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HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News-Record, 1985-10-16, Page 29omen in The disappointingly small turnout for the quarterly meeting of Women Today held in the old town hall, Exeter, was treated to a candid, interesting and informative panel discussion on women in municipal politics. Leona Armstrong, Reeve of Grey Township and Exeter's Deputy Reeve Lossy Fuller each briefly outlined the circumstances that had launched their political careers, and gd ve their audience a brief lesson di the workings of municipal government. Leona entered the political arena in 1974. A friend stopped in at, her farm kitchen on the morning of the last day to file to suggest she be a candidate in an up -coming election. He said "Just sign this nomination paper to run for Grey Township Council. I'll pick it up this afternoon and look after the rest." By the time he carne back, Leona had decided to try. She won, and has been winning 0 elections ever since. Leona served two terms as councillor, one ern) as deputy reeve, and will stand for re- election as reeve in November. She plans to make a second run for the county warden's chain of office, hoping to follow in the footsteps of her father, the late Harvey Johnston, who served as Huron County warden in 1952. Besides, she noted, Grey has not had a warden since 1945. I,eona related one incident i fere her gender was the cause of a temporary misunderstanding. It occurred the first time she attended an on-site drain meeting in the northern limit of Grey shortly after she had been elected councillor. She was sitting in her car, protected from a raw, biting wind while waiting for the engineer when a man came over and said, "We don't need any damn reporter at this meeting". The property owner had assumed she was a reporter for the Listowel Banner, and apologized after he realized his mistake. The interested parties examined the drain, then crowded into the egg room of a nearby henhouse to escape the cold. Further discussion of drain repair was carried on at high volume, with everyone shouting to be • heard above the noise of the hens. As Grey Township's 200 municipal drains are a constant and important part of council deliberations, Leona took the OAC drainage IIcourse four years ago. She knows a great teal more about drains now than she did when she first enteredmunicipal politics. Leona' has also , discovered that being reeve is a time-consuming job. Her phone I starts ringing about 8 a.m. She may be stopped on the street two or three times during a trip to town, buttonholed by Constituents who want to discuss township . business. She has learned'not to pop a, chicken into the oven, set the temperature at 450, dash . out on an errand and plan to be back in an hour to' turn the heat down. A charcoaled olitics discussed Grey Township Reeve Leona Armstrong (left) and Exeter's Deputy Reeve Lossy Fuller are presented with gifts by Women Today president Debbie Selkirk after participating in a panel discussion on women in municipal politics. ( Photo by Exeter Times Advocate I fowl and a smoke-filled kitchen are mute but aside her excuses - she should be 10 years effective teachers. older, politics might interfere with family Leona stressed the fact .women in politics responsibilities - and filed her nomination roust have the support of their families, who papers with the full backing of husband and will overlook the occasional shirt not ironed, children. She not only won, she did very well or meal not cooked. at the polls. Leona enumerated the principles that Lossy vividly remembers her first council guide her political life: an honest day's meeting, held in a stuffy little'roonr with no w;urk, live within the budget, sacrifice for windows and no ventilation. She sat beside a goals, and' respect for one's word. She man who smoked cigars throughout the revealed she had stopped seeking advice session. As a rookie, councillor, she was from one person after being 'asked each assigned to look into day care grants and time "Do you want an honest answer or a dog control. ( The dog catcher had just political one?" To her, the two should not be resigned.) mutually exclusive. Lossy confessed she went home prepared Leona closed the formal part of her to resign too. The next day she talked to presentation by saying that when we •Bruce Shaw, the newly elected mayor, and postpone involvement we may never decided to stay on. She is glad she did. She accomplish our intentions and be left with soon authored a successful motion still i,o regrets for deeds undone. effect banning • smoking during council The second panelist, Lossy Fuller, also meetings. entered municipal politics in 1974. She had , Lossy moved by acclamation to the been closely •following news reports of deputy -reeve position in the last election, Exeter council events as she typed them into and will seek re-election in November. a word processor at the Exeter Times- Lossy explained that all Exeter council Advocate where she was employed .part- and committee meetings are open, The tinie'as a typesetter. general government committee is Reeve Helen Jermyn, the first woman to ' responsible for finance, property and social sit Ori Exeter council, and the town's first services, and roads and drains also woman reeve, had issued a plea for more encompasses • sanitation. Most issues are wolnen to take part in local politics in the thoroughly aired at committee level, and forthcoming election. While talking about recommendations brought to the .regular the issue with a group of friends, Lossy was twice -monthly council sessions.. challenged by the question "What are you bossy said she feels quite cornfortable at doing t6 serve your community'?" She put meetings even if she is the •only. female, as CLINTON NEWS -RECORD, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 16, 1985 --Page 7A • everyone is treated equally. 0 councillors go out for coffee after a meeting, she makes sure she gets her own bill; she doesn't want anyone to, feel obligated to pick up her tab just because she is a woman. In closing, Lossy posed her question to her listeners, "What are you doing for your community?," and reminded them that "it is no more difficult for a woman to get elected than it is for a man." Because of their positions on councils, both women sit on Huron County Council where the mayors, reeves and deputy reeves of the county's 16 townships, five villages and five towns meet together to govern the county. Both expressed great satisfaction in serving at the county level, and felt their sex was an advantage rather than a handicap on many of the committees. In response to questions, Leona and Lossy said campaigning was not very expensive and figured costs shouldn't exceed $200. They advocated newspaper ads, having cards printed, and. going -door to door soliciting support. Although only 10 names of people on the tax roll are required on a nomination paper, Lossy advised getting 12 t6 14 in case any of the signers turned out to be ineligible. • Neither woman has been defeated in an election. Ilowever, Leona said the last time she ran as reeve she was opposed by a roan who had never served on council in any capacity. She still finds hard to accept the fact 270 people voted for someone with no previous experience in inunicipal affairs. Lossy confessed that as a self -admitted "'stubborn, headstrong" person, accepting defeat 00 0 motion she feels strongly about is difficult, hut once the vote is over she accedes to the majority view ,and the argument is left behind as council once again begins working together. The women agreed that the honoraria they receive do not compensate for all the hours they spend on municipal business, but Lossy pointed out "You don't get paid for what you, du, and that's not why you are doing it", . Both women stated their reason for entering municipal politics was a liking for people, and a desire to work for the betterment of their communities. 13y word and by example they encouraged other women to take the plunge into the pool of municipal politics by saying in effect, ':(rune 00 in, the water's fine". 1985 migratory atory it n.t n. regulations announced . OTTAWA - N•ew regulations governing the 1985 migratory game bird hunting 'seasons across Canada impose bag and possession limits on duck hunters in the prairie pro- vinces and in eastern Canada, and stipulate the purchase of a $4 validation stamp to be attached to all migratory game bird hunting licenses. • The regulations are enacted by the federal environment department's Canadian Wildlife -Service, the agency responsible for • the management of migratory. birds in Canada. • "Hunting restrictions have become essen- tial for the protection, of declining waterfowl populations," said Environment Minister Suzanne Blais-Grenier, "and funds obtained through the sale of the stamp will be used to • protect and improve habitat for wildlife." Since the•rnid-seventies, duck populations ' throughout' the prairie region have been declining. The Mallard, the most important - game duck across the region, has suffered particularly high losses. Compared to the 10 Year average, Mallard numbers are down 32 percent in southern Manitoba, 37 percent in southern Saskatchewan and 23 percent in southern Alberta. Similarly, total ducks for the same area are down 31 percent, 23 per- cent and 26 percent respectively. Poor water conditions, widespread degradation 'of nesting cover, and low reproduction rates are larigely responsible for the decline. Hassle -free hair for men! MEN'S PERIVIM SPECIAL... 29° Includes Cut 8 Style Now 'till Oct. 26 the I-tII SL4DID "the frierofy shop that cares" CORNER OF GIBBINGS AND RATTENBURY STREETS, CLINTON PRONE FOR APPOINTMENT 48i-7C4i, OPEN. Monday Friday and Saturday 011 4 p.m.; plus Tua,doy and Thursday nvonings. A long-term waterfowl harvest strategy being developed jointly by Canada and the United States calls for regulations to effect a 25 percent reduction in the, sport harvest of Mallards when riumber•s of this species fall below 6.5 million breeding birds.-As.the con- tinental population was below the critical level this year (5.47 million), hunting restrictions have become necessary. • • In• eastern Canada I Ontario, Quebec and +the Atlantic provinces), lower bag and possession limits are still in effect for Black Ducks'to protect that species. • Posters and abstracts summarizing the regulations by province and territory displayed in post offices across the country provide additional information to waterfowl hunters. Along with migratory game bird hunting permits on sale in post offices beginning August 1 for $3:50 as in previous years, hunters will be required this year for the first time- to purchase an additional $4 •stamp which must be attached to their per- mit to validate it. Indian and Irtuit hunters who do not need a permit are not required to purchase the Stamp. Revenue from the stamp will go to the newly. created Wildlife Habitat Canada Foundation. an independent non-profit organization established to help preserve wetlands and other wildlife habitat. The.stalnp, designed by renowned Cana- 6 BACHERT MEATS "Try our own smoked pork chops _.,)A for the bar -b -q season' I, /CUSTOM KILLING, FREEZING Cutting & Wrapping KILL DAY ON TUESDAY .If 'All meat Gov't. inspected on the f 1 MILE EAST OF WALTON 887-9328 'dian artist Robert tsaceruan, will also be available for purchase at the same price to • non -hunters at post office philatelic outlets throughout • Canada and through Canada Post Corporation's snail order service,. To help gather survey data needed for the management of migratory game bird populations, hunters are asked to keep ac- curate records of the migratory birds they take, using the form attached to each hun- ting permit. This information will be re- quested from a random sample of hunters after the season ends as part of the 1085 Harvest Survey. Data obtained will help determine the total annual harvest and the. status of the duck and goose populatilins in Canada. In 1984, 415,000 migratory bird hunting permits were sold across Canada, In Northern Ontario breeding conditions were largely unchanged compared with past years. In the 'Hudson Bay area breeding conditions were slightly advanced. which could increase the Canada Goose nesting success. In southern Ontario, habitat .conditions were a little drier than in recent years. Breeding succdess is average for Mallard. slightly down for Black Ducks•and Green - winged Teal, up for Wood Duck and Canada Goose: In general, it looks like a lower than average year for water fowl nesting success in southern Ontario. • DRYSDALE MAJOR APPLIANCE CENTRE LTD. SALES WITH SERVICE "The Place to BUN, Appliances NEW AND USED HENSALL 262-2728 CLOSED MONDAYS Twin City School of Halr°stylin Waterloo, Ont. oHairatyling Barbering 1%-t^ Bfar Piercing °Make-up 55 EA) St. East 886-6305 ./ Monday to FridaY 8:30 am to 4:30 pm Clwsossts mrart 1a o6avary els iirstlh ' Flu,: Township of Tuckersmith RATEPAYER'S MEETING will be held on TUESDAY, OCTOBER 22 at the HURON CENTENNIAL SCHOOL 13RUCEHIELD Commencing at 8:00 p.m. All Ratepayers Welcome J.R. McLACHLAN Clerk -Treasurer Township of Tuckersmith Let's Talk here are some straight facts on smart planning • Investments • Insurance • Taxation • Higher Income • Greater Savings • Lower Taxes "IT COSTS YOU MONEY TO WAIT" INVESTMENTS Et INSVfAtVCE AGENCY LTD, 53 WEST ST. GODERICH 524.2773 toll free 1-800.2856503 DENNIS i,iTTi E Financial Consultant GO 300 20 L.300.70 NOMINATIONS Notice. to Muniicipai Electors TOWNSHIP OF TUCKERSMITH TAKE NOTICE that persons may be nominated as candidates in an election between 9 o'clock in the forenoon and 5 o'clock in the afternoon of nomination day, Monday, October 21st, 1985, but nothing in section 35 of the Municipal Elections Act, R.S.O. 1980, c. 308 prevents a person filing a nomination paper with the Clerk during his normal office hours during the four days immediately preceding nomination day. Offices for which persons may be nominated: A. Reeve, Deputy -Reeve, and three Councillors for the Township of Tuckersmith. B. One member to the Huron County .pard of Education for the Township of Tuckersmith and the Town of Clinton. C. One member to the Huron -Perth Roman Catholic Separate School Board for the Townships of Tuckersmith and Stanley, and the Town of Seaforth. Each of the members so nominated, if elected, are to serve a three- year term, commencing December 1st, 1985 and for 1986, 1987 and,. 1988. Where the number of candidates for an office is not sufficient to fill the number of vacancies to which candidates may be elected, on the Wednesday following nomination day, October 23, 1985, the Clerk may between the hours. of 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. receive and certify additional nominations for the office in respect to which there was an insufficient number of candidates. For further information regarding the procedures under the Election Act, contact the undersigned. J.R. McLachlan, Clerk -Treasurer. Township of Tuckersmith, GMB 117, R.R. No. 5; Clinton, Ontario. NOM 110 LIST OF ELECTORS FOR TOWNSHIP OF TUCKERSMITH 1985 Clerk's Notice of First Posting of Preliminary List. Preliminary List, 1985 of the Township of Tuckersmith, County of Huron. Notice k Hereby Given that in accordance with Section 25 of The Municipal Elections Act, on October 15th, 1985 we will be posting, in our offices and such other places as set out below, a list of all persons entitled to vote in the said municipalities at the November 12th, 1985 Municipal Election. And Whereby Call upon all persons who are eligible voters to check the list for any er- rors or omissions and any person whose name has not been included in the preliminary list for polling subdivision may file an application with the Clerk to have such error or omission corrected. The Last Day For Filing Any Such Application k Wednesday, October 23rd„ 1985. And Further Take Notic'e that the Revision of the List will commence in the Office of Clerks at the Municipal Offices set out below on Tuesday, October 15th, 1985, at 9:00 AM and continues until all applications have been disposed of. LOCATION OF LIST OF ELECTORS Municipal Office, GMB 117, R.R. No. 5, Clinton, Ontario. Telephone No. 482-9523 Dated: This 9th day of October, 1985. J.R. McLachlan, Clerk -Treasurer Township of Tuckersmith