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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes-Advocate, 1986-12-03, Page 2• Page 2 Times -Advocate, December 3, 1986 Okay new tractor, part-time help lrited debate on road staff and proled's Deputy -Reeve i y Fuller won considerable praise or her handling of a steady and spirited attack on three of her committee's recommen- dations this week, but she also came away with all three of those issues fairly intact, although that could change in future deliberations over two of them. Noting that she had come under a heavy barrage from fellow members, Mayor Bruce Shaw commended the public works chairman for handling herself "very well". The issues were all major and were contained in one motion that asked council to adopt street projects for 1987 as recommended in the recently completed road needs study, as well as the hiring of an additional full-time staff member for the public works department and the purchase of a 843,174.50 tractor with a snowblower and flail mower attachments. The motion for all three approvals was defeated by Reeve Bill Mickle and councillors Dorothy Chapman, Gaylan Josephson and Morley Hall. Fuller received only the support of fellow committee members Ben Hoogenboom and Tom Humphreys. The fourth member of their commit- tee, Peter Snell, was absent, so the vote did not end up for Shaw to resolve. However, in subsequent and se . • rate motions on the three items, council unanimously supported the purchase' of the new tractor. The public works department also was authorized to hire a part-time employee and the request for a full- time person could materialize yet as it was turned over to the employee relations committee for study, and reoommendation. Council also approved the engineer- ing for the street projects recom- mended by the committee, so the bat- tle over those will have to be fought again at a future date. Also approved was a motion to call for tenders for the sale of the present tractor and blower used for sidewalk snow removal and another older trac- :; . • COMMITTEE — A local committee has been formed to assist in deciding what Conestoga College conti- nuing education courses should be offered in Exeter. Shown (back left) are Elizabeth Bell, Conestoga coordinator Jane Huffman, Gail Little, Janet Hern and (front) Rick Graham, Rick Hawley, Ruth Stover and Bev Teeter. Conestogareaches out to .residents in district Conestoga College is reaching out to serve the residents of smaller com- munities. Night courses tailored to the needs of this area will be offered in Exeter in February. Conestoga plans to offer night courses at SHDHS min February in French, flower ar- ranging, personal finances, starting a small business and parenting, pro- vided enough registrants apply for each course. "We -ire taking a new approach. We feel it is time to go back to the peo- ple", explained Jane Huffman, com- • munity coordinator of continuing education at Conestoga's Stratford campus. Besides offering continuing educa- tion at the campuses in Cambridge, Doon, Clinton, Stratford, Guelph and Waterloo, Conestoga branched out ex- perimentally to Brussels and Milver- ton last fall. The pilot project was very succesful. In Brussels, with a population of 900, 80 registered for classes in bookeeping, flower arrang- ing and water colours. Seventy turn- ed out for the Milverton classes. Huffman credits a large share of the success of continuing education in these small centres to the efforts of a local committee set up to identify the educational needs and interests of their community, and their assistance in selecting and organizing suitable courses. A committee has been formed in Exeterr to assist in choosing the types of courses wanted here in future. Representing a cross-section of this community are Elizabeth Bell, Rick Graham, Rick Hawley, Janet Hern, Gail Little, Ruth Stover and Bev Teeter. The committee is preparing a ques- tionnaire which will be circulated with Conestoga's spring catalogue in March. The answers will help the col- lege determine which continuing education courses to offer in this area. Residents will be asked if they are interested in continuing education, what courses they want, and which time of year is most suitable. Conestoga College offers over 200 credit and non-credit courses rang- ing from accounting, auto mechanics, computers, family law, and floral design, through French, human rela- tions, marketing and photography to real estate, self improvement and writing workshops. Only courses with sufficient com- munity interest will be offered. Some courses requiring special facilities may not be available here. Hay council defend Continued from front page bypassing local dealers. Although Councillor Don Weigand had not been at the November 17 meeting where the decision was made, he said that he would have has - ed his decision on the specs, and come 10 the same conclusion as fellow councillors. Steckle countered with the argu- ment that the township had hought 2,90( extra pounds of iron, which would use more fuel. Ile said Case had Dever lost to JCB before when the ,1('11 cost more. Ile pointed out that N1'I'(' would not pay subsidy on anything over the figure in the lowest submitted lender. - At this point. some of the ratepayers joined in. Lloyd Willert voiced his concern that if people did not support others within their com- munity. the rural communities would . deteriora te a nd, disappear. Paul Klopp warned that council's action would leave a bad taste. Ile said the turnout showed that people in the township "do give a damn". Ile expressed the hope council would learn from this. and added Hay residents would "learn to come to more Meetings". An irate Don Hader said it was "a damn good thing this was not an elec- tion year. or you guys would all be out on your ear". Wilder replied that "we need peo- ple like you...get your name on the ballot next election". Some in the crowd questioned the need for a backhoe at all. Road superintendent Ross Fisher admitted that previously the township spent about 81,000 annually to hire a backhoe, but pointed out that many jobs which should have been done never were. Wilder said the decision could not be reversed. The machine had been delivered and already had 25 hours on it. Steckle left after saying he ap- preciated the opportunity to state his case, adding "now its up to you peo- ple", referring to the Hay residents in attendance. After all had left, Wilder told coun- cil they had made the right decision. and had nothing to be ashamed of. Ile said he felt Hay had obtained $10,000 worth more backhoe for their money. "We made our decision, and we have to live with it", Wilder concluded. The February courses will be advertised in January. Good ideas for corridor Several good ideas have come for- ward for the future use of the corridor which extends from Exeter to Morri- . son dam along the Ausable River it was reyealed at Exeter council last week. Deputy -Reeve Lossy Fuller made that comment during a discussion on Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority work .with Exeter representative Ervin Sillery and • general manager Ted Jones. On hand to make one of his periodic reports, Sillery said he hoped there would be some action on the corridor project next year. It is being spear- headed by the Exeter Lions along with several area residents. He explained that other ideas are still being solicited from the public regarding use of the area. Councillor Morley.Halt, suggesting that more people should use the nature trail east of the Morrison dam, questioned whether there were signs along Highway 4 advising motorists that tile conservation area was nearby. Agreeing that he would like to see the trails used more, Jones explain- ed that signing of conservation areas is a provincial matter and the Authority is permitted only two signs along Highway 83 to advertise. Mrs. Fuller said mere signs for the area are on the "wish list" of the cor- ridor planning committee. Councillor Ben Hoogenboom cited the need for more rest areas at the conservation area, noting he had hik- ed there recently and found no place to sit down out of the wind. Jones advised that some natural rest areas comprised of fallen trees (that have been helped to fall) and rock piles have been established. He said that these natural structures keep maintenance costs to a minimum and also reduce the hear- tache of vandalism that is often associated with man-made structures in such areas. The discussion ended with Sillery acquainting council with the program underway to improve stream quality along the river by reducing pollution from farm livestock operations. He said some polluted areas had been im- proved considerably and it showed what could be done through caution, care and spending a few dollars. VISITORS AT VILLA - Students of the Toddlers Inn Nursery School visited the Villa Nursing Home, Thursday. Here they are shown entertaining residents T -A photo r tor and mower that will not be need- Josephson respondedthat it had The purchase of the new tractory been pointed out there were went through with only minor objer; some errors in that the summer ural ed when the,new equipment arrives. ahead tions from council, but the street pro- jects and the added full-time staff resulted in considerable debate. Actually, the debate over the street projects for 1987 was opened by two ratepayers, Dr. Bill Steciuk and Doug Mock, who appeared to request some immediate remedial action on River- side Drive. Noting it was dusty and full of pot holes, the two explained to council that it may not have been high on the needs study recommendation, but argued that was only because the traffic flows taken as part of the study were conducted in the summer and. didn't reflect the use it receives dur- ing the curling season. Mock explained there had been a steady flow of traffic on the street that very night. He suggested that council consider a "stop -gap" solution of grading the street and then applying an asphalt cnat that should last for about 10 years. Works superintendent Glen. Kells said that such a. project could be undertaken, but Fuller told the two that the street was not included in this year's budget as it was not a priority in the needs study. Steciuk termed as "pretty silly" the priority tit. ' ' to the reconstruc- tion of a portion of Alexander St. on -- -which there was little traffic and no residences. Hoogenboom said the street could be.added to the list for 1987, but cau- tioned that he didn't want to give any false hopes. "I'm sure your words have not fallen on deaf ears," Shaw com- mented before the two departed. When the debate over the 1987 pro- jects ensued later, Hall opened debate by questioning the inclusion of Baldwin St. and Church from Main to William as the top two priorities, noting both had only a small amount of traffic and only one residence. Fuller explained that nine criteria had been used by the engineers in determining the recommendations in the needs study and said that it should be followed rather than choosing streets on the basis of "whoever fights the hardest" as hap been the case in the past. "If we don't accept (needs. study) as such, we'll be in trouble as we have in past years," she argued. Noting that traffic was one of the criteria used in the study, Chapman said there was "no way" the traffic could justify the type of expenditure planned for the recommended list. Mickle interjected that the two • Riverside Drive residents should have been advised that their street was not recommended for reconstruc- tion until 1990 in the needs study and added that until all the facts that had been used in the study were tabled, council could not make a proper decision. He also suggested that questions posed "seem to be irritable". Kells then advised that the study facts were contained in 1,000 pages and asked Mickle if he would like one copy of each for each member of council. The works superintendent then went on to note he had already presented the needs study to the ministry as authorized by council and suggested that the ministry may not look very strongly at council's request for additional subsidies if the report is changed a short time after being presented as a 15 -year plan for the town. He added that he would "feel stupid" going back to the ministry to tell them it was to be changed after spending a day with them going over the report. Kells contended it should at least be followed for 1987, explaining there may well be valid reasons for alter- ing priorities after that as the condi- tion of streets can change. fic count did not reflect the year - around use of certain streets such as Riverside. Chapman then asked why the town even needs Baldwin St. and she was told by Humphreys that it had been given to the town by the Anglican church and had to be maintained. Hoogenboom, who termed the street a disgrace, suggested it was needed for parking as commercial growth was taking place in that neighborhood. Mickle suggested the matter of streets was going to need some "hard- nosed" decision by council and ques- tioned whether the expense of curbs and gutters could be continued as op- posed to the type of remedial action the two ratepayers had suggested for Riverside. He also wanted to know if the com- mittee had any idea of the increase they would face in next year's budget. "If everyone gets the streets done they want, it may be (increased) 200 percent," Fuller quickly responded. After the decision to approve only the engineering on the recommended list, Kells chastised council for not giving the engineering firm the time required at an earlier meeting to pro- perly present the needs study. Some members failed to attend, despite, the fact the session was delayed one month to ensure everyone could be there. He also noted that it had been intended that no other topics be on the agenda, but another presentation was made and that had resulted in the engineers be- ing "intimdated" and adhering to council's request to only highlight the lengthy report. Kells said in fairness to the authors of the report, they should be invited back to explain the report in as much detail as had been given the ministry. Council agreed to such a session with Hoogenboom urging "people questioning the report should be there". The debate over the hiring of a full- time works department member was broached by Fuller, who noted that the department had expanded by on- ly half a staff member since 1971, despite the fact the equipment list in that year was only one pickup truck and a grader and now included a pickup, three dump trucks and a gar- bage truck, etc. She said it now took 500 man-hours to pick up leaves, while before they were burned by citizens: it took 32 man-hours for garbage pickup, while in 1971 it was contracted out to a private firm; the number of sanitary sewers had doubled; paper work has increased; and the new sewer lagoon took four man-hours daily. Help was also needed, she explain- ed, because of illness of one present member. Josephson said the report failed to impress him with urgency when 1971 statistics were used to back it up and he contende i the matter should go through the proper channels of the employee relations committee. "We want the sidewalks plowed and the roads kept open," Fuller respond- ed, suggesting it may be difficult to get part-time help of the quality needed. Coming Soon GO REAL THIS YEAR For Christmas with a . New Brunswick Fir Christmas Tree - Looks like a spruce - Stays fresh far longer than a spruce or pine - SOFT NEEDLES (no prickles when decorating) -:They're coming soon. Don't Miss out! - Order one now from any Exeter Boy Scout ;they'll be here December 3 at the Massey Ferguson Dealership Corner of Main & Well- ington St.. Exeter surpr1Se� someone this hristmas! See Anstett's complete selection of CULTURED or FRESHWATER PEARLS Photographed above -- 'Ruby and Cultured Pearl strand pendant $1595. ANSTETT JEWELLER$ MEMBER AMERICAN For your Convenience Engraving and Giftwrapping FREE with every purchase. 8 Albert SI. CLINTON 284 Main St. EXETER 26 Main St. S. SEAFORTH 135 Queen St. East ST. MARYS 203 Durham St. E. WALKERTON 2 The Square GODERICH GEM SOCIETY SPECIAL $12? 5 Econo Box, 12 pieces of Kentucky Fried Chicken Medium box of french fries tclt 500 mL. salad of your choice -Su One loaf of Grecian Bread • SHOPPER'S DECEMBER 1- 24 ONLY IcptackyniedChicken "It's our taste that makes us famous" 227 Main St. N., Exeter 31 Ontario St. N.. Grand Bond 1 •