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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1966-12-01, Page 13119th Year — Na. 47 THE GODERICH SluNAL-STAR THURSDAY, DEC., 1,1966 candidates Standing For 1 dert„eh,votesAllik[gPsiaY.. • ' tofaI of -Z0--ant=re'd.-406-4--$t for offices including the positions of Mayor, Reeve, Deputy Reeve, Town. Council and Public Utilities Commission. All candidates are seeking two-year terms. A heavy vote is predicted this year if the weather does not keep the 4,093 eligible voters away from the polls. Last year only 1,383 voters cast ballots, and inclement weather was blamed for the light vote. All candidates except one appeared at last Thursday's nomination meeting and spoke to at least 250 electors who crowded into MacKay Hall. ...rzaaa.aaa For Town Council 3 sitiOns Sbcend Section Pages 1A,1iA JOSEPH MOODY Fred W. Fester was brief. He . Robert C. Ilays recalled that he rhad previously councll a mem- FDeputy Reeve said this was his first time as or eof town been a time he a candidate. "If elected I will b work to the best of my ability , described as more value in know - for the betterment of the comm- ledge of human affairs than all unity and its progress,"he said. his time in university. - 'Harvey Johnston was also He said Goderich is beautiful brief. "1 ran last year, anddidn't and secure but needs aprogress- get quite enough votes, I thought ive approach. 'I'd run this year and get enough," A choice between progressing he said. as an industrial town or becoming B.R. Robinson was concise, and a residential area was offered an audible gasp . was heard as , Goderich he said. He expressed he enumerated a six -point pro. concern about industrial -belt dew giam that included pulling the elopment fro m Windsor to Tor. town out of Huron County Coun. onto and Lake Erie to Stratford, cil. . , which hesaid is by-passing God. "It I were your minister and erich. , _yoti were my congregation' would- - ".'we need to Q bane our att. speak to you tonight on the„,sins itude in council," he said. "And of Commission," he said. He . that is to understand what is charged past councils with evas. going on in our province and in ion and said other speaker's ad. our town." mitted the community was bank- . He said voters must choose rupt "They told you they have aware eo le, I think one beyond "the limit allowed I am one of them and I want "aggressiveP P Deputy Reeve Joseph Moody said it was a pleasure to see the hall well filled. He said he has pent 11 years on council inside 20 years. "I am sorry to hear all those years were inadequate, short of being what they should have." he said. But he prom ise'd further efforts to improve the town with another term on council. He said tile works department„ committee he heads had not acc- omplished as much as he had hop- ed, He eaplained_the:overflow st. orm sewer in" the- fOwn's south' 'end and said it is intended to relieve the overflow from catch basins which were flooded during heavy rains and • spring thaw. "I really want to have another term in office," he said. HARRY lAfDRSELL Coun. Harry Worsell said that he was a new member on coun- cil in 19666.'nd had been chair. man of the fire'committee. He reported no major fires in the past year. He said the mutual aid agree- ment, by which Huron firedepart- Ments assist each other, was established during the year. A new fire siren was also erected. He promised to give any "wor- thwhile project," his full support and endedt ‘-t-To-.4anote the local paper on the band' itiktitPll be beating the drum." This was a reference to his support of uniforms .for the God- erich District Collegiate Instit- ute Viking Band. GI' • • • • by the provincial government," your vote." he said. For PubIiC utuiuties ommssio id th $140 000.- which the town gives Huron Co- § ,,• • Mr. Robinson sae,e , I am one of then and I want our vote. unty could better be spent in the Coun. Sheardown, chairman of town. the fire, water and light commit- Oth.er points in his program: tee, said he was in favor of mov. Draft the PUC, industry, labor . ing the Snug Harbor wharf to to work on. industrial promotion together; employ a full-time in- make. room for more .yachts. • dustrial commisSioner. "In the "This project is still under neg. otiation," he said. He thanked last 10 years we have spent $100,- D. J. Murphy and Dr. Frank Mills --• 000 for industrial development for their assistance in the mat. with no results;" Have Goderich ter. harbor designated a federal har- bor for local control and dev. Coun. James Johnston, chair. elopment; man of court of revision,. said this had been a quiet year with few Restore control of the town "kicks" on assessment..He said police to town council- now, ad. he has been three years on coun. ministered by a police commiss- cil. "I will continue to do the ion -an economic advantage, , he best I can." said. "Spending $50,000 a year Coun. Bruce Erskine explain. does not make sense for law and ed that he has been chairman of order. One man, Sgt. Crawford, the industrial commission. He has gone beyond the call of said the greatest bar to develop. duty in the interest of his fell- ment is the designated area sta- ow man, particularly young tus granted other localities. people;" He thanked a J. Mirohy for Appoint a welfare adininistra- ' his efforts toward changing this tor to help those who need helpsituation. Cdun. Erskine predict. and "cut off free loaders;" Res. ed an increasing budget for in. chid any bylaw or regulation that dustrial promotion. • does not allow the public to hear • all:Matters discussed by council, Bruce howl'ett said hehas been a resident of Goderich for three doing away with committee -of- . the -whole; "Ask -cOunctl to dis. years, "It has been good tome," he said. • pose of the historical dump;" "It is a program of self re. From his two years on God. covery,"Mr. Robinson said. erich' Planning Board, Mr. How. Coun. William Schaefer 'said lett said has grown an interest the number of candidates inter- minicipal affairs which he said he would like to pursue in ested in public office is encOurag- council. ingr'and urged that the same in. terest be maintained in voting, "A person standing outside can pick holes," said Mr. Howlett. "the right to vote is priceless," "But slinging dirt is just losing he said. "Elected representatives have ground." to be inspired, assistedand prod. ded," Coun. Schaefer said. He promised to use his three years experience on council and past year's experience as chair. man of special committee for the benefit of the town. Coun. Walter Sheardown had cheerful news for those worried about the cost of •street lights on Huron Road exceeding the budget. He said he could cut the $66,000 estimate by a third. He said the estimate is for 160 lights, where 20 now exist and 75 would do the job. He said the department Of highways will pay 50 per cent of labor costs and this would bring the price down to $3.5,000, which is being raised over a period of three Chairman W.J. Mills told the nomination meeting he had been on the PUC 13 years and hoped to complete 15 before retiring. He reviewed the progress of the past year saying it was the greatest of any year he could recall in the PUC. • Improvements included the 110,000Lvolt, $600,000 traniform- er" station built on the east of Goderich by Ontario Hydro and the construction of 4 1/2 m'les of 27,000 volt lines in a loop around the south end of town, by the PUC crews. He saida sim- ilar loop will be extended around the north end next year. The PUC also purchased for $15,000 an internal line from the eastern outskirts of the town to the Harbor from Ontario Hydro which the PUC will maintain. The transformer station he said would offer power for in- dustry and reduce power costs. "This enables us to reduce rates in the town of Goderich," he said. . Mr. Mills predicted 'that in 50 years there will be no overhead wiring in Goderich, all lines will baunderground He promised that the new street lights to be placed along Huron Road will be the latest type available. • Eric Johnstone told the meet- ing he has had no experience on the PUC, but held an interest' in public affairs. He said he has been a resident of Goderich for • 20 years and feels capable of serving. George Filsinger explained that Bruce Ryan had been called out of 'town and would not be avail- able to speak. Mr. Filsinger expanded on Mr. Mills' report on PUC affairs in the past year and gave details of the commission's physical ass. ets inchiding,property owned for future development. He spoke of a color slide collection compiled by PUC man- ager David Rolston showing the work of the PUC a He said it can be shown to such audiences as service clubs and students, selecting the slides to fit their interests. He mentioned the installation of two-way radio in PUC vehicles as an important time saver, "The water pumping station ERIC JOHNSTONE REG JEWELL For Reeve Coun. Herbert Such opened with 'a report on the work of the parks committeee of which he is chair- man, and the tourist protnotion committee. He said the parkt committee has work within its budget and will conclude the year with a surplys. He said 200 more children re. gistpred in the recreation pro:, gram .this year and maintence costs *ere halved with repairs at the swimming pool. The arena he said has been operating on revenue and has no.t touched its budgetr'Repairsin eluded "putting in a new sanit. ary sewer that has been broken since the day it was built. Water at the arena cost $500 in November, 1965. and this month' the water bill for November was cut to $20 with the installation of a condensor. He said the tourist committee brought a hospitality serrOnar to Goderich last summer and that Harbor Park is providing acc- ommodation for more tourists,. Turning to his plans if 'elect- ed reeve, he urged the need for Goderich to have strong repre- sentation at the county level, which he predicted will event. ually develop into regional gov- • ernment. He promised a planned prog- ram of conservation and devel- opment would be recommended to council. A resolution asking the federal and provincial governments to sh- are the cost of operating mun. icipal sewage treatment plants, which he introduced to council, had received the greatest en- dorsation by the convention of mayors and, • reeves, he said. He said senior governments should accept responsibility for the "high cost areas which they have forced on us, instead of making nuovetslof i pcn "I will uphold standards of it' tegrity and dignity you have a right stouchexspaeicdt., and deserve," HERBERT SUCH Reeve Re•Jewell commended the mayor and chairmen of other council committees, the mayor for leadership aur, the others for co-operaton. He spoke of his work as chairman of the finance committee. He mentioned differences. "Differences shouldbe ironed out across the council table, not on this platform;" he said. He spoke of projects that coun. cil inItiated during the year and said that none were spur -of -the. motnent decisions., ". feel L9.66 has been a good year a.s a whole," he said. He said 20 new homes were built in Goderich in 1966 compar- ed to 100 the previous year. He said the town is now investigat- ing a new senior citizens home. Industrial park land was pur- chased by the town in 1963 he said, but no new industries have taken it he said. He said the problem was competititn with areas that have been designat- ed for government assistance. He said county council has been told these restrictions will be lift- ed. "If I am elected, I will re- commend a full-time or part time industrial commissioner," he said. • Reeve Jewell spoke of the negotiations in which he figured with Colborne Township over the Falls Iark. "We must show tour- ists we are interested in them and not just their dollars,"he said, • He detailed his work and the work of Huronview of which he is a director. Reeve Jewell concluded with a word about the Harbor Park • controversy. He said he hadbeen accused Of not favoring a change at Harbor Park. He said he does favor a. change, but not until another trailer park is establish. ed to accommodate trailers that wish to come and stay for an extended. period. FRANK WALKOM For Mayor • Mayor Walltom speakingrapid. ily covered considerable terra. tory in his address,which he open. ed with a humourous story in the tradition of Abe Lincoln. He said the interest in the elec- tion augers well for the future of the town, and supported two- year terms for elected officials, saying it would give a "new man. a chance to get his feet on the ground." lie said he has no promises to offer. This past year was the bus. iest in his .expAerice 41.1 cc/1Lnc il. "Maybe-Pui sewing- up, but 11' was an unusually busy year," he said. Some of the accomplishments Of the past year he enumeratpd as the sewage treatment plant, storm sewers and HuronRoad te.• construction, the addition at God- erich District Collegiate Instit- ute. But he warned that the town has reached its limit of borrow- ing. He said the PUC estimate of lights for Huron Road is almost $67,000 while only $47000 was budgeted for the project. Financial problems arise from the fact that debenture debt is now 30 per cent of assessment, He said the substantial amount it would cost to move the SnugHar. bor wharf, it was "not justified at this time." Mayor Walkom said the town has contributed $500 to the dev- elopment of The Falls Park in Colborne Township, an addition to the town's tourist potential. He enumerated the meetings he attended during the past. "Don't ket the idea Vrii trying to dis. courage anyone from running for mayor. . . I just want to ac- quaint them with the responsibil- ity." The mayor defended commit,- tee-of-the:whOle meetings, "a time when a person may say something that should not be put in print." He mentioned that a description • of some individual as fathead had been used. "Council mem. • bers can relax and smoke' he added, explaining that no smoking 11 is allowed during regular council meeting, "It is my sincere belief that committee -of -the -whole should be retained." PP DR. FRANK MILLS He mentioned the success of Salt Centennial Day He said his friendship with his opponent Dr. Frank Mills -the mayor's' physic-, ian-would continue no matter who won. Dr. Mills said he is approa„cn: ing the candidacy for mayor with , hiimbleness and enthusiasm, as a physician, a father and tax payer," with intense interest in all phases of life in Goderich. "To be mayor is a position of tremendous challenge to re- present the town with The dign. ity and stature deserves, to bring advancement to our town in all ways and give immediate and positive action to all our town problems. "he said. Dr., Mills expressed enthus. iaSm for industry and -business and promised unceasing effort • to promote the town. He promis- ed tourist promotion ,and well. stocked and attractive informa. • tion booth, • He also promised an immediate approach to problems of snow removal and garbage collection. "I assure you adequate en. forced discipline in all our parks, especially our trailer parks, with encouragement of tourist trailer S' and discouragement of perman- ent inhabitants of our trailer parks in our town. "I asSure you enforced dis. cipline in our swimming areas," he added. Dr. Mills Said he will give • complete disclosure of all firm. cial transactions by the town and rea.pprotionment of town spending. He said he woudl appoint young, aggressive men to the industr. ial commission. He said that if new industry does notlocate here within two years the' citizens of Goderich will be told the reason why. "Our council under its present leadership has become nothing more than financial custodian, losing initiative in the hum drum of routine reports,"he charged. He said the leadership needed to start thinking about the future, "as well as the past." He charg. ed that some projects showed short-sightedness and desceibed the water treatment plant .a.A a "project that when it is install. ed gives -us nothing better thin what we had before." Dr. Mills said he is making his first municipal political bid for the mayoralty beca.uske, "I am not a person to sit in cbun. cil and cool. my heels and be fully subdued of all initiative." • He said he would not promise lower taxes, but he would spend the tax dollarto the best advan- tage. years. - has satisif ied our wants and des . pite limitations has performed well," he said. BRUCE ERSKINE GERALD WHALEY Mr. Filsinger said the impend. ing electrical rate reduction pro- mised by Mr. Mills was a re- versal of current inflationary trends. He said he had been pleased to serve On PUC six years, and has time to contribute to thepos- Won. Gerald Whaley also spoke of thecoming rate decrease. He said- that 90 per cent of Ontario municipalities raised their elect- rical rates 10 per cent last year. He agreed there was a water shortage in summer months, but W. J. MILLS "Some of the nieest lawns in God- eriCh have used a minimum of water with a little fertilizer. with the new sewage plantwe will have lots of fertilizer.", Mr. Whaley alsopaid tribute to Mr. 11Olston and other mem- bers of the PUC staff, as had other 1 GEORGE FILSINGER candidates. He pointed out that the PUC was an operation in ex. .cess of $500,000. Mr. Whaley said he has been on the PUC six years and hop- ed to add a 'further two years of service. BRUCE RYAN SEE PAGE 9A .FOR • MORE DETAILS ABOUT CANDIDATES ROBERT C. HAYS BRUCE HOWLETT JAMES H. JOHNSTON • HARVEY M. JOHNSTON B. R. ROBINSON WILLIAM SCHAEFER WALTER SHEARDDWN