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The Goderich Signal-Star, 1978-12-14, Page 3Allen fights for silent siren Firemen want amber flashers on cars G.ODRRICH SIGNAL .STAR, THURSDAY EOEMBER 1.4,1$78- PAGE 3 BY SHIRLEY J. KELLER In a recorded vote at Monday evening's committee meeting of town council, the decision was 7-2 in favor of turning the town fire siren back on during the daylight hours and purchasing, 'amber flashing lights for the private cars of Goderich Volunteer Firemen. Butthe matter isn't settled. The motion goes before town council on Monday 'evening for final approval and there is a chance that more council members will be swayed towards the thinking of Deputy -reeve Bob Allen who fought magnificently to keep things as they are in Goderich...as least as far as the wail of the fire siren is concerned. Allen told council that the town's taxpayers are financing an instant alert system for the firemen of Goderich to the tune of $10,124.77 a year. That's what those beepers are costing, said Allen, and as far as he is concerned, they are worth every penny. There is better at- tendance at fires, he said, explaining that all firemen are instantly informed that a fire is in progress. It doesn't depend on a fireman hearing the siren, getting a telephone call or finding out about a fire by some other method. And there are no crowds following the fire trucks, said Allen. This was• cited as a problem long ago by firemen who said that as soon as the fire •siren sounded, some curious spectators jumped into their cars and followed the firemen. On occasion, fireman were hampered in their work by over zealous crowds. EFFICIENT BRIGADE Allen praised Goderich's volunteer fire brigade, saying, they are "very, very efficient". "I am all for the firemen," Allen told council, "but in this matter, they are going the wrong way. I really don't think that siren wailing is any aid to firemen getting to a fire." The suggestion to turn the siren on again during the daytime hours and equipping the private cars off firemen with amber lights, came from the firemen. It was learned that firemen who are notified silently by their in- dividual beepers that their services are required at the fire station immediately, get into their cars and head for the fire station, sometimes at higher than normal speeds. There is a fear in some quarters that when pedestrian and motor traffic is not aware that there is an emergency, speeding cars of firemen can be involved in ac- cidents, perhaps injuring or killing an innocent uninformed victim. Some firemen, too, have been warned by the Goderich Police Department that speeding, even to a fire, is prohibited by law. Some have been charged and fined. Allen said that "one or two" firemen have been "over reacting" when their beepers sound. He said they are warned sooner than ever before ,because of the beepers and have "a little eXfra time" to get to the fire station. He suggested that if firemen could be trained to take a little' more care when racing to a fire, the beeper alarm system would be far superior to the "wail of the fire siren". SENIORS DESERVE QUIET Deputy -reeve Allen also pointed out that the new senior citizens apartment complex directly across the street 'from the fire hall was another reason for tur- ning off the fire siren. He said such a loud blast is unnecessary and not at all desirable when there are elderly residents at such close range. Allen did agree the amber flashing lights on the firemen's cars were a good idea. Fenn though they could not be cilssed as official emergency vehicles, such cars Could indeed warn pedestrians and motor traffic 'with their flashing apparatus. Councillor Stan Profit spoke in favor of turning on the fire -siren again. He said Police Chief Pat King had recommended it...and he was in favor. Councillor John Doherty agreed. He said there was "no way" that firemen's cars could become emergency vehicles by adding flashing amber lights and felt that the siren wailing would warn people to get off the streets. "Which is more im- portant?" asked Doherty. "The life of a child or saving a building." ' Profit added: "The flashing lights are a good idea, but the siren should be turned on again until people are educated to look for the amber lights on the firemen's cars." KIDS WATCH Deputy -reeve Allen disagreed with Doherty's belief that people were warned to get off the streets when the fire siren sounds. On the contrary, Allen felt people were enticed into the streets when the fire siren sounds...especially little children who want to see the fire truck and the firemen. Councillor Elsa Haydon Huron Bd. of Ed. buys insurance for trustees BY JEFF SEDDON, Trustees on the Huron 'County board •o.f education bought themselves an accident insurance package Monday night covering them if they are injured or killed while on board business. The insurance carries an $18 premium and is provided for trustees through the Ontario School Trustee's Council, of which Huron County is a member. Two plans were offered board members. One, the $18 package, offered weekly indemnity ranging from $50 to $300, a $1,000 rider for medical or dental expenses and $50,000 for death or dismemberment. The othev, . which costs $43, had the same coverage for trustees on board business but added an extra $25,000 death or dismemberment for trustees if they are in an accident while not on board business. John Cochrane, director of education, told the board that if trustees wanted the $43 package the board would pay $18 of it, and each trustee would have to pay the remaining $25. He said the board would buy the $18 plan outright. Wingham trustee Bert Morin suggested that the board did not need to spend the money to cover its trustees. He said most of the trustees would already have adequate insurance coverage. The purchase costs a total of $288 for the 16 trustees. Vice chairman Donald McDonald told Morin that his wife would "probably appreciate it (the in- surance) if youget knocked off on the way home." Zurich trustee Herb Turkheim asked if the $43 package carried any coverage for weekly indemnity or medical expenses for trustees if they are injured while not on board business. He said it appeared from the description of the in- surance that those two advantages are not there. if the accident happened away from -board business pointing out that the extra insurance is only good if you "get killed or torn apart". The board voted in favor of buying its members insurance. Only Bert Morin voted against the proposal. s 3: 51AZswE t s 3t5.V WsXs gists ; a s s ; s ;;S ; s ; z swiss rWs:Z r t.whole new image this Christmas ick has a • • sg In case you didn't know it, Santa's a guy with a lot of style. It's just that he'd been wearing that same old red suit for so long that the inner man never really got a chance to shine through .Until he came to Captain's Quarters. Now Santa's got a distinguished new image more becoming a man of such high spirits and renown. And that suits him just fine. For yourself. Or for a friend. Try out Captains Quarters for size this Christmas. They come highly recommended by a famous world traveller. All purchases Gift wrapped free on request Co'taiiio Qaadeno ort of Dodi zicI CHRISTMAS HOURS: MON. - FRI. 9:00 A.M. - 9:00 P.M. SAT. 9:00 A.M. - 5:30 P.M. c HAIt(;F:X 111111111111 VISA MOM lit lr me gmeum taim Derr rmmoyi ometas ctar mmva ac c , mmist r x s tarso osmE ewamstac z said it appeared council expected -even en- couraged -firemen to speed when on .their way to answer a call at the fire ha 11.• "•f you encourage peo le to speed, a life can be snuffed out in a moment even v6ith the siren going," claimed Haydon. She voted with Allen in the recorded vote which saw the motion to turn the siren on again during the daylight hours, approved for recommendation to town council's regular meetings CORRECTION Motor Christmas Shopping Spree flyer, pieose note that the Walkie-tackle set Illustrated Is described In error es equipped with call alert signal. Customers who have already purchased expecting this feature may return this purchase for full refund. The We price to Dec. 9th Is '14,88 reduced from '25.99. We regret any Inconvenien- ce that we may hove caused. 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