HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News-Record, 1983-03-02, Page 1t.
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50 cents —No. 9
By Rod Hilts
The Ministry of Employment and
Immigration announced this week that the
Town of Clinton will be receiving a grant of
$33,600 under the Canada Ontario
Employment Development Project
(COEP) for the installation of sanitary
sewers and sidewalk work in the industrial
park.
The COEP project is in conjuction with
the federal government's New
Employment and Expansion Development
Program (NEED) which is given to
municipalities for enhancing and
repairing municipal properties and
recreational facilities. COEP is financed
by the provincial government while NEED
°Wednesd®y, March 2, 1983
33,6
is funded by the federal government.
The programs are geared toward
unemployment insurance exhaustees and
to social and family services (welfare)
recipients, offering short term em-
ployment.
Clinton will be hiring three laborers and
one truck driver sometime after May 2. All
jobs under the program must run for a
minimum of 12 weeks and at least three
people must be hired.
According to Eric Smith, an em-
ployment counsellor at the Goderich
branch of the Canadian Employment and
Immigration office, the COEP and NEED
programs are a good idea.
•'I think they're terrific. Anything that
promotes employment is a good program.
Merch.:.its and co
By Shelley McPhee
Clinton merchants were reassured last
Wednesday night that renovation work on
the Clinton town hall and library would not
begin until grant applications have been
either approved or rejected.
In a meeting with over 60 merchants and
ratepayers, Mayor Chester Archibald
stressed that the decision to go ahead with
the $1,275,000 project would be determined
within a week's time, depending on
whether a $250,000 Wintario grant is ap-
proved.
A main issue at the meeting centered on
the $465,000 debentures that could be
issued, the remaining cost of the project
not covered by grants.
Mayor Chester Archib.. id noted, "It
can't promise that taxes won't rise." He
noted that education and county
requisitions will continue to rise.
"I would be stupid to try and tell you
your taxes won't go up," he said, "but they
certainly will not be increas . because of
the town hall -library complex."
Dean i ; eid questioned the necessity of an
upstairs auditorium in the town hall. He
noted, "We've only used one-third of the
118th year
r sewer w
The name of the game is to get em-
ployment for unemployment insurance
exhaustees," said Mr. Smith.
The program grants have also been
awarded to the Town of Goderich and the
Townships of Goderich, Tuckersmith and
Morris.
The Town of Goderich receives a grant
of $29,500 for a project that will enhance
and repair municipal properties and
outdoor recreational facilities. The project
will create five jobs over a period of 85
work weeks.
Godeich Township will receive a grant of
$15,700 for landscaping and enhancement
of properties and services.
Goderich Township Clerk Robin
Thompson said three laborers will be hired
for a variety of jobs over a period of 15
weeks. Clerk Thompson said that the type
of work that will be done will be decided by
the weather. Landscaping, fencing and
drain work are being considered at this
point.
The Township of Morris received a grant
for $15,076 for the rehabilitation of road
sides. The project is expected to need three
laborors.
Tuckersmith Township has received a
$16,448 grant that will hire three workers
for a period of 16 weeks.
Tuckersmith Township Clerk Jack
McLachlan said the project should start
around mid April and will include the
clean-up of parks and the general
beautification of the township.
eil iron out the facts
town hall tor many years," ad ng that
every church has a hall and other
municipalities have recently build centres,
covering any need for additional com-
munity halls.
Mayor Archibald said that Clinton needs
a larger community centre. He noted that
senior citizens have shown interest in it
and a London theatre group has proposed
renting it.
"I would for once like to see a built ng
pay for itself," Al Mathers stated. He said
that the Clinton retail section is losing
money, and he proposed a new town hall
building. This complex, he explained,
could house the library on the bottom floor,
town hall and police station on the second
floor and a mini -mall on the street level
main floor.
".The main floor could bring needed
41ejiuept,tpothe town," he stressed. "The
present building is pretty, but we're not
getting the business."
Harold Workman added that Clinton
does not have enough commercially zoned
property.
In reply Clarence Denomme asked,
".Who would you rent the mini -mall to?
Already there are vacant malls."
Mr. Denomme continued by saying that
he didn't sign the business owner's petition
because he objected to their recom-
mendation of a three year halt on the
renovation. He said that boarding up the
two buildings would only create an eyesore
in the core area.
He said it was unfortunate the meeting
had to come through a petition. A petition,
he noted, made it appear that the group
was in opposition, when in fact many who
signed it, only wanted facts and figures.
He further added, "This is the first
council to have the guts to do something
with these two building,s;The buildings are
an asset to the core are* without them the
streetscape would suffer:"
John Balfour added, '1'We're not here to
condemn anything. We avant some money
answers. We're concerned about the
possibility of u iiia jar prgblem arising; likes,
the expansion of the sewage plant:" "
Mayor Archibald said that council had
considered these problems. He said that
Clinton's money would not be completely
tied up in the renovation project. He also
noted that grants would be approved in the
near future to finance a sewage trunk line
through the new industrial park. (See
ever story on Page 1.
Mayor Archibald said that he is
satisified with the work done by architect
C.A. Ventin. "This man does things
thoroughly. He's one of the best in
Ontario."
As an example, the mayor said that
Ventin had additional soil testing done on
the site because he felt the last testing,
down to the 20 foot level, was inadequate.
The company that did the original testing
estimated that it would cost an addtional
$5,000 to do further testing. Ventin went to
another firm and had the work done for
$2,500, for testing down to the 40 foot level.
The mayor also said that difficulties
with the original architects, who put
footings in at the town hall, was settled by
an out-of-court payment.
The mayor said that the restoration plan
artnild work ln':th¢•ee steps. If grants are
-r approved, `then work Will -proceed to secure
the buildings. Tenders may be called, as
early as April, and council will make the
final decision at that time to complete the
project.
Mayor Archibald agreed that a public
meeting could be set-up with the Ventin to
discuss the plans.
Sining out
..............
in strong, clear voices more than +i high school students sang
out at a choral workshop in Clinton last week. Students from
CHSS and Gi)('l attended the two day workshop that wound up
with a Saturday evening concert. (Shelley McPhee photo)
Consultants help choose education director
By Stephanie Levesque
Two consulting firms will be interviewed
by the Huron County Board of Education
regarding services they could provide to
find a replacement for -the director of
education.
At the board's Vela 7 meeting approval
was given to interviewing two firms then
deciding whether or not a consulting firm
or the board will conduct a search for a
director of education. Present director of
education John Cochrane announced last
month he will retire in June of this year
"Whether we decide to go this way or not
(with the consulting firm) will be a result.
of hearing what these people have to say,."
commented chairman i)orothy Wallace
It was noted that some boards in the pro-
vince use the services of consultant firms
to conduct a search for candidates. These
firms prepare a short list for the board to
interview and make a final decision.
"Have we got a policy for hiring?" asked
Trustee Frank Falconer.
Mr Cochrane said that in the past an ad-
visory committee has been established to
hire personnel, made up of members of the
board's standing committees. Trustee
John Elliott added that when the board
was in the process of hiring
superintendents, the expertise of the direc-
tor was used. He noted the assistance of
the director would not be used to hire his
replacement.
Mr. Falconer said the use of consulting
firms makes the board look as though it
can't do anything on its own. Trustee Tone
McQuail disagreed suggesting the board
could find out how the "experts" would go
about looking for candidates then the
board could have its own committee use
this process.
"In the past the board has hired three
superintendents and one personnel rela-
tions administrator and i think the board
has done a very good job. I think we should
listen to the consulting firms," commented
Trustee Murray Mulvey.
To be a director of education the can-
didate must have been a high school prin-
cipal and a superintendent.
"i'd like to add that in the end the board
will be making the final decision," said
vice-chairman Eugene F'rayne.
in other business, the board learned
from the executive committee that it has
postponed discussion on competition with
private enterprise until its February 28
meeting. in the meantime the director will
conduct a survey of all schools in the coun-
ty to find out the kinds of items sold,
the amount of money raised, what the
money was used for and where the items
were purchased or obtained during the
school year 1981-82.
The board also gave support to the
Lambton County Board of Education re-
questing support in retaining the CBC
television program Reach for the Top.
The camera caught Frank Cummings of Clinton lishing his car on Mond::;y afternoon.
Frank, like many other local residents is enjoying the early spring. fact Frank is so
keen on the unseasonally warm weather, that when this photo was ken he was waiting
to see if there might be some action down the street at the outdoor bowling greens.
(Shelley McPhee photo)
V
a woman dies
in iey...car...crasb
Jessie Keyes, of RR 1, Varna, was
killed Feb. 24 in a head-on car crash on
Highway 8 about halfway between
Stratford and Sebringville, OPP here said.
Police said the -woman was a passenger
in an east I stand vehicle driven by George
Keyes, her son of Varna. Elizabeth Beatty,
36, of Sebringville was driving the west-
bound vehicle. The drivers suffered only
minor injuries. Roads were icy at the time
of the accident, a . out 7 p.m.
Funeral services were held at the Ball -
Falconer Funeral Home in Clinton on Feb.
27 for Mrs. Keyes.
Born in ::ayfield on Nov. 11, 1897, she
was the daughter of onald Mackenzie and
the former Mary Stirling. She studied to be
a teacher and on Oct. 10, 1922, was married
to Sherlock Keyes in :,..;yfield.
Following their marriage the couple
lived in Varna, where Mrs. Keyes was
named a life member of the United Church
Women. They raised five children, Mrs.
Chester (Maude) Malloch of Baden, Mrs.
George (Jean) Campbell, Donald of Point
Edward, George of Varna and Kenneth of
Scarborough. They all survive Mrs. Keyes,
as well as 11 grandchildren and two great
grandchildren.
Mrs. Keyes is also survived by a sister
Mrs. Colin (Jean) Campbell and an aunt
Mrs. Charlotte McLaren of London. She
was predeceased by one brother Donald of
Bayfield.
Rev. Alun Thomas led the funeral ser-
vice and an eulogy was given by Rev.
Murdoch Morrison. Interment followed in
the Bayfield Cemetery.
Pallbearers were Douglas Keyes of
Point Edward, Dan and Bob Campbell of
Camlachie, Bill Malloch of Baden, John
Campbell of Bayfield and Merton Keyes of
Seaforth.
Industries must ask
for overnrnent fanding
Unless the Huron County Industrial
Training Committee makes its voice heard
potential government funding for training
programs will be lost.
That from Pat Newington the retiring
chairman of the Huron Training Com-
mittee who was largely repsonsible for the
group's success in enticing government
funding for local training programs. But
before a meagre representation of Huron
County business and industry in Goderich
Thursday, Newington admitted that the
six-year old committee had reached a
turning point.
"The purpose of the committee is to
advise of training and funding for skills
development and the government has
decided that committees can meet the
needs of industry," he said. "We need a
wider representation of industry need in
Huron but if we don't support the com-
mittee it will be allowed to die."
The former general manager of Ex-CeII-
O Corporation Ltd. leaves the committee
to pursue a new career in London, but his
departing words urged business and in-
dustry leaders to unite in the interest of
nurturing a stable economic climate in the
county.
"industry in Huron has trained its own
people in the past but $13,000 to $15,000 is
available to employers over three years
for training and you can't look at that and
say it's insignificant," he said.
Newington admonished the small group
in attendance saying that industrial and
business leaders of the county had to
convey their needs to government before
funding could be made available.
"This committee can be a vehicle to
approach school boards and governments
for funding and training but if we don't
make our voice heard, nothing will be
done," he said. "Unless they ( govern-
ments) know what we want money will go
elsewhere. We have to get involved to
make it work."
Representatives from the provincial and
federal governing bodies outlined the
programs availalbe and potential funding.
Through the federal National Training
Act, industry is now making use of funding
in a wide range of skills and programs.
Brian Gardiner explained that 47 oc-
cupations now form the list of critical
trades.
"The program offers up to three years
funding and is aimed at stimulating
growth in the privat e sector and en-
couraging companies to engage in long-
term training and apprenticeships," he
said. "it's a different approach but now
industry is telling government what its
needs are."
There are about 65 such training and
development committees in existence and
a spokesman for the Skills and Develap-
ment Branch of the provincial governing
body said emphasis has been placed on
training in new trades.
In school training is often a critical
element in employee training and John
Goddard of Conestoga College explained
that over 40 programs are offered. While
Conestoga College offers limited training
to Huron County, Goddard stresseed the
need for a training committee.
"The committee will he important to
obtain money for training, " he said. "It is
difficult to provide training uless the
committee is supported We must know
what you're need is."
There was suggestions from the floor
that paradoxically, while industry in the
county requires some skills in young
people, machine shops are being closed by
the hoard of education Newington
suggested the committee has an excellent
working relationship with the hoard
While the critical meeting of the in-
dustrial training committee was poorly
attended Ile few in attendance left with a
firm resolve to communicate with and
involve as many business and industrial
leaders The committee hopes to get hark
on its feet and will solicit the support of
peers in the business and industrial
communities
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