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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1982-06-16, Page 4PAGE 4—GODERICH SIGNAL -STAR, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 16,1982 DAVE SYKES As the minister pronounced the couple man and wife the groom applied a lusty clinch on the bride and smooched her with a fervor that solicited giggles and knowing glances from the invited guests. My cousin and his new bride became a team Saturday, prepared to do battle together in an uncompromising and com- plicated world. Love apparently conquers all. Relatives dabbed at teary eyes, the same time trying to figure out how to conquer the electronic intrecasie& of the. flash onSlaeir camera to get a picture that wouldn't mean. anything to anybody three' days from now. Crying, sobbing and taking out -of -forks pictures are rules of the game though, In celebration of the newlywed's happiness. I rather enjoy weddings although the missus claims•I have an errant peztchant for J — eating and drinking to excessand getting too n. friendly with the bridesmaids Regardless, I rt£� hold firmly to away fondness for weddings, especially in my crazy family, when celebrations are apt to continue, unabatted, foetwo or three days or until the next family wedding. It has been a source of contention between the little lady and I since she was first ex- posed to the antics of my family zoo. I have maintained, and with good and substantive reason, that her family was staid, sober and generally didn't have a due about partying. While somewhat reticent to concede the issue, the missus was forced to capitulate to the -facts at hand. My family will party for no reason, whichis good reason as far as they're concerned. The weekend wedding provided ample excuse and taking advantage of the op- portunity, the party continued through Sunday, much to the chagrin of my stomach, which was achingly pleading for mercy. In retrospect, the pain Was small com- pensation for the enjoyment extracted. The sentimentality sent this sedulous scribe into serious thought, as the beaming couple made its way down the aisle, as man and wife. I leaned over to the life partner and asked if she would mind getting married again. To me, of course. "Are you kidding," she shot back in- stantaneously with a sneerful look that doubted the sincerity of my romantic, but obviously insane, proposal. I was devasted by the flat rejection from the resident mother who once viewed this scrawny scribe as the fulfillment to wedded bliss. To be honest, the little lady had good reason to turn her nose down at a.second wedding. There's no end to the meticulous planning and there's too many details to be bothered with. Certainly today, the costs of getting married are prohibitive and the only alternatives are living together or limiting the size of the celebration. Of course a fella could choose not to marry at all, but as the old story goes, what would he do for aggravation. Despite the cost of a wedding, and despite the fact that a good percentage of marriage end up in divorce within the first ten years, couples are still flooding to the altar. Driving a car is a serious responsibility and the government requires potential drivers to pass examinations and hone their skills with a learner's permit. Perhaps the same logic should be applied to marriage. If consen_ ting adults could practice at marriage with a learner's permit, the divorce rate would certainly decrease. So would the number of weddings. It looks as if my chances of getting married again are slim, so I'll just have to enjoy the festivities when others take the plunge. PCNA BLUE RIBBON AWARD Second class mail registration number -0716 SINCE 1848 THE NEWS PORT FOR GODERICH & DISTRICT Iermded M IMS end prblishad every Wednesday of Underact. Ontario. Member of the CCNA and OWN*. Adver- tising rates on request. Subscriptions payable In advance • 1.M In Caned,. •95.11 to U.S.A.. 'SOAR to a11 other own - Mos. single •oples SM. Display advertising rates avllebls on request. Please ask for Rete Card Ito. 11 effective Oc- tober 1. 1MS1.. Second dew well Registration Number 1711. Advertising is accepted on the condition that In the event of typogrephkel error. the advertising space occupied by the erroneous item, topath.r with reasonable eliminant for denature. will not be larged for but that balance of the advertisement will be paid for at *be ep• plkable rata. M the event of a typographical error advertising goods or services eta wrong price, goods or services way aft be meld. Advertising b merely en offer to sell. and may be withdrawn et any time: The Signal -Star is not responsible for the for or damage of unsolicited manuscripts. photos or other materials used for reproducing par - poses. PUBLISHED BY: SIGNAL -STAR PUBLISHING LIMITED ROBERT G. SHRIER-President and Publisher DONALD M. HUBICK-Advertising Manager DAVID SYKES-Editor P.Q. BOX 220. HUCKINS ST. INDUSTRIAL PARK GODERICH NTA 4116 FOR BUSINESS OR EDITORIAL OFFICES please phone (519) 524-8331 Mustw�rk together There was a hint of animositybetween members of town council and the PUC Monday as the two groups met to discuss the expansion of the water distribution system in the town of Goderich. The parties are not strangers to animosity; it seems, but the meeting was more than constructive in getting the sides together for rational and articulate discussion on a project of mutual concern. The discussion was in- formative and encouraging, but the sides differ greatly on financing. No-one was in dispute of the fact that the town's water supply and distribution system is inadequate and perhaps, woefully so. The town and PUC have been planning the expansion of the storage and distribution system for years r but the mechanics of financing block an amicable solution at the moment. The Ministry of the Environment owns and operates the water filtration plant, but would like the municipality to assume that control and undertake the expansion at a cost of $1.8 million. The ministry.would inject over $700,000 into the project and the town {, would have to raise the remaining $1 million plus. There's no dispute that the system needs work but there was concern over the advantages of the municipality taking over control of the water distribution system and the financing. There was no demonstrable evidence in- dicating any advantages to the town assuming ownership of the filtration plant. • A consulting engineer, hired by the PUC, suggested in a report that the town assume control of the plant and proceed with the expansion plans. But, the author later claimed in the same report, there would be no visible advantage to the town, if it assumed ownership. The engineer intimated that savings might be realized through automation; which would eliminate the need for two operators. If there are no advantages to assuming control of the plant, the town and PUC would be better off leaving the ministry in control. But, the real contentious issue revolved around financing the $1 million expansion necessary to upgrade the system. The PUC wants the town to apply for a debenture on its behalf, and the payments, which will range from $150,000 to over $200,000 annually, will be raised through a reserve fund and increased residential water rates. The PUC is puttingaway $38,000 a year in reserve for the project. It also projects that an annual increase of on the residential water bill, coupled with the reserve; will cover the costs. The bottom line was that taxpayers would simply cover the costs of the debenture,. at interest rates of up to 20 per Cent, through increased water rates. Paradoxically, residents of Goderich live on the brink of a natural water source and pay one of the highest rates for water in the province. Council members were cautious and raised legitimate concerns about the taxpayer's ability to shoulder the cost of the project through increased water rates. And also the PUC's ability to cover the annual payments, that could exceed $200,000, simply through the water rates. It was obvious that council member's concerns over the financing miffed PUC chairman Albert Shore and he stated that the PUC simply wanted council to act as the agent in securing the debenture, and that the PUC would raise the money as they saw fit. If the taxpayers will ultimately finance the project, then both parties should reach an amicable solution and as Stan Profit said, devise the best method of raising the funds. To leave the PUC to raise the funds would only give Goderich residents the dubious distinction of paying the highest water rates in the province. It didn't appear that PUC members thought the financing through thoroughly, but were willing to ad on a recommendation that residents would only pay an ad- ditional $27 annually and the project would proceed. Ona monthly basis, taxpayers could handle that burden. But, it became blatantly obvious that the increase would not cover the debenture debt. The water system has been inadequate for a number of years and the imposition of watering restrictions became a fact of life. Certainly residents will be willing to live with those restrictions until attractive financing is available. To suggest, as one PUC member did, that the provincial government wouldn't take a grant request from the town of Goderich seriously, if they failed to act immediately, indicates the government is insensitive to the needs of the people. That should not be the case. The two groups still may have some differences but one thing is painfully obvious. They have to work together in the interest of the taxpayer and the town of Goderich. D.S. Employees praised In a recent edition of the Signal -Star a writer offered a letter in praise of the decision of a group of employees to grant concessions to their employer. An agreement such as that, while certainly not the most attractive alternative, is a sensible one. One that mahy employees have had to accept in recent months. The action taken by Champion employees does deserve credit and praise. The ultimate decision to grant con- cessions was no doubt an agonizing one for both unionized and non-union employees. But the concessions speak well of both the company and employees. Employees at all levels shared in the company profits • last year and now, during restrictive economic times, they are sharing the burden of a slow and more com- petitive market. �+ Certainly, the decision to grant concessions to an em- ployer is not an easy one, but it .is a decision that many Canadian labourers have been confronted with recently. • Everyone has to decide for him or herself, but, com- promise can go a long way towards improving relations and the economy. Unions have been asked to take a tough stand against granting concessions to employers, but, ultimately, the decision is a personal one and one that could mean the difference between a regular paycheque and unem- ployment. Workers at Inco in Sudbury have made the decision not to grant concessions and are subsequently on the picket line in support of their demands. It is difficult to sit in judgment of their decision but the strike has a great spinoff effect on the community. Many people could suffer as a result of the action taken. People generally live according to their means, and concessions could dictate an alteration in lifestyle. It seems now that Canadians will have to live with that and suffer through it. The action by Champion employees should be offered up in exemplary fashion and the government should take notice that some Canadians are willing to make sacrifices. The government must also show some restraint and leadership in this respect when dealing with employee contracts. Even reasonable ceilings on future contracts would at least offer evidence of a meagre at- tempt to practice restraint in government spending. Leadership; should start at the top with the legislators agreeing to a wage freeee, but much of our economic leadership and hardship, is surfacing from the bottom. D.S. ummer breeze By Dave Sykes DEAR READERS SHIRLEY KELLER I hada very disturbing chat last week with an old friend of mine from high school, Bill Batten. Bill just happens to be the editor of The Exeter Times -Advocate ... and in my opinion, a pretty hard-nosed newsman. We were discussing the 33 percent increase that the Huron County school trustees voted to themselves sometime last winter. That little boost was not reported until last week, by the way. The matter ,was carefully disguised within committee minutes and probably wouldn't have been discovered even now if some public-spirited citizen hadn't ac- cidentally heard the scam and spilled the beans. Bill and I talked about Chairman Dorothy Wallece's attitude that another $1,600 per month "doesn't make much difference in a $32 million budget". And we discussed the board's simple logic that if The Education Act says that's how much money is allowed for the job in Huron, that's how much money trustees here should have. All trustees. Never mind if some don't ears it ... and the word is out that there are trustees even here in Huron who are about as effective as a screen door in a submarine. I was getting pretty hot under the collar about it all. I thought it was downright cheeky of board members to take such a whopping hike when Canadians from British Columbia through Newfoundland are caught in financial miseries the Lies of which we haven't seen since The Great Depression. - Why, here in Goderich we're still reeling from a voluntary pay cut at Champion, one of town's biggest employees. How can the board members explain that away I wondered? I even suggested to Ball that if the five weekly newspapers put their collective shoulder to the wheel, we could make a real stink about this and maybe even cause board members to rethink their decision. T'nat brought a-littie-chuckle from m-mypal- Bill: He was probably remembering the last time the board bowed to pressure and cut its stipend. That lasted only until the next opportunity when the rabble-rousers were absent. But Bill, who by the way is senior to me in years as well as in experience, told me to cool my jets. "Nobody cares,Shirley," he told me evenly. "Nobody cares what the board of education members do. Stop flogging a dead horse. Nobody cares." Where's your fighting spirit man, I thought? Where's that old editorial fire? During the weekend I talked to a few people about. it. I won't say people aren't angered and frustrated by the board's decision to pay themselves top dollar. They are. People are upset about quite a few things these days. This is just one more smack in the mouth But the truth is just what Bill suspected. The board office won't he stormed by screaming mobs of irate taxpayers; smug trustees will be able to honestly report they didn't get any flack from their constituents; and this fall when nominations roll around, there won't be a flood of new candidates to take the place of current board members. Fact is Huron County residents are quite content to let the school board trustees take another $100 per month ... or anything more they can eke out of the public purse. And it is just such apathy that board members count on when they go into their deliberations. They know full well they won't be challenged by the taxpayers of Huron County. Board members findnut early in their careers that if they keep a low profile and don't rock the boat at the board meetings in Clinton, they can keep their comfy seats until they are ready to retire and they'll never have to show their colours to the public except on their own terms. A sad comment isn't it. But so true. So sickeningly true. There are a few trustees that I am surprised did not blow the whistle on this one. But nary a _word- to any editor in any of t e- newspapers throughout this county by any member of the board of education . I do understand why. The fight has been taken out of the fighters. The majority of them have packed up their bulging paper files and headed back - whipped and disillusioned - to the ranks of the uncaring. For the fighters who do remain, it's no fun sticking your neck out and having it chopped off for a weak-kneed electorate that would give you more respect if you acted like a door -knob. Last week, Signal -Star Editor Dave. Sykes wrote •what I thought was an excellent piece on the board's arrogance. I expect every other editor in the county worth his salt will make some .attempt to stir up their readers to action - or reaction. A few trustees will have some pangs of con- science and get in touch with the editor - perhaps for the first time this two-year term - to explain • their reasoning' and implore some greater measure of understanding. No doubt, the • average school teacher wall catalogue the information under "ammunition" t� be used whenever salary talks get to the serious stage. But the average Joe Taxpayer - the poor guy who gets hit for everything from seven cents on the dollar for shaving cream through T4 slips that report to the revenuers every rotten penny he earns - won't even make a whimper. Quite correctly he asks, "What's the use? My board member is just going to tell me he earns every penny - and more. He isn't going to listen to my problems. He'll probably just insult me -or make me madder than I am now. I don't need that aggravation" Well, dear readers, I'm one taxpayer who thinks the increase to board members is poorly timed, excessive and undeserved by some. But most of all, I feel uneasy about decision - makers, especially our neighbors and friends at the local level; who deliberately mask all bit the popular or innocuous'decisiols. • Huron County citizens have a right to expect more fortire $100-a weekthey-are paying per - education representative, but it's a safe bet nothing much will change No wonder nobody cares. Some individuals only understand force Dear Editor; Our illustrious P.M. has denounced Israel for retaliating against P.L.O. harassment of gunfire. I was just wondering what he ex- pected them to do - say "Naughty, naughty, tsch, tsch, that's not nice, now!" Did he expect to take them to a court of law that doesn't exist? We all know that the Arabs LETTERS are a law unto themselves. They proved this tathe world when they held the hostages in Iran for 444 days, but were eventually released. This happened in Nov. 1979. We have an example of what our illustrious P.M. would do if we were invaded or harassed by radicals who make their own laws. The naughty, naughty psychology wouldn't work in Canada, because it didn't work in the Falklands. These individuals only understand one thing, the language call- ed Force, and, of course, money, because it is a by- product for force. The frozen assets that belonged to the Arabs in the U.S. also played a major role in having' the hostages released. We can be thankful, that Britain and the United States have chosen to use common sense in dealing with these individuals. Canada is in a very precarious situation as to having a deterrent against aggression. Money and force are very scarce items in our domain at the present time. Will the dollar sink out of Tuns to page 5