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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Exeter Times-Advocate, 1975-03-06, Page 1 (2)e. Police hold out for 30 percent hike, but `little on edge' overjob security The constables on the Exeter Police Department are seeking pay increases of between 28 to 30 percent, prompting some members of council to suggest they should seriously consider asking the OPP for a contract price for the policing of the town. However, after a lengthy debate, Monday, council authorized the police committee to continue negotiations with the local policemen; noting it nay be "bad faith" to start investigating OPP services while negotiations are underway with their own police. Chairman Harold Patterson said that the policemen had turned down council's offer of a 20 percent pay hike and wanted the same contract as recently won by policemen in 'Clinton. First class constables in that town now receive $13,500. "They won't settle for any less than Clinton," Patterson com- mented. Councillor Tom MacMillan wanted to know if any of ti er f luron towns were considering the change to OPP. "At least one other town is waiting for us to make a move," Mayor Bruce Shaw replied. MacMillan noted that the prices quoted by the OPP for 1975 were lower than the town's police costs in 1974 and said "it sounds to me we should consider very seriously" the change. Shaw said that some people felt that even if the local police settled for the 20 percent offer, it would still be worth asking the OPP for a contract price. The Mayor asked Police Chief Ted Day for his comments on the situation, and the latter said he was concerned, adding that he hoped council would come to an agreement with the police. He said the recent publicity about the police situation "has everyone a little on edge." "I personally don't care which way you go," Chief Day stated, but urged council to take a real close look at the situation. Ile said that at present, Exeter has a minimum amount of crime and is the only town in Huron that can still have high school dances without violence. Chief Day also wondered hew long it would take the OPP_ to answer local calls. ,. He concluded by saying he was having a hard time contr'elling the men as some of them were looking for other jobs in view of the discussion about changing to the OPP. "It's hard to cope with apd I hope you make up your minds," he said Patterson said he didn't blame the men for being jittery, noting the salary talks and discussions about policing alternatives had. gone on too long. "It's getting rough and I get asked many questions every day," he told council. Councillor Ted Wright entered the discussion to note that council had an obligation to provide the best policing possible at the best price, and also that council had to consider the matter of police department accommodations In their deliherations. "How much longer can we afford to meet increased wages?" he questioned, adding that many businessmen in Exeter are not making a return on their investment equal to that being sought by some town employees. Reeve Derry Boyle then made a motion that council carry on with the local police for this year and take a serious look at a contract- with the OPP for 1976. "Settle the best we can for the least we can," he said in reference to this year's salary agreement with the local police. Wright complained that the motion was too broad, and Boyle and Councillor Barb Bell then changed their motion to read that council accept the request made by the policemen. Only Patterson appeared to raise his hand when the af- firmative vote was asked for and three voted against it. The matter was then turned back lathe police committee with the comment that the policemen may seek arbitration or con- ciliation to settle the wage matter. • A WELL DRESSED COUPLE — Danny and Robert Brintnell made an elegant couple at Friday's carnival held at the Granton arena. • Hensall man fined for eighth offence A Hensall man was fined 8128 for having liquor in a place other than his residence when he ap- peared before Judge Glenn Hays in Exeter court. Tuesday. The court was told it was the eighth offence of this nature for Lloyd G. Allan. 71 King St. The 19 -year-old was told by Judge Hays that the 10th con- viction could result in a fine of $1,000. A fine of $53 was levied against Malcolm Lawrence Richardson, 82 Ontario St., Grand Bend, who pleaded guilty to having liquor while being under the legal age. The accused was 16 at the time of the February 1 offence. A Port Huron man. Ian Hugh McEachen, was fined $150 and had his licence suspendOd -VW three months after pleading guilty to • impaired driving in Stephen Township on January 30. A breathalizer test showed an alcohol content of 180 mgs. Richard S. Mommersteeg, RR 2 Zurich. was fined $103 after pleading guilty to a charge of careless driving on February 1. Ile fell asleep while driving his vehicle and it ended up in the ditch. A fine of S75 was levied against Wilfred Leslie Waller. Crediton. who pleaded guilty to making false statements to claim funds from the Unemployment Insurance Commission The court learned he received an over -payment of 8304 all of To organize aging group Exeter council agreed this week to call a meeting of all local senior citizens with the intention of forming a "community committee on aging." Social services committee chairman Lossy Fuller said the committee would act as a co- ordinating body concerning all services for seniors - housing. health care, transportation. visiting services. tax form assistance. recreation, etc. She said her committee had met with the rec director and program chairman of RAP and all felt that council should take the initiative for the project. A meeting has already been scheduled for the Legion Hall on Tuesday March 18 at 8:00 p.m. It was noted that the committee on aging would provide a forum for seniors that could srspond to and deal with their day -today needs and concerns. as well as enable them to provide input towards any decisions affecting services for seniors over a long term. Several alternative methods for forming the committee were outlined and these will be presented at the public meeting. Mrs. Fuller said council could appoint the people from among the names submitted to ensure that the composition of the aging committee will be concerned with all aspects of the many services for seniors. "By having council make these appointments, this project will receive credibility as well as the expressed assurance that council is indeed 'concerned with • im- proving the life style for our retired citizens who have done so much to establish our present community," she concluded. Reeve Derry Boyle said members of the social services committee should sit on the special committee to provide liaison with council. which has been paid back with the exception of $75. Waller was given six weeks in which to pay the fine. He was also given further time to repay the outstanding 575 to the U.I.C. In other cases heard by Judge flays and Justice of Peace Douglas Wedlake, the following fines were imposed: Glenn Frank Grover, RR 3 Zurich, was fined 853 for con- suming liquor while under the legal age. He w•as 16 at the time of the January 10 offence in Hay .,wnship. Cecil Fields, RR 2 Hensall paid $75 on a mischief charge laid after he damaged a wall at Les Pines Motel in Exeter on Feryary J. The damage amounted to $50 and restitution has been made. Marie Musser, Exeter, was fined $38 on a charge of following another vehicle too closely in Exeter on February 1. She ran into the rear of another car on that date on Main St. near George St. Damage in the accident was extensive. Brian Douglas McArthur. RR 3 Dashwood. $28 for failing to produce an operator's licence. He told police the licence had been chewed up by a dog. David T. Rawlings, St. Marys, 828 for failing to stop at a stoli sign in t'sborne,on January 26. larnbton rates up 19 percent Grand Bend reeve Bob Sharen told council Monday night that (he Lambton County rate for 1975 will he up about 19 percent. The overall amount to be collected by Lambton from its municipalities will be $2,788,908.50. This is an increase in levies of $448,182.34. The Grand Bend levy for this year will be 555.659.75 an increase of over $9,000 from last year. Sharen said the village's share of the county welfare costs will be 52,400. He added. "Our welfare expenditure in 1972 when we were handling our own was 8242." One Hundred and Second Year EXETER, ONTARIO, MARCH 6, 1975 Plan spring construction of Zurich apartments After delays of almost a year, construction of a senior citizens apartment building in Hay township opposite the Blue Water Rest Home is expected to start this spring. At the annual meeting of the Blue Water Rest Home, Tuesday night in Zurich, chairman Dr. Charles Wallace said plans for the building had been redesigned Costs $2,500 to fix dump The village of Grand Bend waste disposal site located in Bosanquet township is expected to be reopened within the next month. Ministry of the Environment officials have indicated a• provisional certificate would be issued to permit the site to be used for the disposal of domestic waste from the village when present renovations are com- pleted. Deputy -reeve Rollie Grenier who is in charge of the waste disposal said ,-at Monday's regular meeting of council tlfgu cutting of trees and bulldozingls presently underway to meet with provincial requirements. Cost of the work to get the site into conditions suitable to the Ministry will be about 52,500. A recent letter from the Ministry of the Environment said the method of waste disposal shall be entirely by sanitary landfill. The landfill area is to be limited to the south-westerly four and a half acres of the 2.4 acres plus owned by Grand Bend at Lot 16, L.R.E. Concession in Bosanquet township. 4 FARM BUSINESS MANAGEMENT — Prior to Thursday's "Activities '75" at Centralia Coltec:' member John Stephens, second from the left instructs students Dunc McKinlay, Dave Latta, Ken Klogc• McKee and Barry Miller on their part in the program. T A Driver escapes in train crash toff P• an ,to Pedestrian badly injured A Goderich man was seriously injured when he walked into the path of a car north of Exeter early Saturday morning, while a Port Elgin man escaped with only minor injuries when he drove into the side of a train. James Bradley, Goderich, is still in St. Joseph's Hospital, London, suffering from a frac- tured leg, cuts and bruises and other injuries sustained in the Saturday accident on Highway 4 at 1:50 a.m. The 26 -year-old had stopped his car on the side of the road to investigate the situation regar- ding a vehicle in the ditch. He walked into the path of another car. driven by Anthony Maillett, also of Goderich. Maillett sustained minor cuts in the collision. OPP Constable Jim Rogers investigated -and listed damage to the Maillett vehicle at $400. Damage in the train crash was listed at *3,400 by Constable Bill Lewis. A car driven by David Hunt, Port Elgin, was almost demolished, although the driver ese d with fractured fingers. TBe crash occurred on Stephen sideroad 15, half d mile west of Highway 4 on Wednesday at 3:20 p.m. Hunt had been proceeding east and the train was northbound. In the lone accident, Friday, damage was listed at 8300 when a vehicle driven by Errol Skillender, Exeter, went into the ditch on Highway 4. Constable Frank Giffin investigated. In another accident, Saturday, a Zurich area woman sustained cuts and bruises. Dianne Overholt, RR 2 Zurich, was a passenger in an accident in- volving vehicles driven by Gary Campbell, RR 3 Bayfield, and Michael Mason. Detroit. They collided on Highway 21 at 9:15 p.m. and Constable Giffin listed total damage at 34,000. At 8:55 p.m. the same night, vehicles driven by William Hoy, RR 1 Zurich, and Douglas Smith, Ilensall, collided on Highway 84 in Hensall. Damage was set at 5200 by Constable Giffin. At 3:00 a.m., Sunday. a car operated by Calvin Kellermann, RR 1 Arva, went out of control on Highway 4 near the Usborne- Tuckersmith town line and rolled over in the ditch. The driver was not injured and damage was set at 81.000 by Constable Rogers. The final accident of the Week was reported orf Monday at 3:45 p.m., when a car driven by Iliane Lovite Exeter, skidded into a sign on concession 10-11 north of Zurich. l'he driver had applied her brakes to avoid a car making a turn onto the concession road. Damage was listed at S200 by Constable Ed Wilcox. During the past week, the local detachment officers charged 18 people under the Highway Traffic Act and issued warnings to another 27. There were eight charges under the Criminal Code and seven under the Liquor Control Act. The OPP have now laid 77 charges under the LCA in the first•two months of 1975. to stay within a cost structure set, up by Central Mortgage and Housing Corporation. Wallace said recent architect plans for 24 units in a single storey building are being sub- mitted for a detailed report. Original plans called for three buildings with eight apartments in each. The original estimates early in 1974 were 513,500 per unit and Wallace told the Tuesday meeting costs nad now risen to $19.000 per unit. This brought about the change to 24 units in one structure with costs -of about S17.000 per unit. 1Vallace added. "This is the closest we could get to what we were after. If we keep putting it off it won't get any cheaper. I like the original plait best, but this is a reasonable compromise and all we can afford.'' Home administrator Joseph Ricci presented a full report on the operation for the year 1974. At the end of the year the residents consisted of 17 men and 47 women. Home capacity is 64 beds with one spare for emergency. Ricci said there are 20 names of persons on a waiting list to get into the home. He said 69,459 meals were prepared for residents during 1974 with kitchen costs totalling $65,806. Medical services cost amounted to $126,791 and housekeeping costs were $13,108. Operation of the laundry cost $24,554. Total expenditures for the year before mortgage payments were 5310,339. Monies paid by residents amounted to 5159.280 and 5154,011 was contributed by governments. The new board of directors consists of Dr. Wallace, Russell Grainger, Lewis Boshart• Ray McKinnon, Leroy O'Brien. Ivan Kalbfleisch. Elgin McKinley, Clem Kegler. Harold Erb. John Corbett. Lloyd Walper and Orval Wassmann. Offer reward in girl's death Price Per Copy 25 Cents A $5,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and con- viction of the person or persons responsible for the death of an 18 - year -old Windsor girl has been announced by Ontario Provincial Police. Barbara Jean Avery of 3385 Sandwich St.. Windsor, was reported missing July 30, 1974. from the Bayfield home of Clinton Police Chief Lloyd Westlake where she was boar- ding while working at Pinery Provincial Park. Her skeleton was found Dec. 16 in bushland in flay Township just north of Grand Bend. Exeter OPP constable Frank Giffin. who is investigating -the death, said this week that while foul play is suspected. the Centre of Forensic Sciences in Toronto was not able toestablish a cause of death. Police said any person with information about the death should contact the nearest police department or the commissioner of the OPP. Car gutted in Usborne A 1972 model car owned by Barry Buchanan. Clinton. was destroyed by fire Thursday night. The fire broke out at the Usborne residence of Carl Gower, RR 1 Centralia. around 9:00 p.m. A trailer hitch was being weld- ed on the car and a spark ap- parently started the blaze. Damage has been listed at around $3.000. PLAYHOUSE SOD TURNING — The first step in construction of the new Huron Country Playhouse theatre building was token Saturday. Above, Huron MPP Jack Riddell turns over the first sod. Others from the left are Playhouse managing director James Murphy, chairman William Cochrane and Bill Schlegel who was master of ceremonies for Saturday's activities. T -A photo Council approve pay boosts, critical of board's increase At the suggestion of Garnet Hicks. Exeter council agreed Monday to send a resolution to the Huron County board of education saying they are not pleased with the 100 percent pay increase the Huron trustees gave themselves last month. Hicks is a former member of the beard of education. Reeve Derry Boyle described the board members' pay in- creaw as "a little much" for municipalities to cope with when the are required to negotiate with their nt(n employees. \favor Bruce Shaw. an employee of the hoard as vice- principal at Seaforth District Iltgh School made no comment durink ,lar brief discussion \ttr'r the motion was un- anrnua;.l approved he turned to Ricks and said "thanks. Garnet". hinting that the motion would cause him some em- barrassment. Members of council didn't in- dicate during the discussion what they felt a fair increase would he in salaries. However. earlier in the meeting. they had approved an 82 percent pay increase for one of their own employees. building in- spector Doug Triebner Triebner's salary- was boosted from S2.200 to $4:000 per annum Mayor Shaw said after the meeting that the increase reflected the increased work Toad being undertaken by the building inspector Bomb threat closes school Students at South Huron District High School were sent home Wednesday afternoon after a homh threat was received Shortly after noon. a male caller informed one of the office staff that a bomb had been placed in the school. Ile said it was set to go off at 2:00 p.m. and then hung up. Police were notified and the students were evacuated. while teachers and other staff assisted in a search of the building. No bomb Hca. found Buses arrived at the school around 1• 3o n m to take students to their homes A month ago. two area in- dustries were forced 10 shut down for one afternoon after each had received a bomb threat from a stale caller f 1 40 percent increase was granted to Mrs. H. J MacNeil. who acts as crossing guard for school children at Main and Vic- toria Street. Her stipend was increased from $2 50 to 53.50 per hour. Other increases approved on the rkc•ommendation of the ex- ecutive committee were in keep- ing with the 20 percent pay in- creases previously announced for members of the works department Works superintendent Glenn Kells was given a S2.000 increase to bring his salary to 812.500. while Mrs. Elizabeth Bell. depu- ty clerk. was given a 81.500 in- crease to 87.800 Her pay for ac- ting as secretary- of the com- mittee of adjustment was in- creased from $500 to $800. Mrs Lorna Dale. who operates the answering service for the police and fire department. will receive 85.200 per year. Last year the fee was 83.600. Exeter's RAP committee have also approved pay increases for their employees However. they have not made these figures public as yet In addition to the pay boosts 'for employees. Exeter council agreed this week to allow the Ex - please turn lo page 3 • HEART FUND.CAMPAIGN -- The Exeter Kinette club recently finished the Heart Fund campaign in Exeter and area. Shown above with some of the contributions ore Carol Hockey, president Wanda Reynolds and Wendy King. Donations to date hove totalled over 8900. T -A photo