Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1977-10-13, Page 241 PAGE 2A—GODERICH SIGNAL -STAR, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 13, 1977 ' !eopk. lflparticular Goderich clerk -treasurer Harold Walls has been overseeing financial matters for the town for the past seven years and announced recently that he would be leaving Goderich to take up similar duties in Oxford County. Walls will be finishing in Goderich at the end of October and will be cleaning out his office to turn it over to a replacement to be named by town council. (staff -photo) Froin station agent to -town clerk New challenge soon BY JEFF SEDDON Harold Walls is a man who thrives on challenge. When he does something it has to be a learning experience that challenges his abilities or he tires of it quickly. That quirk in his Personality was what prompted him to resign his post as administrator of the town of Goderich and take a position as clerk -deputy treasurer of the Oxford County. "When I found out I had been accepted over 16 other applicants I felt proud," she - said in his town hall office, "I felt good that I had something to offer that someone felt they needed and wanted." Walls ends a seven year stint in Goderich at the end of October and moves into his county job in Woodstock, the Oxford county seat. He said he has been talking to the county treasurer several times since the an- nouncement that he was accepted for the job and understands that quite a bit of work is awaiting his arrival. He adds that he is looking forward to his new job and that much of what he will be responsible for is "a whale new ball game for me". He explained that as clerk - treasurer in Goderich he was responsible for the ad- ministration of the town as well as its financing and tax collecting. In Oxford he will be clerk -deputy treasurer making his first duties ad- ministrative. As deputy - treasurer he will also serve as a back up man for the county treasurer. Walls said that his new job is a professional step up the ladder. He said county government is considered a senior level compared to municipal government and that as a senior administrator he will be one step removed from some of the things he encountered as town clerk, He said that' Oxford was restructured in 1974 and was different than county council in Huron. He said that the number of councillors had been reduced to 20 and that there were eight municipalities in Oxford, including the city of Wood- stock. He said he would he working closely with the warden of the county much in the way he worked closely with the mayor of Goderich. LESS CONTACT WITH POLITICIANS Walls said one fresh aspect of his new job was his reduced contact with politicians. He said many times now he has to stop working on things as a town clerk because of the flow of traffic through his office door. He said many times he would like to shut his door and start and finish some of his complicated work but he can't because of the number of interruptions. Walls added that as town clerk he is quite often used as a sounding board, by tax- payers concerned with some council decisions. "I won't have the contact with politicians like you get at the municipal level," he said. "Sometimes when a con- troversial matter is at the council table it seems like a monstrous thing on my hack and I have to step hack and remind myself that it is the responsibility of the coun- cillors and not me," Walls commented. He said that several im- portant matters will have to he dealt with by him when he arrives in Oxford. The county is in negotiations with its employees and Walls will he the county spokesman in those negotiations. Along with that there is over a million dollars worth of debentures waiting for him when he arrives. Oxford county handles all the debentures for its municipalities and Walls will he administering them: Walls, at 46, says this probably will be, his _ last professional move as a clerk. He started his career in a part time position in the village of F.thel, He was working at the time as a station agent for the Canadian National Railway 'and started part time work as the village clerk treasurer for $25 a month. He served as treasurer, tax collector and welfare officer and says he "damn near became the tax assessor" before he moved nut of the village. For the extra duties Walls managed to get 550'a month. He was 21 years old at the time. Five years after he began working in municipal affairs, he moved to the village of Newbury, still with the railroad. He managed to get Anstett Jewellers LIMITED 11 ALBERT ST., CLINTON 482-3901 OPEN WEDNESDAYS For Your Convenience HOURS: Monday throught Saturday, 9 a.m. - 6 p.m.; Friday nights '1111 9 p.m. the ,j,pb as clerk -treasurer in that village and added other duties to the part time work, As well as clerk treasurer he became the tax collector, the welfare officer and "damn near took over as tax assessor". The job was then worth 850 a month and Walls was 26. LEFT RAILROAD He decided after several years in Newbury that he wanted to try his hand at professional municipal work and left the, railroad to take over full time duties as clerk treasurer, tax collector and welfare officer in the town of Essex. The decision to leave railroading was not an easy one. He had started with the Canadian National Railroad at a young age as a telegraph operator. He had progressed through the ranks to become a station agent which was a "great big job in those days". He had earned his papers Turn to page :1A • Hurray! This is Millbank Medium Cheddar Month! Take advantage of this special offer At Leslie Cheese House, we think that time is the only thing that will properly age cheese. Our Millbank Medium Cheddar is known for its unique , medium personality. It is aged naturally, unhurried by harsh additives or heat. During October, we invite you to try Millbank Medium Cheddar. Just clip this coupon and present it to your local dealer. Your purchase will be reduced by 15 cents. 1541 L To our valued customers This coupon is worth 15` on a package of Millbank Medium Cheddar Cheese. Offer Expires October 31, 1977. Millbank Medium Cheddar is presented by Perth Cheese Company, Stratford, Ontario 15' In Goderich: Bay Leaf - Red & White — A&P J Library . . . . . . • from page l the librarian must be able to help them and find out what they want. For this she must know her stock well. Miss Bushell laughs about the time when one little student came into the library requesting hooks • on Laurier, the President of Canada. Miss Bushell would like teachers to inform her when they assign a big school project so _she will have some idea when the library is' going to be "hombarded" with students all wanting material on the same subject. This way she can put the hooks on reserve or shorter loan periods so everyone can have a chance to use them. According to Miss Bushell, a real cross-section of people use the library. It is open. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.ni. The Children's Library is open until 8 p.m. only on Tuesdays and "Thursdays. On Mondays and Fridays it closes at 5:30 p.m. Books can .be taken out on loan for two weeks. If a book is overdue, the fine is five cents a day per book with a maximum being 51. Books can be renewed by simply telephoning 524-9261. All GUARANTEED INVESTMENT CERTIFICATES TO 9'/s Bruce Erskine 86 North St. 524-9555 money collected from fines goes back into the library budget. Buying books, for the library is very expensive says Miss Bushell. The Goderich library is providing a public service. It is up to the public to respect and use the facilities and materials made available to then. And remember: the library offers more than a hook- borrowing service. Think about sonic of the other services as well. BOER♦ ct mikes Canadian Um • Be sure to hear the Premier of Ontario The Honourable YOUR HEADQUARTERS FOR • ROGERS MAJESTIC • EXPERT TV SERVICE N • ANTENNA & TOWER INSTALLATION 162 MARY ST. GODERICN S24.901 William G. Davis Q.0 deliver A Keynote Speech on Canadian Unity, at a reception and dinner at the Royal Canadian Legion 56 Kingston, St. Goderich, Ontario Friday, October 21, 191 Reception 6 p.m. Dinner7p, FOR TICKETS CALL: KEN HUTCHINS 524-7308 A Jubilee 3 Project BUSINESS DIRECTO Durst, Vodden & Bender CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS 37 West Street Goderich, Ontario 524-2011 Al BLE BLE - _—_-BYTHT WEEK OR MONTH RITTH _QVELL For FASHION - RIGHT SHOES The Place To Go Is ROSS SHOES 'The Square Goderich r)IuEL Pumps and Injectors Repaired or All Popular MakeHuron Fuel Injection Equipment eld Rd. 482-7971 Cards For All Occasions * Gifts * Books *'Stationery Supplies * Records ANDERSON'S BOOK CENTRE 33 EAST ST. GODERICH WEST ST. COIN -0$ LAUNDROMAT 8 DRY CLEANING 54 West St. 524-9953 Open Daily nn 7a.m.-11p.m. Drycleaning 8:30 to 5:30 p.m. Science and Fashion In Hair Care • M'Lady complete hair care services • M'Lords hair cutting 8. styling — Tues., Thurs. evening • Senior citizens discounts Wednesday afternoons Plus • Nucleic acid & protein hair treatments AT Where???. The Beauty Lounge 81 East St., GODERICH 524-8994 "Naturally" YAMAHA We believe we have the finest selection of MOTORCYCLES In the area. We GUARANTEE our SERVICE AFTER SALEI COUTRY RNNER STORES MT. CARMEL 237-3456 OPEN 10 - 10 MON. - SAT. NOON -6 SUNDAY R. W. BELL OPTOMETRIST The Square 524-7661 PHIL MAIN HARDWARE FOR HOME, FARM 6 INDUSTRY (formerly H.O. Jerry Ltd.) 84 Kingston St. GODERICH • Wholesale Cable, Rope and Fittings • Fire Extinguishers & Service • CIL Paints • Window Glass and Screening Repairs • Small appliance repair Hours Mon. - Sat., 8:30 - 6:00 PHONE 524-9671 Ronald L, McDonald CHARTERED ACCOU 39 St, David 5t,, $ Goderich, Ont CHISHOI FUELS Distributors For <SUNK PRODUCTS • HOME, FARM, INDUSTRY * 24 Hour BurnerSe * F Furnace lnancing * GasolFurnace 8 Dlesell * New Furnace Ind Hot Water Bollen 524.1681 OR 529.1514 MacGillivray & C CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS RONALD E. TAKALO, C.A. RESIDENT PARTNER 40 THE SQUARE GODERICH, ONT. 524.2677 NA ALP PORI ur V RADIO SERVICE CITIZEN BAND - MARINE - BUSINESS WARRANTY & AFTER WARRANTY SERVICE ONTARIO RAD1O 450 WEBER ST. NORTH WATERLOO OW Radios may be picked up and dropped °flat MR. STEREO, 40 WEST ST., GODERICH Peter S. MaCEwa INSURANCE AGEN Residential - Commercial Auto - Life 38 St. David St., Goderich Ph. 524-9531 or 524-2522 EI ai 1 late I fiber ' 1SUI y ARE EW, IN14 INSUI 09 Rd 124.1