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The Exeter Times-Advocate, 1977-01-20, Page 1Reeve claims impost fee is a rip-off The matter was finally dropped to have the impost dropped and when Mayor Shaw suggested that council could deal with the Simmons serve notice of motion matter then. i4WOMIMPRint1,041.!1914KiNi4.. The $500 impost fee charged by council for new lots in town was termed a "rip-off" by Reeve Si Simmons this week. He said the fee was another example of how town councils and the provincial government were pushing the price of building lots to a point where people couldn't afford them. A former developer himself, Simmons said that anyone who A pickup truck owned by Earl Henry Becker was stolen from the MTC yard at Grand Bend, Saturday. It had a snowmobile in the back as well. The truck was later recovered by Stratford police and an arrest has been made. Investigations included one prowler complaint and one ob- scene phone call. Councillor Ted Wright suggested this week that court action should be taken against Exeter residents whohave failed to follow. council's edict to have all downspouts removed from the sanitary sewer system. Fines of up to $1,000 can be levied against those found guilty of infractions under the bylaw. Council advised residents last fall they intended to take action, but Wright said there were still many downspouts hooked to the sewers. "There are a certain number of people who don't think the law has to be heeded," he suggested. He continued, "There are about 114 employees with more than one year of service who on a special seniority basis will be increased from $4.53 to $5 per hour, This amounts to a rise of 8.7 percent. In lieu of retroactive pay, workers will receive a lump sum payment of $100 or $175 depen- ding on classifications. Dobbyn said some of the increases also included skilled trade ad- justments and changes in classifications, In Sunday's ratification meeting, DI employees voted 137- 10 to accept the contract worked out by the union and management. Both sides agreed that although negotiations were long they were good and were confident the anti- inflation board would approve the increases, buys a lot is already paying for the services required to be in- stalled by a subdivider and in addition they have to pay taxes to help pay debenture debts for services elsewhere in the com- munity and also the $500 impost fee, "I've maintained for years it's a rip-off," he told council members. In answering Simmons' request for an explanation of the fee, Mayor Bruce Shaw said the impost was charged so the town could recoup some of the costs involved in extending sewers Commission may disband and other services to new sub- divisions, He said that council estimated it would cost the town $30,000 to provide services to the new Darling subdivision as an example. "It's a means of letting the rest of the people escape the penalty of a new subdivision," the Mayor added. Councillor Ted Wright said the recent expenditure of $150,000 on the Ann Street drain was an example of expenditures which had to be made due to develop- ment in the community. Wright suggested the expenditure was created by development in the eastern portion of the town. However, Simmons refuted that argument, saying there had been a problem with the Ann Street drain for the past 25 years, although he did agree the problem had been aggravated by the Dow subdivision and other developments. The Reeve noted that people in new subdivisions help pay for such things as watermains in older sections of the town even though they have paid for their own mains themselves through the purchase of completely serviced lots. "You're penalizing the young fellow wanting to get his family into a, house," he told council. In his inaugural address Thursday morning, Stephen township reeve Cecil Desjardine said his prime concern • in 1977 was to put more effort into and improve the road system. With gravel becoming scurcer and more expensive, Desjardine suggested a program of blacktopping a certain number of miles of roads each year should be undertaken. He added; 'Weals° have at least three bridges which should be replaced this year and we have to look at the purchase of a new grader." "Our past program has called for buying a new grader every five years on an alternate basis and we now have one which is 10 "He's paid for his own services and now has to pay for services in other areas." years old. It's a costly item these days," the reeve continued, Road superintendent Frank Mclsaac informed that he had just received information from the Ontario Ministry of Tran- sportation and Communications regarding the inspection of bridges. Mclsaac said he understood all bridges with spans in excess of 20 feet would be required to be in- spected almost immediately. He continued, "I understand this is going to be a government priority. The first appraisals by engineers will be eligible for 100 percent subsidy, but I have no idea as to grants on construction. Could be probably anywhere from 50 to 80 percent." Later in the meeting, Ken Dunn of B.M. Ross Associates of Goderich was appointed to in- spect all bridges in the township with a span of 20 feet or more. Clerk Wilmar Wein said about 10 bridges were in this category. Deputy-reeve Kenneth Camp- bell said he agreed that an im- proved road program was necessary. He commented, "Our road budget will be a lot heavier in 1977." Campbell said he felt some money could be saved with im- provements at the township's waste disposal site located on Concession 14, Rev. Bruce Pierce of Crediton United Church gave the in- vocation and urged councillors to "set your goals high and pray over them long." Set priority soon on road project Exeter will receive a total subsidy of $87,700 from the ministry of transportation and communications this year. Of that, $49,400 will be for con- struction and the balance for maintenance. In 1976, council received $89,100, but this included a $10,000 supplementary and a sup- plementary could be requested again this year although there is no guarantee that it would be committee approved The thweomrksinistry under Reeve Si Simmons plans to meet this week to prepare recommendations as to what will be undertaken this year for road, sidewalk and storm sewer projects. While A.I.B. controls definitely are working they are con- tributing to the unpopularity of the government as reflected in recent polls Hon. Judd Buchanan federal minister of public works told more than a hundred Liberals gathered at Vanastra Friday evening for the founding dinner and meeting of the new federal riding of Huron. "Some people still resent the restrictions that accompany controls" he said. Answering a query as to what the AIB could do to control the price of coffee the Minister said that the price of coffee was established outside the country and that Canada could not control this. However, the cost from the dock to the grocery shelf was being controlled. Last year the spread was approximately 12 percent up, this year the increase had been held to 4 percent. He said that while it was claimed that wages were con- trolled but profits were not the fact was, as indicated by Statistics Canada, that in 1976 the real increase in wages was 4 percent while profits lost ground and in terms of real dollars were down. Answering another question concerning the popularity of Mr. Trudeau the Minister said he could see no one on the horizon who can do as good a job as Mr. Trudeau. "I would anticipate that we will go into the next election under Mr. Trudeau and be returned as the Government of Canada" he said. Emphasizing the importance of meetings such as this founding meeting the Minister, who was introduced by Reeve Wm. Elston of Morris, said that such oc- casions provide an opportunity for communication — for members to learn what the ridings are thinking and for people in the ridings to indicate their opinions to members. Mr. Buchanan told the meeting there were two important problems facing Canadians — the economy and Quebec. North Star Yachts Ltd. presi- dent Ted Lane said yesterday he was unable to make any comments regarding his com- pany's financial plight. The Huron Park firm laid off all its employees two weeks ago and none of them has yet received any pay cheques. North Star was also given a deadline of midnight last night (Wednesday) by the Ontario Development Corporation (ODC) to raise $100;000 for short-term operating expenses or face receivership. There has been no indication yet of how much the boat firm owes the ODC. Contacted at his home yesterday by the T-A, Lane "The election in Quebec may indeed have done us a favour: It sounded a loud warning bell. It tells us that some change is needed, certainly no change as suicidal as wrenching out a third of Canada's heart and wealth and people. But subtle change which our Canadian system of con- federation is well suited to ab- sorb. "The people of Quebe will not vote to leave Canada, I'm con- vinced of that. Three weeks after the Separatists won their elec- tion, a poll showed that only seven percent of Quebeckers favour separation. They may be a noisy seven percent, but the polling booth is a quiet place and noise won't have any influence there," he said. He said that ever since it became obvious, a few years ago, that French-speaking Canadians did not feel fully at home everywhere in our multi-cultural Canada — not even in Ottawa, — Please turn to Page 2 HEARING SET Floyd Wein, 64, Dashwood, was ordered Monday to appear in provincial court in Goderich March 10 for a preliminary hearing on a charge of murder. He is charged with the death of his wife, Florence Susan Wein, 61, on October 31. Mr. Wein was charged after provincial police at Exeter in- vestigated an ambulance call to the Wein home. Mrs. Wein was found dead in bed, police said, and an autopsy showed she died of a fractured skull. MINISTRY OBJECTS The ministry of the en- vironment have filed an objection against the proposed Pooley subdivision on Huron Street East in Exeter. The ministry suggests that the town's sanitary sewer treatment facilities do not have enough capacity to handle further development in the community. said negotiations have been carried out in an effort to seek the necessary financing but nothing definite had transpired as yet. He indicated there were a number of "buts" and "maybes", "The only thing I know for sure", he said, is that we have a deadline of midnight tonight. Joe Jackson, chairman of the North Star unit of Local 1620 of the United Auto Workers, said he has heard nothing from the company. He reported none of the employees has received a pay cheque since December 23. Exeter OPP are investigating three thefts of CB radios this week, as well as an 8-track tape deck, snowmobile and truck. Orene Allison Van-Rompaey, Exeter, reported a CB radio stolen from her car while it was parked on an industrial parking lot at Huron Park, Thursday. Thieves smashed a window to gain entry to the car. A similar situation was reported in the theft of a CB radio from the pickup of Barry D. Norman, while it was parked at , the Agricultural College at Huron Park. A window was smashed and the radio ripped from the dash. The radios were valued at around $200 and damage to the vehicles was set at $50. Lee Albiston, Huron Park, reported the theft of a tape deck from his car parked at his residence on Columbia Avenue. It was valued at $25. A CB radio was also reported missing from the workshop of Ross Alexander, RR 2, Hensall. It was valued at $180. The snowmobile stolen was owned by Murray Pepper, Exeter. It bad been involved in an accident and was left at the scene while the driver received medical attention. When a friend came to pick it up for him, the machine was missing. A new agreement between Dashwood Industries and the United Brotherhood of Car- penters and Joiners of America, Local 3054 was ratified Sunday. Under terms of the one-year contract most of the 235 em- ployees at Dashwood Industries will receive an increase in their Ai total compensation package in excess of eight percent. Director of Employee Relations John Dobbyn said a story in Tuesday's London Free Press listing increases of up to 19.6 percent was inaccurate. Dobbyn told the T-A Tuesday afternoon, "There are only four employees to receive that figure of 19.6 percent and this must be approved by the anti-inflation board." Wcint to correct corner problem At the suggestion of Councillor Ted Wright, Exeter's police committee will be asked to in- vestigate the parking problems being experienced near the in- tersection of Wellington and Main Street. Wright termed the present situation "bad" and said a study was required in an effort to correct the problems. The police committee was also asked to investigate the erection of a stop sign at the intersection of Carling and Thomas Streets. Councillor Lossy Fuller in- dicated it was one of the few intersections in the town where a stop was not provided and noted that residents in the area were complaining, She said the lack of Mira stop sign was an added problem in view of the high snow banks which presently curtail visibility, at the intersection. NOT HALLOWE'EN — The bitter cold of recent days has brought out a variety of clothes to keep youngsters warm. Above, Donnie Broom shows only his mouth and eyes. T-A photo CB radio owners plagued by thieves New pact ratified by DI employees The Exeter Industrial Development Commission could be disbanded in the near future. When a letter was read at Monday's meeting of council regarding a local industrial development contact, members of council indicated that the local organization planned to disband. Chairman Fred Darling told the T-A Tuesday that this was a distinct possibility. The Commission was formed when Custom Trailers were looking for an industrial site. Shares of $100 were sold to numerous people in the com- munity and the money was used to purchase property on Highway 83 East for Custom Trailers. The firm later purchased the land from the Commission and other land in the area was sub- sequently sold. A parcel of land on Highway 4 was then purchased and it has been sold to the local Masonic lodge for a new lodge hall. Darling said a meeting of the Commission would probably be held shortly to determine what action to take. It is expected that the money received from the sale of property will be returned to the investors, At council's meeting, no in- dustrial development contact was named for a list being compiled by the ministry of in- dustry and tourism. Want further debate on downspout edict He added that he couldn't understand people who would continue to contribute to the flooding of their neighbour's basements, and suggested that the problem could be serious this spring in view of the vast amount of snow in the community. However, comments made by works superintendent Glenn Kells indicated that the matter was easier said than done. He noted that many of the stores on Main Street were hooked into the sewers because their main drains ran through the buildings andinto the sewer and there was no way they could be disconnected. He also advised that every house would have to be checked and explained that he had spent two hours in checking one house recently. "I'm telling you it will be a full- time job," he reported, adding that as soon as some inspections were made and downspouts removed, the property owners hooked them back into the sewers again. Mayor Bruce Shaw said he couldn't see that as being a major problem, saying that council would just have to continue to lay charges against violators and that the fines would help pay for the inspections. Kells added that he didn't think that it was his job to make the inspections, but rather council should hire a bylaw enforcement officer or authorize the building inspector to make the in- spections. The works superin- tendent claimed he had no authority to enter peoples' property to make inspections, The debate was halted at this point when Wright suggested recommendation for the next council meeting. ELDERS ORDAINED--- Four new elders were ordained of Coven Presbyterian Church in Exeter, Sunday morning. Above, Rev. Wilfred One Hundred and Fourth Year Now bridges to be inspected Jarvis welcomes Jim Dougall, Dave Moore, Murray Finlayson and Keith Strang. At the right is Clerk of the Session Cliff Erstnon. I-A photo LIBERAL VICE PRESIDENTS — District Vice Presidents for the new Federal Riding of Huron which includes Huron county and municipalities of Bruce County were elected at the founding meeting of the riding at Vanastra Friday evening. Three of the new vice presidents discuss plans with director Jean Adams of Goderich. They are (left) George Townsend, RR 3, Seaforth, Mrs. Adams, Emil Hendrick, Exeter and Mac Inglis of Belmore. Expositor photo Roads riority in Stephen EXETER, ONTARIO, JANUARY 20, 1977 The Reeve didn't indicate whether he would persue the matter further. WELL COVERED —Youngsters going to and from school this week are keeping their faces well protected from the bitter cold. From the left are Angela Beecroft, Michelle Hirtzel and Jennifer Venner. rZniesaktvocafe Price Per Copy 25 Cents Name o kers for new Liberal riding, economy, ue ec said biggest problem Still in troubled waters