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The Citizen, 1990-01-17, Page 6I PAGE 6. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 17, 1990. Blyth council briefs Blyth to join Goderich Chamber of Commerce The Village of Blyth will become a member of the Goderich and District Chamber of Commerce, Village Council decided at its regular meeting Wednesday night. Councillor Steven Sparling said his family’s business (Sparling Propane) had joined the Chamber early on in its formation and felt it benefitted by being associated with the very agressive business people involved in the Chamber. He felt the village couldn’t help get worth from its $60 membership fee. Reeve Albert Wasson also sup­ ported joining the group. “Goder­ ich is quite aware Blyth is here and is noteworthy,” he said. The Reeve said he became aware of Goder­ ich’s interest in Blyth when he was asked to attend a meeting last summer of individuals interested in putting an excursion train on the Brussels councillors raise pay 17% Brussels village councillors voted themselves a 17 per cent increase in their annual stipends at the January meeting of council January 8. Under the new schedule, Reeve Gordon Workman will receive $2400 a year while the four councillors will receive $1800 a year. Extra meetings will be paid for at a rate of $75 a day or $50 per half day. Councillors will receive 27 cents per kilometre travel for out of Licencing changes brings dispute Unpublicized changes in licenc­ ing for local lotteries has cost one group money, a Blyth councillor charged at Wednesday night’s January meeting of Blyth council. Councillor Dave Lee said that Blyth Legion had been unable to start selling Vegas tickets for local fundraising because the rules for licencing had been changed. He estimated the delay caused by the new procedure had cost the group sales of about $1,000 in the past month. The Legion, he said, had raised $15,000 last year from the Vegas tickets, all of which went back into the community. “I feel Goderich woman hurt in Friday accident A Goderich woman was taken to Wingham and District Hospital Friday afternoon following a two- car collision in East Wawanosh Township. Sgt. King of the Wingham OPP stated that Maureen Sheardown, 40 of Essex Street in Goderich was southbound on County Road 22 when she collided with a vehicle driven by 55-year-old William H. old CP Rail line from Goderich to Blyth. Tourism, he said, is a link between the two communities. ***** Not only will the remodelling of Memorial Hall bring new padded seats for patrons of the theatre but there will be new seats as well, Shirley Fyfe, chairperson of the Memorial Hall Board told council. Reporting for the Hall Board she said that Blyth Centre for the Arts is removing all the seats and having them shipped to Toronto for padding, upholstering and repairs. There will be room for five addi tional seats after they are replaced, she said, bringing capacity in the theatre to 496. While the seats are out, she said, the hardwood floors will be looked at and necessary repairs made and carpet will be replaced. ***** town meetings. Under the first bylaw of the year making appointments and setting wages and stipends, the Public Utilities Commission Chairman will receive $1400 yearly while commis­ sioners will receive $1200 yearly. Special meetings and milage are the same as for councillors. Staff, with the exception of Clerk-Treasurer Hugh Hanly re­ ceived a four per cent wage increase. The town crew will re­ we’ve cost them by not letting them know in time,” he said. Helen Grubb, clerk-treasurer ex­ plained that Blyth had been acting illegally for years in issuing free licences to local groups for Nevada draws and bingos. A Ministry official had said that groups that had several draws a year had to order their Vegas ticket licences from the Ministry but the local office could continue bingo licences and could issue a licence for the Legion because it had only two draws a year. However, the Legion had to provide a financial state­ ment regarding its operation. This information was included in Brydges of Belgrave. According to Sgt. King, Ms. Sheardown started swerving after hitting the shoulder of the road. She then crossed the centre line striking the northbound Brydges vehicle. Mr. Brydges escaped injury while Ms. Sheardown sustained minor injuries as a result of the crash. She was taken to Wingham Hospital by ambulance. Feeling there were places that needed the money more the Blyth and District Community Centre Board has decided against buying a new flooder for the ice, Councillor Dave Lee said in his report from the Board. Purchase of a new flooder, at a cost of $40,000 had been consider­ ed but the board felt that with the possibility money would be needed for major repairs in the near future, a new flooder was not a priority. Repairs on the current tractor and flooder are to be examined in the meantime. Council also received a copy of a letter sent to the Public Institutions Inspection Panel in regards to a recent inspection of the Community Centre which found cleanliness wanting. The letter, from Murray Musty, Chairman of the Board ceive an hourly wage of $10.40 while Donna White, Deputy-Clerk- Treasurer will receive $9.90. The casual labour rate was set at $6 per hour. Mr. Hanly’s salary will remain the same at $30,000 with a review to be considered in July on the anniversary of his appointment. Fire Chief Howard Bernard will receive $500 annually. Bruce McCall was appointed village representative to the Mait­ land Valley Conservation Author- a letter sent to the Legion in December (Councillor Lee said the letter was dated Dec. 22 but Mrs. Grubb said the letter was misfiled and she couldn’t find a copy at the time). Councillor Lee complained that the letter was too late and that the Legion couldn’t take action until its next regular meeting, thereby losing out on sales. Reeve Albert Wasson said the village had “been able to run the bluff (with the Ministry) until finally they said ‘that’s it’.” Mrs. Grubb said she had argued with the Ministry official that the new regulations were destroying the incentive of local groups to go out and raise money to do things in the community but her argument fell on deaf ears. She said if the Legion had let her know there was a problem she would have issued them a licence one more time to make sure they didn’t suffer as a result of the changes but nobody had ever spoken to her. Reeve Wasson, showing irritation from a meeting where there were several conten­ tious issues, said that if the group had a problem they should have come to the source instead of Councillor Lee bringing the issue up. Action was postponed until the copy of the original letter was presented to council. explained that the inspection had taken place early in the morning before the staff had begun its daily cleaning operation. It pointed out the arena is used from 4 p.m. to midnight by about 300-400 people a day. Cleaning takes place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., the letter said. The Board is also seeking a meeting over liquor-related pro­ blems with Liquor Licencing offi­ cials, groups using the arena and all interested ratepayers from the five supporting municipalities, Councillor Lee said. ***** It won’t cost any more tp own a dog in Blyth this year than last, council decided. Councillors agree to leave the licence fee at $10 for the first dog (regardless of sex) and $12 for each additional dog. There ity. Stephen Betts was appointed to the Wingham and District Hospital Board will receive $25 per meeting plus $9 mileage. Appointed to the Brussels, Mor­ ris and Grey Recreation Committee were Mary Stretton, Gordon Ste­ phenson, Steve Coulter and Max Demaray, with each to receive $15 per meeting. Appointed to the board of the Medical-Dental Centre were Dave McCutcheon, Cecil Moore and Bruce Hahn. Cemetery Board re­ presentatives are Jack Bryans, Wayne Todd; Doug Shouldice, William King and Donna White. Fenceviewers for the village are Clayton Sauve, Hugh Hanly and Max Demaray at a rate of $8 per hour. Appointed to the Industrial Com­ mittee were Keith Mulvey and Ruth Sauve with Greg Wilson and Bruce Hahn being the council representatives. Letter to the editor Festival’s attendance higher than stated DEAR EDITOR, The many folks who tried - and failed - to get a ticket to the Blyth Festival last season would be very surprised to read the attendance figures of 72.67% as quoted in your paper. You highlighted correctly the fact that it was our most successful year at the box office. The 47,000 ticket buyers, however, represented 93% of the total paid capacity for the season, an atten­ dance record that is the envy of every theatre in the country. I would also like to add a note of clarification regarding the Festi­ val’s financial status. Due to spiral­ ling costs in a number of areas as well as cutbacks in support from various government agencies, the immediate past season finished in a deficit position. However, the Fes­ tival has had the good fortune over the years to have accumulated a was some sniping, as usual, that cats should also be charged since they seemed to be more of a nuisance than dogs. Some very innovative ways of dealing with the cat problem were discussed in moments of black humour by some members. \ ***** Councillors received copies of the marketing study carried out by the Liquor Licence Board of Ontario (LCBO) which had earlier been used as the reason Blyth’s request for an LCBO outlet was rejected. “It appears to be mumbo jumbo” Councillor Lee said. Councillor Sparling said it ap­ peared Blyth’s location, in the middle of a number of communities with outlets, hurt it. “I don’t feel there is anything slanderous to the village in it,” he said.***** The decision as to whether Blyth will get new street lights in the reconstruction of Queen St. (Hwy. 4) is still up in the air, council learned. Reeve Watson said a team of officials from Ministry of Trans­ port (MTO) offices in Stratford and Toronto visited Blyth and spent several hours looking at lighting on main street, taking video pictures in some cases. “Basically we’re at sort of a standstill”, Reeve Wasson said. The MTO officials must decide if the village must meet new standards but he was left with the indications that the current lighting is adequate, Reeve Wasson said. ***** The weatherman co-operated magnificently with the Village Works Department during a recent breakdown of the village snow­ plow. The snowplow broke down Dec. 31 with a broken axle and resulting damage to the rear end. But at the same time the plow was being repaired the weather im­ proved so that the plow was only missed that first day. Repairs have since been completed just in time for the most recent stormy weath­ er. reserve fund which exceeds the deficit of this season. CAROL E. IRWIN [MRS.] PRESIDENT BOARD OF DIRECTORS ED. NOTE: We regret the typo­ graphical error on the percentage of capacity. WIN A TRIP TO ORLANDO SAT. FEB. 10, 1990 BRUSSELSOPTIMISTS VALENTINEDANCE &DRAW $9. per ticket AVAILABLEFROM ANYOPTIMIST MEMBER LAWRIE DECORATING 188 Queen St. Blyth 523-4930 We are a FULL SERVICE, Paint and < Decorating Let us help you v/ith your decorating problems... we can save you time and money.V