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The Goderich Signal-Star, 1977-12-01, Page 11 -lire McCabe Larry McCabe has been hired as clerk - treasurer and' tax collector for the Town of Goderich effective January 1, 1978. McCabe, a Goderich native, was assistant to Harold Walls who left Goderich this fall to become ad- ministrater for Oxford County. Starting salary for McCabe is $19,500 for duties as clerk-treasuretax collector, secretary to the Police Commissioif, secretary -to the cemetery board and secretary to the land fill site com- mittee. Also included in that salary is any "in town mileage", according to Finance Chairman Bill Clifford. Two annual increments of $1,000 in 1979 a• nd 1980 will be paid. Also in 1979 and 1980, McCabe will be entitled to any negotiable employee in- creases granted by the municipality in those years. McCabe is presently taking a course toward his certificate with the Association of Municipal Clerk -Treasurers (AMCT). McCabe's appointment is expected to be formally ratified at Monday evening's council meeting. It is also .expected that council will advertise for an accountant to assist McCabe, with duties to begin early in the new year. Larry McCabe l 0 1 sen Snowstorms may have wreaked havoc fie last weekend and rekindled some ememorles but for children the snow on J Who should County council didn't come to • any conclusion Friday on the question of who should bear the additional costs for land severances - the tax- payers of Huron or the individuals applying for the severances. So the matter was tossed back in the laps of the Land Division Committee for decision. Members do have the authority to charge an administration fee on any approved severances, or they can-choose.toicontinue as at present. The . problem in a nutshell is simple. The present charge for each application for severance is $50. As of October 31, 1977 the average cost ger severance is $152, based on 206 severances received to date. Who should pay the additional $102? The Land Division Committee which is set up under provincial legislation, has certain authorities granted to it. Just recently the Land Division Committee in Peel attached fees in excess of $700 to one severance which was ap- proved, and the decision was upheld in the court. According to county administrator Bill Hanly, the precedent has been set and it is now a question in Huron County of "how much should be subsidized by the public"." Bayfield Reeve Ed Oddliefson asked, "Should the People of ,Huron pay the costs for an in- dividual who is asking for a severance so he can make,money?" Stanley Township Deputy ieeve Paul Steckle answered: "The people who are receiving the benefits should also pay the costs." But that feeling wasn't shared by everyone. Reeve Jack Tinney of Hay suggested much pressure could be brought on the -Land Division Committee jf the applicants were paying the entire cost of severance. Tinney also wondered how high the costs for land severances might go. Reeve Bill Elston of Morris Township thought the Land Division Committee should be striving to "bring costs down instead of getting people to pay more". "I really am disappointed to see what's hap- pening," said Elston. The Land Division Committee, it was learned, has been operating at a loss almost from its inception. Members of the current land division committee are Roy Westcott, 'Elmer Hayter, Girvin Reed, John Hazlitt and J. L. McCutcheon. 139 YEAR -48 THURSDAY, DECEMBER 1, 1977 39 CENTS PER COPY Rec office will move The Goderich Recreation Board made a decision to centralize staff and facilities by voting to move the recreation office and staff either to the arena or the grandstand, if a new one is built. Six board members voted in favor of the move that is to take place as soon as a firm decision is made on the exact loca n. Hoard member John Doherty opposed the moon in a recorded rate. Many board members favored including the recreation office in' a new grandstand but the committee wants to first establish a definite need for that facility and organize a•fund raising drive. To date there is still some controversy over the need of .a new grandstand and what group or groups should spearhead a fund raising drive, Mayor Deb Shewfelt said the grandstand would be an ideal location for the recreation office and suggested that the recreation staff move to the arena immediately and then move into the grandstand if and when it is built. 'Board member .Randy Smith said it was senseless for the recreation staff to move into the arena now and then have to move again later into the grandstand. He said they should wait for one move and save the disruption. Councillor Bob Allen said if there was a group willing to volunteer their time renovations could be made to accommodate the recreations office at the arena for little cost. "But we first have to find out if we are sincere about the move this time or just playing ring- around-the-rosie again." he said. Shewfelt stressed the need for a grandstand and said that Goderich would not be a town without one adding that even without a grand- stand there would likely be the trhining of horses in Agricultural Park. Allen suggested that without a grandstand and racing in Goderich the horsemen and their barns would likely be gone the hill was good for many afternoons of fun. The from the park in a few years. snow was expected to disappear later this week. Board chairman Mary Donnelly said she (staff photo) st indications show increase ew lanner sacrificed s for 1978 began to trickle into the County Council agenda Friday and erswere quick to notice that increases in allbudgets are imminent. Of course, all Presented now are approved subject to isions at budget time in early 1978. budget for the Huron County Planning ;drew the most comment and county turned down a request for another senior technician. While council did grant an Bate ix percent increase to the existing Staffa planning director, two planners lining technician it turned the budget Committee o mnitteeforrevisions. .nigbudget called for expenditures 000, up nearly $28,000 over last badget of $134,200, But Chairman Bill otGoderich said the county taxpayers' use udget will be increased by $42,400, the y Study Grants "eiaYed until 1979 becauset of an Ontario ?ht Policy to hold back grant money TMinistry approval is granted fo ies lanning procedures in the is a delay of six months to a year on nds," said Chairman Clifford. SIX PER CENT township Reeve Gerry to Huron County residents in 1978 Per cent. He asked how council in- tended to keep the total county increase in 1978 to six per cent if one committee was allowed this kind of an increase. Reeve Bill Elson, Morris, said planning hoard costs were getting "completely out of control" and felt ways should be found to reduce the cost of planning rather than asking the people to pay more toward the process. Frank Cook, deputy -reeve of Clinton predicted the planning process, • unless controlled or altered, would "cost our taxpayers in Huron County a lot of money". Reeve Clifford explained that the total workload in the planning office is increasing. Planning director Gary Davidson confirmed this, saying the department is only about half- way through the preparation of the secondary plans requested by the various municipalities. All but two municipalities have requested. secondary plans, Davidson said, the towns are now asking that their secondary plans he up- dated. Clifford added that the planning department has used the services of a part-time draftsman for two years now, and that if another senior planning technician was hired, the junior planning technician could handle those duties. Looking at it this way, Clifford reasoned, the new staff member would cost the county only about $9,000 per annum. Clifford also noted that the conversion to the metric system in the planning department has to be done and is making additional work for the staff. THINK The Goderich reeve urged council to "think it over carefully" saying that if added staff was turned down, less planning would be completed in 1978 and municipalities must be prepared'n, wait for their secondary plans. Harold Robinson, reeve of .Howick, said the secondary plans "are no great shakes" and said he felt Huron County wasn't such a bad place to live when there was no planning at all. Stanley Deputy -reeve Paul Steckle said Turn to page 15 • Santa near The annual town of Goderich Santa Claus parade will be held this Saturday beginning at 2 p.m.. The theme of this year§ parade is A Cartoon Christmas and Recreation Director Mike Dymond said there are between 20 and 25 float entries as well as a couple of bands. 'After the parade the Beta Theta Sigma Phi sorority and the Goderich. Rangers are spon- soring Santa's Court in the Park Theatre. The Circle City CB club will marshall the pars de. . would hate to see racing disband and said if the recreation office was to be built into the new grandstand then there would have to be financial involvement by the town. "Racing is good for Goderich and it brings many people into town," she said, "But if we get a new grandstand the canteen should not, be leased." Shewfelt then said the recreation office should be in the grandstand if it gets off the ground and said he favored a direct move of the recreation director to the grandstand. Allen commented on the mayor's suggestion saying that since many people saw a need for the recreation director to supervise the arena facility, then a move should be made im- mediately. ' "We have done a study before and found that there is not suitable space at the arena for the office,"' he said, "If the director is needed to supervlstcll9t'rfacilitg thefi`tliey should move -into Bill's office (area manager Bill Lumby.'s office) Turn to page 15 Threeseek warden's post in 1978 It was that time again on Friday at Huron County ' Council and three members have declared their interest in the warden's chair for 1978, the year of the'International Plowing Match in Huron. Gerry Ginn, the reeve of Goderich Township was the first on his feet. Ginn, recently named Forester of the Year, announced his intention much earlier this year toseek the warden's post in 1978 Ginn has had 22 years in municipal life - nine years of the former Goderich District Collegiate Institute Board, four on the Advisory Vocational Committee of Central Huron Secondary School; four years on Goderich Township Council as a councillor; four as deputy -reeve; and when he finishes this term of office, it will be four as reeve. . Bob Lyons of West Wawanosh Township declared himself a candidate. He has spent 11 years on county council, this year as chairman of the road committee. He is semi -retired, he told council, and will have plenty of time to devote to the warden's job if he is elected. The third candidate is Jack Tinney, reeve of Hay Township. He calls himself a "swamp boy" althopglt more recently he likes to think of himself as "from the forest". He has spent 10 years on municipal council, six on county council. The warden will be elected at the first January meeting of the 1978 county council. He will replace this year's warden, Doug McNeil, Colborne Township. Veteran. Carl Campion, 92, received a' surprise week and entertained visit and gift from Santa Claus at the Giodetich dinner and a special Legion last week. The Ladies' Legion Auxiliary photo) held `a special afternoon for area veterans last them with some songs, a visit from Santa. (staff