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HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News-Record, 1983-01-26, Page 1.) THE BAYFIELD BUGLE incorporating THE BLYTH STANDARD 50 cents No. 4 Wednesday, January 26, 1983 118th year is frozen in seized trust firm Clinton cash tied u By Shelley McPhee The Town of Clinton has $150,000 in- vested in the provincially -seized Greymac Trust company. Clinton Mayor Chester Archibald said Monday the the money is part of the town hall -library reserve fund . which was scheduled to be used to help finance the $1 million renovation project now underway. The money was invested in three cer- tificates, the first one to come due in March. However with the recent gover- nment take-over of the trust company, the province has refused to allow the town to cash the certificate. Like many other municipalities that also invested money in Greymac, Seaway or Crown Trust, Clinton is waiting and wondering what will happen to their money and if they can get it back. Mayor Archibald explained that at the present time he has no idea whether the money can be recovered, and continual attempts are now being made to obtain information. A special telephone number has been given to despositors in the trust companies but Mayor Archi'. , ld said, "We've never been able to get through, it's always been busy." The main question the Mayor wants answered is regarding the guaranteed withdrawl amount which the province has offered. Depositors whose assets were seized while the government's financial review is carried out are limited to a $60,000 withdrawl of their funds through the Canadian Deposit Insurance Cor- poration CDIC). Mayor Archibald wants to know if the amount is based on each certificate or each depositor. If each certificate was eligible for insurance coverage, Clinton could recover the full amount of their deposits. If it was based on strictly per investor, only $60,000 could be reimbursed. Any money that can be recovered, Mayor Archibald estimated, "depends on how much assets they prove to have and whether there's enough to cover all the liabilities." "i have this sinking feeling," he ad- mitted. "I simply hope the loss, if any, will be minimual." He explained that the money was originally invested in the town's best in- terests, noting, "we went for what we could get the biggest return on." The Mayor admitted, "There's no way we can make up for the loss. The alter- native is to cut back on some of the town hall renovation work." The $150,000 reserve fund had been build Pay-TVdelayed untilMarch By Rod Hilts If you have your heart set on tuning into Pay -TV on Febuary 1 then yotti' going to be disappointed to know that it on't be coming to this area until som ime in March. According to Bluewater Cable Direr. Don Stinson, the company sent an ap- plication for a license to broadcast Pay -TV to the Canadian Radio and Television Commission (CRTC) on November 1 but, "government bureaucracy has slowed the application process down." "I'm in contact with the CRTC daily trying to hustle them along," said Mr. Stinson. A scrambled system will be used by Bluewater Cable to transmit Pay -TV to their customers. A scrambler system will be installed on each in .i ' vidual's television set instead of a block converter used to carry Channel 21. Block converters won't work because it converts everything to one channel while Pay -TV uses three channels. Pay -TV will consist of First Choice TV, Super Channel and a 'C' Channel. Each individual channel will cost $15.95 plus installation. Mr. Stinson says there have been quite a few inquiries a . out Pay -TV but that :lueWsiter isnst taking any applications for the service yet until he knows exactly when the area will be able to get it. Bluewater Cable serves Goderich, Clinton, Vanastra and Saltford com- munities. Mr. Stinson also said that there has been no complaints about the Playboy channel being offered by First Choice. .'Pay -TV is a 'scretionary service. Government intervention to restrict the Playboy programming is an infringement on individual's rights. It's like telling me that 1 can't watch certain programs. The whole idea behind Pay -TV is to allow the viewer the freedom to watch a greater variety of programing," he said. If you're interested in sports this is the area to be in this weekend. Blyth will be welcoming more than 50 teams to the local arena for an action - packed broomball tournment on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. More than $2,300 in prize money will be given out. Down at Hully Gully, two full days of snowmobile racing is scheduled for Saturday and Sunday. In Clinton District Snowmobile Club will be hosting the annual poker rally on Saturday. Also in Clinton on Friday night the 'Stangs meet the Port Elgin Bears in the deciding game of the Junior C playoffs, and the arena will also be hosting and peewee tournment on the weekend. On Sunday football fans will be stretching out in front of the television for the Superbowl game. Unfortunately the game doesn't start until 6 pm, which may cause a few problems for Superbowl party types on Monday morning. And with any luck we'll have a pod covering of snow this weekend for the cross country skiiers. + Hasn't this been a great winter' Last year at this time we were digging out of a weekend blizzard that dumped 45 cm of snow and took temperatures down to minus 50 (' with the wind chill factor. Still it seems that we fare better healthwise with cold, dry winter weather. With this damp, chilling winter, aching hones and joints and the Bangkok flu have been laying many of us low. The flu seems to have hit everyone and at Huronvicw last week all the programs were cancelled 4 + While we're talking about health, it's a good time to mention the Heart Saver Program that is being offered to the general public at the (Tinton Hospital on February 9 and March 9. The program, led by Linda Reid and Brenda MacDonald, will teach Car- diopulmonary Resuscitation i ('PR 1 for heart attack sufferers and emeregency treatment for choking victims. Linda noted that studying the one evening course is particularly important for people who deal with the public, for babysitters, pool owners and high school students to plan to study nursing. Already our Clinton firemen and special interest groups have been in- structed in CPR and now with the ad- ditional space at the local hospital the program can be offered to the public. The course involves a four-hour learning session and the cost is $10. If you can attend on either night just call the hospital at 482-3447 to register. Winter will soon be drawing to a close and preparations for another busy spring and summer season are un- derway. The Klompen Feest committee is making great progress in lining up this year's third annual event, and the Clinton Spring Fair schedule is almost complete. The Spring Fair ladies' division is set and the list of classes and prizes are now available at the News -Record office, Mary's Sewing ('entre, the OMAF' office and the Seaforth Sewing ('entre. There are 106 different classes to enter, so get working ladies. + 4 - Congratulations ('ongratulations this week go to four young people who finished well in the Legion Remembrance Day literary contest in the zone. Barry Turner, a Grade 12 student at ('HSS was awarded first prize in the senior essay competition and Daryl Hemingway, Grade 6 at Hiilmesville Public School took top honors in the junior class. Their essays have been forwarded to the next level of com- petition, the district divisions which covers a large part of southwestern Ontario (Other top placers included Mark Hoha, (:rade 9, CHSS, third in senior poetry and ,canine Buffinga, Grade 7, Clinton and i)istrict Christian School, second in the intermediate essay category 4 in Greyiiac up by the town council for the past several years. It was collected without raising the mill rate. Others also affected Clinton is not alone in facing potential losses from the three trust companies. Kitchener had $1 million in certificates and will now have to borrow $500,000 if the money is not freed up immediately. Ottawa -Carleton may need to borrow $1.8 million. The London board of education also had $1 million in Crown Trust certificates, and like others they have no idea if the money can be returned. Province in control The Ontario government seized Crown Trust, Greymac and Seaway Trust Companies on January 7 after two months investigation and controversy involving the .complicated three-way sale of nearly 11,000 apartment units in Toronto. Originally owned by Cadillac -Fairview, the apartments were sold to Greymac Credit Corporation for $270 million. Before the deal closed Greymac, passed on the properties to Kilderkin Investments for $312 million. They were then sold for $500 million to numbered companies, said to represent investors f rom Saudi Arabia. A government investigation showed that the properties were worth no more than $300 million, which brought into question the companies involved in financing the mortgaging the sales. Consumer Minister Robert Elgie said in a news release, that under new amended legislation the Ontario government took control of the three trust companies because the companies' operations, "may be prejudicial to the public interest," or the interest of their depositors, creditors or shareholders. Proposals and discussions are now in the works for the possible sale of Crown Trust The CDIC will back the Crown Trust deposits if the assets are sold to an ac- ceptable new owner. However Consumer Minister Elgie said that no similar assurances can be offered to Greymac or Seaway depositors. To hall costs still concecouncil By Shelley McPhee The Clinton town hall -library renovation project is still under discussion around the town council table. Monthly bills being sent in by architect C.A. Venton were the subject of some criticism when council met on January 12. For the past two months council has authorized payment of interim billing amounting\ to more than $12,000 to the architectural firer, but some council members fear that costs on the renovation project may get out of hand. Councillor Ross Carter noted that if the initial paper work on the renovation project had already cost the town $12,000, "it could run up to over $130,000," He suggested that a monthly fee schedule be drawn up. Clerk Cam Proctor said that Venton's firer has been working on the project drawings and specifications for more than four months. A model of the proposed work and floor plans have now been completed. He noted, "This has involved many overtime hours, including work on Sun- days. ' Councillor Charlie Burgess suggested, "If Mr. Venton is so busy he has to work overtone, couldn't we ask hon to slow down and work regular weekdays. Are we in that much of a rush"' If we are, whay did we rent these temporary acconunodation buildings for two years.'" Clerk Proctor rioted that it is necessary to have the specifications done im- mediately so costs can be calculated and grants can be applied for as soon as possible. Mayor Archibald noted that after this work is completed, the project will ex- perience a slowdown. Tenders will be called and it will take more than 45 days to collect and study them. He noted that if there was a legitimate complaint about overpricing and the amount of time spend by the architects on the specifications and floor plans, a complaint could be lodged with the Architects' Association. He assured council, "In my mind no contract will be let until we have Ontario Municipal Board (OMB) approval." Clinton will apply to the OMB to the sup- port the project if additional financial assistance is required. Seaforth men are remanded until February Three Seaforth men have received a second remand and are scheduled to ap- pear in Goderich provincial court February 25 on charges arising from the Morris Township robbery and beating on January 14. Charged with robbery and violence, Michael Joseph McLaughlin, 19, and Robert William Engel, 18, both of Seaforth and Randy James Buck, 21, of RR 4, Seaforth made their second court ap- pearance on January 21. They were renianded and are free on their own recognizance. The charges resulted from a January 14 incident when Helmet Johann Sieber, 29, of RR 2, Blyth and Manfred Loseriet, 39, of RR 1, Auburn were beaten and robbed of an undisclosed amount of cash at the Sieber farmhouse in Morris Township. The two men suffered head injuries and were treated at Wingham and faistricl Hospital and released. They're back, with suntan;( ed faces and beautiful memories of Hawaii. Members of the Clin' i n Legion pe band and friends joined with the Ontario Massed pes and Drums for a two week friendship tour in Hawaii. The highlight of the visit was at service at National Memorial Cemetery, to honor WWII heroes, and promote strong ties of friendship. Another exciting event was the Hula Bowl and Clinton Pipe Major Glenn McGregor played Amazing Grace before the game. Then there was Fran Brady of Brucefield and Marg Marshall of Blyth who really got into the H wailan swing of things when they were chosen to learn the Hula dancing at a special luau in held for the Ontario guests. (photo courtesy of John Wise) Vanastra Day Care faces larger loss in '83 By Wilma Oke The Vanastra Day Care Centre faces a deficit of $50,145 for 1983, an increase of the deficit of $44,176.23 which Tuckersmith Township Council had last year. In presenting the budget to council on January 18 Karen McEwing, day care supervisor, stated she had pared the $76,645 budget as much as possible. it is up $7,216 over the 1982 expenditures. There are 48 children registered at the nursery with only about 23 to 24 in atten- dance each day. Income from their fees is expected to be $26,500 compared to $25,253 received in 1982. Staff includes Miss McEwing, assistant supervisor Beatrice Fleming, teacher Mary Hak and for afternoon only, teacher Nancy Sue Swan. Their salaries are pro- jected to be $46,845 plus benefits amoun- ting to $4,600 compared to salaries in 1982 of $43,415.85 plus benefits of $3,147.72. Some of the other expenses include: staff training and travel expenses (with 1982 figures in brackets) of $500 ($406.27); food, $11,000 ($10,359.06) ; playroom supplies, 00 ($788.89) ; rent, $10,600 ($9,949.68); of- fice supplies and expenses, $800 ($706.74); equipment and furnishings I replacement), $500 (none last year). There is an 80 per cent subsidy for all ex- penditures received from the province amounting to $40,116 1$35,342) while the Township of Tuckersmith pays the re- maining cost at 20 per cent for children from the township attending, $7,500 ($6,285.49) and other municipalities pay the 20 per cent cost for children attending from their municipalities, $2,529 ($2,548.74). This budget has bide submitted to the government for its approval. The other budget which council was call- ed on for approval was the proposed budget of $41,892 ($37,672.99 in 1982) from the special day care centre for handicap- ped children which is under the supervi- sion of Miss McEwing. She is assisted by Gerry VandenBerg as assistant supervisor and teacher Nancy Sue Swan. There are 10 children presently attending these special classes which are held in the morning only each week. Salaries for the two supervisors and the teacher for 1983 are proposed at $12,532 compared to $11,73,5.32 last year with benefits of $1,000 ($874.52 in 1982); and some other expenses include: staff travel $650 ($568.611; transportation services. $24,000 ($21,515.251; food, $450 ($378.48): Clinton seeks employment grant By Shelley McPhee Like many other municipalities in the area, (Tinton will be applying for a share of the federal -provincial governments' work incentive program. The Municipal Employment Develop- ment Program is allocating $15,000 to local municipalities. to he used to hire people who have exhausted their Unemployement insurance benefits or are receiving social assistance. At Clinton council's January 17 meeting Clerk ('am Proctor that the money must be specifically used to create new jobs and may not he carried out by workers presently employed by the town Application must he made by .January 31 Council agreed that the grant would he used in conjunction with the town hall - library renovation work Mayor Chester Archibald said that landscaping work, 'that otherwise we couldn't afford " could be done with this financial assistance The program basically covers wages, not more than $400 a week The work can Mart anytime before March 1984 and must nn lune• oN .111111. 1s434 Two other area towns are also applying for i.he work grant in Seaforth it will help to convert the existing fire hall to a police station Costing $7.800 for labor and $12,000 for materials. the town will pay the remaining 21 per cent of the cost in Exeter the money will he used for sidewalk constniction and the town will have to spend an additional $28.000 on material for the project rent for premises, $2,310 ( $2,2001; and ad- ministration, $500) $321 (. All these expenditures are fully subsidiz- ed and the Provincial Association for the Mentally Retarded pays 87 per cent and the Goderich Association for the Mentally Retarded pays 13 percent. Provincial pays for 1983: $36,446 compared to $32,776 in 1982 and Goderich pays $5,446 compared to $4,896.99 Iast year. in other business council approved a tile drainage loan of $12,000, appnved the Seaforth and i)istric•t Arena budget for f)ccember and approved an honorarium of $100 to former councillor ,lire Papple who represented council on the arena commit- tee in 1982. Other councils had paid their representatives from council for each meeting attended .IAN Weather 1982 1981 HI 1 0 HI 18 10 16 12 19 19 9 27 7 18 2(1 8 213 1 12 21 :1 21 10 17 22 1 - 10 23 23 7 2 5 10 74 2 1 10 14 Hain 4 mei Snow 25 cin