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The Goderich Signal-Star, 1973-10-18, Page 1leu shed ther • al„ to r pier Met er,q, rorty las. et G ORE IND N- 1 er IOU hree weeks until ,ove to. news site inliust threw weeks, Signal -Star Publishing Comppny limited will be moving its entire operation into the firm's eery quailed at Industrial Park on Bayfield Road: It was officially announced this week that all business willbe conducted beginning Nov. 12 at the new building. The moye will take place the weekend of Nov. 10. No ues of any of the company's three newspapers - The ederichSignai-Star, The Clinton News -Record or The Kin - 'Aline News - will be missed. Printing cusomers also will lid no interruption in their regular service at ,Signal -Star blishin• MI depagrtments of The Goderich Signal -Star including fmain'business office will be housed in the new facilities Zilch are nearing completion. At tfiis point, there is no plan to intain a business of - in the downtown area. 126 YEAR - 42 SINGLE CORY 20c Ratepayers Association forming la rk conf 1hro of the four Liberal leadership candidates who spoke to the annual meeting of the (Provincial) Liberal Association had a friendly chat prior to the dinner. Present al Leader Robert Nixon (left) makes conversation with Norm Cafik and Eddie Sargent. fourth leadership candidate to address the meeting was Donald Deacon. Impressive hn of all four candidates drawn by Mrs. Beryl Harper of Goderuch hung on the walls of Zurich Arena Auditorium where the event was held last Wednesday evening. (Zurich lane -News photo) ouncillors obtect i BY RON SHAW At a preliminary gathering;pf organizers Wednesday, October 8 a meeting was set for this Friday evening at Robertson Memorial School, to officially form .a Goderich Ratepayers' Association. , The objectives of the newt group, as set down at last Wed- nesday's meeting, will be to. protect ratepayers by providing^ better control over the han-,1 dling_ of municipal funds, by ence in town council keeping closer watch on the ap- plication of zoning so that it is conducted In the best interest of the ratepayers and to generally keep better tab on the actions of elected officals and their activities. Last Wednesday's meeting was called, according to an ad- vertisement published in the Goderich Signal Star, for "those interested in forming a ratepayers' association" but it stipulated that the ratepayers "must live south of Bennett Street." The "expres" purpose" of the meeting was to discuss the south storm sewer and the high taxes of the southern area of Goderich. Meeting organizer Lloyd Lounsbury told the gathering that "some of us are being railroaded into paying more (toward the cost of the new, storm sewer) than others". "If we had an Association," Mr. Lounsbury told the Huron Liberals hear candidates The Huron Provincial Liberal Association had four candidates for the Provincial Liberal Leadership at its an- nual meeting in Zurich last Wednesday evening...and all four men took advantage of their visit to speak to a large and enthusiastic crowd of Liberal supporters in the riding which was captured by the Liberals in a March be -election for the first time in 25 years. Robert Nixon, presently the Provincial Liberal Leader .at- tended the function as well as col editorial ® ti • „ three of his opponents Donald Deacon, Norman Cafik and Ed- die Sargent. Nixon was applauded embers of Gpderich Towrt ncil expressed loud objec- last Thursday evening to editorial which appeared in Goderich Signal -Star Oc- r 11 entitled ".Unfortunate rsight". 'nor -Dave-Gower--set- - the barrage of comments n he rose to "set the records', ' ight". Gower charged that local newspaper had in - ':ted he was present at the ting as an official member the Administrative Commit - .Gower claimed he had just ppened to be in the Town 11" when the meeting was �in ess so he "sat down and ened" . 1 was not there because I invited," stated Gower in explicit explanation. "It was t because 1 was there." teputy•reeve Stan Profit n told council he rejected e assumption there was a take in judgment". The meeting can take place. was a Public Works meeting. few subjects had to be ssed in a hurry. There are secret meetings," protested eeditorial had pointed out t since all commi°ttee tings are to he open to the clic and to the press, the should have been invited sit in. As well, the editorial de mention of the fact that all councillors were aware the meeting of the Public 'Ike committee. ofit charged the editorial d left the impression there e miglings behind the nes in Goderich Town Coun- 'When you read this non - it tends to make a dif- ambian police (ficial visits w Goderich Net the past weekend oerich Police Sgt. and Mrs. Witter played host to Lou lenga, Superintendent of' Zambian Police Force, he visited Goderich. 14r, Mulenga ispresentl nada attendingy in iCe College, the Ontario from Goderich Mr..Mulenga yelled • to Toronto and ed other v arioua points '°urhont, Ontario. ficult job much more difficult, said Profit. "It is totally un- necessary. Councillor Leroy Harrison said that impromptu committee meetings take place all over the' place all the time. He pointed Tout- thatwhenever two 'or three members of council are thrown together for any reason they "eventually end up having a committee meeting". Councillor Bill Clifford said • that with all the talk about open meetings, he was sur- prised more people of Goderich didn't avail themselves of the . opportunity to attend the sessions. . "We don't have a big crowd here tonight," said Clifford, making a sweeping motion with his hand an indicating the twa spectators. • Councillor Eileen Palmer, one of the two councillors not informed of- the meeting, said (Continued on page ,'141) vigorously_ by those present, . most of them wearing Nixon buttons. In a brief but sincere speech to the people, Nixon asked simply for support at the .leadership ` convention coming up Oct. 26 to 28 in Toronto. • He praised Huron's new member of provincial parliament; Jack Riddell, and told the audience their representative had been well- received and is already well respected at Queen's Park. "The ,Party wants all over usinessmen for Square plan The Goderich Businessmen's Association met last Wed- nesday afternoon and, after hearing a presentation from Huron County Planning Depar- tment officials Gary Davidsop and, Nick Hill, Aagreed to recom- mend to tie Association executive that a working com- mittee beset up to proceed with a program aimed at restoring the Goderich Square. • At a previous. meeting the Association executive agreed to approach the County Planning Department with a -request to do such an improvement and re -development study and the planners agreed. It was the end product of this study which went before the Association last Wednesday and gained their enthusiastic approval. The presentation called for a clean up - paint up campaign to be undertaken on the ,ectagonal business section and the plan- ting of a sidewalk landscape in the form of tree planters. Moat of the initial work of the scheme will deal with the upper facades of the buildings, with uniformity in storefronts on the street level to follow if enough co-operation can be gained from the merchants. The planners said this often proved to be difficult because there were so many different store 'owners to deal with and because chain stores most often refused to change their signs and store fronts. They did point out, however, that the sidewalk landscape plan would add a second facade dimensions which would greatly compensate for what could not be corrected other- wise. '. The presentation put ,before the Businessmen's Association included a slide presentation showing the '3end result of similar campaigns in Petrolia, Woodstock and Elora. It was 'agreed to implement the proposals by setting up a committee to study what should be done. The planners 'told the meeting they expected the first stage of the project, involving the sidewalk " landscape and facade refurbishing, could be carried out for as little as $1,200 to $1,500. "The design is really the blueprint for the implementage stage and, in comparison, this stage is the expensive one. Once a design is established through this Committee and public exhibitions, the implemen- tation stage can commence. As this represents a completely dif- ferent task with different skills a new committee will probably be required," 'the planners said. That committee would have two major tasks, acquiring the funding and supervising the work on the buildings. "There are three methods of funding," the, planners ex- plained. "The program could use private funds from local business whose buildings are being painted, publis. funds from various levels of overn-, ment and a. combination of the first two methods." "The second method, public fundings, provides the most favorable approach," the plan- ners said. "In Woodstock and Petrolia federal funds through the Op - ,4.w portunities for„ Youth and Local Initiative Programs were used,"•they said. "In London, municipal funds were employed," ---they added. The planners stressed that the first job of this committee would be to secure funding and having done` that, the painting and landscaping could proceed. "The committee, however, .will have the ,difficult job of managing this. aspect," the planners pointed out. .Speaking on behalf of the Businessmen's Association Bob Swartman said that a meeting has been called for this Sunday to organize the refurbishing committee. "We are not letting this drop," he stressed, "and we wilt have'a request.befo?e town council at its next meeting (tonight) for the appointment of a representative to the com- mittee." Mr. Swartman said a similar request- would be going to the next Planning Board meeting in hopes that a- representative from that body would be ap- pointed to the committee as well. Unofficial word on the com- mittee indicated that it would possibly be made up of one councillor, one member of Goderich and Area Planning Board, three local businessmen and three citizens. Bob Swartman said the businessmen were "indebted to the planning department, who were highly qualified for the work they had given the project, much of which was on their own time due to the (Continued on page 14) this province what Huron got, Dashwood; A.M. Harper, in the last election", ..,stated Goderich; Bruce Williams, Donald Deacon. "A win!" youth alternate, Clinton; and Deacon said there are 95 Mrs. Kay (Wm,) Duncan, ridings in the province which woman alternate, Goderich. are not now Liberal and said The new slate of officers for the Liberal team needs a leader the Huron (Prov.) Liberal which will weld the members `° Executive was elected by ac - "into an effective force}". clamation. He promised if he was named They are Immediate Past leader of the Liberals in ,On- President Dr. Morgan Smith, tario to,organize the team long Bayfield; president Ian , before the election, to raise McAllister, RR 1 Zurich; money for the campaign and to executive vice-president, Mrs. - bring out the issues. , Jean Adams, Brucefield; vice - Deacon claimed there was a presidents Mrs. Muriel Mur - "dictatorship now in Queen's phy, Goderich; Paul Steckle, Park" but that Prime Minister RR 2 Zurich; Emil Hendrick, Williani Davis has "lost Exeter; W. C. McClure, RR 2 ground" in recent months. Crediton; and Brad Oke, Over the next two years, . Zurich; secretary, J. Howard Aitken, .. Goderich, and treasurer, Roger Dowker, 4 ... Exeter. Deacon said, the Liberals can organize themselves into an alternative which could win "hopeless ridings" and "enable the -people to govern them- selves". Called a "dark runner from the Federal government by Dr. Morgan—Smith who ntroduced. him, Norman Cafik said he was in the race because the Liberals of Ontario "need a wide open choice at the convention". Cafik said a recent poll showed the Liberal party is running second in popularity in Ontario and that the present Liberal leader is running third in popularity. The member from the riding of Ontario said the progressive Conservatives in` Ontario are "clearly rotten on the _ inside and truly slipping badly". If named leader of the provincial Liberals, Cafik said he would lay down a clear policy which could be easily un- derstood by the , people and would provide the leadership"to "cut through the bureaucratic red tape, in this province". "The provincial government has dehumanized the ' whole system", charged Cafik. "Our main target is Bill Davis", said Eddie Sargent to the meeting which brought a round of applause from the audience;"I won -t lay down for anybody. I won't let the Tory steamroller go over me." "Bill Davis is hemorrhaging all over", said Sargent. "He's not listening any more. He's lost touch with the people." Sargent said the provinces of Alberta end British Columbia are debt free while Ontario, supposedly the richest province in Canada, is heavily in debt. He said Ontario needs a Liberal government and a decisive leader. "I'm going to love doing it for you if you give me the chance," Sargent said. The main order of business at the annual meeting was to select delegates to the conven- tion. Delegates are Gordon McGavin,- RR 3 Walton; 3. • Howard Aitken, Goderich; Mrs. Muriel Murphy, Goderich; Don Kay, Clinton; Mrs. Maude Hof- fman, Dashwood; E. B. Men- iies, Clinton; Brad Oke, youth delegate, Zurich; and Mrs. Marion Rader, woman delegate, Dashwood. Alternates are Ozzie Zivkovic, Exeter; Ronald Murray,' Dublin; Donald Oesch, Zurich; Mrs. Susan (Gerald) •►White, Goderich; Irvin Devine, meeting, "maybe we could even the assessment out." "I don't think anyone ti op- posed to paying something," he added, "but only their fair share." t• Mr. Lounsbury also asked if the "townspeople are satisfied with the way the town is being run". G.R. "Rick" Robertson, who was selected to chair , the meeting, told the 30 ratepayers attending that the municipal government was comparable to a $1,000,000 business and the people would have to decide if they had confidence "in the President and Board of Direc- tors.'' "If we had such an Association," Mr. Robertson said, "we could ask. the questions which certainly need to be asked." Mr. Robertson went on to suggest, howev.er,. that the asking of those questions should involve the ratepayers of the "whole towh". Gus Chisholm supported Mr. Robertson's point saying, "The whole town will have to be in- volved because other issues will come up besides „ the south storm sewer question." The tone of last Wednesday's meeting was •not always calm and at times became quite beligerent. Robertson told the group that when "Ratepayers Associations must be ' formed, as is the case in Goderich, it' seems to indicate a general lack of confidence in the elected of- ficials" . "There have been second thoughts since the last elec- tion," the added. Gus Chisholm told the meeting that whoever was chosen for the Association executive should have no in- terest, financially, in land or development. "If it were to be otherwise I don't want to be a member of this group," he said. Discussion also heated up when .the group discussed ob- taining legal council in time to attend the court of revision hearing November 7 on the storm sewer question. One ratepayer asked who the group could get since no one wanted to "buck" Donnelly and .Murphy. Mt. Chisholm' suggested a new., lawyer who had recently set up practice in town, adding that "perhaps no-one has got to him yet". • Ford Little 'told the group that he had already contacted a lawyer from out of town who would be willing to act for the group but declined to name the' law firm." Swinging the attack back to elected officials, 'Gus Chisholm told the meeting he was 'Fnot quite ready to make a statement on what I think is going on in Planning Board and Town Council, but think for , yourselves who the members of these bodies are".' "No- one should be on a board or Council until it if publicly known what their holdings and financial interests are," he added. "And they should live in town." Town councillor, Elsa Haydon was put on the hot seat at various times throughout the meeting and at one point asked (Continued on page 141 • 4. • / The Godirich Town Police Force were honored on Monday with a special Chilton .for Casualty Record among all cities with under 10,000 population reporting in the 1973 CAA AAA Pedestrian Safety Inventory Program. The presentation was made by Don MoMiNan, Office Mapager of the Owen Sound Ontario Motor Lea Association, Ontario's branch of the CAA, Canadian Automobile Apsoolatlon ` Plctu • above, ire Mr. MoMiSan and Goderich Police Chief Pat King. This was the force's f1 plaque for pedestrian sahty. Thi other plaques wore awarded In 1907, 1.000, 1000, 197 and this year's. Weft phaco) ' :