HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News-Record, 1970-11-12, Page 1Clinton ews-Recor
105 YEAR — NO. 46 •ONTARJO THURSDAY, :NOV MO.EPt 12, 1970 PRICE .P•Ft •COPY 15c
Council criticizes laxity of courts
Clinton Mayor Donald Symons salutes after placing a wreath at Remembrance ceremonies at the
Clinton cenotaph on Wednesday. The ceremony marked the last time members of the forces from
CFB Clinton will take part since the base is scheduled to be closed next September. —staff photo.
Clinton asked to join
ux Sable authority
'7111e,,:first
column
Reeve Harold Lobb reported
on the reconstruction of Albert
Street the other night at town
council with what must be the
quote of the week.
In his capacity es chairman of
the public works departmeet he
told council °Everything is going
along just fine with peblic
Works. We've dug up Albert
Street and put it back again,
sometimes five or six times in
one place, When people
complain to me, I just tell them
to see the engineer." '
It's great to know that the
culinary citizen isn't the only
one who wonders about these
things.
* * *
On the same subject of the
main street reconstruction, the
reeve informed council that the
contractors still hope to have
one coat of asphalt paving on
before winter.
* *
• With nomination night in
Clinton next Monday, we
thought it might be a good idea
to pass on an idea that several
people have been speaking of in
the last few months of what
Clinton could look like in the
future.
With this in mind we put
together a series of articles on
the plan that may be read on the
front page of the second edition.
We hope you will take a look at
it and give it some thought. We
don't say it's the answer to all
our problems, but we do think
it's a Consideration that should
be kept in mind when we are
selecting candidates for council
for the next two years.
* * *
For anyone interested in
watching the semi-final football
game of the Western Conference
on television on Sunday
afternoon, it must have been a
frustrating afternoon and
evening.
The game was only a few
minutes old when the
micro-wave system carrying the
game from Ednitinton, broke
down and sports fans had to put ,-
up with only the sound for the
rest of the first half.
Shortly after halftime, the
trouble was corrected and we all
settled down to watch the rest
of the exciting game. Then just
at the crucial point, the power
went off and didn't come back
on until the last two minutes of
the game when the outcome was
already decided.
* *
That power blackout that left
the whole central part of Huron
County in the dark could have
meant a romantic dinner by
candlelight in our house since we
were just sitting down to Sunday
dinner when it came. The only
problem was the candles were
packed away in some box'
somewhere and we couldn't find
them in the dark. * * *
Some people may have
noticed from last week's
newspaper that we have a
different correspondent in
Kippen. Mrs. Norman Long is
spending the winter with
relatives in Owen Sound and
Louise Kirk will be our eyes and
ears in the Kippen area, If you
live in the area and have news,
give Louise a call.
* * *
We had 'such a large flow of
letters to the editor this week
(no we didn't goof anything)
that we had to do quite a bit of
rearranging on the editorial page
to fit them all in. We don't mind
though. We'd gladly rearrange
things every week if we could be
lucky enough to get so many
letters.
Clinton Kinsmen, clammed
over the poor turnout of blood
donors for the blood-donor's
clinic in Clinton last spring, are
trying to spark interest in the
area. Fifty members of the club
and other interested persons will
travel to Goderich fora Clinic
. there neat Wednesday. The club
will then try to increase interest
in Clinton for the next clinic
here in April,
We wish 'them leek.
Clinton businessmen have
already laid plans foe Christmas.
They will be handing out
coupons to ahoppere in Clinton
Stores during the Christmas
season that could win up to
S1006 for Welty shoppers, in the
fund draw` on December
There will also be draws for
lesser amounts each week.
Santa Chats will also have a
permanent home in (Minton this
year fat the Christmas season.
He Will be- kested in the former
Garrett'a Store Oh Albert Street
so the kids an come to See him.
• Clinton Town Council
received an invitation to become
part of the Aux Sauble
Conservation Authority, in a
letter, received by council on
Monday night.
The letter dealt with the
desire to form a conservation
area to cover the Bayfield River
watershed by many of the
municipalities along the river,
Earlier this year, an application
put forward by Seaforth to join
the Maitland Valley Authority
was turned down in a vote of
municipalities along the river.
Clinton at its last meeting had
moved to inquire about the steps
to be taken to establish a
separate watershed' for the
Bayfield. Clerk John Livermore
told council that he had
attempted to gain more
information on the subject and
At a meeting in Seaforth
Monday, John Vintar,
Superintendent of Education for
the Huron-Perth County Roman
Catholic Separate School Board
reported he had received a reply
to his letter from A.E.
Robinson, Director of Education
for Perth County, with regard to
sharing transportation services in
Perth,
Mr. Robinson wrote that bus
transportation route maps were
not completed but that as soon
as they were he would call a
Meeting of the transportation
sub-committees of the two
boards to discuss Mutual routes
where services might be shared.
Jack Lane, Business
had been advised by a
spokesman for the Ontario
'Department of resources
management to try to speak to
the other municipalities along
the watershed to gain another
vote on the subject next spring.
The spokesman said he didn't
think approval for a separate
authority could be gained among
the municipalities at the present
time.
Mayor Donald • Symons
thought that those that voted
against the Maitland Authority
had made a mistake.
"I feel strongly that if we
don't have an authority of our
own we should be part of the
Maitland," the mayor said. His
sentiments were echoed by
councillor Mel Steep.
Councillor Clarence
Denomme suggested that the
council work through the
Administrator, reported the
72-passenger bus for the Zurich
area would- be delivered on or
about November 26 by Huron
Motor Products Ltd. Zurich,
rather than on the November 1
date as stated in the tender.
The Building and Maintenance
Committee was authorized to
seek tenders for automatic
program units in 17 schools at a
cost not to exceed $5,500, the
remaining two schools have
them.
The Board approved
supporting the Kiwanis Music
Festival in Stratford to the
extent of a $75 scholarship,
(See page Three/
county council to gain
agreement on some course of
action that would get the
Bayfield area into a conservation
area,
The councillor said an
approach through the county
would at least keep up interest
in the subject,
In other business, Councillor
Denomme reporting for his
Industrial Committee said there
was no new news to report on
the future of CFB Clinton but
that plenty of rumours were
flying. He said he expected
something would be announced
at a politically opportune time.
Council also voted to
advertise for an assistant town
clerk-treasurer. Clerk-treasurer
John Livermore is nearing
retirement age and, although he
said he would request an
extension of his job, council felt
it would be wise to have an
assistant being trained to take
some of the burden and to
eventually take over when Mr.
Livermore retired.
Council passed a motion that
statements given out to the press
after closed meetings of council
should first be approved by the
whole council, There had been
some criticism of Mayor Symons
after a recent meeting of council
with the police chief when,
confronted by a television crew
from CKNX he made a
statement saying council was
100 per cent behind its police
department.
Councillors pointed net that
they weren't against what the
mayor said but just the fact a
Statement Was made after a
closed meeting.
ADVICE ASKED
Council asked the advice of
their solicitor over the issuing of
debentures for sewerage work on
Maple Street. Several
couecillors, noting that half of
the $4722 to be debentured over
15 years was the landowners
share of the expenses, asked if
the town's share couldn't be
paid now so as to save the
interest that would accrue over
the period. The interest Would
total about $150 on the town's
share of the bill.
Council also received a letter
from Charles Fee of Maple
Street thanking council for its
action in placing new street
lights on that street after
property owners in the area took
up a petition for improved
Members of -Clinton town
council Monday night expres,sed
concerti over the laxity of
sentences handed out by the
Courts on many cases .charged
by Clinton police,
During the discussion of the
monthly police report Mayor
Donald Symons noted that
many persons charged with One
offence by the police had been
appearing in court with
diminished charges than those
issued by the arresting officers.
"I'm just a little hit unhappy
with this situation" the mayor
said.
He was joined in his concern
by Councillor Cameron Proctor
who noted that this wasn't the
first time complaints had been
If Clinton citizens want
changes in their council next
year, it would appear they will
have to do it at the polls.
Mayor Donald Symons, who
has been in office since 1965,
led off a poll of council on their
intentions in coming elections
by saying he planned to seek
office for another two-year
term,
Reeve Harold Lobb said he
was "not saying for sure," as
yet. Deputy-reeve Harold
Lawson plans to run again.
Councillor Clarence
Denomme said he has not as yet
made a decision as to his future,
Councillor Frank Cook said that
if he ran for office again he
might go after the
Deputy-reeveship.
Councillor Canieron Proctor
did not answer directly as to
whether or not he planned to
seek office again. Instead he said
he was disturbed by "some of
the things that go on here." He
said he hoped that good young
people would get out and show
interest and let their name stand
if _they were nominated on
nomination night.
Councillor Proctor said he felt
that there should perhaps be a
Remodelling of the former
supply building at Canadian
Forces Base to provide new
quarters for the expanded
operations of Clinton Area is
moving ahead rapidly.
Says Area Manager Walter
Palmer, "Our service group
should be in the centre by late
November. And we expect to
move the rest of the staff early
in the new year."
Ontario Hydro bought the
building from the Department of
National Defence last July for
$70,000, Along with the supply
building, Hydro acquired 3.44
acres of land which is to be used
for storing vehicles and other
equipment,
Larger facilities for Clinton
Area became necessary after it
was • amalgamated with Exeter
Area this spring.
"This meant we had to
provide administration and
service for an additional 3,000
customers," says Mr. Palmer.
The Clinton office has
experienced a space shortage for
some years. When the customers
heard on this subject.
"Maybe We should brine this
all out in the open", Councillor
Proctor said,
"We hire people (police) In
good faith," Mayor Symons said,
"but they don't get support
from the courts."
Councillor Russ Archer
thought the municipality was
paying the penalty for laxity in
the courts.
Why should we have to pay
for an extra policeman when the
fault is with the courts," he said,
referring to the discussion of
adding a policeman to the force,
"We could have 24 policemen
and it still wouldn't do any good
if they don't get any support,"
the mayor added.
limit on the length of time
persons could hold office in
order to insure new blood in the
council.
Councillor Russ Archer said it
was "quite possible" that he
would stand for re-election.
A pollution problem in
Londesboro was discussed by
Hullett township council when it
met for its regular meeting in
Hullett Township Hall,
Londesboro, last week.
After suggesting that the
outlet of the pollution be
checked instead of checking on
individual complaints council
moved on to other business
without passing any specific
motion.
After a motion to read the
minutes of previous regular and
special meetings, a motion by
John Jewitt and Joe Hunking
was passed regarding a request
from the Federation of
Agriculture: That we send a
letter to the Federation of
Agriculture stating that we were
from Exeter were transferred,
the existing office became
totally inadequate.
Harrison-Martyn Construction
of London has the general
contract for' converting the
former depot to Hydro's needs.
The estimated cost of renovation
is around $250,000.
Work at the site includes
complete remodelling of the
,212' by 61' building, plus an
attached two.storey annex of
20' x 63', as well as fencing and
paving of the property. Hydro's
architect Ken Candy designed
the interior and exterior changes
to the office, service centre, and
grounds complex,
The property, located one and
a quarter miles south of Clinton
on No. 4 Highway, has been
fenced with temporary access to
the roadway built. Eventually
the entrance will be widened and
paved, and an extension to the
highway (an exit lane) added.
Some savings will be realized
by Ontario Hydro as a result of
the deal to buy the Canadian
Conned was • particularly
concerned about the recent ease
of a police officer who was
easaidted. Although charged
with assaulting a Police officer
by Clinton l'olice the council
understood the defetident in the
rase appeared in court charged
with the lesser charge of causing
a disturbance and received only
three days in jail as a sentence.
Councillor Proctor asked who
changed these charges and was
met with a chorus of "the
Crown Attorney" from other
councillors.
"All right then," said
Councillor Proctor, "Let's bring
this out into the open. We've
been hearing this for years."
The local Crown Attorney is
Councillors Mel Steep and
Norman Livermore both
announced their intentions to go
after positions on council.
Nominations will take place in
the town hall on Monday night,
November 18.
of the opinion that they would
not be asking for a grant this
year because of the membership
drive.
John Jewitt and Charles
Scanlon moved to instruct the
Clerk to issue seven Building
Permits to those named.
Joe Hunking and John Jewitt
motioned that By-Laws be
prepared for the issuance of Two
Tile Drain Loan Debentures for
$722,000, and that Radford
Construction and Robert Dalton
be engaged to plow snow for
1970-71 with the same units as
the 1969 contract at the same
terms and conditions,
It was moved ' that the
accounts be approved passed and
paid as read.
Forces property rather than•
building a new facility.
As was stated last spring by
provincial and federal
authorities, "both Hydro
customers and taxpayers
gene ould benefit from
the co-opera , displa ed by
both authoritie in e ying
existing public sties to
maximum advantage."
Area Manager Walter Palmer
adds that "a new building would
have given us 9,500 square feet,
while the supply depot,
remodelled to our standards,
provides a total of 15,691 square
feet."
A third larger than other area
offices in Western Region,
Clinton Area will have ample
room to hold marketing
seminars, staff training, and
other meetings.
Mr. Palmer notes that the new
offices will be completely air
conditioned and electrically
heated. The service part of the
building will draw steam heat
from the original facilities which
will continue to be supplied
W. 0,,Coelireee of ,Goderich,
Mayor Symons elaimed that
judges can't be blamed for the
laxity of the• courts since they
can. only decide according to the
information presented before
them.. Often, the Mayor said, the
judge wasn't given an the bete,
, "I don't think Clinton is alone.
in this problem," Councillor
Proctor said„
Reference was Mesa,
letter of .complaint sent by the
council to the Ontario Police
Commission some time ago
regarding the same situatioe.
Investigations, the mayor said,
had ,been carried out of the
Clinton police force which was
not what council had requested.
The mayor said he was sure
that if the council wrote another
letter it would lead to another
investigation of the Clinton
police department, not of the
Crown Attorney's office.
Councillor Proctor noted that
although at times council had
been unhappy with the Clinton
police department, the argument
had never centred on the fact
that people were getting off easy
on charges.
The Mayor said he thought
perhaps council should send a
letter to the attorney general's
department asking for an
investigation. He felt sure, he
said, that the Clinton police
force could stand up to any
investigation and perhdias
council could get some answers
to its othel questions. ,
The council agreed and asked
the clerk to have the town's
solicitor draft a letter. Several
attempts to reach Mr. Cochrane
for comment were unsuccessful.
Weather
1970 1969
HI LO HI LO
Nov. 3 53 45 50 44
4 46 37 44 36
5 45 36 45 31
6 51 40 49 .32
7 50 32 52 .30
8 51 26 53 31
9 59 34 51 38
Rain .57" Rain .13"
from the Base's central heating
system.
With amalgamation, a number
of the staff from Exeter Area
were transferred to Clinton. Six
linemen were part of the group,
including: J. C, Potter; D. J.
Harrison; Doug Ritchie; M. S.
`Brintnell; H. C. Stretton; and
Bill Bircharn, Forester A. A.
Simpson and Meter Readers D.
G. Mason and John Leppington,
and of the office staff, June
Bierling, Marg Prout and Sales
Rep. Chan Livingstone, were
also transferred.
Temporary arrangements to
accommodate the employees
were made by leasing offices for
the sales and inspection staff,
across the street from the
present downtown Clinton
location.
"Everyone's been real good
about having to work in
conditions which are far from
the ideal," says Mr, Palmer. "All
of us are eagerly looking forvjard
to moving into the neve '
building."
Discussions on bus
sharing to start soon
WILMA OKE
Inside
Town Talk ...Pg. 2
Greenaway returns • ...Pg. 3
8ditOriOIS ...Pg. 4
Sports ..Pg, 6
High School Sports
/
Church of the week ...Pg. 4A
Shirley Keller ...Pg. GA Ontario Hydro has almost finished its renovation of the former
base Supply building at CFB Clinton, The building', when finished,
will serve the Clinton area of the Ontario Hydro system. Its large
Clinton councillors announce intentions
with nominations coming up
Hullett Council discusses
pollution problem in Londesboro
size altovvs re Oft for
entOloyees.
Remodelling of supply building
for Ontario Hydro moving rapidly
riferericeS and seminars for hydro