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The Wingham Advance-Times, 1987-09-15, Page 010 4 4, ]LIM. i a.f ......... ......... I V, �V i a Decision on transportation rests with 'onemstop access' remain on the council agenda, at least until it can be determined how much of this need will be met in the new Huron County Board of Health one-stop access" program. The decision to await more in- formation on the new provincially funded county program was reached 0 by council at its regular September session following a brief presented by a delegation from a special Fire board decides. again committee established to assess the transportation needs. Speaking for the delegation, Lynn Armstrong Hayes told council the committee -had received good making chief's post fulinteimeresponse to a blanket mail survey it conducted within the area served by The Wingham and Area Fire Board has decided it will not offer Chief Harley Gaunt a full-time position, but it will provide the chief with extra help if it is needed. The board decision followed an hour-long in camera session at last Wednesday's September meeting. The board decided to go into com- mittee of the whole in spite of a request by Wingham representative Ron Beecroft to discuss the matter in open session. Chairman Jim Taylor announced the decision when the open meeting resumed. He said the board mern- bers feel a full-time position is "not affordable. We (the board) have tried to come up with some solutions so Harley can stay on as chief because ' he's been doing a good job." Earlier this year the Wingham Public Utilities Commission, Mr. Gaunt's employer, had stipulated that he could have no more time off work to perform duties such as in- spections or fire -safety drills. The fire board formed an ad-hoc com- mittee to study the matter and report back to the PUC. Mr. Gaunt was assured by the board that it would be willing to hire someone to perform inspections or clerical duties, whatever he needed done. For example, it had been suggested that some of the area building officials could help out by performing fire inspections. The board also pledged to look into the legal ramifications of Mr. Gaunt delegating some of his authority. To that end, Norman Fairies suggested inviting a solicitor "well versed in municipal law" to discuss any possible liability problems. "What happens if there is a fatality in a fire and the chief has to attend an investigation the next day? to asked Deputy Chief Lynn Hickey. While the fire board members did not claim to have all the answers, they said that was the sort of thing they hope to iron out with the PUC. "By relieving you (Mf. Gaunt) of some of these duties, I think that will Wingham council opposed to hiring full time fire chief Wingharn Town Council . will not A recommendation that Wingharn it AL now the fire board had discussed the fire chief of the Wingham Area Fire Town Council seek funding to pr9v ide for the special tran sportation needs of the area's Department. of -the -whole. Council made that decision at its agrlarl and gabled Ul&tinn will remain on the council agenda, at least until it can be determined how much of this need will be met in the new Huron County Board of Health one-stop access" program. The decision to await more in- formation on the new provincially funded county program was reached 0 by council at its regular September session following a brief presented by a delegation from a special Fire board decides. again committee established to assess the transportation needs. Speaking for the delegation, Lynn Armstrong Hayes told council the committee -had received good making chief's post fulinteimeresponse to a blanket mail survey it conducted within the area served by The Wingham and Area Fire Board has decided it will not offer Chief Harley Gaunt a full-time position, but it will provide the chief with extra help if it is needed. The board decision followed an hour-long in camera session at last Wednesday's September meeting. The board decided to go into com- mittee of the whole in spite of a request by Wingham representative Ron Beecroft to discuss the matter in open session. Chairman Jim Taylor announced the decision when the open meeting resumed. He said the board mern- bers feel a full-time position is "not affordable. We (the board) have tried to come up with some solutions so Harley can stay on as chief because ' he's been doing a good job." Earlier this year the Wingham Public Utilities Commission, Mr. Gaunt's employer, had stipulated that he could have no more time off work to perform duties such as in- spections or fire -safety drills. The fire board formed an ad-hoc com- mittee to study the matter and report back to the PUC. Mr. Gaunt was assured by the board that it would be willing to hire someone to perform inspections or clerical duties, whatever he needed done. For example, it had been suggested that some of the area building officials could help out by performing fire inspections. The board also pledged to look into the legal ramifications of Mr. Gaunt delegating some of his authority. To that end, Norman Fairies suggested inviting a solicitor "well versed in municipal law" to discuss any possible liability problems. "What happens if there is a fatality in a fire and the chief has to attend an investigation the next day? to asked Deputy Chief Lynn Hickey. While the fire board members did not claim to have all the answers, they said that was the sort of thing they hope to iron out with the PUC. "By relieving you (Mf. Gaunt) of some of these duties, I think that will Wingham council opposed to hiring full time fire chief Wingharn Town Council . will not longer be kept from the public. Until support any proposal for a full-time now the fire board had discussed the fire chief of the Wingham Area Fire issue in camera while in committee - Department. of -the -whole. Council made that decision at its I lold earlier this year by Fire regular September session following Chief Harley Gaunt that it was a request for direction on the issue facing the possibility of having to from Councillor Ron Beecroft, one of make at least the fire chiers job a its two representatives on the full-time position, the board ap- Wingham and Area Fire Board. pointed an ad hoc committee to Mr. Beecroft told council the study the issue. However, Mr. problem, which had been facing the Beecroft said, Mr. Gaunt had issued fire board for some time now, had that committee an ultimatum last reached the stage where it can no (Please turn to Page 3A) Elston 'is elected in Bruce with -resounding majority Ontario Health Minister Murray nearest opponent, Progressive Elston of Wingham was re-dected Conservative Mike Snobelen, by by a wide margin in Thursday's over 12,000 votes. provincial election in the newly- A large crowd of supporters was formed riding of Bruce. on hand at the Chesley Community Mr. Elston, Liberal wndidate, Centre Thursday evening to captured 17,227 votes or 61 per cent welcome Mr. Elston and his family. of the votes cast, defeating his He received a hearty round of ap-' Wingham agrees Bill 8 is issue for referendum Wingharn Town Council agrees the resolution, town council received issue of BM 8, the French Language correspondence from Municipal Services Act, should be included as a Affairs Minister Bernard Grand - referendum during the 1988 maitre and the Ottawa branch of municipal elections. 'he Alliance for the Preservation of At its regular September session English in Canada (APECI Thp town council endorsed a Lanarl topic of each letter is Bill 8 and County resolution requesting the council's action on each was the Ontario MunicipalAffairs Minister same — to " flie". to initiate legislation including the It also was the first intention of issue as a referendum during the council to include the Lanark County municipal elections next year. In its resolution, Lanark County resolution in the "riling" motion, but Council "recognizes the growing this was reconsidered on the concerns to implement mandatory suggestion of Councillor Bill bilingualism." The issue is of such McGrath. importance that all residents of "I think you're taking the easy voting age in Ontario should have way out by filing 4AT of these," Mr. the opportunity to voice their McGrath said. Eventually he was opinion, the resolution also states. successful in persuading council to plause and the congratulations of many party workers. "Ibis is a great night for Liberals across the province --better than expected," he said, referring to Premier David Peterson's massive victory, 95 of the 130 seats in the Legislature. ..I am dedicated to Bruce County and dedicated to seeing it grow, forging a new future for Ontario," Mr. Elston pledged. He paid tribute to Eddie Sargent, Bob McKessock, Murray Gaunt and Hugh Edighoffer, Liberals who "held down the seats when it was tougher to get elected. I'm justly pioud of the effort you have seen capped tonight." He thanked his campaign workers for their commitment and concluded by saying, ''I think we've all earned a iitde bit of a celebration tonight." First elected in 1981 in the riding of Huron -Bruce, Mr. Elston served on the opposition benches until 1995 when he was named health minister in David Peterson's minority Liberal government. With the redistribution of provincial riding boundaries, Mr. Elston ran In the new Bruce riding, while Agriculture Minister Jack 101.4,A.11 ... 4. U22—tro help us deal wi e PUC, to said Mr. r . Beecroft. "We're going to have to go The survey indicates, she said, a back to the PUC and ask Jhern to need for a special transportation work along with us." program in this area for the frail "If they (the PVC) say no, I'll elderly and disabled. Because of (Please turn to Page 3A) this, the committee recommended that council apply for grants from the Ontario Ministry of Trans- portation and Communications which are currently available for this type of program. The committee received 151 in- dividual responses to its survey, in addition to another three responses which represented a total of 130 nursing home residents. The three nursing home responses were kept separate in order to more fairly represent the information, Mrs. Armstrong Hayes said. A question which asked if those responding felt that current trans- portation met their needs was an- swered in 83 per cent of the returned questionnaires, she said. Of that 83 per cent, 67 of those answering felt the system is inadequate while 59 said they consider it to be adequate. However, Mrs. Armstrong Hayes said, 23 of the 59 qualified their answers with comments such as: --They would use the proposed system on a periodic or monthly basis. --They would need the proposed WINGHAM CONGRATULATIONS — These three Wingham residents were on hand to congr4tulate Ontario Agriculture anc'Food Minister Jack Riddell on his re-election during the Liberal landslide on Thursday. From left, at the victory celebration in the Goderich Township Hall in Holmes ville are Donna Bieman, Marg Moffatt, Irlma Edgaranl Mr. Riddell. service in the future. when they couldn't drive or their current drivers were no longer available to provide service. Councillor James McGregor, wbo is also the county's acting medical officer of health, complimented the committee on its comprehensive report but suggested it might be premature at this time for the town to seek funding for such a transpor- tation service when it could very well be included in the new one-stop access program. The board of health is currently drawing up terms of reference for consultants to design the program and prepare its budget. Deadline for the consultants' report is mid- December, Dr. McGregor said. Mrs. Armstrong Hayes said she is concerned the consultants would merely be conducting a needs study (Please turn to Page 3A) Bylaw is passed as town's first step toward annexation Wingharn Town Council has paw ed a bylaw which effectively puts into action the long process toward the possible annexation of a portion or portions of Turnberry Township. At its regular September session, council gave all three readings to the bylaw requesting Ontario Municipal Affairs minister Bernard Grand - maitre to appoint a fact finder to study Wingham's need ' to expand its boundaries through annexation. The Wingham move follows an attempt to initiate talks between the two municipalities presented by a delegation from town council when it appeared before a Turnberry council meeting in August. Following that meeting, Turn - berry passed a resolution informing Wingham "any annexation would be detrimental to the long term interest of the Township of Turnberry and, therefore, we must continue to oppose any attempt by Wingham to anrrex any land in Turnberry." Turnberry.11 In its resolution, the township also urged the two municipalities to work together in attracting growth, an action "of more benefit to both municipalities than annexation." Before passing the bylaw, town council discussed the issue in a brief committee-of-tbe whole session. n easil Rlmd-,dell. wins -Huro y in Limberal electimon landslide The riding of Huron was just one of many caught up In the massive Liberal sweep as Ontario went to the polls last Thursday. Agriculture and Food Minister Jack Riddell, a member of the Ontario Legislature for 14 years, gained a total of 16,099 votes to chalk up his best performance ever. His majority over Progressive Con- servative candidate Nico Peters' 6,439 votes was 12,375. In the 1985 election, Mr. Riddell drew 6,439 votes more than Bryan Smith, who was representing the Conservatives in the old riding of Huron -Middlesex. In Thursday's balloting, New Democratic hopeful Paul Klopp made significant gains In his second consecutive try. This time around Mr. Klopp drew 3,841 votes, com- pared to 1,148 in 1985. Thp nverall voter turnout in Huron' according to Returning were vouched for at the polls. Officer Shirley McAllister, was just Mr. Riddell proved that popularity over the 37 per cent mark. While begins at home as his most im- figures were still unofficial at the pressive figures were tabulated in time of the interview Friday mor- his home municipality of Stephen ning, Mrs. McAllister said 26,665 Township where he was given the voters had turned out from a list of support of 1,324 voters, while Mr. 39,304 who were eligible following Peters obtained 370 votes and Mr. enumeration, another 286 bringing Klopp picked up 294. in certificates on the day of the The only areas where Mr. Peters election, and still 119 others who came close to matching Mr. Rid - Open house draws 1,20U to'Western Foundry Saturday Approximately 1,200 people from this area turned out Saturday as Western Foundry Company Ltd. hosted an open house at its plant in Wingham. From the opening ceremony when Wingham Mayor Jack Kopas cut the ceremonial red ribbon to begin the tours, the lines of people poured steadily through the plant to view the operation of their industrial neighbor. Other officials par- ticipating In the official opening were Western Foundry President Dick LeVan, Huron -Bruce MP Murray Cardiff, Huron County Warden Brian McBurn0y, and Brian Leachman, local president of the Canadian Brotherhood of Railway, Transport and General Workers. In addition to the product in- formation tours during the four-hour open 1puse, visitors also had the opporflinity to view a videotape WESTERN FOUNDRY act*d as host Saturday as approxkmtoly ProsAdont Dick Le Von, Huron -Bruce MP Asuffay Cardm, flufOn UOUMY 1, 200 pooplo attended an open house at the plant on IndustrAW Drtvo Warden Brfan MCBUMOY and Bdan Loac&W, CBRT and GW presil. An Winghw. Mayor Jack Kopes, centre, cut@ the tradftnaf rod ribbon dont, ss&W In the OPonft 06renmy. to b"M the four-hoto oP*n house wh#*, fror" left, 1#60tem FOUW" which gave a comparison between the foundry's present-day operation with more than 300 employees, and how the work was done in 1963 when just 80 workers were on the company payroll. Members of the open house committee include: Don Kennedy, Joan Middleton, Adrian deBruyn, Steve Caslick, Larry Cerson, Bob Allison, Lloyd Brighton, Brian Leachman, Ernie Lynn and Debbie Kennedy. Through salaries and wages, as well as local purchases, Western Foundry provides more than $11 million to the economy in this area . Since its last open house in 1984, the company has not only installed more machinery, but also has spent over $5w,000 on ventilation and dust collecting equipment to improve the quality of air both inside and outside the plant. School The '0' stands enrollment up .... Page 4A Separate Slinger . ......... school report Page 4A Midget girls Show Biz ........ WOAA champs ... Page 2B PeeWees Complete Sports WOAA champs ... Page 3B Scouting news .... Page 3B Inside Crossroads The '0' stands for'quack ....... Page 3A Slinger . ......... page 5A ArKIV Rooney .... Page I 6A Show Biz ........ Page 3B Bob Greene ..... Page 148 Complete Sports UStWVS . r . Page 14 & 15 8 dell's figures were in the Village of Brussels and the Town of Wingham. In Brussels, Mr. Riddell topped Mr. Peters 239 votes to 203, and in Wingham it was 675 to 509 in favor of the Liberal candidate. More than two -to -one victories over the PC candidate were ac- complished by Mr. Riddell in most of the 25 municipalities which make Up the riding. The only exceptions in addition to Brussels and Wingham were the Village of Blyth and the Townships of Turnberry, East Wawanosh and Morris. In the other four Huron towns, Mr. Riddell was a clear winner as the results showed 1,128-504 in Exeter, 878-380 in Clinton, 672-211 in Seaforth, and 1,701-871 in Goderich. Mr. Klopp made his best showing in the Town of Goderich where he accumulated a total of 626 votes. In two polls at Huron Park in Stephen Township, he was in second place and less than 10 votes behind Mr. Riddell in each. in a post-election celebration at the Goderich. Township Hall in Holmesville, Mr. Riddell thanked his family and many volunteers for their contribution to making his campaign one of the best, he has ever enjoyed. "It's a good time for the Liberals," he said. "The people of (Please turn to Page 3A) Mrs. Jean Ross will report for Whitechurch Mrs. Jean Ross of Whitechurch has agreed to act as correspondent for The Advance -Times In that area. We have been searching for a Whitechurch reporter since Mrs. Victor Emerson decided a few weeks ago that she could no ImM write the news for us, after many faithful years of service. Mrs. Ron has agreed to do the Job — but definitely on a "trial basis". Her chief motivation Is the same an our own — continued coverage of the activities and people In a small con munity. Because The Advance -Times' deadline for rural news Is Friday morning of each week, thaw who have news items are asked to call Mrs. RAm as early in the week as possible. Her telephone number Is 35? -M. Let's keep Whitechurch "on the map