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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Huron Expositor, 1980-10-30, Page 11214 Tear Whole NO. $077 FIRST SECTION 1 -2,0 SEAFORTH ONTARIO, T 7 7 LiRstmy, Om -OBER 36, 1980-28 PAGES $14,P41440$4.0 Sing CPpy 35 Cents. ' BY HERB SHOVELLER If Tuesday night's ratepaynre trICting;ia any indication, the major issue facing Seaforth voters in the Nov. 10 election What should be done about Main St: parking meters. Most public discussion at the meeting, attended to/ About.. 50 resideots and candidates, followed repoits by Myor JONI Sinnamon and the chairfnen of various • council committees , . The parking meter issue was introduced by resident Jim Kelly, who asked What the anticipated revenue from the meters was and whether the income they provide is worthwhile. Mr. Kelly added he thought Main St. merchant a were losing customers because of the meters. Henry Mero, a councillor who is running for mayor, explained he was working with theEnsiness Improvement Area (BIA) study group on the matter. He said expected revenue was $8,000, bit after costs were HALLOWE'EN BUNNY?—Scott Jervis donned his bunny costume for the Hallowe'en party at the Seaforth Public Library Saturday afternoon. • Seaforth residents expect an invasion of costumed trick or treaters like Scott on Friday night. (Photo by Ellis) BofE• gets Bell boiler BY ALICE GLOB Charles Smith of Robert Bell Industries has proved a point. Earlier this fall. Mr. Smith presented a brief to Huron County board of education asking it to consider !rollers made at the Seaforth plant instead of „ importing American boilers. Recently Glover Hill Inc. of Thamesford, the contractor replacing boilers in the J.A.D. McCurdy School in Huron Park. purchased • two boilers from the total industty. . In September. Mr. Smith. concerned over a recommendation by the board's consulting „ engineer, Ron Egan of London. to purthase Arneriean-made boilers. presented a brief to board members and to newspapers and radio stations in the county. Mr. Smith told board members it seemed disappointing that the board, would purchase American-made boilers at a time when Dangerous prank Vandals who rernoved •the flashing warning lights from a bridge under con- struction in Hibbert Town- ship were playing more than a Halloween prank. See page 4. Fiddling up a storm Over 40 musicians and stepdancers had the aud- nce dapping. stamping and dancing at the Van Egmond Foundation's second Fiddlers' Jamboree on Sunday. See story and photos, page 5. county moustries were being forced to lay off their employees due to lack of work. He said Robert Bell Industries had been in business for more than 80 years in the area, and that its employees were all taxpayers to the board of education. While Mr. Smith admitted hi, effort in approaching the board peiionally-paid off in this case. he said a coosiderable amount of time and effort went into making the presentation to the board. The lowest tender for the purchase and installation of. the bo fliers was $38.500 submitted by the Thamesford contractor. Superintendent of education John Coch- rane said the board accepted the lowest tender submitted and asked the contractor • for an alteroate price usieg the Bell boilers. The contractor then decided to purchase tIie locally -made boilers. -this week Pearl McFarlane retires After working at the Huron Expositor for 48 years, Pearl McFarlane has retired to Huronview. Pearl deducted the net total would be $2,658. "Peojile'coine here to shop, spend money, then they come out and have to spend another $2," said Mr. Kelly. "I don't think that's very friendly." Mayor Sinnamon explained the 'meters had been in town for several years, supported by the appropriate by-law, and until that by-law was revoked it would have to be enforced. The mayor added that if the 'silver presentation were made to council, the matter of removing the meters would be " given serious consideration. ' The town has three years remaining in its contract for the meters, and clerk Jim Crocker added it would cost about $7,000 to pick up the balance if the agreement were terminated. Former mayor Betty Cardno asked the council what the town was paying for property it was buying from Huron Fabricators. Mayor Sinnamon replied that the deal won't close until Nov. 30, and added erchants query !NA About 25 merchants attended questidn and answer session on the proposed Business Improvement Area for downtown .Seafoithsat theatowtahall Monday night - Unless one third of those inside the proposed. BIA boundary, who also -represent one third of the area's assessment, sign a petition opposing it. Seaforth council will probably pass a by-law designating the downtown core a BIA in December. If a smaller number of businesses object, perhaps, they. council and BIA proponents could work out the problems Seaforth clerk suggested. After approval by the Ontario Municipal Baord, council will be able to collect funds for a BIA, based on each business's commercial assessment, as provincial legislation provides. As well, once'a BIA is set up, with a board of management appointed by council. it will be eligible to apply for up to 5150,000 in provincial loans, ' at one percent interest per year. Clerk Jim Crocker told questioner Frcd Tilley that new provincial legislation will set a ininimumaanda maximum on BIA levietra and he explained the BIA board sits for thes length of a council's term. Shoppers today are mobile and go where they want with their dollars, Betty Beuten- miller commented. "I can't see a benefit and it'll cost us." Jerry Hetherington of the BIA study group said a revita heed. united downtown could attract shoppers. and industry too to Seaforth. Experience in Goderich is that a hard working BIA has been able to pull shoppers back downtown from the malls, Susan_Whitea another study...group member, replied. "What do you say to businesses who are happy with what they're doing pow?" Mrs. Beutenmiller asked. A BIA can only make improvements to municipal land, Piet Loomans of the study group explained,and Mr. Hetherington added that no individual store could be pushed to make improvements. Retiring reeve John Flannery said he was disappointed to hear the Chamber of Commerce is no longer active here. 'It' a a real guiding star to any council." "We hope the BIA will be_ the same." replied Mr. Hetherington. Could the low interestioan not be used to help a few individual businesses over a rough time "for sustenance rather. than improvement", Mrs. Beutenmiller asked. The province carefully limits spending to municipal property, Mr. Hetherington told 4ter, but BlAdollars can help the town make improvements. therefore indirectly saving tax dollars. The BIA doesn't have to borrow but can run on a budget totally made up of levies from members. several speakers said. Individuals can and do do a lot in Seaforth, BIA study group member Paul Ross pointed out, and if a BIA is approved. that hopefully won't change. it wouldn't be fair to the current owner to disclose the price Until that time, although he continued to say it was. in the $20.000 range., - Another important issue for ratepayers cbncerned deficiencies in the town's sanitary sewer system. Mayor Sinnamon explained an infiltaation _Only latins conducted by_ the Ministry of the Environment has indicated the problem areas, and added that a new. alarm system at the town's main wet well would help curtail the number- of flooded basements. "If it rains tonight, we could be flooded," He,len McLean replied. "Why has house to house inspection not been done by the building inspector?" The mayor said the problem was going to be looked into, and continued, "how do you convince people to join to a system which isn't sufficient, something that isn't working properly?" Mrs. McLean noted other places aren't experiencing similar problems with their sewer systems. "Other -places aren't built on a swamp, either," answered Mayer Sinnarrion. • The meeting, which was chaired by A.Y. McLean, publisher of the Huron Expositor, began with reports from the mayor and committee heads. Mayor Sinnamon told the ' audience that in his two year term a new fire agreement had been reached with bordering' municipalities. He said the meetings had been long and controversial," but some- times,these things have to came about that way. The mayor added street paving. and_ sidwalk construction had proceeded well\ during the past two years, and he •commended his council for the way in which they had handled all issues. The next speaker was reeve John Flannery, who will not be seeking re-election. "I have come to the conclusion that I'm needed more on the main street at home," he said. He added that while other people were staying home in the winter to watch television, he had tp get up, shave, and come to a council meeting. "That really bugs you." Summing up his many years in office, the outgoing reeve said:, "One thing I've learned is that if .people want to work, Canada will support them." • Councillor Mero, speaking on behalf of the transportation and environment committee, praised the employees of the public works Please turn to page 3 •.! New dump needed hopefuls agree The tiao candidates for the office of mayor in Seaforth were the last nominees to address the ratepayers meeting Tuesday night. • Henry Mero, who is challenging incumbent John Sinnamon for the top seat, spoke first. Mr. Mero explained he had been born and raised in Seaforth, and that the town held a special interest for him. He told the gathering he had served on several committees during the past -two years as a Councillor, his first term in elected office. Areas of concern to him, he said, were the police situation, the sanitary sewer system, property taxes and work. on town streets. Mr. Mero said he would like to begin studies on a new damp, and added he was totally against parking meters. He concluded by saying he was never in favor of closed meetings and that "each time it comes up, I vote against going into committair of the whole." In his address, Mayor Sinnamon said an important issue to be dealt with in the next two years is the establishment of a new sanitary landfill site. He explained the old sanitary system was being looked at. He said town is now in a position to begin looking into acquiring industrial and commercialland, and that thase negotiations are issues the council has to look at over the next two years. Mayor Sinnamon said a major project next year will be the reconstruction of Market St. He added because the street is so .long. it will be a costly project. The mayor pledged to continue the- sidewalk program. "A lot has been done. but many still leave a lot to be desired." Mayor Sinnamon closed his remarks by thanking retiring reeve John Flannery, the members of council and the committee heads. It's Vanastra's debt OMB decides BY WILMA OKE The ratepayers in the hamlet of Vanastra will continue to be responsible for paying off a 5130.000 debenture debt for the Vanastra recreation centre. An amending bylaw placing the respon• sibility on Vanastra ratepayers was approved Thursday by the Ontario Municipal Board following a day -long hearing at the recreation centre attended by 65 persons. The amending bylaw corrects one passed in 1974 which because it was wmngls worded by officials at the ministry of treasury and intergovernmental affairs placed responsibility for debt on all ratepayers in Tuckersmith township. with a population of 3.031. Evidence presented to the OMB showed the ,intention of the 19'74 bylaw was to restrict responsibility for paying the debt to residehts of the hamlet ashh a population of 622. Despite the error. the township has been charging the debt only to Vanastra residents for the past six years. Courecilloi William Brawn of Eganonaine dcoerel the mistake recentls while searchin through old records and Tucker council was advised by OMB to pass a w bylaw to correct the old one., When 83 residents protested the reyisioa was a familiar sight for the last several years to anyone who dropped into the news- paper office on Saturday mornings when she com- piled the popular column. In Years Agone. See page IA. Search for buried treasure SDHS students braved cold, damp weather to dig for buried treasure at the rear of the Van Egmond Fitiuse-in this case, the foundation's of outbuild- ings on the site. See photos, page 3A. .1. the OMR called a hearing.. Eight witnesses were called: Gc-orge Penfold. who works with the Huron Counts Planning board in land use responsibilits provided maps establishing the location of Vanastra. a former Canadian Forces Rase. in the Township of Tuckersmith. Jim McIntosh of R.R. 4 Seaforth. clerk of the township from June 1961 to June 197-, gave the history of the hamlet and the bylaw He explained when the petition is as received from 96 Vanastra business men and residents. and accepted by council. he was instructedto prepare a bylaw. He asked the ministry of treasury and intergovernmental affairs for a copy of a bylaw on which to base the township bylaw. The Vanastra petition. waived in April 1974, asked the township to 9ei up a recreation area and purchase a former church for a community, hall; the &Winer curling rink to be used for a skating arena. hockey. figure skating. broomball; and a small park; and a new outdoor swimming pool was to be built. all to be paid by levies agalnat the rateable property in the hamlet and' at no cost to the rest of the township. • ACROSS THE COUNTY Mr. McIntosh desciribed a large number of letters that followed, between the ministry and the Ontario Municipal board and the township. Eventually a bylaw prepared by the Ministry of treasury and intergovern- Mental affairs (TIGA) approved by the Ontario Municipal board. was returned to Tuckersmith council. Council accepted the bylaw iNo 40-•074) which authorized the levy of debentures for $130.000 to be made on all the rateable properly in Turc' kersmith While the bylaw was to have restricted the levy to the rateable property" in Vanastra. council ignored this. believing that if approved by TIGA and the OMB. both aware the intention was for Vanastra to be responsible. then it was all right to continue with the construction which was nearing completion: A municipal bylaw was passed with the correct information. The next witness was Richard Lehnen of Vanastra who sells recreation equipment and is reported to have suggested the idea of the recreation complex for Vanastra. He was on the original recreation committee which circulated the petition. He said "perhaps env 33 percent of those who signed the Petition "were living in Vanastra at the present time." , After lunch the formertownship reeve. Elgin Thompson who served O'n council for 20 years, 15 of them as reeve,' presented his e version through a series of questions from the tov.nship lawyer. Michael E. Mitchell of Stratford. and Bob Rogerson of Stratford. tawyer for Mrs. Clara Brown and other citizens. He said no Vanastra residents at any time asked to be included in the council agenda to complain that they did not want the recreation centre because they did not think Vanastra could afford it. but that two men went to him privately to say this. When asked if there were any objections to the day care centre the reply was that none had been made to council. He said that the Vanastra residents were not told the day care centre was to be constructed. but "we had a good reporter and all was reported in the paper.•• Present township clerk Jack McLachlaa reported that the populatin of Vanastra in 19'74 was 653 compared to 622 now. and of Tuckersmith 3.0,41 in 1974. and 3,031 at the present time. The official from the Ontario Municipal Board V.M. Singer, who presided over the hearing, asked the clerk how many of the 653 residents in Vanastra were still at .snahreasSi Vanastra. The clerk said he would get this 4-A4tariatinn Asked who used Vanastra recreation centre., Mr. McLachlan said the user, come from across the county and the more who used it. the better for the centre. He said there was a user fee and a membership fee, and that Vanastra residents were entitled to a 10 per cent discount. However, Mr. Rogerson provided copies of brochures and pamphlets outlining programs available that clid not indicate that this discount was available so that residents would know to ask for it. Vince Fowlie. the only Vanastra resident who has served on Tuckersmith Township council. said he resigned in May. 1974 because of frustratioria from being the only opposing voice on cormail to the acceptance of the Petitdirir to create the recreation centre, and he felt Vanastra residents didn't understand the real cost af the project in terms of budget. Please turn to page 19 WELCOME GUESTS—Seaforth Lions Park Renovation Fund drive chairman h./laden Vincent (centre) finds a morbent to speak with two of the fund's honourary chairmen, Clare Westcott, Toronto (left) and Judge Donald Scott of Fonthill. Both former residents, Mr. Westcott and Judge Scott were guests at -the Fund Kick Off dinner Monday night when Judge Scott was the speaker. (See page 7) (Photo by Shoveller) N'arasaseaSsanieroVra. ear, 4Z-Par.Writr•' I'kelra=,essattattffi