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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Brussels Post, 1976-03-03, Page 6Come in and See Our Selection o WALL CLOCKS Also for the person who has everything ALARM CLOCK CIGARETTE CASE 4 Mayer's Jewellery & Gifts Brussels Audrey & Lloyd 887-900 Extra .benefits for the over sixty • Standard safety deposit boxes for only $3 a year (A rental reduction of $5 .on larger boxes) • Free safe-keeping of your Guaranteed Investment Certificates • Free cheques on regular savings accounts • Monthly interest payments on Guaranteed Investment Certificates of $5,000 or over (minimum term 2 years)' • Cost of living Bonus interest on special savings accounts • Free issuance of travellers cheques Register today at Victoria and. Grey' Serving Ontario sine 1889 . WCTORM: and GREY 'T F2:LJST PA NV' MPP says Hospital closings set Huron 'bock 15 yea. `Ed 00 tie gr el COI 1110 ele scl Pri de Jack Riddell, Liberal MPP for Huron-Middlesex, told the monthly session of county council Friday that the closing of hospitals in the county is setting rural Ontario back 12 to 15 years. "The closings of hospitals in Huron is a slap in the face to rural Ontario," he said. "What we face now is setting rural Ontario back 12 to 15 years." He explained that Huron was now forced to bear the brunt of the Health Minister's restraint program and the closing of hospitals was drawing from the lifeblood of the communities. He also added there is evidence of poor planning and consideration should have been given to a B of E predith After considerable discussion Monday afternoon, the Huron County Board of Education refered recommendations from the budget committee to a special meeting to be held Monday, March 15. The budget committee sugges- ' ted a number of ways in which costs can be reduced. Superin- tendent of Business Affairs Roy Dunlop said the propsed cuts would reduce the overall budget by only about one per cent. Dunlop anticipated the gross budget would be up about 20 per cent from last year. He said although the provincial govern- ment had put a ceiling of eight per cent on expenditures "it's impossible to stay at that figure. We had, teacher contracts last year go up about 30 per cent and this carries through into this year." In discussion of the proposed cutbacks chairman Herb Turk- heim said, "We don't want to let the quality of education deterior- ate but we want to assure our taxpayers that the mill rate will be held as much as possible. Turkheim said he hoped a proposed increase in levies to the municipalities of about 50 per cent could be cut to about 30 per • cent. Budget committe chairman John Elliott said the bugdetary restraints would remove all extra- ordinary expenses and a 10 per cent cutback in ordinary expendi- tures. Dunlop said it was almost impossible to estimate at this time what savings would come from the proposed cutbacks. He said formula decreases would save about $230,000 and addl., tional savings would come from driver education of $6,500, possibly $10,000 in utilities and a sizable amount in the cutback of about five from the secretarial staff. Elliott said the secondary school principals in the county, had agreed to a. • 10 per cent cutback on eicpenses and although it wasn't unanimous there was a feeling they could live with another 10 per cent drop. A delegation of elementary school principals headed by Bruce Robertson of FIowiek Central School asked to be allowed to discuss the budget restraints before they becotne official. The brief said, "We note that sortie of the proposals for budget cuts are very close to the students and day to day operation Of the schools. We wish to ekprest our concerns and request the Opport- unity to contribute some input, and suggestions. Snide there is a management factor in our role We suggest We Should have seine involvement in the decision Mak- 6,--4.THE BRUSSELS POST-0 centralized hospital in the county. Despite, poor planning he believed there were viable alternatives to complete closure of hospitals in the county. He claimed there are too many hospital beds in Ontario and Huron County and suggested that every major hospital could have sections closed. He insisted that the government has priorities mixed up and funds could be raised from other sources rather than closing hospitals. "If there was a seven per cent tax on tobacco the government could raise $40 to $50 million per year," he said, "If we• can afford luxuries then we certainly can afford to pay for them.", He added that a 10 per cent tax ing process. We believe that the Huron County Board of Education is approaching the budget decisions in a very conscientious manner and we would hope that no sources of information would be overlooked in establishing priori- ties that satisfy all levels of the system." Exeter Public School principal Jim Chapman added, "What we are asking for is more inside information and a chance to give some input." The Board agreed to have the budget committee chairman and other members meet with the principals Wednesday afternoon. Approve Drinking age Rise The Board supported a resolu- tion from the Lambton County Board of Education asking the Ontario government to raise the minimum drinking age from 18 to 20 years. During, the discussion, Cayley Hill asked, "What does this have to do with education? Do we have any problems?" • John Ritter, principal of F.E. Madill in Wingham was in attendance and was asked for his opinion. He said, "We have a hotel and taverns in the area and we do have a problem with students' going there at noon hours. I wouldn't want -to belittle the problem. It is getting worse. His sentiments were echoed by trustees Dorothy Wallace of, Goderich and Clarence McDonald of Exeter. Both said similar problems existed in their towns. The Board gave permission to principals of schools in Clinton' and surrounding area to allow students to take home' letters for their parents to sign in opposition to the closing of the Clinton hospital. The letters when signed are to be mailed directly to Premier William Davis or dropped off at 'any Clinton doctor's office, the Clinton town hall or Clinton hospital. Grass Cutting The proposals from the budget committee for cutbacks included grass cutting, custodial' supplies, budget fort-hula items, transport- ation, driver education, night School fees, eXtra-curricular'use of schools, secretarial assistance and conservation of energy. All playing fields and rough acreage areas would not be fertilized and riot kept like lawns. For custodial supplies a freeze would be put on to the extent of $5.60 per pupil at the Secondary level and $4.50 per pupil at the elementary schools, aloft said this was about a 10 per cent Cut from a year ago. MARL 3i 19t6 on tobacco- would mean a $70 million revenue annually. Riddell questioned the governments priorities claiming the province didn't, need McMaster University Hospital. in Hamilton and University Hospital in London. "I could name several more hospitals we didn't need but now the community hospitals are being sacrificed," he said, "We do have problems and need restraist.b6t the government has its priorities mixed up." Riddell explained that it was just further evidence of the centralizing tendancies of the government and the province would only be inviting trouble through centralization. Riddell Regarding transportation, the manager would be directed to investigate and report on poten- tial savings if the ,maximum walking, distance for pupils were at one mile for secondary schools and a half' mile for elementary school pupils. In driver education it is sug- -gested the per pupil fee be increased to $35 from the present rate of $25 effective the beginning of any new class. For extra-curricular sue, of schools, the administration would prepare a survey of policies and rate schedules for communtiy use of facilities of neighbouring school boards, community centres halls, etc. , The total amount of secretarial assistance in elementary schools will be reduced from 757,5 hours per week in September 1975 to the September, 1973 figure of 581.5 hours per week. The conservation of energy included cutting classroom temp- eratures to a maximum of 21 degrees Celsius (70 Fareheit), keep • classroom doors closed, cut down on lighting turn off all non-essential ventilation units and exhaust fans on weekends. was also incensed at the hospital closings in view of the needless spending of other government agencies. He disagreed with the Wintario Lottery as a source of revenue but questioned why the more than $20' million in revenue couldn't be used for hospitals. He pointed out that $24 million was spent on the extension 'of the Spadina Expressway, a project the people of Toronto really didn't want and the government was also spending money for snowmobile trails. Clinton Hospital board vice- chairman viewed the economic impact of the Clinton Hospital closing as Monsterous. He added that the only alternative for health care was London since Wingham hospital was operating' over 90 per cent occupancy 'and Exeter could not satisfy the needs of the people. "We must • , deplore the techniques of the. Minister in the closing and as long as Clinton is there-health needs will hdve to be met." he said, "There must be alternatives and Clinton Hospital would certainly consider a challenge to cut the budget." Mr. Menzies suggested that the more logical approach would be to cut out inefficient units in County hospitals and adamantly stated the town had. a good case against the closure of the hospital. "The closure of the hospital would be a tragedy to the community if the decision is not reversed," he said, "lf there was sufficient cooperation from all the hospitals in the county wouldn't have Menzies have tosacidlosteh.; Hea p, i,, _ the County has no jurisdi Minister Frank Miller has , made it clear that his Ministry e i , , only withdraw funds since it cdtoio not own the hospital and 0 hospitals spills into oth counties. more than an hour as to th course of their action and jr16 diction on the matter. Clerk, treasurer Bill Hanly told CQ lin(, services of Huron Coup, County councillors debated ft over the hospital and can oril support . the efforts of oril - groups. Council passed ti motions, one; that the c uno support the hospital board ant: the town of Clinton in their effort, to keep the hospital open and al .., that the Medical Offieer of Heal and the County Health Uri present a brief to the•governme, giving reasons not to close heal., institutions in Huron County and the board suggest alternatives V • closing in consultation with the' hospital planning council. 1 DEBBIE McCALL Hairstylists Now at With cuts ,schools costs up 20% George of Brussels John St. Brussels 887-6751-' nu chi Ec, pri co at th - ma gr. wo of me Fr- for se of gre all arr un sta Ag hor con law ma. yea in has pat be 1i ma law side be t few If win sew the on sine part belt free I-I corn also the of th that Duni all pre, on pets toff