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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Huron Expositor, 1976-11-18, Page 1Policeman • resigns A a special meeting Tuesday night, Seaforth council accepted the resignation of second class police constable the Lauzon. Const. Lauzon, the senior man on the Seaforth fore e has worked here since October, 1973. Consts. LSuzon told the Expositor „Wednesday afternoon. that he' has resigned for "personal reasons" and that his future plans are still indefinite. Council discussed the resig- nation in committee of the whole for 15 minutes before re- admitting the press, the clerk and the police chief and announcing their acceptance of the resignation, His resignation is effective December 10 and council decided to advertise this week for a replacement in three 'area papers. In other business, Mayor Betty Cardno asked all councillors who are able to attend a meeting today in Toronto with culture and Recreation • minister. Robert Welch, to discuss a Wintario grant for the arena. Approval • was given to the Horticultural Society to order trees, which will be planted around town by town employees in the spring. Whble No. 5674. 117 th Year H, ONTARIO, THURSDA „ _ NOVEMBER 18, 1976 7.— 24 PAGES Si9;;Wa Yin in Advanc0 ..S.i(ng copy cents CandidcitOs to huge cr6w. local •.ratepay_ Voters ask questi of PUC and council 380 POUNDSAN DIMES? — Tim bearss, front, a grade nine at SDHS won his weight in dimes recently .for selling the most subscriptions to the Expositor in a weekend bli tz. Just to give Tim a little more weight, the. SDHS student council asked teacher Ed Pelss to step on the scales with him. The' result was 380 pounds or $38. for Tim, who also won $25 for selling the -most Expositor subscriptions..and another $25 for selling the most new Expositor subscriptions. .k• 327 renewals and 73 new subscriptions were gathered - by SDHS students in the campaign. (ExpoSitor Photo) About 120 people Vacked 'the court .rpom in the' town 'hall and' overflowed out into the hall Tuesday night to hear from present members of council, and the school boards and from candidates ror office. You had to get there early to be sure of a seat and , half an hour intot."."the ratepayers'. meeeting - a Most of the present members of council and• PUC who reported' to the ratepayers Monday night agreed that their two year terms have been busy 'and at times frustrating. Mayor Betty Cardno said it's difficult to keep up with demands for services with budget restraints. She thanked the ratepayers, her present councillors, town employees and the appointed members of town committees. 'She invited interested citizens to apply to sit 'oil the voluntary committees and predicted that citizens will be more active in the future. Among the decisions that a new council will face, she listed storm se 'wers, a mobile home park, sidewalk repairs and updating of planning and zoning bylaws. , Reeve. John Flannery, Chairman of council's public works committee, who's been acclaimed to office said he's done his best. The biggest change on county council, Where he represents Seaforth, has been the increased responsibility in policing the province's rules and regulations. "Few are producing because so many are watching the rules and regulations and that's part of what's wrong with our country," he said. Deputy Reeve Bill Dale, who's also been acclaimed, said Seaforth has had almost a record $460,000. in building permits issued so far this year. As chairman of council's finance and general government, committee, he said the town is about $11,010 over budg, thig year and recommerkled that next year three per cent of the total budget be kept as a contingency 'fund, Incunibents talk to ratepayers voice from the hail 'said "Mr. Chairman, there are 40. people out here who can't see or hear a thing." By shoving a table at which incumbent councillors were seated into a corner, room was made for a few more chairs in the court room and people lined the court room walls. • Seventeen of the 18 candidates Seaforth's areha now has ice making equipment equial to the new arenas it, Mitchell and Clinton, . councillor Bill Bennet, .chairman of the arena committee reported. He praised arena manager Roy McGonigle and recreation director Clive Buist for their devotion to the town and their duties. Mayor Cardno is "not a yes woman"; he sante; and it's been a pleasure serving under her "firm leadership." Councillor Wayne Ellis. chairman of the police committee, congratulated chief • and policemen for "an excellent job." He said a plan has been developed for replacing street lights in darks area s of town and that it's on schedule. Council's liaLson with the town's recreation committee, (Continued on Page 3) There are a lot of hockey fans in Seaforth and they may be surprised to learn that Seaforth's Junior hockey players may be hanging 'up their skates early this season unless the team receives "some financial suppbre Most people don't realize how much it costs to run a team, according to manager Bob Dinsmore and . president •Dennis McCauley. "If we can't get any help, half way through the season there won't be a Junior hockey team," Mr. McCauley said, He pointed out that before this season even started the team was PUC can decide how much money., it needs and then whether to raise rates, debenture or what, ,the t mayor 'said. The PUC's stock taking & practises also came under question when Mr....EISICr. , 400 when the commission last took Stock of their equipment. Dr. Whitman turned the question over to acting PUC Manager Tom Phillips who said —visual ' • inventories were taken to satisfy the auditors but it had been two or three years since a complete physical stock taking had been done. Gerald Groothius, who is a candidate for council, asked the mayor how many empty residential lots there ,were in Seaforth. The mayor said about 100 had been counted in the area sewered this year,."but whether they're on the market or ifof depends on who owns. them." Mr. Groothitis said he asked the question because of concern about town'employees living out of town. The county and boards of education have. the same problems with sin-lie, of _their (Continued on Page 24) .AIR CADETS REMEMBER — Some of the youngest participants in .Seaforth's 'Remembrance Day observance were members of the newly formed Air Cadet Corps. Here three members march to the cenotaph to present the new roll of honour to Legion president Tom Wilbee. > (Expositor Photo) for office in town spoke, as well as three school board candidates, and there was a spirited question and answer session after council members and a PUC commissioner reported to the voters. 4 • Lloyd Eisler, who is running for council, asked Mayor Betty Cardno about cbencil's relationship with the RUC. She agreed with him that she was ' obligated to take council's opinions back to the commission as a representative to both bodies. In the press there's been little about council, just the mayor, Mr. Eisler said but the mayor was actually bringing council's opinion to the PUC "in other words, doing your job," Mr. Eisler said, PUC commissioner Dr. Rodger Whitinan justified increased water rates and PUC plans to upgrade Seaforth 's water delivery system, in answer to a .question from Lorne Lawson. Without increasing water rates, he said, the PUC didn't have enough income to upgrade facilities and yto work that was recommended ' ''•as-far -baek as 1969. At the end of this year the .Seaforth PUC will be one of the few in this part of Ontario that is completely without debenture debt or, outstanding loans, Dr. Whitman, who, is running again because he thinks there should be continuity in the PUC in spite of the recent resignations of the chairinan and the manager, said. To Mr. , Lawson's question about the PUC's failure to give council an 'audited financial statement, Dr. Whitman said that it was difficult to produce a waterworks budget because of all sewer work this year and the time involved was hard to estimate. Ratepayer Jack MeLlWain -asked Dr, Whitman how the PUC, after borrowing, from. the town this summer to buy equipment, could have all their, debts paid off in only five months. The back hoe and .. truck have paid for themselves, Dr.' Whitman said and Mr. McLlwain replied "In five months? I'm going to have to get someone else on my hooks." .Did council refuse to float a . debenture for the PUC for construction of a new reservoir and well. Der Sills, a. former PUC cOmmissioner asked...4e council refused, knowing the condition of the preSent water' tower, "if the town is suddenly without water overnight, 1••.believe council is responsible," Mr. Sills said, There was no "formal presentation in a legitimate way that council could work on for the PUC to get a debenture," Mayor Cardno replied. She said the PUC had asked the town to float a debenture of $500,000, out there was no explanation of v..'en the Work was to be done. Th.. PUC was hoping to • rrow the $500,000 and spend it ,1 er 20 years, she thought, but the 0 B won't approve debentur without specific tender dates fo work that's to be dorie, she sa Council referred the request for a debenture back to the PUC to have the proposed work broken into specific stages and has had no formal request since, the mayor said. A debenture for the. PUC could be 'considered, "if presented properly", the mayor concluded. The proper way to start, she said, is with a waterworks budget "The town has to budget: it can be done,' From there the R. golton World I ay Champion The World Hay Chanm has done it again. For the fifth year in a row, Russell Balton of R.•R.1, Seaforth has won the • world hay award at the Royal Winter Fair in Toronto. Mr. Bolton, 75.. won the World Hay Championship in 1972. (973. 1974„1975 and now, 1976. • This makes it 13 times that the Hay Crown has been taken by a HuronCounty citizen. In . 1971, Russell' Dallas of Brucefield • won the title for his third time, he also won it in 1963 and 1969. • Robert Allen of Brucel'icld Was. the Hay King in, 1958 and 1962: Robert Fotheringhtim was the winner ie 1965, and 1966; and Wilber Keys of R.R.4, Seaforth hrought home' the title in 1964. • $991 in debt and owed the town $500 as a result of having to rent ice in Mitchell while the local arena was closed. The Junior D hockey team, the Centenaires.. started two years 'ago. The first year the team was' able to realize a profit of $1,114 with total. operating expenses at $15,404. Expenses that year included $2837 for sticks and pucks; $2683, for programs and advertising; $935 for bus rentals; $3489 for equipment and, $882 for mileage to players. lost $2,283 over the season Last year. however. the team n though operating expenses had dropped to $13,000 because, of less equipment purchases. Expenses last year included $3288 for sticks and' pucks; $2657 for ads and programs; $2346 for dance expenses; $1945 for bus rentals and $1182 for mileage. This year will be more expens- ive, Mr. Dinsmore said, bee ause of increased transportation costs, referees fees going up, and the need for pew equipment. "To save money this year we re-palmed the gloves instead of buying new tines. We are trying to make do as best we can," Mr. Dinsmore said. ,.The Centenaires didn't print programs this year either. The Junior Hockey executive canvassed 60 local and area merchants to see if they would agree to sponsor team sweaters but only four said that they would, Mr. Dinsmore said. The original sweaters, sponsored by Seaforth C reamery, are three years old and have taken a lot of wear and tear, , Mr. ,,McCauley said that trans- portation would cost the team over $3,000 this year. As a result, the team plans to approach the recreation committee Thursday and suggest that the committee help purchase a second hand bus which is available at a low price, to help alleviate the teams financial difficulties. 'We-can't buy it on' our own, but we're willing to look after it and maintain it," Mr. Dinsmore said. He pointed out that the bus could be used by other, hockey teams and the recreation department. The fact that the Seaforth Centenaires haven't won a game so far this year will also hurt the team financially as fewer people will show up to games, Mr,. Dinsmore said. He noted that they are noty in the process of rebuilding the team and have a lot of younger players. Rec director Clive Buist said perhaps local, fans were a bit spoiled by the excellent players, unusual in a new team, in the Centenaires' first years. "It's hard to accept that this has to be a rebuilding year," he said. "if.we could keep the players we have this year, next year we would have a strong team," Mr. Dinsmore said. "If we fold we put 14 or 15 kids out on the street with no place to play.", Mr. Dinsinore said that they have no intention of folding at this point, 'but if the gate receipts drop and we don't receive any help, we may . not have any choice." The team gets 65 percent of the gate at home games arid the arena the rest .after expenses. But the gate has been low at games lately. • Mr. Dinsmore and Mr. McCauley said that if the team was forced to fold they would lo9k. to joining with another town to sponsor a single team. oebenture," "The time has come to end,petty conflicts and.paa tIc backbiting," he pledged to try and• foster harmony between council and PUC if he is elected. Mr. Ellis defended a recommendation of the police committee, which he heads, that a police cruiser be replaced, "I think it would be a great mistake . to let the condition of our, police department slip to the state it was in not too many years ago. And if anyone thinks we don't examine all expenditures in detail, just ask the police what kind of pushovers we are when it comes to negotiating, contracts." • Former clerk Ernest Williams cited his experience .of 10 years as clerk and air force administrative experience in his bid for mayor. His candidacy, he said, should in' no way be seen as a derrogation on "It's the only way I can see to go," said Mr. McCauley. "What we would like to see is more support from the town itself, the merchants and from the people of Seaforth," Mr. Dinsmore said. "We're not ' begging the town for money, we're .representing the town." Mr. McCauley said that if anybody has any ideas on how to raise money, they would be interested in hearing them. He said, that they , did not want to cause problems for other organi- zations trying to raise money by having too many. money raising events themselves. "If the hockey team does fold it will • ' hurt Seaforth and the players, Mr. McCauley said. Treat 4 after cars crash As the result of a two-car collision on Highway 4 south of Kippen last Wednesday' night four occupants of the two cars *ere treated for cuts and bruises at Seaforth Community Hospital. William Marsh of Wharneliffe Road,Lotfclon; a passenger in a car driven by Walter March, was admitted overnight Jot a knee injury. Treated and released were Walter Marsh, and iMotber (Continued on Page ,S) RATEPAYERS CROWD IN — This was the scene in the court•ioom at the town hall•Tuesday night before the ratepayers' meeting even started. Wire than 120 ' people crammed into the room and stood out In the hall to hear candidates for office .and reports from council and the PUG, Mayor Betty Cardno ap ologized for the lack of room but the crowd was the largest in several years at ugh meetings. ExposifOr Photo) ' 3. yt I feel quite sure he would have found that council would have been more than willing'to work in harmony with the PUC." Council should be involved in now A quite groan went, through the large crowd at Tuesday night's ratepayers' meeting when chairman A.Y. McLean allotted each of the 18 candidates for office in town five minutes to speak, but the whole group finished speaking • in under an hour. Ken Oldacre, )Seaforth Planning Board secretary was named to keep time. • The night's most hard hitting' speech came from Wayne Ellis, four year council veteran, who is running again. Mr. Ellis cr itcized former PUC chairman Ed Daly and former Manager Walter Scott for "vindictive remarks" levelled againgt council and "particularily Mayor Cardno" in the London Free Press. He . said chairman Daly's. statement that the mayor's reports .on PUC to, council were "non-stop criticisms': was untrue and that Mr. Daly had, of present mayor, Betty Cardno. pot attended enough council "In my opinion, Betty CardnO has meetings to be "competent" to done a very very competent job as" make that remark, mayor," Mr. Williams said. Mr, Ellis said that if • However, the voters should ex:manager Scott "had asked have a choice, and again referring council -for co-operation and to Mayor Cardno, said "and I clarification instead of losing. his ,can't think.of anyone better to run temper and making legal threats • against." against some members of council, Mrs. CardnO in her speech as candidate, thanked • Mr. Williams for his help during her tow years as mayor. "I kind of encouraged him to run," she said, when she' was considering not running PUCplans to spend a great deal of again. "But the last few weeks money, he said. "If we had have, prodded me in a different quickly agreed to some proposals direction. I'll wait for the peqple put forth by the PUC we might to decide who should have the be ' saddled with a gigantic Page 4) (Contintied FIRST WAR VETERANS — Five Seaforth Legion members who are veterans of the First World War were on parade with the other veterans at the Remembrance Day service last Thursday. Behind sgt. at arms Jim Brown, they are; from left Lcirne Dennis, George Flewitt, Glen Smith and Charles Toll. Ned Boswell was alSo on parade but doesn't appear in the photo.' (Expogitor Photo)' Without help Centenaires may go under