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Times-Advocate, 1981-03-04, Page 1Claim bank challenges council integrity Ask The Bank of • Montreal, which lost out in the bidding to handle Exeter's banking business this year, made an attempt this week to have the matter reviewed by council, but ended up getting scolded instead. The bank offered a higher interest rate on current ac- counts "to remain com- petitive". In a letter dated February 23. local manager A.A. John- son said the bank would pay interest at primp plus 21/2 percent on the current ac- counts. However, a letter dated the following day noted this was in error and A QUICK BLOOMER — It only took one month for an Amaryllis bulb to grow into a 32 inch plant and six inch flower for Mrs. Oliver Jaques of Marlborough street in Exeter. Has letter to set the record straight been held up due to com- plications with the postal system. "There are not 10 people in Canada who would doubt that story." Mayor Bruce Shaw quipped. After. some more light- hearted remarks on the sub- ject. Mayor Shaw turned the matter over to Hall's social services committee for study and recommendation. He may have been out on his date by one year, but Deputy -Reeve Alvin Epp laid to rest any question whether his story `regarding an invitation to the Western Fair in 1915 was fact or fic- tion. Two weeks ago, Epp said that Exeter council had declared a civic holiday in 1916 after the Western Fair Association offered members of council free tickets to the event if they proclaimed the holiday so Exeter citizens could attend the fair. He suggested the good deed should be returned by having London Mayor Al Gleason attend this year's Exeter fair to compete in the cow milking contest for politicians. At the time. Mayor Bruce Shaw questioned whether the story related by Epp was fact or fiction and asked him to come up with some proof of the arrangements made 65 years ago. Monday night, he had copies of a letter sent to the town on July 12, 1915 in which the Western Fair Association promised free tickets to Exeter council if they proclaimed their civic holiday during the week of the fair. In addition. the fair board noted "we have excellent railway arrangements this year. being single fare from September 10 to 17, all tickets good until September 20". It was indicated on the letter that Exeter declared the holiday for September 16. Councillor Morley Hall suggested whimsically that council should respond to the 1915 letter by saying it had Two hurt in crashes Area drivers experienced normal driving conditions this past week and the Ex- eter OPP report only three collisions. The first occurred on Tuesday when a vehicle driven by Deborah Dunn, London. went out of control on Highway 23 north of the Perth -Middlesex county line and ended up in the ditch. The driver sustained minor injuries and total damage was listed at *630 by Constable Bob Whiteford. On Wednesday. a vehicle driven by Murray Wareing, Hensall. struck six guideposts on Highway 4 north of Exeter after the vehicle skidded on the icy roadway. Constable Wally Tomasik investigated and set damage at $450. The other collision was on Thursday on Highway 4 just north of the Kirkton Road and involved vehicles operated by John Upwood, Parkhill. and Philip Palmer, RR 1 Hensall. Palmer sustained minor injuries and damage was listed at $5.000 by Constable Frank Giffin. review, getblast instead the rate should have been listed at prime less 2,3 per- cent. Council voted last month to transfer the banking ser- vices to the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce after, hearing the proposals from all the local banks. In his letter, Johnson said it was disappointing to learn that after many years of do- ing business with the Bank of Montreal. council has found it necessary to move their business to another financial institution. "We feel the Town will gain nothing but in- convenience with the move and suggest the matter be reviewed by council this week." he said. Won't okay bid to stop non-resident Ontario's minister of in- tergovernmental affairs, Thomas Wells, has advised Exeter council he is not sup- porting a request to change the qualifications for holding municipal office. The move to change the qualifications had stemmed from a resolution from the Township of North Burgess asking that only resident property owners be allowed to hold office. Exeter had concurred with a portion of the resolution which would have dis- qualified non-resident lan- downers. but they stopped short of supporting the move to disqualify tenants. The total resolution was sup- ported by several other area councils. "It is a very serious and difficult matter to disen- franchise citizens. in the context of their right to hold office. particularly as the government has long been committed to broadening participation in the electoral process." Wells explained. Noting the matter had been reviewed in 1972. by a municipal election com- mittee. Wells said it was the view of the committee the same principles on which the residency and property qualifications for voting were based ( that is. a valid interest in the community being governed) apply also to the right to take part in the governing of the area. The cabinet minister said it should be appreciated that no -residents are often very directly affected by decisions made by municipal councils in respect of ser- vices provided or not provid- ed to their properties. Moreover. a non-resident taxpayer. whether an owner or tenant. is also affected by the disposition of his tax dollars. paid directly or in- directly. He concluded by saying that the governing process would be made more dif- ficult if legitimate interests were denied participation in the governing process, either by voting or by holding office. He agreed with a weekly newspaper editorial which suggested that the issue of whether a non-resident elec- tor should sit on council should be decided by the electors themselves when they cast their ballots on election day for the can- didates. resident or non- resident. of their choice. In a written statement to council. finance committee chairman Bill Mickle said the Bank of Montreal were "challenging the tendering procedure. the integrity and ability of the committee on their conclusion and their recommendation to coun- cil". "Even council itself is be- ing challenged on their ap- proval of the change, " Mickle claimed. "I feel this arrogant and demeaning to me as a representative of the people of Exeter, doing a job on their behalf." He noted that every finan- cial institution was given an equal opportunity to present its best proposal and to break the tendering process by considering further who would be the town's bank would make a mockery of the tender procedure and destroy council's integrity in the handling of tenders. Simply. we chose the best tender for the town's bank- ing requirements weighing all the alternatives," Mickle added in rejecting the re- quest from the Bank of Mon- treal to re -consider their services. Council concurred with Mickle's stand and approved a motion that his letter be sent to the Bank of Montreal in response to their request. In commenting on the Bank of Commerece proposal. Mickle said they provided the best interest rate of any tender on surplus accounts. they provided op- portunities to prevent deficits in accounts that would cost the town money,' and where money was borrowed the interest charges were on the same basis as all other tenders. Service charges were less in most areas and competitive in other areas. Mickle said that term deposits which the town may make from time to time are still subject to bid by all financial institutions "and >::by 5 cmwMINN imes Serving South Huron, North Middlesex One Hundred and Eighth Year will be dealt with in a manner that will secure the greatest return for the Cor- poration at the time when term deposits are negotiated". While agreeing that the Bank of Montreal had given the town excellent service, Mickle said he was confident the Canadian Imperial Bank of C9fnmerce will give equally excellent service. . He also pointed out that the term of the contract is for two years only and will not bind any future Council from looking at tenders and making their decision. "I am sure the Bank of Montreal would want to tender in the future and by rejecting their present re- quest. „the principle's f f tendering will be maintained and found proper for future purposes.. he concluded. PUNKERS — Wearing thwir indoor shades, Kevin Parsons and Jamie Chaffe, both of Exeter,joined the multitudes pogo- ing to the melodious tunes of artistes such as the late Sid Vicious, at South Huron District High School, Friday. The students held o punk rock -new wave day. ,N9 dvoc & North Lambton Since 1873 EXETER, ONTARIO, MARCH 4, 1981 Price per copy 40 Cents PUNKETTES — Indulging in a little participatory o oin at South Huron District High 9 9 P P Y P 9 9 9 School, Friday, were: (From left) Lori Brand, Crediton; Cindy Down, Usborne; Sarah McClure, Stephen ; and Sandra Datars, Dashwood. The students dressed in new wave fashions and danced to new wave records of Squeeze, The Police, Sex Pistols and others. Exeter's water supply good for many years Exeter PUC projects an 8.93 percent profit in its water budgets for 1981. Manager Hugh Davis presented to the commis- sion. at its February meeting Tuesday. the operating and capital Investigate two thefts Two thefts are under in- vestigation this week by the Exeter OPP. Gregory Bugler. Columbia Drive. Huron Park. reported the theft of about *1,000 worth of stereo equipment from his residence. A CB radio valued at $100 was stolen from a vehicle owned by Andrew Nancekivel. Norwood Village. Exeter. As a result of investigation into a recent rash of wilful damage incidents. two area men will appear in Exeter court on March 10 to face 14 counts of damaging mailbox- es and road signs. PUBLIC SPEAKING WINNERS -- The annual public speaking contest sponsored by the Crediton men's club was held Wednesday night. Above, club vice-president Glenn Hodgins presents prizes to Lee ()Rourke, Mount Carmel and Carolyn Dykemnn and Kelly Hern, both of Usborne Central. T -A photo budgets for the Exeter water system. Davis said the outlook can be altered by the operation of Canadian Canners, the single largest water user in Exeter. 1980 was a good year for the cannery he said, and they used up to one third of the water pumped to con- sumers last year. Domestic revenue will be• about the same this year, Davis said as there aren't many houses being built. Planned capital expen- ditures include an estimated $62.000 for a new pumphouse at the existing pumping sta- tion near the Morrison Dam. The new pumphouse will in- clude a separate room for the chlorine system. and all necessary controls and standby generating capability. Davis said 1981 will be a good year for construction bids and c•ompetative bids may lower the costs. The PUC also plans to replace a Sterling gasoline engine and pump. installed in the main pumping station in 1936. with new diesel powered equipment. The es- timated cost is *68.470. A 12 -inch ductile iron water main on William Street is planned to be replaced. The main runs from Alexander Street, about 155 meters south, and will include five services and a new fire hydrant. The existing main has been the site of several breaks. The work is estimated to cost $16.400. The commission also pass- ed the hydro budgets for 1981. Davis told the commis- sion a 4.6 percent profit was realized in 1980 and the pro- jected profit for 1981 is 2.8 percent. Last year was a reasonbly good year Davis said. The 1980 hydro rates were cut Please turn to page 2 Okay bid on road job Transportation and Com- munications Minister James Snow has announced the award of a contract for Highway 81 in Stratford dis- trict. The contract is for culvert replacement on Highway 81 at the Havter-Hodgins Municipal Drain. 0.6 km south of Huron County Road No. 4 iCrediton Road). This project is for im- provement to highway drainage and watercourse flow at Hayter -Hodgins drain. Work on the project is scheduled to begin in May, with completion set for mid summer. The contract is awarded to McLean -Foster Construction Limited of St. Marys. at a cost of $l40.t115. Interim tax rate extra $1 60,000 Taxpayers in Exeter will be contributing about $160,- 000 more to the town coffers through their 1981 interim tax levy than they did when they paid their interim levies in 1980. The increased revenue is being generated by an in- crease in the interim levy to 110 mills. last year. the in- terim levy was only 90 mills. In addition, the sewer frontage will be put on the interim levy and not on the final two instalments as it was last year. Clerk Liz Bell said the total interim levy this year should raise *656,123.47com- pared to last year's figure of $494.922.05. She said these funds are used to pay expenditures, thus resulting in defraying borrowingcosts. As well, the excess earns interest in either banking interest arrangements, term deposits or if county or school boards are prepaid, substantial discounts are granted. In her written report. Mrs. Bell noted that only 140,- 683.65 of last year's total tax is outstanding. A further $14.55.69 is outstanding from the years 1978 and 1979. The totals are the lowest of any municipality in the area it was indicated at a previous meeting. h Government assistance not as high as reported The provincial govern- ment isn't being as generous to Exeter this yearas statements being made by Thomas Wells may. suggest. The minister of in- tergovernmental affairs said recently that the province would increase grants to municipalities by 9.2 percent this year. but according to local finance committee chairmanBillMickle, Exeter is "substantitally below" the provincial average in their share. He said that he had attend- ed a session recently with clerk Liz Bell and deputy - clerk Laurie Dykstra and they found in working out the grant structure that Exeter would be getting only a 3.76 percent increase from the province in 1981. He said the increase is *13.116 and would bring the total to $361.998 for the general support. police and resource equalization grant. Mickle pointed out that the small increase in the provin- cial assistance would force council to place "severe con- staint" on local expenditures if they are to hold the line on municipal taxes this year. Councillor Jay Campbell suggested the Exeter percentage was low because the Davis government was pushing for regional govern- ment and providing the latter with larger grants. He said grants to regional r municipalities were in- creased substantially. noting they received a per capita grant of $17 for policing, while Exeter and other smaller municipalities received only *12 per capita. "They're (government gradually saying you don't need as big an increase because you're not a region." Campbell charged. Reeve Don MacGregor said that administration costs in regional governments was double that of other municipalities and Mayor Bruce Shaw agreed that perhaps the reason for the difference in grants may be attributed to the fact regions. are not operating as efficiently as other municipalities. Mickle noted that the in- crease in government assistance for Exeter's road program this year was 4.5 percent. while it was about eight percent for regional. governments. A couple of council members suggested the differences should be questioned during the current provincial election campaign. -It may be a good question to ask Wednesday. Coun- sillor Morley Hall remark- ed. His reference was regar- ding a visit by Premier William Davis to Exeter tonight March hits record The March of Dimes cam- paign in Exeter has been completed for this year and an increase in donations is reported. Dorothy Pfaff who has held the position of local chairman for the past 18 years has announced the 1981 total for Exeter at *1,929. The monies gathered last year amounted to $1.792. Mrs. Pfaff told the T -A this week. "We have had problems getting canvassers for the townships of Stephen and Usborne. If anyone in, 11 ,. I "IUIII► • 45 .10 .i5. UU( 3O 000 _25 _20 these two areas has not been contacted and wishes to con- tribute they may send their donations directly to me at 376 Edward street and I will forward a receipt." All monies received from Exeter. Stephen and Usborne will be forwarded to the March of Dimes headquarters in Toronto at the end of March. Mrs. Pfaff is retiring as the local ,chairman and the canvassing beginning in 1982 will be handled by the Ex- eter Lioness Club. 000 �� { glipptill the DASHWOODf AREA MEDICAL CE NT RE. ...5A'<<<fti MEDICAL CENTRE 1m. d .! M *P.% . TEMPERATURE RISES -- The fund raising campaign for the new Doshwood Medical Cen. tre is progressing very favourably. Shown with the thermometer at 540,000 ore committee members Nancy Roder, Anthony Marlene, chairman Bob Hoffman, Nolo Love and Murtha Weigand. T -A photo