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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1973-11-08, Page 2PAGE 2—GODERICH SIGNAL -STAR, THURSDAY NOVEMBER 8, 1973 ,1111.p.01,11WIEN OMNI. COMMENT Planners must use exerts At Goderich and Area Planning Board meeting last Friday evening, when Raymond Young took a proposal for a new subdivision to the members for con- sideration, it was surprising to note the reluctance of those officials to give serious consideration to advice given by their advisor from .the Huron County Planning office, Gary Davidson. It might be argued that comment is untimely on this apparent lack of con- fidence by the board in their qualified advisor since no decision by the plan- ners has been made in connection with the Young-Little-Leamen proposal, but it is difficult to understand the board's at- titude toward his advice. This in turn breeds concern about what that final decision might be. When called upon by the planning board to -table his comments on Mr. Young's proposal for the subdivision to be located south of Britannia Road and east of Eldon 'street, Mr. Davidson poin- ted out two major areas ohconcem his department had placed uhder review - the lack of provision of parkland and a poor design of street layouts, Discussing the parkland question Mr. Davidson recommended that Mr. Young's offer of ,tash in lieu of park provisions be turned down by the board when -it prepared a recommendatiorrto council. Mr. Davidson had strong arguments for the incidsion of ,a park in the new subdivision and went on to explain the best location for such a service. It was his feeling, and we can not help but agree, that parks are needed to break the landscape of a residential area as well as for use as recreational areas. Mayor Harry Worsell argued- that two schools, and their playing fields, were located close to the proposed site so there was no real need for the prOvision, of park space. Such an attitude is very shortsighted and as Mr. Davidson explained there is a world of difference betwep .. an athletic playing field and a park. A small park. located close at hand, is ideal for parents- with young children who .can have the opportunity to take their youngsters for an outing under conditions where they. may be monitored, especially where pre-school ' children are concerned. Children are not the only ones who make use of parks though. Adults out for an evening walk,. or some such activity, would doubtless find a park, with trees and other natural vegetation more agreeable than a school yard no matter how small that park might be. On the question of traffic control and street plans we urge the planning board to keep in mind that Mr. Davidson is qualified to a far greater extent to make decisions on, such matters ,than are members of planning board. His recom- mendations, and the reasons behind those suggestions, should be given careful, honest and objective study. It is true, of course, that in the end plannthiLboard will. have.to draw up the recommendation it makes to council but part o!...,the input of' that decision' must come , from qualified people like Mr. Davidson or a decision in the best in- terests will not be made. The County .of Huron is indeed for- tunate to have attracted, a staff for Its planning departmen,t, as skilled in their field as they have. In ,turn- Goderich is fortunate to have that skill on which to draw and should remember to make full use of it. pipe the tune Communication from Provincial Treasurer John White, received at this newspaper office this week revealed that county officials ail over Ontario are being asked for their suggestions for guidelines on the restructuring of county governments. It is to be hoped that Huron County councillors will accept Mr. White's challenge and offer their viewpoint to the Minister very soon. It is time now for Huron County,Coun- oil to -stop -speculating about the future and to begin to draft some real and workable changes for the benefit of people here and all across Ontario. And according to Mr. White's com- munique, there will be no consideration given to half-baked byiefs and parochial .pussyfooting. It is clearly set out in Mr. White's letter that because the govern- ment intends to give restructured coun- ties the same grants .11 now gives to regions, the restructuring must be actual "and not merely tinkering". As a starting point, the government believes that to qualify) for grants, restructured counties should probably provide seven services: water, sewage collection and treatment, art arterial road system, planning, health services, a welfare program and capital borrowing. As Well, four major phases or reform endorsed by government are con- solidation of local municipalities, return of -cities and separated towns to their counties, equitable representation on county councils and enlarging and up- dating the responsibility of county units. Alifth factor is the need to tailor local government to suit local needs. Mr. White has also declared that the seven basic criteria by which a restruc- tured county might be judged are reviewing all aspects of local govern- ment within the county; involving the separated towns or cities; determining present servicing responsibilities.; examining the county's economic resource, assessment and financial bases; defining the problems facing the area, with particularseference to,present organizations 'and structure's; en- couraging public awareness, par- ticipation and understanding of isibes by, among other things, publishing the county's findings and recommendations; and submitting- these findings and recommendations to the affected municipalities and the Minister. • The Minister further suggests a num- ber of items that a restructuring study should examine including population pressures; the boundaries of local municipalities and the county itself; existing communities of interest bet- ween variouS population centres in or near the county; the relationship bet- ween the county and the cities and separated towns; the organization of county council; the appropriate division of responsibilities; the elimination of special-purpose,bodies; and the degree of accountability and respo,nsiveness that could or should be provided tiy the organizational frameWork. The province is willing to share in the costs of such restructuring studies percent or up to a maximum provincial input of $50,000. But as well as money, such a study needs the courage and the vision of dedicated men and women who know that if they do not do the job them- selves, the day is not far off when it will be done for them. But when that hap- pens the tune will be played by another piper. fobtrith SIGNAL -STAR The County Town Newspaper of .Huron Founded in 1848 and published every Thursday at 37 West St., Goderich, Ontorio. Mem- ber of the CVVNA and OWNA. Advertising rates on request. Subscriptions payable In ad- vance. $8.50 in Can Ws, $10.00 in all countries Other than Canada, single copies 20 cents. Second cleeriftiltlegletrallon Number 0716. Adverthang la accepted on the con- dition that. In the event of typographical error, the advertising space occupied by the erroriebus item, together With reasonable allo•vance for signature,. will not be charged for but the balance of the *Advertisement will be paid for * the applicable rate. In the event of a typogiaphical error advertising goods or,,servIces at a wrong price, , good* Of1/10/100 may not be *old. Advertising Is merely an offer to soil, and May be withdrawn at any time. • Iliesiness and Editorial Office TIELEPWXIE 5244231 area cede 3111 Seleeed eines mail registration nionber-07111 Published by Signal -Star rubliehing Ltd. ROIRIERT G. SHRIER—prOsident and publisher WORLEY J. KELLER--editor N. W. SHAW—odfforial staff AA. MILLIESTINE - editorial staff IDWAND J. SYRSKI-Ladvertising manager DAVIE.N. WILLIMAS—advertleing representative imminmommy 4-• At a brief meeting with Huron CountY. Director' Education Johu.,Cochrade last week and Board -Chairman E. C. Hill, I was given a "press release" which I understood was handed out to the members of the press in attendance at the board Meeting at the same time as the salaries for the ad- ministrative staff. of, the Huron Count Y Board of Education were made public. release is as That ,press follows: "Before establishing 1973 salary- levels for its Senior Ad- ministrative Staff, the Huron County Board of Education un-- dertook a survey of similar salaries being paid in Western Ontario. Of •the 15 Boards sur- veyed it was found that in 1972 the average salary paid for Directors of Educatiorat was $31,100 (Huron County $30,000); Superintendents $26,700 (Huron County $25,000); Assistant Superinten- dents $25,908 (Huron County )24,000). • "The average of . 1973 set- tlements was Directors $32,190; Superintendents '$27,60W - Assistant Superintendents $25,908. " "In view of the ,above -listed averages for Western Ontario and the abnormally high in creasein the cost of living which has occurred over the last several months, The Huron -County Board of Education felt that it must bring salaries -into line with those being paid hy neighbouring Boards." I publish the press release from the board chairmansas a public service because- this newspaper has been singled Out in the county as being unfair -Au the administrative eople on staff at the Clint board of education office. - While the press release ap- pears to "square" the matter, it will only serve to draw tax- -payers' attention once more to the fact that local board, of education administrative per- sonnel are well paid. Despite what Administrative personnel or board members may believe, salariti4 of that magnitude are not understood by the average ratepayer in Huron...nor are they more easily acceptable because they are on a par with salaries_ paid to persontferin ' similar positions throughout Ontario: The ,raw truth is that ad- ministrative personnel salaries have been a sore spot in the County of Huron since the board's inception - both with the taxpdyers who pay the bill and with the .administrative personnel who resent the abuse they feel they suffer because they happen to qualify for such incomes and because these' salaries are made known to the citizens in Huron. If • it is unjust -Tilt -this newspaper to acknowledge this restlessness among the general populace, we stand -guilty as chariged that we are "unfair". .0n the other hand, it is the,, Thanks 1.,'Isa duty of this newspaper and eve? y -other new -spa -per 1i Shed' light On a situation, to inform' and to educate those who do not understand and to suggest alternatives. While we may have shed light and in some sense attemp-. red to- And—e-diicIfe though falling short it could be argued, we have failed . to suggest alternatives which are feasible and acceptable. For (this we are sincerely sorry. DEAR EDITOR Dear Editor: As a .'ratepayer and an executive - Of the 'newly -formed Ratepayers' Association.,.1„ am pleased to see we are being recognized in the' newspaper, and by at least one council member (thank you Elsa for the Letter to the Editor). - I atn amazed that Mayor Worsekl,,4nd other :cOu nci members have not ,recognized our attendance at council meetings seeing that the spec- tators are members of the newly -formed Ratepayers' Associat ion. In 'reply to Elsa's letter all members of council are welcome to our meetings and will be recognized as Elsa was at both meetings she attended. Yes, 'we voted to have no member of council on our executive when we vote on a motion we want all members voting, not just a few. I also hope the ice cream sub- ject can be buried now as win- ter is here. This Association got started by a "little hate" group to watch council and make sure the rest of the town gets a fair shake if they are affected in an incident such as the "South Storm Sewer". Referring to the South Storm -Sewer, we of the G.R.A. have come to the 'conclusion the people Rave the wrong im- pression' , We are not fighting the South Storm Sewer, but are fighting the assessment imposed on a few people. We are also amazed that like this could happen in this day and age. Lloyd Lounsbury 1 nice (y. 11 omen Dear Editor, Canada's Department of Defence has proposed a, .$1 billion .replacement of the Argus aircraft. This raises the question, does Canada need a 'new fleet ofqiircraff. and if s�, for what purpose? It appears public. that the original anti - This newspaper accepts the submarine role of the aircraft is fact that Huron's Board of now being enlarged to include Education is blessed with well environmental surveillance and qualified, conscientiousrc-)ther duties. But these tasks dedicated administrative per- can be, carried out by planes sOnnel. This newspaper com- that .do not carry bombs and prehends the philosophy behind hetivy armaments. The environ - administrative salaries and mental tasks appear to be the fully appreciates the, board's small tail wagging to fill than position in this matter. (0 spend ($1 billion on an air - At the same time, this. craft fleet that is not only ex - newspaper would be remiss to pensive to buy but expensive to ignore the fact that ad- maintain And operate. ministraiive personnel salaries There are other factors that are resented by the majority of should be considered when the 40. budget of the Department of National Defence cines up for discussion in the House. Surely someone must ask: "Whatis the factual • basis.for the Milftary needs? Is \ this 'basis any more reliable than the 'need' for the Bonaventure, the now mothballed destroyer or the Bras d'Or? If, on the other 'hand, defence spending is a. make-work -program for in- dustry, why not use that,same industrial Capacity in the Government's new transpor- tation•program?" If new planes and tanks are bought, what will happen to the old ones? Is the Department of National Defence going to sell them- and keep the funds in ad- dition .to its budget, as it has done in the past? If they are sold, ,who will get them? On- vwhich side of which war will they turn up? There are na,a.ny good arguments to hemadeagainst the proposed increase in the defence budget; more of them. '.stemming from the great need for funds for other programs. But we should not forget the part that Canada plays in the sale and re -sale of arms, which so contradicts her official stance of the , need for disar- . mament. Should not _disarmament, like charity, start at home? Ursula Franklin for Voice of Women Fiott:er /wafer Dear Editor: • If I may be forgiven for writing letters three weeks in a row, I would like to say,a word of appreciation before this sum- mer's flowers are completely gone and forgotten. In the spring I noticed a lady planting flowers around and between the trees., on the boulevard of Colborne Street, just off The Square. I do not know who she is or where she lives, but I would like to tell her ,that her flowers gave me pleasure every time I have been -on. the Square through the sum- mer and fall. F have heard similar comments from .other people. And every time I heard about vandalism and destruction in- flicted upon us by some people. I thought of that ,lady and her gift of flowers to all pasersl*: Sincerely, Elsa Haydon /I bon 111(11 Dear Editor, You recently published a let- ter from the Maitland Country Club Limited fo the Cor- poration of the Town of Goderich in connection with an application for a grant in lieu of taxes, and busine4s !taxes.. In 'connection with business tax, that letter referred to cer- tain business tax paid by McGee Motors Limited in the sum of $368.92. This infor- mation.was obtained from the Town of Goderich and was in- tended to cover the business tax being paid by. the above Company on their main business establishment. It .has been brought to rriy attention - that this -information was misleading, and I would like to 'point out that the total • business fax paid by McGee Motors Limited_ to the Town of Goderich for all of their proper- ties is approximately _$1,000. I 'would like to personally apologize for any em- barrassment this letter may have caused McGee Motors Limited, or any of its officers. Over many, years McGee Motors Limited have been generous contributors t� the Maitland - Gailf . and Country Club for which we are ,deeply appreciative. Yours very truly, D. J. Murphy, President Re m e m ber, think When I think of Remembrance Day /Icshinklaf the.lives given so as that today would be tEonsure secured int the they so dearly cherished WhenI lookgaround me I see We have been given time to perfect Our d r ability to pollute, corrupt I wonder what they would have dIflitilethey had known? * * * My hat goes off in honQur and my heart calls to the sky. When I think of all the soldiers who dian't hesitate to die. All of ttjose who didn't live to see The victory ?lame Andl can only ask had I been there, Could I have done the flame? By Margaret Royal - student - GDCi 70 Mks November 12, 1103 A00 The Signal is request one of the Officers of thel state that notice has been of the action of three In Playing golf Sunday after day at the ,links on the sford property, and taking with them to act as "cad and that if the action discontinued, legal action be taken. J.B. Kelly has taken the agency for a line of autom manufactured in Geneva, and on Tuesday one of drrived at the station here a fine one.seated auto, „gasoline for fuel; carries t two gallons of water and gallons of gasoline, whi said to be sufficient to ru machine for 100 miles. Th is only $450. *David Brown, the dealer, was up before 'magistrate on Tuesday charge of letting his hor at large and waspbliged t tfie cOsts to the court, admi the offence, The following students a Goderich Model school already succeeded obta schools for •-1904:' Nicholson, near Zurich; Sturdy, in Stanley;Ms ter; Miss McDonald; F. S near Exeter; Mr. Mathes° Ashfield; C Asquith, Chur E. Robertson, Londes Average salary, 8425, A New. York go.tot• --frithyg $.000fi4-an ear he wants to graft on the he a wealth'y patient who tost of his ears by accident. An pathetic part of it is that h received hundreds of plicat ions from persons wh willing to take the offer. A remedy that will gravel must be sover remedy for all urinary dise and Reuben Draper' of place states positively Dodd's Kidney PII cured of gravel. 25 YEARS AGO • November 11, 048 Ted Howell was the wi of - the ,silver cup for sriegking at the recent con tion at Clinton of the 11 County Temper Federation, Ted won thee -pion4hip teophy with his dress on -Drinking Driving." Fortunately' free from 1.1 blackouts while- municipal 411 around were having t Goderich entered the blac list on Tuesday when the was cut off between 5:30 6:30 p.m. Several carloads of hu left Goderich early Satu morning for the Northern of Ontario to he ready for opening of the hunting se on Monday morning. They every precaution for s pc hunting expedition. Among .twelve hunters, they hav chartered accountant who no doubt take care of the fi cial end' of things for the medical doctor, to look - , their sick, a lawyer to p their case for them in case want to bring out two deer ,stead of one, an tindertak case of death, a vetedna case the dogs get sic newspaper" man either to their. story into the pape keep it out if they have •luck, a car dealer to ad .them if they want to eh their mode of travel, and but not least, in case rom hits the camp, they ha clergyman.. A. Toronto ,dentist Hughes, has purchased a h in Goderich and is expe0 commence practicing her the near fiiture. 5 YEARS AGO November 14, 1968 The seat for the Roy . •8 Goderich will he contest the December 2 municipal lions whenDePutY Harry Worsell will oppose cumbant Reeve Herbert S Mrs. Alfred Summers, , Monday has lost the Si day.Cross she.,1,NRS Mothers at the wreath la ceremonies at the cenotap represented the Silver C tion as the Se; Y, ,,annou wearing The Annual Bernerilbr orpastertner Dan Murph) Goderich Law Firm of nelly and MArph today that he would geek Huron County Bo.8rd RepresentaiiV-e- for tilt Education. wsenr:iceh(eafidthe alltoyatIlieCat: Legion Branch 109, Gale Presbyterian Church, 0,r1 daY' November 10. 11 ec er 01 158 e; On1 co 8ti ,Inc 111 lab 01 in! 00 ere 100 Nt la erf itt cl tbe 01 01 05 le Bi tv te t I ha bl 010 P1 51 a, lin 00 81 1111