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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1978-11-30, Page 8PAGE 8 —GODERICH SIGNAL -STAR, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 1978 And so it BY JEFF SEDDON Past differences were forgotten Monday night at the last session of the 1977-78 town council when councillors, who many times bitterly opposed one another over issues at the council table, had a parting of the ways. Councillor Don Wheeler, who recently lost a bid for mayor, Councillor Dave Gower, who is leaving a council seat in favor of a chair at the bo.ard of education, and mayor Deb Shewfelt, who lost a bid for re-election as mayor, lavished each other, and returning and new council members, with praise just before adjourning their final meeting together. "I don't mind admitting that I had a little cry this afternoon," said councillor Elsa Haydon n s... councillors adjourn for final time who is returning for another two year term of office. Haydon said she had worked very closely with both Gower and Shewfelt for eight years and Wheeler for the two years he was on council adding that it was "impossible" during that time not to develop a form of emotional respect for one another. She said she did not want to be "overly sentimental" but wanted to tell them she admired them for more than their work for the community of Goderich. Dave Gower, who ended a ten year stint on council with a successful campaign for trustee on the board of education, told council the person he "admired most" from his experience in politics was Haydon. Gower said he respected Haydon because she "always stood Rec director a must... • from page 1 additional staff person at the arena, since Jewell's duties would be split. Jane Netzke, who co-ordinates the retardation integration program would work as program co-ordinator. He believed that the board should seriously consider salary increases for all full time staff, that the recreation office be maintained at its present location or close to town hall and the operation of Agriculture Park be put under the jurisdiction of the recreation department with one of the arena staff being responsible for its maintenance during the summer months. Board chairman Mary Donnelly told board members that they should be positive about what they want before they go to council with the proposition. Bob Allen agreed with the chairman's sen- timents and said the board would have to go to council with a definite recommendation about recreation. "You can't go to council and give them some recommendations and say there are alter- natives because they will rip it apart," he said. "You have to go and tell them the way you want it." Deb Shewfelt said the recreation board had to be firm and offer council a complete package. "We've talked about a lot of different things so let's do them now and rip her wide open at council," he said. "We can decide on hiring a new director, getting the grandstand under this board's jurisdiction, moving the recreation office there - the whole package." Police station. • from page 1 `and found the interior of the building to be neat and well kept. They were impressed with the neatness and dryness of the basement but pointed out that some of the exterior masonry work was in need of painting. After a tour of the recreation offices in Goderich the group indicated the recreation department was making maximum use of the available space. They questioned recreation director Mike Dymond on the possibility of relocating the office and noted that the outside steps were in need of repair. The panel also inspected the Court House building and several smaller offices contained therein. They spoke with John MacKinnon, director of social services, whose department is housed in three small rooms in the basement of the Court House. They said that interviewing space was at a premium, ventilation was poor and heat control for individual rooms was difficult. The Huron County planning office lacked adequate storage space and again these basement offices had heat control problems. The only fire exit door in the area was locked from the outside, although no one was aware of the problem. The panel noted that the County courtroom was a prestigious and well kept room but suggested some improvements in decor such as new carpeting, tile and drapes. There were no holding cells for the court and the nearest facility was in the OPP station on Highway 21 four miles south of Goderich. On general inspection of the Court House building the panel found: the elevator did not have an inspection sticker, the mechanism for opening the North Street door from the inside was missing, the printing -duplicating room in the basement has poor ventilation and many vaults were being used as storage areas and offices. The panel also visited the Children's Aid Society Team Living Experience home and the group home for retarded adults in Goderich. They were impressed with both projects and.. their relationship with the community but did suggest that the group home for retarded adults required some exterior painting. After a tour of the Bluewater Centre for the Developmentally Handicapped, south of Goderich, the panel was concerned that most of Lung Assoc. to buy ecolizer The Huron Perth Lung Association is purchasing an ecolizer in co- operation with the Oxford Lung Association to test carbon monoxide levels in schools, factories and other localities. The association experimented with a, borrowed ecolizer during the recent International Plowing Match in Wingham. At a recent meeting of the management com- mittee of the Huron Perth Lung Association, committee members expressed their ap- preciation of the efforts of volunteerswho prepared 55,000 letters with Christmas seals and information which were distributed to Huron and Perth County homes. Mrs. Jean Cann of Exeter reported children with asthma would begin a series of exercises and fun at the YM -YWCA pool in Stratford. Also, Rev. E. Nelson of Avonton reported breathing, classes in Seaforth have resumed with Mrs. Carol ltowker of Clinton conducting the classes, • • the space at the centre was being maintained and heated, although it was not in use. The Centre, with a staff of 163 full-time and 30 part-time employees, can accommodate 230 patients but at the time of inspection there were only 97 residents. There were three empty wingss but one was leased to Alexandra Marine and General Hospital for psychiatric care. Although the centre was not being used to its potential the panel was impressed with the operation and the staff. The panel also visited several public buildings and institutions in Wingham, Seaforth, Clinton and Exeter. Judge Carter lauded the efforts of the panel not only for their co-operation but also for their thoroughness. "I can't tell you how grateful I am on the thoroughness of this report," he said. "The public supports institutions and ha` s' a right to know;how they are being run. t He also thanked the panel for taking the time to serve the jury duty on the panel and for being public spirited enough to carry it through. up at council for what she thought was, right" and never sacrificed her ideals. He said he "regretted in many respects his decision to leave council" but added that although many times council disagreed most of his experiences were pleasant. Gower included the mayor in his remarks saying he "respects" Shewfelt for his com- munity work and the work he has done as a council member. He said it was most un- fortunate that some council members had to part under these circumstances, and that it was very cifficult to measure the record of council now. He said council had set the stage for a tremendous amount of work to be done in Goderich and that he was confident the work Most board members agreed that they would have to have firm recommendations on the role of recreation in Goderich, the question of hiring a director, modifying the duties of the staff, getting jurisdiction on the grandstand operation and Agriculture Park and the possibility of moving the recreation offices. Board member Jon Ginn said the recreation department may have been considered an unnecessary expense by many people in town because they only see one side of recreation. "Recreation in this town means two different areas; sports and the programs operated by the recreation department," he said. "But the problem in this town is that people don't see the other side of recreation programs. All they think of is -sports." After the passing of the motion to hire a rec director, Donnelly claimed it was better to have such a person to overlook and co-ordinate the whole operation, someone who was in charge. That was one of the main concerns about splitting up or modifying the duties of existing personnel. No one, specifically, would be in charge of the total operation. Ginn said the idea was a practical one reiterating that a director was needed to control the recreation programs. ."Chuch (Jewell) could be in charge of the arena and grandstand and Jane (Netzke) might be in charge of programs but if anyone has a problem, or people phone the office for in- formation, a director would be free to help them, meet with groups and organize things," (3D ON O 3 O .. (D O G D O 5 3 3 • c n p c n ransfer responsibility I G. r.• Secretary of State John Roberts and Postmaster General J. Gilles Lamontagne announced recently that the department of the Secretary of State has assumed from the Canada Post Office the responsibility to establish postal rates on certain categories of mail af- fecting periodicals, books, and records. This transfer is set out in an agreement recently signed by Mr. Roberts and Mr. Lamontagne. It will transfer to the Secretary of State not only the power to con- tinue to partially offset postal rates as they apply to certain categories of mail, but also the op- portunity to consider alternative ways of en- suring that these kinds of cultural "products" are supported. "This agreement serves to recognize formally the need for special postal rates for publishers and other culturally -related categories of mail and permits us to coordinate postal rates' policy with the government's overall cultural objectives, for which the Secretary of State is responsible," said Mr. Roberts. For example, he elaborated, the recent • proposed postal rates announced by the Postmaster General reflected the govern- ment's interest in a healthy indigenous periodical press by deflecting 50 percent of the proposed average increase away from Canadian publications, printed and published in Canada, using second class mail. Previously, Canada Post Office administered the postal rates for the categories of second, third and fourth class mail relating to periodicals, books and records. would be finished by future councils. __-The mayor wished the incoming council well," he said. Councillor Wheeler said he wanted to steal the parting line from film travelogues where they say "as the sun sets in the west we bid you fond farewell'. Wheeler said he had found his term on council "most pleasant" and that he wanted to "bid his council fond farewell". He 'said he has no plans to "fade away" wanting to stay active in the community. He said he has offered his services to the town by putting his name in for appointment to council com- mittees. he said. "The other two employees would do the physical work." Council will have toface the issue when the buck stops, but the recreation board is deter- Shewfelt reminded council that it was "not as if we're attending a funeral" adding that the members leaving the council table will "still be around". The mayor addressed new council, members pointing out that one of the 'major successes of this council was that it "brought frankness to the council table and hit issues dead on". He said that philpsophy "really pays off" adding that taxpayers don't always un- derstand council business but the "air is clear when you walk out the door". The mayor wishes the incoming council similar success and told council members that he "knows how they'll feel next Monday" because he "sat in that chair". mined to present them with a viable and workable recreation department. But they had to sort all that out at their special meeting Wednesday. 4 This Christmas Give her a gift that will improve her ap- peara.nce and attitude both at the same time. Give her a Permanent & Hair Style from Verna's Beauty Salon b7 West St. Goderich Permanents by Eric - Styling by Verna (Both with over 30 years experience) (A cut above the average) For appointments call 524-7131 „,„4 **M1Pitidirt AT LANDSCAPING. A RT, s & GARDEN CENTRE NURSERY OPEN 10:00 A.M. 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