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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes-Advocate, 1982-10-13, Page 3To committee or full board Director decides business route The director of education for the Huron County Board of Education has been given the ' authority to decide whether items of board business go to committee or the whole board first. At its October 4 meeting, the board rescinded a previous motion which had all board business brought directly to the board first. Recently the board made the change from having all board business referred to commit- tee first to having it referred to the board. "This provides the oppor- tunity for most trustees to have as much input as possi- ble," said director of educa- tion John Cochrane of the most recent decision. Trustee Joan Van Den Broeck disagreed. "I am disappointed with the recommendation. I'll be the first to concede it is the most efficient way, but at a pur- chase price of being fully in- formed," commented Mrs. Van Den Broeck. She suggested the commit- tee system be abolished and that more board meetings be held. "We're not such a large board and we'll have a better public image," said Mrs. Van Den Broeck. When asked to clarify her statements by board chair- man Dorothy Wallace, Mrs. Van Den Broeck stated a perfect example had been brought forward earlier in the meeting. She was referring to a report on term appoint- ments reviewed by the per- sonnel committee. The com- mittee concluded the concept of term appointments not be investigated further. Mrs. Van Den Broeck requested the whole matter by tabled and copies of the report be presented to the entire board for perusal and discussion at the November meeting. "Board members as a whole are not aware of what's in the report," said Mrs. Van Den Broeck. Trustee Bert Morin countered that if the commit- tee system was abolished; the board would be meeting "at least five times a month." "That in itself would entail DITCH CLEANER — A new piece of ditch cleaning equipment leased by the Ausable- Bayfield Conservation Authority was used to clean the Anne Street drain, Monday. The machine includes a cutting bar and rake to take care of weeds and fine brush. Whelan's bright outlook Continued from front page it took about $150 million in federal stabilization payments, and millions more in provincial payments, to help maintain that level of production. The Canadian pork industry has also had a windfall gain as a result of the Danish foot and mouth outbreak, and the subsequent ban on some of their pork exports. As a result, Canada has displaced Denmark as the number one supplier of pork to the prized Japanese market. Exports to the U.S. improved as well, due to good luck not management. Given the high profitability of hogs now, and for the forseeable future, it's a safe bet that there will be another round of overproduction within a couple years. More stabilization payments. More bankruptcies. Compare that with the steady output and price that has been achieved in the dairy and "feather" in- J dustries. It may not be as spectacular a story as the great rises and crashes of the red meat sector, but I'd say it's a much more rational story. As you well know, I've been pushing that view for the 10 years I have been Canada's Minister of Agriculture. And I challenge anyone to prove me wrong. Orderly marketing is effi- cient marketing, and given the tighter economic world in which we live these days, I don't know how anybody can argue against the efficient use of resources. We must strive for stabili- ty, particularly in an industry like agriculture, which by nature is more volatile and vulnerable than any other sector of the economy. Whelan paid tribute to former Ontario Agriculture Minister Bill Stewart saying, "The strength'and vitality of Ontario's agri-food industry has a lot to do with the solid foundation that Bill Stewart laid when he was the J atJty-nu &hefty Cheese ouie "Our bakery products are made with only the finest ingredients," Fresh Date Squares 6/;1.69 CHEESE Fresh off the block! Canadian Marble Cheddar Bulk - Sultana Raisins We have an excellent variety of bulk snacks and baking supplies. 3aity- I 443 Main St., Exeter 235.0332 Zurich, 236.4912 S.aforth 527-1603 • Minister. He was one of the finest legislators this country has ever had." He said the federal govern- ment spends more on agriculture in Ontario than the provincial government does. He added, "Out of the $253 billion the federal government spent on Ontario agriculture during the past fiscal year, a considerable amount went to programs directly benefitting the feed industry. In addition to *16 million for crop insurance we paid $2.5 million in interest payments under the advance payments for crops program and hog producers received $34 million in stabilization cheques." The new Denfield New Life mill with Oren Barfoot as manager is the largest of four now being operated by the company and incorporates the latest technology for pro- duction of complete feeds and feed supplements for poultry and swine. The fully automated plant located just north of Denfield on Middlesex county road 22 has a production capacity of 90,000 tong,--, per year. costs, such as mileage," noted Morin. "The board has to tru$t the committee system I think it is working." He added that trustees not on a particular committee are not denied information. "When the county board was established it met twice a month...why can't we return. Surely the workload would not be more horren- dous," commented Mrs. Van Den Broeck. She added that generally committee meetings don't last long and any business re- quiring additional input could be referred to an ad hoc committee. "I don't think the public like it (committee system) and I don't like it either," said Mrs. Van Den Broeck. Trustee Jean Adams said she likes the committee system, but was concerned about board business being routed through the director. She said it is nothing personal against the director. Cochrane said board business would be brought to the board directly or through a committee. Trustee John Jewitt also spoke in favor of the commit- tee system. He noted that some board members "don't make a lot of noise at a whole board meeting" but con- tribute at the committee level. "Anyway, the committee doesn't make the decision, the whole board does and we have to sell the whole board," said Jewitt. Mrs. Wallace noted some of Mrs. Van Den Broeck's con- cern may have arisen because presentations made by the staff to the education committee are not heard by the whole board. ' Trustees Clarence McDonald and Murray Mulvery said they had both been on the board when there were two meetings a month and the concept didn't work. McDonald said two meetings a month is fine, but trustees found themselves sitting on three or four ad hoc commit- tees at the same time. Mr. Mulvey said two meetings a month is more work for the superintendents. Dr. John Goddard asked if he could speak at commit- tee meeting of which he was not a member. He was told he could not vote, but yes, he could speak. "I can't see a problem, if an individual board member has a concern, they can go to a meeting and express that con- cern," said Dr. Goddard. "Madam chairman, I am not concerned about that, but, that we as trustees are better informed. It's the best way," said Mrs. Van Den Broeck. Trustee John Elliott said trustees dohave the oppor- tunity to attend any commit- tee meeting except for the negotiating • committee meetings. "You receive a notice of every meeting," stated Elliott. "Trustees don't all take ad- vantage of that," noted Mrs. Van den Broeck. "You can only speak for yourself," countered Mr. Elliott. Mrs. Van Den Broeck acknowledged that the pre- sent system is "extremelyef- ficient" but the best interests of the public should be considered. "I'm not saying I'm right, but I feel strongly about it," concluded Mrs. Van Den Broeck. Bean's dark outlook I Continued from front page sparkling white it once was, and wonders if this has a genetic source. This year's averge yield of 28 bushels per 'acre is "respectable, but not extraordinary", he said. "We have a job to do, and that is to market beans as ef- fectively as possible," Hill commented. Bean board representatives will be manning a booth (par- tially financed by the federal and provincial governments) at a large food show in France in November to promote the white bean, and later a trade mission will travel to Riad, Saudi Arabia, to try to in- crease exports to that part of the world. Asked if he saw a silver lin- ing, Hill replied with the farmers' eternal hope: Next year. Otis McGregor, secretary - manager of the Ontario Soy- bean Marketing Board, said harvesting of soybeans has been slow; one-third of the crop is off now. The quality is good, but the price is much ' lower than last year's, and at $5.71 per bushel also con- siderably below OMAF's cost of production estimate of over $7 per bushel. "The large production of soybeans and corn relates to world abundance", McGregor remarked. "There is little incentive at the Chicago Board to do anything; they realize people will eventually have to sell, to get rid of the harvest glut." Huron -Bruce commit- teeman Keith Lovell said the 40 -bushels per acre 1982 yield is down from last year, due partially to weed problems. This year's quality is not as good; he attributed this to not enough rainfall at the start, and adverse weather condi- tions during the crucial blossom time. Lovell quoted the price as of noon October 12 for new crop soybeans at $5.74 to $5.77 per bushel. A revised crop report coming out this week may lower the size of the figures given for the 1982 US soybean crop. The soybean growers will get together for their annual meeting beginning December 2 for three days at Wheels Inn in Chatham. By that time, a complete crop report for this year will be available. lER Times -Advocate, October 13,1982 Poge 3 RLING The Ploceto BUY BEEF And Produce Too Exeter 235.0420 Open Thurs., & Fri. Nites Till 9. Chock Out With Big Savings 011 These Darlings Famous Homemade SAUSAO E 1 Platter Pack .4 9,. • Sirloin T -Bone and WING STEAKS Z.99 Save $1.00 per Ib. Ib. Centre Cut Baby Beef liver or BEEF TONGUES Ib. 994 Allen's Pure, 48 oz. tin APPLE -JUICE Reg. 7.65 9•9$ Old South, 12 oa. tin ORANGE JUICE Reg. 1.49 994 Save 504 Medium EGGS Doz. 894 SAVE ON BEEF HINDS 1.89 i,. LOINS 1.99,6. SIDES 1.59.,. Product of Darling's Government Inspected Abbattoir Fully processed. Money Back Guarantee We reserve the right to limit quantities to average family requirments. a 'a .1