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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1976-12-23, Page 1• What about rights for: nen?r 411.01.11.011 .. • Deserted husban BY RON SHAW Twenty-eight year old Gary Binder of RR 2, Lucknow, and a • group of neighbors who have pitched inwith an at- tempt to support his cause, have discovered a curious, and for Mr. Binder unhappy, twist in social welfare regulations. If you are a single or, deserted'mother you can qualify for social assistance under mothers' allowance. If by chance you are a deserted father with three small children to care for (as.is Mr: Binder) you do not qualify for help. There is' a provision for --Dependent Fathers' Allowance,, but to qualify for that you thust be, physically or mentally incapable of work. Mr. Binder is capable of work in both those categories, and freely admits it. With three small children — Karen aged six, Jody aged four and Kevin aged two and a half L- Mr. Binder argueshe .is needed at home.. If he were 'a mother, Social Assistance officials would- agreebut because he is a father,, they claim he must leave his family in the care of a babysitter or • county homemaker and go. out to work. Mr. Binder points out that with. the employment possibilities . open to him, paying a baby sitter is• a -- financial financial impossibility.- A county homemaker, as . he understands it, "would simply make lunch for the childreh ...nothing else." Taking care of a ' young family of three, in the way he feels they should be cared for, is no part time job, he says. - . Mr. Binder says he wants to • be allowed to care for his . family as a mother would be if she were in the same cir- cumstances. WELFARE FOR A WHILE Gary binder's story begins •' in November of 1975 when his wife left him and the rest of her 'family. He successfully., applied to be placed on the ' general . welfare, role and received assistance until June 1976. Six months is as long' .as •anyone can collect welfareassistance, so in June was rescheduled for August 5. At an appeal held that day, the' decision to cut 'off his support was upheld on grounds that he - was not. , looking for work. One of Mr. Binder's neigh- bors, Tony McQuail, who has been helping him thread his way through the bureaucratic tangle, points out that Huron County Welfare Officers John McKinnon had said in April that it would riot be necessary for Mr. Binder .to repeatedly go through the charade of looking for work: Children's Aid Society caseworker John he was cut–off. The previous April he had applied for assistance as a single parent but discovered that because he was a father and not a mother he could only apply for Dependent Fathers' Allowance. To receive that support he had to be physically or mentally incapable of work. He was neither. He simply wanted to care for his children as he felt they should be cared for. Mr. Binder appealed the cut off of general welfare support in June but .the ap- peal board did not make an appearance at the appeal hearing set for July 7 and it Ayres was at that meeting but said on Monday he "did' not discuss cases publically". Nevertheless, Mr. Binder was cut from the welfare roll because" he was not seeking employment. • ' OMBUDSMAN HELPS In September the neigh- borhood group met with the Ombudsman at Goderich and outlined Gary Binder's problem. Representatives from the Ombudsman's office met with Mr. McKinnon -and oh the technicality that Mr. • Binder had suffered a minor wan injury while .cutting trees with a neighbor, he was placed back on 'the •neral. welfare roll. During the three months he received no -. welfare assistance Mr. Binder had been receiving the family allowance but inorder, to make ends meet bean selling off 'a numbed:;;.of possessions including some livestock and household–eV of-` fects. He grew a garden that summer which helped feed his family and . neighbors pitched ,in with other food- . (continued on page 18) .., .Free.. taxi to go home If you really can't resist having 'one (or even two) fox the road on New Year's Eve then . a group of Goderich businessmen will make it possiblefor you to get home in one piece just the same. They urge you to leave your car and take a cab. ..at their expense. Between 9:00 p.m. and 4:00 a.m. that evening there will be cabs available from Goderich Taxi ' at 524-6594 and Bluewater Taxi at 524-7305 courtesy of Alexander ' and Chapman Insurance, Lyle Pinkney and Company Ltd., Whalen Insurance, , the Toronto Dominion Bank, • Weststrate Martus Insurance Agencies, Ltd., Gleninark He tie Center, Furniture World and Garb and Gdar•Sports Store. C ar, sander 21 • . , R 1 2 E W I N N bert - ,� ,�,, .fn • e -.,?ICY` q.. [' + 'Fry -'.t -;cam --..w. as.� ':- M_ - $..r' collie pl/.N c:MMUNFR .. a „ `.y�. - �Rrc..�14i".3n+#."ri. *F° '..y. 3dr'4 � f rfir« , a'P 'r 'n•". 'A head-on collision Tuesday morning ' on highway . eight • Ron Allin, manager of -the Toronto Dominion Bank, explains that the group wishes to provide merrymakers within the town of Goderich with a safe way home and a trouble free evening. Costs of the cab will be borne by the.merchants mentioned but the, offer covers only in - town locations. • "With two taxis available," Mr. Allin notes, "surely . people under the in- fluence will take advantage of the ser- vice for their own good as well as the safety of the community." 'The project organizers *ave been working in connection with the'Goderieb Police Department who enthusiastically support the scheme. , o care Twenty-eight year McQuail sift old Gary• Binder, right, neighbor Tony through. mounds of correspondence `which have accumulated during Mr. Binder's struggle to be recognized for. social assistance on the same basis as a woman in• his position would. Mr.' Binder, and his young family of three, were deserted in November 0.1975 by Mrs. and • Binder. .social A • mother in such circumstance . would 'receive assistance through mother's allowance but because Mr: Binder is a male he can not qualify. Six year old Karen and Kevin, two and a half, look on. Four year old Jody was in bed with acold. (staff photo) P ^ w �• � V�✓� -`Qa?5 "*C • . ,<;.r ;,... „„��,1., "r; - �Sr,.. � �.k ... • .'fN "4 �i�"�` 5 bF, � ;`,y, • ref Pf�sP'K✓ERS ASSOGIp�tt�.O *,• :,..,�� ;�� 'Py'.C,1 °r�. ws ,,. ,:w�� - r F' " w N(WSVAP[RS c�'� cx7'”" '�.ua3 •• THURSDAY, DECEMBER 23, 1976 SINGLE COPY 25c ?�? 129 YEAR -52 just south of the Benmiller, Road intersection sent four area men. to hospital with serious injuries. A 197.6 Mustang. driven,. by Randall Hugill of 92 Cambria Road in Goderich, struck a Ministry of Transport san- ding truck head-on demolishing the front end -and one • side of the car and New officer hired causing ex en 1, • - : - the truck: The- accidentoc- curred at about 3:30 a.m: Hugill, and passenger Roger Stephens of 25 Rat- tenbury Avenue in Clinton, were rushed by ambulance. to University, Hospital in London suffering extensive but undetermined injuries according to the Goderich Detachment of...the __Ontario Provincial Police. Two other passengers in the car, Edward Becker of 269 Albert Street in Clinton and Paul Radford of RR 3 Clinton were taken to Alexandra Marine and General Hospital (continued on page 18 oIice settie foi The Goderich Police will have to settle for an eight percent increase on their 1976 contract after` an Anti Inflation Board ruling that a 10 percent hike exceeded the board's guidelines. In aletter to the Goderich Police Commission Monday the AIB said the compensation in- creases proposed for the police association for 1976 were considered to be larger than can be accepted under. the anti-inflation program. The board; said the decision was tobe effective on January 1, 1976 and told' the commission that if there had been any overpayment' it was to be recovered. The increase was negotiated between the. ' commission and the Goderich Police Association early in the year and was subject to the AIB approval. The association wanted a 10 percent increase and had the MB granted their request the town would have had to pay the .extra two percent held Board accepts club The Goderich Recreation Board passed a motion at its regular monthly meeting. last Thursday calling. • for the acceptance of money pledges over a three year period for the arena roof made by the Goderich. Lions andcKinsmen Clubs. Subsequent to a.request. from the fund raising com- mittee the Lions Club pledged $12,000- to the fund . over a three year period in exchange for free use of the arena during Young Canada Week, 100 per cent of the gate receipts during the tour- nament and the arena would employ the ticket sellers for •' the tournament. Following further developments, the Lions Club final proposal also asked that the Recreation Board pay $1,000 to the Clinton arena that wouldguarantee ice time for Young Canada Week if the Goderieft; Arena was not ready for use and that the Lions have free use of the Goderich arena `for fund raising activities, the money from this is to go towards the arena costs. The Board's motion called for the Lions to pledge $.11,000 over three years and therefore pay for the Clintoln ice time on their own. The other concession"s were granted. Thenew proposal is still subject to approval of the Lions executive committee. 'tb Lions president, Paul Schutz said the club had no choice but to pay Clinton to ensure ice time for Young Canada . Week and also to keep the tournament .tinning. "We did not want to lose Young 'Canada Week and so we went to Clinton for alternate ice rental," he said. "We will hold it in Goderich if the arena is ready but Clinton wanted $1,000 guarantee and we had no choice but to pay it." Board meihher Bob ..Allen Slippsympathized with the groups predicament but questioned aY Slipperypayment ment to Clinton if the arena would be open anyway. ' "If the arena in Clinton was cadto remain- open anyway during that week then they are asking for a profit if the Lions don't use it," he said. "But if they have legitimate roads collision • '�0 The Goderich Police Department reported three accidents in town during the past- •, week, one _of which' i resulted in a major damage estimate. Slippery road conditions led to a collision December 19 on North Street involving a parked vehicle. Susan Chamberlain, 725 Leroy Ave., London, attempted to turn onto North Street from Nelson Street when her vehicle skidded into a parked vehicle owned by Donald Kenwell, 233 Eldon St., Goderich. Damage to. the Chari- berlain vehicle was estimated at $600 and $1,000 to the-- Kenwell vehicle. There were no injuries. operating • expenses to guarantee that ice time then we should pay." Board member John Doherty pointed out that the Lions Club had done a con- siderable amount of work at the arena but was concerned about $1,000 of public funds being put towards ice time for the tournament. Schutz pointed out that although the board would in effect grant the club $6,750 in concessions it , would realize $36,000, following grants, from their pledge, Mary Donnelly then suggested ' that the group reduce its pledge by $1,000 to $11,000 over three years and pay the Clinton ice bill themselves. Schutz added that the concessions were a necessary part of the deal in the clubs back during the year. The officers we're paid -on the eight percent basis. The pay schedule for the police officers is now $16,411 for sergeant, $15,660 for first class constable, $14,282 for second class,; $13,165for third class and $10,584 forfourth class. The. Goderich force is • composed of a chief, two sergeants, five first class constables and two third class constables. • The association came to the. commission with a proposal pledges attempt to raise money for the arena. "We are just trying to help but we haCie no money. If we had, the money we would give it to you and we wouldn't have to ask for concessions, Schutz said. The board also passed a motion accepting a Kinsmen. Club" pledge of $6,000 over three years in return for free use of the arena for two stags, a benefit hockey game and a New Years Eve Dance over the three years. Allen claimed that there was no harm in accepting the offer while Donnelly was opposed to theoffer since the club had not already corn tributed to the fund while the Rotary club had donated 85,000 originally and then pledged • an additional $2,000 over three years with no strings attached. Allen said a decision should be 'made before the recreation board completed its term that night. Board member Jim Peters said the concessions would add an extra $4 - $5,000 to the arena deficit and the board was simply assuming that the taxpayer of "Goderich would , pickup the tab. The final figures from the Celebrity Banquet held at the Legionindicate a net profit of $8,258.99 to be used for the arena fund. that included a substantial pay increase and added benefits.. The terms- of the contract were not the stumbling block ' in negotiations . but the pay schedule required some discussion. The association. will probably be submitting.. proposals for the 197.7 con- tract early in the year. Under the AIB program. they are eligible for just under eight percent more money in the new year. In other business the commission accepted Chief Pat King's recommendation to hire . Richard Livesey _of Woodstock to replace con- stable Tom Jarczak whose resignation is effective his Grade 12 and he was on a waiting list for, work with the Ingersoll police. ' The chief told the com- mission the choice would have to be made between Livesey and Gerry. Hilgen- dorf. Hilgendorf applied for, the • position claiming he. would be willing to commit himself in writing to staying with the Goderich force. He was taken on the Goderich force in August of 1975 and ,left in March of 1976 to •go -to another department. The 34 year old first class constable said things did not work out when he left the Goderich police and asked for his job back. Chief King told the com- ' mission he could not ignore the dollars and cents'factor in recommending 'Livesey adding that age : had some bearing on his .decision. He said • the salarydifference • between.the two would mean :the commission would have to pay, a minimum $5,936. more in 1977 to hire Hilgendorf and after five years, the time Livesey would hopefully need to rise first class rating, would have paid $12,372 more for Hilgendorf. The commission opted for the younger man and passed a ,motion that Livesey be ' • hired as of January '24 and trained to be a policeman:. • January 9, 1977. Chief King jp: jot;j f, ., j .. • ,• told the commission Mr. Livesey was . a mechanic in tl Woodstock, Ontario and lived New entrance •• in Ingersoll with his wife. and 14 one child. He said he was a corporal' with the Ontario Proyincial Police Auxiliary and was working with the Woodstock detachment. Mr. Livesey has no formal police experience but the 24 year old has Some knowledge •y of police work through his involvement with the O.P.P.. Chief King said the man was very eager to become a policeman and had applied for both the Ingersoll police department . and the provincial police. He was not acceptedfor the O.P.P. because he had not finished INT Alexandra' Marine and General. Hospital administrator N IilJ.. W: Banks announced this week* that while all the new til, • wing is yet to be completed, the new emergency • entrance •1 on Cambria Road, will be put into use December 27. tk All patients coming to the Emergency. Department or for outpatient, laboratory and X-ray procedures are ,, • requested by the hospital administration to use the new • - entrance. "Public co-operation during the construction period txhas been appreciated," Mr. Banks noted in his A '. statement, "and any inconvenience is regretted. We hope •1 to able to be'in full operation in our new facility in a 24 month or so, but until that time, we will be using parts of iii• 14 the expanded areas as they become available: 4,-- *.11.171 A Land *111 site costsincreasd Signs of inflation are even imminent in garbage disposal. The Land Fill Site Com- mittee, made up of representatives of Goderich, Clinton,. Bayfield and Goderich . and Colborne townships, recently approved a $5,000 increase to the contract ' governing the Holmesville :land fill site in 1977. The increaseanow brings the annual costs at the dump to $55,000. George Lavis, owner- • operator of • the dump prevailed upon the committee recently to increase the contract to meet rising costs. Mr. Lavis gave the com- •,,rdittee a breakdown of costs for 1976, costs that showed an operating deficit of $3,847 for the year. Included in the deficit was '$1,188 brought on by a Ministry of Environment directive to separate com- bustible waste from non- combustible. _ The ministry request meant that the separation,.. of • combustible materials had to be done on site and meant extra labor for Mr. Lavis. The committee instructed . the owner to comply with the ministry in April and the owner took on the extra costs for the remainder of the year. He asked the committee for consideration in his favor and they responded' by paying him the $1,188. The combustibles are items such as tires, asphalt and shingles which if burned create smoke emission. To avoid the pollution the ministry requested that 'the items be buried separately. The committee also requested a meeting with a representative of McLellan Disposal Service, a firm that removes waste from the new Zehr's store in Goderich. Committee chairman Gerry Ginn said .he had previously instructed the secretary to authorize the firm the use of the site provided the refuse was picked up within the garbage area. Site owner Mr. Lavis ad- vised the committee he has foundtires in the McLellan waste which was creating a problem when dumping household refuse. The committee decided to write the firm a better requesting a meeting and advising them that only garbage picked up within the Holmesvilleg arbage area may be dumped in the Holmesville site.