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Perth Courier
December 30, 2010 • Edition 28
www.yourottawaregion.com
Th e
The Perth and District Community Newspaper since 1834
Council members remain cool on salary freeze
IN BRIEF Bridge needs another month
The Beckwith Street swing bridge, which was expected to be BY CATHY JAMES open to traffic on Dec. 24, will not Perth Courier be open until the end of January, according to Parks Canada. A proposal to temporarily The bridge was originally freeze the town’s non-unionized scheduled to open by the end of staff salaries was rejected the day on Dec. 24, but “technical difficulties and unexpected additional work” has resulted in delays, stated information from Parks Canada. Concrete casting and final balancing still needs to be completed before the bridge opens. The bridge has been closed since June of 2009. It is now expected to open prior to Jan. 31.
Perth woman charged with theft A 56-year-old Perth woman was charged with theft after being caught shoplifting from a business in town on Dec. 22. She was given an Appearance Notice and is scheduled to appear in court on Jan. 24
INSIDE
mem- McPherson said. But McPherson amended his delibmotion at council’s regular meetto be ing the following week on Dec. 21. The McGuinty Liberals slapped know now,” a two-year freeze on salaries for non-unionized workers, including those in the civil service, leaving the municipality to foot the bill for any salary increases. Perth’s nonunionized staff members are not limited to management positions. With unionized municipal staff set to receive a three per cent increase next year, McPherson said it wasn’t reasonable to penalize the non-unionized staff, especially since the town has always mirrored salary increases for both parties. “It’s not fair to punish every-one who doesn’t belong to a union,” McPherson said. He then proposed to change the motion to state that council would postpone the review indefinitely. He added that the town’s chief administrative officer, Tim Simpson, will review the municipality’s staff wages and prepare a report for council. Following the 2011 budget deliberations, Kids participate in the Asbury Children’s Christmas party at the Asbury Free Methodist Church on Dec. 18. McPherson said council could From left, Owen Law, Spencer Lafanso, Natania Walters and Chloe Nagle. Kassina Ryder photo then decide whether to review annual salary increases for nonunionized staff. Mayor John Fenik expressed his frustration with the provincial freeze, but added he didn’t Ottawa Mental Health Centre for Madaire. BY NEVIL HUNT support the proposed motion or a 30-day assessment to determine Madaire was found dead in the nevil.hunt@metroland.com amendment. couple’s home on Montgomery if the accused is mentally fit to “The management team are The accused in a Lanark mur- Road, just outside the village of stand trial. Hackland said the great,” Fenik said. “We should 30 days could be extended if der trial has been sent for a Lanark. not be hanging a wage freeze over Evidence was presented by the necessary. psychiatric evaluation at an their heads.” Paquette’s lawyer, Mark Crown during the Dec. 23 hearing, Ottawa hospital. McPherson said his intention Lucie Paquette, 47, appeared in but is subject to a publication ban Wallace, and possibly Paquette was not to promote job insecurOntario Superior Court Dec. 23 in and cannot be reported at this herself, are expected to appear ity. in the Perth court again on Perth for an initial bail hearing. time. Coun. Jim Boldt said it’s a good Justice Charles Hackland Jan. 21, when the results of the She is accused of first degree idea to review annual salary murder in the Nov. 15 death of agreed with a Crown request to assessment may be presented to increases. her common-law husband, Gerry remand Paquette to the Royal the court. “If we give anyone an increase because someone else got an increase, I have to know why they got the pay increase,” Boldt said. Council had a recorded vote about postponing the salary increase review indefinitely, and the motion was defeated. The museum has enabled us to work choose the winner, but Zander’s rejection led council to vote on BY KASSINA RYDER kassina.ryder@perthcourier.com with the youth in our community dedication to both history and the original motion to freeze and help them appreciate their his students earned him the the wages until the 2011 budget deliberations, and this, too, was Perth and District Collegiate history and what a museum can award. “He goes beyond just teaching,” defeated. Institute history teacher Tim do in a community,” she said. Zander said he appreciated she said. Zander has been selected as the Perth Rotary Club’s Educator of receiving the award, but said the students are behind the the Year for 2010. Zander was presented with a achievement. “It means a lot for the school,” plaque onstage during the PDCI he said. “I’m only as good as the Talent Show on Dec. 22. “There were quite a few people students.” Realizing the importance of who nominated Mr. Zander,” said Chris Hale, former Rotary club history is a goal Zander hopes to president. “He has a great rapport pass on to each of the students he with the kids. He has inspired teaches. “I think it gives us a sense of students to care about history.” Zander has been a history self,” he said. Partnering with local organiteacher at PDCI for the past 12 years. In that time, he has initiated zations also helps to hone stumany projects that have brought dents’ research skills, as well as students and the community teaching them about the history together, including cataloguing of the area, he said. In addition to school activities, memorabilia from the Perth Legion’s Hall of Remembrance Zander is also a father of four and various collaborations with who coaches hockey, is the coauthor of a history teachers’ rethe Perth Museum. Work at the museum included source book, is on the executive students creating a series of short of the Ontario History and Social movies titled “Perth through Science Teachers’ Association the eyes of PDCI students” and and is currently pursuing a Masinterviewing locals for an oral ter of Education Degree. Zander has also helped organhistory project. Karen Rennie, heritage mana- ize a trip to Europe in honour of ger and curator at the Perth Mu- the 65th anniversary of Victory seum, said getting students to in Europe Day and is also active participate in museum projects is on the Perth 200th Anniversary Tim Zander, PDCI history teacher, receives his Educator of the Year award from Chris Hale, past president of the Perth Rotary Club, in the Committee. a benefit to everyone involved. Kassina Ryder photo Hale said it is often difficult to PDCI auditorium on Dec. 22. “I think Tim’s work with the around the Town of Perth council horseshoe. At its committee-of-the-whole meeting on Dec. 14, Coun. Ed McPherson requested that council halt salary increases for non-
unionized municipal staff bers until the 2011 budget erations take place. “Our budget is going high and we just don’t what level it is at right
LOOK WHAT WE MADE!
Accused is sent for evaluation
Looking back Mayor John Fenik discusses both the highlights and the challenges Perth faced in 2010. 3
Tim Zander wins Educator of the Year
Taking the Plunge Perth’s Dave Lavery takes an early dip in the Tay River to raise awareness about this year’s Polar Bear Plunge. 5
Symmetry in Sport PDCI volleyball players Emily Gray and Evelyn Scott find a way to balance sports and schoolwork. 14
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