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Clinton News-Record, 1987-02-04, Page 1A I HE BA 1 FIELD BUGLE NO. 5 121 YEARS WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 1987 50 CENTS Gord Yohn joins council Clinton's newest councillor Gord Yohn took the oath of office on February 2 as Mayor John Balfour and Clerk Marie Jefferson wac- By Shelley McPhee Haist CLINTON - Gord Yohn has joined the council ranks here. Ile was elected by coun- cil to fill the vacant seat when they met on February 2. Mr. Yohn will be taking the spot left by Ken Holmes. Mr. Holmes resigned his coun- cil position recently when he was hired as deputy clerk treasurer for the municipality. Mr. Yohn was one of three candidates who applied for the council position. The successful candidate has lived in Clin- ton for seven years and has worked with On- tario Hydro for 38 years. For the past 17 years Mr. Yohn has worked as area manager for Ontario Hydro in three dif- ferent locations. His year he will retire from the company. Mr. Yohn said that he has had a long association with Clinton, dating back to the "boom years" when the Canadian Forces Base was located in the area. He returned to Clinton after working at thed on. (Shelley McPhee Haist photo) the base, noting, "I had a feeling for Clinton. I felt at home here. The town had taken the service people, is as if they were an impor- tant part of the community." With his upcoming retirement frim On- tario Hydro, Mr. Yohn says he is looking to pursue new interests and challenges. As a municipal councillor he said he would (earn by listening and he would not make unrealistic promises, ''I don't promise sky scrapers for Clinton or to make everyone.., rich."In selecting Mr:-Yohn by a majority vote, council members said t at they had the un- fortunate to of g down two other eligible candic or the job. To the other candidates, Gail Fraser and Mike Russo, Deputy Reeve Rosemary Arm- strong urged, "Please consider running in the 1988 municipal elections." Mayor John Balfour further suggested that Mrs. Fraser and Mr. Russo consider working on some of the municipal commit - Apartment plan down the drain By Shelley McPhee Haist • CLINTON - In a surprise move, contrac- tor John Kassies has withdrawn his pro- posal to rezone residential land here for the construction of a two apartment buildings. The proposed development had sparked heavy opposition, as well as support, from local neighbors in the High and East Street area. As Clinton Council met on February 2 they were prepared to continue the battle of the rezoning issue as a bylaw to authorize the change was set to be voted on vote. Council did vote on ,the bylaw, but reluc- tantly turned it down. The issue came to a sudden halt when Clerk Marie Jefferson presented a letter from Mr. Kassies, noting that he has decid- ed to withdraw his application. He had re,. quested the rezoning of three lots in the East and High Streets area to allow the construc- tion of apartment units. The application called for a change from low density residential to high density residential use. The application had .been met with con- siderable controversy. One petition named some 59 people who were opposed to the proposal. Too, there was support in favor of the Kassies proposal. At the February 2 council meeting former Clinton mayor Chester Archibald reiterated his previous stand on the issue, "We badly ' need apartments. I'm very sorry that this has not gone ahead. I.hope that someone else will go ahead with this." John Fisher, a resident in the area of town tees of Clinton. In her appllcatim f0 t4 4 council position, Gail Fraser, said,. " Clinton needs to pro- gress. It needs new business if it's going to survive." Mrs. Fraser has lived in the Clinton area for some 20 years and is a new home owner in town. She has worked in the travel in- dustry for eight years. In his presentation to council, Mike Russo said he could offer the municipality many years experience in the business world. He is the owner of M.P. Russo and Associates Inc., a company that deals in specialty advertising. Mr. Russo said that was actively in- terested in municipal politics, and noted, "I hear from too many arm chair quarterbacks." A Clinton and area resident for 10 years, Mr. Russo said, "I want my children to know Clinton as a thriving community as they grow." The Clinton Scouts and Pathfinders held a successful cross-country ski jamboree from January 31 to February 1. Here a few Scouts take off for the' 10 kni run. ( David Em'+slie photo) Scouts, Pathfinders host ski event A successful Scout and Pathfinder Cross- Country Ski Jamboree and 5 or 10 km race waS held at Central Huron Secondary School from January 31 to February lst. There were about 107 Scouts and Pathfinders from all.taver including some from Sarnia, Ailsa Craig, Lucan, Kirkton, Goderich, Chatham, St. Thomas and More. Meals were provided at the Clinton Legion by Scouting parents of Clinton and a swim for an hour at the Vanastra Recreation Cen- tre was also included. Everyone who entered the race, com- pleted it and there were only a few blisters. Congratulations to all, especially thos'e who went home with medals and trophies. that had come under debate saida"Not all the residents are opposed (to the applica- tion ). We feel the proposal will enhance the property and fullfill a heed." He presented a petition signed by 24 peo- ple who supported the Kassies plan. Ron Detners who spoke at an earlier coun- cil meeting on the petition against the pro- posal said that he in fact supports the need for more apartments in town. A contractor by trade, Mr. Demers told council that4le is looking for suitable sites for such a develop- ment and is considering two zoning changes to allow this, " At the- February 2 council meeting, Mr. Demers indicated that he had received negative feedback on his stand taken over a the Kassies issue. "I don't like being slandered for com- ments that a group of people has made as a neighborhood." Mr. Demers suggested that council could help contractors in the development of addi- tional housing in Clinton if they worked to provide more land and better conditions. Mr. Demers pointed out that he had per- sonally developed a street in town and built homes there. "A contractor can't do this himself I would gladly go 50-50 with the town to develop housing and apartment units." In conclusion, Mayor John Balfour said that he was disappointed to see that the Kassies proposal was withdrawn. He remarked on Mr. Kassies' "entreprenurial effort" and the "selfish individuals" who who opposed the proposal. Re -zoning okayed for new business CLINTON - Council has given its seal of approval that will see the former Pentecostal Church on Victoria Street rezoned to accommodate a new business. Despite public objections voiced at the February 2 council meeting, a bylaw allowing the zoning change was okayed. Some residents in the area of the propos- ed change said they were not aware of previous meetings held to discuss the zon- ing amendment. However, Mayor John Balfour stressed that all property owners in a 120 metre range of the land in question were notified of the proposal. Fifty-nine notifications were sent out in the mail and none were returned. "All we can assume is that everyone was notified," Mayor Balfour said. "However, the notices did not specify that the change was for Color Your World (a new business proposed for the location)." Victoria Street resident Marilyn Tyndall said she -was opposed to the zoning change Everyone had lots of fun with their new friends! Thanks to everyone who made this year's Ski Jam possible. Hope to see you again next year! The Ski Jam Committee wishes to thank everyone that helped with the ski weekend and to make it a success. -Edited by? Naomi Duddy when space is available in the downtown core to accommodate the business. "The core are does not have to expand now," she noted. Mayor Balfour asked where in the main business section of town is adequate space available for the Color Your World fran- chise. Mrs. Tyndall said that people who have made the business proposal have in- dicated that they have a second choice available for a downtown location. She further noted, "My property is going to depreciate if there are a lot of businesses going down there (on the southerly end of Victoria Street I." In support of the zoning change, Coun- cillor Bonnie Jewitt said, "Everyone wants development as long as it's not in your backyeard. We're going to have to take a stand or stay like this forever." Council did take a stand, unanimously voting to allow the zoning change from residential to highway commercial. Health Unit not suffering Huron County Warden Brian McBurney says the Huron County Health Unit and its programs are not suffering under the acting medical officer of health, Dr. James McGregor of Wingham. Mr. McBurney, Turnberry Township Reeve and 1986 chairman of the Huron County Board of Health, was commenting on a letter from Shirley Chalmers that was carried recently in most area newspapers. Ms. Chalmers is a public health nurse with the health unit. In her letter, she sug- gests a decrease in service provided and a lowering of morale within the unit had slow- ly begun to happen since the resignation of Dr. Harry Cieslar in July, 1986, after five years as medical officer of health for the county. Ms. Chalmers also points out there has been no permanent medical officer of health "that has been educated in and who is com- mitted to public health" since that resignation. "Possibly no one has been willing to put up with the present county situation," Ms. Chalmers adds in her letter along with the claim that county policy and practise, as it relates to the health unit, has been in direct conflict with the Huron Protection and Pro- motion Act since its inception. The Ontario Ministry of Health has known about this situation, the letter claims, since the fall of 1985 when it carried out a provin- cial organizational audit, but still nothing has been done. . "The minister i Murray Elston 1 even resides in this county, which makes his lack of action even more difficult to understand," Ms. Chalmers says. Asked to comment, Mr. Elston declined since the government, while funding the boards of health in the province, is not in- volved directly with their administratio Mr. McBurney said the board satisfied that programs were not suffering since Dr. McGregor was appointed acting MOH in August. He said he knew of no pro- grams that were dropped. "As a matter of fact, we've added some under Dr. McGregor," he said. One in particular is the mental health pro- gram, Mr. McBurney said. He also said Dr. McGregor had been attempting to introduce another program - vision testing for school children in co-operation with the University of Waterloo — but it was turned down by the ministry for being too costly. "Although the same program is in operation in the Region of Waterloo," he said. "Morale, too, is fine within the unit, Mr. McBurney claims. He said it was his understanding that health unit directors and department heads give no indication otherwise. a" Accompanying the letter of Ms. Chalmers was one of Dr. Cieslar's which he had originally sent to The Focus, published in Goderich. In that letter, Dr. Cieslar alludes to rumors that Dr. McGregor was the per- sonal physician of the chairman of the board, who at that time was Mr. McBurney. "I don't know where he got that from," Mr. McBurney said of the allegation. "My family doctor is Dr. ( Marie) Gear." The board of health is currently negotiating with a candidate for the MOH position, Mr. McBurney said. The can didate, a Toronto native under contract at present to the Newfoundland government, is expected to give the board an answer to its offer of employment sometime in March. Settlement made with chief librarian The Duron County Library Board has reached a settlement with its chief librarian, accepting a proposal that called for his immediate resignation and salary payments extending to September 30 in lieu of notice. The board unanimously endorsed a mo- tion at a closed session following its Jan. 27 meeting that said although the library board and council was prepared to work properly and productively, it was in its best interest to accept a proposal from Bill Partridge to resign forthwith and that salary would be provided by the county un- til Sept. 30. The board will also provide a letter of reference for Partridge. Partridge has effectively terminated his employment with the county and final terms of the separation are before the lawyers. Partridge said he will hand in a letter of resignation. "There are a few details left to be work- ed out between the lawyers," he said. "These things, hopefully, have some 'up'. I • will miss Goderich and some close friends." Library board chairman J:B. Robinson said the severance was completed under "amicable circumstances" adding that it was not in the hoard's or Partrdge's best interest to have him work until June 30, a term that was previously discussed by the parties. "He hasn't actually resigned but the matter is finalized as far as we're concern- ed," he explained- "We did not ask for a resignation. We've been in the middle of this thing all along and it's been difficult. 1 think the matter has been handled satisfactorily for all concerned." County administrator, Bill Hanly, said Partridge's employment was terminated as of Feb. 1. The county will pay Partridge a lump sum of $26,197 as per the terms of the separation agreement. The motion passed at the board meeting was endorsed by Robinson, G.D. D'Arcey. Dave Johnston, Warden Brian McBurney. Isabel Elston, Janis Bisback and Martina Schneiker. Huron County Council meets Thursday', Feb. 5 at 10 a.m. and the matter will be brought before the entire council. The library board will meet again 'Monday, Feb. 9 in the council chambers of the cour- thouse at 10 a.m.