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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2004 THE NEW TANNER 17 Proposed environmental Bill has Council concerned The Ontario Ministry of the Environments (MOE) threat to strengthen its en- vironmental enforcement by increasing spill penal- ties, broadening director and officer liability, and making it harder for com- panies and municipalities to defend charges and fines has Guelph/ Eramosa Township councillors con- cerned. The proposed new legislation introduces Environmental Penalties (EP) that will impose ab- solute liability on those "responsible for spills that damage the environment ak CHRISTMAS JOY: The newly elected executive of Rockwood Eramosa Firefighters Association had hardly let the ink dry on their-commitment to the community when they started a drive for toys, food and money for the EWAG office to distribute to the needy this Christmas. Left to right are association Treasurer Stew Rockola, President Bernie Liebig, Gillian Riseborough of EWAG and Vice President Gillese Alarie show some of the toys and food donated to the cause. Secretary Lisa Stover is missing. Hydro One spells out changes in township's hydro pole agreement Guelph/Eramosa Town- ship Council authorized Mayor Clint Martin and Clerk Janice Sheppard enter into a new lease with Hydro One for net- work hydro poles Monday night. The agreement has several changes including these sent to the clerk: Hydro One Networks will no longer permit ban- ners or strings of lights to be extended from pole to pole, as has typically been done across roads and main streets. Pole-to- pole banners, even those with wind vents, create transverse forces on our distribution poles, most of which are not guyed to withstand this additional stress. Moreover, pole-to- pole banners can become detached and entangled in overhead power lines, causing a power inter- ruption for local residents and. businesses. Hydro One is also concerned that banners across roadways have the potential to come down into traffic and cause a safety hazard for motor- ists. We understand that across-the-road banners have been a long-standing practice and that many communities and service clubs have invested in banners to promote lo- cal events. Municipalities may continue hanging across-the-road banners by installing their own separate poles with the appropriate back-guying in a location that will not interfere with overhead wires. The pole rental fee for streetlight attachments on Hydro One Networks poles will remain at $0.17 per attachment per month, or $2.04 per attachment per year. Hydro One Networks is reviewing this fee, as it is significantly lower than the fee currently being charged by other distribution com- panies in Ontario. The lower portion of Hydro One's poles will continue to be offered to municipalities at no charge for community use and beautification, subject to Hydro One Networks' ap- proval and the existence of a signed agreement.. Any community group that approaches Hydro One Networks directly about the use of our poles will be asked to seek the municipality's approval. 'he Rockwood Lions Club present's New Years Eve 2004 Featuring: Marion's Country Band Dinner, Dance, Party Favours $80 dollars per couple Available at local merchants "or call (519) 853-1242 or 856-4566 ° Municipalities that wish to put up seasonal decorative lighting or lit decorations on Hydro One Network' poles will be required to have proper electrical receptacles on the poles. A qualified elec- trical contractor may install the receptacles in locations approved by Hydro One Networks and the instal- lation must be inspected by the Electrical Safety Authority. and compromise the health of Ontarions." Public Works Manager Larry Van Wyck brought the issue to council's at- tention to a paragraph from a Municipal/ Corporate report from environmental lawyers Willms & Shier which read: "The potential liability of directors and officers will be expanded, and the burden of proving due dili- gence is shifted, under both the EPA and the OWRA. Currently, a director or officer of a company has a duty to take reasonable care to prevent any un- lawful discharge. Bill 133 extends the due diligence duty to prevent any branch of the Act, regulations, or any approvals, permits or orders. When charged, a director or officer will have the onus of proving that he or she took "all rea- sonable care" to prevent the contravention." "We should be con- cerned," Van Wyck told council at their meeting on Monday, December 6 Councillors concurred. "Tt will be difficult to find people to serve (on these boards). "Cr. Chris White said especially when those charged will have the onus on proving that they took all reasonable.care.to prevent the contravention. The proposed new legisla- tion is the direct result of events in Walkerton. It will stir things up all over," said Councillor Les Foote. "We need an impact as- sessment on what it really means," White said, "we could do all that's possible and still go to jail." Premier Dalton Mc- Guinty insists that Bill 133 would ensure polluters immediately face conse-,.. quences for their actions. An EP and associated or- der could be imposed by a Ministry official within days of a spill. "Our message to pol- luters is simple," says McGuinty, "You spill, you pay." The objective is to en- courage companies "to make greater efforts in preventing spills and (to provide) additional incen- ~ tives to clean them up quickly." - According to Willms & Sheir Bill 133 would put polluters on the hook for Eps of up to $100,000 per day, even if they "took all ~ reasonable steps to prevent the contravention and even if, at the time of the con- travention the person had an honest and reasonable belief in a mistaken set of facts that, if true, would have rendered the contra- vention innocent." Due diligence would not be a defense -- spillers would be liable. Don't call police for road weather status Wellington OPP are asking the public to refrain from calling Police Communication Centres to find out the latest in road and weather conditions. "Every snowy day the Centres are inundated with calls from people and it clearly isn't the responsibility of dis- patchers, "the OPP- maintain. "More importantly it could put someone else's life at risk if they can't get through to a dispatcher for a real emergency." Instead of phoning the police, the public can get winter road and weather conditions by phoning 1-800-265-5407 or check the web at. www.ontarioweather.com/winter/ roads/ontario.asp. CHRISTMAS OPEN HOUSE "December 18 2004 a 9am-2pm "gs, 2 T Pet Pictures with Santa * 3° ais. Nails, Ears and Anals Day For Information Call . 856-9002 Have a Safe and Happy Holiday: From All the Staff at R.V.C. Se 4 : 4 ¢ 2 \ |