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Orono Town Hall Volume 64, Number 12 GST Included Wednesday, March 22, 2000 Serving Kendal, Kirby, Leskard, Newcastle, Newtonville, Orono, Starkville and Tyrone since 1937 The Gentlemen's Club pool table has gone through an extensive clean up recently, by the Club's newest member, John Carr (L). Taking his best shot is long time Club member, John VanDyke. ■ The Gentlemen's Club has met for years in the basement of the Orono Town Hall. Members involve themselves in some intense card playing, and a little pool. Clarington residents might not be trekking to the polls this November after all. If'a recommendation put forward by the Municipal Clerk's Department is approved by full council next week, residents could be casting casting their ballots by mail this municipal election. The Municipality co'uld save approximately $25,000 in the Vote By Mail Program, according to a report by the Clerk's Department, present-, ed at Monday's General Purpose and Administration Committee meeting. In order for the votes to arrive at the Municipal Centre by 8:00 p.m. November 13, 2000 -- election day, ballots must be mailed by November 3rd, 2000. That will change the whole dynamics of the election campaign according to councillor Troy Young. The last week before the election election has traditionally been very busy, said Young, with all-candidates meetings, etc. If the program is adopted by the Municipality, decisions have to be made, and ballots mailed 10 days before the actual election day. , The Township of Rama, which used the Vote By Mail method during the 1997 municipal election, claim voter turnout increased by 53% over the 1994 election. The report states many seniors were pleased with not having to worry about weather weather and transportation on voting voting day. The number of election election workers was reduced considerably, and the Municipal Clerk had better control over the entire election, election, process. The counting of the ballots takes place in one centre, so it is possible for the Returning Officer (Municipal Clerk) to oversee the entire count. The Vote By Mail kit electors electors will receive from Canada Post will include, voting instructions, a composite ballot, ballot, an inner ballot envelope coded with the Ward number, a voter declaration form, and a yellow return envelope with prepaid postage. The voter must complete the ballot, place it in the inner ballot envelope, complete the voter declaration form and place it along with the sealed ballot envelope in the yellow reply envelope. Each day as the voting envelopes are received at the Municipal Administration Centre, the Clerk removes the sealed inner ballot envelope, and voter identification slip, and updates the voters list to reflect the fact that a particular particular voter has cast his ballot. On voting day, the sealed ballot envelopes are transferred transferred to a ballot counting centre where the counting will take place. With this system the number of Deputy Returning Officers, Poll Clerks and Elections Assistants needed, will be reduced from approximately 325 to 150. For those who still wish to cast their ballot the traditional way, they may do so at a ballot ballot box that will be made available at the Municipal Office. The subject of possible hydro rate increases came up again at this month's Orono and District Community Association (ODCA) meeting. meeting. Regional Councillor John Mutton was invited to the ODCA meeting Monday evening, to add his insights into Veridian. "The main concern concern regarding the Veridian amalgamation, was the possible possible increase in hydro rates to the service areas being Orono, Bowmanville ' . and Newcastle," said Mutton. "Every member ofcouncil shares the concerns that when we were merged into a corporation, corporation, we didn't expect to see wild rate increases." - Veridian Hydro was created created through the amalgamation of Pickering, Ajax and Clarington Hydro Commissions. This amalgamation amalgamation was in response to a Provincial direction that Municipalities get out of the public utility business, and thf_< these utilities be privatized. privatized. Last September Clarington received a dividend payment of $948,000 from Veridian for its share of the assets. Another cheque of $948,000 will be received this year. ' The question was raised at the ODCA meeting whether the Mayor, as an elected representative representative from Clarington, who sits on the Board of Directors at Veridian, isn't in a conflict situation. As Mayor of Clarington, it is her responsibility to represent represent the interest of ;her ratepayers. "But it is .inappropriate .inappropriate for the Mayor as a .board member to advocate dividends not going up," said ODCA Chair, Glenn Legault. "I can say," said Mutton, "the Mayor took the message to Veridian, and she said she wants to take a look at any future dividend payments being applied agiinst the increase in hydro rates." John Wiersma, : Chair of Veridian, was invited to speak at a past Clarington council meeting, following a presentation presentation by Roy Forrester in which he raised several questions questions about the operation of the newly formed hydro company. company. At that meeting, Wiersma explained that the approximate approximate 4% rate of return realized realized by the former public utilities utilities that make up Veridian, must' now be increased to 9.88% --- the commercial rate of return. To realize that rate of return, Veridian would be looking at' phasing in rate (continued page 8) r. Happenings ORONO HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY Buffet Luncheon, Thursday, April 13,11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., Orono United Church, advance tickets June 983-5169 or Lorna 983-5608. CLARINGTON OLDER ADULTS Listen or dance to the music by "Emerald", Saturday, March 25, 8:00 p.m. Everyone welcome - Clarington Beech Centre, 26 Beech Avenue, Bowmanville. GENERAL MOTORS CHOIR Kirby United Church presents the General Motors Choir on Saturday, April 8th, 7:00 p.m. at the Orono United Church. For tickets call 983-9891 or 623-8770. DURHAM CENTRAL AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY The Society is holding a Fundraiser Dance on April 1, 2000 at the Newcastle Hall, $10.00 per person. Call 786-2970. NEWTONVILLE UNITED CHURCH Come and enjoy a Musical Concert by The Switzer Brother's Quartet, Newtonville Church, Saturday, April 8th, 2000, 7:30 p.m. Also attend the U.C.W. Roast Beef Dinner in the C.E. Room, 6:00 p.m. For tickets call 786-2239 or 786-2286. C