Vol. 5, Issue 21
Free of Charge
Right up our alley
Thursday, May 24, 2018
Just dandy
Grant could
soon improve Sarnia-to-London bus service PHIL EGAN THE JOURNAL
S
arnia will share a $1.45-million grant with London and Strathroy-Caradoc to improve transportation between the three communities. The cities were among 40 in Ontario receiving funds through the Transportation Ministry’s Community Transportation Grant Program. With the money secured, the next likely step is issuing a Request for Proposals (RFPs) to interested parties, said Demetri Makrakos, economic development officer for Strathroy-Caradoc. Sarnia joined the application in February after Greyhound Canada contacted Sarnia Mayor Mike Bradley to discuss the possibility of reinstating inter-city bus service between Sarnia and London. In making its overture to the city, Greyhound estimated the route would need to be subsidized about 70%, and it would likely be cancelled after five years if the subsidy weren’t renewed. Another company expected to submit a proposal is Robert Q Airbus, which has offered inter-city transportation between Sarnia, London and Toronto since 1977. Continued on 2
EMMA GUADARRAMA, 4, stops to check out the dandelions while being coached on the finer points of hill-rolling by friend Natali Patrocinio, 10, not shown. The girls were happily entertaining themselves as parents and family watched baseball on the diamonds at Germain Park last week. GLENN OGILVIE The Journal
Surveillance cameras going up at City Hall
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CATHY DOBSON THE JOURNAL
igns will go up on the main floor of City Hall by the end of this year alerting visitors and employees that surveillance cameras are monitoring them. Video cameras at City Hall, on city buses and in the offices of Sarnia Transit is the next step in making municipal facilities a safer place to work, said deputy clerk James Jenkins. Other measures already taken at City Hall include key card access to some parts of the building. “The cameras have been on the city’s agenda for some time and are somewhat overdue,”
Jenkins said. Surveillance cameras are already operating at city parks, fire halls, public works and recreational facilities. Jenkins said money in this year’s budget will be used to install cameras at City Hall focused on main floor exits and entrances. The other floors and spaces will get cameras in coming years, he said. Incidents in which the public entered unauthorized areas and approached staff have occurred, Jenkins said. “There have been times when one of our employees possibly felt unsafe,” he said. He couldn’t point to any specific examples but said prior police investigations might
have been assisted had video been available. Jenkins said union representatives for city employees have been asked for input on video surveillance but with no response to date, he said. Council will consider a draft policy for staff working in a monitored environment on May 28. Meanwhile, cameras have already been installed in some facilities and money has been budgeted to buy more. “Stationary video cameras provide a cost effective solution to assist with post-incident investigations for workplace violence as well as illegal activities such as vandalism and theft,” the staff report states.
T N E V CK! E LX V T S S BA CR E G %APR G AR I 2018 I B R E 9 9 . OUTHE Y 2 / $ 6 F 7 O
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SARNIA 519-344-1123
HondaOntario.com Ontario Honda Dealers
According to the draft policy, only authorized personnel will review recordings and video footage won’t be saved more than 14 days unless needed for an investigation. Who watches it will depend on the incident itself. If it’s a crime, police will view it, Jenkins said. “We want to ensure our cameras are minimally intrusive when it comes to the public.” Signs will be posted to ensure everyone knows a camera is monitoring an area, he said. “We’d don’t want to leave the impression that we are deceiving anybody.” The proposed video camera policy can be seen online at clerks.smartsarnia.com.
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CR-V LX MODEL RW1H3JES
LEASE PAYMENTS INCLUDE FREIGHT AND PDI. EXCLUDES LICENCE AND HST. DEALER ORDER/TRADE MAY BE NECESSARY.
Limited time lease offers available through Honda Financial Services Inc. (HFS), to qualified retail customers on approved credit. Weekly payments include freight and PDI (ranges from $1,655 to $1,795 depending on model), tire & environmental fee ($17.50), A/C charge ($100), and OMVIC fee ($10). Taxes, licence, insurance and registration are extra. ΩRepresentative weekly lease example: 2018 Civic LX Sedan 6MT (Model FC2E5JE) // 2018 Accord LX-HS Sedan 6MT (Model CV1E1JE) // 2018 CR-V LX 2WD CVT (Model RW1H3JES) on a 60-month term with 260 weekly payments at 1.99% // 2.99% // 2.99% lease APR. Weekly payment is $56.83 // $77.64 // $75.64 with $0 down or equivalent trade-in and $275 // $0 // $600 total lease incentive included. Down payments, $0 security deposit and first weekly payments due at lease inception. Total lease obligation is $14,775.79 // $20,185.70 // $19,665.62. 100,000 kilometre allowance; charge of $0.12/km for excess kilometres. PPSA lien registration fee of $45.93 and lien registering agent’s fee of $5.65, due at time of delivery are not included. For all offers: licence, insurance, PPSA, other taxes (including HST) and excess wear and tear are extra. Taxes payable on full amount of purchase price. Offers only valid for Ontario residents at participating Ontario Honda Dealers. Dealer may lease for less. Dealer order/trade may be necessary. Colour availability may vary by dealer. Vehicles and accessories are for illustration purposes only. Offers, prices and features subject to change without notice. See your Ontario Honda Dealer or visit HondaOntario.com for full details. ♦♦Based on Association of International Automobile Manufacturers of Canada (AIAMC) data reflecting sales between 1997 and December 2017.