HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes-Advocate, 1982-11-03, Page 3LIONESS ATTENDANCE PINS — At a recent meeting of the Exeter Lioness club zone chairman Bill Rovers,
left and district chairman Richard Erb at the right presented a two year attendance pin td Rose Anne Lavier
and a one year award to Elaine Pinder. T -A photo.
Group for handicapped see positive side
Ret,tiogi
Community and Social Ser-
vices Minister Frank Drea
put an end to weeks of rumor
Thursday and made it of-
ficial six centres for the
developmentally -handicap-
ped, . including those in
Goderich and St. Thomas,
will be phased out and closed
down over the next few years.
The Bluewater Centre in
Goderich will shut its doors by
PUC meeting
Continued from front page
its own computer.
"They're (computers) af-
fordable," Mayor -Bruce
Shaw commented after Davis
agreed that utilities would
probably have their own com-
puters in the future.
"At $7,000 (present billing a
year, it doesn't take long to.
pay for a computer," Liv-
ingstone added.
The Commission decided to
apply for funds under the pro-
vincial ministry of energy
Residential Energy Advisory
Program (REAP) under
which they could hire a per-
son to do energy conservation
studies for local homeowners.
The program runs through
to March 31.
German trip
Continued from frontpage
cent cooperation from local
-industries and advised coun-
cil he was impressed with the
"viable industrial segment
out there".
He indicated it had been a
revelation to him to see what
local firmsproduce and ex-
plained that local products
are distributed across the na-
tion, into the U.S.A. and
overseas. " -
The town staff was also
commended for the
assistance provided in com-
- piling information for the trip.
Works . superintendent
Glenn Kells extended an offer
of even more assistance if re-
quired. He told the two men
that if they found theyneed-
ed anything further when
they -arrived in Germany
"phone and I'll bring it to
you'".
IIffers on DlueWater closing
mid -1984 and the St. Thomas
Adult Rehabilitation and
Training Centre by mid -1985.
Drea also announced his in-
tention to reduce the Oxford
Regional Centre in Woodstock
by 173 residents by 1986.
Paul Turnbull of the South
Huron and District Associa-
tion for the Mentally Han-
dicapped responded positive-
ly to the Drea announcement.
"As a service provider to
the handicapped of our area,
the South Huron and District
Association for the Mentally
Handicapped views Mr.
Drea's plan as a very positive
step toward meeting our goal.
Simply stated that goal is that
handicapped people live in a
state of dignity, share in all
elements of the community
and have the opportunity to
participate effectively, he
said.
"But, if we intend to -bring
residents from these facilities
which are being closed, we
must bear in mind that more
than only residential spaces
are required. ' Vocational
spaces in workshop settings
as well as recreational ac-
tivities are also needed to
roundotit.' a full service
program. •
Another concern he cited is
the number of people on our
own waiting list. These people
as well as those who may be
coming back to the cornmuni-
ty must be considered, he
noted.
"Itis also our' conviction
that there should be greater
co-ordination among service
providing agencies in Huron
County and district," Turn-
bull concluded in his
comments.
Huron County council went.
on record as being opposed to
the closing of the Bluewater
Centre for the developmental-
ly handicapped the same day
as Community and Social Ser-
' vices Minister Frank Drea
confirmed rumors the centre
will be phased out.
The minister announced on
Thursday, Oct. 28 that the
Bluewater Centre, located on
Highway 21, south . of
Goderich will shut its doors by
mid'1984. At the same time
Huron County council took its
SERVICE RECOGNIZED —Exeter resident J.M. "Gib -
by" Gibson, 68 Wellington. St.,recently received a
medallion from the federal government for his "long
and efficient service". He has served the nation for 35
years as a member of the Armed Forces and the Cana-
dian diplomatic corps. He retired to Exeter in 1981 after
serving in diplomatic duties in Munich, Rome, Budapest,
Cario, Pakistan and Mexico City.
Huron salaries
Continued from front page
Reeve Murray Dawson of
Usborne Township added that
unions bother him. Ile noted
in the United States unions
are backing off their.
demands. •
"Here in, Canada they're
not smart enough. They'll
strangle themselves. Unions
have a lot to learn," said
Reeve Dawson.
Ashfield Township Reeve
Warren Zinn added his com-
ments. The Canadian deficit
keeps climbing, he noted, and
municipalities are doing their
best to control their own
spending.
"Huron County has been a
leader , over the years.
Somebody has to start
somewhere and '1 hope it
(restraint) starts here," com-
mented Reeve Zinn.
Reeve Robert Bell of
TuCkersmith Township noted
how employees in his
township came to council and
offered to accept a 10 percent.
reduction in salaries.
Hay Township Reeve Lloyd
Mousseau. and Goderich
-Reeve Don Wheeler agreed
with the statements trade by
their colleagues and added
the county will have to keep
their expenditures within
guidelines.
In other business, county
council has changed its
meeting date from the last
Thursday of the month to the
first Thursday of the month,
effective January 1, 1983.
. stand after hearing a delega-
tion of concerned citizens.
"There will be unhappiness
all around," spokesman Nor-
man McHolm predicted if the
centre is closed. •
Mr. McHolm, who resides
in the vicinity of the centre,
said he attended a meeting on
Oct. 25 at which time the een-
• tre's volunteer association ex-
pressed its concerns. Until
Thursday, the possible dos- •
ing of the centre was just
rumor.
"I attended the meeting on
Monday just for general in-
terest, but there is quite a con-
cern. There appears to be no
rhymenor reasonfor the dos-
ing," Mr. McHolm said to
county council.
The province's intention is
to have those that are able to
live in group homes, while
those unable to live in the
community will be moved to
other facilities. Affected
emplo)(ees will be given
assistance in retraining or
relocating.
Mr. McHolm said, while he
accepts the idea of group
homes, there are problems
trying to get the public to ac-
cept them. He anticipates
problems such as' a lack of
staffing and supervision, a
loss of recreation for the
residents and possibly the ex-
ploitation of individuals by
landlords. He recited a situa
tion in London, where a
landlord rented out one room,
a bathroom, where the
bathtub was the bed.
The parents of the residents
at the centre are also a cause
of concern for Mr. McHolm.
He said.a lot of the parents
are in their senior years and
have looked after their
children as long as they have
beenphysically able. He said
he spoke to one parent, a man
in his seventies, who had to
wait four and a half years to.
get his daughter into the
Bluewater centre, It then took
the daughter two years to get
adjusted to the new
environment.
Besides the upset to the
residents, Mr. McHolm said
staff will also suffer. He said
there is enough of a strain
now on the economy without
having more people without
- jobs.
"There will bea hardship•
on the citizens of the com-
munity, the parents and
residents," concluded Mr.
McHolm.- -
Drea told the legislature the
province's deinstitutionaliza-
tion program has reduced the
population of the facilities by
1,400 over the last seven
years, moving Targe numbers
of handicapped into the com-
munity and reducing the need
for institutional places.
In the•next five years, an
additional $33 million will be
poured into community
resources, $23 million of that
raised by the closing of the
centres, he said.
"We plan to develop a
number of supervised com-
munity living alternatives for
children and adults currently
living ,in intensive settings
such as group homes who no
longer require this kind of
24-hour supervision," Drea
said.
Such persons would be plac-
ed in his orher own apart-
ment with appropriate super-
vision or in a family home
program. "We plan to
develop 750 supervised com-'
munity living places over the
next five years.
Bluewater administrator
William Gregg said Thursday
the news left him "in two
minds." Although he regrets
the demise of the centre,
which he has run since its
opening in 1976, and the Toss
of his "extended family,"
Gregg said the goal has
always been intregration of
residents into the community.
"When we started I said
every resident should have
the opportunity for communi-
ty living. Now more people
are being given that oppor-
tunity...although it has come
more "'quickly than
anticipated."
Gregg said the centre
recently held a reunion. for
graduates of its programs
who arenowliving°n the com-
munity. "The emotional and
social growth was most
rewarding. It gave us a sense
of fulfilment too. That has
always been the ultimate
goal."
CNR lights at Huron
Members of council were
staggered Monday on learn-
ing the costs involved in in-
stalling signal lights at the
Huron St. CNR crossing. They
had decided to investigate
those costs in view of the re-
cent train -truck collision at
the crossing.
Works superintendent
Glenn Kells and three
members of council attended
a meeting with Transport
Canada and CNR officials at
the site last week and were
advised the total cost of in-
stalling lights would be
$70,000. The town would be re-
quiredtopay 121: percent of
that total; or $8,750.
In addition, the town would
be responsible for.50 percent
of the annual maintenance
cost which was estimated at
$5,000 in total.
In reporting for the public
works committee, Reeve Don
MacGregor said memberp
had questioned if stop signs
could be put in at the crossing
and they were told This was
not recommended because .of
the number of collisions that
occur between motorists
where stop signs have been
erected at railway crossings.
Noting the components for
the lights were made in the
U.S. and were a "rip oft',
MacGregor said he hoped
Mayor Shaw and Councillor
Mickle could bring back a
company from Germany to
start into the business to get
the costs down. • •
He told council that traffic
was
the
said
heavy at the crossing at
time of the meeting and
officials were aware of
Times -Advocate, November 3, 1982 Pope 3
St. are expensive
the fact the crossing was
traversed by two school buses
each day.
In answer to a question, he
said it would take at least a
year to get lights approved
and installed at the crossing
if the decision was made to
proceed with them. ' -
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