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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1976-12-02, Page 27., da e JOAN VAN DEN BROECK ... housewife -What special • abilities would you bring to the council table? • Of 'the questions posed by the questionnaire I find this one the most difficult . to answer, not • because I question my own ability to act; responsibly on behalf of the community, but because a critical examination-•- of my potential is better done by you than myself. However, of general in- terest, over the past several years •I have been involved mostly in heritage work with the Huron .County Branch of the Architectural Con- servancy and the Huron Historic Gaol..I am president of the John Galt Council of Heritage Canada which represents all the Heritage. Canada affiliated organizations in Western Ontario and I have welcomed the opportunity of assisting in the preparation .of its guidelines for the future. As well I am also on the Local Architectural Conservancy Advisory Committee. Whilethe scope of these organizations may appear limited such is not the case as Prof i t (continued from page 14A) grants, which calls for the government. to match every dollar we spend. The designated. areas for this project are in the north and east portions• of the town. Hallelujah! We have been playing a . game of catch -up withservices since I joined council six years ago.. '. I do believe there are fewer people with water in their basements, in time everyone • GODERICH SIGNAL STAR THUR Good understanding of Goderich's needs and aspirations in essence, it is an area of study which recognizes the tremendous potentialwhich exists within communities to create viable , and exciting places for us, its citizens, to live, work and play. In addition ;to the above I am also on the Board of Management for St. George's Church and Citizenship Secretary for the Maple Leaf. Chapter of the .IODE and I work part-time vkith Mr. $i:ek Hill, Planning,,. Consultant; doing research projects. As a result of the com- imunity involvement of myself and 'the members of my family I feel I have a good understanding of Goderich - i.ts needs and its aspirations. Do you as a candidate, feel" you have the time necessary to attendall meetings of council and its committees and to be in attendance during the whole of those meetings? Yes, I have the.. time; as well as the inclination, to become fully involved in community affairs. if expenditures had to be cut during the coming term, where would you economize? Harbor, airport, parks, works and engineering or other areas? Until such time as the new budget is presented, it is impossible for me to state where the town may be forced to economize. In the event that, cut-backs must be considered, I do not favour the depreciation of any one service over another. Do you .feel .that: the Ministry of Transport's recommended redesign of Highway2l through Goderich is the best possible solution? No. I have always felt that. the Ministry's recommendation will be able to claim this hopefully. If transportation develops in the next 20 years as it did in the last,. ' who knows'? I ani afraid I'.tn not clever enough to predict this. I, believe we should con- tinue to acquire land when available, and when it fits our needs, for recreation, parks, and even for senior housing, and -low •income housing. •• However the ;Huron Housing Authority is working in this area, also. our 'own Housing FAMILY: TRUST CORPORATION 5 -year Guaranteed Investment Certificate. .interestpaid Semi-annually or Compounded and paid at maturity Interest paid Annually Local representative: Ron Samways Res. 482-3337 Member: Canada Deposit Insurance Corporation FOR TRANSPORTATION TO POLLS PHONE 524.9338 fell short of being desirable. 'The current situation remains potentially dangertus and efforts should be made immediately to consider the feasibility of establishing a -truck route designed to draw traffic into Highway eight before reaching Britannia Road. The mayor's inaugural address promised Suncoast Drive mould be paved -during' the 75-76. term, This has• not been done, The inaugural address also said the main priority for the 75-76 term would lie road improvement. Do you think this promise has been fulfilled? Where does road improvementstand in the order of priorities for the new term? Upgrading of services and road improvement are o major -concern and will be high on the list of priorities for the new term, no matter who is on Council. No doubt progress will appear to be slow as storm sewers must be upgraded before surface work is initiated. No one, I am sure, would like to see it handledany other way. As for Suncoast Drive, the proposed road work was not approved by 'the Ministry and', in order to proceed, the town would have had to _assume' all costs. To go ahead with the' work, under these circumstances, would in my judgment, have been irresponsible. - At presentassessment in Goderich stands at about 60 percent residential and 40 percent commercial. Ideally this should be reversed. How can this be achieved? • By promoting the benefits of the town and encouraging diverse industrial develop- ment and tourism. I am sure ina limited way; the town has Action Committee which is . chaired by Don Wheeler. Do you feel public par- ticipation is desirable? If so what would you do to increase public participation in • the affairs of the municipality? Public participation is always desirable, at least to me itis. It would be difficult to. increase • the public par- ticipation in the present cominittee structure. There are at least 45 members at largeon town committees at this time, and this does not include all those on the. Jubilee Three committee. • A thought that does occur to me at the moment.. There could be an item set aside on. the council agenda, at least once : a month; where the public could be . invited to voice discontent, ask questions, ' or even give suggestions: For the 'sake or order, the individual courd possibly apply to Mr. Walls to be put on the agenda. Can citizens fully and ac- curately 'understand. the dealings of 'council through the local pr•essT Itis awfully tempting to say no, but that would not be entirely true. • I do believe that there are some items which the reporter may not feel are too important, consequently does not report them, but I do think the press has, at least in my six years, dealt with council, .and Council matters fairly. I remember on • one oc- casion making a 1rt y•sttfpid statement, which in retrospect, I did not even mean. I was very grateful that it was not reported. �. 'Yes, I do think the citizens, of Goderich have become more , aware of council, and the town's affairs, but only by attending ' council meetings can they <.know 'things first hand. .: What motivates you to -seek election to Goderich Town Council? What made Sir Edmund Hillary climb Mount Everest? This is not intended to be a sniart aleck answer. It' is difficult to put, one's finger on the reason. What comes to mymind is, I am afraid, a little corny, but none the less the truth.' I arrived in Goderich 16 years ago. I joined my father in his barber shop shortly after, and this town has been very good • to us. Six years ago I became interested in municipal matters, and decided it would • be better to contribute rather than just stand behind my • barber chair and cotnplain. I have always been • ap- proachable. I have not always been able to help people, but I can say that I have at all times tried. been trying to do tliis for years. We must realize that we are. 'competing for industry with other areas, including London which also finds itself 'out of balance'. • -- Long :term planning, coupled with attainable and worthwhile goals, is overdue. In what terms do you see Goderich 20 years from,,now? How, during ' the upcoming term can the new council prepare for the future in. terms of long range financial planning, servicing, tran- sportation, land acquisition etc.? The saying '`The future belongs to those who prepare fot it still holds true today -�• despite the uncertainties which face us. While no plans are infallible, and all must be exible, " realistic -and • ..wor- thwhile community; goalscan: help , allay many groundless, fears. ". Meaningful cotnmunity planning 'requires citizen participation and support. An excellent guideline for town planning, and a prototype of its kind, was prepared for the communities of Port Hope and -Cobourg as a project of the Association of Canadian Industrial Designersinco- operation with the Govern- ment of Canada. It is available through our public library under the title "Design ' for • Small Com- munities." This study .considers all the elements which must be identified and duly : con- sidered • before future goals can be set; 'such as, recent planning history, diverse interests, the . people, and areas of design concern, etc., and continues beyond this to define the role of industry and tourism, managing area growth, etc: • . Without such a guideline, develaed •by _the people of Goderich; the future of the town will be determined by factors outside its control and will be interpreted as many different ways as there •are People _ in town and, if our expectations are unrealistic, sound growth -management can fall by the wayside. Council can prepare for the future by 'initiatingsuch a study which by its nature would stimulate a creative interest in community development. Do you feel public par- ticipation is desirable?--If-so- what would you dojo increase public participation in the affairs of the municipality? Yes. There are 35 community organizations (not including parish groups in our fifteen churches and those geared towards sports) at work Goderich a great place to -live. Without the efforts of these m.anydiverse organizations, the municipality would be What motivates you to seek election to Goderich town council? Interest in community welfare runs in my family. I was -brought up to recognize my responsibility • to the community (and. I hope my. • children will grow to believe poorer, . not only socially, the same). My mother, Mona culturally, and in recreation,"—Davis is active txrGoderich as but also financially. Let us . President .of the Legion not discount the countless .Ladies' Auxiliary, my hours that many many people grandmother, now in her 80's are alrcad.y devoting to ,the town! One of Town C.ouncil's Main responsibilities- is to, in all matters, act In a manner which is morally as well as' legally correct and to.. call welfare runs deep, not just public meetings which because it is my home town, continue to be the most ef- • but because it is where my fective • means of mobilizing • husband and I have chosen to community action and liye, work and raise our dealing with contentious family,' • * • issues in the life .of the •I am a great believer in the community. democratic principle and ronsider it a privilege to be allowed the opportunity of offering my services to the community in the area where I feel I am best suited. continues to devote her life to community work, and my great-grandmother did the\ same. So I guess you might say I come by my motivations honestly! My interest in Goderich's • Can citizens fully and ac- curatel•y -.:understand • the dealings of council through • the local press? I believe that the local press does a credible job of reporting the dealings, of council in a responsible manner. It is not the 'press' job to interpet Council meetings and, as a result, Council does not always appear in the best light. However it would be unhealthy for the community to allow Council to handle its own reporting through press releases. Editorially the press has another responsibility, which isto be prepared to act as the devil's advocate and to make --people stop and think about current issues. It has been said that it is the press which safeguards democracy by keeping governments honest. • As it marks the free society, I,' for one, would not like to see it change: G I Request Your Support .AY,'ILECEMD B 2, 19' A DAVE RAYL ELECTRICAL, • Serving Industrial, Commercial, Residential Needs:: 5.24-60'3 . �t 1 R. W. 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