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The Goderich Signal-Star, 1986-09-17, Page 1g. oaerich-- SIGNALST 138 YEAR - 38 GODERICH, ONTARIO, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 1986 60 CENTS PER COPY Factfinding on day care issue continues Because it cannot decide to support day grants have been made for 1986-87, he said not as extreme as what it had been care in principle, Goderich council in- the ministry could pursue alternative fun- originally anticipated," the report said. structed the day care committee to pro- ding if the decision was made to proceed When Coun. Bill Clifford said council had ceed to gather more facts about opening a with a municipal day care centre. to decide whether it wishes to enter into a municipal day care centre in town. After researching f our- other day care program which would add an municipally -run day care centres in St. ongoing expense of $28,000 to $30,000 a Marys, Wingham, Listowel and Stratford, year, McCabe said the cost would be closer McCabe said operating costs for a centre to $10,000 to $15,000 a year. in Goderich would probably be closest to Listowel's. Listowel's centre has a total expenditure of $118,200 for 1986, an operating loss of ap- proximately $11,000 a year and a per diem rate of $12. If a per diem rate of $14 were charged the operating loss, which would be A report from Administrator Larry Mc- shared by neighboring municipalities, Cabe said capital costs to renovate the ex- would drop to $7,800. isting day nursery and community centre "Based on the information given and would cost approximately ,$80,000. assuming that the town of Goderich would Though all allocations for renovation be similar to Listowel, the operating loss is "It's not fair to say you can decide about day care in the abstract. The numbers are part and parcel of approving it in princi- ple," said Coun. Glen Carey who requested a further breakdown of capital expen- ditures and meetings with the existing tenants of the Mini Community Centre and Ministry of Community and Social Ser- vices representative Judy Cooper. Neighbours meet with ombudsman "I'm not having too much trouble with adding $10,000 to the town's budget but I'm having a lot of trouble with $80,000. If there are no grants available, we don't have those funds," said Carey. McCabe agreed that the main dif- ficulties may be with the capital grants and suggested that he and the mayor or the committee chairman meet with the ministry and "put a push on" for informa- tion about available funding. BY SHARON DIETZ Neighbours of the Bluewater Centre for Young Offenders who met with represen- tatives of the Ontario Ombudsman's office last week are generally disappointed. "The meeting was just another snow job," according to .Ron Barnett who says the Ombudsman's representatives ap- peared to be investigating whether the complaints were worthwhile investigating, which is several steps removed from what the local residents wanted to happen. There are two issues involved in Barnett's opinion, security at .the Bluewater Centre and the prevention of a maximum security wing being established at the centre. Barnett said the meeting began with the representatives from the Ombudsman's office, Elizabeth Virck, investigator and Ken Kagen, legal counsel, telling the group about the limitations of the Ombudman's jurisdiction. Barnett said Virck's comments sounded like a university sociology coarse. He said he recognized the terminology and she kept referring to these' references. Virck told the meeting young offenders cannot be disciplined. They must be persuaded. They must be motivated. "Changing the names doesn't change the facts," says Barnett. He said Virck kept changing the references he was using. He calls the centre's supervisor a warden and Virck called him a superintendent. He us- ed the term criminal and Virck called them offenders. Barnett said they were told they cannot be involved in policy changes at the centre and their only opportunity is to become volunteers. Basically, Barnett said he came away with the premise that the public is respon- sible for its own safety. "If they bring in murderers or rapists, I don't care what they say, somebody is go- ing to break out." he observed. The fact that the money is already spent to convert the facility to a centre for young offenders is no argument where govern- ment is concerned, said Barnett. "Government wastes lots of money. They can turn it into a zoo for all I care," he said. Sybil Galbraith said it appears the Om- budsman's office can listen to them and take note but they don't have very much power to do anything. She said Kagen sug- gested they take their complaints and demands to the premier of the province. ,Turn to page 2 • Carey also expressed concern expressed concern about the renovations to the Mini Community Centre especially since the Squash Club, the cur- rent tenant of the building, has not been consulted. "We could be putting ourselves in breach of contract with them," he said. McCabe said the renovations should have no effect on the Squash Club since the day care centre would only use parts of the gym that the Squash Club does not use. He said the committee would meet with the Squash Club if council decides to proceed further with day care in Goderich. He added that if council decides to pro- ceed, it should also set up meetings with Colborne and Goderich Townships who have expressed interest in sharing the costs of a day care centre. West Wawanosh reeve is reinstated an is stabbed D eight times on The Square Following a controversial ruling at a special meeting of West Wawanosh Coun- cil on September 15, Jim Aitchison, who resigned as reeve of the township on September 2, has beenr.,e-instated to the position. According to West Wawanosh clerk Joan Armstrong, the township's solicitor who attended the special meeting, said the resignation of Aitchison was hot valid as the resignation of a reeve requires a three- quarters majority of council. This motion was never passed at the September 2 ,,.,,,,mtingoyitcliison later, withdrew,, his resignation. . The clerk said the members of council had a "verbal understanding" that Ait- chison would resign as reeve because of health reasons ,but would remain on coun- cil as a councillor. "Jim thought resigning as reeve would be in the best interests of the municipality as it would assure representation on Huron County Council," Armstrong said in an in- terview on September 15. The decision to re -instate Aitchison flies in the face of an earlier decision by council to seek nominations for the seat vacated on council by Cecil Cranston, who became the newreeve after Aitchison's resignation. After the resignation of Aitchison, Kathy Todd was approached to stand as a can- didate for the vacated position and was in- vited to a nomination meeting on September 9. Todd was defeated in the last ' municipal election in November, 1985 by Aitchison for the position of reeve by a close vote: At the meeting, Councillor Rhea Hamilton -Seeger nominated Jim Aitchison to the councillor's position. The nomina- tion was seconded by Cecil Cranston. Cecil Cranston then nominated Joe Hickey to the position. This motion was seconded by Hamilton -Seeger. In the third nomination, Kathy Todd was nominated by Deputy - reeve Bruce Raynard and this was second- ed by Councillor Gordon H. (Harry) Brindley, she said. Due to the stalemate in the nominations, the winner is to be decided by lots and Todd's name was drawn. Todd said she was later sworn in as councillor. On Thursday, September 11, Todd was informed by Armstrong via her husband, Wayne who works for the township, that her nomination was not valid b t apuseofTurn • A 23 -year-old London man was charged with attempted murder when he turned himself in to Goderich police Monday mor- ning after stabbing an Auburn man on Saturday night outside the Bedford Hotel on The Square. Cecil Graham, of London was remanded in custody for a bail hearing in Goderich on Wednesday (today). The victim, Rick Pringle, of Auburn, received eight stab wounds and is in serious cqndition in University Hospital in London. On the evening of Sept. 10, 12 cases of beer were stolen during a break and enter at the Maitland Golf and Country Club. Police were called to the scene after a window was broken and the alarm sound- ed. They have recovered the beer but are still looking for the suspects. On the evening of Sept. 13, a break and enter occurred at a house on Montreal Street when a VCR was taken. The crime is still under investigation. At 3 a.m. on Sept. 16, police charged two young offenders with theft of a motor vehi- cle after they apprehended a suspicious - 'looking vehicle. One young offender was charged also with possession of marijuana. Legion , proposes a second peace garden Two peace gardens could be erected in Goderich after a second one was proposed by the local Legion Branch 109 at a Goderich parks and waterfront committee meeting. The first peace garden was proposed for the main beach where flowers and shrubs would be planted and a plague would be erected with the tentative wording, "May we all endeavour to work towards peace in the world, thereby giving hope to our children. It matters not that we individual- ly survive, only that we are survived." Legion representatives suggested situating another peace garden either on the corner of Montreal, Elgin and Waterloo Streets or between the town hall and the police station on West Street. The garden would include a triangular- shaped monument five feet tall with three plaques for the army, navy and air force. The representatives proposed a service on or about July 1 with all three parties taking part. They asked that the costs be shared between the town, the Legion and other groups. Council approved the second garden in principle and instructed the Legion to pur ° Two -and -a -half -year-old Shannon Berge, of Goderich said good-bye to her stuffed animal Dumbo when she and her eight-year-old sister Mandy donated two stuffed animals to Alex- andra Marine and General Hospital and two to Family and Children's Services on Monday. The stuffed animals were won by their Uncle Rick at various fall fairs. (photo by Susan Hundertmark ) Dispute over FCS 1986 budget is reviewed A sum of $7,460 is the source of dispute between Family and Children's Services and Huron County council which has refus- ed to approve the agency's 1986 budget. Council opposed the budget because the sum exceeds the four per cent guidelines set by the provincial government and the amount 'set aside in the county's budget, county administrator Bill Hanley told a Child Welfare Review Committee ap- pointed to mediate the dispute. The com- mittee met in Goderich on Sept. 10. The budget had the approval of the ministry which pays 80 per cent of the agency's annual budget, the county's share being 20 per cent. Two items above the four per cent in- crease are $22,000 annualization of a child abuse position and $15,300 one time fun- ding for an exceptional circumstances review. The county's 20 per cent share of the total of $37,300 is $7,460 "I don't think we've been unreasonable to the county. This is the third lowest in- crease in Southwestern Ontario in the last five years," said the agency's director John Penn in a phone interview after the meeting. He said that approximately $4,500 of the total isthe county's share of the wages of a child abuse worker hired to help deal with the increasing number of child abuse cases in the county. The remaining $3,000 is an over -expenditure allowed by the ministry. "It's trivial pursuit. We're arguing over $3,000 and it's very rare that a municipali- ty will quibble over $3,000," he said. When dealing with people in exceptional difficulties, this type and sizeof increase is ..... unusual, ministry representatives representatives Marc Roberts and Glen Miller said. Roberts, program supervisor for London Area, added that the ministry is impressed with the high quality of work, the sense of responsibility and the dedication of the Huron County Family and Children's Services. Board chairman Audrey Royal remind- ed the committee that although the hear- ing was called to deal with financial items, they cannot be viewed in isolation but Turn to page 3 • INSIDE THE SIGNAL -STAR Riddell will seek nomination in Huron Two local MPPs whose ridings will cease to exist when the next election is called have announced their intentions to seek the nominations in two new area ridings. Huron -Middlesex MPP Jack Riddell has announced he intends to seek the nomina- tion in the new riding of Huron when the election is called. His colleague in cabinet, Murray Elston who is MPP for Huron - Bruce has announced he will seek the nomination in the new riding of Bruce. itt The ridings of Huron - Middlesex and Huron - Bruce will cease to exist as five area .ridings are condensed into four following the revision of the province's electoral districts. As a result the two local members would have found themselves vying each other for the nomination in Huron if Elstont had not decided to seek the nomination in Bruce. According to Elston's constituency secretary, Rod MacDonald, Elston plans to reside in the riding of Bruce. Elston and his wife, Trudy and their five children presently live in Wingham which will be in the new riding, of Huron. By law, a member of the legislature is not required to live in the riding he represents, but Elston wants to live in the riding where he intends to seek the nomination, said MacDonald. Elston is the provincial health minister in the Ontario cabinet and Riddell is the agriculture minister.'Both ministers will, continue to serve the Constituents in the d ridings of Huron - Bruce and Huron - Mid- dlesex respectively until the legislature is dissolved and an election is called. According to Jim Fitzgerald, executive assistant to Riddell, an election is not plan- ned in the immediate future. Seven months remain in the two year accord the Liberals negotiated with the New Democrats, who supported them in their bid for power, when they ousted the minority Conser- vative government in June, 1985. Severe erosion Erosion and flooding are nothing new to Port Albert. But this year, the problems are particularly severe and many residents are concerned about their cot- tages and the beach. This week's com- munity section looks at the issues involved and the action taken to prevent further damage. Terry Fox . Run The sixth annual Terry Fox Run was held in Goderich on Sunday and despite declining participation, $1572 was raised for cancer research. Shawn Thompson, who has cerebral palsy was this year's top pledge earner with $314. Read more about the run in this week's sports section. Host tourney The G.D,C.I. Senior Girls Basketball team hosted the annual Viking Invitational Tournament on Saturday. The Vikes fought their way to the final and played well against une of the top-ranked teams in he province. Read the outcome of the con - est on page 213: