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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal Star, 1976-02-05, Page 7;Lack:` of cornmunipatiol;t was again cited as the - reason for couw ncil's . berldermien •over ' a re sltlest• ' by the t Gederich. Softball' League to' use facilities at Agricultura. Park on specific 'days : and nights during theseasoxi. - Softball league- president Doug Curt* told council the executive was dra'wing tip a schedule for the" season that tries to be fair to all teams in the industrial league. He said the league has used Sundays, Mondays and Thursdays for their, garnes for "over 10 years now" and would like to continue. In order to givemoretime for the,expanding.league,Mr. Currie said the ball season should begin earlier and games on _some Sundays should. also' start.4earlier - perhaps at 4 -or 4:30 He also requested that the Labor Day , Fastball Tour- nament which has becornean annual event here, be per: mitted !'in 19.76 starting Friday; .September ,3 and continuing until, ` Monday, September 6. , :. Reeve -Stan Profit identified the problem rrriinediately'by: reminding council that the seemed rtuwas alwaysthe ball. • league that .was in convenienced • `. but said''the bali ' players May have:' to. ..switch from Thursday nights' to ;another night in` order. to. permitG racing in oderich this season. • President Currie explained that Friday and Saturday,, nights are not considered to be "satisfactory nights `for industrial: league :ball. The girls', teams have the diamond two nights a week, Tuesday and. Wednesdaylast. year:. • . - Councillor Jim Peters told. council that the lease with the local ' Trottiftg Association expired at the end of 1975 and Trotting,•Association had served notice at a recent council. meeting that race dates were - for -Thursday eveningsin 1976: Councillor. Leroy Harrison - advised. .:council,, that: the Trotting Association had• ppiied for nine race nights in 976 • Monday? •Tuesday or Wednesday but -specifically not Thursday: "They got Thursda'y,. said Councillor Harrison •• ' He explained that the: Ontario- Racing Association and the federal Department of Agrieulture were "juggling,:. nights" 'to prevent conflicting' race .dates in an area. Councillor' d Harrison adde. . that tracks are not making. the money they once did,.'and so it is even •more important to get the proper race nights. "It reallycomes down- to * he -there- will'be'-racing n Goderich this .•season..or• ot," Councillor Harrison aid. "Either •'we race hursdays or we • say no acing in Goderich in 1976." "The nights' are fixed, like. or lump it," Councillor arrison co.ncluded.' .1•ie also admitted that it '• a 1 •n T r • it "has not been renewed". • .Councillor Elsa •Haydon agreed, adding that the Trotting Association had not (continued on, page 12) • 9 yEAR-6 • THURSDAY, FEBRUAlRy 5, 1 976 gat •will it. cost.• n money +aodwjll? INGLE Copy 25 By a "vote of 5=3,. Goderich Town Council has agreed to press on with injunction ,proceedings .against the provincial . government 'to' stop the closing of Goderich Psvchiatric. • Hospital- scheduled for E Aril 1, 19.76. Solicitor ' Dan 'Murphy advised town council that the injunction actionby the town has no. basis in law. He said since' GPH is :a provincial institution, not even' located • refects c9rnpIex•. • • within the Town of Goderich, the.action wouldeuseless:Mr. Murhy explained in a letter to council that a groupof employiees or 'a group of paientsrriay.'have grounds for • injunction• ` proceedings but said it was his duty ta advise council`toavoid ouncileters' suggested that' if a group of.. employees at GPH would . .petition town council to assist them in injunction. proceedings, ;he would be in• favor of;it. . • Councillor 'Elsa.. Haydon' told council • that by no,w, •the: people..of. Goderich arid area must be well. aware of her support . for • Goderich. The: recreation • complex . delegation :of citizens, mostly, committee willbe disbanded .opposed, • . and. thank°' „` __..__ _._. __�ed.._for_: theirheir_.eizforts `_ ,-.. "Maybe • we -cant - Proceed.. :•- : P ori behalf of the citizens of tight `:away, :said '•'MrS: • Goderich • That was the-'»Haydon, " But.we can plan for the future: Maybe they (the committee) would have found • the ' money. How : do you know? "To slam the door':because we don't have enpugh .money right now ;is wrong,-" insisted Councillor .'Jim .Peters. "Maybe :the committee could get • money from other sources: Maybe Weshould tell them we. n't afford Wright now, but! ' the committee should go. ahead and make .• their plans.I. f it's public support .you want, 1 can take - -you to plenty of 'places where'' • you'ILfindiota of it.'' "The first- hurdle hasn't_ even been crossed," _retorted - CbuncillorDave Gower., The., and has never beetrpdecided Councillor Bob Allen said • Many people had worked . hard on the committee and': came up with some good: ideas. • He said that :maybe. another approach was • necessary. „ < - decision sof Goderich . Town., Council M•onday.•in a recorded vote?which found Councillors Elsa• ;Haydon and Jim Peters the only.bog opposed to 'the action. • ' • The .•' motion stated the committee was ' to be disbanded "because of lack of • public . support • and --federal •and,„.provincial . government• restraint programs”.. • "There are many reasons , why We. can't .proceed with -the com lex this year.," said P Y Councillor Dave. Gower "W e simply don't have• the:, whe.rewifhali.to;do it,'." added. Reeve Stan Prof it. "Columbus Would never -::have discovered: America if, •he'd. •waited° until : everything was for certain.,.L'--cornmented Councillor Els'a Haydon She .argued that a lack of public support had •,.not b.een demonstrated.. She said a "public meeting had not been hela, a5nty. 'an open doundil. meeting -',:which drew -a n Deputy -reeve Bill Clifford was • hopaful the Rec - Board could come up. _with An alternate_ proposal, • perhaps ' somethin:g' in • a . 'staged process. "We're voting here tonigh for • a cprnplex or .not a complex,'; ;stated . Mayo Shewfelt. He...said`he. though the committee -wanted a firmr answer. `about whether or not Council supported the idea o 'a recreation complex.. L. "I am against it now' and 10 years . from now,stated Mayor Shewfelt. He. said he was in 'favor' of developing. new facilities and -.expanding present facilities throughout •the•community. • Councillor Jim Peters admitted he ,found rneriVin much of Nick Hill's letter to the•Editor in the Signal -Star last week. . IL SAI E "' Psychiatric Hospital, and .her deep regret at the ;.-govern ment's• -move to .close the facility. She• went on to say, r •hp'wever,- that she felt t • • • iberal lea er r Ontario Liberal leader Dr. health professionals had been Stuart Smith told a gathering seekingfor.years.. of ,..Goderich !psychiatric .``What the "government Hospital staff. Fridaythat ministry of health budget . restraints ' could be -turning into a "vicious attach" on mental-health services. Dr. S inith was at GPH on Friday for a• - tour - of . the - facilities and to • poll the hospital staff on mental health programs provided.• diere ' seems to be saying is that'we canno- longer :;afford small hospitals but a small group of large hospitats,"� said Mr. Srriith. "Now that's a battle.I thought We fought years ago .and . I thought we. agreed Years ago,thatlarge "hospitals are more harmful to patients than helpful." ' The newly erected. leader ,The psychiat-risfi•-said. that although staff of told about 200 staff members large hospitals 'meant wel'1, after the tour that• he could ,,their workload and sheer size not understand the closing • • Made the patient ,cane im decision: He said he had -verso a an th, y become • worked most • of his institutions, -professional life in similar. "I don't understand why hospitals and that the. closing , the. governmenth.as singled of them would have a serious • out m. ntal health` #for this effect on the patients. He said vicious .attack," argued Dr: the ,recent accreditation of , • Simith.' "The decision is .a GPH plus itssize made ICA -'terrible' step backward in unique' 'hospital that mental mental health care' arid- 'as a Interim- biIIing up to 50 mills in -April The interim mill rate for Goderich taxpayers has been set at 50 mills, up -l -O mills frorn last year. Counell agreed Monday nightthat the interim billing will be due April 5; the first'fitial billing, July 5; and•the•' ,. , second final billing, November 5. The interimt'billing has been in effect in recent years to prrivide the municipality with operating money early in , • the year and keep down the cost of borrowing finances.. Finantte Chairman Bill Clifford hinted -that taxes -will • increas: this year, and -the additional 10 mint paid in in the year. i n April will soften. the blow, later "Three uneasy payments,'" quipped Mnyn'r+ ;Exch Show telt. A wornan' who had just given birth to triplets was explaining to- a friend that triplets. hap- pened.only once in 15,000 times.. • "My goodness!" exclaimed the friend. "How did you find time to do your housework?" ree Ise litigation was useless as Mr. Murphy had indicated, and she :would -.not be in favor of proceeding with the in- junction either by town council on its•awn, or"by.town council on behalf of other citizens. Reeve Stan Profit indicated that it had been previously suggested to.. employees at GPH to take up- injunction .action,` but the idea .had not gained support. ' ".Are we 'going to .do, soinething abo•gt it after 'having our solicitor, discourage us?''asked Reeve Profit. "He certainly has done -that: L . _. —.. - - -.. Reeve Profit urged council. not -to' drop injunction proceedings;; .but to instruct the,,townaolicitor to carry on• with the plan as soon as • possible. If not, Reeve Profit told council nothing short of a cou for A. finance .committee report" approved Monday night by Town Council grants an eight is increeto all municipal employees in 1976,-, including. town councillors. While council ' was unanimous.. in -its support of the increase for staff;' Reeve Stan.' Profit and Councillors Dave Gower and' -Leroy Harrison lost in their` bid to hold .councillors!' salaries at es "vicious en doctor.. and policy maker this decision looks, like it is anti mental health."° • •."I don't want to make. any • accusations'ta'that affect but that's the.,way it looks," he added. Attempting to.. reason—the government decision, reason he. said he coalld . not' get despite daily questioning on' the decision, Dr. Smith. suggested that the closing of the psychiatric hospitals -was due to "the complete gover-'' nmeat control. • "Is it because _you. are sligh'tly more. vulnerable .in police investigate inor accidents Inclement : weather- -con- . ditions and slippery roads were major' contrib'utor`s to several accidents 'in • town during the past week as, the Goderich Potide'Departni•ent investigated 10.' accidentsi four of Which`:resulted in, major damage, estimate's. A two•-•c'ar,• ;cofilision . on Jandary 29: on Salt Mine Rdad resulted in a total damage- . estimator of $1800 td vehicles driven by' Ralph Morris, 17 Calcy • St• Goderich' and Robert Johnrston, 1}oh- 'deaboro l3`elbOtt. Baker,, .a passenger in the Morris vefiicle'Was treated for cuts and bruises at Alexandra Marirne arid General Hospital. • 1)arneage to the Morris vehicle was estimated:at $600- and $1200 to the Johnston, vehicle, • A two -car collisi.on at the coa'ner 'elf Warren Street and Britannia Roadh J1 n. 30 ` rc?;ult 'd in a totalama..fk e • estimate of $,1'.10 to vehicles driven: y Jaynes 1'urr'ell,251 .Shore,Crescent, G'oderich.aand ..Maurice McMillan, 448 Elgin St.' W. Goderich. Mr. . McMillan attempted to make a left turn onto Warren Street from . Brifannia Read• when the :vehicles came` ;into. .;collision: There were •no. in juries. A second two -car collision on January 30 resulted in $300°' -damage to vehicles driven by George Barwick, 150 Keays St. Goderich and Lori. Keller, 15 Victoria St. Goderich. The vehiCle.s collided at the Corher of South Street and Britannia ' Road. Ther e were no injuries. ' A two -car collision,,on The. S•quarc January 31 resulted in $475 dm .da to . vehicles driV'ert rby Dale ()Ice: 43 Wost• - - SI ' Goderich • and Walter Sheardown, 217 Mary 'St: Goderich. Thiene were no • tl t public. apology from town council to all the people of the comrlruriity., .including .county council who had endorsed ,Goderich, Town Couhcil's action, would do. • "I see no reason to apologize," said 'Councillor Elsa Haydon. '."We tried:"We found: it impossible, : Why .should we apologize?" "I still believe, there was a legal point to be made - win or lose," stated Mayor Deb Shewfelt. - 1 . A motion to'"'withdraw in- junction proceedings, was defeated, and by. recorded vote, 'it was. decided to -re'quest°: the solicitors :to proceed with the injunction. • Those in favor were Reeve 'Profit, Councillor. Dave' Gower, 'Councillor Ler'oy Harrison, _Councillor Jim. Peters' _and -Mayor Deb Shewfelt. Those opposed were the present rate. ":There's just •no"Way council can •increase. its. own salary at. this time:: argued Councillor Harrison. Chairman Bill Clifford told council that it wag the feelii'tg of the . finance committee members that it was better to take "a bit at a time" than to approve. a Targe increase' . in two or three -years., , attar • rvices. mental health?" he asked. Is it because people feel -that • there will be no community opposition because of -the prejudices that have existed. over, the years towards mental health ... Is it because mental health -'is directly under ` ; gove.r•nmen.t . control and that the ministry of • intones, ' • [)tattling the past• week the Goderich •Police Department • also laid six charges under Cede of Canada,. tftc�'Ct~iJt7inaf Cc. �t,, • six�r the •`Rihwa •ii�ndcg y 'I'r.affiC Act and°•!wo tinder the' ri dor LieenccArt': health with, this absolute control will. not have ,to deal 'with .: hospital. .boards '• . who would give them heck -if they tried fhis with general hospitals?" ' "If these. "reasons are correct then I', am going to have to take serious steps to • (continued on page 12) • Councillors` Bob :Allen and Elsa Haydon and 'Deputy - reeve Bill Clifford. Councillor Frank. Walkom was absent-. "Will we ask how much it will cost?" asked Councillor Haydon. "Is this :;just kw 'the pebli.city value it has? Or a're'. youreally - a y prepared `to go ahead?" "Phone Mr. ' Murphy tomorrow and get the an s:wer," : retorted Mayor , Shewfelt. • - Councillor Haydon asked if: county: -council's endorsement - of the town's action meanrthe county would participate in • ` . the cost. .. "There was no mention of, ;money, of • .course," said_ Reeve Stan •Profit:•"They''itst • endorsed what wehad dock." Reeve 'Profit said Warden Jack McCutycheoi't'is working- from orking•from another angle to keep GPH'open. fors -op-pos ted memb-� —The' salary for_ councillors now stands at $2790 per an- num: The mayor's salary is $5,4.00. However, the per diem rate was. "dropped,:.meaning.. that councillors who travel out of town" .on. business will not collect -pay for the meetings they attend. They will. be reimbursed for. hotel ac- • commodationsat$90 per..day; meals, $20 per_., day; and •• ,r•niscellaneous, items, $20 per daye'Mileage will be paid at,. the rate of 20 cents per -mile It was notedby Chairman Clifford that town employees` last year received Iwo cost of living increases and that the' eight percent increases for 1976 were "all well within the anti-inflation guidelines". • Administrative salaries are administrator, - S.23,4.3Q.30; deputy -,clerk, ,$.16,950.304 deputy tax collector, . $10.;430.30,; ac- • .counting clerk, $9,930.30; secretary,`: $8,850.30..'. receptionist, $6;500 (as' rbf• July, $7,150). ' The building - inspector, $10,470.30 plus $1200 per annum car Allowance; bylaw officer and_ animal control, $.9,341.13; !environmental 'supervisor, $1.5,654..30 plus car allowance ' .of . $60Q; en viro'nmentai . operators' , (threel-$11,550.30 ` :In the wo•rk.s and.. engineering sectio -n,. the 'foreman receives $16,734.30: •operators. (two) - $11;550.30:, - laborers- 1 (two -$10;470.30;', .. laborers 11 (three) $10,902.30:• 'sub foreman• $14,630.30; and: "mechanic, $15,114.3:0. •: :The Parks crew, seasonal , workers, will`be:paid at 59 per '. hour.. The -foreman of the Parks . crew, a full ' time. employee, receives $`1.1,550.30°• regular pay plus an extra five percent while performing the duties of parks foreman inthe spring, surn,mer and fall . mon•ths° All employees of all boards and: committees, of council will be subject to the some, eight•percent.iricre'asc. , Decision•'. was delayed on . committee honorariums. Chairman ' Clifford expects•• this will be resolved at budget time. For the first ' time, the entire finance comrrlittee report was discussed in open ,, - council session. Ho0,'evi•r, only 'one• inte,rested.,. citizen heard the debate.. . •.l red Salter, right, fht, work supervisor the ft)d'ustrial.therapy, , , d�+o. 1 . ;wing of di`•rkli Psvehirrtric Hospital explained soave of tirr. work 'dent- 1.4 p ticents in tht.•unit to Ontario Liberal tooda r,Ntuart: Snaith; con tre,'.r010.:Ituron Middlesex MPP • 1 n.li: Riddell hospital 'arid phpto) Snaith was. at GPO Fr day for a tour of the " diar'ussion of service!;' :wi:th the staff. (:sta 'iY. • 4.1 1.