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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes-Advocate, 1981-11-18, Page 1Teachers' spokeslady says strike talk premature Salary differences_ stall negotiation Salaries are keeping Huron County secondary school teachers and the Board of Education from reaching a settlement for the Sept. 1. 1981 to Aug. 31, 1982 collective agreement. With the release of a fact finder's report on Monday, negotiations between the two sides are at an impasse. No meetings to continue negotiations have been set. Shirley Weary, chief negotiator for Ontario Secondary School Teacher's Federation (OSSTF) District 45. said. "there is no reason to believe a settle- ment can't be negotiated". When asked about the possibility of a strike, Mrs. Weary said any discussion on that topic is "extremely premature". In a telephone interview Monday evening, Mrs. Weary said the two sides would take a "breathing space" for a couple of weeks and resume talks then. She explained both sides have been involved in negotiations since January. and the feel- ing is both sides want some time before continuing talks. In the past four years, both sides have been involved in a strike. arbitration, media- tion and fact finding. This is ..T the fourth fact finder's report for Huron secondary school teachers. A fact finder's report is a list of recommendations for both sides, but carries no actual weight. Trustee John Elliott, chairman of personnel com- mittee. said at a press con- ference Monday afternoon, talks would continue in mediation until the contract is settled. It is the board's opinion. Trustee Elliott said, the fact finder's recommen- dations are a "reasonable compromise for the par- ties". The major issue of dis- agreement is salaries. Using maximum salaries, fact finder Anne Barrett, ap- pointed by the Education Relations Commission, recommended 136,180, while the board has offered 136,- 200. For comparison pur- poses. Huron uses the sur- rounding counties of Bruce Middlesex. Perth and Lamb - ton. OSSTR's last request for a teacher's maximum salary is $37.200. and they have re- jected the board's offer. Mrs. Weary maintains the provincial average should be used. as most of the surroun- ding boards are in second and third years of a collec- tive agreement. She said the provincial average is more realistic because of the higher number of boards and some are in the first year of their agreements. The fact finder's report states, "the average max- imum salary for the highest paid teachers is 136,581." This figure is based on 45 out of 76 boards in Ontario hav- ing reached a settlement for 1981-82. Other areas which remain in dispute include a staffing formula and working con- ditions. As of September 30 of this year, the pupil - teacher ratio in Huron was 16.46 to 1, while the provin- cial average last year was 16.8 to 1. The fact -finder's report states, "teachers have a staffing formula and working conditions better than 80 percent of 10 com- parable boards and better than the provincial average as well." She rejected the teachers' request. • The teachers propose four ways to improve the situa- tion which would require im- mediately hiring three ad- ditional teachers. The board's position is more than three teachers would have to be hired. Ms. Barrett states changes which further reduce pupil -teacher ratios should not be made, but a review of the staffing for- mula should be made. District 45 of OSSTF have also rejected the board's offer of criteria for positions of responsibility, professional development funds. fringe benefits for maternity leaves and night school pay. The fact finder expects the maternity leave issue to be resolved follow- ing salary settlements and made no recommendations. Trustee Elliott said negotiations have been handled in a "fair and equitable manner" and in the board's opinion the offer is fair. He said attempts would be made to conclude negotiations. He added a successful elementary settlement had been reached without a third party. Ames Serving South Huron, North Middlesex t+ f : sµ '�'t•� ' z �• , ;• .;• SAND DIGGERS — Matthew and Andrea Jaques of Huron Park found Sunday's unusual warm weather was ideal fir digging in the sand at Grand Bend. T -A photo Sentence is delayed for drug possession charge Sentencing for a 52 -year- old Stephen Township man on a charge of possession of marijuana for the purpose of trafficking has been delayed until December 8. Henry Eisenschink, RR 1 Exeter. pleaded guilty to the charge when he appeared before .Judge W.G. Cochrane in Exeter court. Tuesday. The accused had been charg- ed following a raid on his farm on concession 4 south of Highway &3 in the early morning of October 29. Exeter OPP and town police joined in the raid in which 16 pounds of mari- juana were seized. It was valued at $6,500. Plants were found growing in a greenhouse and garden and there were boxes and plastic bags in several areas containing leaves. A pre -sentence report was ordered. The court learned that Eisenschink received the seeds from another party and he said he didn't know what he was going to do with the marijuana after it was harvested. In another drug related case. Dean A. Russell, 17, London. was fined 8100 or 10 days after pleading guilty to possession of marijuana on August 15. His vehicle had been stopped by police and 11 hand -rolled cigarettes containing the drug were found in his possession. They were valued at 111. The accused was given 60 days in which to pay the fine. In the only other convic- tion. Tuesday, Ronald Bruce Jones. St. Thomas, was fined $300 or 30 days on a charge of Cost of burying also on increase The cost of dying is keep- ing pace with the cost of liv- ing. Exeter council this week approved a bylaw increasing rates for the Exeter Cemetery as recommended by the board. The increases range up to 13 percent. The single grave plot goes from $130 to $145, including perpetual care, while the two -grave plot increases from $250 to $275. A three - grave plot is $455 from the previous $410 and a four - grave plot is now $535 and the old price was $485. Those prices are for residents and the correspon- ding prices for non-residents are $175 for a single, 1330 for a double. $535 for triple and $605 for a four -grave plot. A cremation plot has in- creased from $70 to $80. Interment charges have also been increased from $120 to $135. If you want to be buried at double depth. the extra charge goes up from $60 to $70 and the cost for winter interment also goes up the same $10 to $70. The cost for Saturday funerals is now 845 extra, an increase of $5, and funerals reaching the cemetery after 4:00 p.m. during weekdays will be assessed an ad- ditional charge of $45. It was previously $35 extra. The cost of annual flower beds is up to $35 from $30 and perpetual flower beds in- crease to 8330 from $300. Winter storage for other cemeteries' interments will now be $55, an increase of $5. The cost for installing monument foundations is also increased as is the maintenance of monuments and markers. The board also recommended that a 25 -acre grass farm purchased in 1933 for top soil and sod be sold. The farm is located at the west -half of west -half lot 6. concession 5 of Hay Township. and has never been used by the cemetery board. It has been leased at a nominal fee' for the past 10 years and the lease is expir- ing. The hoard has no use for the property, but sees a need for land closer to the cemetery and suggest the proceeds from the sale be placed in a reserve fund for future expansion. impaired driving on October 25. He was stopped for erratic driving. The accused had his diver's licence suspended for three months by Judge Cochrane. He was also given 60 days in which to pay the fine. One Hundred and Ninth Year Salary settlements for the secondary school teachers has not been the "most Elliott. The fact finder noted smooth process", said Please turn to page 3 A LIFE MEMBER— At Wednesday's Remembrance banquet at the R.E. Pooley Exeter branch of the Royal Caoadian Legion, Larry Snider was made. a life member. Snider becomes the first World War Two veteran to receive such an honour. Making the presenta- tion at the left is R.E. Pooley. ti. & North Lambton Since 1873 EXETER, ONTARIO, NOVEMBER 18, 1981 Price Per Copy 40 cents New core grocery store proposed for Frayne lot A plan to build a large grocery outlet on the former downtown location of Frayne Chev-Olds was un- veiled before Exeter coun- cil, Monday. Michael Morrish, a sales representative for Royal Trust, said be bad a client in- terested in erecting a 15,000 square foot grboery store for a major chain and said the total transaction involved in the land purchase and erec- tion of the store was in the neighborhood of 11,000,000. He appeared before coun- cil to ascertain what problems could be en- countered in building a store over the two storm drains which run through the property. Building inspector Brian Johnston told council that the matter of the storm drains was the main problem as the use planned for the property was totally in keeping with the local zon- ing bylaw. Johnston indicated the ex- isting drains would have to be re-inforced before a building could be placed over them. Mayor Bruce Shaw ad- vised Morrish that he should investigate the legal and engineering problems in- volved. It was suggested that council would probably issue a permit if the engineering to protect the drains met with their satisfaction. Shaw. envisioning the More needing- help? About 35 needy Exeter families were assisted last Christmas by the Huron County Christmas bureau operated by the Family & Children's Services. The Exeter Lioness Club are looking after the bureau in Exeter this year and Clerk Liz Bell is co -chairperson of the service committee along with Marian Knowles. Mrs. Bell told council this week that it is expected that more families than ever will need assistance this year in view of economic conditions and unemployment. The Lioness Club will operate the bureau from the former Gaiser-Kneale office north of Hopper -Hockey Furniture. The facility has been donated by owner Len Veri. During the week of December 7 to 11. the bureau will be open to receive donations of clothing, food and toys and there will also be "toy -drop" containers in the local schools and stores where good used toys can be left. In Huron last year. a total of 205 families were assisted. WIN AT SCIENCE OLYMPICS — A team from South Huron District High School won o division in the recent Science Olym- pics in Toronto. Back, left, coach Bruce Perry, Ernie Szabo, Joel Aunger, Drew Hasselback. James McDonald. Richard Weer- nink and coach Peter Aunger. Front, Marty Francis, Stuart Hodgins and Mark Perry. All in the interest of science Students win egg drop test Dropping eggs and throwing paper airplanes usually results in noon hour detentions, but for South Huron's Science Olympics team its all part of the game. Saturday at the fourth annual York Science Olympics, teachers Peter Aunger and Bruce Perry and their team of nine science students competed in and won the hard -lander egg competition. Against 47 other schools from Timmins to Belle River, South Huron's entry designed and constructed by Mark Perry plummeted 18 tnetres without breaking the egg inside it. Constructed of balsa wood and styrofoam, the egg enclosure was designed to maximize speed and minimize shock on contact. South Huron also placed well in the paper glider competition. Other com- petitions included the Fermi questions and the Skilful Scalpel events. In the Skilful Scalpel contest, students had to dissect worms. One of the Fermi questions was especially intriguing, "If the Great Lakes were made of beer, how many years would be required for them to be consumed by the people of Ontario (at the current average rate of beer consumption?") "I found it generated more interest in science than any of the science fairs 1 have been involved with", Aunger said. The team is already looking forward to par- ticipating in next year's competition. local reaction to the plans for a major grocery outlet in the core area. asked Morrish how serious his client was. "It's a long way from be- ing a definite go on it," the Royal Trust salesman responded. but added that the client considering the purchase of the property had a triple-A rated tenant in- terested in renting space in the proposed development. "It's not a simple real es- tate transaction". he stated. Morrish also noted that he would have to find a triple-A rated tenant to occupy the 6.000 square foot building already located on the front of the property. He indicated existing building may be replaced with aliiew structure and the grocery store would be built in the middle of the property with parking at the east and west ends for about 90 cars. A laneway access would run down the south side of the property. A cement block building presently located 3t the rear of the property and housing an antique furniture restora- tion outlet would be remov- ed. Later in the meeting. after noting the many layoffs be- ing experienced throughout Ontario, Councillor Tom Humphreys said it was en- couraging to hear that someone was preparing to invest 81 million in Exeter. However. he quickly added that the project was far from definite. Queen is missing One of the close to 300 per- sons attending Wednesday's annual Remembrance Day banquet at the Exeter Legion apparently did not appreciate his invitation. Sometime during the even- ing a large framed picture of the Queen disappeared from the downstairs area of the Legion. near the office. Legion spokesman Reg McDonald said the picture was in a 28 by 34 inch French Provincial frame and was inlaid in blue velvet and is valued at $2550. The framed picture was donated to branch 167 in 1973 by London photographer Fred McDonald Reg McDonald added. "We have theft insurance coverage. but. for insurance purposes it's not considered theft as no doors were broken or any sign of break and enter. It just dis- appeared sometime during the evening." Constable George Robert- son of the Exeter town police who was a guest at the banquet said he noticed the picture in it's regular place before the banquet. Investigation of the loss is being carried out by Legion officials and the Exeter town police. DIGGING DOWN - - Playing in the sand on the shores of Lake Huron at Grand Bend Sunday was Tots of fun for area youngster Nicolas Keller. T -A photo Moon men member tells of escapades Roy Scott of Toronto who is a member of the Royal Air Forces Escapist Society was the guest speaker at Wednesday's annual Remembrance Day banquet at the Exeter Legion hall. Scott told close to 300 per- sons about his three months stealthy trip back to freedom after being shot down in France during the Second World War. He and his fellow pilots were known as Moon Men as they flew many secret mis- sions sometimes less than 600 feet above the ground on moonlight nights to keep away from ground radar detection Scott and another member of his crew with the help of many Underground and Resistance members was able to stay hidden in France and for awhile in Paris before being spirited over the I'yrenees mountains and into Spain The only time they were captured was in neutral Spain where they were detained for a couple of weeks as illegal residents. They were finally released to the British Embassy which paid a sum of money for the release of the two pilots who were very valuable to the Royal Air Force He added. "I don't know how much they paid. but. they thought it was cheaper to hiiy us hack than train new personnel." The former pilot showed a number of slides of some of the Underground people in France who helped him stay free Ile has made several trips to France (luring the years since the war and par- ticularly since formation of the Royal Air Forces Escap- ing Society. A highlight of the banquet was the presentation of a life membership in the R.E. Pooley Exeter branch of the Royal Canadian Legion to Larry Snider. Snider becomes the first veteran from the Second World War to receive such an honour Making the presentation was R.E. -Ted" Pooley. one of seven First World War veterans at the dinner. The other veterans from the War of 1914-18 were Norm Norry. Reg Knight. ('hfl Brintncll. .Joe White. .1 K Cornish and Sylvanus Cann Mr Cann was celebrating his 95th birthday the following day. Chairman for the evening was branch 167 president Sam Bower. Also speaking were branch poppy chair- man Gerald Skinner, Ex- eter. mayor Bruce Shaw and Huron -Bruce MP Murray Cardiff who presented a flag to the branch. STILL DECLINE The decline in building permits in Exeter continued during the past month. Building inspector Brian Johnston reported this week that 13 permits were issued in October for a value of $39.990. seven of those being for residential renovations and additions. There were four permits for garages and tool sheds valued at 811.295 and the other two were for in- stitutional renovations for 86.500 There were two perma- nent sign applications ap- proved. bringing the total to 22 for the year.