Express_2021_01_27

" $ 5 6 " - * 5 4  r  / & 8 4 2021 BUDGET: NO BIG TAX INCREASE PROMISES ASSALY

GREGG CHAMBERLAIN gregg.chamberlain@eap.on.ca

If all of the proposed capital projects and all of the resources requests from all the municipal departments were part of the final budget then it would mean a 5.5 per cent increase in the municipal tax rate. Mayor Assaly noted that the challenge for council now is to prioritize spending needs for 2021 and reduce any possible tax rate increase. i8FIBWFUP MPPLBUXIJDIQSPKFDUTBSF priority and which are not,” Assaly said, adding she is concerned that January is almost over and council has not had a second budget discussion session yet. “I would like to get it (budget) passed as soon as possible,” May 31 is the deadline in Ontario for all municipalities to have their final budgets presented to the finance ministry. A muni- cipality that fails to meet the deadline may not have access to some provincial funding aid programs. Assaly intends to have council decide during its January 25 meeting when to hold the next budget review meeting.

Hawkesbury’s mayor promises there will not be a big tax increase when the final budget plan for 2021 is approved. “That’s not going to happen,” Mayor Paula Assaly said during a phone interview January 21. The mayor referred to the 5.5. per cent rise in the municipal levy mentioned during the two-day mid-December budget review dis- cussion between council and staff. Treasurer Philippe Timbers presented the draft budget for the first review session December 16 and 17. A second review session will take place in either February or March. The preliminary budget report includes all of the “wish lists” from each municipal department for new equipment and other staffing needs, along with all of the proposed capital works projects for council to consider for 2021. Salary increases as part of union and non-union contract agreements are also included in the budget expenses list.

Le conseil municipal de Hawkesbury s’est penché sur le budget préliminaire 2021 à la mi-décembre, avant le congé des Fêtes. La mairesse Paula Assaly s’inquiète du fait que le mois de janvier est presque terminé et que le conseil n’a pas encore eu de deuxième réunion pour commencer à définir les priorités et le taux d’imposition municipal. Si la date limite du printemps pour l’approbation du budget municipal n’est pas respectée, Hawkesbury pourrait se rendre inadmissible à certains programmes de financement provinciaux. — photo tirée d’une banque d’images (Pixabay)

CHAMPLAIN DAYCARE SERVICE CHANGES ITS COVID ABSENCE POLICY

Étendez votre portée AUGMENTEZ VOTRE CLIENTÈLE

STEPHEN JEFFERY stephen.jeffery@eap.on.ca

Champlain Township daycare services will return to charging parents for all absences unless their child is awaiting a COVID-19 result or tests positive.

1-613-632-4155

232364

Le service de garderie du Canton de Champlain recommencera à facturer les parents pour les jours d’absence, à moins que l’enfant n’attende les résultats d’un dépistage de la COVID. — photo tirée d’une banque d’images

Nos départements de service et pièces demeurent ouverts pour toute réparation de 8h à 17h du lundi au jeudi et de 8h à 15h le vendredi. Contactez-nous! Dans le but de respecter les consignes gouvernementales en relation avec la COVID-19, notre salle de montre est fermée au public jusqu’à nouvel ordre. Toutefois, nos départements des ventes de véhicules neufs et d’occasions demeureront ouverts virtuellement, ce qui veut dire que vous pouvez nous contacter par courriel, téléphone ou facebook et ensuite de parler à l’un de nos spécialistes pour tous les détails. Vous pourrez choisir votre nouveau véhicule dans le confort de votre domicile. La livraison et signature des documents peut se faire dans notre stationnement . Si vous souhaitez obtenir de l’information sur nos produits neufs ou d’occasions, nous vous invitons à nous contacter par téléphone pendant nos heures d’ouverture au 450-562-0262 , ou nous laisser un message avec vos coordonnées téléphoniques et courriel, et un membre de notre équipe des ventes communiquera avec vous. Vous pouvez également nous envoyer un courriel à: jlarocque@lachutesubaru.ca MALHEUREUSEMENT LES ESSAIS ROUTIERS SONT INTERDIT PAR LA SANTÉ PUBLIQUE. MAGASINEZ EN LIGNE

The day care had not charged parents for absences if a child was sent home or kept away with COVID-19 symptoms since a council resolution in August, even if they were not tested for the virus. At the time, a single symptom was all that was needed for a child to be sent home, where they would need to stay for at least 14 days. But Daycare Services director Jennifer Drury told councillors at a January meeting the testing system and health unit recom- mendations had changed. She said children needed to exhibit two or more symptoms to be sent home, and could return 24 to 48 hours after those symptoms had resolved. i8FIBWFFODPVOUFSFEQSPCMFNTXJUI children staying home without being charged since it’s not always possible to distinguish between a Covid-19 absence and a regular absence if parents do not advise or specify,” she said in a report to the council. “It has been difficult to manage.” Prior to the pandemic, the daycare had

charged parents in full for enrolments, inclu- ding absent and sick days. Drury asked that the policy be reinstated, with the exception of absences when children were awaiting a COVID test result. In her report to council, she said the day care had lost $8310 in revenue between September and December 2020, while expenses had risen due to extra staff required for screening and disinfection. Drury said children who were sick would still not be able to return to daycare until their symptoms had resolved, a policy that QSFEBUFE UIFQBOEFNJDi&WFSZ UJNFXF send a child home, we’re in contact with the health unit, and the health unit contacts the parent,” she said. “The child doesn’t return until the health unit tells them they can.” Other day care services in the area continued to charged for COVID absences, Drury noted in her report. Councillors voted unanimously to change the policy at the January 14 meeting.

www.lachutesubaru.ca 415, Ave Béthany, Lachute, Qc. Tél.: 450 562-0262 Sans frais: 1 877 568-3121 VIVEZ VOUS AUSSI L’EXPÉRIENCE LACHUTE SUBARU!

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