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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Exeter Times-Advocate, 1975-01-09, Page 1 (2)1 r • Detail .plans for building, consider town as tenants • Exeter council now have three alternatives to consider for new municipal offices. . The latest proposal was made at Monday's inaugural by local realtors Mel GSIser and Jim Kneale, who explained they were planning to erect a new com- mercial building on the Cann's Mill site and wondered if council would be interested in renting part of the building for municipal offices. Geiser outlined the proposal and said council could rent as much of Abe building as they wished. However, he indicated that preliminary sketches showed the town using ap- proximately 3,000 square feet for a clerk's office, mayor's office, police department andgeneral town offices. He indicated the justice department had expressed in- terest in using part of the building for court and other suggested tenants were Canada Manpower and possibly a bank. Ggiser said the jgstice department was "quite in- terested" in finding n* re suitable facilities in Exeter. They FIRST BABY OF 1975 — The first baby born at South Huron Hospital in Exeter in 1975 arrived on January 3. Kelly Glenn Schenk is shown with his mother, Mrs. Don Schenk. The Schenk's who reside in Zurich have one other child, 'three-year-old Katherine. T -A photo Shaw brings changes to council structure Newly elected Mayor Bruce Shaw presented several steps for - restructuring Exeter Coursed. at Monday's inaugural and most'of the changes proposed were ac- cepted by council. He said he must assume that his platform as candidate for mayor was acceptable to the people, and because that plat- form suggested change, concern and direction, "I have therefore decided that this inaugural meeting will be a time for outlining the process by which, in my opinion, change, concern and direction can be implemented". He said there were several areas where change can be ef- fectively introduced to satisfy the aims of providing the necessary planning for the future and, of demonstrating the care council has for the people of Exeter. In listing several new com- mittees, he suggested the co mittees and the chairmen pointed "must be the most via force within council". Three entirely new cpmmitt were named, while a couple others had names altered. One of the new committer w be a social services and co munity, betterment-cpmmitt under the chairmanship newcomer Lossy Fuller. Haro Patterson is the other membe The committee will deal wi the social needs of the peopl • Shaw said it would not make pa of RAP's function redundant "b fwill, instead, form the nucleous any activity organized direst by the town such as senior citize housing and day care". He told the committee that council would like a report on the progress concerning a day care centre as soon as possible. Another new committee is for subdivision and land use and it will be chaired by Deputy -Reeve Tom MacMillan. Other members include Patterson and Ted Wright. Shaw said the tasks facing this committee will be bf particular importance this year as it would appear there could be as many as three subdivision agreements to work on. He said that within thenext 12 — Please turn to Page 20 Dog catcher • is off payroll The contract of animal control officer Harvey Hillman will not be renewed by Exeter council - at least until the social services and community betterment com- mittee have had an opportunity to assess the value of the service. ' Last year, Hillman received 5100 per month to patrol the streets and catch stray animals. Comments at Monday's inaugural indicated several members questioned the value of the service provided. . Police Chief Ted Day noted that m- his department received 86 ap- complaints regarding animals ble last year and added that Hi1Imati had not brought charges against ees any owners allowing their of animals to run at large. 111 "Ile works shift work and we can't get him whenwe need him, m- the Chief said in reference to ee ,Hillman. of Mayor Bruce Shaw also ex- plained that council had been r• unsuccessful in getting regular th e. - rt ut of ly Permit value total near $2,500,000 The total value of building permits issued in 1974 was $2,496,871.84 according to statistics given by building in- spector Doug Trfebner at council's inaugural, Monday. He said a total of 294 permits were issued and that 928 in- spections had been carried out. "That was a very, very busy year,:' •Mayor, Bruce Shaw commented. "For a part-time job," Reeve Derry Boyle quickly added. Boyle said he hoped building its in the year ahead would ch the same totals at; 1974. A. 1 reports from the animal control officer regarding his patrols. He asked the committee of Lossy Fuller and Harold Pat- terson to have a report prepared for council's consideration in two weeks Meanwhile, Hillman has been dropped from the town's payroll. Protest any move of highway crew Exeter council agreed this week with a' suggestion by Councillor Ted Wright that they "strongly protest" a suggestion by the ministry of transportation and communication that the local highway barn and staff be moved to another location. "it doesn't 'seem logical to me," Wright stated in broaching the subject. He said the need for having men and equipment located at Exeter at the in- tersection of two main highways was a necessity to keep the high- ways in this area opened for winter travel. A suggestion a couple of years ago by the ministry to move the local service was also protested by councij and the Hon. C. S. .MacNaughton assisted them in having the ministry change their minds. "if it was logical to stop (the transfer) then, it must still be logical," Wright argued. A copy of council's protest will _be forwarded to MPP Jack Riddell. presently use the Legion hall for weekly court sessions. On questioning from Reeve Derry Boyle, Qalser said the rental fee would be between $3.50 _ and $4.50 per square foot. This would result in council paying approximately $12,000 per year. This figure is considerably higher than that facing council in 0 of the other proposals; that g to lease -the old post office m the public works depart- ment. r:4, Dump could close except Saturdays Exeter's dump may be closed to the public except Saturdays. That was the recommendation made Monday night by Coun- cillor Bob Simpson, retiring chairman of the sanitation committee. He said too many unauthorized people were using the dump and noted this cost a great deal of money now that council had to pay to have all refuse buried. He also noted that unauthorized users of the dump create problems and bring complaints about the dump operation from the ministry of the environment. He said closing the dump ex- cept on Saturdays was the "only wa" to save it." Garnet Hicks will be chairing this year's committee and npted he would take Simpson's recommendation and study it. Want resort bylaw change A Thedford lawyer Monday asked Grand Bend council to take immediate steps to amend the village's zoning bylaw. Philip Walden said all solicitors attempting to have lots broken up in Grand Bend are hampered because the current bylaw restricts the minimum size of lots to 15,000 square feet. He suggested amendments be made to the zoning bylaw in three stages. The first situation where water and sewer systems were not installed the minimum size would remain at 15,000 square feet. Walden suggested where one of water or sewer services were available the square footage be -"reduced to 7,500 and if both services were installed the amount of space be reduced to 4,000 square foot. In the town of Forest the 4,000 figure is used where both water and sewer services are available with a minimum frontage of 40 feet. The Sideyard allowances ars four dnd eight feet. in' conclusion, Walden said, "area. lawyers would be very thankful -if amendments could be made. The severance committee goes strictly by the bylaw." Only a few minutes before Walden's appearance, council heard a letter from former reeve Orval Wassmann asking for the same changes. Wassmann is the present owner of four lots and he wishes to sell two and keep the other two. Former mayor named to board Former mayor Jack Delbridge was this week named as Exeter's representative on the Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority. He replaces another former mayor, Ted Pooley, in that capacity. • indications were that Mr. Pooley would accept another appointment and council members were unsure how to handle the situation. Several noted ' that Mr. Delbridge had been asked to offer his services, and having done so, he should be appointed. His appointment will be for two . years. That building contains ap- proximately 2,300 square feet and council have been told the rental fee per year would be $2,250. "That's pretty -cheap," Reeve Derry Boyle said. He noted that last yepr's council had recommended that the 1975-76 council lease the post office building and he appeared ready at the outset of the meeting . to make this proposal. However, he was asked to withhold his motion until Geiser - and Kneale made' their proposal. After that was done, Mayor Bruce Shaw told the two local businessmen that council would consider their proposal and would probably make an early decision. In discussing the former post office, Boyle said there didn't appear to be enough room to accommodate the police as well as• the clerk's office and council chambers and said the police would probably have to remain at • the town hall for the present. He said the council chambers at the town hall could be used by the police if the former post office was leased. "There's still a third choice," commented Deputy -Reeve Tom MacMillan. He said this was for council to consider building their own town offices. Twice during the ,meeting, IT'S FUN WITH MOM Boyle noted that new facilities Morrison Dam Sunday were "a must."' • complete a slide down One Hundred and Second Year — Tobogganing was the order of the day at afternoon. Above, Judy and Michael Worby a steep hill. T -A photo EXETER, ONTARIO, JANUARY 9, 1975 • REEVES GETTING ACQUAINTED — At Monday's first meeting of council in Grand Bend, the new reeves of two neighbouring municipalities were invited to attend the evening session. Above, Cecil Desjardine of Stephen and Jack McDonald of Bosanauet are being welcomed by Grand_ Bend Reeve Bob oren. New council at Grated =end seek to s eed up sewerp tan Grand Bend council took action sewer system for the village discuss various mutual in their inaugural meeting `' The sewer project has been municipal problems and the Monday to speed up the proposed hanging fire in Grand Bend for subject of sewers will likely be about four years with council high on the priority list. members being unable to agree Al the evening portion of unanimoush' on the nee4 for a Monday's council sessions, newly system. elected reeves Cecil Desjardine The 1975 council which includes of Stephen and Jack McDonald of four new members'- passed a I3osanquet were introduced to the Two Huron Park residents resolution asking the Minister of charged with possession of the Environment to expedite the please turn to page 3 narcotics and cultivation of rate study and Ontario Municipal marijuana pleaded innocent pd Hoard hearing for the Grand elected trial by judge_ alone in Bend sewerage project. provincial court in Exeter. The resolution . says council Tuesday. • wishes to have the first pipes for A preliminarhearing for the system laid in September of _Thomas Wesley.ike, 33, and this year as soon as the tourist The minister of housing has Sandra Diane Monk, 24, both ofseason is completed. informed Exeter council he has 305 Algonquin Dr. Huron Park, is In full approvalno intention of withdrawing his scheduled for earlyreceiving on appeal against the decision by the May.the resolution, Reeve Bob Sharer A police drug squad sur- commented, "This will be a real Exeter committee of adjustment veillance over 3,2 months shock to officials in Toronto, to allow a severance for lots resulted in the liptboting of 13 getting owned by Len Veri on Riverside plots of marijuana plants with an from Grand unanimousBenrequest Drive near the local curling rink. estimated street value of $500,000 Under present conditions, theThe minister said in a letter about six miles northwest of sewer system will be using a that the area should be developed Exeter. lagoon and will be for the use of only under a plan of subdivision. Surveillance began after a tip (rand Bend only but provisions Former Mayor Jack Delbridge from a farmer and included for oversizingof pipes would be had written the minister asking RCMP detachments at Stratford, considered to allow extension into that the appeal against the London and Kitchener and neighbouring townships. committee of adjustment provincial police detachments at Several developers in Stephen d This wouldbe withdrawn. Exeter and Mount Forest. township are interested in a This allow Veri to build The plots of marijuana were sewage system. on a couple of the lots on the east discovered in the Ausable- Councils of Grand Bend. bank of Riverview Park. Bayfield authority forest early in Stephen and Basanquet will be With the minister's corii- September in Hay swamp. meeting on February 11 to rry tion this weft, Reeve . Derry Boyle noted there was„ nothing council could do at the present. Plead innocent on drug charge Minister won't withdraw appeal 1 CRASH KILLS AREA MAN--: Lloyd Jones, RR 1, Centralia was killed New Year's Eve when the car he was driving was involved in o head-on crash near Arva. The Jones vehicle, a 1975 model is shown above. Letter of thanks' - claimed `a first' People who take time to say thanks for a job well done are rotten a rarity - especially when municipal council is involved.•_ So, members of Exeter council were pleasantly surprised to receive a letter this week from Tuckey Beverages commending the work of C. A. McDowell . during the recent construction of the new Anne St. drain at the corner of Main and Anne Streets. Bill Gilfillan said in the letter that his firm had received "ex- cellent co-operation" from the contractor and his staff and said that probably they had lost• no more than 10 to 15 minutes work time due to the construction project.' , The letter from Gilfillan read at Monday's council meeting was a copy of one• sent to the .con- • tractor. Clerk Eric Carscadden suggested .the letter wa'p "a first." Price Per Copy 25 Cents Survey shows many couldn't use facilities A survey of retired residents of the area, in connection with the New Horizon's grant for renovations and a drop in program at the Exeter Scout Hall has turned up' the fact that there is a large segment of area seniors who are unable to attend func- tions for a number of reasons. Ree Director, Jim McKinlay said Monday that 20 replies had been received to 4 survey sent -to 130 area senior citizens. The purpose of the survey was to determine interest in the Well - Come Inn, a project funded by a New Horizon's grant in excess of $8,000. The program is de, r Sned as a drop-in centre for seniors and surveys were distributed to determine what types of ac- tivities the seniors wanted. Recipients of thejurvey were asked to check off preferences from a long list of activities, including several crafts. card playing , table games, etc. The organizers of the project hope to institute those' programs for which there appears to be the most interest first. In this way they hope to encourage more seniors 10 get involved. The surveys are to be com- pleted and returned by January 17 but results have been coming in already. Jim McKinlay said that results are beginning to point out a group of people that still require ser- vices the programs are not yet prepared to deal with. These people. because of ill health, age. hearing or sight problems feel they would be unable to benefit from the drop-in centre. McKinlay said there is a possibility of reshaping the program to make a place for these people, at least on an oc- casional basis. He said that he would talk to the organizers of the project about the possibilities of a visitation service and perhaps providing occasional meals to their homes. This would provide some company and com- panionship for the shut-ins and perhaps they could he en- couraged to accept rides to the LLOYD JONES centre to attend specificc,func- tions. The response to the survey will be tabulated at the end of the month and from the information received a program of activities for seniors will be set up. The executive of the Well -Come inn and members of RAP met with the Lions Club and with the 'group committee of the Scouts to coordinate activities. McKinlay said it appears the hall will be available to the seniors two or three evenings week and four or five afternoons. Ile said that, from the survey, it is apparent that the seniors are not interested in a morning program. Discussion on renovations has started and the first job un- dertaken will be repair and reinforcing of the floor. After that the seniors will undertake a clean-up program at the hall. Not optimistic on day care centre Exeter's proposed day care centre may not be as close to being a reality as some would hope. Clerk Eric Carscadden said an official of the ministry of com- munity and social services had been in his office recently "and wasn't too optimistic" about Exeter's chances of getting approval for a centre. The official noted that the local application was received a little late. in addition, many other communities have applied for centres and the funds allotted for this service are nearly depleted. Council had applied to have the former Warehouse owned by Don Webster on Victoria St. approved .as a day care centre. Nursing director let go at hospital The position of director of Nursing at South Huron Hospital is vacant following the release of director Gifford Boyd on January 2. Hospital administrator, Elmer Taylor, confirmed this week reports that Boyd had been released but would not disclose details of that release. Boyd was hired as director of nursing in early August to replace Mrs. Jean Wilson who resigned earlier in the summer. Boyd was the former night supervisor at the hospital. Mr. Taylor said that Boyd is no longer with the hospital in any capacity and that the director of Nursing position will be filled as soon as possible. District man is killed in automobile accident An Exeter area man was one of two persons killed in a head-on crash on Highway 4, near Arva, New Year's Eve. • The victims were the drivers of the two vehicles involved, Lloyd Jones, RR 1 Centralia and John Freele, RR 1, Arva. A passenger in the Jones car, Mrs. Helen Jones, wife of the dead_,man was taken to St. Joseph's Hospital; London sdf- fering severe face and leg in- juries. The Exeter area couple was heading south and the Freele vehicle was heading north. The crash occurred in the southbound lane of Highway 4 near Con- cession 8 road in London town- ship. The highway becomes four lanes a short distance south of where the mishap took place. • Mrs. Jones was taken to St. Joseph's Hospital by Thames Valley, Ambulance. She was released from hospital Friday and was able to attenc,the funeral of her husband Saturday. af- ternoon. London coroner Dr. J. Bev Robinson attended at the scene of the accident. Damages were listed at more than $7,000 as both vehicles were totally demolished. The Jones car was a 1975 model with less than 1,000 miles on the speedometer. Constable W.J. Hodgins of the Lucan detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police was in charge of the investigation. He was assisted at the scene by Sgt. S.M. Daley and (?onstable N.A. Campbell. • � i