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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes Advocate, 1994-05-18, Page 13IN THE NEWS_ Ministry has made no move to re -appoint members Is a pollee services board still needed in Exeter? council asks EXETER - Long a thorn in the side of town council, the provincially -appointed Police Ser- vices Board may be operating illegally in Ex- eter. Mayor Bruce Shaw, a member of the three- person board told council Monday evening that the appointments of Sharon Wurm and John Stephens technically expired January I, 1994. The Ministry of the Solicitor General has made no move to reappoint them, or make new appointments. "The suggestion is that everything we've done since January 1 is null and void, and pos- sibly illegal...not that we've done anything," Shaw explained to council. "Which probably means you don't need a board," commented councillor Robert Drum- mond, to which Shaw agreed. "I think this is an oversight, or they're telling us something - one or the other," said Shaw. Town council long opposed the establish- ment of the provincially -appointed body, which replaced the council -appointed police committee. When the province enforced its creation in January 1992, disputes soon arose as to whether the board or council had the fi- nal say on police expenses and budgets. Now that the town has disbanded its police force in favour of OPP policing, those argu- ments are largely academic. Hoogenboom said the current unclear status of the board may be part and parcel of the dis- cussion on whether or not the town needs a Police Services Board, now that OPP policing is in effect. Shaw agreed that was view shared by Wurm and Stephens. "To be perfectly candid...with a contract we don't have to go through the red tape of [police wage] negotiations...we don't have a budget...I think the three of us agreed this morning the workload has been reduced a thousand per - "The suggestion is that everything we've done since January I is null and void, and possibly illegal... cent," said Shaw. Now that a Community Oriented Policing committee has been set up in town to deal with policing issues, it makes sense the more minor financial considerations become a func- tion of council, said Shaw. Council agreed to simply send a letter to the Ministry of the Solicitor General to inquire about the current status of the board ap- pointees. As head of council, the mayor's rep- resentation on the board is guaranteed. Dropped for summer of '94 Grand Bend losing Busy Bee playground By Ainy Neilands Special to the T -A GRAND BEND - The Busy Bee summer program will not run this summer in Grand Bend. The Parks and Recreation Com- mittee decided to stop Busy Bee for the summer to review which direc- tion it will take towards bringing out the value of the program. "The program has not been ut- lized to the fullest," said councillor Bill Uniac. Attendance has been down and the committee was not comfortable with the present pro- gram. During the program's absence. the committee will look at new ide- as on how to improve it and how to run it to its full value. The committee is looking for in- put from the public, especially from the parents, on what should be done with the program. "As an alternative the committee is working to promote one or two special events for the children," said Uniac. Through these special events, we hope to get more involvement from the parents, he said. After the year off for improve- ments, Busy Bee will be back for the summer of '95. "There is the need for that type of program here." In other business council is look- ing at quotes for new swings to be placed on the beach on the north side of the condominiums. Important to region, insists reeve Zurich throws support behind emergency ZURICH - Local municipalities are being asked to throw their sup- port behind keeping the South Hu- ron Hospital emergency department open. Zurich council Thursday evening agreed to start the letter and have it circulated to all other municipali- ties in the hospital's coverage area. "Probably this is the first step in [the hospital] being phased out completely," speculated Zurich councillor Keith Semple when the prospect of the emergency ward closure was brought up at Thurs- day's meeting. "If you're going to get rid of thc emergency, it's just going to be a rest home," agreed councillor Marg Deichert-Holmes. Reeve Bob Fisher said he had Zurich loses eight percent of provincial road subsidy ZURICH - The village will be coming up short in provincial road- works subsidies this year, council learned Thursday evening. Zurich council will have to go back to its budget and revise its plans for upgrading the village's roads this year. "The province said they weren't going to cut back on road grants, and they did," commented reeve Bob Fisher. In 1993, Zurich received $27,500 from the Ministry of Transporta- tion to help with road -related pro- jects. Despite the province's claim Annual used book sale in Blyth BLYTH - Huron County's largest literary gathering - the Annual Used Book Sale - will be held this year on Saturday, June 4, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., at Blyth Memori- al Community Hall, in the village of Blyth. Admission is free. Every year there are bargains ga- lore as this popular sale recycles thousands of books - all generously donated the people of Huron County. From great classics to nearly new magazines and paper- backs, the sale offers something for every reading taste. An added at- traction of this event is the 'fa- mous' lunch counter, serving home baked goods, refreshments and Blyth Festival Development Co- ordinator Lynda Lentz's renowned rhubarb pies. All proceeds from the Annual Book Sale go to the Blyth Festival which is celebrating its 20th anni- versary season of great Canadian theatre. Everyone interested in donating books is encouraged to take them to the Blyth Festival Administration offices at the corner of Queen and Dinsley streets in Blyth, anytime prior to the sale. that subsidies were maintained for 1994, Zurich will only be getting $25,400. "That's an eight percent decrease for us," said clerk Maureen Sim- mons, pointing out the provincial average decrease was six percent "We may have to re -do our bud- get, or add that amount to our bud- get - or it will catch up with us next year," said Fisher. "I only thought we were going to lose a thousand, we lost $2,100," Simmons told council. "So we're only short $1,100," oh - served councillor Marg Deichert- Holmes. "I think we'd better look at our budget again," agreed councillor Barb Jeffrey. A report from the Association of Municipalities of Ontario explains the seemingly confusing claims from the provincial government. Although the province maintains the road subsidies have not been changed since 1993, the province did decide to rcduce the subsidy im- mediately after last year's announce- ment. However, that decrease was not announced to thc municipalities. Showing off their newest and largest piece of equipment Is Grand Bend and Area Flre Chief Jack Hebden and firefighter Larry Taylor. The fire department took possession oY their new pumper, a Volvo -made fully equipped model which will be used In emergency services for the department which covers Grand Bend as well as parts of Hay, Stephen and Bosanquet Townships. Cost of the new pumper was about $180,000. been told by Hoffman's Ambulance service that they are concerned that a death will result - as a conse- quence of a delay in getting some- one having a heart attack or injured in a car accident to another hospi- tal. "From where I sit, that's the de- partment I would rather see open than any other department, the emergency," said Fisher. "From past experiences, in gener- al, you might as well go right to London," commented councillor Barh Jeffrey, who said her family has agreed to do that in the ,inure. However, she did not object to the circulation of the letter. Times -Advocate, May 18, 1994 Page 13 Flowers of Hope Ann Klungel (right) is canvassing in Exeter for the Flowers of Hope campaign, which supports Community Living South Hu- ron. Bert Branderhorst answers the door, but he too is a can- vasser in Tuckersmith Township. A target goal of $25,000 has been set for the month-long campaign, funds which will be used to support programs for handicapped adults or to pur- chase equipment. All homes in the South Huron area, in- cluding Grand Bend and Thedford are being canvassed. 'Out in left field,' says reeve Zurich protesting welfare increase ZURICH - A proposition to increase social assistance benefits in Ontario hasn't got the support of Zurich council. "They're out in left field wanting to increase welfare payments," k insisted reeve Bob Fisher at Thursday's council meeting. He said a family of four would be receiving some $412 per week, tax free, under the NDP's proposal. Most families with an income of $35,000 a year aren't clearing $500 a week after tax, he said. "If you feel strongly enough about it. 1 would like to sec a letter sent," he asked council. "If you don't. 1 will." Council agreed with Fisher to send a letter opposing the welfare increase to MPP Paul Klapp, to the "4:.:ster of Comrnuniiy and So- cial Services, and to opposition leaders. -J Your Views Letters to the editor Boom's recreation camp now history "As a United Church member, I am appalled and ashamed to be associated in the same pew as people who conduct such heartlessness,..." Dear Editor: After 32 years of providing fun and recreation for thousands of girls and boys between the ages of eight and 15 years, Boom's Recreation Camp has hcen forced to terminate its annual week of opera- tion, despite pumping upwards of $150,000 into the United Church (Huron Presbytery) treasury for camp rentals. Every time I answer the phone and the call is in reference to the potential 33rd Annual Boom's Rec- reation Camp dates, it becomes one of the saddest days of my life. After serving girls and boys throughout Ontario for 32 years, our camp has been forced to close. Godcrich chairperson Nancy Pickell of Huron Presbytery, (who left us in much more than a pick- le) and her little "band of warriors" (namely Barb Flicks, Hoftmeyer, Argyle Maine and Bob McDou- gall (treasurer)...who make up most of the execu- tive, has seen fit to move our annual camp date into the latter part of the summer (labour day weekend), without any direct consultation before the fact, with yours truly. You would think there would be a little "proto- col" after so many years, but there isn't. Instead of lust giving us a phone call about our booking, the hoard went right ahead and booked other camps. Then, notified us by letter after the fact. You would think that Nancy Pickell and her executive would "light -up" the idea that there must be a reason "Boom's Rec. Camp" was always held the same week all these years. Year in and year out, when Boom's Rec. Camp was paid for, it was automatically booked for the .ame week the following year. There was a reason for this. Booking camp use this particular week was imperative as it was the only week to coincide with the business I run, and met with parents holiday times for years from their places of employment. Advertisers made special plans for our non -week of puhlication.The United Church Camp Committee from whom wc have rented the camp from for years and have pumped upwards of $150.000 into their treasury. doesn't sccm to understand the hurt they have caused, not only to mc, but 10 hundreds of po- tential campers and staff, who sincerely found this a stepping stone in their lives. Since thc camp was originated in Exeter. with the co-operation of thc Exeter Kinsmen Club. kids have participated as campers, became leaders, have mar- ried. and now arc sending their children to the camp, which should speak volumes in itself. I have received faxes and numerous phone calls with reference to this summer's supposedly 33rd outing. Before wc received Pickell's immemorial letter, some 1994 advertising had already Iv ing re- leased into the Saugcen Country Minor Hockey Tournament program. As a United Church member, I am appalled and ashamed to be associated in thc same pew as people who conduct such heartlessness, without any thought of love, gratitude or understanding of oth- ers, who are trying their best to add a "shot of happi- ness" into the lives of younger people. Barh Hicks is a program director with the United Church and we wouldn't hc surprised to see that one of her own groups took our week. If this sounds like sour grapes, well, it certainly is. Consequently, Boom's Recreation Camp is now history. I most sincerely "thank" the thousands of boys and girls, along with enthusiastic staff members, for their kindness and co-operation over the past 32 years, not to mention the many fond memories. Also a tip of the of chapeau goes out to thc Maitland and Sunset Golf Clubs for their enthusiastic approach and support to our program. Bless you all. Don "Boom" Gravett, Camp Director