The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

saved bundle last year, says Town Midland taxpayers saved $65,572 in the 12 months ending last June 30, because the town's council removed from its payroll a commissioner of works, a project manager, and two technicians, Councillor Gail Barrie told Midland council last night. Between July 1, 1986 and June 30, 1987, the cost of operating the former engineering sec- tion was $106,848. The cost, if the former employees, and not the hourly-rated engineering consulting firm engaged to replace them, did the work, would have been $172,421, she said. What a thrill A thrill, that is, for Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney! Last Friday evening, at the Continental Inn in Barrie the Prime Minister had the opportunity to meet with World Cur- Councillor Barrie was responding to a Midland Times story which reported that Ainley and Associates were paid more than $85,000 in that same period. The figure is $68,103, she said. The associated legal costs of replacing the engineering staff with hourly-paid Ainley and Associates employees are in hand and will be released, she said, in answer to Councillor Buzz Brown. In other council news, the council receiv- ed a recommendation from the board of park ing Champion Russ Howard. The PM was in town attending a fundraising gold tourna- ment and dinner with his wife, Mila. Raw sewage seeping in bay over 20 years Raw sewage has been seeping into Midland Bay "on a fairly frequent basis since 1965,"' a town employee told a public works com- mittee last week. And no one really keeps track of how much there is, he added. "All this takes place underground," said the employee. ""You're probably right in assuming it happens quite frequently." The committee decided to pay Ainley and Associates about $12,000 for a study of the entire sewage pumping system. The town became concerned by the amount of raw sewage seeping into the bay whenever a power outage knocks out the main pumping station. After 15 minutes the storage capacity overflows. But it's not just blackouts that send the sewage directly into the bay. During spring runoff and any time there is a heavy rainfall the same thing occurs, the committee learned. The study will plan ahead for the next 20 years. One of the town's current pumping stations is 22 years old. Another was described as "'a liability." The town may receive grants from the Ministry of the Environment to upgrade the sewage system. management that Centennial Square, beside the public library, be renamed Championship Square; that the appearance of the square be improved; that twin plaques recognizing Brian Orser and the Howard curling rink be installed, and that $15,000 be budgeted for the work. Reeve Bev Day appealed to the public for housing for a family with two school-age children living in a tent. People with space in their home can contact the Salvation Ar- my or the town hall, he said. One hundred and twenty-six people are on a waiting list for subsidized housing in Midland. The council hopes to avert delay of the con- struction of a Lutheran church on Yonge Street. Adjacent property owner Jack Stollar said he would object to the necessary change of zoning unless concerns of his were recognized. An objection leading to an On- tario Municipal Board hearing would mean a year's delay. Stollar agreed readily to the suggestion of the mayor that the affected pro- perty owners meet soon to settle the matter of the road pattern. "'I'd like to see the building of the church start tomorrow" under the right conditions, Stollar said. The council held back from buying a $16,000 leaf plucker, deciding instead to learn if its $100,000-plus sewer cleaner can do the work at a reasonable cost. The council also passed on an offer from Matt Parry of Target Consultants to produce a report of what customs service the town wants. Confirmation will be sought from the local customs office that ships entering the harbour will be checked if the customs office is notified. Resignations and legal action follow firing A mass resignation and a possible lawsuit are what Tiny Township got when it fired its recreation co-ordinator late in August. Just two days after the parks and recreation committee voted 9 to 1 to support its co- ordinator, Stephen St. Amant, Tiny council sacked him and decided not to replace him until next year. And five days later, as Ministry of Tourism and Recreation and Simcoe County officials watched on, all but one of the parks and recreation committee members quit. Citing lack of faith in council's judgment, sense of fair play and integrity, committee chairperson Corrie Hamelin submitted the resignations at the Aug. 24 council meeting. And now, ex-co-ordinator St. Amant is demanding a "fair" severance package from 3 So Ranger parad The past weekend was very successful for all competitors in the Ontario Ranger Regatta, held in various locations in Midland and Penetang. One of the highlights of the activities was a parade on Sunday from Ecole Secondaire Penetanguishene Secondary School to the the township -- or else he'll sue. "We're making one last try," said St. Amant. "We offered them a certain amount of time to settle out of court," he said. "But in the end, we may have to go to court," he added. St. Amant said he was of- fered a severance package but it wasn't good enough. 'A curious sidebar to this story is the fact Reeve Maurice Darby was one of the parks and recreation committee members who gave St. Amant a vote of confidence at the Aug. 17 committee meeting and then two days later was one of four councillors who voted to let him go as of Sept. 7. The only councillor who voted against dismissing St. Amant was Ross Hastings. town docks. In the end the Penetang Rangers were overwhelmed with their col- lection of trophies, taking first place in a number of events and coming out tops overall. Congratulations to all who attend- ed and thanks to all who cheered the girls on.