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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1977-03-31, Page 1yy di • of at least two budget Id in open session for ,wn Council really didn't much. After four hours of and review, only about ut out of the expenditures unadjusted, would have 2,127, s budget was for 83,135,512 expenditures for the year 50: tint dcouncil at the deputy -clerk eputy-clerkLay council that if the budget ed as presented, it would 11 increase from 179.45 mills ,45 mills in 1977. e assessed at $3,000 it would rease in taxes of, about $150 ems unanimously agreed ons must be the in der to keep taxes more year, but on the first run uch progres was made. In alf-way through the Monday ting, Finance Chairman Bill council that instead of from the budget's total, d succeeded in adding to the unicipality here and there. near the evening's end it the Jubilee Three Com- et item for $30,000 need not be placed inthe budget in total, Decision was reached to, enter a $150,000 item - and hope that revenue from various Jubilee Three festivities and projects would begin .to show up and carry the celebrations financially until the end of the year when all the accounts are finally tallied.. "If we need "ft give them more than - $15,000," commented Mayor Deb Shewfelt, "we can do so. But it will just be an in and; out item. I am positive the celebrations will show a profit." MAJOR EXPENDITURE FOR EDUCATION The requisitions for education in Goderich are all up this year, but the Huron County Board of Education in- crease is by far the most significant. The. requisition this year from the Huron Board totals close to one million dollars - $904,664. That represents $936,336 for secondary school purposes and 8468,328 for elementary school needs. Last year's education requisitions were much below these figures at 8373,104 for secondary school and $356,607 for elementary schools. The total increase, is $63,232 for secondary schools and $111,721 for elementary schools in Huron County, or $174,953 in all. That's about 24 per cent. The requisition for ' Huron -Perth ic. , April 4 at 7 p.m. Day Nursery Committee at the school, guest speaker Judy Cooper to 'vate home day care. , April 4 at 7:30 p.m., Town Council regular the council chambers. day, April 6 from 4-6 p.m. and from 7:30 to ? , cil budget meeting in the council chambers. , April 18 at 8 p.m., Alexandra Marine and ospital Board meeting. e Separate School Board was up $5,461, "'I for one am just not prepared to let from $32,988 to 838,449, almost a 17 per this increase go by without at least at - cent increase. t-centincrease. _ tempting to understand the reasons for Very little was said by town eau» '"r it," said Mrs. Haydon. cillors concerning the separate school. It is time we made ourselves heard board increase, but the Huron Board of on this matter," said Councillor. Bob Education- hike received some close Allen. "That's close to a $200,000 in- attention. Councillor Elsa Haydon told her, associates she felt there should be some sort of an explanation from the board trustees or the administration regarding the- increase. She said she'd been led to believe the hefty hike may have been caused by an error in previous' calculations, but more than that she felt council should be informed regarding the type of formula the county school board uses to arrive at the requisitions for the municipalities. "I suggest we would invite Dorothy Wallace and Cayley Hill, as well as some other board officials if that is considered necessary, to be at our next budget meeting," Mrs. Haydon said, "in a nice, friendly and civilized spirit." Mrs. Haydon recalled council had once before tried to arrange a meeting with school board member's and found it didn't work out. Board members didn't attend council's invitation, she said, and there was some indication board members thought of town council as "small potatoes''. cruse and that's a lot of money.' councillor Dave Gower said that every yer, council sits'by until it hears from the school board and then sets its budget around the school tax increase. He said the school levy alone would represent 20 mills to the_ taxpayers of Goderich (about $60 on an assessment of $3,000). Now council is attempting to cut necessary items of . its own budget in order to accommodate with the school board increase without seriously over- burdening the taxpayers of Goderich. "The town will disintegrate in a few years if this continues," commented Bob Allen. "It is time to separate these things," said Councillor Gower. "It is time the school board collected its own taxes." "It would cost more money," retorted Councillor Stan Profit. "That's just a hang-up as far as I'm concerned," said Gower. "Why should we be their collection agency?" asked Councillor Haydon. Deputy -clerk McCabe was instructed to invite board personnel to the next p tuxe meeting which is set for Wednesday. April 6 at 4 p.m. INDIVIDUAL BUDGETS SHOW INCREASES The general administration budget for the town is up from $149,230 budgeted in 1976 to $263,502 in 1977, although actual expenses in 1976 were a whopping $239,338 or $90,000 more than expected. Almost every item in the budget is up, but the major differences are in salaries 'and employee benefits. Gross salaries in this budget are $95,252, up from $82,850 budgeted in 1976 and $89,021 actual expenditure in 1976. There is also a 810,600 item for the Workmen's Com- pensation Board, $16,196 for life in- surance, $12,696 for OHIP, $6,740 for Canada Pension Plan, $10,954 for Unemployment Insurance Commission and over $30,000 for OMERS. There will be no election expenses in 1977, but there is an $8,000 advance to the Jubilee Three Committee which must be picked up in this year's general ad- ministration budget. Office supplies and rentals have gone from $8,000 to $10,000. The fire protection budget is down from the budgeted figure in 1976 - $69,371 from $75,000. But actual expenditures in 1976 for fire protection were $59,232 - about $10,000 less than this year's budgeted a mount. The police budget's yet to be reviewed by the Goderich •Felice Commission, but preliminary budget figures, showitto be up from $257,301 to $260,828'. A couple of budget itefn.s were of particular interest to councillors - • like an increase in the cost of firearms and ammunition from $600 last year to $2,620 this year....and travel expenses up frpm $318 in 1976 to 81250 in 1977. ` "We should just wait until the police commission gets a chance at this budget before we comment," said Councillor Stan Profit. The suggestion was ap- proved by council. The budget for the building and planning officer is up from $13,000 to $16,102 and the bylaw enforcement of- ficer's department from $14,100 to $15,090. These budgets are exclusive of salaries for Roy Breckenridge, building and planning officer, and Dick Eisler, bylaw enforcement officer. Street lighting is up from $35,750 to $38,700 with the major increase coming from the cost of electrical power. PUBLIC WORKS OUT OF SIGHT The public works budget appears to be staggering - up from $249,600 in 1976 to $741,920 in 1977. But a closer lopk reveals projects like Bayfield Road widening (continued on page 2 obfflrlj 130 YEAR -13 IGNA THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 1977 STAR SINGLE COPY 25e rnd eball fever hits town ring a young man's fancy turns to baseball. As the ores soared to near 70 degrees on Tuesday the nd school yards were tilled with children engaging in baseball and' hockey games and just generally enjoying the fine spring weather. (staff photo) n County Board of -- took an "un- step last ;week lare'd two major t ye positions 1 moved the clic into .the t eatfon John it "Board ' urkheim ay that one lob andr the ad - b were no d1°Ralph'Smith %ililps, will 'he OSitions as ecome', pri`n- emortal floderich in 0 n hiltlpis will ala Central School ln.. loved c,�were ft7Wlth^fj oderich racing4 season threatened Although the- Ontario Racing Commission has informed the Town of Goderich that seating facilities for harness racing at Agriculture Park are not up to safety standards,. and has estimated that repairs could cost between $75,000 and $100,060, all hope that ,'acing can be held locally this summer may not be dead. Goderich .. Property Com- mittee Chairman Bob Allen said on Tuesday that the Town is awaiting a letter from the Ministry of Con- sumer and Corporate Affairs (the body responsible for the unsafe verdict) in response to a report filed last week by an engineering firm retained by the Town. The original survey of seating facilities was carried out last fall by the firm ,of Morrison, Herchfield, Burgess and Huggins Limited of .Toronto and found the facilities unsafe. The Town of Goderich however last week retained the services of the Kleinfelt Group to make another study. According to Allen the Town is arguing that since the - Agriculture Park facilities are only used on a seasonal basis the snow load factors, included in the first engineering report, should not be taken into con- sideration. - "We can perhaps guarantee the Ministry that we will block off the seating during the winter months," he suggested. Allen said he was reluctant to talk about the matter in any detail as he wanted to avoid a "polarization of opinions as happened when the arena situation arose". "I would like to have all the information first," he said. He did indicate that he was hopeful repairs could be made for considerably less than $100,000 which would make the facilities safe for seasonal use. He would not expand further however. NOT A1,ONE Goderich is not alone in its race -track difficulties. Tracks at Clinton, Wood- stock, Elmira, Hanover, Owen Sound and Belleville will need repairs and rein- forcement to some degree according to a spokesman for the Ontario Racing Com- mission. In a letter to the Goderich Racing Association, a copy of which went to town council, Racing Commission Chair- man Charles McNaughton estimates that repairs to the facilities in Goderich could cost between $75, " I and $100,000. At present the Racing Commission has $96,000 in a fund out of which they are willing to provide the usual matching grant of 5Q per cent to tracks with approved•pl;'ns for expansion or im- provements. It is doubtful however if there will he sufficient money in the fund to meet costs which willresult from repairs now facing so many tracks at the same time. According to the Racing Commission the inspection of race track facilities was prompted by the situation which developed last year around unsafe arena roofs. The Commission will not replaces principals with administrator spending - in education in Huron and to bring personnel numbers in line with declining enrolment in the county schools, It is viewed as necessity by the board. Cochrane ..explained that enrolment in . elementary schools has been d clining in the past few years, resulting in reduced funds from the province. The 'ministry of education offers grants to boards in the province based on a per capita ratio and the declining number of school children reduces that figure annually. "The board does not look on the change as a demotion but as a fact made necessary by a tight budget," said Cochrane. The director said he felt the move Was perhaps indicative of the situation boards will facein the future, but added that was his opinion only. He said the shuffle will save the board about $60,000 annually based on current salaries by not having to appoint two principals to fill the vacan- cies. The hoard had four prin- cipalships open in September due to three retirements and Idthners civic banquet guests The Town of Goderich will entertain the gold medal Goderich Oldtimers Hockey Team and their wives at a civic 'dinner, probably at the Legion Hall. The cost has been estimated at about $300, providing the Legion Ladies' Auxiliary agrees to cater the meal at a budget orate. Councillor John Doherty, who suggested the dinner for the Oldtimers in .the first place, said the guest list would lncludelthe 35men, on thetrip to Zurich, t' Swltzerlattd as wellas their wives, or h>nd,council,rmirernbers hii►d' their es husbandS or guests. J y Dohert al"- investigations by y revealed that meals per plate wou probably at least $4, and he was under the impression now that the Legion Ladies Auxiliary might prepare the meal at. a reduced cost in honor of the Oldtimers. He suggested the meal could be prepared by the Legion ladies for something like $3 a plate. Doherty further outlined plans to present the team with a civic trophy. Councillor Elsa Haydon, who pointed out she was in no way attempting to belittle , the achievement of.. ,the Old - liners, resited if considex'atioit had" been Id run t given to entertaining only the: hockey guests and escorts.. fcred enough, - not he • of "Why must it always be a family Lair when we entertain?" she asked. Mrs. Haydon also wanted to know if the town had provided any other funds for the Oldtimers. Finance Chairman Bill Clifford said he had authorized an expenditure of ,up to $125 for the lunch when the team' arrived home from Switzerland; but said that to date he had not been presented with any hills. The vote: WtitS,ltnanimous to entertain ag iuests. ,, -Doherty explained, fieO1dtimers have suf- the team andtll As Coundillt "The wives f5t • players and council members,,: o , r the opening o Vanastra Public School. As well as Robertson and CHSS, the principalship of Seaforth Public School was open. John Talbot retired from the school and ' vice-principal Paul Carroll was named his replacement. John Ross, now the vice- principal of Wingham Public School, will take over as head of the new Vanastra school. The board will appoint the new vice -principals later in the year. Under board policy set down by the education act, any personnel who have their positions declared redundant automatically take the next position available which in this case is a principalship. The move was a com- bination of good luck and good timing, according to Cochrane who said ,h'e couldn't foresee any openings at the . principal . levelfor another eight to ten years if present staff stays with the d tion director said e e uca he took the proposal for the shuffle to the board and told trustees they must act now or live with present staff for at least that long. The removal of one sup dent's job will mean a change of geographical boundaries for the remaining three d top say that the tracks are to be closed but indicate fhat if repairs are not completed it is possible licences will not be issued for the upcoming racing season. Goderich Racing Association spokesman Bert Such said on Tuesday that the Goderich track had been issued with clearance for its 1977 racing dates. He ex- plained that the races can be held if the seating facilities are not used but suggested "that's really not very feasible". Mr. Such said the Association wanted to meet with the local Property Committee to discuss the question but had not as yet set a•date for that meeting. ACTION SOON Mr. Allen said that a letter responding to the Kleinfelt Group study was on its way Tuesday from the Ministry of Consumer and Corporate Affairs and that as soon as it arrived • he would be in a position to meet with the Racing Association representatives. At Clinton, members of the local Kinsmen Racing Committee met with representatives of Town Council and the Agricultural Society on Tuesday evening and made a tentative decision to replace their seating facilities. Another meeting was set for Wednesday evening, between the full membership (continued on page 18) Wingham area floodplain superinten encs u the schools now under 'approved Monday Smith's jursisdiction. Smith is responsible for the Maitland Vai.ey t;on- Seaforth-Clinton arca and has servation Authority Monday five elementary schools and received- approval from the two secondary schools in that Ontario Government to carry arca. out demolition and land - The board will have to 'caping of dwelling sites break that area up amongst acquired in the Turnberry the remaining superin- floodplain. tendents and will have to An Ontario grant of $54,000 over a four-year period will, return some administrative duties . now handled by according to Natural Phillips back to Cochrane, Resources Minister Frank S. ' The move returns both men Miller, pern'it the Authority to areas they once worked in. " to proceed' 'with the Turn - Smith was a , supervisory berry floodplain project Principal when Goderich had which includes , long-term three elementary schools and acquisition of floodplain" ntinued on page 18) properties. board, (co •