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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes-Advocate, 1987-05-20, Page 1COOLING Sunday's i • de: OFF — Licking an ice cream cone was a good way to beat warm weather for Michael Schwindt and Ryan So!don. There's Tots more on the inside.:: - * Kidney patient at Auxiliary annual 7 * Ronnie Hawkins here Saturday 8 - * Resort area busy for holiday 11 * total athlete is top performer 1A * Zurich drain talk is heisted- - SA * OFA president at CCAT graduation 6A * Twelve students vie for titles 18A Imes Serving South Huron, North Middlese 11111111111111111111r— Ons Hundred and Sixteenth Year voc� & North Lambton Since 1873 EXETER, ONTARIO, May 20, 1987 Price Per Copy 60 Cents leo board members scolded Members of the South Huron rec board and staff came under some scathing criticism at their meeting, Thursday, over the setting of new rates for members of the Exeter Shuf- fleboard Club and the manner in which it was handled. "We are appalled by the blatantly arrogant display of insensitivity when we read the schedule of new fees, as set by the board, in the local press in February," past president Marshall Dearing read from a letter signed by he and vice-president Eldon Heywood and secretary -treasurer Jean Hern. All three attended the meeting along with Lorne Marshall. The group had paid $200 as a flat fee previously and the board had set a new fee of $1 per player per day. "Here the board unilaterally decrees an annual fee between $3,000 and $4,000, an increase of 2000 per- cent, and said fees to be non- negotiable," the statement continued. "No dialogue, no consultation, -no communication whatsoever, with the club, despite previous assurances that we woa1d be consulted." It was stated that a subsequent meeting between a member of the club'and the rec director "confirmed that the fee was non-negotiable and a suggestion was rejected that the club could be placated if the facility Management agreed to maintain the Eourts. The delegation advised that club members felt they were faced with the choice to accepting the fees as dic- tated or reject them and look for another facility. Members voted to re- -jectthefees and have located other suitable facilities in the Legion Hall and the transition is expected to be completed this fall. "In closing we regret that this course of action has been necessary", the statement said. "However, when public servants and committees become so dogmatic that negotiations are rendered passe, then it is time to move on." When asked by member Ken Oke if the manner in which the situation was handled upset the club more than the new rate structure, Dearing respond- ed in the affirmative. He said the club decided in a democratic manner their course of action and said that type of approach may surprise board members. He also suggested the matter could pro- bably have been resolved with some dialogue. When asked by Dorothy Chapman where members got the idea that the fee structure was non-negotiable, Dearing said it was "in black and white" in the paper, but added that board members shouldn't blame the press "because if it wasn't for the press we wouldn't know anything". "There's no way this board won't negotiate," Mrs. Chapman responded. Chairman Jim Workman told the delegation the "board made a blunder" but said they would like to rectify it if the club would aIo. "I think it's a little late," Heywoed commented, in response to that com- ment and a similar one echoed by Usborne 'representative Pat Down. Marshall said the club had made a commitment to go elsewhere and can't go back out on it. "Why bother coming at all?" facilities manager Cam Stewardson asked of the delegation and Dearing quickly replied they had come at the board's invitation and they ap- preciated the invite as it was the first time they had been asked. "What can we do?" asked Phyllis Johnson. "Say goodbye," Marshall responded. When Mrs. Down asked if the mat- ter could be negotiated at a further time, Dearing said they would have to talk to the new executive and he urged them to keep comnSunications open. The matter was broached later in the meeting when Stephen Reeve Tom Tomes arrived late and was met with the comment from Workman that Tomes may as well go home. The reference was to the fact Tomes had spearheaded the move to invite the shuffleboard club to the meeting after hearing complaints about the fees. Tomes said he had the choice of coming late to the meeting or atten- .dins a barbecue for the county. ' got barbecued," Mrs. Down said in reference to the delegation. At the en of the meeting during members' co ents, Peter Snell said he was frustra ed4by the situation which stemmed froth --a lack or breakdown in communicattib►t` He said the board should move ensure it doesn't happen in the future by creating a sub -committee to deal with public relations or expand the board to include a wider range of age and 'interest groups. The Exeter councillor said it "reflects poorly on the community". Please turn to page 2 Councilrnembersget it to. Exeter resident Marshall Dearing, tivities .in accordance with New members have expended in excess of who led in criticism of the South Horizon policies and "we contend that $3,500 of their own money to effect im- Huron rec centre board on Thursday, basic repairs do not fall within these provements over the past 10 years. followed that example in a letter to guidelines". "We would be interested in knowing Exeter council read at Tuesday's He also said he hoped council how much the municipality has ex - session. members "would be more diligent" pended for repairs to the clubhouse As president of the Exeter lawn in the future to prevent publication of over the same period." he wrote. bowling club, Dearing said the use of comments that are not based on fact. The club president also explained a senior citizens' recreation reserve That comment was in reference to a that rec centre employees were fund "could be construed as misap- councillor's comment that the annual aware of the need for repairs and "we propriation of funds" by council. rental fee for the lawn bowling facili- cannot understand why the cost of the -At a recent meeting, council decid- ty was $290, when in fact the rec board item was not included in the recrea- ed to dip into the reserve to a max- had set it at $350 for 1987. tional centre's budget for 1987,and imum of $500 to make repairs at the The article referred to indicated at why it was deemed necessary to lawn bowling clubhouse. least one member of council thought make a special appeal to council for The letter from Dearing said the the annual rental fee should be in- funds". fund is defigitely earmarked to fur- creased because it did not meet the His letter concluded by saying it ther senior citizens' involvement and amount required for repairswas hoped council would give some participation in recreational ac- However, Dearing said the club thought to the concerns expressed. Statistics reveal users pay above Reeve's plan During a debate on recreational funding at budget deliberations in April, Exeter Reeve Bill Mickle estimated that users pay only about 43 percent of the actual costs and he opined that they should be paying at least half. Statistics released by rec director Lynne Farquhar in response to Mickle's comments show that users actually pay well above what the Reeve suggested as their fees make up approximately 65 percent of the ElitiMINNIMINIMIXOPMEMMOMPA local recreation budget. ' From a total budget of $350,910 in 1986, revenue generated through users was $226,500 or 64.55 percent. It is estimated that the percentage will increase slightly to 64.89 in 1987. "The recreation centre has manag- ed consistency in total cost recovery ranging from 60 percent recovery in 1982 to 64.89 percent projected for 1987," she explained to the board on Thursday. Information compiled by the * * * HENSALL YOUTH DROWNS * * * Funeral service was held yesterday John's Ambulance diver Gary for Rodney James Foley, 16, of RR 1 Renaud recovered the body about an Hensall, who drowned near Goderich hour and a half later. on Sunday afternoon. The youth is survived by his parents, Robert J. Foley and the former Charleen D. Tomlinson, and a brother, Donald, of Grand Bend, and Lenore and Gordon, both at home. Ile was a grandson of Mrs. Dorothy Tomlinson of Grand Bend. The funeral was held Wednesday morning from the llensall chapel of Michael P. O'Connor funeral home with Fr. Paul Mooney officiating. in - Efforts by friends and nearby terment followed in St. Boniface anglers to reach him failed and St. cemetery, Zurich. The grade 11 student at Mitchell High School was swimming with two friends in the Maitland River in the Benmiller area. They were in an area of the river known as the "Black Hole" about three kilometres east of Goderich. Foley got into trouble swimming through some rapids. * * * FISHERMEN STILL MISSING * * * Despite increased activity along the ing' to the pair was found eight shores of Lake Huron over the first kilometres south of Bayfield, some holiday weekend, two fishermen 180 metres from the shore. missing since April 25 have still not A child's lifejacket that was also been located. identified as part of the contents of the boat was discovered floating 15 kilometres offshore and a hat owned by one of the men was recovered about the same time. Goderich OPP have continued sear- ches for the two men, as have friends and relatives of the pair. Police had been hoping that with throngs of people flocking to the Lakeshore on the holiday weekend, the two would be found. BiII Datars, 28. of 310 Carling St., Exeter, and Doug McKay. 32, of RH 2 Kippen, were last seen heading out of Goderich harbor around 6:30 a.m. and were reported missing the follow- ing day. it is presumed the two men drowned. Three weeks ago, a 12 -foot aluminum boat identified as belong- * * * FINANCES IN GOOD SHAPE The town's financial picture was described as a "very good one" when reviewed by Gerry Mills and Bruce Davis of the Kime and Co. auditing firm. Tuesday. "The balance sheet is in extreme- ly good position at the end of '86." Mills said in explaining there was a surplus of $108,192. Ile said that was a very substantial amount to be used to offset taxes in the current year. He also noted in highlighting some of the detail§, that Exeter's reserve for working capital was at 8231.461, while taxes receivable was 876,641. Mills explained that most municipalities like to see at bast a * * * one-to-one ratio in those figures, while Exeter's is almost three -to -one. in asking if there were questions, the auditors noted that it may be dif- ficult for council members to pace any on their first look at the report. "We'll digest it," Mayor Shaw said at the conclusion of a brief question and answer period. "Any problems and we'll get back to you." Councillor Ben Hoogenboom had asked Mills if his comments would be as positive and optimistic next year in view of council's budget for 1987. Mills responded by saying he didn't know what council had planned for this year. "You tell me how i11 res- pond," ho joked to Hoogenboom. ministry of tourism and recreation in- dicates the average cost recovery ratio for recreation services in On- tario communities to be just over 38 percent. The rec director also noted that Ex- eter's cost for recreation on a per - capita and per -household basis is well below the average in Ontario. The per -capita cost in Exeter is 830.12 based on this year's allotment from council, while the average in On- tario is $46.00. Exeter's average household cost is approximately $73.56 based on this year's allotment, compared to the provincial average of 8108.00 ,per household. On a report of the meeting held recentlyin Varna by recreation group representatives from South Huron, municipalities it was indicated most arenas have moved their ice rates for 1987-88 to between $50 and $55 per hour. "The town/township share issue still seems to be a major bone of con- tention with members who were pre- sent," she concluded in that report. She was successful in having the board adopt her suggestion that four leaders be hired for the summer playground and sports program although provincial grants will cover only three staffers. "The program will be very difficult, if notimpossible to operate, on three. full time staff and i would recom- mend that four be employed with the recreation centre picking up the fourth salary." Total costs, including wages, are expected to be $6,414 and the revenue generated from registration, an Op- timist grant of 8400 and provincial assistance of 83,654 is expected to be only .85,254 for the seven -week program. • Registration was $10 per week last year, and while Pat Down discussed the possibility of increasing that, the rec director said she wouldn't want to see it increased too much because there were complaints last year about the $10. Youngsters also face additional costs for (rips outside town to Storybook Gardens, etc. The pool staff has been set for the summer with Susan Boyle as head supervisor at a salary of $214 per week. Karla Josephson will be assis- tant at $194. Instructor/guard Heather Hern is slated to receive 8184 and another two in that category, Marilyn Hamilton and Teresa McCarter, will he paid $174 and Bren- da Vanderlaan will receive 8160. Susan Coates will see part-time work at an hourly rate of $.3.65. One change in staffing may still occur. it ww In Tuesday's discussion of the let- ter at council, Deputy -Reeve Lossy Fuller said the comment made by Dearing about misappropriation of funds -was true. She had opposed the use of the fund for the repairs when it was approved by council. However. Councillor Gaylan Josephson noted that an earlier re- quest for part of the reserve had come from seniors to use on a housing study and it had nothing to do with recrea- tion, but had been approved at their request. Mrs. Fuller replied that the study at least had been a benefit to seniors. It was finally decided to turn the communication over to the executive committee for study and response. Get off your - and get in shape! MAYOR CHALLENGED — As part of pre -publicity for Wednesday's Participac- tion Fitness challenge, Mayor Bruce Show was ar- rested for being unfit Monday morning. Above, he is being apprehended by Constable Brad Sadler and rec director Lynne Farquhar and, at the left peers through the jail bars at the Exeter police sta- tion. He was released on his own promise to par- ticipate in today's ac- tivities. Residents of the town of Exeter are being challenged by their counterparts in Walkerton and Hanover. Everyone is asked to take 15 minutes out for walking, jogging or any activity that gets the heart going. All the finan- cial institutions in Exeter are expected to have ex- ercise bikes available for staff and customers to try for the most recorded kilometres.