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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes-Advocate, 1979-03-21, Page 1A DELICIOUS CAKE — Lynne Farquhar pretends to taste the cake she brought to the bake sale Saturday sponsored by the Stephen Neighbourhood Resource Centre at Huron Park. Lambton public school officials say Grand Bend school will not be closing Senior needs study okayed by council Exeter council Monday night endorsed a move made recently by the town’s social services committee. Councillor Lossy Fuller, chairman of the committee said her group has already made application for a Young Canada Works grant to study the needs of senior citizens in the town. She ask­ ed for endorsement when and if the grant is approved. Mrs. Fuller stressed- this was only a survey of the needs and the YCW grant would take care of the salaries of three young per­ sons for a six week period. She said the salaries would be about $145 a week. She was backed by deputy clerk-treasurer Brian Par­ sons when she said the town would be responsible for only a very few ad­ ministrative costs. The personnel will be selected by local Canada Manpower manager John Gillespie with the help of Richard Hewitt of New Horizons and Al Sinclair of the Ontario Ministry of Culture and Recreation. Mrs. Fuller said the sur­ vey will include questioning local- seniors as to their needs and wants for ac­ tivities. She said these could in­ clude Day Care or Drop-In Centres but stressed recommendations only would be made which then could be acted upon by coun­ cil. The social services head continued, "It’s important that we keep our seniors busy and happy. Nothing has been done for them for several years.” Further support for the seniors survey came from councillors Jay Campbell and Marilyn Williamson. Campbell said, "We are not doing seniors. I’m in favour of ex­ ploring all avenues.” Mrs. Williamson’s com­ ment was, "We have visited other communities and Ex­ eter is far behind in taking care of their senior residents. We need to get ideas and do what we can to make the necessary changes.” Mayor Boyle suggested councillor Fuller should con­ tact South Huron Hospital administrator Tom Hudson to see if some senior ac­ tivities could be operated out of the hospital. Prospects for years ahead Some future prospects for municipal office • attended Monday’s meeting of Exeter council. They were eight members of the first Exeter Boy Scout group accompanied by leader Bruce Haselbaek. The boys were welcomed officially by councillor Jay Campbell who is also in­ volved in Scout projects. Campbell told the visitors, "It’s quite appropriate that you would visit us in the Year of the Child and I hope you will come again.” He continued, "In your Scout work you learn the vir- tue's of honesty and trustworthiness and we try to carry out these traits in our work. We work as you do for God, Queen and our town.” Councillor Campbell said the boys were attending the council meeting as part of their training to obtain a citizenship badge. Mayor Derry Boyle told the youngsters, "Our con­ versations here may seem to be boring to you, they are meaningful.” Officials of the Lambton county board of education told a-group of Grand Bend » ratepayers Wednesday that the public school was not un­ der consideration for clos­ ing. Director of Education Norval Cheeseman told the 30 residents who were in attendance "No school in Lambton county has been designated to be closed.” Also representing the board at the meeting which was organized by Grand Bend council was chairman of the board Alec Gilroy and Grand Bend, Thedford and Bosanquet representative Gerry Edwards. Asking the first question was councillor Harold Green who asked about the validity of reports in the Sarnia Gazette which indicated Grand Bend might be one of the areas to lose its school. Cheeseman said the Gazette reports were inac­ curate and said the informa­ tion which surfaced in the paper was the result of a dis­ cussion on the economics of schools with less than 200 enrollment. He said'there were many other factors other than economic which would be taken into consideration. The board is concerned about the effects of declin­ ing enrollment on the school system with Cheeseman saying in the past 10 years enrollment in Lambton schools has declined from 15,000 to 13,000. The board has established a set of criteria under which school closings may take place. He said a committee made up of board members and politicians and citizens from the area in which a school is up for closing would be established. The committee which could take up to 18 months to perform its work would in­ vestigate the pros and consof the closing and would then report back to the board. Cheeseman said if the board deemed a school was to be closed it would be 18 months or at a time coin­ ciding with the end of the school year before the school was actually closed. During this period, the public could still appeal the board’s decision. Answering Green’s second question on how the board reconciles the economic study for the under 200 pupil schools with $290,000 which has been budgeted for major renovations to the school in 1982, Cheeseman said each school is viewed as an in­ dividual and as such, it has to be determined what must be done if the school is to continue as education. The ministry has the final say in capital projects with the education director noting in 1978 the ministry said no to all the board’s capital submissions. In reply to yet another question from Green, board chairman Gilroy said he dis­ agreed with the Gazette which accused the board of inactivity. Local representative Edwards noted the board has 10 new members which slows ihe decision making process. "Believe me, Mr. Gilroy is doing a wonderful job of keeping the members in line,” Edwards said. Criticizing the controver­ sial Sarnia weekly for the last time during the evening was Cheeseman who said “If you rely on the newspaper particularly the Gazette, you’ll get a very narrow view of the board’s activities.” Returning to the question of school closings Cheeseman in reply to a question from Karen Finch said the top criteria in deciding if a school was to close was the educational experience for the children with the economic con­ sideration being secondary. Other factors which would be taken into consideration would be the school’s roll in , the community and the possible growth in the com­ munity five or ten years from now. Cheeseman noted the village has had several sub­ division plans approved Dump passes ready Passes which will enable Exeter residents to use the village waste disposal site in Hay township are now available. They may be picked up fi*ee of charge at the town office. After April 1, only Exeter residents with passes in their possession will be allowed access to the dump which would increase the number of family units in the village but he cautioned "Declining enrollment is a reality.” Responding to a question from James Patterson. Edwards said if the school was closed it would not be based on political reasons. If the school is up for clos­ ing residents will know "a way in advance”. "Per­ sonally, I can't see closing Grand Bend school.” Edwards said. One of the problems which the school faces according to Susan Campbell were students who lived just out­ side of the municipality and who were bused to Stephen Central school, some ten miles away. Cheeseman said it would be outside the Lambton board’s jurisdiction to in­ clude such students in any type of projected enrollment study. Later in the meeting, the education director said many problems had been created by the failure of the Lambton board and Huron Please turn to page 3 One Hundred and Fifth Year IT TASTES GOOD — Little Brother Doug Cudmore approves of the taste of the sap on the Dashwood area farm of Jack Ford. He is helped iq his tasting test by South Huron Big Brothers vice-president Rob Grant. T-A photo imes - Advocate Serving South Huron, North Middlesex & North Lambton Since 1873 EXETER, ONTARIO, MARCH 21, 1979 Price Per Copy 25 Cents Dog catcher hired Swim pool bylaw amended Council delays zoning bylaw decision Decision on a new zoning bylaw for the town of Exeter was deferred for two weeks by council Monday night. A report from planning board chairman Gerald Merner asked that a two week consideration be granted. Merner said he hoped most of the objections now on file can be resolved by council so the Ontario MunicipalBoard will have to handle only the issues that remain tentious. The plan chairman Ministry of Housing Huron County planning department staff will be council for the April 2 con- said and available to guidance meeting. at anything for our ace for IN PREPARATION FOR DINNER — During a Saturday visit to the Jack Ford sugar bush in Stephen township Saturday, the South Huron Big Brothers Association enjoyed pancakes for lunch. Starting the fire are Mary Cudmore, Big Brothers Jeff Carroll and Jarle Fisher and Karen Cudmore. T-A photo On administrative involvement Refer committee request to staff The social services com­ mittee was the only one to reply to a request by Exeter deputy clerk treasurer Brian Parsons’ request for involvement in municipal administration. At a recent council meeting Parsons was in­ structed to ask each com­ mittee of council if they felt there was any need for par­ ticipation in the provincial government program where university and community college- students are ment and consolidate bylaws in book form. Councillors Jay Campbell and Don Cameron spoke in favour of the proposed program. Cameron said this would be helpful for the planning board in setting down guidelines for opera­ tion. Mayor Boyle was opposed saying, "I think our com­ mittee structure is good. Most committees are quite v_______ specific. I think all you systemize records in base* suggest can be handled by employed in a municipal ad­ ministration program. The reply from social ser­ vices chairman Lossy Fuller recommended involvement in the program. Proposals for the program included: Committee struc­ ture, their responsibility and who owns what and who is responsible for what. Cataloguing of land owned by the town and rights of way easements, Ifetc. inven­ tory list of all town chattels, our present staff. Councillor Ted Wright commented, "Our interests shouldn’t end with our own committees, but, we should be knowledgeable of all groups. We have to be flex­ ible.” Deputy-reeve Si Simmons said he didn’t reply to the request because he felt his committee knew their man­ date and what they were responsible for. The matter was finally referred to the town staff. Merner and council agreed that some of the minor problems could be solved and letters will be sent to several Qf the complainant in hopes they can be ironed out. The planning board recommended that no decision be made in the Canadian Canners situation until ownership of the land where the boiler is located is established. The chairman added, "We don’t know if it’s on in­ stitutional land. If it is then it should be rezoned. If not, the objection would be with­ drawn. He said the Texaco of Canada problem could be handled through the com­ mittee of adjustment without rezoning. On the Exeter Public Utilities Commission ob­ jection, councillor Jay Campbell said, “their problem with fences appear to be covered in other sec­ tions of the bylaw.” A letter will also be sent to Len Veri asking clarification of his plaints. Council bylaws meeting, swimming pools, the animal control officer and to alter the recreation committee. Changes in the swimming pool bylaw are: A plot plan must be submitted to the building inspector with each application. Plot plan is a plan drawn by a registered surveyor showing the boundaries of the lot and the exact location of all existing buildings or structures and the proposed location of the pool. If due to the type of construction, it is necessary to fill a new pool im­ mediately after installation, a temporary fence approved by the building inspector will be allowed for a period of no more than 30 days. In any case, approval by the building inspector must be given by the PUC for com- three Monday’s passed at They concerned signifying that the pool is properly constructed and fenced and authorizing the Commission or its em­ ployees to fill the pool. Every owner of a privately owned outdoor swimming pool whether erected prior to or subsequent to the passing of the bylaw shall before May 1 every second year obtain a Spring Certificate of Approval from the town’s building inspector and pay a fee according to the bylaw. The swimming pool ap­ plication fee is $25 and the spring inspection fee is $15. The bylaw covering the town’s recreation committee was amended to allow a second member from council in addition to the residents at large. Mayor Derry Boyle and councillor Don Cameron are the council representatives for the balance of their two year term, Jerry MacLean has been named for one year, Wayne Pearce for two years and Gerry Parsons for three years. The animal control bylaw allows the hiring of Judy Finch as the town’s dog catcher. 4 Mrs. Finch will begin her position April 1 and will be issuing dog licences in ad­ dition to patrolling town streets on a regular basis. Each patrol will be of two hours in duration and starting times will be staggered to provide dif- * ’feren'rtimes for each patrol. The animal control officer will receive $3.50 per hour and 21 cents per mile while on patrol. She will also receive $3.50 for each dog tag she sells and $2.50 for every dog tag purchased directly from the town office between April 1 and September 30. Two crash on Highway 4 Damages were high but only minor injuries were suffered in a two car crash on Highway 4. just north of the Mount Carmel Road. Monday evening. A vehicle driven by Madeline Tasko. RR 2. Lucan was northbound when it was struck from behind by a vehicle driven by Tammy Kenneth Peckham. RR 3, Granton. Mrs. Tasko and a passenger Jill Stewart- DeHaan were taken to South Huron Hospital by Hoff­ man’s Ambulance for treat­ ment for minor injuries. Mr. Peckham was not hospitaliz­ ed. Constable N.A, Campbell of the Lucan OPP Detach­ ment set damages at $7,800. School struck again Hensall guns stolen One incident of vandalism and a break, enter and theft are being investigated by Exeter OPP this week. The vandalism occurred at Usborne Central School on Friday evening, where about $250 worth of damage was done to the staff room. Nothing was reported stolen in the incident, which is be- ing investigated by Constable Wally Tomasik. The break, enter and theft occurred around 8:00 a.m. on Monday when six guns were stolen from the Rich­ mond St. residence of Kathy and Gerald Sleaford, Hen­ sail. Two shotguns, two rifles and two handguns were reported missing, along with a telephone. A neighbor reported see-, ing two men in a small foreign car at the residence. Only three accidents were reported by the Exeter OPP this week, with two injuries being sustained in one of them. That was the result of a collision on Thursday between vehicles driven by Helen Coolman, RR 1 Hay, ' ing to appear in court, and Wayne O'Brien, RR 2 Anderson was given an ad- Centralia. They collided on Huron Road 21 at Canada Ave. in Huron Park. Ms. Coolman and a passenger in her vehicle, Heather Rogers, Exeter, suffered minor injuries. Constable Jack Straughan investigated and listed total damage at $700. In another Thursday colli­ sion, damage was set at $1,* 100 by Constable Bob Whiteford. Drivers involved were Alexander Handerer. RR 1 Crediton, and Jacques Seguin, Stratford. The mis­ hap occurred on Highway 4 at the Crediton Road junc­ tion. The other crash was reported on Wednesday when a vehicle driven by Terrance Rau, RR 2 Zurich, went out of control on Highway 84 just east of St. Joseph. Damage was listed at $1,300 by Constable Wally Tomasik. On probation youth jailed A former Huron Park man, Fraser Wayne Ander­ son, 19, was sentenced to a total of seven days in jail when he appeared in Exeter court, Tuesday, to face two charges. Now a resident of London, Anderson was sentenced to five days on a charge of dis­ obeying a probation order. The penalty was levied by Judge W. G. Cochrane. On a second charge of fail- HEAVY DAMAGE —- The two cars shown here were heavily damaged when they collided on Highway 4 Monday night. The vehicle driven by Madeline Tasko is shown above and the Tam­ my Kenneth Peckham car, below. Photo by Schwartzentruber *4 djtional two days. In the only other case heard on Tuesday's docket. Marvin P, Desjardjpe. RR 4 Thedford, was given a con­ ditional discharge and plac­ ed on probation for three months after pleading guilty to wilful damage on February 18. The court learned that a mailbox had been damaged and Desjardine was ordered to make restitution. I t v .I' I •<