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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Huron Expositor, 1987-11-18, Page 1Hensall —: A5 Dublin — A6' People —'A7 Obituaries — A7 Births A7 Serving the communities and areas of Seatorth, Brussels., Dublin, Hensall and Walton INDEX • Weddings — A7 Walton — A8 Spors A9, AIO, Alii Classifieds _ Al2, A13, A14 • • Legion -- A15 • 7. Harmony Hi-Lites in top 10. See page A15. 6,f THE HURON EXPOSITOR, NOVEMBER 18;1987 50 cents a .copy Public relations plan approved CLINTON - Striving for understanding, commitment, open lines of communication and promotion are the underlying aims of a new public relations package that has been adopted. by the. Huron County Board of Education. The package is the culmination of more than a year's work. The result is a in-depth presentation that focuses on communica- . tions and public relations in the school system and in the community at large.' A bright red stylized" apple. and a new slogan "Huron Public Education - Opening Up The World" are only part of thenew look and the new package of recommendations. The board agreed to support several recommendations that are laid out in -the report. Board trustees agreed to "develop a communication policy which nutures good school-community relations and maintains the positive public image which is vital to ° the established goals." The board voted in favor of a recomrnen- dation that calls for the continued support of adult education opportunities in the school system. They approved in principle the potential for program extension in the area of pre-school day care.. Other approved recommendations called for a formal review of internal communica- tions in the school system, the making of a promotional video, and the continuation of Excellence in Education programs•. • For a great part, the public relations report works to reaffirm the directives that are presently being implemented in the school system. Student handbooks, parent involvement in the ,classroom, community use of school facilities, public displays, newsletters, school fairs, phone contact, open houses, concerts, student participation in community groups and events are listed aspart of the extensive initiatives now being undertaken in the Huron County' public school•system. The report noted in part, "...Many ex- amples of excellence were found to be in ex- istence already and, above all, to note that the strongest present and fdture method of communicating worth is through' our students, the ones for whome our school system exists. They are and will continue to be our best ambassadors." "A further recommendation that earned the board's seal of approval will see the im- plementation of a formal market survey, to be conducted in each family of schools to review perceived public needs.' It was determined that informal surveys have been conducted in' the past. Results from such casual studies found that many areas need to be addressed with more deliberation. It has been suggested that 'a formal study could be efficiently carried out by telephone. In discussing the merits of conducting • SOIL TURNING - The first sod was turned for the Seaforth Community Hospital Health Centre on Saturday. Turning the soil were Fred Tilley, Chairman of the Hospital Board; Garry Osborn, the town's representative on the -hospital board; Brian McBurney, Warden of Huron County; Marie Hicknell, the Reeve of Hullett Township; Jack Riddell, Ontario Minister of Agriculture and Food, and Murray Cardiff, MP for the Huron riding, Construction on the new facility will be done by Smith Construction of Seaforth who was toe low tender at $767,400° The new facility will be owned and operated by the hospital and the funding for the project was accumulated with no help from either the provincial, federal or municipal government. Corbett photo; Clerk's conduct questionned A member of Seaforth council questionn- ed the hastiness of a decision by the Town Clerk to change the locks tothe municipal office after the resignation of Deputy Clerk Luanne Phair. The locks were changed by Saturday, November 7, although Miss Phair was not officially finished in the town's employ un- til Friday, November 13. She took her last week of holidays from November 7 to 13. Councillor Carolanne Doig questionned the town's policy regarding lock changes, and said She found Mr. Crocker's conduct in changing the locks so quickly to be "unprofessional". "I think it's an insult to someone who has worked five years for the town, carried a Tot ofresponsibility, and is leaving to take Three phase facelift proposed for Victoria Park Stage one of a three -stage plan to improve • the appearance of Seaforth's Victoria Park, was completed, in time for the recent Remembrance Day ceremonies, Stages two and three are scheduled to take place in 1988 Devised by Landscape Architect James Samna of Egmondville, the plan represents an economical way to spread the costs of lin- provements needed to the park, over three years. This year improvernents Winded the replacement of the ' cement around the cenotaph with patio blocks, the installation Of six flag post holders, and soft landscaping (flowering bushes and plants) at the west end of the park. Total cost of the 1989 im- provertients was $4,979° Scheduled for 1988 is the construction Of wooden tietithea and garbage can cases -for the park,the installation of three light fax tures own the middle of the park, and the planting of some more colorful trees Plans for 1989 include improvements to the bandshell. up a higher position, I understand she (Miss Phair) had indicated she would conte in later' to clean out her desk, and when she did, she found the locks were changed. T think that is disgusting," said Councillor Doig, Mr. Crocker said the lock change wasn't meant as an insult to Miss Phair, and it was "standard procedure" when an employee left, 'It's town policy, is it, to change the locks then?," asked Councillor Doig. "It's my policy, because I'm in charge," refuted Mr. Crocker. such a survey, Ashfield -West Wawanosh Trustee Tony McQuail rated out, "You're operating blind unless u know what peo- ple are thinking." He suggested that a kurvey could be con- ducted at a minimumrof expense and it could also be used as an educational exer- cise. He said that a major consulting firm need not be hired tp carry out the survey. Help in developing' questions could come from an outside source, but the mechanics of conducting the survey could be handled by senior school students. Additional discussion focussed on the needs of developing a job description to ad- dress the responsibilites and recommenda- tions that are outlined iin the report. Board members agreed to the creation of a new job description, however no com- mitments were made to the specific hiring of person to carry out public relations responsibilities. "Additional support in some fashion is needed," encouraged communications com- mittee co-ordinator Paul Carroll. Clinton-Tuckersmith Trustee Sally Rathweii suggested that the job did not war- rant a fulltime position. Mr. McQuail said that the position could, begin as a fulltime job and later be streamlined into less time consuming. Some funding has been set aside in the Board of Education budget this year to help initiate the program. _Landfill committee will no.t purchase Kootstra property. The Seaforth-Tuckersmith Landfill com- mittee has advised KQotstra it will not be ex- ercising the option to purchase on his property. • The two municipalities are close developing an agreement which would allow them use of the Holmesvllle landfill site for the next 12 to 15 years. The County of Huron has also received funding to do a Master Plan Study for the County. Although the municipalities are not pursu- ing any other site as long es the possibility remains of obtaining permission to use the Holmesville site, they said• they do plan to maintain an interest in what other com- munities are involved in. For that reason they plan to continue to attend meetings with other towns seeking new waste disposal sites. The Seaforth-Tuckersmith Landfill Committee will not be disbanded until such time as an agreeemnt is signed with the llohnegville group. "We are already pursuing an alternative to the Seaforth Landfill site," said- Coun- cillor Carolanne Doig, "but we want to show the ministry we are pursuing all alternatives." A Ministry grant in the 'amount of $35,916.47 was received earlier in the year, representing per cent of the eligible ex- penditures for the period April 1 to March 31,1986 on the Seaforth-Tuckersmith landfill investigation. The costs of that investigation were shared 54 per cent Tudkersmitb and 46 per cent Seaforth, HISTORICAL BURIAL the long aWafte'd burls( of a time capsule to commemorate the'156th anniversary of the Upper Canada Rebellion in which Colonel Van Egniond played such a key role, took place on the Van Egi fond House'grOUtid's Friday. The cap= sule was to have been buried during Ciderfeat feshvittes tial r iny`Weaiher made that impossible: At the historical burial were, from Teff, Ed Boyes, resident, Ken'McLlwain, crane operator, Tom Lemon, Ma mstreet Coordihator and Jim Cardrio, VanEgrhon'd Foundation. The capsule is scheduled to be unearthed in 5b years (2037). MallWraith photo: _.. REMEMBERING THE FALLEN - Members of the Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 156 Seaforth, local school children and members of the general public at large, attended a Remembrance Day Service at the Cenotaph on Wednesday. The service paid tribute to the soldiers who fought in the country's three major wars. Mcllwraith photo. Manpower still a problem Town council Was forced to postpone a decision on the manpower situation of the Seaforth Police Department until its December meeting. Police Chief Hal Claus, who was to address council at its Nbvember meeting, was on vacation and was unable to attend. Council was to make a decision on what option the town would take to amend a shor- tage of manpower le the town of Seaforth. An injury to Constable John Cairns earlier in the year has left the local police force operating as a three-man, rather than four- man unit. The result has been a lot of long days and little tune off for police. Correspondence received earlier from Constable Cairns' doctor indicates his rehabilitation is going to take place over at least the next six months at which time the fixation devices which restrict movement of the knee may be removed giving him more flexion in the knees~ The doctor suggested if Constables Cairns returns to work he may be restricted t'o sedentary work. So the manpower situation is not going to Improve In the near future. "Our biggest problem comes when the Men are on holidays," said Councillor Peg Campbell, also Chairman of the Protection to Persons and Property Committee, I thinkwe really have to start looking at something. It (the police situation) can't stay the way it is. It just won't work. There is far too much overtime and the men just can't continue to handle those kind of hours." Councillor Campbell added it's to the point it's become impossible to compensate overtime with time off. "When you're looking at time off, two men can't run a force. It's just not feasible," she said. • The police committee is recommending to council it: i. Do nothing and revise the schedule as a three man force; ii. Hire anOther- CM -Stable on the chance Constable Cairns may not return to work; iii. Hire a part-time constable to work certain shifts until a final decision is made on John Cairns' return to work or iv. Hire another constable on a special contraetuuntil a final decision is made on John Cairns, at which time the contract expires if Constable Cairns returns, or the Constable is hired on a permanent contract if Constables Cairns does not return to work. Town Council must apply to the. Ontario Police Commission for perinission to reduce the force from four men to three. The OPC, however, does riot have the power to force a municipality to hire a constable. Highway salting fiuron County will soon have to take a serious look at the • damage caned by salting its roads during the winter, county council has been cautioned by Its roads coin- mittee chairman. .. llo' n" _presentation of his c mriiittee's Fo wi g p o report g_._ _ session of to the regular November }Wren County Council, Colborne Township' Reeve J. R. Kerhighan warned council of the hazards of salting. "I think we'r'e going to have to do a problem something about the salt and the damage It's doing to our cars.,.our roads," Mr. Ker- nighan said, The roads committee chairman, however, adfriitted he is reluctant to suggest the coun. ty stop salting its roads during the winter. "I don't know whether Huron County should be advocatingg such a thing when it (salt) is Such an important contributor to our economy." Donitar's Sifto Salt Division mine is located at Goderich.