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a - 4 - PORT PERRY "WEEKEND STAR" FRIDAY, MAY 19, 2000 |New road signs could cost township as much as $80,000 Scugog councillors wondered then By John B. McClelland The provincial government has The high-intensity signs have been on hot Laie de UE EE SR ua Gi EL RS fii aE iil. JC SER BE aie SE a EE Port Perry Star It's going to cost the taxpayers of Scugog Township a lot of money to replace roadside signs over the next cou- ple of years. The tab could run as high as $80,000, Scugog roads superintendent Rob Rodgers said at a committee meeting Monday morning. "That is just strictly a 'guesstimate' on my part," he told members of the works committee. And the township has no choice but to spend the money between now and the end of 2002, said the roads boss. ordered all Ontario municipalities to replace "key roadside signs" such as stop, yield and speed limit signs with high intensity types that are much more visible at night. Mr. Rodgers told the committee that presently the township does not know exactly how many signs will have to be replaced. It was suggested that the first step in getting the signs replaced with the newer models should be hiring a student this summer to conduct a sign inventory pin- pointing the location of all signs that must be replaced. the market for the last several years, and Scugog has been using them when it's necessary to replace signs. But back in 1994 the provincial government of the day issued the edict demanding that the new signs be installed, and this must be done before the end of 2002. Scugog received a reminder of the requirements earlier this year. At that time Mayor Doug Moffatt expressed his anger at what he called another example of provincial downloading of extra costs onto property taxpayers in an era when Ontario has eliminated all grants to the municipalities. what might happen if the township sim- ply ignored the edict and put up the high intensity signs as routine replacement. The province notified Scugog by letter that after Jan. 31, 2002, the municipality would be liable for any vehicle accident involving one of the old signs. There is a bit of good news for Scugog ratepayers, however: If the signs taken down are still in good condition, there may be a market for them somewhere, as not all provinces are forcing their munic- ipalities to put up the new signs. Scugog might be able to recover some of the costs. FUNERALS AREN'T FREE OF COURSE But Until May 31, 2000 THE G.S.T. IS! At the LOW & LOW FUNERAL HOME, we'll deduct the G.S.T. on all funeral Pre-arrangements paid in full by May 31, 2000. This means that you will be practicing good estate management, guaranteeing the cost of the funeral at today's prices and you'll save the tax today. (*GST discount applicable at time of pre-payment only.) For more information or to arrange a time to meet with us without obligation just call! ows loy Councillors okay new duds for township workers By John B. McClelland Port Perry Star Scugog municipal employees will soon be sporting new casual shirts with the township's name on the front. The works committee agreed Monday morning with a staff report recom- mending that Scugog pur- chase, for $13 each, one light-weight warm weather shirt for each of the 35 employees, plus mem- bers of the volunteer fire department. And committee mem- bers extended the offer of . a second shirt - this one long-sleeved and made of better quality denim material, for wear in the colder months - at a cost of about $25 each. Deputy CAO Yvonne de Wit told the committee that many township employees have indicat- ed they will gladly wear the shirts bearing the township's name, as they are proud to be identified white golf-shirt style, while the cold weather denim shirt is teal grey in colour. Wearing the shirts will be strictly voluntary, and members of township council will have the option of getting the same duds - but they will have to pay for theirs. In another move designed to foster a sense of pride among employ- ees, the municipality will start offering short "self improvement" courses. Ms de Wit told the committee these courses will involve such things as improved communica- tions through letter and report writing; public rela- tions; decision making and problem-solving skills. Scugog and Uxbridge Townships will team up in offering the courses to their employees in an effort to lower costs, she said. The courses may be held in Scugog or as Scugog staffers. Uxbridge municipal Ms de Wit said many offices, or at Durham LIMITED municipalities and busi- cgjjege. . 19) 824 08 NO) ON nesses in the private sec- tor have found that "cor- porate wear" helps to improve morale by devel- oping a sense of team identity among staff. The summer wear is a Ms de Wit said Durham College has offered to assist the township in cre- ating specific courses for municipal employees. Members of council reacted favourably. SA RR NRA SR, LI imi ised RRR Tim BYERS eptic Tank Pumping & Portable Toilet Rentals, - Weddings, Parties, Special Events od MODERN UNITS Uxbridge Chapel 23 Main Street, South Uxbridge, Ontario - L9P 1MS8 (905) 852-3073 Port Perry Chapel 1763 Reach Road Port Perry, Ontario LOL 1A6 (905) 985-7331 + (905) 985-7332 | ~4 Established 1875 > Celeb rating 125 years tn Business