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HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News-Record, 1986-12-10, Page 1No. 50 121 YEARS WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 1986 50 CENTS ate': h' i `i 1p'i rnIn. 980`, ;iM t;(��y ves 'owns r« (p oto by Studies to be completed before expansion and renovations can take place at Iiuronvieu,.; • By Alan Rivett Two studies on the needs of senior citizens in Huron County will have to be completed before the proposed expansion and renovations to Huronview can go ahead, county officials were told at recent meeting with provincial government officials. Huronview Committee Chairman Clarence Rau told Huron County Council at their regular meeting on December 4 that new government recommendations include a needs study to determine the needs of all senior citizens in Huron Coun- ty. A second study, called a functional needs study, would show how to implement the needs of county seniors into the Huron - view project. Council authorized the Huronview Com- mittee to proceed with the two studies at the meeting. Also, the county hired Robert Ritz, and Stinson, Montgomery and Sisam Architects to carry out the two needs studies. The firm was hired by the county at a tender price of $375,000 in November to carry out the renovation work at Huron - view, the county -run home for the aged east of Clinton. Mr. Rau said the studies would delay the project until the spring of 1988 and would also carry a $70,000 price tag with the pro- vince and the county each contributing $35,000. The recommendations, said Mr. Rau, came out of a special meeting between Huronview committee members, the pro- ject architect and three officials from the Ministry of Community and Social Ser- vices (COMSOC) on November 20. At the meeting, Ministry officials recom- mended the two studies as they would allow Huron County Council to take an overall approach to Huronview and its many deficiencies with consideration to the services that the county -run home for the aged would require in 10 to 15 years. Mr. Rau said the data collected in the county -wide needs study would be used in the functional needs study of the Huron - view project to determine the nursing and personal care required by the residents; staffing patterns which would preserve the level of service; type or rooms required such as private or semi -private and space required for rooms. From the functional study, a total schematic diagram would be completed for the whole building. He said the study would also indicate the beds required now and in 20 years.' According to Mr. Rau, the Huronview architects would hire two firms to do both studies. The firm ofJohn Stevens and Associates was hired to do the needs study while Marius Shrift Ltd., Environmental Psychologists of Toronto, will complete the functional needs study for the Huron - view project. Council may stop .at 03.2 million limit As for a current timetable for the renovation project, Mr. Rau said the two studies will be completed by late January and could be passed through the county level at their February meeting. Between May of 1987 to January of 1988, the renova- tion plans would be prepared and the tender documents would be finalized with construction beginning by the spring of 1988. Mr. Rau said there are a number of op- tions the county may follow when planning the project. The county may tell the Huronview Committee to renovate the whole building, or the renovations can pro- ceed in distinct phases over the next five or six years. Also, council may decide to stop at the $3.2 million limit previously set by council. The new recommendations for Huron - view were viewed by council as a complete reversal from their original intentions for the project. The $3.3 million project was to be phased over five years, with the county and the province both contributing $1.6 million. The project was set to go ahead this year, but at the county's June 5 1 meeting, the province announced funding would not be forthcoming for the project in 1986. The original renovations called for a revamping of living areas, dining facilities, as well as modernization to kit • - chen, dietary, laundry facilities and the administration offices. Zurich Reeve Bob Fisher asked Mr. Rau why the county were not told these studies were necessary when the project was in- itiated and passed by the county last year. Mr. Rau said he didn't have an answer to the question. However, Huronview Ad- ministrator Wayne Lester interjected that the switch in governments has resulted in a change of heart towards renovations to nursing homes. "John Sweeney ( Community and Social Services Minister) changed direction because he seen the magnitude of the nurs- ing home situation across Ontario. They were all built at the same time and are all in the same predicament. "He has delayed this program by re- questing this (the studies). He's buying some time ' because there wasn't any money left in the 1986 or 1987 budget," said Mr. Lester. Bayfield Reeve Dave Johnston asked council about the legality of hiring the same architects to do the needs studies. he asked council if, since the council is awar- ding a "brand new contract" shouldn't tenders be called. "It seems like we're going to be awar- ding a new contract to the old architect. We might have some kind of legal lawsuit if this contact is awarded to the original bidder. We don't want to put ourselves in a legal battle with the other biders. We didn't choose the lowest in the first place. I'm just concerned what they're going to say," said Mr. Johnston. • Exeter Reeve Bill Mickle concurred with Mr. Johnston, saying the county should consult their lawyer as to what its legal rights are in this situation. Clerk -Treasurer Bill Hanley said council has already decided to hire the architect to do the renovation project at Huronview he doesn't foresee any legal problems with hiring the same architect to do the needs studies. "I don't see any legal complications. We could have hired anyone without calling for tenders," said Mr. Hanley. Huronview Administrator Wayne lester assured council that having the firm of Robert Ritz and Stinson, Mongometty and Sisam do the needs study in addition to the actual renovations was the right move as they are the best in renvations to nursing homes. "These architects have a different con- cept of renovations for the aged. They are the best. They have done work for the region of Niagara which has the most up- to-date nursing homes in Ontario," said Mr. Lester. TOM CUNNINGHAM UPSET • Media blasted for board coverage By Alan Rivett Huron County Library Board Chairman Tom Cunningham blasted the news media for recent coverage of board matters, especially regarding the resignation of Chief Librarian Bill Partridge, at the County..Council meeting on December 4. In a statement read during the Library Board report, Mr. Cunningham said he and the members of his family have had a difficult few months, because of the press reports surrounding the resignation of Mr. Partridge and his handling of the situation. "It has been a complex problem which has been made worse by reports having been written before having the facts, before having the other side," said Mr. Cunningham, the Reeve of Hullett Township. Mr. Cunningham was referring' to, although he did not state implicitly in his statement, a series of columns written in FOCUS newsrtiagazine cond'etnning the Library Board chairman and the county administration for their handling of Mr. Partridge's resignation in September of this year. In defence of the county administration, Mr. Cunningham lashed out against statements in the press that undue pressure had been placed on the commit- tee or on Mr. Partridge. "1 have never once seen the administra- tion do anything that was not first in- structed by council. They eat sleep and breathe county," he said. Mr. Cunningham said he is unconcerned with the alleged personal attacks on hien by the media, as he said he understands the nature of being a public official. "As for the personals attacks, I am Turn to page 2 Clinton Community Players perform before two capacity crowds CLINTON - If the local arts conunittee is out to prove, that small communities can support cultural events, than last week's at- tendance for the play, Lover's Leap should be all the proof they need. The Clinton Community Players, a group of amateur actors and actresses, performed. before two sold out crowds and "one very comfortable sized audience." Director Stephen Oliver was pleased with the overall response and performances, say- ing, "It went better than planned. I was pleased with the community support we received and the support from the arts committee." Mr. Oliver estimates the December 4 per- formance was witnessed by 100 people while the December 5 and 6 performances were seen by 150 people each night. The cast consisted of Bernie Pugh, Sandy Stuart, Linda Linfield, Floyd Herman, Dan Steyn and Cheryl Jefferson. For the past month and a half, they had gotten together to brush up on their acting skills. "Some had acting experience, like Floyd Herman...but for the rest they hadn't done anything since high school," explained Mr. Oliver. He is hoping to put together another per- formance for June and hopes all interested people will contact one of the Community Players or an arts committee member or himself at 482-7072. "We definitely want to build the group. That doesn't mean the cast will be larger because some people have indicated they would like to participate in a different capacity," explained Mr. Oliver. council balks at Bill 16 By Shelley McPhee Haist CLINTON - Council members here are among those in local municipalities who are voicing objections to proposals in Bill 16. Bill 16 is proposed legislation that will see amendments made to the Ontario Municipal Act. Clinton Council members named several objections to the proposed changes that the bill would bring about. "Why don't we just say that we totally disagree'with the concept of Bill 16," Deputy Reeve Rosemary Armstrong suggested. Council members have been asked to comment on the proposed changes. A section that calls for more open meetings of councils suggests, "The meetings of every council and of every local board as defined by the Municipal Affairs Act and of every council and every local board shall be open to the public and no per- son shall be excluded therefrom except for improper conduct." This proposal brought a round of debate from Clinton Council members. In supporting the need for closed meetings, Deputy Reeve Armstrong noted, "There , are times when delicate matters must be discussed in private." Councillor John Cochrane countered, "Meetings can still be closed for personnel issues. What's the problem with opening committee meetings?" Deputy Reeve Armstrong suggested that closed committee meetings allow members the opportunity to "talk things over" and to formulate ideas before presenting them to the public. Councillor Cochrane replied, "What's the difference. Committee discussion usually hits the streets before it's brought back to council." Majority of council members supported the stand taken by Mayor John Balfour on the issue. He noted, "Private meetings allow for open, frank discussion without fear of saying the wrong thing or being misconstrued by the public." Another proposed change of Bill 16 calls for notice of a meeting to be made not less than three days before the meeting date. It also proposes that all appropriate reports to be discussed at the meeting .are to be 'made available to public inspection prior to the meeting. "You could spend your whole day in the office coming up with material," Deputy Reeve Armstrong said. Councillor Case Buffinga added, "It's the biggest waste of money and time there is. You're supposed to guess how many people are going to be at council meetings and you're to have agendas and all material ready for them." Councillor Cochrane noted, "If you need your agendas three days in advance, you'll have to have a cut-off day a week in ad- vance. After that, you'll have to tell people that their problems cannot be addressed at the next council meeting. You'll have more people mad at you than you can shake a stick at." Clinton Council conclusively is opposed to many of the changes that Bill 16 is propos- ing. Council will be submitting its comments to Queen's Park for study. Stackhouse resigns HULLETT 11VP - Council here will.. be. holding a special meeting on'December'30 to choose a new councillor to fill the seat recently vacated by Vic Stackhouse. Mr. Stackhouse had been a councillor for one year, and he explained why he resigned. "What had taken place was I sold my pro- perty in Hullett. I thought it was in the best interest of the ratepayers that they have local representation." He noted that he could have stayed on council, but as he is moving to the Wingham area he thought he should resign. "I con- sidered that they need representation from someone first hand, and I can't do that liv- ing away. , .. Although he has resigned, he feels his time on council was time well spent. "I more than enjoyed my time on council. They are a damn good bunch of guys to work with, they are very co-operative. It was an education," Mr. Stackhouse said. The meeting to choose the new councillor will begin at 1:30 p.m. in the council chambers. Any elector of the municipality who is in- terested in serving as a council member for the remainder of the term, and who has the qualifications to do so, is asked to notify the clerk in writing prior to 5 p.m. on December 29. Local author's book chosen as one of the best works of the year CLINTON - The town's renowned author, Alice Munro, is making the headlines once again. Her latest book, The Progress of Love, is one of seven books chosen as the best works of fiction this year by the New York Times. The author's short stories, "give us worlds so like our own that reading them is, at times, emotionally risky," rioted the New York Times. Other books mentioned are Margaret At - wood's The Handmaid's Tale, John le Carre's A Perfect Stranger, John Updike's Roger's Version, Anglea Carter's Saints and Strangers, Norman Rush's Whites and Ruth Prawer Jhabvala's Out of India: Selected Stories. The Clinton Business improvement Area's Christmas party, held at the town hall -on Decentber 6, was a big success; with 190 tickets being sold. One of the lucky winners that got the chance to get her face made up was Jessica Tyndall. Connie Parliament, alias Bubbles, was responsible for making Jessica up. (David Emslie photo)