the
Serving the Mapleton Community
Community News Volume 47 Issue 07
Drayton, Ontario
1 Year GIC - 2.09% 3 Year GIC - 2.26% 5 Year GIC - 2.80% Daily Interest 1.55%
638-3328
Friday, February 14, 2014
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Council pay up slightly in 2013
Monopoly money - Raymond Ash, right, of Moorefield recently received a cheque for a $10,000 prize he won in McDonald’s restaurants’ Monopoly game. Ash found an instant win stamp on the wrapper of an egg mcmuffin he purchased at the McDonalds in Listowel on Oct. 14. He received the cash from Listowel restaurant manager Joe Vinen on Feb. 11. Ash, a self-employed book keeper, says he plans to invest half the money, pay some bills and make a few purchases. “Just small things - nothing major,” he said. photo by Patrick Raftis
by Patrick Raftis MAPLETON - The cost of local government, in terms of pay for elected officials in the township, rose slightly in 2013, compared to the previous year. A report presented at the Jan. 28 Mapleton council meeting included a remuneration summary for all council members last year. The total cost to local taxpayers came in at $80,032, compared to $78,321 in 2012. As in most municipalities, the mayor’s costs were the highest among council members. Mayor Bruce Whale received total remuneration of $19,801. That includes a salary of $16,259, about $3,600 more than councillors, who are paid $12,646. In 2012, the mayor’s salary and expenses totaled $19,801. Whale also had meeting expenses in 2013 of $70, registration fees of $2,218, hotel
expenses of $123, mileage and parking fees of $405 and meal expenses of $245. The expenses of the four councillors are listed below in the following order: salary, meeting per diem fees, convention and seminar per diems, registration, hotel costs, mileage and parking, and meal costs: - Jim Curry, $12,646, $550, $600, $1,851, $286, $509, $3, for a total of $16,477; - Mike Downey, $12,646, $1,410, $480, $2,130, $449, $443, $45, for a total of $17,604; - Neil Driscoll, $12,646, $250, $0, $587, $0, $0, $0, for a total of $13,483; and - Andy Knetsch, $12,646, $1,670, $240, $791, $123, $205, $20, for a total of $15,695. Mapleton also has five committees whose members receive remuneration and expenses.
The total cost for all six committees in 2013 was $8,230, compared to $11,526 in 2012. Cemetery committee members Jean Campbell and Kathryn Fowler were paid $100 each for attending meetings. Meeting pay for committee of adjustment and property standards members was: Kathleen Ayres, $700; Floyd Schieck, $630; Carl Israel, $700 and Peg Schieck, $700. Maryborough housing board members received the following amounts for attending meetings Vaughn Doig, $500; Sandy Vallance, $500; Lois Donaldson, $550 and Virginia Franklin, $600. The parks and recreation committee has six members, who received the following remuneration in 2013: Dave Geddes, $250; Peg Schieck, $300; Carla Schott, $300; Lorrie Spaling, $400; Dennis Craven, $250 and Kelly Culp, $150.
Fire calls hit 10-year high in Mapleton; medical/rescue responses top list by Patrick Raftis MAPLETON - Local firefighters spent more time battling blazes in 2013 than any year in the past decade. In his annual report to Mapleton council at its Jan. 28 meeting, Fire Chief Rick Richardson noted the Mapleton Fire Department responded to a total of 159 incidents last year, of which 41 (26 per cent) were fire calls. A 10-year comparison shows the next highest number of fire calls in the past decade was 34 (23%) in 2005. In 2012, fire calls accounted for only 25
of 163 incidents (or 15%). The 10-year low for fires occurred in 2010, when firefighters responded to only 14 fires, 11% of the 124 incidents that year. In 2013, medical calls accounted for 47 incidents, or 31%, while 36 incidents, or 23%, were rescue calls for accidents. While the number of fire calls was up last year, Richardson noted the combination of medical and accident calls continues to represent the majority of activity. “Our major item was medi-
cal and rescue, and third was fire. That’s been pretty consistent with the last 10 years,” he said. False alarm calls accounted for 12% of all responses, with various other types of incidents making up 16% of the total. Richardson said the proliferation of cell phones is partly responsible for the number of false call outs. He said people passing the site of a controlled burn often call them in and, if they get the address wrong, there is no way of knowing the burn was pre-planned. “Of course you get out there
and find out they have a permit for it, but you have to respond,” he explained. Fire prevention In an outlook for fire prevention activities in 2014, Richardson advised council the Ontario Fire Marshal has changed the priority order of the three traditional lines of defense for fire departments. The previous priority order was: fire suppression, public education, fire prevention. That has been changed to put fire prevention and fire code enforcement first, followed by, public education, then fire sup-
pression. Fire code inspections have previously been required on complaint or to address licensing or other requirements, Richardson explained in the report. A new risk management tool will now be available to identify properties requiring inspections at certain intervals. Buildings occupied by “vulnerable people” will also require more inspections and fire drills, Richardson noted. Among the new public education initiatives proposed for 2014 by the Mapleton depart-
ment is a public safety day at the PMD Arena for students in Grades 1 to 4 at all local schools. The students would be brought in for half-day sessions with presentations by representatives of the OPP, EMS, public health unit, farm safety, safe community committee, emergency planners, and the fire department. The local department also plans to continue its popular Fire Prevention Day Breakfast and develop a department brochure explaining burn permits, recruiting, emergency preparedness and other topics.
Organizational review underway in Mapleton
Bowl for Kids - Members of the Mapleton and Minto communities hit the lanes at the Mount Forest Bowling Centre for the kick-off to the annual North Wellington Big Brothers Big Sisters Bowl for Kids fundraiser on Feb. 9. Forty teams with 191 bowlers raised $14,021. Josh Heiliger, right, and his “little brother” Matthew, left, were among the participants. photo by Patrick Raftis
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by Patrick Raftis MAPLETON - The future of the vacant public works director position in Mapleton is being dealt with as part of an organizational review. The township has been without a public works director since former director Larry Lynch was terminated on Dec. 11. On Jan. 14, Mapleton council held an in-camera session to deal with a report from CAO Patty Sinnamon titled “Public Works and Administration Overview – Organizational Restructuring.” On Jan. 28, another in-camera session on the topic of “organizational review” was held by council. Sinnamon told the Community News council is considering the nature of the position as currently structured and possible changes as part of an overall organizational
Rebuilding on hold - Only this door and supporting brickwork remained standing after the primary Mapleton public works building was destroyed by fire on Nov. 29. Mapleton council is still considering its options for rebuilding. photo by Patrick Raftis review. “We’re still working through that and haven’t’ really decided what that’s going to
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look like, so we haven’t advertised for that position at this point,” she explained. In the meantime, Sinnamon
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said the four public works departmental managers are reporting to the CAO. Rebuilding options Council is also still considering its options when it comes to rebuilding the township’s main public works garage, which was destroyed by fire on Nov. 29. Sinnamon told the Community News on Feb. 5 she was in the process of arranging a meeting between council members and the municipality’s insurers. “Council hasn’t really had the opportunity to discuss what we want to do,” said Sinnamon. “Are we going to build the exact same thing? Are we going to move it ...? Fire Chief Rick Richardson said the Ontario Fire Marshall’s Office has not yet released a report on its investigation of the blaze.
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