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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Exeter Times-Advocate, 1977-12-15, Page 1HONORED BY TOWN — Gwyn Whilsmith, right, accepts a citizen-of- the-year plaque from Councillor Lossy Fuller. Mrs. Whilsmith was cited for her work as a writer, town hall proponent and church leader. Telephone debentures approved by council Judge W.G, Cochrane by Jack Doerr One Hundred and Fifth Year EXETEiI, ONTARIO, DECEMBER 15, 1977 Price Per Copy 25 Cents Approval was given in October Report not in press package Huron heads get pay boosts to 14.4 percent Citizens of year 'keen and enthusiastic 0 • A woman who advocates the use of prayer for success and happiness, and a man who stresses physical conditioning for the same purpose, were honored this week as Exeter's citizens of the year. The recipients, named at council's annual dinner for the community's appointed officials, Monday were Gwyn Whilsmith and Ron Bogart. They brought to nine the number of people honored in this way in the past three years, In a meeting that was delayed one day due to the storm, Hay township council authorized the issuance of debentures in amount of $200,000 for improvements on the Hay Municipal Telephone system. An underground conduit system is to be constructed in Grand Bend so as to allow for the Stephen permits over $2 million At a meeting Monday night, Stephen township council ac- cepted the tender of BP Canada toopply gasolipe, diesel fuel and furnace fuel to"the municipality. The contract price for gasoline will be 60.95 cents per gallon; 47.9 cents for diesel fuel and 45.9 cents for furnace oil. Clerk Wilmer Wein said the ac- cepted quotations included discounts but not provincial and federal taxes. Council learned from the Goderich engineering firm of B. M. Ross Limited that only three of nine bridges appraised in a survey ordered by the Ontario Ministry of Transportation and Communications needed repair. The report said five of the structures with a span of over 20 feet were in excellent condition, Needing minor repairs were bridges on sideroad 5-6, Con- cession 5; sideroad 20-21, Con- cession 5; Lot 22, Concession 4-5 and the Devil's Elbow. Building inspector Arnold McCann made his annual report to council. During 1977 a total of 153 building permits were issued for a total value of $2,143,914. A grant of $75 was made to the Huron Park Local Association to be used for Girl Guide purposes. The resignation of drainage inspector Lorne Dietrich was accepted and applications will be called for a successor, One of the township pound keepers Russell King submitted his resignation. A replacement will be named at the first meeting in January. A tax rebate to William Averill was approved. He was wrongly assessed in the police village of Crediton when the property is in the township. The 1977 agreement with the police village of Dashwood for fire protection was renewed for next year at the same terms. The retainer fee is three mills of the assessment of the property covered by the Dashwood department. In addition they receive remuneration for actual fire calls, Colleagues honor Dr. M.C. Fletcher The Glenn Sawyer Long Ser- vice Award of the Ontario Medical Association was awarded to Dr. M. C. Fletcher shortly before he died. His untimely death made it impossible for the Huron County Medical Society to present the award to Dr. Fletcher. The award is one 'of the highest honours which may be bestowed on a physician in Ontario by his colleagues for long service to his community. The framed certificate was presented to Mrs. Fletcher by members of the South Huron Medical Society posthumously on Thursday, necember 8, 1977. The two 1977 recipients were described as "keen and en- thusiastic" by Mayor Bruce Shaw, who noted the awards were presented to recognize people who do something extra beyond the call of duty for their com- munity. Referring to Mrs. Whilsmith as a very gifted writer, Shaw noted that she was a member of the Exeter Heritage Foundation and was one of those responsible for making the old town hall what it now is. placement of new feeder cables when the village and outlying areas expand. Council accepted a petition from the residents around the Datars-Merner drain on con- cessions 12 and 13 that requested that the upper portion of the drain be cleared out. Prior to the commencement of work an engineers report will be con- ducted along with notification being sent to the Ausable- Bayfield Conservation Authority. In other council news, an ap- plication for a tile drainage loan from Grace Merner for $12,000 was approved. Authorization for the repair of the lower end of the Forrest- Thompson drain was passed. A motion from the township of Sandwich West 'calling for alterations in the Highway Traffic Act to allow the owner of a motor vehicle to be charged when violating school bus safety procedures was approved. Hay concurred with a resolution from the Zurich and Area Fire Board that specified a fee of $1000 should be paid by Hay and Stanley to the village of Zurich as compensation for the housing of the tank truck. He also noted she was the first of the nine honored citizens to be other than a member of Exeter United Church. Her work as a member of Caven Presbyerian Church was one of the reasons for her award, She has been extremely active in the church and community affairs and wrote a religious column for this newspaper for several years, Mrs. Whilsmith was one' of the founders of the Christian Women's Club and also helped with the organization of Women Together. Her com- munity interest runs from children through to Senior Citizens, with an emphasis on the "forgotten" or under privileged. The mother of four children has been one of the most popular By SHIRLEY J. KELLER Huron County's department heads have been granted salary increases for 1978 which range anywhere from 7.5 percent to 14.4 percent. The increases were approved at the October session of county council without any question, county administrator Bill Hanly said this week. speakers in the area for several years and has had several of her journalistic efforts printed in national publications. "I'm sure I haven't done anything the rest of you haven't", she commented in accepting her plaque on Monday. "I love to write and am happy to have the opportunity to do so." She said she was very pleased to receive the award "and I accept it as an honor." Bogart, who was also taken by surprise by the award, said he didn't particularly want to come to the event because he felt his practice with the Exeter Hawks was more important. "In the back of my mind, maybe I think it still is," the dedicated coach of Exeter's For the first time ever, the department heads negotiated their salary adjustments as other county employees. Negotiators for the department heads were deputy clerk-treasurer Bill Alcock; planning director Gary Davidson; and social services administrator John McKinnon. They met with a special corn- Junior hockey team said. In describing the SilDHS physical education department head, Shaw said he was a man who doesn't hesitate to make waves when he feels waves need to be made. The Mayor said some people have been capsized in those waves, although Bogart's manner was directed to common good, His efforts as finance chairman of the South Huron Recreation Centre committee were extolled as Shaw suggested Bogart was "certainly the driving force for raising money for this building." In the past year, Bogart also coached the Exeter Hawks to an Ontario championship, His football team at SHDHS also reached the conference final. Bogart is a member of the Exeter Lions and is president of the Exeter Minor Hockey Association. Noting that he was an ex- tremely busy man, Shaw said many people could look at what Bogart does when they feel they don't have time to undertake extra work. In reference to his activities as chairman of the fund raising committee, Bogart said it was a great deal of hard work but he was extremely proud of the rec centre. "When you see the facility, it makes it all worthwhile," he said, adding that he was accepting the award on the part of all members of his committee, Commenting on his coaching stint, he said he would like to bring the community another Junior "D" championship, although he jokingly pointed out that his career may be in jeopardy because the previous holders of the job had their tenure terminated at Christmas time. mittee chaired by Warden Doug McNeil and comprising the members of the executive committee and the chairman of all other county committees. According to the printed report of the special committee, decision was reached to allow each department head an in- crease in salary of $75 every two Clerk honoured Council also chose the occasion of Monday's event to honor clerk Eric Carscadden, who will be retiring at the end of January. He started working for the town as the assessor in 1948 and then weeks or $1,950 per annum. "This increase represents an average increase of 3.8 percent for this group of employees," the special committee report stated. The following salaries were approved by council: clerk treasurer administrator Bill Hanly, $27,820 representing a 7.5 percent increase; deputy clerk- treasurer Bill Alcock, $24,310 or 8.7 percent; development officer Spence Cummings, $17,836 or 12.2 percent; planning director Gary Davidson, $25,012 or 8.4 percent; social services administrator John McKinnon, $18,434 or 11.8 percent; museum curator Ray Scotchmer, $15,470 or 14.4 per- cent; county librarian Bill Partridge, $19,006 or 11.4 per- cent; and Huranview ad- ministrator Chester Archibald, $21,242 or 10,1 percent. In a telephone interview this week with Hanly, the ad- ministrator said the increases A fuliner mayor of Exeter, William G. Cocheare, has been appointed a provincial ecert judge in the criminal division kr Huron. The appointment was an- nounced Friday by Attorney- General Roy McMurtry. Cochrane, a native of Exeter, has been working in the Huron legal system since 1946 when he opened a law office in Exeter. He graduated from the University of Western Ontario in 1938 and Osgoode Hall in 1941. He served in the army from 1942-46 in England where he was an in- structor in an officer battle school. When he returned to Canada he opened a legal office in his hometown and in 1962 was appointed crown-attorney. At that time he moved to Goderich where he has lived since then. Cochrane said the ap- pointment takes effect im- mediately but explained that he cannot act as a judge until he is sworn in. He said the tentative date for the ceremony is January 11, 1978. The duties of the crown- attorney will be temporarily handled by George Patterson, former crown-attorney in Walkerton, and others appointed by the regional crown-attorney's became "everyone's friend" as tax collector, In 1964, he was. named clerk-treasurer on the retirement of C,V. Pickard. Reeve Si Simmons and Deputy- Reeve Don MacGregor presented Eric and his wife, Margaret, with were within the Anti-Inflation guidelines "as printed". "This is what the guidelines say," said Hanly. "The overall increase of the group is 3.8 percent. No one has received more than $2,400." Hanly admitted the increases were made possible since a new medical officer of health and a new engineer had been hired earlier in 1977 at considerably less money than had been paid to the former employees, Dr. Frank Mills and Jim Britnell, When he left the county's employ, Dr. Mills was being paid $37,024 per annum. Dr. Brian Lynch, the new MOH was hired at $32,000 and when he has com- pleted his public health course in Toronto later this year, he will be raised to $36,000 per annum. Jim Britnell, the former county engineer, was receiving $32,578 per annum when he resigned. His successor Bob Dempsey, was office in Guelph. Cochrane said he had sub- mitted his name for con- sideration for the office when former provincial court judge H. Glenn Hayes passed away. He said up until Hayes' death he had not considered seeking a seat on the bench. The former crown-attorney said he was looking forward to the challenge of the new post adding that he really didn't think it changed his responsibility that much. He said his duties as the crown required him to view both sides of a case to decide if there was evidence enough to merit taking it to court, He said he felt his responsibilities as the crown- attorney were heavy pointing out that as a judge he will have similar duties except with more finality. Cochrane said the duties of the crown in Canada were not to seek a conviction but merely to put all the evidence before the court in an attempt to ensure that justice is done. He said many Canadians get confused with the crown's duties because of their television understanding of the American legal system in which the district- attorney, the American equivalent to the crown-attorney, is more conviction minded, two chairs on behalf of the community. In his brief remarks, Care scadden said his work had been interesting and enjoyable. Ile paid tribute to his wife's support in his endeavours. hired at $25,000 and will receive an increase of $1,500 January 1, 1978. Hanly agreed that in effect, the money saved on the salaries for the MOH and the county engineer was divided among the depart- ment heads, holding the overall increase to the "ounty taxpayers at 3.8 percent. The increases are, however, subject to scrutiny by the AIB and it is still not known whether or not they will be allowed. By way of explanation, Hanly said that in 1975, county council had apporved similar increases for the county department heads for 1976, but the increases were rolled back by the AIB because they didn't meet with the criteria set down in the guidelines. This year, Hanly maintained, the increases do fit the terms of the guidelines. Hanly expressed some surprise Please turn to page 3 "It's said the crown-attorney never wins or loses a case," he explained. Cochrane said he always en- joyed practicing law in rural areas because he felt the legal system in less populated areas worked more efficiently than in cities. He said in cities the volume of work and the greater number of lawyers in court didn't allow judges to take the time in a case that it possibly should get. He said in Huron County there are only 24 members of the bar association and the members know each other better than lawyers in cities and because of that familiarity seemed to have more trust for one another. He said that plus the low volume of cases permit judges to take more time in court and thoroughly look at a case. Cochrane has been involved in municipal life in the county serving in Exeter as a town councillor, a reeve of the town and as its mayor. He also was chairman of the South Huron District Hospital Board and of the Exeter Public Utilities Com- mission, He is a past president of the Exeter Lions Club and past master of the Masonic Lodge. He is married and has three daughters. No crashes in blizzard Despite hazardous driving conditions due to the blizzard this week, the Exeter OPP report only four accidents. There were no injuries. None of the collisions occurred on Friday, when visibility on area roads was cut to nil at times. On Saturday, a ministry of transportation and com- munications dump truck driven by Gerald Wurm, Exeter, struck a parked car on Highway 84, about 1.5 km west of Highway 4 in Hensall. The parked vehicle, owned by David McAdams, Windsor, was completely covered with snow. Damage was listed at $600 by Constable Bob Whiteford, There was one accident, Sunday, it occurring when Robert MacGregor, RR 2 Dashwood, lost control of his vehicle on the Credition Road east of Highway 4. Damage, in that crash was estimated at $350 by Constable Bill Lewis. Two accidents were reported on Monday, the first involving vehicles driven by Joseph Robichaud, Huron Park, and Michael McCann, RR 8 Parkhill. They collided on County Road 21 west of Highway 4 and damage was set at $2,500 by Constable Don Mason, The other collision involved vehicles driven by James Girling, Grand Bend, and James Murphy, RR 1 Grand Bend. They collided on Highway 83 just east of Huron Road 2, Constable Jack Straughan investigated and listed total damage at $500. During the week, the Exeter .detachment officers charged two people under the Highway Traffic Act, one under the Criminal Code and three under the Liquor Licence Act. Only one breakin was reported, it occurring at Daymond Plastics at Huron Park over the Weekend. Nothing was taken, although $10 in damage was caused by the forced entry. CITIZEN AWARD — Mayor Bruce Shaw presented Ron Bogart with one of the two citizen-of-the-year awards this week. Bogart was finance chairman for South Huron Rec Centre and coached the Exeter Hawks to an Ontario championship this year. His ability to grbw a mustache was not considered in the award. Staff photo CLERK HONORED BY TOWN — Eric Carscadden,who will retire at the end of January after serving the town for 29 years as assessor, tax collector and then clerk-treasurer, was honored at Monday's civic ban- quet at the rec centre. Deputy-reeve Don MacGregor and Reeve Si Simmons presented Eric and his wife, Margaret, with two chairs on behalf of the community. Staff photo Former mayor named as Huron's new judge Serving South Huron, North Middlesex