The Goderich Signal-Star, 1979-01-18, Page 6ct PAGE 6 -THE GODERICH SIGNAL -STAR, THURSDA)?, JANUARY 18. 1979
HAC believes its reason
for existence remains clear
BY
SHIRLEY J. KELLER
Don Wheeler and
Roman •Dzus of the
Goderich Area Housing
Action Committee made
a two-point .pitch to
Goderich town council on
Monday evening at the
monthly committee
meeting of council' and
while a motion will go to
council Monday night to
extend the mandate of the
RAC, council members
don't seem agreed on the
matter.
Reeve Eileen Palmer
said she has "reser-
vations about agreeing to
extend the term" of the
HAC but did concede that
it probably wouldn't be
wise to actually take the
--committee eu_t_ of
existence.
"My idea is not to
disband the committee
but keep it in abeyance to
be recalled at any given
time should their
assistance be needed,"
said the reeve.
Reeve Palmer pointed
out that in her opinion the
town was being
"strangled" by com-
mittees all involved in the
same types of things. She
specified the Local
Architectural Con-
servation -Advisory
Committee and the NIP
co-ordinating committee
as well as the Business
Improvement Area board
as three such groups.
Councillor Elsa Haydon
however, questioned the
wisdom of -curtailing the
committee's work even
for a brief period.
"If there is a group of
hardworking people who
want to contribute, why
would I fight against
it?'.'Haydon asked. "Why.
should we give it a second.'
thought?"
Reeve Palmer replied
that "too many varied
bodies" all working on
- -
projects become "con-
fusing".
TRACES HISTORY
Don Wheeler, a former
town councillor and
chairman of the HAC in
1977 and 1978 traced the
progress of the com-
mittee since it was
established in 1975. He
claimed the committee's
main function was to "get
at •the heart , of" the
various municipal,
county, provincial and
federal programs in-
volving housing.
"The Goderich Area
Housing Action Com-
mittee was one of a very
few functioning
throughout the provin-
ce," Wheeler told the
meeting. He claimed the
"active and dedicated
committee" had received
accolades from various
sources for its work
during the past four
years.
"Its reason for being
has not changed," said
Wheeler.
Wheeler said that
without a doubt, one of
the committee's major
efforts during its lifetime
has .been the progress
toward a senior citizens
housing complex -at the
corner of West Street and
Waterloo Street.
"Goderich might still
be trying to -convince the
'Ontario Housing Cor-
porativ of the need for
the project here,"
Wheeler said.
The seven member
committee, Wheeler told
council, had worked for
nearly a full year on
proving the need for the
project in Goderich.
Other. programs
established in Goderich
because of the com-
mittee's existence in-
elude- the Neighborhood
Improvement Program
(NIP) and the Ontario
Home Renewal Program
(OHRP) as well as the
Minimum Maintenance
Standards bylaw.
Although the com-
mittee' had cost the
municipality a total of
$5,500 over four years, the
direct financial benefit
accrued to the
municipality because of
the committee's work is
more than $872,500.
"I don't think we can
put a monetary value on
the senior citizens
housing project at this
time," Wheeler said.
"Rules continually
evolve and change,"
Wheeler reminded
council. He claimed that
the value of the com-
mittee in the future would
be the same as it was in
the past - to 'get at the
heart of" the many
varied programs related
to housing which are
available to. the
municipality to use.
"I personally say
council will have shown
very little wisdom if it
disbands this com-
mittee," Wheeler said.
ABOUT THE FUTURE
Roman Dzus said, that
while the NIP projects
are well underway, the
senior citizens' project
has encountered some
difficulties. He said legal
complications "could
preclude the use of the
West Street site" and
might necessitate "going
through the whole
process again".
"The committee has an
intense desire to see these
projects through to their
completion,"Dzus told
council."The .senior
citizens project certainly
merits our full at-
tention."
Dzus also said that in
the future, should the
HAC be permitted to
continue with its work,
members could expand,
into a study and possible
use of Rental OHRP
which could "expand the
amount of rental ac,
commodation in the
community". _
Along with the
revitalization of The
Square in co-operation
with the BIA, the town
may wish to take a close
look at the possible_
provision of more rental
office space over the
existing businesses in the
core area.
'A housing needs study
is also indicated for
Goderich and area in the
months ahead, said Dzus,
and with the federal and
provincial governments
undertaking a "mass re-
,
evaluation of the housing
programs" a whole new
range of housing options
could be introduced for
municipal consideration.
Dzus went on to say
that the committee, made
up of members of
Goderich and Colborne
Townships as well as the
town would help to keep
"open channels of
communication" bet-
ween the three neighbors.
And finally, according
to Dzus, the HAC
members from the tri -
municipal area could
'carry out assignments
for council and inform
council appropriately.''
Don Wheeler concurred
with Dzus' assessment of
the future need for the
committee.
, "Before things were
there but they were not
seen," said Wheeler. He
explained that council
members are usually too
busy to really delve into
all the programs
available through
government agencies and
the HAC could do that
work.
ALLEN AGREED
Deputy -reeve Bob
Allen commented that it'
was through the efforts of
the HAC that the town
finally got involved with
OHRP.
"The program was
eight years old when the
town finally got into it,"
said Alien. The deputy -
reeve said OHRP has
been very successful in
Goderich and that many
citizens have benefitted
from it. He said the town
could have denied some
people a very worthwhile
program had it not
become Mv.o-ized in
OHRP.
Allen, a member of
HAC in the last two year
term, called it a "hard .
working and willing
-committee".
Councillor Stan Profit
wanted to know just
where the contrdissioner
of works Ken Hunter and
the- building inspector
Andy Boutilier fitted into
the scheme of things.
"Where is their
responsibility in this
connection?" asked
Profit.
"It may be too onerous
a task for them to carry
out by themselves,"
offered Dzus by way of .-
explanation.
Wheeler reasoned that
if the two men are tied up
Turn to page 18
aydon angered by rule
BY SHIRLEY J.KELLER
There was just a bit of controversy at the end
of Monday's committee meeting when a memo
entitled "Points to be clarified" was presented.
In particular, _Councillor Elsa T -Ts pion said_sla e_
was a 'bit uneasy' about the document.
W.hile it wasn't a matter,for voting but simply
an item of information for councillors and the
press, some discussion was heard on the four
point brief.
The first point was to_encourage council and
committee members to write Motions so that the
secretaries do not have to word motions second -
handedly and to translate the intent of the motion
on paper. There was little disagreement on this.
It was also recommended that after regular
business hours and if no administrative staff are
present at the after hour meetings, the door
between the chambers and the general business
office should be locked. •
On this point, Haydon said she didn't.want to
see any unnecessary' restrictions imposed. She
reminded the meeting that council members had
taken an oath of office, and she felt that if hired
municipal office staff could he -trusted to be in
the office, council members also should have
that privilege.
Clerk McCabe had pointed out that while most
important documents are locked in the vault in
the everipg at the end of a work day, there are
occasions -When some valuable papers could be
left out. It was to protect loss or copying of such
materials that McCabe felt the door locking rule
was in order.
"The clerk is bonded in the name of the town
and we have a responsibility to protect him as
well," claimed Reeve Eileen Palmer.
The members of the press were advised that
the telephone in the mayor's office will be
available for use providing arrangements are
LOCAL
Family Wagons
77 FORD LTD COUNTRY SQUIRE
This low ,mileage wagon„is loaded with equipMent. Air
conditioning, power Windows, cruise control, filUsteering'
wheel. AM/FM stereo radio with tape player, individual
seat, right reclining seat, roof ' rack, tinted glass,
woodgrain panelling. Compare anywhere at this price..
License No. LST 778
$5,895
74 PONTIAC CATALINA STATION WAGON
V8, automatic, power steering, power brakes, power
tailgate, radio, rear defogger, tinted windshield,
woodgraln panelling, special lamp package. Sold and ser-
viced by McGee's since new.,License No. HNL 257
78 PONTIAC GRAN SAFARI
Lady driven, f Lost 21,000 mile, power door locks, power
tailgate lock, tinted wIndihield, radio, retie ipoiikeir, reef
rack, wooden:tin panelling, electric rear defogger, radial
white walls, fold down arm rest. Clean as newt License No.
MSY 646
$2,395
$6,895
r- - Pontiac - Buick
C '' -C. G§Initia:Cks
E
HAMILTON GOBRICH 524.8391
made prior to the meeting with the clerk. If this
is not satisfactory, the document said, a phone
outside the town hall would have to be-utilited.-
"They (the press) are also encouraged to limit
their movement during council meetings," the
document went on.
Councillor Haydon argued that in other centres
much larger than Goderich, the movement of
people in the council chambers is. tolerated and
even expected. She said people should be 'at
liberty to come and go as they please' although
she did acknowledge their movement should be
as quiet as possible.
Reeve Palmer did not agree. She said she
found movement in the council chambers "very
distracting". Palmer also went on to say that in
her opinion, there simply was "not enough
decorum around the council table".
" "I'm not being critical," the reeve went
on."Theseare just comments on rely
Palmer used as an example the fact that some
councillors do not stand when addressing the
chair. Palmer was seate t the time, and
pointed out her own lax behavi ur.
A fourth and final point on the document said
that photocopies of materials should be
-requeSted-from-the-clerk-prior to -the meeting or
following the meeting.
Councillor Haydon called it a "terrifying lack
of confidence".
"If the shoe fits you can wear it," said Coun-
cillor Stan Profit.
Owners
of smaller
businesses...
we provide:
• Financial assistance
• Management counselling (CASE)
• Management training
• Information on government
programs for business
Can we helpyou?
See our Representative
BILL LICHTI
at: The Bedford Hotel, Goderich
the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of each
on: month (NEXT VISIT: Tues, Jan. 23rd)
FEDERAL BUSINESS
DEVELOPMENT BANK
(Branch Office Address). '
For prior information call 271-5650 or
write 1036 Ontario Street, Stratford
0.1111111111.11111111111111111.111
DEPT. STORE
STORE
SHOPPERS SQUARE
GODERICH
PRE -INVENTORY SALE
5,,os
000
SATIN
MIX
4.5 lb.
9_
Reg. '3.99 $1 9
•
MONARK
SOFT DRINK
MIX
4 FLAVOURS
00
•
NOXZEMA
SKIN CREAM
Pkg. of 2
Reg.
•
LADIES
ONE SIZE
PANTY HOSE
Reg. 2/99'
3/$1 0.0
BABY
HANGERS
' Reg. '1.19
SELF ADHESIVE
VINYL
(ROLL)
Reg. '1.97
127
PICTURES
Reg. '11.99
$66
CHILDS
MITTS
Reg. 89'
2/$1!4
TUNGSTEN
LIGHT BULBS
40-60-100 WATTS
Reg. 69'
444
WHITE SWAN
TOILET TISSUE
Reg. '1.19
994
THURSDAY, JANUARY 28th until
TUESDAY, JANUARY 23rd
TV
POPCORN
Reg. 59'
2/$1.00
BIG JOHN
CANISTER
BAGS
Reg. 69'
2/99'
BIC
SHAVERS
2/884
McGREGOR
SPORT SOX
Reg. '1.95
$1F
- EMBROIDERED
PILLOW CASES
Reg. '2.49
SHERRY
YARD GOODS
REg. '1.19
884
VINYL
PLACE MATS
Reg. '1.19
PILLOWS
Reg. '2.99
2/$4(1°
BURNS
COOKED
HAM
1 LIB. TIN
$288
PUNCH
DETERGENT
Reg. '2.66
$ 922
LIDO BRAND
COOKIES
884
DURALEX
GLASSES
Pkg. of 4
Reg. '2.00 0
$
0
COLGATE
TOOTHPASTE'
100
Reg. '1.22
994
LADIES
SLACKS
VALUES TO '14.99
DISH
CLOTHES
3 PACK
97-4
SOA ys
ONS
PHOTO
ALBUMS
8 Pages
$ 1 7
PHOTO
FRAMES
5 x 7 or 8 x 10
P•
POLYESTER
THREAD
Reg:3/88'
$
44
•
INFANTS
RECLINER
SEAT
Reg. '5.49
$388
FACE
CLOTHS •
PLAIN • •
FLANNELETTE
Reg. '1.29 YD.
GREEN
ONLY
2
YDS.
PRINTED
FLANNELETTE
Reg. '1.39 YD..
/SI 44 1I!.:
LADIES
- TURTLENECK
PULLOVER
• Reg. '3.99
$ 2 8 8
„.
OLD SPICE
AFTERSHAVE •
Reg. '2.22
$17.7
PLANTERS
DRY ROASTED
OR COCKTAIL
PEANUTS
994 •
AJAX
CLEANSER
Reg. 43'
$ 1 00
i •
LADIES STRTPED
TURTLENECK
PULLOVER
Reg. '3.99
$ 2 8 8
INFANTS
PULLOVERS
$1 L.'8
WHITE SWAN
PAPER TOWELS
Reg. '1.19
994
COFFEE
MUGS
Reg. 59'
3 / $.”4
Jr