clinton) council's bid for ()PP" could be called premature.
"We're not changing to OPP over night," said Mayor John Balfour. "it's all at the discus-
sion stage and information gathering stage."
Mayor Balfour said the only reason they are considering going the OPP route is financial.
"Something people have to realize is that it costs this town about $300,000. That's $100 for
every man, woman and child," he said.
Of the police budget, which is $294,251, $63,750 is paid by the province while the Clinton
taxpayers pay $226,000 and those paying parking fines make up the remaining $4,000.
Anotherthing Mayor Balfour said the public should realize is that council will not switch
from town police to provincial police unless "we get better service for less money.
"We have to get better policing, they have to be more efficient and more economical
before we would change. It's purely financial. A lot of towns are looking at it but no formal
steps have been taken."
In stressing this point, it was noted that the issue has not yet been brought before council
at their bi-monthly meetings.
"We're just gathering information. We gather information on everything, like how to
treat sewage more efficiently, how to fix roads..."
The question of contracting work out to the OPP by individual towns was touched on brief-
ly when Premier David Peterson visited the county in April. At a meeting with the mayors,
it was suggested this could be a good alternative or a bad alternative.
Those who felt it was a bad alternative said the town police were more sensitive.
Mayor Balfour said the subject was also brought up during a London Free Press interview
concerning the widening of Highway 8.
"The main reason for the interview was to discuss the Highway 8 project. We spent about
three quarters of an hour on that and talked about the police situation for about five
minutes. That's how important it was," he said.
An error in the Free Press story with the headline "Some citizens unaware of council's bid
for OPP'' which Mayor Balfour wished the public to note was in the paragraph, "Another
man said he wouldn't risk offending town council by venturing an opinion because his bowl-
ing
owling league depends on a municipal grant."
Mayor Balfour said the bowling club was not receiving a grant from the municipality.
period, they are a month difference in the
starting point. The former runs from June
1 to May 31, 1989, while the CUPE pact
covers from July 1, to June 30, 1989.
The cleaners, custodians, painters and
maintenance craftsmen will get a four per-
cent increase to the maximum rate and
none on the start rate and the six-month
rate. The pay grid was extended from six
to 12 months by adding a third step. An ad-
ditional 15 cents to 25 cents per hour will be
added to the endrates effective January 1,
1988.
In year two, this agreement calls for a
three percent increase for the start rate
and four percent to the endrate. An addi-
tional 10 cents per hour will be added to
each endrate effective January 1, 1987.
The minimum rate for cleaners will be
$9.10 per hour on the agreement and the
maximum at the end of the two years will
be $10.10. The maintenance craftsmen, at
the top of the various scales, will have a
minimum of $12.57 at the outset and the
maximum who qualify at the end of two
years will be $14.21 per hour.
Employees under CUPE will be covered
by an agreement that calls for a 2 percent
increase on the start rate in year one and a
four percent increase on all other rates.
An additional seven cents per hour will
be added to the endrate for secretaries and
teacher assistants on July 1 of this year
and January 1, 1988.
In year two the agreement calls for a 4.3
percent increase to the endrate. In addi-
tion to this, the major salary grid will be
reduced from four years to three years.
A four over five plan which will allow in-
dividuals to take a self-funded leave has
also been instituted.The plan is similar to
that provided for the teacher groups.
The new pact will have clerical staff on a
minimum of $8.70, reaching a maximum in
two years of $10.69. For audio visual
employees the starting minimum would be
$12.80 per hour nad the maximum would be
$14.20 at the end of the two-year deal.
CLINTON PUBLIC
HOSPITAL
BUILDING FUND