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Wednesday, September 27, 2006 · Page 2 Accusations on spending to be addressed CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Miller says there are explanations for every accusation Balvert has made. Although not mentioned during the Sept. 18 meeting, information from Balvert's Freedom of Information Act request was aired on local radio stations. One claim was that an employee used a town credit card to fill his vehicle with gas hundreds of kilometres from where the employee was reportedly attending a conference. Miller said the credit card statements Balvert asked for in the request indicated payment to a provincial ministry in Toronto and a transaction for gas in Barrie, Ont. While the payment went to the ministry's head office in Toronto, the conference occurred in Barrie, Miller said. "It's required that this employee take specific training to keep their skills up-todate, but the conference was in Barrie," Miller said. Balvert said he is not accusing council or the administration of any illegal activity. His research shows "sloppy bookkeeping" and decision making, he said. He said he has no plans to get involved in a public exchange with council, but will sit down with Ward 2 Councillor Richard Meloche, a representative he feels is unbiased in this situation. "He doesn't sit in Ward 1 or Wards 3 or 4, so to me he holds the least conflict of interest," Balvert said. "He can ask me anything he wants, but ask me because I'm a taxpayer, not because of my association with anyone. If this had been the Snively administration I would have held them to the same standard." If re-elected, I WILL give you: EXPERIENCE HARD WORK A VOICE OF REASON Cause of Talbot Street fire can't be determined, chief says BY FREE PRESS STAFF Essex Fire and Rescue Chief Ed Pillon said Sept. 20 an investigation into a fire at 139 Talbot St. North has not determined a cause of the blaze. Firefighters responded to a call at 11:41 p.m. Sept. 13 that a multi-story building was on fire. The building is owned by Rick DiGioia of Essex. Pillon said an investigation was initiated by his department along with the Essex Police Service. The fact that the fire started outside of the home was atypical, he said. Investigating the cause of a fire is a routine procedure. There was no one living at the home at the time of the fire. Pillon said DiGioia was interviewed and samples were taken from the fire scene, but the results were inconclusive. DiGioia has been ordered by the town's building inspector to have the building torn down by Oct. 23. Council rejects EDHS request for reduced ice costs BY FREE PRESS STAFF Essex town council has declined a request from Essex District High School for a discounted rate on ice time. Parks and Recreation Director Doug Sweet was approached by representatives from the high school. He said the school is currently charged around $135 per hour and that the school requested a rate of $50 per hour for its boys, girls and intramural hockey teams at Essex Memorial Arena. Council was asked to consider the reduced rate for the current season at Essex Memorial Arena as well as for ice time at the new arena. "I know it pains us all to say `No,' but the reality is we're obviously concerned about the present setting," VOTE BOB PETERSON Kingsville Councillor (519) 733-5039 RE-ELECT VICTORIA BEAULIEU (nee JACKSON) Ward 1 Councillor Randy Voakes said about ensuring that the new arena is built. "I think we have always been consistent as a council about these types of requests." A motion not to reduce the ice time rates for the school passed unanimously. COUNCILLOR WARD 5 LAKESHORE Ask me what I've acco ee years: Initiated Rail Transit Talks for Lakeshore Initiated New Sidewalks and Repairs in Woodslee Secured $50,000.00 in grants and donations for heritage and conservation projects Instru on Lakmental in additional installation of fire hydrants eshore Park Ins allotrumental in clean up of garbage and waste on Ruston road wance to give back Initiated several heritagebeach frontnaccess.ts through restoratio pro Initiated the inspections of 97 residentialjec perties inout Lakeshore pro Woodslee to identify sewer hookups infractions Received Certificate of Achievement for Basic Emerg ency Initiated handicap accessible adoptable playground equipmManagement in all new par ent Consulted on ks implementation of the New On the Initiated the repair of CN rail crossing on Cty. Rotario#4Heritage Act ad mplished in the last thr 6 in Ruscom I will continue to work for a sustainable comm unity and quality of life in La keshore "Victoria has a keen sense of being able to share community visions. She gets the job done! The proof is in our surroundings." ~ Donna Roubos, Woodslee