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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Exeter Times-Advocate, 1976-06-10, Page 1e 6tefer'ZitnesavAbvocafe ra )., A 1, .180.000 .160000 i :140000- 14000 I ittP 100000 80600 60.000 40,000 20,000- 0 Average increase of $57 Budget up 1$mills Exeter ratepayers face 13.5% tax hike As expected, Exeter ratepayers are looking at a tax increase this year. The overall increase is approximately 18 mills or 13.5 percent in required revenues over last year's budget., A portion of the increase is reflected in a higher requisition Want policy for arenas from boards of education which went up about four mills. Most of the town's increase in required revenues is due to a Council decision to pay back $50,000 this year towards a $900,000 loan for the current sewer installation project which continues from last year. That decision alone involves an extra 11 mills in required municipal revenue through direct taxation, but according to Council it will be cheaper for taxpayers in the long run as it reduces the amount of debenture which the town will have to start paying back on next year. As the original $900,000 was debentured over a period of thirty years with the town scheduled to pay back $100,000 per year, in- , other things. 'those requirements will be discussed at Saturday's meeting and could result in an increase to that area of the municipal budget. Other major budget ex- penditures for 1976 include $71,050 For general ad- ministrative costs, $250,000 for transportation and roads, $154,125 for environmental services, and $10,100 for town planning needs. Total municipal expenditures for 1976 will be about $772,000. One mill equals $4,500 in Exeter and with an increase of 18 mills that would equal some $81,000 in increased revenues through direct taxation to Exeter ratepayers this year. Council meeting between RAP members and councillors, a compromise of $60,000 in operational funds was settled upon. The town's protective services budget will be held to $182,782 as of Monday night, although that figure could change depending on the outcome of a meeting of the police committee. Saturday morning. Police Chief Ted Day, who was present at the Council meeting outlined several recommendations received from the Ontario Police Commission with regard to a recent inspection of the Exeter Police offices. They suggested that the department required a new police cruiser and better office quarters among jump from 155 mills last year to about 177 mills for 1976. One of the major budget cuts came under the transportation and roads program for 1976. Originally, Coun. Ted Wright, chairman of the public works committee had hoped to spend some $50,000 for purposes of paving roads this year with a treatment which would last up to seven years The RAP committee will receive $60,000 from the town this year. Originally they had asked for a grant of $84,000 in 1976 to offset revenue losses from the closing of the arena. Council wanted to limit this year's grant to $55,000 but after considerable discussion at Monday night's eluding interest, an initial $50,000 cut off the principal would knock a considerable amount off the overall interest charged to the town. Several budget items were pared down to keep the mill rate increase from going higher in- cluding reductions in the budget for roads, sanitation, and the town grant to RAP. Estimated revenue for the town in 1976 will total $453,260 in the overall budget projection of $1,240,000 from all sources, in- cluding the general grant from the province and levies for county and school board purposes. The residential rate for public school supporters will be 153.3 mills while the commercial rate will One Hundred and Third Year EXETER, ONTARIO, JUNE 10, 1976 Price Per Copy 25 Cents WHAT'S THE SCORE WITH THE NEW ARENA? Anyone asking that question can soon get their answer by taking note of the new sign erected by the South Huron Recreation Centre Committee. Passerby, W,J. Commission unhappy with police quarters Adams of Dashwood (on the left) and chairman, John Stephens look towards the top as they ponder how long it will take fund- raising efforts to reach that point, The sign is located south of the PUC building. Health clinic nurses will walk out Monday and remarked that the Foun- dation wants to help out. She suggested that the organization is more than eager to provide adequate space for the police and wants to restore a portion of the Town Hall for that purpose. Day said that he was hoping that the Council could provide a solution for better office facilities but wondered how it would work now that the Town of Exeter no longer owns the Town Hall, The police cruiser that the com- mission said should be replaced has 89,0000 miles on it and is a 1972 model. Day noted that he had asked Council to replace the cruiser a year ago. Council agreed that the police committee should meet with Day to discuss possible improvements that the town could make for the department and members of that committee, Mayor Bruce Shaw, Reeve Derry Boyle, and Counc. Robert Simpson will sit down with the police chief Saturday morning. One of the recommendations that the commission made was that there should be regular contact between the police department and Council's police committee, something which has probably been lacking in recent months. By FRED YOUNGS Health clinic nurses across Ontario will walk off the jobs Monday morning to begin a week long strike to emphasize their demands for compulsory ar- bitration, 15 nurses in Huron County, including two at South Huron Hospital, in Exeter will participate. The decision to strike came at a meeting of the Ontario Nurses Association in Toronto June 5. The "money factor" will not be emphasized in the strike said Mrs. Elizabeth McHugh a nurse •at the Huron County Health Unit. Mrs. McHagh is co-ordinating the strike in Huron County. The nurses in Huron County have been negotiating since July of 1975 and were in a legal position to strike June 7. The main thrust of the strike will be directed at government and health boards, to underline the fact Public Health Nurses, unlike Registered Nurses, cannot refer contract negotiations to arbitration. The Public Health Nurses feel compulsory arbitration would bring their salaries up to parody with Registered nurses. Mrs. McHugh has been instructed by RAP will ask Exeter Council to endorse a resolution with regard to the Ontario' government's policy on closing arenas and community centres when the municipal body meets again in two weeks. The committee has received two resolutions drafted by the Ontario Municipal Recreation Association and the Ontario Arenas Association. Both of these resolutions deal with asking the Ontario government to provide sufficient funds to municipalities where arenas have been closed down by the Ministry of Labor, to aid in providing new facilities. While RAP supports these motions, calling for greater financial support from the Wintario fund and the setting up of priorities that take the affected municipalities into consideration, the committee wants to go one step further, asking the Ministry of Housing for assurance that any new arenas built won't be judged architecturally obsolete by another revised building code in two years time. Addressing Council Monday night, rec. director, Jim McKinlay used the example of the closing of the arena in Howick Township. The two year old arena was built under the standards of the National Building Code, which was the code in use at that time. When the arena was ordered closed for repairs the Ministry informed officials in Howick that it would have to meet the standards of the new Ontario Building Code before the facility would be allowed to reopen. That is the building code now in use. McKinlay stated that RAP's resolution would ask the Ministry of Housing for assurance that when new arenas are built, such as the proposed South Huron Recreation Centre, that they should be judged by the building Please turn to page 3 Town Hall report ready Big load on garbageman Support mosquito control program Although Exeter Council hopes that conditions in this area won't necessitate the use of sprays to fight encephalitis-carrying mosquitoes, it has endorsed a resolution by the City of Windsor that the Ontario government should provide a 75 percent subsidy for such programs. The Windsor resolution stated that since the Ontario govern- ment has a policy of giving 75 percent financial support to regular preventative programs, that mosquito control programs carried out by municipalities and counties in the province should be given that same support. The Ontario Ministry of Health has issued warnings that spraying programs could be a necessity in the southern Ontario region' between Toronto and Windsor. So far no uniform policy for mosquito control has been set, The problem of garbage collection is getting out of hand, according to Coun, Ted Wright and something must be done. Wright said that Exeter should develop a new policy for collection so that the public works department does not have to spend all its time collecting garbage. He noted that in other areas, large items such as tree limbs can't be put out for collection except on special • days. He said that in the city of London people have to pay for the type of extra service which is being supplied for free in Exeter. "Some weeks garbage is double the week before and it ruins the work schedule", he stated. Nick Hill, town and country planner, of Goderich, presented his feasibility report to the Exeter and District Heritage Foundation executive, Wed- nesday night. The 47 page document has been distributed to members and is also available ' at the Exeter library. In his report, Mr. Hill con- cluded that "restoration of the town hall is both feasible and practical, providing viable new uses can be found that will make the financial investment required for restoration respectable." Because of its prime location in the down town area, the Foun- dation expects to have no dif- ficulty in renting the facilities once restoration has been completed. The old fire hall is presently being worked on to turn it into rentable space for offices or a store, Mayor Bruce Shaw, who at- tended the meeting brought to the Foundation's attention that the police department is not happy with its facilities in the hall. Mr. Hill was authorized to speak with the police to discover what their additional requiirements are. Members agreed that the present police office needs work done on Please turn to page 3 The Ontario Police Association thinks that the town of Exeter could do better by its police department. A representative from the commission recently made an inspection of the Exeter Police Force and although he com- mended them on having an ef- ficient organization, he termed the condition of their office and equipment as "deplorable." In a letter to Police Chief Ted Day, the commisssion described the facilities for the police as "inadequate, poorly organized, and do nothing for the morale of the officers". The commission suggested that Day get in touch with Exeter Council with regard to providing better facilities and equipment for the department, Among other things, the letter noted that office space provided at the Town Hall was inadequate and that the second police cruiser needed replacing. Day approached Exeter Council Monday night with the letter and made a few additional suggestions. He asked what had become of plans to improve the parking lot behind the Town Hall, something that Council has been talking about for a couple of years. He also wondered what had become of the new parking tickets with fines ranging from $3 to depending upon the seriousness of the parking of- fence and received a reply that they had not yet been printed. Day had draughted the tickets a year ago. He also queried Council as to the whereabouts of two hour parking signs which had been scheduled to be installed on streets around town for at least a year. Day said that if the town agreed to revamp the present facilities in the Town Hall that he would be agreeable but said that at the present time, conditions there were not good. He referred to the fact that the department has been asked to move files and uniforms stored upstairs to another room so that re- novations to the Town Hall could proceed. He also said that noise created by work going on at the Town Hall had added to the disruption. Gwyn Whilsmith, public relations director for the Exeter Heritage Foundation said that her group is aware of problems that the police are experiencing NEW QUEEN — South Huron District High School held their annual formal dance on Friday evening and the main attraction was of course, the crowning of the school's new Queen, Miss Brenda Neil. RAP budget cut, employees to get staggered layoffs eeDeeinaer... the ONA not to reveal salary figures or the differences in salaries, but she did say Public Health Nurses earn "about $2,000 less " than Registered Nurses. The Huron County Health Board has refused compulsory arbitration since negotiations began. Mrs. McHugh said "no reason" for the refusal has ever been given. Reeve Ed Oddleifson, of Hayfield, and chairman of the Huron Health Board said he could not comment until Friday after the board meets to draw up a contingency plan for health care during the strike week and to discuss the grievances. The strike was called for next week becase it is the last week of sitting for the Ontario Legislature before they break for the summer recess. This is also when they will discuss the Health Care budget. Twenty-six health units are in a legal position to strike across the province. Two of them, Grey- Bruce and Owen Sound, have the right to compulsory if they want it. Nurses in the Peterborough and Halibur ton health units have been locked out by the local Boards in answer to their demands. The ONA suggests this is part of a province wide plan for lockouts. Mrs. McHugh suggested that the strike action may result in lockouts by the Huron County Board. The ONA itself opposes the strike action because of the hard sentiments it could produce between the public and the nurses, It is for this reason the "money factor" is not being emphasized said Mrs. McHugh. "People are fed up with demands for money" she said, "I think all the nurses view a strike with very mixed feelings. We have tried every way we know to get a satisfactory settlement". A minimum amount of picketing will take place over the durationof the strikes,butthere is a demonstration of all the nurses planned for Queen's Park. Mrs. McHugh was unsure what day the demonstration would take place. 02e', ee • People and events RAP will receive a $60,000 grant from the town this year after considerable discussion with members of the recreation committee who attended the Council meeting Monday night. Originally RAP had asked for a town grant of $84,000 for 1976 but after a budget session with members of Council last week, decided to whittle down their request to $65,000, Council came back Monday night with a proposed grant of $55,0000 representing the same grant issued last year when RAP has to ask for additional grants to meet expenditures, Chairman Ruth Durand and members of the RAP committee argued that it was unfair of Council to cut grants to the recreation committee when it was faced with loss of outside revenue due to the arena closing and reduced grants from the province, Vice-chairman, Bob Pooley stated that Council had the power to allot RAP any sum they wished but cautioned that , they might have to be satisfied with a recreation program that closed down midway through the year, Deputy-reeve, Tom 1V1ac1Vtillan, who has been critical of RAP, remarked that a $60,000 grant to RAP represented approximately 16 mills hi the town's budget. "To me, the taxpayers are paying 16 mills for nothing." lie -critieized RON FICE OF THE EXETER POLICE DEPARTMENT has been promoted to first class constable by Exeter Council. Congratulations Ron. EXETER COUNCIL has en- dorsed a resolution from the Township of Orilli a calling for the English language to be the sole universal language for pilots in air flight control. A SUM OF $4,500 has been allotted in this year's municipal budget to develop the parking lot behind Exeter's Town Hall, Actually the sum had been allotted last year, but Council didn't get around to ordering the necessary work done. BUILDING INSPECTOR, DOUG TRIEBNER will receive a flat rate of $50 a month for mileage beginning next month. He has beenmaking his trips for building inspection without a mileage allowance in the past. Reeve Boyle remarked that Triebner is only a part-time employee but does a full-time job without being paid for it in moving that the allowance be granted. Triebner made 63 inspections during the month of May. RADAR WILL BE OPERATING in Exeter in the early morning hours during the next few weeks and motorists are advised to drive with care. Huron St, and Main St. will be the areas where radar will he concentrated, will be provided at the tennis courts. $500 was cut from RAP's community events program by paring down the activities for Canada Week and another $500 from the budget for program development. McKinlay stated that a failure to come up with new programs due to the budget cut would be disappointing, especially in a year whenthe town has no arena facility for winter activities. Chairman Ruth Durand told Council that it would be difficult for RAP to make any more oats at this stage becausetexpenditures have already accured with regard to some of the programs for this year. Coun. Harold Patterson agreed. "We're already six months into the year. RAP has spent half the year already without a budget to know how to watch costs. Finally Reeve Derry Boyle and Count. Ted Wright moved that the town grant should be in- creased $5,000 Ma total of $60,000. "We had to compromise with our other departments as well", Wright said, "but I'd hate to see a program dropped because it ran out of dollars." "I can't see penalizing RAP for the closing of the arena", Boyle added. Total reductions from the originally proposed RAP budget are around $26,500. DATE CHANGED Dashwood United Church Women have changed the date of their popular strawberry and ham supper to Wednesday, June 16, It will be held at the Community Centre from 5 to 8 p.m. PLAYERS WANTED — The Exeter Bantam Soccer Club is looking for players. Interested boysboys between the ages of 16 are asked to telephone Jack Wilson at 229-8740 for additional information. RAP for an operation which spent very little of its funds on actual programs, stating that the majority of revenues went towards maintaining the department itself. Rec director, Jim McKinlay countered MacMillan's criticism, stating that expenses involved with providing programs were not accurately reflected in the budget because it did not include the amount of money required for paying staff salaries which he said are the major portion of program costs. He also noted that a large number of Exeter citizens take advantage of recreation programs, citing a figure of 780 persons who participated in last year's swimming program alone. In order to meet the budget requirements that RAP was prepared to settle for Monday night, $7,700 was trimmed from the general administration budget. Translated into day to day operations, it means that RAP employees will be laid off on a staggered basis beginning in September and continuing for the balance of this year. Another $6,300 was cut from facility maintenance when a decision was made to forget installing lights at the tennis courts for this year and an ad- ditonal $300 in hydro costs. McKinlay told Council that $500 in revenues might be lost from the tennis club because no lights Canadian Flag as a part of the opening ceremonies held ELGIN THOMPSON past chairman of the Ausable Hayfield Conservation Authority raised the yesterday at the Port Blake Conservation Area, Photo by Creech.