Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes-Advocate, 1978-12-07, Page 1Hopes result better than senior governments BOYLE CALLS FOR RESTRAINT “This should be a year of restraint,” Mayor Derry Boyle told members of Ex­ eter council in his brief in­ augural address, Monday. Noting that both senior levels of government were advocating restraint, Boyle said he hoped council could show better results than the provincial and federal governments in that regard. “We should try to stay un­ der the five percent increase allowed municipalities by the province,’’ he com­ mented. Boyle said that a lot of progress had been made in Exeter in recent years and in view of the down trend in the economy, it may be necessary for council to con- sider a “slow up”. He said he was not ad­ vocating any retrograde ac­ tion, but merely urging A CHRISTMAS KISS — Children of the members of the Ex­ eter Volunteer Fire Department were treated to a Christmas party at the Legion hall Sunday afternoon, Giving Santa a kiss was Allan McFalls, son of Mr. and Mrs. Peter McFalls. Won't pick solicitors Mayor sidesteps initial controversy Mayor Derry Boyle side­ stepped his first controver­ sial topic this week when he announced Monday night that council would not name members to the Downtown Business Improvement Area board of management. “It’s not our prerogative to appoint them,” Boyle stated, adding that only ex­ ception would be in naming council’s representative. That appointment went to Harold Patterson. On Friday, a mild storm errupted when it was learn­ ed that Boyle had secured several names to sit on the board. The list excluded some of the present members. ., « > “’“To be frank with you, I have a list,” Boyle told council on Monday, but said no action would be taken un­ til the members of the Business Improvement Area submitted their own list for council endorsement. “They should submit a list to us and we should act on their recommendation,” Reeve Si Simmons opined. Boyle said he hoped such a list would be compiled through an election at an an­ nual meeting of the board. When the names of representatives on other local boards were presented, newly elected council members Jay Campbell and Marilyn Williamson suggested that advertisements be placed in the newspaper seeking volunteers for the positions. “We should provide the opportunity for anyone to come forward,” Campbell said. “I think we need to go through that route.” He said this would avoid any sugges­ tion that there was a clique in town hall, although he added that he was not suggesting those named wouldn’t do a good job. Mrs. Williamson said advertising for volunteers would be a more democratic way of choosing citizens to sit on the various boards. Boyle said people have been informed in the past they can present their names to sit on the boards and said previous adver- . tisements in that regard have resulted in few can­ didates coming forth. Noting that former mayor, Bruce Shaw, had suggested Soyle may have difficulty in filling the many positions, Councillor Ted Wright said he was amazed that Boyle had been able to find sufficient numbers. Clerk Liz Bell explained to the new members that many of the appointed officials served staggered terms and several of those named were in fact not up for re­ appointment. The ratepayers named to the various boards were as follows: Planning board — Dennis Hockey, Gerald Merner, Earl Long, Harvey Pfaff, Bruce Shaw and Ron Cot­ trell. Councillors Cameron and Campbell represent council. Cemetery board — Norm Stanlake, Olga Davis, William Musser, Marilyn Williamson and Ted Wright. Committee of adjustment — Bob Russell, Norm Tait and Dr. Gary Balsdon. Parking authority — Bob Fletcher. Tom Arthur and Alvin Epp. South Huron Rec Centre board — Derry Boyle, Wayne Pearce, Gerry Par­ sons and Jerry MacLean. Recreation sub­ committee — Scott Burton, Marlene Parsons, Bill Brock, Ruth Durand, Kenley Campbell and Arn Mathers. Exeter council this week accepted the resignation of town solicitors Raymond, McLean and Gray and made no move to name any replacements. Instead, they approved a motion whereby town of­ ficials may seek the services of any solicitors at their discretion when they require legal assistance. In a letter to council last month, Peter Raymond had submitted resignation, they would continue to service. It was suggested that the $50 per month retainer would be dropped and council would pay for the legal assistance on the basis of services provided. “It may be cheaper to pay for advice when and if it is required,” Mayor Derry Boyle said this week. At the suggestion of Councillor Jay Campbell, council agreed to keep track of the legal services and costs over the next three months and to review the situation at that time. At Monday’s meeting, council agreed to pay an $85 legal bill for building in­ spector Doug Triebner, who on his own initiative had asked local lawyer Chris Little for a legal opinion on the liabilities that may be faced by a building official. The matter of providing insurance for the building inspector as well as errors and omissions insurance for the entire town staff was turned over to the executive committee mendation. In his suggested spector could be sued for negligence and found liable where he issues a permit when he should not have and similarly when he fails to the firm’s stating that be happy to provide legal for a recom- Fire plan soon ready The new system for receiving fire calls for the Exeter “'and Area Fire Board issue a permit in a proper is expected to be in operation by mid December. Fire board chairman Don MacGregor said this week that telephones are being installed in the homes of 10 firemen and a schedule will be set up whereby certain of those men will be on call during evenings weekends. Calls during day will be handled at town offices. The fire siren can sounded by any of those receiving calls. When asked if there was any chance the new system would not be in operation prior to the termination of the contract with Mrs. Lorna Dale, MacGregor said that the Ontario Fire Marshal would ensure that Bell Canada had the system operating by the deadline of December 15. letter, Little a building in­ and the the be case. The lawyer said the intent of the Building Code seems to be to reduce the building inspector’s personal liability and increase the respon­ sibility of the council, although certain sections give the building inspector responsibilities directly. It was suggested that protection for negligence could be afforded by the municipal council agreeing to indemnify the employee or purchasing negligence in­ surance for him. The Frank Cowan Com­ pany, who carry the town’s insurance, said in discussing errors and omissions in­ surances that there is little likelihood of an employee being held personally liable for his actions while per­ forming his duties as a municipal employee. council to be cautious their spending. “We have to strive provide the best service the minimum mill rate.” In welcoming the new members of council, the newly named Mayor said he hoped for continued progress and success for all people. He told Councillors Jay Campbell, Don Cameron and Marilyn Williamson that they would probably find work on council hazy and confusing at the outset. “Take heart,” he said, “the mistwill clear.” The Rev. Harold Snell was on hand to commend briefly and assist clerk Liz Bell in administering the oath of of­ fice to council and the Ex­ eter PUC Commissioners. to at Noting he had been called on to assist at similar events in the past, the retired cleric said he had seen many changes and congratulated the members on being elected or acclaimed to their offices. He termed public work a “thankless office in many respects” and advised the officials they would sometimes reach the break­ ing point in dealing with peo­ ple. “You are going to have to have patience,” he advised, adding that with that in­ gredient, things will work out. “Do justly, love kindness and walk humbly with your God,” he concluded. At the end of the swearing in ceremony, chairman Bruce Shaw called Boyle to the front of the council chambers and passed over the chain of office. One Hundred and Fifth Year Serving South Huron, North Middlesex BOYLE BEAMS — Derry Boyle receives congratulations after being presented with the chain of office by his predecessor, Bruce Shaw. Rev. Harold Snell looks on in the background. Staff photo 1 i I i $ *♦ i■ 1 j||h I ■ bl!nr 11 iHr!' PUC agree to hear argument on Members of the Exeter Agricultural Society receiv­ ed a mixed reaction for their letter this week asking the Exeter PUC to lower a bill for services provided at the local fair. The fair board suggested the bill of $245.95 could possibly be reduced through the PUC giving them a grant. “I don’t know how we can make it any less and we’re not able to give a grant,” chairman Murray Greene commented, However, Commissioner Chan Livingstone suggested the bill “could be rounded off at $200”, but when he didn’t make that a motion, Mayor Bruce Shaw said the Commission should invite representatives of the fair board to meet with them and present their case as to why they feel they shouldn't pay a full amount. “They may have a just cause and we should give them an audience,” Shaw stated. His motion was ap­ proved. Manager Hugh Davis reported that the Agricultural Society was charged $4 each for the 11 concessions for the use of hydro and the balance of the bill was for labor and use of the truck, Davis said the PUC previously charged the con­ cession operators directly for hydro use, but it was found that many of the operators didn’t have the $5 when the collection was un­ dertaken. The manager said he has also suggested that the hydro installations required for the fair should be made permanent so the work does not have to be undertaken each year. It is expected this may be the case when the redevelopment of the com­ munity park is completed. v’T imes Advocate & North Lambton Since 1873 EXETER, ONTARIO, DECEMBER 7, 1978 ''.i: J Price Per Copy 25 Cents Chief Day sets councillors straight regarding officer attending course Exeter Police Chief Ted Day suggested this week he had not over-stepped his authority by authorizing the attendance of Constable Kevin Short at a special course on fraud at the Ontario Police College. After reading sections of the contract between council and the local Police Association, he appeared to convince most members of council that he had acted properly. Last week, members suggested the w ______t Chief had not followed the Monday, Chief Day provided proper chain of command in approving the Constable’s attendance at the course in that he had not secured permission from the police committee or council. The debate arose when clerk Liz Bell asked council if Short was to be paid for the time he was attending the course. That question was quickly answered in the affirmative. council, but the question pf whether the ” 1 Chief had d’/er-stepped his several authority was not settled. Addressing council, Turkeys cut off The price of turkeys this festive season is a concern of many people, but it will affect one group that previously had little worry about the price of the bird for the Christmas table. At their meeting Thurs-' day, the PUC Com­ missioners decided to drop the annual practice of providing staff members with a turkey, only partially on the basis of the high costs this year. Mayor Bruce Shaw suggested people should boycott turkeys because of the price, but when chair- man Murray Greene suggested a ham be provid­ ed for the staff, secretary Marilyn Sillery said it was even more expensive. Commissioner Chan Livingstone was in favor of providing turkeys at the out­ set, but changed his mind during the discussion. He said providing a bird for the employees was almost a thing of the past. “Their wages are to the point where they can afford turkeys,” he said, adding that most other employees in Exeter won’t get turkeys from their employers. COMPLETE FIRE COURSE — More than 30 firemen from Huron County completed a 13 week fire prevention course Monday night at South Huron District High School. Above, Ontario Fire Marshal Advisor Don Owens presents certificates to Ken McCarter, Zurich, Gary Middleton, Exeter and Norm Hyde, Huron Park. T-A photo Can't receive full stipend Commissioners are thwarted Exeter Public Utilities Comhiissioners, who were granted a pay increase to $600 by Exeter council for 1979, found out Thursday that their stipend for the current term will be reduc­ ed. At a special closed meeting on November 4, the current Commissioners had passed a motion that each receive the $400 remuneration for this year, although their terms of of­ fice were reduced by one month through new election dates, This week, they had to res­ cind that motion after being advised that the election act dictates that salaries for 1978 had to be apportioned in view of serving for only 11 months. The same rule apparently applies to councils in the area, although some have already paid members for the full 12-month remunera­ tion. sections of the contract which state that the “direc­ tion and the adminstration for the Exeter Police Force shall be the responsibility of the Chief of Police in cooperation with the police committee”. Another section dictates that “the town agrees to give each member of the association an opportunity to attend Ontario Police College or courses available having regard for the bet­ terment of policing in general”. Day explained that only about two meetings were held by the police committee last year, and the decision to send Short to the course was made in the summer when committee chairman Ken Ottewell was on holidays. However, he said he had informed Mayor Shaw that CROWN CCAT ROYALTY — Sue Beamish and John Nyenhuis were named 1979 Queen and King of Centralia College of Agricultural Technology recently. They are shown in the centre of the above picture with last year's winners John Dortmans and Teresa Ondrejicka. Photo by Norm Hyde TOwl the officer would be at­ tending Police College and that Shaw seemed agreeable when he was informed. “The intent of the police committee was to encourage officers to take courses,” commented Shaw, who was in attendance at the meeting to pass the chain of office on to his successor, Derry Boyle. He said the intent was also to pay any officer for at­ tending courses, but he added that he didn’t think the Chief was asking for per­ mission when he broached the subject nor did he (Shaw) feel he was giving permission. “From the last council meeting, I feel there is some ambiguity and suggest it should be straightened out,” Shaw stated. “The Chief feels in a tenuous position.” Boyle said he hoped council committees would meet more frequently in the future” so these things can be prevented”. He also noted that last Please turn to page 2 I < ? Descriptive words flow Absurd and assinine Renovations to the Exeter PUC office are basically completed, but the Commis­ sion may have a fight on their hands over the manner in which the project was financed. Manager Hugh Davis reported Thursday that auditors from Ontario Hydro had informed him that the funding was under­ taken incorrectly, although Davis said that a former auditor had shown the staff how to handle the renovation accounts and his directions had been followed. Money for the $18,000 pro­ ject was taken from the water department, when in fact the building belongs to the hydro department and should have been financed through that. Davis also explained that the Commission should have requested formal approval from Ontario Hydro to un­ dertake the project. “That’s absurd,” Mayor Shaw commented, suggesting the operation of the building should be at the discretion of the local Com­ mission. Chan Livingstone dis­ agreed with that contention, but only in a light-hearted manner. “It keeps five or six of them employed,” he said in reference to the fact Ontario Hydro had to ap> prove the job. He said the request would have been in Toronto for up to six months and the renovations probably wouldn’t even have started as yet had Ontario Hydro ap­ proval been sought. “It’s assinine , , . ridiculous commented Shaw. “Why can’t a local problem be handled locally?” Davis ^gested that the auditor who had provided the original information had been ill and had made several errors on that par­ ticular visit to the local PUC office. Livingstone said he doubted that, suggesting Commissioners change positions PUC Commissioners Chan Livingstone and Murray Greene swapped positions Monday night at a brief in­ augural meeting after being sworn into office along with members of council. Livingstone will be the chairman of the PUC this year, while Greene drops down to vice-chairman. The third member of the Commission is Mayor Derry Boyle, that the auditor had probably “had enough” with the regulations and had made the recommendations on the basis of common sense. “What happens if we ig­ nore them (Ontario Hydro)?” Shaw questioned and then made a move to do just that when he moved that the letter from Hydro be filed without any action being taken on their recommendations for the change in financing the pro­ ject. Livingstone ^quickly seconded the motion and it was approved. Shaw said if Ontario Hydro auditors wanted to explain their theories farther, they could sit in on a meeting with the Commis­ sion. He charged that On­ tario Hydro was “an empire whose tentacles reach into our private operation”, He agreed with manager Hugh Davis that it was necessary for Utilities to follow the requirements of Ontario Hydro and the ministry of the environment oh many matters ’’but it’s our business if we have cur­ tains or carpets”. “It (renovation) wouldn’t be off the ground yet if we had to get approvals. That’s hogwash,” Livingstone said in concluding the discussion. Make party even better Employees of the Town of Exeter were among the 500 people who attended a special Christmas party staged at the rec centre, Saturday, and while they reported having a good time, it was probably made even more enjoyable when council agreed Monday night to pay their bill. Councillor Ted Wright, who last year had led council in a move to end the practice of providing town employees with free turkeys at Christmas, suggested Monday that the town pay the $185 bill for the town employees and their spouses who had attended. There were 37 in attendance. He said it would be a token of the town’s appreciation for the small things the employees do beyond the call of duty. “It’s the least we can do to say thanks for a job well done,” commented Coun­ cillor Lossy Fuller. Newcomer Don Cameron agreed with the move, but . said it was unfortunate that it was being done as an after­ thought. The Christmas party was arranged by the South Huron rec centre board of management and included several local employers and their staff members. SHACK BURNS A snowmobile shack owned by Russell Clark, Lucati, Was destroyed by fire Saturday. It is located on Huron St. west of Exeter near Devil’s Elbow. Cause of the blaze is not known, The facility had been ih use prior to the blaze.