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SE -- Te es or Yoarsind NIA von .olA a (Na A "Scugog"s Community Newspaper of Choice" Pals' wu wubb cs sanhal\ls AAT? Vaaxqg Yama C PORT PERRY STAR - Wednesday, July 4, 2001 - 3 - By Chris Hall Port Perry Star The controversial mat- ter of opening prayers made its way into the Scugog Council chambers last week as local council- lors debated over whether or not to endorse a resolution which seeks to give municipalities the right to choose to use a prayer to open their meetings. Local councillors dealt with the issue during a June 25 council meeting. The matter was brought in correspondence from They endorse a resolution seeking to give municipalities the right to choose: ta use prayer the Town of Midland, who are seeking to give municipalities the right to choose to use a prayer during their council meetings. "We are seeking enabling legislation that gives municipal councils the right to determine the use of an opening prayer of their choosing," Midland Mayor George - MacDonald stated in his letter. He continued to ask for Scugog"s support in "petitioning the senior levels of government for First contract in two years for DRPS Police service, board agree to a contract By Rik Davie Port Perry Star The Durham Regional Police Services Board (DRPSB) has reached a tentative three-year deal with their 700 uniformed and civilian staff. Details of the deal are still under wraps as memberspf:the: Durham Regional-«~-- - Pelice Association -- the bar- gaining group for officers and civilians -- come together later this week to vote on the deal. Contentious issues in the bargaining had included moves to alter the way sick-time was accumulated by officers, salary and the matter of vacation time. The DRPSB has con- tended for some time that the previous con- tracts needed to be sim- plified and more cash, currently paid out in sick © of cash-on'rgtirement: time packages when offi- cers retired, was needed to help staff the under- manned police service. Police association members have contend- ed that the removal of sick benefit packages arbitrarily was unfair to long-serving officers who faced losing" large sums While neither side will discuss the "tentative contract until it is rati- fied, Scugog Mayor and police service board member Doug Moffatt expressed optimism that the contract will serve labour and management well. The ratification vote by Durham Regional Police officers should be complete by this Friday, giving the officers a con- tract for the first time in over two years. Durham Regional Police reports Police seek tips after accident reported The driver of a car and her passenger were taken to hospital on Monday "after a collision occurred on Pogue Rd. in Scugog. Durham Regional Police report that a car with two occupants was travelling westbound on Pogue Rd. about 7 p.m. on July 2 when it collided with a white truck near the crest of the hill. The driver of the car told police the truck was travelling in the middle of the road and forced her vehicle off the roadway, where it struck<a tree. The driver of the truck did not stop to render assistance and the two occupants of the car had to be transported to Port Perry hospital where they were treated for minor injuries. Police ask that anyone travelling in the area of Pogue Rd. who may have witnessed the accident or seen a vehicle similar to the suspect truck call Durham Regional Police at 905-579-1520, ext. 2672. the permissive legisla- tion." Currently, munici- pal councils are-unable to recite the Lord's Prayer as per a 1999 fuling of the Ontario Court of Appeal. ~ Midland officials con- tinued to explain that "If government offices can be closed in recognition of Good Friday, a Christian holiday, it seems consistent and reasonable that a govern- : : ] ment body can recite the Lord's Prayer as a matter of procedural choice." In their letter, Midland officials then called for the provincial govern- ment to make the neces- sary changes to legisla- tion and support from the Association of Municipalities of Ontario, all MPPs and local MPs, as well as local munici- palities. Ripzone | GUESS Nog tbdiyWwoon - bh] RYN TON Na for Kids Scugog councillors, however, were not unani- mous in their decision to support such a resolu- tion. Opposed was Regional Councillor Ken Carruthers. "This is a multicultural society," he said. "It's not necessary for us to get involved at this level." Ward | Larry Corrigan argued. in FRLSH® PRODUCE BR@C [68 Queen Sueet, Port Pern DIIABUA RERARE Councillor Scugog Councillors debate merits of opening prayer favour of the resolution, noting that such an amendment "would give council the right to say yes or no. We should be able to choose if we want| to recite the Lord's Prayer." : When the time came to .-vote on endorsing the resolution, Scugog Mayor, Doug Moffatt broke a 3-3 tie when he supported the idea. i Ney OsHKosH ' BIRCAE (ON BIRR IETS] ] 3 F. CUTE Sr ERI ST CA ep 9 Sg [ERS AL WENN IA