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ELMIRA, ON | 519-669-3232
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02 | 09 | 2013 VOLUME 18 | ISSUE 06
GALE MINISTER DEEMS IT TIME FOR RETIREMENT LIVING HERE PAGE 24
COMMENT PAGE 08
WITHOUT REPERCUSSIONS, ROBO-CALL SCAMS CONTINUE
Environmental concerns halt Wellesley dog park
PLOP GOES THE PLUNGER
Potential liabilities connected to proposed site see township back away from Lions Club initiative
DOG PARK | 2
Employees get 1.5% raise in 3-year union deal Terms of contract to apply to all Woolwich Township workers; changes to benefits package sees net-zero impact on budget
WILL SLOAN The Wellesley Lions Club found their proposal in the doghouse this week as Wellesley council voted against partnering on a leash-free dog park. In November, the Lions proposed a deal in which they would buy and develop land for a dog park, and then donate the completed park to the township. Wellesley would then become liable for the park under its existing insurance policy. An investigation into the proposed area, in the Village of Wellesley at Nafziger Road and Gerber Road (near the hydro substation), showed “potential for questionable soil conditions.” “One of the goals of the Lions Club was to put it into a low environmental and high-use area, that’s one of the reasons that made that land so attractive,” said club member Richard Franzke at the Monday meeting. He added that the Lions hoped to build the park where it would be within walking distance of many Wellesley residents as a way to encourage exercise. “I mean, there’s no use putting it out there in a cornfield – we could probably buy
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STEVE KANNON
Who needs hockey? On February 2, the Alma Optimists held their annual plunger toss, giving local residents a chance to see just how far they could throw that least aerodynamic of bathroom implements. All proceeds will go to Alma Optimist youth programs. [WILL SLOAN / THE OBSERVER]
Woolwich’s unionized outside workers will receive raises of 1.5 per cent in each of the next three years under the terms of a new contract approved this week. The pay hike will raise the average union wage this year to $24.35 an hour, from $23.99 in 2012. There will also be increases to their standby pay, shift premium and footwear allowance. With adjustments to the workers’ benefits package, however, the net impact on the budget is expected to be zero this year. The agreement covers 20 members of the Canadian Union of Public Employees local 1542. The same increase is automatically extended to all other staff members. Council members, having voted against a wage freeze for themselves, will also receive the
1.5 per cent increase. Chief administrative officer David Brenneman said the same benefit adjustments will see pay increases to non-unionized workers net out to zero as well. The wage provisions in the deal are similar to the contract reached between Wellesley Township and its unionized workers, and to the arbitrated settlement in North Dumfries Township, he noted. He described the latest negotiations, which began December 7 and wrapped up January 22, as “very reasonable,” with the economic situation front and center. “There was a clear understanding on both sides of the economic realities.” An overall neutral impact on the budget was a key goal in the negotiations. WAGES | 2