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Clinton News-Record, 1977-01-20, Page 17By Jack Riddell, Huron N' On Thursday, December 16, not related to staff ratios. It 197.6, The Honourable was also found, apparently, Margaret Birch quietly that 'there was a tendency for • released the Report of the the same number of staff to Intermtni.stry Committee on 'be working directly with Residential Services. residents at any given time Unfortunately, only • three regardless of the size of copies were tabled in the overall staff', although House, and additional copies 'differences in staff ratios are difficult to obtain. • were ' almost wholly This report is highly responsible for variations in critical of, the Government's cost'. administration of residential In an Appendix to the services. lit notes that 23 Report on the subject of separate residential systems Children's Mental Health are at present in operation Centres, there is the following under provincial legislation information. and supervision. In connection with the prograrr)s which are intended to serve children and young adults, the report underlines the necessity' of far-reaching ' Preforms in this area of provincial jurisdiction. It states, for example, that 'our uncontrolled and unco- ordinated flow of admissions and lack of classification make it a matter of chance whether a particular child will go to a children's aid society home at $8 or $9 a day or a Children's Institution at $25 a day or a Children's Mental Health Centre at $60 a day'. This -particular passage is concluded with the • following admission: "Without generally accepted classification and monitoring of admissions flow and control, it could easily happen and perhaps does - that a facility charging an overall .ate of ,say $45 per day has only about one-third of the • children in it who should be accordedlhat level of care. We simply don't know. Most facilities select the children they want on an individual basis or perhaps it would be more accurate to say they try to keep out "those that they don't want and let the rest in. T -he fact is that no systematic case audit of the children's • .facilities in Ontario has ever been done.' • Another section of the Report observes that,. 'programs 100 • per cent funded° by the Province tend to be first choice placement whether or not they were appropriate', and that 'the - review showed a significant number of residents, about 20 per cent, who in the opinion of Directors and front line staff, did not require the service at all or might more ap- propriately have been placed in some other facility'. When one considers the wide 'variations in per diem costs and the very real possibility of inappropriate placement, given the fact that many users of these services , exhibit similar charac- teristics, regardless of which �► system they 'happen to find themselves in' (another _ finding of the Interministry ' Report), the situation • becomes a matter of serious concern. The report also indicates that program effectiveness is tv No formal operating manual exists. Financial and program disputes are at present resolved 'outside existing policy by appeals to politicians and other forms of pressure'. ' No requirements at present exist for facilities to report 'reasons for admission, progress of treatment, reasons for discharge, or actual number of children in residence'. Quarterly financial reporting procedures, while supposedly in preparation, do not exist. No percentage utilization figure is given. -No average per diem figure is given, although the Hen- derson Report indicated an average estimated . annual cost pf $23,000 per person, that is $63 per diem. Stuart Smith first asked the Government to provide a copy of this report on May Gth, 1976. When the govern- ment refused to make the report public, we openly speculated that it would confirm suspicions that children with similar problems were being treated in different facilities, each charging different rates. Money is; therefore, lavished needlessly on Health facilities at the high end of the per diem se -ale while Community and Social Service facilities barely,survive at'the lbw end of the per diem scale. Only days before the Report was finally tabled, he raised the issue again in the House, making these ,very points. At about the same time, Central. Toronto Youth Services published a -booklet entitled 'Priorities' which arrives at conclusions similar to those in the Interministry Report. Now that this forthright report has been made public, we can only hope that much needed reforms will soon be made. Margaret Campbell, Liberal MPP (St. George) has called upon the Gover- nment to establish a public enquiry with powers to --recommend immediate and far-reaching reforms to improve -the treatment. of disturbed children in the Proyince, and at -the same time curtail unnecessary expenditure. Caught on the way to making her first $1,000, Anne Lobb, left, watches the wheel at the Crown and Anchor game of the Kinsmen and Kinettes' Las Vegas Night last Thursday. Anne was judged the Richest Woman by the night's end. Too bad husband Burt, above, did not ask her financial advice before placing his bets. Looking on are fellow gamblers Marg Dobson and Cheryl Jefferson, right. (News -Record photo) Separate school bd. The challenges and demands which the future may bring can only be met through a co-operative effort on the part of all of us - everyone connected in any way in the education of children, newly elected chairman . F.J. Vere told trustees of the Huron -Perth County Roman Catholic Separate School Board at a meeting in Dublin Tuesday night. "It is only when schools are places of Christian com- munity - where learning is based on a creative exchange of experiences and ideas and where people live together in a state of mutual trust and respect that those who come from such school com- munities will have the desire to bring into action what they have experienced during their formative years." Mr. Vere also -stressed the importance of individual trusties in - his inaugural address, noting that each trustee had unique skills and talents. The main item on • the agenda of ,Tuesday night's meeting - was the an- nouncement of appointments to the board's standing and ad ,.hoc. -committees. Appointed to the- standing committee on Building and Property was R. Marcy, who will act as chairman; A. Haid, T. Geoffrey; K. Mon- tgomery, and F. Vere. The committee on Transportation consists . of V. Young, chairman; W. Kinahan, R. Murray, G. Fleming, and F. Vere. The committee on Finance and Insurance is made up of M. Connolly, inaugural • as a teacher of Grade 7 at St. Michaels School Stratford, for the period of January 10th 1977 through June 30th 1977 A motion was tabled by trustee D. Teahen that the board request a definition in writing their lawyer as to what.constitutes conflict of interest. Mr. Teahen was concerned about possible conflicts arising among those appointed to serve on the boards standing and ad hoc committees, noting that some trustees had wives who were teachers or worked for firms the board utilized. The board will meet again on January 31st, 1977.' chairman; J. O'Leary, I. O'Prowsky, A. Haid and P. Crowley. To the committee on Personels were appointed R. Marcy, chairman, D. Teahen, W. Kinahan, T. Geoffrey and D. Crawley. Those appointed to the ad hoc committees for 1977 were to the Trustee -Clergy Liason committee, A Haid, chair- man; F. Vere and M. Con- nolly; to the Assessment committee, G. Fleming, chairman; P. Teahen, J. O'Drowsky and K. Mon- tgomery; to the Teachers Negotiating committee, V. Young, chairman; D. Crawley, J. O'Leary and K, Murray; to the Early School Leaving committee, P. Teahen and W. Kinahan; to the Huron -Perth Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases Association, M. Connolly, and to the Stratford Public Library Board, D. Devlin and F. Bergsma. The board also heard• two reports at Tuesday nights meeting. Mrs. Celeste McCreight, a teacher at St. Patrick's School Dublin reported on the Christian Curriculum Development Conference which was held November 19, 20 and 21st, and Ron Ferguson,* chairman of the St. Patrick Community School Council for Dublin and District informed the board that a New Community School Development Grant of $9,080 had been approved by the ministry of education. The board asked Mr. Ferguson to give a progress report on the Development program in six months. The board also approved the hiring of Karen, A. Clark •uw•y.q}U, CLINTON NEW S -RECORD, THURSDAY, JANUARYa20., 1977-•.R.,AQ.E-17 Standing room only crowd debates F of A land policy The Federation of Agriculture's new land -use policy was called everything from "regressive" to "realistic" at the Huron County Federgtion meeting in' Clinton recently. Township councillors and farmers packed the meeting to standing room only to hear Bill Benson, a member of the Provincial executive of the O.F.A. explain,... i`' the Federation's change. • in policy: The .policy which was adopted at the Federation's annual meeting in Hamilton called for the • Federation to reduce its demands for Provincial land -use 'control and to give top priority to nine alternative measures of improving the competitive position of food producers in Ontario. It is more of a change in strategy than a change in policy," Mr. Benson said. "Deep down •inside the majority of farmers believe farmland should be preserved for future generations to use." The nine measures are aimed more at saving the farmer than the farmland, Mr. Benson said. The measures include lobbying for the lessening of odour restrictions in the agricultural areas, noise by- laws revised to allow for normal farming operations, import controls, taxation reform, and greater farm income security. The measures call for the County Federations to develop land -use and severance policy suitable for their own county conditions. "I'm glad to see the Federation adopt the policy of local land -use planning," Reeve Gerry Ginn. of Goderich township told the meeting. "It should not be provincial planning, it should• be local people who do the planning." Mr. Ginn said that under Huron County's. .planning system, the township council was responsible for each individual township plan. "If you are not satisfied, don't blame the County planning board, blame your local township council as they are the ones who interpret the public' meeting and set the plan," he said. George Underwood, however, said he was most disappointed with the OFA policy. "I think it was a regressive step taken at a time when farm prices are. low. We need to push and push." Merle Gunby suggested that the Federation should also look at preserving the farm community as well _as the land. Urban development seriously impaired the agriculture community and destroyed many of the in- tangible benefits of rural life, he said.. "Coming' from an urban fringe area, I find the lifestyle in Huron County so much better to live in and to work in agriculture," he said. In other business the Fedei ation olearned that many .townships were receiving loess, money in tile drain loans from the provinciargovernm ent. McKillop Reeve Allan Caampbell told the x>lr eting that his township had been cut back from $131,000 in 1976. to $118,000 for 1977. Reeve Bill Elston of Morris Township said that Morris had been cut back from $37,000 to $33,000.- A motion was passed that the matter be referred to the development committee for study. Homeowners Contractors SAVE ENERGY Loose Blown Insulation cellulose fibre - FREE ESTIMATES Phone Scott Pearson GODERICH INSULATION 524-6844 (Call Collect) MTC urges motorists to renew stickers now The Ministry of Tran- sportation and Com- munications reports vehicle licence renewals for the month of • December were nearly 10 per cent below last year's rate. Fewer than 187,000 permits were issued during the first month of 'sales as compared to 204,000 for the same period in 1.975. It is estimated that 3,056,023 passenger car renewal stickers will be issued for -the 1977 licensing year. The licence renewal stickers are on sale at 299 licence issuing -offices throughout the province and must be -attached to the multi- -year licence plate by mid- night February 28, 1977. The annual fees for automobiles are, $40 for eight cylinders; $32 for six cylin- *One of the many acts to entertain young and old alike,at last Saturday's children's program at CHSS were these four young ladies known as the Bluebells. Left to right, ate Rizabeth Gibson,, Sandy Carter, Barb Carter and Judy Callers (News -Record photo) For vinyl tops • convertible tops • car 4.upholetery • windshields • body protective mouldings 3 6 5 BAYFIELD RD. GODERICH (ALt 5242136 ders and. $23 for four cylin- ders or less -- the same as last year. To complete the renewal p'rocess, motorists are required to present a Motor Vehicle Permit, proof of insurance and the ap- propriate fee. Proof of insurance forms are available at all MTC offices, licence renewal of- fices and liquor store outlets throughout Ontario. Uninsured motorists - are required to pay $100 into the Motor Vehicle Accident Claims Fund this year -- an increase of $40. Ministry officials urge all motorists to renew their vehicle licence well in ad- vance of the deadline to aVoid the long lineups that seem to form every year during the last week of February. oitItrons j1eusa1l MID -WINTER FURNITURE Lf SAVE 1 0% TO 60% OFF Manufacturer's List Price Below are a few samples of the many bargains available throughout the store S'KLAR TRADITIONALsofa and choir, Gold,Green stripe velvet, SALE:walnutshowood. Reg: $1 199.00 00 e BRAEMORE TRADITIONAL sofa and swivel rocker, gold Matelasse with gold welt trim. Reg: $699`l4 SALE $47�9;�,, • SK -LAR swivel rocker, gold stria velvet. Reg: $286.00 KAUFMAN sofa back table, pine, brass, glass.. Reg: $340.00 SALE SALE $136 • KAUFMAN Corner ,Curio Cabinet, Inverness cherry. Reg. $539.00 SALE $399 - ALL VILAS MAPLE PIECES IN STOCK (Excluding Upholstery) SKLAR TRADITIONAL hand tufted sofa and chair; Green stria velvet. SALE $549 Start perennials now "Late January or even February is the time to start perennial seeds 'indoors so they will be ready for plan- ting outdoors in late May," says D.B. McNeill, Ontario Ministry 701- Agriculture and Food horticulturist. Seeds s ich as Pa ific Giant Delphinium, Shag Daisy, Bellflower, Columb ne, Coral Bells and Ballo nflower should be planted now, in artificial planting mixes, perlite, soil -sand -peat mix, or any good pottini soil. "The seeds may b'd planted in a flat tray, or, in flower pots. Containers should be well drained and suds should I{EIRLOOM Pine 3`section wall unit. • Reg: $887.00 SALE $599 40/0 ...__OFF ..6° .,. MFG. LIST HEPWORTH 7 piece dining room suite, pecan finish. Reg: 5899.00 SALE '629 be watered regularly from the top after planting," says Mr. McNeill. Germination of perennial seeds is slower than mostannuals. In Some cases germination takes up to three or four weeks. • Office the seedlings are large, enough to handle; they should be transplanted into a container that will allow them to grow as much•as possible before the spring. When the danger of frost is past, the plants should be transplanted into the garden: Mr. McNeill says the plants should be in bloom by late KROEHLER Traditional sofa and chair;- Gold velvet. Reg: $699.00 SALE $479 BRAEMORE 18th Century Cherry Bedroom suite with 1 night table. Reg: $1900:00 - 5411 $1199 KROEHLER Traditional sofa bed, gold nylon •floral. Reg: $399.00 SALE $299 MANY MORE IN STORE SAVINGS TO CHOOSE„FROM — SAVE 10% TO 60% NOW WHILE SELECTION IS BEST — BUT BUY NOW SALE ENDS FEB. 12/77 WEDELIVER FREE within 40 miles of Hensoll summer. - OPEN, DAILY 8:30 to 6:00 P.M. FRI. NITE TILL 9 --- CLOSED MONDAYS onthmn rj1ensa1i HOMEMAKERS TO HURON COUNTY