Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1988-11-09, Page 16PAGE 16. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 1988. Wasson vowes new council will 'keep Blyth on the map' BY LYNDA LENTZ Over 70 Blyth ratepayers turned out Monday evening to meet the candidates running for municipal council and the P.U.C. Seven men and women are running for the four vacant seats on council while four men are standing for the two P.U.C. commissioners positions. Reeve Albert Wasson expressed pleasure at the large turn-out as he welcomed everyone to the meeting. After a few words from retiring shool trustee John Elliott and acclaimed trustee John Jewitt, Reeve Wasson acknowledged the outgoing council andP.U.C., and then introduced the seven candidates for council and invited each one to speak. Ken Brown expressed an interest in becoming more involved in the community and stressed the contin­ ued expansion of the village both residentially as well as businesses as being of major importance to him. Shirley Fyfe also referred to the growth of the village but felt a concern that commercialism not get out of hand and that the village not become a tourist attraction. She also expressed concern about a possible post office closure. Presenting the third point of view of the candidates, Dave Lee also pointed out his long-time association with the village and his involvement in various community organizations as a volunteer. He expressed concern about the Blyth Festival’s proposed addition to Memorial Hall. “It’s okay to build on their own property on Dinsley Street but who owns the proposed hall addition?’’ he asked. Lynnora Logue commented on the length (three years) of a cou ncil term and felt that this council will have to “plunge in’’ immediately due to the fact that there will be four new members. She wants to do the best she can for the village, stating she is “here to serve.’’ Dave Medd also expressed his belief that running for council was a learning experience. Referring first to his experience as a volunteer in a number of areas such as Block Parents, he presented a platform that stressed the need to keep Blyth safe for everyone. “The village is like a family working together’’ he said, “and problems arise only when there is lack of communication. ’ ’ He felt taxpayers should have fair treatment and always be kept up to date. Brao Montgomery decided to run for council to ensure that an election would take place. Referring first to his various involvement in the community, he felt that employment in the village and highway repair were his primary concerns. While having lived in the village a shorter time than all the other candidates Sheilla Wallace said “we love Blyth; we felt that we had come home.’’ She believes it is important to have a business voice on council and stressed the import­ ance of maintaining the prosperity of main street. Reeve Wasson then invited ques­ tions from the floor. In response to a question regarding recycling and the Hullett landfill site, two candi­ dates offered opinions. Sheilla Wallace felt an attempt should be made to sort and recycle while Ken Brown felt it was a touchy subject about which he needed to know more. In response to a question regard­ ing the priority of recreational grant allocations, Dave Medd and Dave Lee had comments. Dave Medd stated that when looking at support for the arena, the theatre, and the ball diamond, the allocations should be based on fairness, on what is most beneficial for the people of Blyth and once the ball diamond was done, for instance, it would be there for future generations. Dave Lee felt that grants for recreation should be allocated to children - centered recreation but not for adult recrea­ tion, which adults should pay for themselves. This question part of the evening ended with not one of the candidates offering any comment on an inquiry regarding Sunday openings in the village. PUCCANDIDATES.. The two elected P.U.C. positions are being contested by four candi­ dates. Joe Hallahan outlined his extensive experience with the Huron County Highways and commented on his desire to work closely with council, continue the tree planting programme, andsetupafundfor future emergencies. Jim Howson stressed his 16-year experience on the P.U.C. during which both the hydro and water services were modernized. He com­ mented that “Blyth is envied by many communities.’’ Bill Manning expressed pleasure at the number of nominees and number of ratepayers present. Reflecting on his 12 years as a councillor, he stressed the import­ ance of keeping lines of communica­ tion open. Frank Wilson, with 12 years on the Fire Department, said he likes a challenge and would welcome questions from the citizens in order to upgrade the village for our families. The P.U.C. candidates had no questions to field. Notice was made of the prompt attention to the recent water shortage and also clarification of the number of members on the P.U.C. commission - two commis­ sioners plus the reeve. The retiring council, in an opportunity for comment and reflec­ tion, shared the highlights of the past three years. Bev Elliott referred to three new projects which she hoped would continue to reap benefits to the village: the flowering crab apple tree project, the Blyth Business and Tourism Committee and the Tourist Booth. Bill Howson joined Mrs. Elliott in wishing good luck to the seven candidates before reflecting on his 16 years on council. “Blyth is dynamic and I’m proud to be part of it”, he commented as he pointed to Memorial Hall as being what makes VOTE JOE HALLAHAN FOR P.U.C. YOUR SUPPORT ON NOVEMBER 14, 1988 WILL BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. ELECT Gord Cowman for GREV TOWNSHIP COUNCIL Your support would be appreciated at the Polls on Monday, November 14, 1988 the village unique. Describing the hall as a “living memorial,’’ he referred to a recent comment on CKNX TV, when another commun­ ity said “maybe we can be like Blyth.” He stressed that there is no intent by the theatre to take the hall away and that it will be maintained as the property of the village. He spoke of Councillor Elliott’s recent presentation on Blyth at a London conference where the village was referred to as an “exciting town”. Councillor Howson also took, the opportunity to speak against the liquor plebiscite which will appear on the municipal ballot. Bill Manning, injecting his com­ ments with the usual humour, questioned his return to council in the ‘80’s when he was immediately put on the cemetery board and the dump committee! His particular concern has been the environment and he has heartily supported the extensive tree planting in the village of over 500 trees. He cautioned ratepayers about the need to replace over 600 presently diseased trees. A concern about subsidized dollars, senior government intervention, the possibility of regional government, and the creation of more and more paperwork at the municipal level reflected his many years of observ­ ing municipal politics. “It’s been a learning experience to serve on Blyth council - thank you,” he said. Lloyd Sippel also spoke of the changes for the better during his six years on council, referring specifi­ cally to the sanitary landfill site. Clarifying an earlier question about the distribution of recreation grants, Sippel stressed that the theatre does not receive any portion of the recreation grant. Memorial Hall does receive some but the majority is spent in the community centre. Reeve Albert Wasson spoke very positively of the compatability and open-mindedness of the present council, believing that their ability to make decisions has come from pulling together. Looking forward to another three years of the same type of compatability, he says * ‘we’re still going to keep Blyth on the map/’ In answer to ratepayers’ ques- tions, councillor Elliott said no direct results have come from the Oppor­ tunity Tours but there is a definite interest in the Blyth area. Jim Howson summarized the responsibilifies of the P.U.C. and the thinking behind some P.U.C. discussions. “While we abhor tree cutting,” he said, “power outages result when diseased trees are left. ’ ’ To The Electors Of Ashfield, East and West Wawanosh For Our Basics Achievement Co-operation VOTE Don Alton on November 14 for SCHOOL TRUSTEE Thank You NOTICE OF POLL MUNICIPAL ELECTORS FOR THE TOWNSHIP OF GREY Offices for which poll to be held: Deputy-Reeve [1 of whom is to be elected] Councillor [3 of whom are to be elected] ADVANCE POLLS Advance Polls will be held on Thursday, November 10th, 1988 at the Grey Township Municipal Building, Lot 21, Concession 9. The Advance Pollswill be open from 10:00a.m. to 8:00 p.m. REGULARPOLLS Regular polling day will be Monday, November 14th, 1988 from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. The locations of the regular polls are as follows: Poll No. 1 - Residence of Larry Keffer [Lot 16, Concession 3], Concessions 1 to 4, all lots. Poll No. 2 - Grey Township Firehall [Ethel]. Concessions 5 to 8, all lots. Poll No. 3 - Walton Public School, Concessions 9 to 18, Lots 1 to 10 [except the Village of Brussels]. Poll No. 4-Cranbrook Community Centre, Concessions 9 to 18, Lots 11 to 22. Poll No. 5- Moncrieff Community Hall, Concession 9 to 18, Lots 23 to 35. PROXY APPLICATIONS A person who has been appointed a voting proxy may apply to the Clerk not later than 5:00 p.m. on Polling Day to receive a certificate to vote by proxy for the polling subdivision in which the person appointing the voting proxy is entitled to vote. Brad Knight Returning Officer Township of Grey NOTICE OF POLL Notice is hereby given to the municipal electors of the TOWNSHIP OF EAST WAWANOSH that whereas more candidates have been nominated to each of the fol Io wing off ices than the number required to fill such offices, therefore polls will be held upon the dates and at the times and places stated in this notice for the purpose of electing the holders of such offices. OFFICER] FOR WHICH POLL TO BE HELD: One [1] Representative to the Huron County Board of Education [Public School Electors Only] ADVANCE POLLS: Thursday, November 10, 1988 East Wawanosh Municipal Building, 2 m. west of Belgrave. Advance polls will be open from 10 o’clock a.m. until 8 o’clock p.m. REGULAR POLLS: Monday, November 14, 1988 at the following locations: #1 Polling Subdivision - Snell’s Hall, Westfield, S.Pt. Lot 34, Con. 5. Comprising Lots 28 to 41, Con. 1; Lots 28 to 42 in Concessions 2;3;4 & 5. #2 Polling Subdivision - Belgrave Arena; Comprising Lots 28 to 42 in Concessions 6;7;8 & 9. #3 Polling Subdivision - Phil Dawson Residence, W.Pt.Lot 40, Con. 13. Comprising Lots 28 to 42 in Concessions 10;11;12;13& 14. Regular polls will be open from 10 o’clock a.m. until 8o’clockp.m. PROXY APPLICATIONS: A person who has been appointed a voting proxy may apply to the clerk not later than 5 o’clock in the afternoon of Polling Day to receive a certificate to vote by proxy for the polling subdivision in which the person appointing the voting proxy is entitled to vote. Given under my hand this 26th day of October 1988 Winona E. Thompson Returning Officer.