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Serving the Mapleton Community
Community News Volume 44 Issue 30
Drayton, Ontario
1 Year GIC - 2.05% 3 Year GIC - 2.80% 5 Year GIC - 3.05% Daily Interest 1.75%
Friday, July 29, 2011
Councillors want smoking prohibited near arena entrance by Chris Daponte MAPLETON TWP. Councillors seem to have backed off the idea of making entire properties smoke free, but they are in favour of imposing restrictions around public buildings. About a month ago, Mapleton council rejected a proposal from its parks, culture and recreation committee to make all township parks smoke free. But last week most councillors agreed something needs to be done to get smokers away from township-owned buildings. Clerk Patty Sinnamon outlined in a report the smoking restrictions contained in The Smoke Free Ontario Act as well as Wellington County’s own smoking bylaw. The latter prohibits smoking within five meters of all county-owned building, with the exception of the Wellington Terrace nursing home, which is nine metres. Councillor Jim Curry said members of Mapleton’s parks, culture and recreation committee are particularly concerned about smoking around the entrance to the PMD Arena in Drayton. They would like
to see the issue addressed by the fall, in time for the coming hockey and figure skating season. Councillor Mike Downey suggested erecting signs stating there is no smoking within nine metres of the arena. Curry agreed, but said the township first needs a bylaw to that effect. Mayor Bruce Whale wondered if the township should consider some sort of enclosure outside the building to encourage smokers to move away from the arena entrance. Public Works Director Larry Lynch said he’s not sure the municipality wants to do that, as it could get expensive if such enclosures are installed at every township-owned public building. Councillors discussed for several minutes the logistics of instituting the nine-metre ban, including where to place receptacles for cigarette butts. Whale suggested township staff look at public buildings and report back to council on what they think is appropriate. Curry and Downey agreed (councillors Andy Knetsch and Neil Driscoll were absent).
Council okays extra sidewalk repairs by Chris Daponte MAPLETON TWP. Council has agreed to proceed with extra sidewalk work, given that a contractor is already in Drayton to complete sidewalks for the downtown revitalization project. Public Works Director Larry Lynch told council last week there are certain spots that should be fixed while the
contractor is in town. He explained there is $125,000 in this year’s budget for sidewalk work - not including the downtown revitalization portions - and GJR Construction is able to complete the extra jobs at the same price per metre it quoted last year. Lynch estimated that even Continued on page 6
Weather leads to fire ban, call for water conservation
Classic tractor - Clare McGoldrick, of RR#1 Alma, was proud to show off his 1952 John Deere AR tractor, which he restored two years ago, at the annual Upper Canada Two Cylinder Show last weekend in Drayton. More show photos on page 8. photo by Mike Robinson
Fire department to offer more services?
by Chris Daponte MAPLETON TWP. - Fire Chief Rick Richardson has proposed several possible changes to the services offered by the fire department in an attempt to improve safety for township residents. None of the changes expected to cost over $30,000 in total for training, wages and equipment - are covered in the 2011 budget. But Richardson said in his annual report to council last
week that the township could proceed next year with the changes. In particular, the fire chief offered three key possible additions to the lengthy list of emergency services already offered by the department. They are confined space rescue, water rescue and ice rescue. For confined space rescue and grain bin entry, the department would require a tripod, harnesses, hardware, lights and radios - at a cost of $3,000 - in
addition to the current rescue pack that was recently updated. Twelve firefighters would require three days of paid training, costing $3,600 for training and $4,400 in wages. The Mapleton Fire Department does currently offer land-based water and ice rescue, but can only operate from the shore. For full water rescue, the department would require a multi-purpose rescue boat (also Continued on page 3
Township still seeking more information on new alcohol rules by Chris Daponte MAPLETON TWP. - Clerk Patty Sinnamon has suggested township officials and local service clubs meet with an Ontario alcohol and gaming representative to discuss what effect, if any, new alcohol rules have on local events. There appears to be some confusion in various municipalities throughout the province about the new rules, which came into effect June 1. And last month Mapleton’s parks, recreation and culture committee noted there is concern about minors drinking and also about alcohol being
consumed outside of township events. Sinnamon last week suggested council and staff need to meet with Mapleton service clubs to discuss the changes. In particular, she noted the change allowing drinking outside of beer tents or gardens at festivals and events is being misinterpreted. If that’s the rule adopted by an event, the larger area still needs to be enclosed with a fence, she explained. She added it is still up to the local municipality to decide if it wants to extend alcohol service at events from 1am to 2am - another change okayed
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by the province. In fact, Attorney General Chris Bentley emphasized upon passage of the new alcohol laws that it will be up to local communities if they want to approve any of the new relaxed measures. “It’s not one size fits all,” Bentley told the London Free Press in late May. “And if the people, organizers and municipalities don’t want to do any of this, they don’t have to.” Bentley added the Ontario government was just trying to provide more flexibility. In addition to the extended hours and ability to drink out-
side beer tents, other changes approved by the province include: - restaurant and bar servers can carry drinks on public sidewalks to licensed areas such as patios; - all-inclusive vacation packages can now be sold in Ontario; - business owners can give a complimentary drink to customers to celebrate a special occasion like an anniversary; - boat tours can begin serving alcohol before the boat leaves the dock; and - businesses not usually in the food and alcohol business,
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such as such as spas and art galleries, can apply for a permit to serve alcohol during a special event. Sinnamon said she would like to invite township and service club officials to meet sometime in August with a representative from the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario to discuss the rules. She suggested contacting other municipalities and clubs and offer one information session for anyone interested. Mayor Bruce Whale said he liked the idea and councillors Jim Curry and Mike Downey seemed to be in agreement.
BILL’S
by Chris Daponte WELLINGTON CTY. The extremely hot weather that has hit southern Ontario over the last month has led to a fire ban across Wellington County and a call for improved water conservation. “Due to the extreme dryness of all vegetation” in the county, on July 20 county fire coordinator Brad Patton, chief of the Centre Wellington Fire Department, announced all open air fires are prohibited “until further notice” in all seven lower tier municipalities. Patton could not be reached for comment and Tom Mulvey, public safety officer with the Centre Wellington Fire Department, was unsure how long the ban would be in place. “Until we have a significant amount of rainfall,” Mulvey told the Community News. That could be some time, considering temperatures are expected to be over 30 degrees Celsius (with the humidex) every day at least into August, with July 28 being the only day this week with sustained rainfall in the forecast. According to the Grand River Conservation Authority, the only significant rainfall this month was a storm that moved through the county on July 3, dropping about 15 to 25 millimetres of rain. But other than that storm, most areas of the county have seen only a few millimetres of rain, whereas the average rainfall for July is about 80mm. Provincial forest and wildland fire indicators are all at extreme levels and Mulvey said the ban is part of an effort to prevent blazes like those spreading throughout northern Ontario. While fire bans are commonplace in the summer in various municipalities, countywide bans are rare. The ban applies to all open air fires, defined as any outdoor fires including bonfires, campfires, burn barrels, outdoor fireplaces/chimineas or others. The only exceptions to the ban are cooking fires, from noon to midnight, only within approved campgrounds. The hot, dry weather over the last month has also led to a call for water conservation by the Grand River Conservation Authority (GRCA). Communications manager Dave Schultz said Wellington County residents should avoid the possible urge to exceed Continued on page 3
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