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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes-Advocate, 1983-10-26, Page 4Pawl 4 ii►nes-Advocate, October 26, 1983 Imes Times Established 1873 Advocate Established 1881 Amalgamated 1924 dvocate Serving South Huron, North Middlesex & North Lambton Since 1873 Published by J.W. Eedy Publications Limited LORNE EEDY Publisher JIM BECKETT Advertising Manager BILL BATTEN , Editor HARRY DEVRIES Composition Manager ROSS I-IAUGH Assistant Editor DICK JONGKIND Business Manager Published Each Wednesday Morning at Exeter, Ontario Second Class Mali Registration Number 0386. Phone 235-13.31 SUBSCRIPTION RATES: Canada $21.00 Per year; 'J.S.A. $56.00 C.W.N.A., O.C.N.A. CLASS 'A' and 'ABC' Bowing to minority ►CNA Members of Exeter council have every reason to. be apprehensive about passing a bylaw which. would prohibit loitering and loafing on town streets, public footpaths, parking lots and parks. The simple truth is that there is nothing sinister or dangerous to the public in people loitering or loaf- ing nor anything to be feared in having people con- gregate or stand in a group or near to each other. In fact it is much better to have them loitering or loafing than perpetrating some act of vandalism, the latter being the very thing which the bylaw is intend- ed to discourage. The basic problem with such a law, and one that several members of council recognized, is that it has to be enforced with a high degree of discretion because there are few times in any given day when it is not possible to see people loitering or congregating in a group and therefore breaking the law. The discretion comes in attempting to determine the intentions of the people congregating and that is virtually ilripossible. If the intent is unlawful and can be proven, the law already provides a course of action for police. One of the fears inherent with such a vague law • and one that must be enforced with discretion, is that BLUE RIBBON AWARD 1981 assembled groups whose members may think they are being unfairly treated or harassed may take out their frustrations by actually resorting to some type of retaliation that in effect would lead to more vandalism or problems. Notwithstanding, the warranted concern over the acts of vandalism which occur, the suggested bylaw does not in any meaningful way attack that problem. That can only be accomplished with an improved awareness and practice of people's responsibility to others with appropriate police, court or parental ac- tion taken against 'those who fail to accept that responsibility. Curfews and loitering bylaws are little more than an acknowledgement of defeat on the part of the police, courts, parents and the community at large to deal directly with a very small minority of trouble -makers. It is incomprehensible that the majority would con- sider giving up their rights to freedom of assembly to deal with that minority under the current circumstances. That may be necessary in the ghettos of Detroit or to curb the political unrest in Poland, but surely not, onthe footpaths or parks in Exeter! Checking pays off A couple of weeks ago two men who sold an over- priced contract for aluminum siding to an elderly Toronto couple and then pocketed the down payment, were ordered to pay $3,000 restitution. Theirs is not an isolated case. it happens more fre- quently than one might believe. Though city dwellers may be more easily taken in than we who live on smaller centres, the con artists do attempt their swindles in towns and villages as well as cities. The Ontario Ministry of Consumer and Commer- cial Affairs recently issued a bulletin on the subject and warns, `Unscrupulous sales people will instill a false sense of trust in older folks with carefully rehears- ed lines. They know many elderly people still believe a handshake is as good as a bond." The unethical seller may invent or exaggerate pro- blems around the home, such as faulty roofing or deteriorating siding.They may also inflate the cost sav- ings made possible by giving the problem immediate treatment. Of course the agent, who just "happens" to be in the neighbourhood, has a contract handy for signing. And, of course the contract will require heavy payments in advance. Time has come The question of initiating user fees for recreation programs in Exeter has reared its ugly head again and the ramifications suggest that it should he a matter of prime concern for local and a rea citizens and politicians. Despite his avowal to get more support from the neighbouring municipalities, Ex- eter Mayor Bruce Shaw admits that user fees are the worst possible manner in which to arrive at that goal Neverthel&ss, the debate over the con- tribution being received from those who benefit from local programs and facilities has already gone beyond the point where a decision must he made. it's been a sore point since the rec centre was built and obviously- should be brought to a head before it has an adverse effect on other areas of kputuaI interest among those involved One of the basic problems in attempting to sort out the pros and cons is the fact that previous negotiations have been car- ried on in' private to a Targe extent and there has not yet been a public declara- tion from Exeter council as to what they actually expect the other participating municipalities to contribute. it is therefore difficult for the ratepayers to voice their opinions without knowing what basis has been established for contributions. Given the lack of defin- ed boundaries for the area servicted, it is not as easy as arriving at fire protection costs to be shared. Other elements also fluctuate frequently and there is little doubt that user fees will be as difficult to ascertain equitably as are direct municipal contributions. Given the general concensus that user The bank inspector con racket is still practised from time to time. Usual method sees a smcgtth-talking caller asking the po-operation of the householder to aid in the trapping of a suspected bank em4ployee. Cash turned over to the "inspector" is to be used for a deposit which will snare the allegedly -crooked bank employee and bring him to justice. T:.e victims rare- ly see either the "inspector" or their cash again. Living, as we do, in smaller communities, these scams need never succeed. Whether it be repairs or bank business,guidance is no farther away than the householder's telephone. If you don't know any local repairmen personally, some of your friends, or one of the local merchants u ith whom you deal will be able to offer a source of reference. In fact, a call to this newspaper will certainly set you on the best course for reliable advice. Local business people are not in the least likely to mislead you. They intend to stay in business in your town and they can't do that by being anything less than honest and helpful. Wingham Advance -Times to resolve issue fees are the worst possible manner in which to share costs equitably, it behooves Exeter council to come up with a definite formula and the resulting con- . A?: BATT'N AROUND with the editor tribution they expect from neighbouring municipalities. That's a basic business requirement, and even if it fails to prompt a satisfac- tory negotiated response, it will he need- ed to establish the user fees for par- ticipants from any municipality which fails to come to an agreement. Stephen Township have already responded to the request for additional assistance by noting that they provide recreational programs and facilities which are used by Exeter residents, although an official response to the validi- ty of the claim has not yet been forthcom- ing as the SH rec board and Exeter coun- cil have passed the buck back and forth in that regard. A further point to ponder in Stephen's letter is that the participation by residents of that municipality actually enable the programs to be provided for residents of Exeter; a benefit that may not be enjoyed should the township residents drop out of , the programs. There are a great many intangibles in the area of recreation programs and facilities and often i1 is mentioned that some programs are self-sustaining. During a recent debate on the matter of instructors' fees for programs, one board member noted the programs being offered were self-sustaining. but that may he rather questionable. Many of the "hidden costs" of operating the programs were not included, such as the apportionment of the rec centre stat f time and the operating expenses of the facility. Figures would suggest that few, if any, programs are self-sustaining. Exeter, Usborne, Stephen and Elay will contribute almost $96,000 to the rec boards operation this year, suggesting beyond any doubt that most programs are supsidized to a considerable extent. it's the apportioning of the $96,000 which is under question, and the figures appear to prove irrefutably that Exeter's current contribution of $85,302 is disproportionate to the percentage of participants from town. But how much is still the monumental question to be answered and it is going to take a considerable amount of time, discussion and computation to arrive at that answer. However formidable the task may ap- pear, it should be undertaken in an effort to clear the air once and for all Whatever formula is established for municipal grants and for user fees should serve for the future and end the constant bickering that has surrounding the matter of recreation costs in the area for the past few decades. 1 ///Y.W.W/////////////// /dl�U/ //////// %//H/ 2 Going out on a limb There's nothing more exhilarating than going out on a limb. It begins when you re very.littie, when you eat a worm to see if he'll really stay alive inside you, or pick up a toad to see whether you'll wind up covered with warts Later, it might be clim- bing out on a long, shaky tree limb over a deep pool, when you can't swim. Or it might he caught up in a tree, shirt stuffed with ap- ples, while the voice of Geo. J. Jehovan thunders from beneath "Come down. ye little divils; 1 know yer up there and I11 whale the tar out of yez and the police'll put yez away fer life." Or it might be caught in the act of swiping corn and racing through backyards and over fences, with the cobs dropping and your heart thumping and the shotgun going off into the sky. Or it .might be, about age 12. smoking butts with the hoboes in the "jungle" beside the railway tracks, and having a drunk with a gallon of wine come up and start terrifying you with all sortsofobscenities you don't understand. Or it )night be, about 14 and spotted like a hyena with pimples, having to ask a girl to a party, knowing that you are the most repulsive, awkward booby in town. This is a Sugar and Spice Dispensed By Smiley rotten limb to be nut on. it could be saying. -Don't you say that about my mother!" to the bully of your age and sailing in- to him. yourself outweigh- ed 20 pounds. but your fists and feet and teeth go- ing tike a windmill. Or it could be a swimm- ingly exhilarating mo- ment. like tale day when 1 was in high school and kissed my French teacher up in an apple tree. She was a spinster and six years older than 1, but it recall, it was a swooning experience and I think we both wound up hanging by our knees from the limb. There are some of the limbs I've been out on. Lots of other limbs. You've had yours. round limbs. crooked limps, rol- ten limbs, smooth ones brittle limbs, sturdy ones. We have all gone out on a limb. When you're young, you don't really know the dif- ference, or you just don't care. it's climbing out on the thing that )natters. Even at 20, I was climbing out on a limb, trying deperately to make the grade as a fighter pilot, sweatingblood so that I could climb out on the fragile wing of a Spitfire and be killed. What an irony! Those who didn't make it /were broken- hearted. And then there's the limb of marriage. Most males will climb out on the first limb that is endowed with long eyelashes or trim ankles or a big bust. Even though they know ifs a very green one, or a very brittle one. out they go. I was lucky. The limb 1 climbed out on was firm but yielding, green but not brittle. And 1 damn soon discovered that when you climbed out on that par- ticulpr limb, you didn't carry a saw. but a parachute and an iron- bound alibi. However, what I started out to say was that, as we get older, we climb out on shorter and shorter, safer and safer limbs. until we are finally left. clutching the tree -trunk. even though we were only two feet off the ground. The old limbs (or the young limbs) creaked and swayed and cracked and dipped. They are replaced by the limbs of safety and conformity andsecurity and enough life insurance. And the sad part is that these are the limbs we want our children to climb out on, no farther the two feet from the trunk and no higher than two feet from the ground. While they want to climb on the swinging limbs that will sail them to the skies or break and let them fall. All this of course, is a preamble to the fact that i'ni still willing to go out on a limb. If somebody will fetch a step -ladder to help me get started up the tree. A vote of confidence? It's always nice to be admired, popular, and loved by all. Never having received a heavy volume of fan letters I assumed that no news was good news and that 1 was all of the above. Well, at least loved by all anyway. imagine my surprise when I received a letter from a gentleman accus- ing me of a column which was not only 'bad jour- nalism but insidious and immoral', then went on to suggest that 1 was perhaps 'daft if not absolutely im- becilic'. On another line he decided that probably 1 was wise though because people of a rural area (be- ing a little less sophisticated and knowledgeable''9'" , will .,z No . readers accept my words as solid fact, the gospel truth I'nfortunatel}' 1 Perspectives believe you (me) and ac- cept your opinion as fact.' He couldn't believe that 1 had the audacity to use a 'regional newspaper as a vehicle for ..propaganda'. Well, I really appreciate his vote of confidence. I'd like to believe that my By Syd Fletcher know that most of them take my weekly articles with something in between a grain of salt and a very large tablespoon of the stuff. They see it as a personal opinion, exactly the same as any other editorial is a 'gut reaction' to what is going on in the world, coupled with a reasonable degree of research and observation. Finally, as I have men- tioned often in earlier col- umns, that is one of the greatest things about our country, the right of 'free speech', where a person is able to stand up on his lit- tle soap -box and spout off, as long as he doesn't lib, l or slander another person. Having done neither of the latter, I rest my case. By the way, next week I'll discuss in a little more detail the issue that the gentleman was so upset about.