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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Wingham Advance-Times, 1985-12-23, Page 1B:Lyth, j:rit. Aim:lvi x:114 trP .. i- r 14 FIRST -PLACE WINDOW—Mary Houghton and Mary Lou Montgomery, both employed in the laundry at the Wingham and District Hospital, had the first -prize win- dow painting at the hospital for the third year in a row. Many people commented on the impressive detail in the nativity scene painting. PORTER EXPRESS—Sheila Wharton and Jane Pfeiffer, two porters at. the Wingham and District Hospital, took second place 'in this year's window -painting contest at the hospital with this bright picture of a Christmas express.. WiNDOW-PAINTING WiNNERS—Sheila Wharton and Jane Pfieffer won third prize in this year's window painting contest at the Wingham and District Hospital for this pic- ture of Santa Claus in the hospital's front foyer: The two ladies also took second prize for their "Porter Express" painting. FIRST SECTION (i#MY e ,Z.71 Qbe/i Wingham, Ontario. Monday, Dec. 23, 1985 Single Copy 50c 1 Hospital will pay higher fees because of slow construction The Wingham and District Hospital has been forced to pay an additional $27,536 to its architect as a result of the slow pace of construction on the new outpatient and emergency wing. In a report to the hospital board last week, Robert Middleton, chairman of the property committee, ex- plained that under the terms of his contract the architect, Lloyd Kyles of Kyles, Kyles and Garratt, is entitled to bill the hospital for the eXtra time spent in supervision and inspections of the project. He also assured the board this is the final bill it will be receiving from the architect, even_ though several more inspections are required, adding he feels the com- mittee was able to negotiate quite a favorable settlement. "Even though we -don't like to pay more, according to our legal advisors we are pretty well obliged to do so," he noted, "and I fee we saved several thousand dollars by getting .the ar- chitect to bill only up to the date of the meeting (held Nov. 22 with the builder and the property committee)." The project ,which was supposed to; be finished in 38 weeks will run over 80 weeks, Mr. Middleton ex- plained, and the architect is ~entitled 'to • charge for the extra supervision required. A couple of board mem- bers suggested the hospital should pass the additional costs along to the builder, Refflinghaus Construction of Goderich. However they 'were told that matter is still under discussion and no decision has been made yet. In other- business, the board 'agreed to pay the Town of Wingham $650 for the installation of about 40 feet of 10 -inch concrete pipe to connect the drainage system from the new parking lot into the town's storm sewer and to make the initial payment of $246,400•on its new X-ray machine. That payment represents 80 per cent of the cost of the machine, which is . being stored ' in Toronto until the new facilities are ready for it, with the balance to be paid when it has beendelivered and installed. Mr. Middleton noted that originally the machine was to have been installed last June, but because of the slow pace of work on the project this was put off to August and then to October. He told the board that the supplier, ;General Electric, has been more than fair in holding production for four months and keeping the machine in storage for -two months with no additional charge to the hospital. He said hopefully it can be iinstalled within a few weeks. The board plans to borrow fthe money to pay for the machine, matching the term of the loan to the expected •usefful life of the equipment. Following some dis- cussion, the board also approved a property com- mittee recommendation to purchase a new car for the use of the administrator. The present vehicle, a Ford Crown Victoria, is two years old and it will -be traded on a new car of the same make and model at Bridge. Motors at a cost of $6,500 plus tax and licence. In response to some questions, Mr. Middleton explained that the car !represents a portion of the administrator's pay pack- age, resulting in a saving to the hospital. He told the board it would cost about $5,400 a ' year to pay the administrator for using his own vehicle, compared to about $3,200 a year to supply him with a car. Reporting for the public relations committee, Shirley Garniss told the board the 4.;;apital ealendars-should be delivered soon. They will be bundled at the Reavie Op- portunity Workshop for delivery to all area resi- dents. • She also said the com- mittee plans to meet with the Wingham council to discuss preparation of a promotional brochure, for the town. This would be helpful to the hospital in an effort to at- tract , medical staff and should also be useful to the town; she explained. Mrs. Garniss conveyed to the board a request from some members of the hospital staff that . they receive a free Christmas dinner in return for working on Christmas day. Some other hospitals in the area do this, she said. The " request was discussed, but received little support. Most board members appeared to agree with Administrator Norman Hayes that the charge of $4.50 for a full -course Christ- mas dinner at the hospital cafeteria is very reasonable. Mr. Hayes also pointed out that staff at the hospital "earns pretty good bucks — no one in the nursing group earns less than $20,000," which will be increased -in the new year, and they also are paid time -and -a -half for working on the holiday. Asked why the request had come to the board rather than following normal ad- ministrative channels, Mr. Hayes suggested, "They probably knew what my response would have been." Dr. Brian Hanlon jokingly suggested the board "com- promise and give seconds free." Marilyn Wood presented a written report on her at- tendance at the recent On- tario Hospital Association convention in Toronto. Chairman Hans Kuyven- hoven said this and other reports will be discussed at the next meeting. Following the meeting board members gathered in the cafeteria for their annual Christmas party, with mem- bers of the fund-raising committee as special guests. SANTA. CLAUS made an appearance at the Christmas party at the Winghanyand Area Day Centre for the Homebound and took a real shine to MIs. Marjorie Wall of Wingham. He even sat down and played with Mr.' Wall's orchestra, "Gord's Old-tyme Music", for a few numbers, to the delight of those present. Snowarama gears u0for 12th season in province Timmy,'s Snowarama for Easter Seals, the only winter event of its kind in the world, is gearing up for its 12th season this January in 40 coinmunitieg across Ontario. Turnbery Twp. Council hires two road employees Turnberry council hired two new road employees at a meeting last Tuesday evening 'to share snow plowing and maintenance duties this winter in the township. Council hired Bob Searson and Randy Somers, both of Bluevale, after an hour-long, in -camera session at the meeting. A total of 14 ap- plications were received for the parttime positions. The two men were hired at $7.00 per , hour and council made it clear the men will not be guaranteed any ,,set amount of time. Still with the roads, town- ship grader operator George Gallaway will be taking the winter off on accumulated overtime and sick -days credits. Mr. Gallaway is scheduled for return May 1, 1986. Turnberry council re- ceived notification ' from East Wawanosh that its .grader will no longer plow a portion of Turnberry Town- ship road at Zetland Bridge. Turnberry council will instruct its Lower Town grader operator to plow the road, once Lower Town is open, something which will add an estimated four miles to his route: A letter from Terry Matz of Bluevale regarding alleged poor grading practices in the _village was noted. Mr. Matz said he is concerned about topsoil being lifted by the township grader and gravel on lawns. Council took note 'of the letter and . said the matter has been dealt with. A donation of $375 was made to the Wingham and District Association for the Mentally Retarded and $25 was donated to the St. John Ambulance. Turnberry council will enter into a user -fee agreement with the Belmore Figure Skating Club in 1986, whereby the township will pay a set rate per Turnberry pupil enroled in figure Skating in the hamlet. Turnberry already donated $500 to the figure skating club for 1985. • Council will apply for an Ontario Neighborhood Improvement Program (ONIP).grant of $190,000 for 1987, '88 and '89. In order to receive the money, the town- ship.must contribute half, or $95,000, over the three years. The money is to be used for improvements in Bluevale. John Garrett. from the. county assessment office at Goderich will attend the Jan. 7 meeting of council to reassess the township to update it to 1984 values. Council members said they wish to get more in- formation from Mr. Garrett beforo any .decision is made. Since its inception, in 1974, this annual snowmobile and .cross-country ski event has raised more than seven million dollars for the societ3's 6,800 physically - disabled children. The 1986 rallies will take place at 36 centres and will involve more than 3,000. snowmobilers and 2,000 cross-country skiers from Kenora to Prescott. These events are made possible through the continued sponsorship of Molson Ontario Breweries Ltd. Last year, participants raised in excess of $900,000 and the goal for 1986 is $1 million. The Snowarama is organized at the community level by Easter Seal Society service clubs and rallies will be held on successive weekends concluding March 1, 1986. A special feature of Snowarama is the John Black-*ird--Eorporate- Ride; Corporate Ski Challenge will take place once again in 1986 at Molson Park and this year's date is Feb. 16. The. co-sponsors of the challenge are Pepsi-Cola Canada and Molson Ontario Breweries. "These winter furZdf raising activities would not „exist, without the, tremendous,___ support of our service clubs and the snowmobile and ski associations," says Susan MacLatchy, special events coordinator of the Easter Seal Society. "We may not be able to count on the weather, but we know we can count on the dedication and commitment we get from our friends. There are 10,000 Easter Seal volunteers throughout the O province working hard for the disabled child, year in and year out." Funds raised through Timmy's Snowarama for Easter Seals help maintain five summer camps, a province -wide nursing. program, a prevention and public education program, the Easter Seal Research Foundation and Blissym- bolics" Communication Institute. For more information regarding participation in Snowarama, , contact Lorne Schmalz of Walkerton at 881- 1040, area Snowerama coordinator. involving leaders from the business community, gov- ernment and media, which takes place Feb. 2 in Brad- ford. Ken Dryden, Ontario's youth commissioner, chaired the frist annual Corporate Ski Challenge in 1985 as an extension of winter fund-raising for Easter Seal children. The event was a great success, attracting '62 teams. The