HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1992-01-15, Page 8PAGE 8. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 15,1992.
County council briefs
Welfare dept, ‘under siege’ administrator says
Huron County's Social Services
department is "under siege",
department administrator John
MacKinnon told Huron County
Councillors at Thursday's meeting
of county council.
Mr. MacKinnon noted that by the
end of November, 507 cases were
being handled this year, more than
double last year's figure of 235.
More than 1000 people in the coun
ty are now receiving assistance, he
said and "There's no end in sight
for 1992. The job opportunities are
just not there."
In addition, he said, the new
STEP program which allows low-
income people to top up their
salaries with welfare assistance, is
picking up steam. Introduced in
October, the program had 15 appli
cations in Oct., 16 in Nov. and a
similar number in Dec. Over the
length of a year this could mean a
significant increase in those getting
assistance, he said. "These people
won't go off (assistance) if times
improve," he warned. "We'll never
go back to the caseload of a couple
of years ago. There people will
LondesboroThe news from
Compiled by June Fothergill Phone 523-4360
W.I. donates to Clinton Fair
The first W.I. meeting for 1992
was held on Wednesday afternoon,
January 8 at 2 p.m. at the home of
Helen Lawson. The meeting
opened with the opening ode and
Mary Stewart Collect.
President Lois Elliott opened
with a poem “The Value of a
Smile”. Roll call, “Bring a treasure
from another generation” was very
interesting.
Helen Lawson read the minutes
of the December meeting. She also
gave the Financial Report. Corre-
Holy Communion
celebrated
Greeters at Londesboro United
Church on Sunday, January 12
were Doug and Florence Snell.
Ushers were Allan and Barb
Bosman and Mark and Laurel
Mitchell.
The choir sang an anthem. The
sermon topic was “Decisions, Deci
sions”. Holy Communion was cele
brated.
Junior Youth Group will meet for
volleyball on Thursday, January 16
from 7 - 9 p.m. in Hullett Central
School. Huronview Fellowship will
be held on Thursday, January 16 at
1:15 p.m. The toboggan party has
been postponed until next Sunday,
Jan. 19, weather permitting. A tal
ent night is planned for February
14. If you can take part contact
Yvonne Hoggart or Kittie MacGre
gor.
spondence was read. A letter was
read about Clinton Fair to be held
on June 5 and 6 and another letter
about the Dairy Princess coming to
the May meeting. A letter was
received from the Township of
Hullett about using the Hall.
August 7 to 16 is the Quilt Display
at Agriculture Museum in Milton.
A donation was made to Clinton
Spring Fair and to the Hall Board
for use of the Hall. Lois told about
the London Conference held at
Norwich in October. Members then
worked on the Tweedsmuir Books
until lunch was served by Helen
Lawson.
Shuffleboard held
Shuffleboard was held at Hullett
Central School on Wednesday
evening, January 8. High man was
Lome Hunking and high lady,
Helen Dale. There were 14 present.
People
Friends of Mrs. Mary Longman
will be sorry to hear she is present
ly in Clinton Hospital. The best
wishes of the community are
extended to her for a speedy recov
ery.
Friends and neighbours will be
sorry to hear Mrs. Kay Saunder-
cock is a patient in Victoria Hospi
tal after breaking her hip and wrist.
The best wishes of the community
are extended to her for a speedy
recovery.
always need help unless they get a
huge raise."
He said it would be difficult for
the county to find the money to pay
for its 20 per cent share of welfare
costs' but there is no choice because
legislation says the county must
pay.
Some costs won't increase to the
county. Council agreed with a vote
of the Seniors and Social Services
Committee that turned down a two
per cent increase in support for the
purchase of such things as eye
glasses and dentures by those
receiving assistance.***
Gone is the "family"admission
rate at the Huron County Museum.
Claus Breede, museum
director/curator explained that the
terminology of what was a family
"was a constant area of hassles with
the public." Sometimes a group of
20-25 people would argue they
should be termed a family, he said.
He felt it was better to remove the
rate which, he said, was creating
more enemies than friends.*♦*
Blyth will host the re-enactment
of the first meeting of the Huron
County Council to mark the 150th
anniversary of the county.
The meeting will be re-enacted
by students from the five county
secondary schools on the stage of
Memorial Hall on Feb. 8 at 8 p.m.
Students have been at work
rehearsing for the meeting. War
dens and reeves from other areas
that were part of Huron at the time
will be invited to attend the re
enactment *♦*
A new deputy-engineer for
Huron county hadn't been officially
hired yet but already was embroiled
in controversy at the meeting. The
Road committee recommended the
hiring of a candidate to start at
level three of the particular salary
grid instead of level one which is
the normal starting point (level
three is usually attained by an
employee in his or her third year).
Committee Chairman Jack Cole
man said that the committee mem
bers all agreed the candidate in
question was the best qualified but
she didn't want the job for less than
the $47,500 level three rate. Com
mittee member Bill Vanstone,
answering criticism of the offer
argued "if you’re going to hire
someone with her qualifications
you're going to have to offer more."
Out of seven candidates inter
viewed, he said later, only one was
willing to start at level one and that
candidate had inadequate qualifica
tions.
John Doherty, Reeve of
Goderich, worried about what addi
tional costs might be acquired such
as more office furniture and a vehi
cle. Denis Merrall, county engineer
said there is already office space
available and only a new chair and
an additional telephone will be
needed, although he later added a
computer would also be required.
The deputy engineer will travel in a
used county pick-up truck, he said.
Bd. of Ed. trustees vote
for salary freeze
A letter from Education Minister
Tony Silipo, requesting compen
satory restraint on the part of the
Huron County Board of Education
trustees and its senior officials,
resulted in immediate action at the
January 13 meeting, precipitated by
Blyth/Hullett trustee John Jewitt.
In his letter, Mr. Silipo said the
provincial members of Parliament
had frozen their salaries because
they felt that leadership must come
from “those most able to make sac
rifices and those with responsibility
for managing our resources.”
He asked the board to join the
government in this display of lead
ership, which is needed to help
rebuild the Ontario economy.
In making his recommendation
to the board, Mr. Jewitt suggested
immediate action be taken on their
part. He told the board that he
believed this was a good time for
the trustees to show leadership,
suggesting they hold back the pay
increase they received automatical
ly December 1. A few years before,
the trustees had passed a motion for
an automatic increase each year of
four per cent for the trustees. This
increase would bring the salary up
from $450 per month to $468.
Mr. Jewitt asked the trustees to
agree to roll back the raise for this
term and the extra amount that has
already been paid be taken out of
the next cheque.
The motion was seconded by
Goderich trustee Norman Pickell
and carried unanimously.
The matter of senior officials'
salaries is being referred to the Per
sonnel! Committee for review.
Group plans for Scout-Guide week
The 1st Blyth Group Committee
has had its first meeting of 1992.
In December the Beavers had a
Monster hunt, made Christmas
cards for their parents, and had a
Christmas party. At their January
meeting they made puppy dog
pencil cans. In February, when
David Sparling will be away, Cubs
will be led by Greg McClinchey
and Lorenzo Ramirez.
In Scouts, popcorn sales are
going well. In preparation for a
winter hike they are reviewing win-
ler first aid and will have a pack
weigh-in. Kevin Coultes, from the
Ministry of Natural Resources, will
attend the Jan. 29 meeting to talk
about fish and fish diseases.
In November the Venturers
passed their by-laws. Greg
McClinchey read them to the
Group Committee. They will be
written up for Group Committee to
study. In December new members
were invested. Meetings will now
be held in Hullett Central School.
The Venturers are making plans for
their annual duck dinner in Febru
ary. Jan. 2-5 they camped out prior
to going back to school.
Feb. 16-22 is Scout-Guide Week.
The church service on February 16
will be at the Blyth United Church.
Pathfinders and Venturers will par
ticipate in the service. The pot luck
banquet is Wednesday, Feb. 19 at 7
p.m. at the Blyth Community Cen
tre. Greg McClinchey will make a
presentation on his trip to Korea
last August.
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