Times Advocate, 1994-04-06, Page 2Page 2
Times -Advocate, April 6, 1994
INITHE NEWS
Eight independent groups agree on key issues
Strategic Plan names new goals for Exeter
i
Heritage Corner? The corner of Main and Sanders Streets was almost unanimously selected
as the place where Exeter council should begin creating a focal point for the town. The pres-
ervation of the Old Town Hall and the Library figured highly in the opinions of those who at-
tended last Wednesday evening's Strategic Planning Session.
orContinued from front page. town hall and the library, that com- ing," said Shaw.
"If nothing else happened to- plex combined, is probably where "It's exciting enough to almost
night, it's obvious, obvious...that our heart and soul is going to be," make me change my mind and
town council has to go hack to the he said, adding that the proposal to stick around for another term,"
Old Town Hall. And we have to combine the library with the public said Shaw. "Almost."
use the town hall and the library school is likely dead. "It also came out loud and clear
properties as a focal point for the "I see the library staying that we've got to do a lot of coop -
community." he said. there....if 1 had my way and we erating with our neighbours. I was
"So often we talk about heart had lots of money we'd probably pleased to see a lot of our neigh -
and soul tonight, and it seems the start it again, build a new build- bours here."
A farmers' market amongst
the unexpected priorities
EXETER - The 170 people who attend last Wednes-
day's Strategic Planning Session were split up into
eight separate groups to develop goals and actions
plans for Exeter's future.
Each was given an hour on its own to create a slogan
for the town, and to highlight three items for improve-
ment. The resulting ideas were offered to the audience
as a whole in two -minute presentations, time limited
by the threat of a squirt from a water gun if too
lengthy.
•The most common theme from the eight presenta-
tions was the need for the town to provide a focal
point of pride for the community. Five of the groups
specifically described the intersection of Main and
Sanders Street as the site of a "civic centre". Several
encouraged the town to move its municipal offices
into a renovated Town Hall, and to include the Public
•Library, and cenotaph into those plans.
One group suggested the centre be named "Heritage
Corner", and another suggested "Heritage Square".
•Three groups proposed a farmer's market should be
established in town, perhaps as part of the Main Street
"civic centre".
•Three groups said Exeter needs to focus on its role
as the "hub" of the larger South Huron community,
recognizing its as the centre of a rural/agricultural
area. Several groups encouraged the present ,lens to
establish more cooperation amongst governments and
services in the area.
•Four groups said the town needs to encourage
growth in industry, business, and residential housing.
•Exeter should be more active in promoting itself,
concluded a couple of the groups. Some suggested ad-
vertising, signs, and even getting Exeter on the high-
way kilometre sign at Elginfield.
•Three groups saw the need to better integrate sen-
iors and youth into the community, by providing ser-
vices and programs to make life and education easier.
•One group said a mobility transportation service for
seniors should be a priority.
•Heavy investment in recreation was proposed by
one group, while another said Exeter needs to encour-
age more cultural activities as well as it does rec-
reation.
•A focus on environmental programs was proposed
by one group.
•A way of making empty store fronts "look less
abandoned" is needed, concluded one group.
•A citizens advisory group was seen as a way of
making sure the evenings plans were carried out.
Opposition from towns kills private member's bill. Is a ward system on its way?
County council downsizing plans may have to wait
By Fred Groves
T -A staff
GODERICH - It looks as though the voting structure at Huron county
council will remain the same.
Thursday morning, council was informed by its administrator Jocyln
Murray that it may be too late to get a private members' hill passed which
would see the size of council changed.
Spear -headed by last year's warden, Tom Tomes of Stephen Township,
council was looking to have the size of council reduced from 32 to 26 -
one representative per municipality and therefore one vote each.
Since the private members' hill was put forth, several councillors have
come forward stating their municipalities were not in favour of the one
vote scheme.
On Thursday, Bill Carnochan of Tuckersmith Township told council
that his municipality wanted to see Section 28 used which would mean
representation by population. The proposal would mean larger municipali-
ties would get more votes than the smaller ones.
Cost cutting
Board undecided on
cutting supervisory
officer position
By Catherine O'Brien
T -A staff
CLINTON - Trustees with the
Huron County Board of Education
couldn't decide on Monday where
10 draw the line with cost cutting as
they debated whether or not to fill
the soon-to-be vacant position of
supervisory officer.
The management committee rec-
ommended board trustees replace
Arnold Mathcrs who is retiring, but
hoard opinion was split and eventu-
ally trustees voted against the mo-
tion.
"1 have concerns about moving
forward with this," said trustee
Joan Van Den Broeck. Her main
concern was last month the board
set a budget based on the position
of supervisory officer (also known
as superintendent) not being filled.
Trustee Doug Garniss also agreed
with her on this point.
"My biggest concern at this timc
is that we did strike a budget with
the reduction of a superintendent in
mind," he said.
"1 think we need to do a little
more homework on this," said trus-
tee Bob Ileywtxxl.
Heywood and other trustees said
they had many questions about the
effect voting either way would
have on how the board does busi-
ness.
There were concerns that othcr
administrators would have to pick
up the slack and this in the end
could end up costing more in dol-
lars as well as quality of education.
"How much can we expect from
our senior administrators before
they burn out?" trustee Norman
Pickell asked hoard members.
•
"Looking at the work our retiring
supervisory officer has been doing,
1 can't sec how we can do without
the position," he said. "This work
will have to be done by someone."
Pickcll was also concerned that
the loss of this job could jeopardize
the amount of grants the hoard will
get in thc future
"Grants just don't fall from the
sky," he said. "Superintendents
have to write for them and know
when they're available."
Ile said millions of dollars in
grants are applied for by thc board
each year.
The board agreed to eliminate the
positions of the principal of the
Learning Resource Centre and
Transition Year Coordinator effec-
tive September. Many felt this was
enough cutting from senior admin-
istrative staff.
After much discussion. Garniss
asked that the motion be deferred to
the next hoard mccting in May so
trustees could learn more about the
effects of any decision. This result-
ed in a tie vote which meant Gar-
niss' motion was defeated.
In the end, the issue was in fact
deferred to the next board meeting
as the original recommendation
was also voted down.
"1 think we're just spinning our
wheels," said trustee Rick Rompf.
'We've known about this retirement
for 1 don't know how long," he said
later in the discussion. "1 find it
puz;ling we live yet to come to a
decision."
In 1993 the hoard cut the number
of senior administers from six to
five and is now looking at cutting
to four members.
"Our problem is the proposal we made before, the chances of it making
it through the private members' hill are slim because of the objections
coming from munit ipalities," said Carnochan.
Murray told counci! it took the province two months just to write the
hill.
"The Municipal Affairs [Ministry! said if we passed something today it
would be highly unlikely we'd have it in place this year," said Murray.
The next municipal election is in the fall and by all indications on Thurs-
day, the size of council will remain the same. Exeter has two reps now, so
does Stephen. Hay, Goderich and Stanley.
"I would say we've run out of time to get another private members' bill,"
said Murray.
John Doherty of Godcrich said he thought that if one bill was lifted an-
other one could be presented.
MPP says it's too late: However. Zurich reeve Bob Fisher said he has
had two recent conversations with Huron MPP Paul Klopp who indicated
the hill is basically at a standstill.
1
Candidate sites for
new landfill will be
announced April 28
GODERICH - The proposed
Huron county landfill site has
not made headlines lately and
the reason is because the site se-
lection process has been at a
standstill.
However on Thursday, the
county's waste management co-
ordinator Craig Metzger, told
council that by the next council
meeting on April 28. six candi-
date sites will be announced.
"We're going to be releasing
half a dozen sites. Those arc the
six candidate sites and then we'll
have to test them to make sure
they're environmentally safe," he
said.
For several years now the
county has been trying to find a
solution to its continual waste
management pmhlcm. Recy-
cling has helped but many mu-
nicipally operated sites are
reaching their capacities and
will soon have to be closed.
That's why the county opted to
open a large site which could be
used by the entire county. The
process to find a site has been a
long one which has hit many
stumbling blocks, been put back
on the drawing board, but final-
ly it looks as though the county
could see a site in the future.
"It's not like the previous time
where we had to go back and re-
define the constraints," said
Metzger. He said the last time
he was looking at candidate
sites, there were provisions built
in where the selection process
would not have to go back to the
beginning.
"In February when we didn't
have sites, we didn't have to go
hack to square one."
On April 28, Metzger will re-
lease to council and to property
owners where the six candidate
sites are. Those will then have
to be tested at a cost of about
S100,000.
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Financial assistance available
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Date: Thurs., April 7
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240 Ontario St., Stratford
Registered vendors for Ontario Ministry of Health
assistive devices program
"The bill has not been presented and it's not going to be presented," said
Fisher.
Exeter reeve Bill Mickle said that the Minister of Municipal Affairs may
be in the process of deciding how Huron County's voting structure will
change.
"The process he's moving to is scary," said Mickle. "That's a ward sys-
tem that could take away from municipalities. Let's not rush into any-
thing."
The county will contact the province and get more information on how
the ministry is thinking. Stephen Township reeve Tom Tomes said he be-
lieved there is criteria set out by the ministry.
He also added that at the time when the county was presenting its one
vote per municipality method that there was no criteria. Tomes asked Mur-
ray if there was any criteria.
She answered although she did have some information, the ministry was
not releasing any details.
The ongoing battle between Huron county municipalities has divided
councillors on the issue of who gets more votes.
"We will never get a unanimous decision from county council on this
and that makes me sad," said McKillop Township's Marie Hicknell.
The one vote system would mean Exeter. Goderich, Goderich Town-
ship, Hay Township, Stanley Township and Stephen Township lose their
deputy -reeves.
Under Carnochan's proposal, any municipality with 2,50) residents or
more would get two votes, 5,000 and over would get three votes. Goderich
would then probably have one representative with four votes.
"This would be similar to what we have now but it would reduce the
numbers," said Carnochan.
"We all know in rural Ontario we're not growing. we're contracting,"
said Tom Cunningham of Hullett Township. "We may never get to 2.5(X)
if we don't get the services to grow."
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