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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes-Advocate, 1978-10-19, Page 1¥ Elections evident in Biddulph, McGillivray Boyle for , Veteran Exeter council member Derry Boyle an­ nounced his candidacy for the mayor’s chair this week, with some reservations. “As a last ditch, last resort ... if no one else wants it,” Boyle said in direct questioning from Mayor Bruce Shaw if he • planned to run for the top councilspot. Shaw had also asked Reeve Si Simmons the same direct question, and the latter replied in the negative. Boyle, who was defeated two years ago by Shaw, said that if anyone else around the table (council) wanted to run for mayor, he would withdraw. He didn’t indicate if he would withdraw if com­ petition came from outside the present list of council members. MINNIE NOAKES .. . board candidate mayor as 'last resort' Shaw thanked Simmons and Boyle for their candor in answering his question, one that has been on the mind of several members since Shaw announced his retire­ ment. The unusual situation reported last week in regard to the reeve and deputy­ reeve positions was also clarified this week. Sifnmons said Monday night he was running for reeve and Don MacGregor indicated he would seek to return as deputy-reeve. Councillor Ted Wright, who was away and had in­ dicated last week he may challenge for either spot, told the T-A Tuesday mor­ ning he would not be a can­ didate for anything but a council seat. “It’s the only sensible move at present,” he said, DERRY BOYLE . . . could be mayor Three suffer injury in area collisions A stolen vehicle was in­ volved in one of the four accidents investigated by the Exeter OPP this week. Three people sustained injuries in those collisions. On Saturday evening a vehicle 'owned by Donald Hooper, Exeter, was stolen and later involved in an accident on Highway 83, two Jem west of Exeter. Damage to the vehicle was listed at $560, after it struck three fence posts and ripped up seven metres of farm fence owned by Wington Shapton, RR 1 Exeter. Constable Al Quinn vestigated. in­ Hensall arena opening nears With only two weeks to go before the official opening of the new Hensall Community Centre, plans for the four days of special activities have almost been finalized. Plans for the official open­ ing will be finalized at a meeting scheduled for tonight. Earlier it had been an­ nounced the official opening will be held on Wednesday, November 1. The following night, Thursday, will be family night and dances will take over the spotlight for Friday and Saturday nights. Many local dignitaries are expected to be in attendence at the opening, with Huron MP Bob McKinley sayirig he will be present. Organizers are hopeful of staging an old timers hockey game sometime during the opening week. Meanwhile, the quest for funds continues, with a blitz of the village week bringing in $2306.80. A total of $162,- 727.66 has now been collected with a little over $13,000 remaining to be ob­ tained before the campaign goal of $175,000 is reached. In another Saturday crash, damage was listed at $1,100 by Constable Jim Rogers when vehicles operated by Dorothy Elder, RR 2 Hen­ sall, and Kenneth Jones, Huron Park, collided on Huron Road 2, just north of the Crediton Road. Vehicles driven by Anthony Carver, London, and May Palethorpe, RR 2 Zurich, were involved in a collision, Friday, on High­ way 84 just east of Zurich. • Constable Al Quinn in­ vestigated. The injuries were reported in a two-car crash last Tuesdayon Highway 83, east of the Ausable River branch. Drivers involved were Stephen Mabb, Mitchell, and Stephen Hunter, Grand Bend. Both drivers sustained cuts and bruises and injuries were also suffered by a passenger in the Hunter vehicle, Christine Bieck, RR 1 Zurich. During the week, the local detachment officers charged seven people under the Liquor Licence Act, laid 10 charges under the Highway Control Act and three under the Criminal Code. Vandalism Constable Don Mason investigating a rash of at­ tacks on mail boxes in Stephen Township. Nine were damaged this week and' five were reported hit the previous week. A truck owned by Harold Peck, RR 1 Zurich, was stolen from Stan’s Body Shop in Hensall and later recovered by the owner at the Hensall Co-Op, Friday evening. Constable Quinn is investigating. I is Drain plan premature A plan by Exeter council to take preliminary steps for the construction of a west­ central storm drain have been premature. Last month, council agreed to make application to the OMB to issue a $300,- 000 debenture for the con­ struction of the sewer, but were advised this week such an application could not be considered by the OMB at this time. Clerk Liz Bell recommended that council rescind the first two readings given the bylaw and that new bylaws be prepared for application to the OMB in January. Council agreed with this course of action. noting that it would be foolish for one of the three present members of council to get defeated in an election when it appeared there would bd trouble enough in getting the required number to fill all the seats. Wright said he was still in a position of “wait and see” but it was not whether he would seek a higher seat, but only whether he would run for council at all. The only declared can­ didates for the six council seats to date are incumbents Lossy Fuller and Harold Patterson, and newcomer Jay Campbell. Nomination papers have been taken out by (or for) some other citizens, but their identity is not known at this time. Elections appear likely in two townships in the area with more persons nominated than necessary. In McGillivray township, Ben Thompson who was defeated in a similar bid two years ago is again challeng­ ing incumbent reeve Gerald Wright for the top spot on council. Jack Dorman the present deputy-reeve is the only one presenting nomination papers for that spot to date according to clerk Bill Amos. Amos reports that new­ comers Dianne Mollard and Ernest Kowalchuk have fil­ ed the necessary papers and will be running against pre­ sent councillors Jim Thomp­ son, Jack McCann and Ellison Whiting. An election also appears to be shaping up in Biddulph township. At noon Wednes­ day, clerk Austin Hodgins said he had received nomination papers from prospective councillors Joe Haskett and Peter Nippa. Incumbent councillors are Frank Hardy, Jim Shipley and Hubert Dietrich. No op­ position has yet shown for Moral study approved The Huron County board of education agreed at its regular meeting Monday night in Clinton to study further the possibility of a moral education program in the county’s schools. The board adopted Colborne and Goderich township trustee Shirley Hazlitt’s motion asking the principal’s association to study the need for a moral education program as presented to the board in September by Don Santor of the London board of education. The program uses everyday moral problems to teach children skills to overcome moral dilemmas and devlop self-esteem. Mr. Santor said in his presentation the program is aimed at “helping kids grow from self-orientation to concern for other persons”. Mrs. Hazlitt suggested the principals study three questions concerning the program. First, if there is a need for it in Huron, and if there is a need, what type of program would they suggest for schools. The third question was whether the topic could be discussed at a professional development day. “I think the principals’ association should comment on it ... they are the ones who would know,” she said. reeve Fred Dobbs or deputy­ reeve Wilson Hodgins. Clerks Wilmar Wein at Stephen and Harry Strang in Usborne were contacted Wednesday afternoon and neither has received any nomination papers. The same story exists for the townships of Tuckersmith and Stanley and the village of Hensall with no nominations receiv­ ed by press time. An election could take place in Hay township where the only nomination receiv­ ed for council was received from Tony Bedard. It is ex­ pected present councillors Lloyd Mousseau, Lionel Wilder and Don Geiger will be nominated again. Jack Tinney is Reeve and Claire Deichert deputy-reeve. At Grand Bend the only qualifying papers received so far by clerk Louise Clipperton are from coun­ cillor Keith Crawford. The only person nominated in this area for the Huron County Board of Education is Minnie Noakes for the township of Hay and the villages of Hensall and Zurich. Incumbent board member Herb Turkheim of Zurich is expected to qualify. Mrs. Noakes who will be receiving her high school honours diploma at the November 17 commence­ ment exercises at South Huron District High School said the education of younger children is very im­ portant to her but stressed that education is an ongoing process. Mrs, Noakes is a former councillor and reeve for the village of Hensall. Deadline for nominations is Monday. I RODEO WINNERS — School bus drivers employed by Charterways and operating out of Ex­ eter, competed in a bus driving rodeo on Wednesday at Huron Park. From left to right are Chief Ted Day of Exeter one of the officials, Lloyd Hewitt of Charterways, second place finisher Harold Hendrick, top driver Sam Skinner, third place finisher Jack Cockwill, Charterways representative Garry Wilson and Constable Bill Wilson of the Goderich OPP, another official for the event. T-A photo ! / ■ MB J Serving '■r7 ,z ''■'7,■imes - Advocate erving South Huron, North Middlesex w <- ■? Bi & North Lambton Since 1873 J Hundred and Fifth Year EXETER, ONTARIO, OCTOBER 19, 1978 Price Per Copy 25 Cents Board, elementary teachers settle new wage agreement QUEEN OF THE FURROW — Penny Hodgins was named Queen of the Furrow at Saturday's Middlesex County plow­ ing match. Penny, a grade 11 student at Medway High School is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Hodgins, RR 1, Lucan. T-A photo Suggests session be staged on cable It may be too late for con­ sideration this year, but Mayor Bruce Shaw suggested t council should look into a suggestion made Monday night by works superintendent Glenn Kells that a cable TV program be used to replace the usual public meeting held after nominations close each term. Kells said that such a scheme was being used in Mitchell this year, where members of council and new 'candidates could appear on cable TV and ratepayers could phone them with questions. Council have already ap­ proved meeting for the bi-annual report from council and to hear new candidates nominated for the next term. That meeting will be held Wednesday, October 25 at the rec centre. “It’s to justify your ex­ istence to the ratepayers,” Mayor Shaw replied in answer to a question by Councillor Harold Patterson about the meeting. “I won’t be there,” Patterson said. The Huron County Board f Education ratified Mon­ day in Clinton a one-year contract, awarding its 365 elementary teachers and principals a total wage in­ crease of 8.97 per cent in­ cluding increments for ex­ perience and qualifications. Under the new pact, teachers will now earn a minimum of $10,504 to a maximum of $26,730. An average teacher’s salary will be $20,811, up from $19,- 178 in the previous contract that expired Aug. 31. The 24 principals received a flat raise of $1,385, which is a five per cent increase. The highest wage for a prin­ cipal in Huron is now $32,- 435. Vice-principals are paid On the teachers grid plus a responsibility allowance which remains the same as last year from $2,800 to $3,- 400. The total wage package will cost the Huron County board of education $7,600,131 compared with $7,003,748 last year, a 8.52 per cent in­ crease. The teachers, members of the Huron branch of the On­ tario Public School Men Teachers Federation and the Federation of Women Teachers Association of On­ tario, ratified the pact last week. Ron Ritchie, chief. negotiator for the teachers said earlier the contract is “fair.” Other changes in the con­ tract the teachers were granted include an increase in mileage allowance from 19' to 21.7' per mile, which is equivalent to the school board’s rate. Another change is an im­ proved monetary reim­ bursement for leaves of absence from $33,000 to $34,- 000, a maximum yearly rate. Shirley Hazlitt, trustee for Colborne and Goderich townships, and chairman of the board’s negotiating team, said later the board is “pleased” with the contract. “To be honest it is more than we had hoped to settle for .. . but because of the ar­ bitration ruling we felt we had to be fair with the other panels,” she said. A provincial arbitrator awarded the secondary teachers in the county a 6.75 per cent increase for 1978-79. In other business, Mrs. Hazlitt suggested a letter from Education Minister Betty Stephenson, outlining the governments anti­ inflation program be sent to arbitrators rather than school boards. “Clearly, it is of the most importance that bitrators, in making their awards, adhere not only to the principles of fair com­ pensation. but also to the necessity for general economic restraint in the post-controls period,” read Mrs. Hazlitt from the minister’s letter. “All I know is that last year our allotments (grants) were down considerably and yet our costs were fixed by the arbitrator,” she said later, adding that the gap between grants and salaries has to be passed on the local taxpayer. • Mrs. Hazlitt also suggested a copy of the letter be sent to the various teachers’ federations and the provincial education relations commissions, which oversees teachers’ negotiations. They were pleased! to ut- ar- Mayor Bruce Shaw, winner of the mayor’s divi­ sion in the recent Inter­ national Plowing Match, received some belated con­ gratulations from members of council this week. “I’m actually pleased you won it,” Councillor Ken Ottewell "commented. At their last meeting, members down-played the Mayor’s efforts with some whimsical comments. Shaw said he enjoyed the member’s humorous com­ ments on the situation and had not been offended by the back-handed praise. He said that former mayor Jack Delbridge, a previous winner, had called to..congratulate.him as,well "and had indicated if he had known Shaw was competing he would have been on hand to cheer him oh. CENTRE BLITZ NIGHT — Wednesday night was blitz night in Hensall as canvassers attempted to collect a portion of funds still needed for the new Hensall Community Centre. Accepting a donation from Mr. and Mrs. Stan Kochan is Mrs. Rollie Vanstone. The blitz raised $2,306.80 which puts the arena fund up to $162,727.66. T-A photo ’ ' ’ l holding a public NEW ADMINISTRATOR — Tom Hudson, centre, was named administrator af South Huron Hospital, Monday. Welcoming him to the position are board chairman Dr, Garnet Leitch, Zurich, and personnel committee chairman Harold Gunn, Exeter. A native of London, Hudson is a graduate of Ryerson with a Bachelor of Technology (Business Management) degree and for the past two years has been business manager at Woodstock General Hospital, He is married and has two sons. Staff photo Damages could be half million $ if shopping cen tre's tenants lost The Town of Exeter could face a law suit of up to $500,- 000 unless council acts to withdraw a stop work order on one of three vacant por­ tions of the north end shop­ ping centre. That information was con­ tained in a letter to council this week by the Toronto law fiitn of Siegal, Fogler, ac­ ting on behalf of their client, Hawleaf Developments Limited. “Lease transactions with the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce and a restaurant were completed several months ago, and we must advise that if the town’s actions result in the delay of these tenants com­ pleting their work or possibly in these lease tran­ sactions aborting, our client intends to hold the town fully responsible for damages and losses arising therefrom, and we would also point out that this action on the part of the town could result in our client jeopardizing or losing its mortgage finan­ cing, which, needless to say, would result in extensive damage and loss to our client,” the letter said. “The possible damages noted above could easily amount to over $500,000,” the law firm advised in the letter which was delivered by courier Monday after­ noon. At their meeting, Monday, council decided to follow a suggestion from their Strat­ ford lawyer, Michael Mitchell, to meet with him this Monday in a closed ses­ sion to discuss the matter. The stop work order was placed on one of the vacant sections of the shopping cen­ tre by building inspector Doug Triebner about two weeks ago. The facility was being finished off for use by a toy firm, and the stop work order came as the result of the firm not securing a building permit. Last week, Triebner ad­ vised that a permit probably would not be issued at any rate, because the use being made of the facility by the toy firm was contrary to the new zoning bylaw. The Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce would possibly face the same problem, because a bank is also contrary to the highway commercial (C5) zoning given the shopping centre property. Edward Sonshine, acting for his law firm of Siegal, Fogler, said in his letter that the original building plans filed with the town always indicated that final finishing of the interiors would be completed when leasing was done “and we would therefore take the position that the work now being done and to be done in the future so as to complete the interior of the various premises arises out of and is in fact part of the original building permit and that no further building permit is required". “If the town feels that a further permit is required, we respectfully suggest that same is only a clarification of the original permit and has absolutely nothing to do with the new zoning bylaw recently passed by the town, to which bylaw our client is of course objecting,” Sonshine continued. The Toronto lawyer, who accompanied Jerry Sprackman of Hawleaf to a council meeting on the day that the site plan was ap­ proved. noted that at that time his client was asked to comment on the uses which would be in the shopping centre “and it was specifically stated that a bank, a restaurant and general retail and service stores would be included”. The law firm suggested that the town is “both morally and legally obligated" not to interfere with or obstruct their client from completing the development pursuant to the valid building permit previously issued. “It would be a ridiculous situation to suppose that a building permit be issued which does not include the final finishing of the premises, the property rezoned prior to completion of construction, and then the owner expected to sit with an empty shell of a building.” the lawyers argued. They suggested that for the town to take the forego­ ing position is not even in the best interests of the town. The matter didn’t generate any discussion at Monday's meeting of coun­ cil, other than the approval of meeting with Mitchell to discuss the issue next week. Mitchell indicated he would want to look over the original application for the shopping centre in an effort to see whether council members and the building inspector were acting cor­ rectly.