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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1988-11-16, Page 10PAGE 10. THE CITIZEN. WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 1988. A candidate for Brussels council, Greg Wilson, standing, answers a question from a ratepayer at the Candidates Meeting held last Wednesday. Others, from left, are candidates Barry Engel and Mary Stretton, acclaimed Reeve J. Gordon Workman, Brussels clerk-treasurer Hugh Hanly, Jerry Wheeler [acclaimed PUC], candidates David Hastings, Bruce Hahn and Ruth Sauve, and Henry Exel [acclaimed PUC]. Only 35 people turned out for the meeting. 35 attend Brussels candidates night BY TOBY RAINEY It was apparent five days before Monday’s municipal election in Brussels that most of the village’s eligible voters had made up their minds which of the seven people running for the four positions on council to support, as only about 35 of them turned out to hear the candidates speak at a Candidates Meeting last Wednesday evening. The sparse crowd was in sharp contrast to the attendance at similar meetings called earlier in both Blyth and Grey Township, where more than 70 and more than 100 interested citizens respectively came out to listen to their candidates. Brussels' incumbent reeve J. Gordon Workman was acclaimed as were PUC members Henry Exel and Jerry Wheeler, while newcomers Mary Stretton, Dave Hastings and Greg Wilson were out to challenge incumbents Ruth Sauve, Gertie Kellington and Bruce Hahn. At last Wednesday’s meeting, master of ceremonies Hugh Hanly gave each contender two minutes to present his or heropeningremarks, and then opened the floor to questions from the audience. Bruce Hahn appeared to have done the most homework in present- ing a thoughtful appeal to voters, impressing many with his attitude of ‘asking not what my village can do for me but what can I do for my village,’ to paraphrase President John F. Kennedy. He was also the only candidate to stress the import­ ance of a new council pressing ahead with servicing Brussels’ industrial land and “getting it into a saleable state’ ’ as a prelude to any attempt to attract new industry, and to take a firmer stand in making the village’s main street look healthy as an incentive to investment. Mr. Hahn also dwelt on the importance of a good working relationship between members of council, “with each one taking the time to listen and to reason” and to comply gracefully with the majority in any vote-” and to make sure all meetings take place within the council chamber.” He was support­ ed in his latter comments by both Ruth Sauve and Mary Stretton, an obvious reflection on the sometimes bitteranddiscordant debate that publicly plagued an earlier govern­ ment. Both women also stressed the need for careful, long-range plann­ ing in attracting industry, which all candidates saw as the single most important issue facing the village over the next three years, summed up by Mrs. Sauve as “the more we increase our tax base, the less we will have to raise taxes.” Mrs. Sauve also put forth the interesting suggestion that, if elect­ ed, shewouldwork toward acquiring an Ontario Provincial Police post in Brussels, if that was the wish of the majority of the people. Greg Wilson also stressed the need for careful planning in attract­ ing new industry, warning that Brussels must take care to be selective and not become a replica of Huron Park, which he described as “the wildest place I’ve ever seen.” During the question and answer period, former Brussels reeve Herb Stretton spoke at length of the importance of the new council being aware of a provincial inter-depart­ mental report which would increase the local cost of supporting conser­ vation authorities while at the same time reducing local representation and accountability, and begged those elected to “fight regionalism” in any way possible. Reeve Workman assured Mr. Stretton that “the entire (Huron) County Council is against that deal,” while Maitland Valley Con­ servation Authority chairman Bruce Blyth church session backs Presbytery's stand The Session of Blyth United Church met on Tuesday, November 8. Very favourable reports were given concerning their fall visita­ tions. A letter was read from the new moderator. The Session members unanimously approved the motion which was passed by the Huron- Perth Presbytery at their Sept. 27 meeting stating “We expect mem­ bers of the United Church of Canada, and most certainly our ministers, to believe in, practise and promote fidelity within marriage and chastity' outside marriage. Therefore, we believe that self-declared, practis­ ing homosexual persons are unac­ ceptable and unsuitable as ministers of the United Church of Canada.” McCall said that the MVCA had asked all municipal councils in the watershed to support it in the fight to scrap the controversial report. Other questions from the audi­ ence covered issues as diverse as dogs running at large, “junkyards” in the village, improved amenities for seniors, servicing of vacant lots, replacement of sidewalks, “dusty streets and 10-foot weeds,” and the need for an annual ratepayers meeting, all of which were answered in a responsible manner by one or more of the candidates for election. Beth Crawford concluded the meeting by reminding all present that it is the responsibility of the people to tell council what they want to have done, while Bev Brown noted that it might be a good idea if local residents took a more active interest in Huron County council. EASY COME - EASY GO BLYTH - 523-4792 OR BRUSSELS - 887-9114 HAS FAX Yes, a complete Facsimile Transfer Service is now available through The Citizen newspaper. You can now send or receive maps, photographs, financial statements, graphs, documents of any description right from either of our offices and it’s completely confidential. EASY COME - if you wantto receiveadocument just give your client our Fax Number: BRUSSELS BLYTH FAX FAX 887-9021 523-9140 and we’ll receive your incoming messageany time, 24 hours a day at a cost of $1.00 per sheet. “I can’t think of a better way of getting Brussels noticed than by having a delegation (of local rate­ payers) attend county council meet­ ings every month,” she said. “You can bet that would really put our village on the map!” TO THE ELECTORS OF THE VILLAGE OF BRUSSELS THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT ON NOV. 14th IT WAS GREATLY APPRECIATED MARY STRETTON 'Fear not', sermon theme Rev. Lorenzo Ramirez chose as his sermon’s title on Sunday, Nov. 13 at Blyth United Church, “Fear Not”, basing his thoughts on Isaiah 4:8-13 and Luke 12: 4-7. He said “We don’t do much about our fears: we often have fears that we keep hidden - yet these can build up layer upon layer until the anxiety is much worse than the actual event.” “Jesus has told us that we are of much more value than the little sparrows and yet God even cares for them and all his creatures”, he said. After listing the many kinds of fear that can beset us, he concluded by saying that God wants to wipe away these fears by assuring of his love. He talked to the children of the junior congregation about their fears. They were led by Candice Howson. Elsie Walsh was in the nursery. The choir sang the anthem “O love that will not let me go.” Greeters were Bill and Susar Howson. Ushers were Catherine and Gordon and Joan and Gary Caldwell. It was announced that the junior and senior teen clubs will be holding a car rally next Sunday. TO THE RESIDENTS OF GREY TOWNSHIP Thank You For Your Support In The Municipal Election GORD COWMAN EASY GO - if you are sending out documents just bring it to us with your associate s fax number and seconds later it will be there. Cross Canada rates $4.00 for first sheet sent and $1.00 per sheet thereafter. Overseas rates $7.50 for the first 3 minutes and $1.50 per additional minute. GOT THE MESSAGE?