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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Lucknow Sentinel, 1980-05-28, Page 6CP. Established 1157 Publlabed Wednesday Business-and-Editorial-Office-Teleplarne-S28;2822 Mailing Address P.9, Box 400, Lueknow,'NOG 2H0 Second. class: mail registration number :0847 SHARON J.. DIFTZ Editor ANTHONY N. JOHNSTONH - Advertising and . . • General Manager. PAT LIVINGSTON - Office Manager MERLE ELLIOTT Typesetter MARY McMURRAY - Ad Composition Subscription rate, $12 per year in adyance Senior Citizens rate, $10•per year in advance U.S.A. and Foreign, $21.50 per year in advance Sr. Cit. U.S.A. and Foreign, $19.50 per year in advance steel rekin ame The recent action of the Huron County Board of Education trustees; to each take a $600 per annum cut in pay is a welcome first for the area. More than that, it will surely renew hope in the breast of Huron County taxpayers that there is still something valuable about . the system which allows votersselect representa- tives who are not only ready to serve but are perSonally committed to the cause of providing the best education possible at, the most reasonable cost. • There are mixed feelings around the county about the decision the trustees made to take less in their pay packets this The Wingham Advance-Times editorial last week, for instance, pointed up that the voluntary cutback was "an act of good faith" by board members who were not really overpaid at all. The editorial said, "Committee and full board sessions are long, and Arduous'. Some members of the, board must chive 50 to 60 miles--to attend • meetings in Clinton and return to their homes, often late at night." - There are other opinions that trustees were indeed, overpaid. That opinion was expressed quite adamantly by Goderich's own representative Dave Gower who claims that Huron County board of education trustees don't work, nearly, as hard as municipal councillors. Undoubt- 7 edgy Gower was referring to the "be- tween meeting grind" which most inter- ested and aggressive Goderich town councillors, for instance, maintain week' in and week out. Having been on both sides of the fence, Gower is in a perfect position to judge. . Still others have the opinion that the token dollars saved the dedicated trus- tees is just a drop in the proverbial " bucket. The real money is to be saved, these people feel; but cutting adminis- trative salaries and, heayen forbid, some teachers' salaries. No matter how hard one tries to justify public purse salaries in Huron County which are in excess of $35,000 per annum, it just won't wash with the majority Of taxpayers here who continue to feel gouged. And finally, here and there throughout the county there are those who say board trustees were simply grandstanding , making a poignant pitch to pacify the people who are going to have to make up a 14.65 per cent increase in education- taxes this year. Translated into dollars and cents, that's a Whopping $2,000,000 more across the county. To be truthful, there may be a bit of justifiable Concern, in every camp. The spending of the Huron County Board of Education is a complex accounting that baffles all but the most informed. In fact, sotne educators and administrators admit that education funding is a horrendous maze of grants 'and adjustments• and chargebacks and book entries and holding treasuries that absolutely defy easy public understanding. For that reason, Huron County citizens shy away from school board business. They feel like outsiders; they act; disinterested; and they remain, unconvin- ced that there is not another, less wasteful and more economical way: For the large part of the time, that's the way adniinistrators and trustees and even teachers like it: There's far ' less hassle that way.. " But every so often, it is to everyone's benefit to catch .the itnagination of the taxpayers in Huron County. And each time that becomes necessary, it is more and more difficult to get.a positiVe, united • and , constructiye . response. No one involved for any length of time with the Huron County Board-of Education should be surpriied at that turn of events. In this case, though, the county trustees tool a step which deserves a, little more faith on.the part of ratepayers in. Huron County. In this case, the trustees have made what could be a small beginning on the long 'road back: to some muchneeded mutual agreement between • the schools and the• people. There hasn't been much of that in the last decade in Huron; County. time somebody made some effort to rekindle the flame of trust which is the only thing thaf will cauterize the old wounds and make .'way •for lasting healing. -SJK --The.Goderich Signal-Star_ dldl Le iootic.ited Ov.f14e.totitito Ro timprii 644438'20 appeals: I ha.ve watched smart lawyers turn the tables on those who felt they were fighting a good Cause. .1 have been pleasantly surprised at other times to see a presiding judge or chairman of an appeal body cLotne up with a sound, judgement in &vont' of a 'little guy who could not even afford a lawyer, • " Any appeal should not be entered into .. lightly. It is a formal affair. Those feeling aggrieved should be Well. ; prepared: Decisions will be given , on the evidence presented and the evidence must be factual. ,No half-researched allegations,. No •• ,half-baked accusations.: The faet; just' the facts. As sure as Billy Graham is a Baptist, the Marketing board being: questioned will have evidence to support: its stand: :.• Some of them have come. through a tremendous amount of flak over. the years, and -they know, how:to defend themselves. They organized and experienced. ' The Ontario Farni Products . Appeal • Tribunal's address is the Ontario Ministry , of AgricUlture and Feod, A J. Nyholt, secretary, Legislative Buildings, Queen's Park, Toronto, Ont, M7A 2B2, telephone 416-965,5844. It's to, be hoped, that the appeal tribunal will have the necessary &bile- relations to publish its, decisions, too. The :old farm • products Marketing board made decisionS in camera. Few peOple outside the case even knew aboUtits deciSions.' I hope the " new tribunal will 'have the intestinal forti7 ' tude to nt least publish its deeisions to let the rest : of the world knOW what -is happening. Formation of the tribunal is a giant step forward. It is an avenue of appeal set up for • • those whO feel they are being hurt, by the actions'___of—Any. marketing_bnard, in the province. ° Nobdy has to throw up his hands in frustration and seethe in silence: I'm willing, to bet that moSt boards will come out •Of most appeals smelling like roses. Those wishing to appeal include "any-, one directly or indirectly affected. by 'the action being appealed against". In plain words, anybody with a bitch' against, a If ydu 'really think' these boardS are hurting you, launch an appeal. Try, to convince the panel of appointees that .you have a legitimate complaint. The pamphlet issues .a.,_Warning, though: before heading for the tribunal, take your case to the marketing board first to seek relief. If you get no satisfaction there, then gertcijhe tribunal. Over the years as a working reporter, I have sat in on dozens of different types of A SIGNAL Pi.1514ATION • Do farm marketing boards rip off the people of this country? Do they cause hardship to consumers, truckers, proces-- sors or. retailers? They have been,touted as• the best thing since pantyhose for farmers; the , worst thing since the common cold by consumers some, processors. I happen to think they have worked for farmers. They are not perfect. Those whO maintain that Marketing boards keep the, inefficient farmer in business May have a point although I have never heard •that charge levelled by anyone but a 'big, corporate producer. Until -recently, few, if any, avenues of appeal . were , 'open to those who felt Maligned are aggrieved by the actions of . farm ' marketing boards: The 'old farm prodncts marketing board didn't , have . much...more teeth than a chicken.. Now,, it is clear: the Ontario Farnt Products Appeal Tribunal is the piace to- take your grievances. The tribunal recently issued . a pamphlet outlining its role ' and it's an .:excellent publication. It is a tribunal . "to make an iMpartial appeal. Mechanism readily available to any person who feels that a decision, direction, order or regulation by a•(marketing) board bears unfairly on the individual and, Who wishes to further • argue' a case for some ',The Sepoy Tinitn" On the 11ProprOmPOPPintery., „..