Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Brussels Post, 1979-12-05, Page 1$ Bru:ssels man heads B of Ed Acclaimed chairman Donald MacDonald warned the Huron County board of education Monday that trustees faced major decisions in the future and to make those decision it would have to work to keep education "hot in the minds" of taxpayers. The Brussels trustee and former vice-chairman of the board had his bid for chair- man go unchallenged at the board's inaugural session. In his address to the board MacDonald outlined matters trustees would be forced to deal with as a result of declining enrolment. He said the only way problems caused by declining en- rolment could be resolved is by establishing good relations with both board personnel and, ratepayers. He told the board the hiring of a full time person- nel officer was a big step toward patching differences with board staff but warned that one person can't do all that has to be done. He said trustees would have to make a sincere effort to "consult" with staff and attempt to resolve issues with the knowledge of each other's "problems and frustrations". He told trustees it appeared the only time rate- payers took any interest in education was at budget time and at book approval time. He said that would have to change since many of the decisions the board would be making would affect the "lives and livlehood of a great many people." He said declining enrol- ment will reduce the population of the county schools 'by 300 to 400 students a year in the next four years. He added that provincial grants, based on a per capita formula, would be decreasing during that time. He pointed out that the board's budget, now a $23 million package, was increasing by seven to ten percent annually which, unless something is done, will mean the budget will double in ten years. MacDonald told the board the director of education was preparing a comprehensive report on the effects of declining enrolment which should be ready fe the board (Continued on Page 18) LOOK MOM , SHE'S TAKING MY PICTURE—Young Scan Rowe seemed more interested in the photographer then he was in the puppets as he sat on his mother Lynne Rowe's knee at the puppet show held in the Brussels library on Wednesday. (Photo by Langlois) Pay for our paving too Residents tell council ESTABLISHED 1872 over to you to make sure you were in agreement with it first." "I haven't disagreed with anything you've asked me to do," Mr. Pletch said. Mr. Pletch suggested putting all the documents that had passed between Morris Township, him and the lawyers in the paper. At this point, Mr. Proctor said that the day council got the agreement about taking over some of the lots from Mr. Pletch, the lots weren't all in the same name, that they had been transferred to Keith and Bonnie Pletch, but that Sam was still the owner of the lots. Mr. Proctor explained this as one of the reasons the subdivision had been held up. "We asked for an easement," he added. "I gave you an easement a year ago," Mr. Pletch said. "You can't give an easement until the survey's done," Mr. Proctor said adding that they had only received the survey on Friday. "The surveyor was only thre a week and a half ago. According to this agreement it doesn't say anything about an easement", Mr. Pletch said. "It ws discussed in September," (Continued on Page 18) BY DEBBIE RANNEY Brussels council faced a dilema Monday night as it tried to decide the fair thing to do after a delegation from Bob and Doreen Raymond said since the village had agreed to pay for 50 per cent of the paving of John Street it should also agree to pay for 50 per cent of the paving of Raymond Crescent. Mr. Raymond told council that he had been 'approached by a few taxpayers who had told him about the paving of John Street. "We feel when the town is paying 50 per cent on this street you should do the same with ours" He told council that the total cost of the street had been $6,800. and that the paving cost was $3,750: "I just feel that when the other side is getting paved, we should too. I'm just requesting that we get equal treatment," he said. "We tried to do everything they asked us Here comes Santa Claus! That jolly man, with curly white whiskers, red suit and his merry ho, ho, is on his way to Brussels with his bag full of treats for all good girls and boys. He will arrive here this Saturday at 2:00 p.m. He will be met and escorted along our village streets by a parade of floats, clowns, horses, etc., the Legion Pipe Band and the Wingham Debutants. The parade will end at the fire hall where Santa will distribute goodies to the youngsters and parade prizes will be awarded. Free skating will follow the parade. Bring the kiddies to meet Santa on his pre-Christmas visit to Brussels. ****** We regret that so many people who wanted a copy of the cookbook, recently published as a supplement to The Post, were unable to get one. The amount of requests for them astonished us. They were grabbed up so quickly that our supply was rapidly depleted. The word that the cookbook contained recipes from the known excellent cooks in this community must have quickly spread for there were mail orders for extra copies of the cookbook issue from far scattered points in Ontario. We feel sure that those who received them are making good use of the recipes and enjoying the results. * * * * * * Would you enjoy an interesting hobby? How about Indoor Gardening? Why not try making a dish garden or terrarium? If you do not know how to go about it you can quickly learn how. Enroll in a course in Indoor Gardening that will be sponsored by the Majestic Women's' Institute if enough people express an interest in attending such a course. You will also learn about plant. and Soil care. Look in Coming Events in this Of the Post for more information. * * * While waiting for the Santa Claus Parade nn Saturday, or While the young folks are to do and we felt we should be used the same as anybody else." After a lengthy struggle trying to solve this problemIrealizing they would be setting a precedent for the future if they did as Mr. Raymond asked ,council decided to shelve the problem until the next meeting after they got more information. Council also had a delegation from Bruce McCall, their representative to the Maitland Valley Conservation Authority) who asked council to give verbal approval to two motions he was going to present at the Authority's annual meeting, one being that the Authority approve the special policy for flood plain management for Brussels as presented and the other that the Authority approve a preliminary engineering study for the Brussels dam 2 that the ministry of Natural Resources be asked for its approval and the appropriate grants and that the Authority's share of the cost be raised by (Continued on Page 3 ) enjoying the free skating, visit our Brussels stores. They are full of beautiful and useful things for Christmas giving. In them you will also find everything you could want to make your home attractive, and prepared, for the holiday season. ****** Do not wear yourself to a frazzle with frantic last minute preparations for holiday season entertaining. Keep it simple. Prepare meat balls and sausage rolls savouries that can be frozen. Mini pastry shells can also be made ahead and frozen. Grill them just before serving, with chopped chicken, pork, roast beef or egg. If desired you can freeze certain casseroles. These prepared dishes can be quickly heated when guests arrive. Take it easy, prepare ahead. The most important thing about entertaining is to meet your guests with a warm, relaxed welcome. ****** What a delightful surprise it is to hear from someone you knew years ago. That is what happened to me. A letter came from a 92-year-old man who had been a neighbour and friend of my parents when I was a child in the years before coming to Brussels. His wife, who is also still living, was a dear friend of my mother. Their eldest daughter was a playmate of my childhood. There were visits between our families after we came to Brussels but as families grew up and scattered, contact was lost. Recently I met one of his daughters at a funeral. She had passed on my wish to be remembered to her parents. Then came this long letter from her father that brought back so many pleasant memories from out of the past. His memory must be excellent for he recalled for me names of former neighbours and friends and happenings of those long-ago days. Though I am not a letter writer, that is one letter that Will be answered with the length and detail that he asked for. BY DEBBIE RANNEY Morris Township and Belgrave developer Sam Pletch wound up in the same old arguments about the Pletch subdivision in Belgrave when Mr. Pletch attended the township's regular meeting on Monday. Mr. Pletch once again expressed dis- appointment at delays and council once again explained that one of the things they had been waiting for was the agreement on an easement leading from the end of the subdivision down to the Coultes drain. "I don't know what's going on . "The township's lawyer was supposed to pass these four or five months ago", Mr. Pletch said referring to the various agreements that had been drawn up. Mr. Pletch demanded reporters print what he was saying and stated he wanted the township to get a new solicitor. He said that his lawyer Bob Campbell had prepared two agreements and Mill (Morris lawyer) was supposed to prepare two by-laws. "I signed mine ahead of you". Mr. Pletch said, adding that the township seal should have been put on the document before he was asked to sign it. Councillor Ross Proctor said, "We sent it 4Brussels Post BRUSSELS ONTARIO 108th Year — Issue No. 49 WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 5, 1979 Developer, Morris council argue over delays A HAPPY TRIO—Mary Anne, Susan and Anna Marie Terpstra of RR3, Brussels made a happy trio at the CWL bazaar held at St. Ambrose Church on SatUrday. (Brussels Post Photo) Short Shots by Evelyn Kennedy