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HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News-Record, 1983-02-23, Page 1THE BAYFE' UGLE incorporating LYT STA,. ARD y Shelley McPhee Clinton merchants want facts and ac- tion. That's what they'll be getting tonight (Wednesday) when they meet with Clinton town council to discuss the financing and restoration plans for the town hall. The merchants' request hit town council by surprise on Feb. 21 when Mayor Chester Archibald read a petition, signed by more than 70 local business people and residents, demanding a halt to further work on the town hall. Presented at the council meeting, the petition demands that council im- mediately place a moratorium on reconstruction or rebuilding of the town hall for three years. The petition firmly advises council to continue leasing tem- porary quarters until a suitable alter- native and solution. can be worked out. It also stressed that the final decision should be taken to a plebescite, for all Clinton taxpayers' opinion. Signed by Alf Mathers, the petition was presented to 74 various business people and town residents, and supported by 71. Mayor Archibald, concerned about the petition and the opinions of those who signed, has invited supporters to attend a special meeting tonight (Wednesday) with council members. The Mayor sd that the meeting will hopefully resolve the issue, facts and financing will be clearly ex- plained, and he hopes, "a major portion of the petitioners will turn around." While the petition expressed a complete halt to the town hall restoration project, Mr. Mothers later told the News -Record that the merchants who signed it simply want information and costs from the mayor. He explained that personally he is an admirer of olid buildings and supports restoration work, but noted that costs must take priority. Councillor John peeves, vole that opinion at the council meeting when he suggested, '`I'm not sure if the petitioners are opposed, or in the rk." Councillor Jim Hunter said that the problem is a "lack of knowledge." He said that all Clin.onians should be able to learn more about the town 11 work and an open public meeting should be sched led. "Let's not have a kangaroo court with about 30 of these people," he stressed, explaining that from past experience, there cod be difficulties in holuH g a meeting with only the petitioners. He feels that a meeting should have equal representation on both sides. Without this, Councillor Hunter noted, "I feel that it Wednesdoy, February 23, 1983 nts want t Wednesday's meeting may be reduced to a shouting match. Mayor Archibald firmly stated that he is cominittedd to meet with the merchants. He will give them the facts and then gladly hold a well -advertised public meeting as well. He also noted that last fall a similar public meeting was held. Only 75 people attended and only six were opposed to the plan. Councillor Ross Carter noted that up- dated financing and costs may have made people more aware and concerned about the project and both Councillors Hunter and Charlie Burgess said that the question of the town hall future should have been included on the November ballot. Councillor Burgess and Councillor Deeves both noted that in the November election, their platforms were based on opposition to the town hall project. Councillor Burgess further added that if council could guarantess that taxes would not go up, that there will be money for other work and "the town will run smoothly," then he would support the project as well. Taxes, Councillor Carter pointed it out, is the main concern of people who have questioned the work. He noted that close to 90 per cent of the business community has signed the petition, and went on to say, .'Before they just didn't understand what was going on. Now they're worried and they have the right to be worried. Businesses have been losing money for the past two years and their going into,their third. Many are in rented quarters, do you think they'll hang around? No way." "Don't fool yourselves," he warned, "if they (Clinton nienccants) don't get a reasonable thing, they'll be gone." Councillor Hunter stressed that the town must proceed with work to obtain facts, figures and possible grants. "Then we'll know if the taxes will go up," he stressed. The preliminary work on the town hall and library drawings, soil testing and arc 'tent fees may cost up to $70,1 I t, Mayor Archibald said, but noted that work will stop competely if grant money is not available. Will Wintario co le through This week should tell Clinton what the future of the town hall -library is, when approval or rejection of the $250,000 Fishing in February? Yes, that's what they're doing at the Bayfield Harbor these days. Spring it seems has arrived early. The snowdrops are in bloom. barbecues are cooking, people are enjoying the sunny warmth on their front porches, snowmobiles have been stored away and motorcyles are in action. February, usually known as a cold, blustery, stay at home month, is cer- tainly surprising all of us, but no one's complaining. With any luck we'll be washing the windows, in the gardens apid farmers will be on the land very soon. + + + Does anyone remember the old lapel pins of Clinton? Grace Castle brought in a lovely old sample the other day, that pictured the downtown block from Campbell's Men's Wear to the town hall. Edged in dainty gold flowers, the pin is a real treasure. 4 + e - It's nice to see that Doug and Helen Bartliff are continuing a family tradition. These days, outside their Clinton restaurant you may catch a glimpse of the Bartliff family's newest member, Andy, their five month old Newfoundland dog. Children and adults alike have always admired the Bartliff's big, gentle Newfies and it looks like Andy will carry on the tradition with no problem. + 4 + it was fun and games, a few losses and big wins in Clinton on Saturday night when the Kinsmen Club hosted their annual Monte Carlo Night. Chairman Harvey Carter report that more than $1,000 was raised for Cystic Fibrosis. A special thanks goes out to Clinton merchants for donating articles for the auction, and to everyone who made the t -ening a success. Harvey Ashton and his step -son Don McFarlane attended the funeral of Don's twin brother. who died in Oshawa on Feb. 7 Funeral services were held in Marmora on Feb 10 The late Mr. McFarlane had been an invalid for over 12 years, as a result of a car accident in 1970. Mrs. Ashton was ill, and unable to attend the funeral. On the brighter side, the Ashtons had some visitors to their home on Sunday, when Mrs. Ashton's niece and husband, Mr. and Mrs. James Gisel of Welland drove up for the day. + + + The Clinton Over 50 Club has set Friday meeting dates for the next month. Secretary Daisy Holland reports that on Feb. 25 the group will meet at 1:30 p.m. in the lounge at the Senior Citizen building on James Street. The March 4 meeting has been cancelled due to the World Day of Prayer Service. On March 11 the group will be back at Wesley -Willis Church and the birthday party will be expanded into a hospital party. You're welcome to join in. + + + i've been reporting that 1983 will be a year of changes in the look of the Clinton News -Record. Some design changes have already taken place, with the move of sports pages, and The Blyth Standard section now on pages 6 and 7. At the beginning of the year ''we combined Town Talk and First Column, and next week First Column will make another change, it's moving over to the editorial page. Our Odds 'N Ends writer Elaine Townshend will now be submitting monthly columns for your enjoyment, and First Column will also share that spot on Page 4. I'm also considering a new name for the column, but that's a secret until next week. The content of First Column will remain the same, so be sure to keep me in touch with news events, hap- penings and personal notes. The change will allow for more flexibility on Page 1, with more photographs and timely news stories. See you next week on Page 4 118th yes'r n hall Wintario grant application is finalized. That's the largest grant the town is applying for, and Mayor Archibald said, "the whole thing hinges on this Wintario grant." Wintario has promised a decision this week and Clinton is on the possible list, but the mayor admitted, "Wintario really has me worried. If the money doesn't come through I would have no alternative but to have the project scrapped." In the meantime council has introduced a bylaw, to proceed with work on both buildings at an anticipated cost of $1,275.000. Mayor Archibald noted that estimated total cost has been purposely • ets made high. "We've got it loaded," he noted, saying that he hopes tender prices will be lower. The bylaw will not be passed until complete financial commitments have been guaranteed. At the present time the town has only received one guaranteed grant, $125,000 from the Ontario Heritage Foundation. An additional $75,000 from the Foundation has been applied for. As well at least an additional $100,000 is available through the town hall reserve fund. While the money, $150,000 in total, is in two Greymac Trust Company cer- Turn to page 3 F ewe"! to for a ye . r trial y Shelley McPhee After years of discussion and con- troversy, the parking meters in downtown Clinton will be removed. Council at their Feb. 21 meeting agreed to remove and store the meters for a trial period of up to one year. During that time a committee will study parking problems in the town and will bring back recom- mendations to council. The committee will include Councillor John Deeves, BIA member Gerry Hiltz and a representative from the town planning board. While the meters will be removed, two hour parking limits will still be in effect, and additional parking limits have been put on the municipally Rattenbury Street lot, behind the library. The new two hour limits on the Rattenbury Street lot have been set during business hours, also.for a year trial period. Deputy Reeve Frank Van Altena is one of the many local business people who use the lot during working hours. Opposed to the new limits he voiced, "I have to park my car there. If I can't park on main street, and I can't park in the lot, where can I park? Do you expect me to get out and move my car every two hours?" Councillor Jim Hunter, who originally proposed the limits, noted that the Rat- tenbury Street lot was established for the use of shoppers. He emphasized, "It was not put there for employee parking." It was also noted that the lot is used for parking by neighboring apartment dwellers. According to Reeve Ernie Brown when additional land was purchased from Ray Lambers for the lot a verbal agreement was made to supply four Ara eters period parking spaces tor apartment tenants. During business hours these people will have to follow the two hour limits, however overnight parking will be permitted. Councillor Hunter explained, "We want to people to park off the streets during the evening." He further noted that he has been long opposed to the removal of parking meters. Calling the problem "a burning issue on main street Clinton," he said that the trial test is necessary to answer questions that council, business people and shoppers have been debating for years. The study hopes to detemine whether downtown Clinton actually has a parking shortage. 1t is also aimed to resolve the question of whether business owners and employees are taking up valuable parking space that should be available to shoppers. It is a well known fact that local business people and employees use these parking facilities during business hours. Councillor Hunter has suggested that business people could make better use of parking areas behind their shops, as well as using side street parking for their personal use. Councillor Deeves suggested that stickers could be issued to business people and employees to inform police that merchants are using the two hour parking areas. Mayor Chester Archibald said that the cost to remove and store the meter heads would be minimual since this work can be done by the town works department. The BIA, Deputy Reeve Van Altena noted that the BIA will be placing parking signs on the meter posts. Guides -Scouts Thinking Week This week Guide and Scouting groups across the nation are honoring Lord and Lady Baden-1"owell, the famous couple who began the youth groups in the early 1".' I's. In s'lyth on Friday the rownies celebrated the founding of the orgagization with a special international night and pyjama party at the public school. Getting ready to settle in for the evening were, front row, left to right, Jackie Caldwell, Heidi Scrimgeour, Donna Lynn Armstrong, Sarah Rau and Karen : ernard. Back row, Susan Dobie, Talfine Scott, Kerry Baker and Charla Richmond with her Senurf pal, Cindy. The 1€lyth Guides will be holding their sleep -over this Friday night. r Clinton the youth groups also have a busy week. Scouts held a Father and Son banquet, Cubs are racing cars, Guides are honoring other countries, Path- findes and Scouts are preparing for a volleyball match. On Sunday the week will conclude with a parade at the Wesley Willis Church, and the annual pancake brunch at the Clinton Legion. (Shelley McPhee photo) Tuekersmfth proposes *355, By Wilma Oke Tuckersmith Township Council has pro- posed a road budget of $355,400 for 1983. Of this $220,800 is for roadside maintenance, winter control and other maintenance work, while $134,600 is for construction work. A major construction project proposed is for a new bridge on the Roman Line, estimated to cost about $135,000 including road approaches to the bridge. Another project council would like to see is the completion of the storm sewer in Egmond- ville at an approximate cost of $17,000. With approval of the budget, it will be forwarded to the ministry of transportation and communications for final approval. In presenting the budget for council's ap- proval Road Superintendent Allan Nicholson said it would not cause any in- crease in taxes over last year's budget for township taxpayers, although he explained that this budget could not be compared to last year's as the ministry's formula for grants is changed. He said this year no supplementary subsidy will be approved for maintenance work by the ministry but some subsidy may be available for con- struction work. Mr. Nicholson was given permission to attend the Anderson Road School in Guelph in May and the two grader operators, Ken Miller and .Jim Knight, may be sent to another road school if they wish to upgrade their skills. Mike Meyer of Diegel, Malcolm and Hagey of Stratford, presented the 1982 fin incial report for the township it in- dicated that with revenue for the year totalling $1,846,743 and expenditures totall- ing $1,884,161 there was a deficit of approx- imately $38,000 at year's end. Mr. Meyer recommended the township change its accounting system to a one - rate system which would give council members an opportunity for seminars for feed -back and to be able to get any infor- mation they needed. He said there was a government grant of $5,000 for this so that setting up the new system would not cost the ratepayers any money. He said he would be available as a consultant through the grant, to help set up the system which would improve the accounting service and would save the clerk -treasurer's time. Council agreed to the new system later in the meeting, following a discussion with Clerk Jack McLachlan. He said he had planned to ask council to consider the one - rate system prior to learning of the $5,000 grant and now he said it could all be done without the township having to pay for all the new paper forms and the supervision. He said many municipal offices use the one -rate system. Councillor Robert Broadfoot said he had seen the new system working in a hospital office and it was efficient. Brenda McEwin will take up her duties as a new teacher at the special daycare centre for handicapped children at Vanastra on March 1 She replaces Gerry VandenBerg who has resigned as assistant supervisor. Mics Mcf,win was one of nine applicants, three of whom were interview- ed. The township levy for the Ausable- i o Rayfield Conservation Authority for 1983 is $8,170, up from the $7,470 paid last year. Council designated the week of April 17- 23 as Community Justice Week as propos- ed by the Provincial Secretary for Justice. Council turned down the 1983 proposed budget for the Seaforth and District Com- munity Centre. Councillor John Brownridge was upset because of the large deficit anticipated for 1983, amounting to $36,305. He questioned the free -spending by the Centre's management committee and cited the purchase of a quantity of roller skates at $70 a pair. He said he was able to buy a good pair for his daughter at $65, and wondered why it should cost more to buy a quantity than a single pair. Also questioned was the purchase of three' li- quor dispensers for $900. Other council members noted that other organizations were known to have thrown out asimilar type because they broke down too easily and these had been replaced by a simpler type of dispenser costing much less that $100. The five-hour council .session included a lengthy discussion with Diane Durnin, recreation director, regarding the heating system for the swimming pool. in the end a committee was named to bring in a recom- mendation on the type of heating system for the job To do the investigating are Reeve Robert Rell, Councillor Rrownndge and Mrs f)urnin. Because of poor attendance at the week- ly dances at the Vanastra Recreation Cen- tre the County Singles has suspended them, Mrs. Durnin informed council. She said her assistant director is proposing to 1 d ud et replace them with Old Time Festival events on Sundays. Mrs. Durnin suggested that the township be the sponsors of the events to give them a broader base. However Reeve Bell and Councillor Robert Broadfoot objected. Mr. Broadfoot said he had had complaints from local ratepayers that the township should not be in competition with other township groups in money raising events such as dances, which the township has oc- casionally sponsored. Reeve Bell sug- gested the recreation centre itself should sponsor the Sunday events proposed. Mrs. Durnin was asked to continue her investigation of arranging the events and on the availability of liquor licences for Sunday unless a sit down rascal is .served at the event. Wecither 1983 1982 HI 1 O HI 1.0 FF;R 15 3 .1 16 2 -2 17 2 1 18 4 -6 19 .1 2 20 11 2 21 5 1 5 -4 -4 10 0 O. 1 1 2 1 tinow 6 ern