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By Mike CloutierThe search for a new chief administrative offi cer has so
frustrated Mayor Doug Martin that he withdrew from town council’s recruitment committee Tuesday.
This followed a special closed session of council Monday night after councillors learned the top candidate refused the job.
Also in that meeting, Councillor Stephen Passero’s motion to offer the job to someone else was defeated.
That someone else is thought to be Ron Tripp, the Town’s
infrastructure services director who has fi lled in as acting-CAO since August 2011 when Harry Schlange left to take a
235 South Mill St., Ridgeway, Ontario • (289) 271-2955www.ridgewayherald.com
Mike Cloutier, editor and [email protected]
The independent local newspaper of Fort Erie, Canada
Friday, December 21, 2012 • Issue # 33The independent local newspaper of Fort Erie, Canada
be$t price$ paid for $crap car$Running or Not! E&R Auto Parts & Recycling 905-341-7373
Another CAO prospect declines jobActing-CAO rejected again,
Mayor quits search committee continued on Page 3
Volunteers for the Society of St. Vincent de Paul of St. George’s Church in Crystal Beach worked hard all last week to assemble more than 100 Christ-mas baskets with food and gifts for distribution to families in the area. Goods came from do-nations and purchases made possible by cash donation. Some of the hard workers are, from left, Ron Walsh, Jack Ashworth, Derek Thomas, Judy Learn, Bob Levar, Ruth Watts and Ted Watts.
Makingspiritsbright
2 • The Ridgeway Herald
Page 2 • Editorial • Op-Ed • What-not
Info about the paperThe Ridgeway Herald is distributed at advertiser
locations and is available in bulk quantities at the following places.
Brodie’s, Boggio and Edwards, Papa’s Pizza, Downtown Dollar and Discount, Joe’s Valu-Mart, Summer Delight, Movie Madness, Trailside Grill, Work of Art Frame Shop, Three Ferrises, Chadwick’s, Sherbet Lemons, Headshapes, Palmwood, Mia’s Antiques, S-Bend Restaurant, Lee’s Express, Lucky Bamboo Restaurant, Tony’s Pizza, The Plaice, Artemis Restaurant, Southsides, Old Bank Bistro, Carroll’s Bowling Lanes, A-One Crescent Mart, Subs and Sweets, Jack Shaw’s Green Acres Service, Mad Cap Hats, Beachcombers.
It is also available in smaller numbers at many other places as circumstances and supply permit.
Subscription E-MailoutsThe Ridgeway Herald is delivered to a growing list of
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For information call 289-271-2955 or drop an email to [email protected].
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Merry Christmasjob elsewhere.
Councillors then voted 4-3 to keep looking. The four councillors are Bob Steckley, John Hill, Don Lubberts and Paul Collard.
It was the second time the top candidate in separate recruitment searches for the position did not pan out and the second time Tripp was passed over.
Martin issued a written statement Tuesday afternoon announcing his decision to step away from the committee on which Hill and Steckley also sit.
He wrote that Tripp is qualifi ed, experienced and lives locally and would be able to immediately settle in the job and tackle the large projects that lay ahead.
“The problems confronting Fort Erie cannot sustain months, if not a year or more, in the learning curve that would be required by any new candidate,” the statement reads.
Martin also noted that the Town may face legal action “if any further initiative other than a good-faith offer to Ron Tripp for the position of CAO” is taken.
“This is not fair play. This is not the quality of life that we promote in Fort Erie . . . it is completely unprofessional to ignore a loyal, capable and respected professional like Ron Tripp.”
Tripp was appointed acting-CAO shortly after Schlange left. After a year-long recruitment process conducted by town staff, council - - in a 4-3 vote in July -- chose a former public works director for Windsor, Dev Tyagi, as the permanent position.
However, he wanted $30,000 a year more than the $141,000 Schlange earned and council decided in a poll taken by email to withdraw the offer.
Tripp was the next leading candidate but council - - in another 4-3 vote -- decided to renew negotiations with Tyagi which ultimately failed.
After the negotiations ended with Tyagi, council voted 4-3 to not only bypass Tripp again, but to hire a recruitment fi rm at a cost of $30,000.
Hill, Steckley and Martin were chosen to sit on a committee to oversee the recruitment. It met with leading candidates and recommended some for a second interview with the entire council.
The second interviews were conducted at White Oaks in Niagara-on-the-Lake on Dec. 7, and the decision to offer employment was made in another closed session during a regular council meeting on Dec. 10.
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THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN DRESSED AND... WELL DRESSED
CAO prospect declines job. . . continued from Page 1By Mike Cloutier
The expected end of the world didn’t come, which is good. We all get to enjoy our Christmas holidays in this life as op-posed to the next life.
The enjoyment of the delights offered by this world comes at a cost, though. We poor sloggers in Fort Erie have two more years of this town council.
Since the end of the world is terminal and town council is only temporary, perhaps we should count our blessings.
I have a tradition that goes back to 1994 when I fi rst of-fered you the opportunity bathe in the glory of my insight-ful, inspiring and, indeed, almost poetic discourses on all things municipal in this great community which I have called home for the last couple of decades.
The tradition is no one gets trashed at Christmas.Even though it takes all my will power, all my strength, all
my self control, I stand fast to that commitment.Despite the fact that the hard working councillors who
serve the public duty provide such immense possibilities, I will not be deterred from this tradition.
Just around the corner is a whole new year though.Merry Christmas.
The Ridgeway Herald • 3
Plumbing, Heating & Air ConditioningJ. Muro
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Thanks to a $30 million bonanza from slots revenue starting in 1999, Fort Erie made strong headway to replace aging infrastructure and to build new facilities.
With the fi nal payment of approximately $300,000 from the now closed slot casino at the Fort Erie Race Track expected at the end of March, the free ride is over.
Slots revenue kept taxes in check while the Town aggressively attacked projects that had been deferred for decades while repair costs mounted.
Now taxpayers are faced with a $28 million bill over the next 11 years to pay the difference between what town council has been setting aside for replacement and what needs to be done.
That is called the “infrastructure gap.”Town staff estimated that a 2.5 per cent increase in taxes
each year for the next fi ve years is required to keep pace -- or close the infrastructure gap.
“We’re not saving the money we need to replace infrastructure at the same rate that we’re using it,” said acting-CAO Ron Tripp.
“We’ve recommended an additional $500,000 every year for the past few years but it’s the fi rst thing that gets cut,” he said.
At the current rate of reserve contributions, it will take 28 years to meet the current 11 year plan.
“Councillors think from year to year but it will end up being the next council’s problem,” Tripp said. “Who wants to be responsible for a tax hike?”
There are other sources of funding for capital investment. Most notable of them are debentures, development charges, water billings and grants from senior levels of government.
Debenture is a fancy name for a loan, and Town policy calls for debentures to be used only for new projects, although that is not hard and fast.
Provincial regulation puts a limit on debenture fi nancing so that loan payments do not exceed 25 per cent of the total tax levy which is about $20 million. Currently, the Town is a tad under 5 per cent which is the limit to what the province designates as low risk. Higher risk means higher interest payments.
Development charges are mandated to be used only for projects that accommodate growth or new development, not replacement.
Water and sewer charges can only be used for water and sewer projects.
Provincial and federal grants are dependent on the will of those governments to pour money into municipalities.
The last big grant program came in response to the global fi nancial crisis of 2009. To a large degree, this program “bailed out” municipalities which were habitually deferring renewal projects -- a cross-your-fi ngers-and-hope plan.
Town needs at least$28 million more
to close funding gap
The Ridgeway Lions Club served up its annual Christmas dinner Dec. 20 at the Crystal Ridge Community Centre. With donated turkeys and other food acquired through efforts of the club and church organizations including the Lighthouse Diner, Crystal Ridge Community Church, Trinity Life Church and River Crossings Church, more than 100 meals were served. Some of the kitchen help included, from left, Robbie Robinson, Scott Cooney, Chuck Goodyear, Hans Vantnoordende and Bruce Schinkel.
Filling the hunger gap
The Town needs more money than is current-ly being allocated to replace infrastructure that has or will meet the end of its useful life in the next 11 years. By functional area, the gaps are:
Facilities — $5.7 million; Roads — 10.6 millionDrainage — $4.9 million; Water — $3.7 millionBridges — $2.9 million
continued on Page 4
4 • The Ridgeway Herald
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Bridgeburg Jewellers44 Jarvis St., Fort Erie (across from post office)905-994-1561 • www.bridgeburgjewellers.com
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The new provincial grant program is “miniscule compared to other years,” Tripp said, noting that he has experienced 11 programs in his years in the public service.
Viable and sustainable fi nancing plans for future infrastructure renewal are now a requirement to qualify for provincial funding, he said.
Not only must there be a plan, municipalities must show that they are working their plans, and that means money.
Tripp said many municipalities are defi cient in their plans and the work that they are doing to fi nance renewal -- all in the hope that once again, as it has
happened before, the province will bail them out.
However, the province has been clear that it won’t throw money around willy-nilly unless municipalities are prepared to do the heavy lifting to address the infrastructure gap.
Part of that is the development of asset management plans that address the costs to replace every single brick, load of asphalt and metre of underground pipe that municipalities own.
Tripp says it’s a positive development because municipalities who manage their affairs responsibly will be rewarded.
In other words, it removes, to a degree, the opportunities to squander money on capital projects that don’t advance infrastructure renewal plans.
Council has not made a decision for the 2013 budget to allocated the additional money to the reserves. That will come at the end of January.
Judy Learn, centre, of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul of St. George’s Church in Crystal Beach, accepts a cheque from Ridgeway BIA members Karen Malton, left, and Vivi-anne Cooney. The money was spent on food and gifts for Christmas baskets to be distributed to families in the area this season.
Province requires viable plans to get funding. . . continued from Page 3
The Ridgeway Herald • 5
Garbage bag limits are doubled for the fi ve collection days after Christmas Day throughout Niagara Region.
As well, collection days are pushed back by one day to allow for the statutory holidays, and there will even be collection on the two Saturdays following Christmas to accommodate the change.
Collection normally scheduled for Tuesday, Dec. 25 will take place Wednesday; Wednesday’s collection takes place on Thursday and so on until Saturday.
Collection day on Monday, Dec. 31 will occur normally, with New Year’s collection on Tuesday cancelled to be resumed on Wednesday. Collection for the rest of the week is also pushed back by a day until Saturday.
Households will be allowed to put out one additional bag without a garbage tag until Dec. 31 and the normal one-bag limit goes back into effect Jan. 2.
The Fort Erie depot (formerly known as ‘The Dump’) will be closed Christmas and New Year’s Days.
Most regional offi ces will be closed Dec. 24, 25, 26, 31 and Jan. 31.
Sexual health clinics will also be closed. However, should any accidental . . . spillage, let’s say . . . happen, emergency contraception can be purchased at any local pharmacy outside of sexual health clinic hours.
Emergency services will operate normally.
Town of Fort Erie offi ces will be closed starting at noon on Dec. 24 until Dec. 27 when the regular 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. hours resume.
Offi ces will close early again on Dec. 31 and re-open on Jan. 2.
Fort Erie transit and Niagara transit will be suspended on Dec. 25 and 26 and Jan. 1.
Sales RepresentativeBrian Hodge
D.W. Howard Realty Ltd. Brokerage384 Ridge Road, Ridgeway • 905-894-1703
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Free AppraisalList or Buy
David HurrenBarrister & Solicitor
948 Garrison RoadFort Erie, OntarioL2A 1N7
905.871.2424fax: 905.871.4848
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1220 Garrison Road, Fort Erie, Ontario • 905-871-2627 • 1-800-0421
WHERE TALENT meets OPPORTUNITY
Barristers & Solicitors
After 35 years in practice,L. Cameron Williams
will retire as of Dec. 21, 2012.
Clients who wish to obtain or transfer stored Wills should
contact Mr. Ruch at the law firm.
43 Jarvis Street, Fort EriePhone: 905-8718711 • Fax: 905-871-3841
Wills and Powers of Attorneywill be retained byGerald F. Ruch,
who will continue the practiceunder the firm name
Gerald RuchLAW OFFICE
Gerald F. Ruch, B.S., LL.B.Barrister, Solicitor, Notary
Someone you know has Lupus
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905-894-46111-800-368-8377
fax: 905-894-4616www.vaxxine.com/lupus [email protected]
Symptoms of Lupus may include fatigue, weakness, fever, weight loss or gain, hair loss, skin rashes, joint pain, headaches, nausea, memory loss and confusion. Ask to be tested.
Waste collection pushed back a day,bag limit increased for Christmas
Free skating is offered at the two town rinks over Christmas.
Leisureplex — Dec. 27 and 28, 2pm-3:30pm; Jan. 2, 1:30pm-3pm; Jan. 3 and 4, 2pm-3pm.
Crystal Ridge — Dec. 27, Jan. 2 and 3, 2pm-3:30pm.
Tim Horton’s Holiday Free Skate
6 • The Ridgeway Herald
OOH!
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Fort Erie • 905.994.1561
Cash For Your Scrap MetalWe accept all types of metal including
household goods, appliances, electronics & more!
177 Dunlop St., Fort Erie • 905-871-5252
Mon-Fri 7am-4pm; Sat 7am-11:30amclosed holiday weekends
Ridgeway's DowntownDollar & Discount
Party Fort Erie! We have everything you needfor every special occasion
Check out our huge selection of toys336 Ridge Road — 894-5566
Chiropractic Massage Foot Care Ion Detox Pedicure Ear Candling Aesthetics
Personal and Family Counselling Naturopathic Medicine
355 Ridge Road, Ridgeway • [email protected]
Choice Independent Dental HygieneFor all your preventative dental hygiene needs
Nancy Pearce, R.D.H.Now located at 355 Ridge Rd., N., Ridgeway
905-894-5095
dental cleanings • stain removal & whitening • mouth guards
The Canadian government re-appointed two sitting members to the board of directors of the Buffalo and Fort Erie Public Bridge Authority.
Anthony Annunziata and Rocco Vacca will return for three-year terms.
Annunziate has been on the board since 2007 and is the current vice-chairman. Vacca joined the board in 2007.
Ten members sit on the board. Five are appointed by the federal minister of transportation, and fi ve are
appointed by various New York State authorities.
Annunziata is vice-president of marketing for the Marriott Fallsview and Spa and Marriott Gateway on The Falls in Niagara Falls.
Vacca is a partner in the law fi rm of Sullivan Mahoney LLP, also of Niagara Falls.
Have a toll-free Christmas Day courtesy of the Peace Bridge as collection clerks and other employees enjoy the holiday.
Starting at midnight Dec. 25, travellers will not pay
the $3 toll normally charged upon entry to Canada.
It’s been a practice for approximately 10 years as “a nice way to conclude the year and say thank you to our employees and
customers,” said general manager Ron Rienas.
The high-tech LED lighting will also display festive colours that evening.
No tolls at Peace Bridge on Christmas
Two directors re-appointed to bridge authority
Letters, submissions welcomeLetters are always welcome. Submissions of all types are wel-
come -- words and pictures are most useful. Please limit text to about 300-400 words. Any longer and they are diffi cult to manage.
You can email or send through the Queen’s Mail - - addresses are printed somewhere on these pages.
Thanks for supporting your friendly neighbourhood local news-paper magnate.
The Ridgeway Herald • 7
Upholstery • Slip Covers
It’s worth the drive to Crystal Beach
French Country Furnishings • White Furniture
3950 Erie Road, Crystal Beach905-894-2127
Visit our showroom
Terry McKay
FAMILY DENTISTRYMcKay Dentistry Professional Corporation
179 Ridge Road • Box 460 • Ridgeway, ON L0S 1N0
Tel: 905-894-5555 Fax: 905-894-6053 email: [email protected]
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(former Erie Jewellers)
Includes cleaning contact and gasket
Present this ad to redeem • 1 per customer
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51 sizes in stock from $7 to $10 - 1 year Warranty
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Free ListingsTo include your event, please call 289-271-2955 or drop an
email to [email protected].
Two singer-songwriters from Australia will join with Niagara’s Mary Lou Minor & Travellers’ Fare for a triple bill of music at the Crystal Chandelier in Crystal Beach Dec. 28.
Tracy McNeil and Luke Sinclair are visiting from Australia and they brought their instruments and songs for a full evening of original country roots music.
McNeil is Canadian and moved to Melbourne, Australia, in 2007 shortly after releasing her fi rst album and has continued to record and perform.
Sinclair was born and raised in Australia, recording and performing country, pop, folk and rock music.
Mary Lou Minor & Travellers’ Fare were nominated for country group of the year and folk group of the year for the Niagara Music Awards in 2012.
There is no cover charge.
Love him or hate him, Justin Bieber is coming to Buffalo July 15 as his Believe world tour was expanded to include a show at the First Niagara Center.
Tickets went on sale Dec. 14 with face value prices between $39.50 and $95.
One dollar from each ticket will be donated to Pencils of Promise, a charity which works to build schools in the developing world. The goal is to build 15.
A number of VIP packages will also be offered. As well as great seats, packages include meet and greets with the pop star, photo opportunities, autographed memorabilia, exclusive VIP merchandise and more.
For information about the VIP packages, visit aeglive.com on the web.
Big Boxing Day Blowout!
Everything 50-80% Off!
It’s our annual
Dec. 27 from 10am to 5 pm
Mad Cap Hats4028 Erie Road, Crystal Beach
905-894-4008
Visiting musicians to performat Crystal Chandelier Dec. 28
Bieber to play Buffalo arena
8 • The Ridgeway Herald
Open Monday through Friday for Lunch & DinnerSaturday at 4 p.m. • Closed Sunday
41 Jarvis Street, Fort Erie905-994-9222
See our complete menu at www.oldbankbistro.com
Always fresh and affordable daily lunch and dinner specials
The The Old BankOld Bank
Dinner for 2with bottle of wineonly $49.99Mon-Thurs
Daily SpecialNY Steak and 1/2 LB
Lobster Tailonly $34.99
Niagara’sBest ValueRestaurant
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starting at$10.99
3923 TERRACE LANE, CRYSTAL BEACH 894-08203923 TERRACE LANE, CRYSTAL BEACH 894-0820
Live Bands SaturdaysLive Bands SaturdaysTake out available ... Kitchen open Wed-Sun 12p to 9p ... Specials are eat-inTake out available ... Kitchen open Wed-Sun 12p to 9p ... Specials are eat-in
FridaysFish Fry Special
$9.95
PALMWOODPALMWOOD Waterfront Dining & PatioWaterfront Dining & Patio
60¢ broastedall-day, every day
WINGS 50¢
Papa's Pizza & Subs328 Ridge Road • 894-5535 • We Deliver!
2 Large Pizzascheese & pepperoni
$19.99 + tax
LUNCH SPECIAL $3.752 Slices & a PopSpecial Prices for
Parties • Events • Schools
We have Jumbo Wings!
The BendRestaurant & Bar
5801 Hwy. 3 Sherkston • 894-4072 • Full Menu
Canadian Tire Money at Par!
ChristmasCookies
2 Dozen for $20
Sugar cookies, squares,shortbread, date balls,
macaroons, butter tarts
Ice Cream Parlour367 Ridge Road • 905-894-9573
Daily Lunch Specials $5.99Mon - Chicken Caesar Wrap w/fries • Tues - 2 TacosWed. - Burger w/fries • Thurs - Chicken Strips w/fries
Fri. - Fish & Chips Cheese Nachos $2.49 • Beef & Cheese Nachos $3.49
Home-Made Soups $3.49 • Tacos $3.49 . . . Fully Loaded $4.99
By Hazel ReinhartLakeside Books & Art
Imagine a night adrift with crystal and candlelight, an abundance of fi ne food and wine and a once in a lifetime chance to experience the extravagance that was Titanic.
Lakeside Books and Art, the home of the Ridgeway Reads Literary Festival that brings authors and poets to town every June, has the boarding passes to a gala “Last Evening on the Titanic” on special before Christmas.
These passes for the Titanic evening that will happen June 1, 2013 are priced at $125 prior to Christmas, a savings of $25 per ticket.
Hugh Brewster, the author of “Gilded Lives, Fatal Voyage” will walk diners through the evening as food is served and music plays.
Each diner will be given the name of an actual Titanic passenger and will discover his or her fate at the end of the night.
The Titanic gala will be just one of the many events linked to the second annual Ridgeway Reads Literary Festival in June.
Stop by Lakeside Books and Art, 341 Ridge Road North, Ridgeway, for more information or to purchase your boarding pass.
Titanic-themed dinner ticketsavailable at reduced cost
