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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Exeter Times-Advocate, 1976-08-19, Page 1Awe. MARRIED COUPLE — Masquerading as a married couple in the Lucan Fair parade Sunday were Carolyn Lankin and Sandra Morris, School clerical staff given 15 percent Clerical and secretarial staff employees of the Huron County Board of Education will receive a new contract as the result of a settlement ratified by board members -Monday afternoon. The memorandum of set- tlement with Local 1428 of the Canadian Union of Public iii rmiloyes calls for a 15 percent " acreage in salary with eight percent being retroactive to January 1, 1976 and payable immediately. The balance or lesser amount approved by the Federal Anti Inflation Board will he held in trust until a ruling is made. Several changes in benefits from the previous contract were agreed upon. Union members met August 11 and ratified the memorandum of settlement. The Board will pay 100 percent of the employees CHIP premium. Presently it pays 75 percent. Four weeks vacation with pay after 10 years of service will be granted. The Board will implement the sick leave plan presently enjoyed as follows: - employees with seniority entitled to two dayspermonthsick leave. - unused balance of sick leave may accumulate to a maximum of 240 days. - no deduction from sick leave credits for absence compensable by Workmen's Compensation Board unless employee wishes Pay fines for mischief ‘110 Three area youths who took turns throwing a rubber ball at moving cars received varying fines when they appeared in Exeter court, Tuesday. Graham Kadey, Crediton, was fin'ed $25 or two days in jail, while K. Barry Campbell and Thomas McVeeney, both of RR AiIse Craig, were fined $75 or seven days each, The three were given 15 days in which to pay their fines for mischief, In the only other conviction registered in Tuesday's court, Alan R. Baird, Crediton, was fined $100 or 10 days on a charge of possession of marijuana. The charge was laid on November 8 in Exeter when Constable Ron Mee stopped a car on Victoria St. and found a pipe on the floor. A plastic bag had been tossed out on the grass and it was found to contain six grams of marijuana. CAMPOUT The highlight of the first evening's activities at the Ausable River Nomads campout was treats Made in a pie iron, f=or those who aren't familiar with pie irons, you make tasty sandwiches in this apparatus held by Ross Taylor, far right. Iry arid Lois Armstrong, campout chairmen keep a close eye on their pie iron. Heavy and frequen t didn't dampen the spirits of the campers as aver 100 mobile units attended this first annual event, photo by T. Stover, rahe exeterZinesabuocale One Hundred and Fourth Year EXETER, ONTARIO, AUGUST 19, 1976 Price Per Copy 25 Cents FIREMEN WASHING — The Exeter fire brigade assisted the Muscular Dystrophy fund Saturday by staging a car wash. From the left are chief Gary Middleton, Ken Baker, Fred Wells, Har,Brintnell and Bill Smith. Town hall restoration receives $47,100 grant ay 'Intent' to buy arena steel Exeter council agreed Monday night to authorize Cambrian Facilities to send a letter of intent to a company to provide the steel for the new South Huron Recreation Centre. The decision was made so the steel will be on hand for con- struction this fall, although recreation director Jim The area horsemen who use the Exeter track continued their fight to save the half-mile oval when they appeared before council this week. Jack Morrissey, who presented a written brief on the history and potential of the track, said it would be "an insult to the men that worked so hard and donated their time for 100 years to take away something they loved." He also termed the plan to reduce the track to three-eights of a mile "a joke", saying he wouldn't train a Horse on such a track and there was no way it would be approved for racing by the Racing Commission. "The track has a great potential as a raceway," he commented. adding that an energetic and young turf club had been formed to operate it. Jack Parsons, who appeared with Morrissey, said there were 100 members on the new club and predictied if the track was left "you'll see some fine harness racing in Exeter". Parsons also predicted that people would find out how much interest there was in maintaining the track when they started a door-to-door canvass for funds. Races for the 1976 fall fair have been approved by the department of agriculture and the Canadian Trotting Association it was an- nounced by Morrissey. Mayor Bruce Shaw wondered if the horsemen had any suggestions for an alternate site for the recreation centre. "It's up to council to find it, that's my attitude," Morrissey stated. "We already have accepted a site," Councillor Lossy Fuller noted. Council two weeks ago ap- proved shortening the track and leaving the new recreation centre near its planned location, At, that time, Jack Darling said most of the horsemen thought this would be satisfactory. Councillor Ted Wright, noting that the. grandstand was not'in good shape, predicted it would require a large expenditure in the near future and that it would be almost starting from scratch to provide the facilities for races in Exeter. McKinley said he couldn't see any way the project could start this fall. That could well be," Mayor Bruce Shaw agreed. McKinlay made his comment after a discussion on the fund- raising progress of the campaign. lie asked at what point the town would require Ontario Municipal Board approval for the project lie also said that the track had sat for 14 years without any move to make it pay and on at least four„ occasions in the past, council had considered getting rid of the track. , "Is there any move to make it pay now?" he asked. Bruce Shapton of the agricultural society was also on hand at Monday's meeting and reported that he had be,en following the series of aerial community scenes in the London Free Press and noted that not many were without a race track. He said the centre should be Please turn to page 3 One would expect that the people who attended the weekend campout in Exeter would leave town with a "good riddance" attitude in view of the many adversities they suffered due to the frequent torrential rains which turned the community park into a mud bowl. However, that was far from the case. Iry Armstrong of the host Ausable Noma'ds'said Most of the campers•felt it was one of the best events they ever attended and most hoped it would be repeated in the future, "Everyone had a good time," Armstrong said and added that the entertainment provided' by local residents more than compensated for the problems brought on by the rain, "our program overwhelmed and Shaw explained that this was dependent upon the fund raising campaign. "Whether or not the OMB is involved depends on the fund raising," Shaw said, adding that' if the campaign reached its goal and the project did not require tax dollars, no OMB approval would be required at all. Reeve Derry Boyle said that when the campaign started, the intent was to raise all the money without any debentures, He suggested council could not make any decision abort tax support until the fund stalls, Councillor Ted Wright won- dered at what point the com- mittee would know what the project would cost. King McDonald, building committee chairman, said exact figures wouldn't be known until the tenders were received, but he said in his opinion the $1,000,000 "is way high". "I think it will be something just over $800,000," McDonald added. Boyle replied that consulting engineers working on projects for the town usually provide estimates for projects, and he wondered why Cambrian could not follow this procedure with the centre. them," the local camper ex- plained. ' About 350 people moved into the park Friday and by the time they were ready to depart on Sunday, most of the camping units were up to their axles in mud, Graham Arthur Motors donated their towing equipment to get the units on their way to avoid. excess strain on cars. ' Here's still a bit of a kid in us 'all," Armstrong mused in noting that most campers spent the weekend tramping through the mud in their bare feet. Even a bridge built across the track was hard-pressed to fullfull its job. It was washed away on three occasions as it started to float in the water, Most of the programs planned for the grandstand area were inoved to the high school auditorium. Exemptions are denied No one in Exeter will be exempted from the November deadline to have sanitary sewer hookups completed. That was the recommendation of the social services committee this week, and it was approved by council with little discussion. Chairman Lossy Fuller said the committee had given the matter much consideration and thought. Mayor Bruce Shaw, who earlier had lauded council for their suggestion of exempting people for health or financial reasons, wondered what had prompted the committee decision, Mrs. Fuller said that if people had financial problems, they could apply to the town for loans under the Ontario Home Renewal Program (OHRP), Loans were available at low interest and in some cases, portions of the loan did not have to be repaid, She also said local plumbers had advised they were prepared to restore yards and basements to the same conditions as they were before sewers were in- stalled. After the motion was passed to not allow any exemptions, council decided to write letters to those who had formally applied for the exemptions. Offers packer demonstration Cecil Lewis, who operates a garbage collection business in the Lucan area, told Exeter,., council this week his firm would ap- preciate an opportunity to demonstrate their garbage packer in town, lie said the fnachine could be available to put on the local garbage route at no charge for the demonstration. "These days, we'll consider anything that's free," Mayor Bruce Shaw advised, "Everything is too vague now," Deputy-Reeve Tom MacMillan said. "We haven't even had a guess ion, estimates) from you guys," he told the committee representatives. McDonald replied that the figures would he available when Cambrian present their final Dispppointed no solution Councillor Ted Wright con- cluded Monday's session of Exeter council by saying he was disappointed that no solution has been reached over the race track and new South Huron Recreation Centre. He said it was "unfortunate" and was creating had publicity for the town. "I hope in the near future' we can resolve the matter and have good harmony with the town and rural people," he added. He said it was too bad that a need as great as the centre was creating problems. Mayor Bruce Shaw said that Wright's hope for a solution was no. doubt the wish of everyone. "I feel like a 47 thousand million dollar man." That's how Doug Gould, president of the Exeter and District Heritage foundation, expressed his feelings on lear- ning that the Ontario Heritage Foundation had awarded a grant of $47,100 to the local group. Other members said they were 'walking on air' since hearing the good news. Exeter council this week gave tentative approval to the establishment of an arcade and disco centre in town, and at the same time indicated they would reduce the present licence fees for pinball machines and other equipment. of that nature. Mike Koyle, Port Stanley, appeared before council to outline his plans for an arcade in the former Radio Shack building owned by Ccc Lewis of Lucan, Koyle said he operated a similar establishment in Port Stanley and would have about $00,000 'worth of amusement equipment in the facility. Ile said it would be "mostly for kids" where they can come and have a good time. Council was told that the local police department had been approached on the Matter and felt it would work if it was properly managed. Councillor Barb pa wondered how much noise would be created by tile disco. Koyle said it would probably operate only from 1:00 to 11:00 p.m, design to a joint meeting of council and the committee on August 30. Cost of the steel involved in the contract was listed at $124,000, This was slightly lower than the $130,000 which Cambrian had estimated. McDonald told council that the letter of intent to purchaee the pre-tab steel at this price was required at this time because a seven percent increase would go into effect on September 2 on all steel. He -told council that the con- tract for the steel could be can- celled any time up to September 20 without any penalty being incurred, other than having to pay for the engineering done to that point. Mayor Shaw asked if the committee anticipated having $127,000 raised by that time, and while McDonald said that question would have to be an- swered by the finance com- mittee, he said he didn't have any doubt that it would he available. McKinlay explained that if the project was deferred the com- mittee would only be paying for engineering that would have to be undertaken at some stage and it was therefore no question of losing any money A.R.R. Lawrence, chairman of the Ontario foundation, an- nounced the grant on Monday. He said his board had unanimously approved the grant which will be used to renovate the Exeter town hall. The grant is sizeable in view of the town's population, Mr. Lawrence said, They only give a total of $750,000 each year to all projects in the province, "I see no problems if it's run by the laws of the land," commented Reeve Derry Boyle. Koyle told council he was concerned about the present bylaw which calls for a licence fee of $50 per pinball machine. He said that was extremely high and had probably been, instituted when the machines were unlawful. lie recommended that the fee be reduced to $5 or that he pay a licencing fee of $150 per year for the entire arcade. Mayor Shaw said council would review the matter and predicted the fee would be reduced. Cecil Lewis said he was anxious to have a business established in his building so he could proceed to have it renovated. He said at present it was the worst looking structure on Main St and he wanted to fix it up to be an asset to himself and the town. Koyle was advised council would probably change the bylaw at their first meeting in Sep- tember, While approving the letter of intent to get the steel production underway, council also decided at the suggestion of Councillor Garnet Hicks to advise the OMB of all actions taken to date, Boyle has alternative Reeve Derry Boyle is still of the opinion that the location of the new South Huron Recreation Centre is wrong and he's been investigating alternative sites. He told council this week he had been scouting for other sites and had made a proposal "to a certain group" for five acres within the community. He ter- med it the best location for the centre, although he wouldn't make public where it was located. In talking with other people, Boyle said he had received some support for his alternative location and that he would make it known when the group replied to his proposal. Later in the meeting, he in- dicated the site was about eight blocks away from the present community park location. Town and country planner, Nick Hill, of Goderich, who prepared a 47 page report as to how the hall could be restored and given new life with com- mercial space and a public auditorium received praise from Mr. Lawrence for the excellence of the study. Mr. Lawrence also said the building is distinctive and the provincial foundation wants to see it restored. Mr, Gould said the grant will greatly assist the local foun- dation in its fund raising efforts. The total restoration is expected to cost in the neighborhood of $93,000. About $18,000 has already been spent on the inside of the building; this includes the $11,400 LIP grant.. Work has slowed down at the hall in recent weeks while the building committee were waiting for the outcome of the application to Ontario Heritage Foundation, Friday afternoon, Mr. Lawrence and his board of directors will be in Exeter for tea served in the upstairs room of the town hall where most of the renovations have taken place. At that time there will be a discussion as to when and how the grant will he handled. Members are anxious to learn if part of the grant is available immediately or if more. funds must be raised locally before it is released. The fund raising cofmnittee, under the chairmanship of Mrs. Joyce Monteith, has staged several money making events since the Foundation took over the tvwn hall from the council last 'spring A district-wide campaign has yet to be staged, The ,text large money-making event is the Guy Lombardo dance to he held in the rec hall at Huron Park, September 27. 'Tickets are still available. EXTEND CONTRACT Lavis Construction will be given a seven-day extension on the paving contract for the portions of Sanders, Andrew and Huron Streets now underway. The original contract deadline was August 20. However, it was extended due .o the wet weather experienced, compensation payments sup- plemented to amount of normal salary. - no deduction frOm sick leave credits for vacations and paid holidays that occur during em- ployee's absence because of illness or injury. - cash settlement of 50 percent of sick leave' accumulatiorr'When employee with 12 or more years continuous service terminates employment for any reason subject to the limitations that - employee if re-employed by the Board is not eligible for a second gratuity - employees who die in service shall have cash set- tlement paid to next of kin; - maximum gratuity is one-half salary at time of termination.. Total estimate ready soon McKinlay predicts delay Horsemen receive little hope f or track I Weather didn't deter from good campout Give tentative okay to arcade-disco idea 0),