HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Huron Expositor, 1986-10-22, Page 1INDEX
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Classifieds /A8, 9, 10
Dublin /A11
Entertainment /A11
Family /A4, 12
Grads /A4
Hensall /A19
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Legion /A11
Obituaries /A4, 10
People I Al2
Sports I A11
Walton I A7
Weddings /Al2
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SEAFORTH, ONTARIO, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 22,
Serving the communities and
areas of Seaforth, Brussels,
Dublin, Hensall and Walton.
1986
— 12 PAGES
Public dump meeting
put off until Spring
inistry of Environment officials told
members of the Seaforth-Tuckersmith Land-
fill Site Committee they are satisfied with the
extent of drilling tests on the proposed
Kootstra area landfill site, at a meeting held
October 16. Seaforth Town Councillor Carol-
anne Doig, a member of the committee, said
ministry representatives did not request any
further drilling be done at the sight.
The committee and the ministry are now
awaiting reports on the proposals for
development and operation for the site from
the engineering firms involved, said Council- .
for Doig. Nothing further can be done toward
making a final decision on the suitability of
the site, until those reports, which are now
expected to be completed by December, are
in, she added.
W aiting for the reports has set the
schedule'back, and the proposal will probably
now not reach the stage where public
meetings can be held until next spring.
"We can't have public meetings until we
have found out about the costs of the site and
its feasibility," said Councillor Doig. "Right
now, we're trying to answer the questions the
ministry has put to us."
Grossman addresses area
Conservatives in Brussels
1
Claiming that Huron County is "Tory
Country," and vowing to '`retake it,"
Provincial Progressive Conservative party
leader Larry Grossman addressed party
faithful of the newly -formed Huron Riding, at
a Conservative fundraising dinner held in
Brussels, October 17.
Mr. Grossman, the featured speaker at the
party's first official event since the riding
boundaries were changed recently, delivered
a lengthy attack on Liberal incumbent MPP
Jack Riddell and wound up his speech with a
promise to personally support the Conserva-
tive candidate in the new riding in the next
ftrotincial election.
i• "This Tory leader will be back here," Mr.
Grossman promised.
"The Progressive Conservative Party
writes off no ridings. Huron, Bruce, Middle-
sex, Grey...no ridings have a higher priority
than these. Not only are we going to win (the
next election). we are determined to win it
here. in the southwestern part of the
province." he said.
Mr. Grossman accused the Liberal govern-
ment of failing to create new programs to aid
farmers. since corning to power. He said the
Ontario Family Farm Interest Rate Reduction
program is the only Liberal farm initiative of
significance.
"But an interministerial task force recom-
mended that OFFIRR be wound down by
1988. it's interesting to not they plan to
abandon their only initiative," Mr. Grossman
said.
Mr. Grossman said his party would
introduce a•Family Farm Security Act, which
would give farmers a "guaranteed price for
their crops." Income support for farm
families would be fixed at 10 per cent above
stabilization levels, he said, adding that later,
a formula would be developed to link income
support payments closer to the cost of
production.
Mr. Grossman was critical of Mr. Riddell's'
handling of farm crisis, such as the hail
damaged fruit in the Niagara region and the
more recent white bean fiasco. He said Mr.
Riddell's position that enhanced crop insur-
ance could become an incentive for farmers to
leave their crops unharvested was "insult-
ing."
"i don't believe there are many farmers
who would rather leave their crops on the tree
and collect insurance, than harvest and sell
them." said Mr. Grossman.
A capacity crowd was on hand for Mr.
Grossman's address at the $20 a plate affair
at the Brussels, Morris and Grey Community
('entre auditorium.
Huron council quiet
on library controversy
W hat at times last month appeared ready
to explode into the drawing of full scale battle
lines was conspicuous in its absence during
the regular October session of Huron County
council
in fact. the only reference to the
controversy came as a brief mention in the
presentation of the Huron County library
Board report to council at last Thursday's
meeting in the court house at Godench
in the report. presented by Hullett Reeve
Tom Cunningham. council was informed of a
board decision to refer the controversy to its
solicitor
The hoard had resolved to refer a letter
from C Scott Ritchie. a London lawyer. -
••with regard to a personnel matter" - to the
board's solicitor "with power to explore a
mutually satisfactory settlement "
Mr Cunningham, library board chairman.
was the target of criticism at the September
meeting for the library board's reluctance to
discuss an apparent dispute between the
board and the county's chief librarian.
William Partridge
The criticism began at council's September
meeting when Hensall Reeve Jim Robinson
was asked to elaborate on the proceedings of
two closed sessions of the board which were
mentioned in its monthly report
Mr Robinson. a member of the hoard.
presented the report to council as Mr
Cunningham had not attended the hoard
meeting on which the report was based The
Hensall reeve said that the dosed sessions
represented a "very delicate stage of
deliberation" in personnel matters and asked
council's indulgence in allowing the hoard a
Council considers
closure of street
bit more time to work out a solution.
M r. Partridge, however, made it clear to
council that the personnel matters were
related directly to him. Some "serious
allegations" had been made by library staff
on how he has conducted library operations,
he added
The chief librarian also told council he had
engaged a London lawyer to protect his
interests and added that he would not be
opposed to having the allegations made
public
Following this, the main thrust of council
criticism at the September meeting was
focused directly at Mr Cunningham who
again asked councillors to grant the board a
little more time to work out a solution to the
problem He promised council the board
would try to resolve the matter before
Octoher's council meeting hut he could not
guarantee it would happen.
At the October meeting there was no
mention of a solution nor were there any
questions from councillors regarding the
status of the controversy.
in an interview following the council
meeting. Mr Cunningham said the letter
referred to in the hoard report was from the
lawyer who represents Mr. Partridge,
"That letter is in the hands of the board's
solicitor who has advised us not to comment
on the issue," Mr. Cunningham said.
Asked to speculate on when he felt the
issue might be resolved, Mr. Cunningham
said he had no idea at this time but did not
rule out the possibility of a solution by the
November council session.
CONSERVATIVE LEADER — Larry Grossman made an official
visit to Brussels on Friday evening, to address Progressive
Conservative party faithful of the newly -formed Huron Riding. A
capacity crowd of area Tories was on hand to hear Mr. Grossman's
words of encouragement. (Rafter photo)
New appointment procedure adopted
A change in the system of making indicate whether they were very interested,
appointments to committees of council interested, or not interested in serving on a
sparked some debate, but was ultimately particularcommittee, was drculated. Admin -
adopted by Seaforth Town Council. at their istrator Jim Crocker pointed out the latter
regular monthly meeting October 14. category should be duinged from 'not
The debate arose over a recommendation interested', to 'least interested', "because I
of the Finance and General Government assume you are all interested," in the work of
Committee, that the procedure be amended all committees
to provide that appointments be made by a For that very reason. said Councillor Bob
striking committee made up of senior Dinsmore, the preference sheet should nol be
members of council )mayor. reeve and deputy neeessnry
reeve) Previously. appointments were made "Myself. I'm just going to check "very
by the Mayor alone. The committee also interested." for all of them." he said.
recommended a preference sheet should be Reeve W iltiam Bennett noted that Council -
circulated to. and submitted by, members of for Dinsmore. though originally on the Van
council indicating which committees they Egmond Society Committee, had stepped
would be most interested in serving on down to allow Councillor Gary Ostrom to
A preference sheet listing the various serve an that committee.
committees. with spaces for councillors to "So. wouldn't you put "least interested"
for that one?" asked Reeve Bennett.
"Not necessarily." replied Councillor
Dinsmore.
Councillor Dinsmore also questioned the
inclusion of the reeve anddeputy reeve on the
striking committee, as both would be
expected to serve as chnirn an on some of the
committees.
"The idea tor the dian cis t was to give the
striking committee some background inform-
ation
nformation to work from when making up the
committees." and atso to give the mayor
some assistance in making these decisions.
said Mayor Alt Ross
"Ultimately. the final decisions will still
rest with the Mayor." said Mayor Ross.
The committee appointments are to be
announced at the November council meeting
Commission seeks new transformer
The Seaforth Public utilities Conunission
plans to have the utility's law firm send a
letter to the Winnipeg -based manufacturing
firm that supplied the PUC's new transform-
er, requesting the defective unit be replaced
with a new one,
The PUC, is seeking a replacement for the
5,000 kilovolt transformer, installed at Main
Station No. 1 on April 22, because when
operating. it exceeds the noise decibel level
specified
PUC Manager Tom Phillips. reported at
the commission's October 15 meeting, the
utility has still received no written admow'
lodgement of the problem from the manufac-
turer. However, he has been in contact with
the companies local representative and
company personnel from Winnipeg have
flown in to examine the situation.
The commission is planning to meet meth
their solicitors to discuss the situation soon
in other matters, Mr. Phillips reported a
new hank of three transformers has been
installed at Robert Bell Industries and the old
bank removed.
The commission also held an initial
discussion on the possibility of raising water
rates in the future. The matter will be
discussed further at the November meeting
Steering committee set up
Seaforth Town Council has deferred a
decision on the proposed closure of the
northerly section of Gouinlock Street, until
the appropriate committees have had an
opportunity to study the s».uation.
A recommendation from the Transporta-
tion and Environment Committee of council
proposed that a portion of the street adjoining
Victoria Park be closed in February of 1987,
with approximately 150 fee, of the dosed
distance being used for parking and the
remaining portion as improved green space.
The Huron County Roman Catholic School
board has expressed an interest in entering
into a permission agreement for the use of the
proposed area, as an extension of the St.
James School Playground, subject to the
town's approval of the fencing and placing of
equipment to this area,
Some councillors expressed concern that
fencing of the area might inhibit public access
to the area, while others felt it warranted
more discussion at the committee levels.
Councillor Robert Dinsmore wondered if
any mention of the proposed dosing of
Gouinlock had been made to the new Main
Street Co-ordinator Tom Lemon, or to the
recreation committee or any other interested
parties.
He said he would not want to go ahead and
close the street, '"with no input from anybody
else."
Councillor Carolanne Doig agreed' the
matter wariatlted more study at the commit-
tee
ommittee levels.
Once it's closed, it's closed," said
Councillor Doig.
"'I'm not in favor of mg the northern
portion of Gouinlodsbecause it's the better of
the two streets," said Deputy Reeve Hazel
Hildebrand, noting that the southern portion
of the street. is tholed and rougher than the
north end. "Ithink we would; be very foolish'
to close the street," she added,
CROSS 0611141rAY V✓lAINt:RS - The Junior Boys team from St. James School, Seaforth,
t niched In second place Id "thole division at the Huron -Perth Roman Catholic Separate School
Board cross-country running competition held Friday afternoon at Benmilter, with Boyd
Devereauit Managing first place In Individual performance. From left: front, Chrle,Marion,
Andy Pecker, Patrick Devereaux; back, Boyd Devereaux, Joseph Kenny, Jason Henderson.
(Rattle photo)
BY W 11111 A OR F, in the liability limits contained in the 1986.87
The feasibility of establishing a Roman school Mus rate schedule to $$7 million (from
Catholic high school in Huron County will be $10 million r effective immediately The bus
studied by a steering committee set up at the contractors previously had been able to
regular meeting of the Huron -Perth County secure the higher Liability rate but this year,
Roman Catholic Separate School Board, in with premium rates so high, they were unable
• to get it The minimum allowed for school
busing is $5 million.
The board will accept the Risk Manage-
ment Report as submitted by the Frank
Cowan insurance Company and will renew all
insurance poliches with the company until
October 26, 1981. The board derided not to
join the Reciprocal tnsurance Exchange, The
Ontario School Baord's insurance Exchange
The decision to continue with Cowan was
made because the board's current policy
expires October 26, 1986. The board requires
coverage for November and December as
reciprocal coverage will not be available until
January 1, 1987.
About 70 per cent of Ontario's school
hoards will band together to insure them-
selves to counteract soaring liability insur-
ance costs.
An exception will be made to board policy
to permit a Seaforth area student, who is
14 -years -old and in Grade 8, to attend the
Grade 10 religious course at St James School
in Seaforth irontinued on Page A i o
Dublin Tuesday night.
Trustees Bernard VanOsch. of Kings-
bridge and Michael Ryan, of Mount Carmel.
will represent the trustees on the committee.
Toro priests and two parents will be named to
the seven -member cnmmfttee at the next
meeting. A member of the administration
staff will round out the group.
The committee is to find out whether
enough Catholic students in Huron would
attend their own high school and will also
consider locations. The group is expected to
hold several public meetings on the issue and
will present its report to the Board by March.
The high school, if established would likely
open in September, 1988.
The board opened a Catholic high school
in Perth County fast month. St. Michael
School in Stratford serves Grades 7 and 8 and
9 and will expand to Grade 10 next fall.
The board also has established a joint
edueation liaison committee with the Huron
County Board of Education to explore
opportunities for shared facilities, services,
resources and staff. The group would make
reeomniendations for consideration by both
boards.
On this committee Trustees Dave Durand
of Zurich, Bernard Murray of RR 3, Embro
and John Devlin, of Stratford, were named to
represent the Catholic board in its meetings
with the Huron County board and also with
the Perth County Board of Education with
which it will hold similar Meetings.
In other business Tuesday, trustees
accepted a $686,000 bid from a Wean firm,
Frank Van Russel and Sons Limited, for the
construction of the addition with alterations
to St. Boniface School at Zurich, including the
reroofing of the general purpose room. The
tender was the lowest of six received.
The board has agreed to accept reduction
Inquest planned
into trench death
An inquest into the death of watermain
worker Ralph Melville will be held December
4 in Goderieh.
Mr. Melville died when he was buried in
sand, September 8, while working in a trench
to install a watermain on Williams Street, in
Egmondville. Another worker was also
injured in the trench collapse, but he
recovered.
Dr. Ken Rodney, of Seaforth. will conduct
the inquest at the Goderich courthouse at 10
A.M.