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The Huron Expositor, 1977-03-17, Page 1Whole No.5688 118th Year SEAFORTH ONTARIO, THURSDAY; KARO14H17, 1977 — 24 PAGES $11.00 a Year in Advance Single copy 25 cents councillor Wayne Ellis, chairman of the police committee, but said the OPC are not investigating the Lauzon case. The OPC rep was looking at the situation from the chiefs point -of view but not interviewing other principals in the case , she said. Mr. Schimmin will take the information • he got back to his superiors in Toronto, the mayor said. The appearance of Mr. Lauzon and his lawyer at council and the receipt of a letter from Dave DeVries, Seaforth, who has been hying to get a hearing' for Mr, Lauzon for several months by council's police cothmittee brought out into the open allegations of. a, cover up- which have been street talk' in Seaforth time. At some e. At council after the Lauzon delegation left, councillp_r_Ellis, in his police • committee' report recommended that no action • be taken On the request for a hearing. New councillors Gerald Grothuis and Ken Roth asked how they could vote on the matter when they didn't know what the proposed charges • ne Mr . Lauzon M. Lauzon were that led to his resignation. "If we're in the dark it looks like we're not doing our job or that something is being hidden" added another new councillor, Jim Sills. When Reeve John Flannery 'suggested going into committee of the Whole in private to discuss, Mr. Lauzon's requeSt councillor Roth ' commented "what's 'there to „leak?" Not really "You who know, is it necessary to go into committee of the whole?" asked councillor Sills. "No, not really," replied Mayor Cardno. . "We hear-.two sides and both;' are different. Somebody's lying," said .councillor' Roth. The appearance of Mr: Lauzon, his-'lawyer and Mr. De Vries was , the first definite delegation ever officially requesting anything on the case, the Mayor and deputy reeve Bill Dale maintained. "We dealt with it in good faith under 'the police act and felt we had a good Solution. -There's been all sorts of innuendo and rumour but until tonight no 'official request for action," Mayor Cardno said. On a . motion by - Reeve • Flannery, seconded by deputy reeve Dale, ' council voted unanimously to exclude the press and .the clerk from discussion 'of the lawyer's request. Six Charges Mr, De Vries' letter .to council charges ' Mr. Lauzon was asked to 'resign ,or face a list of six charges under the Police Act by chief Cairns "and, ' --resigned ""due-to-the initial sliock--- and hurriedness of the situation", - without having a chance to defend • (Continued on Page 24)' • . • Separat e.. school- boor gets budget up 7.5% Ti3ging to save farm land is a "bunch' of 1. S.'' the,Huron-Perth Shoithorn Club told local meinbers of parliament Saturday: ' "We are fed up with all this B.S. that we should save farm PUC warned ouncil rejects earina for Lauzon Sewage in YOU.CAN MAKE IT Margie Sallows,_onAhe front porch of her home at R.R:4, Seaforth coaxes her dog, Elsa, to swim or walk through the high water that 'hit , Heritage. Estates 'early. Sunday morning. Mobile Flame .park -owner. George Romanik said the water, (By Wilma Oke) with Trustee Vincent Young of Goderieh. Voting approval of the budget, the subject of 'a special meeting on March 2, in committee of the whole, in camera, and of an additional meeting, also committee of the whole, in Conic 11 Ki • G o y, open; regory meeting- Monday. were:: Donald Crowley, Gadshill; Michael Provincial grants and other kevenue will provide 85.77 per cent of the 1 977 budget, compar ed to 85:44 per pent in 1976. Local taxpayers will be. required to contribute 1-4.23 per cent to this year's 'budget -- $610,000. Mill Rates The 1977 mill rate for supporting municipalities will be ' as follows (1976 rates in brackets) Clinton • (35.17) 38.17; Seaforth Alumni . scholarship now a trust fund'Community School Development • program at• St. Patrick's School, Dublin. was recorded at, the request ,of Trustee Ted Geoffrey of Zurich • who voted against approval'along in Dubt.iP - Fleming, Crediton; William Marcy , Stratford; Ronald Murray, Dublin; John O'Drowsky, St. Marys; JOhh O'Leary,. Staffa; Arthur Haid, Listowel; Keith Montgomery, VVingham. Teahen of Stratford was absent " from the meeting. A press release, prepared 'prior to the meeting, was approved by the board and handed to the single representative-at the meeting. It indicated that salaries and fringe benefits account for 91 per cent of the increase and 69 per cent of the total budget- ffor 1977. A breakdown of expenditures reveals increases of 10.4 per cent in instruction, 11.4 per cent in ' plant operation and maintenance, 6.1 per cent in transportation; while capital expenditure has been decreased by 12.1 per cent. Included in the board's revenue and expenditureis $9;080 for the A dozen frustrated and angry home owners confronted Seaforth council Monday night with a plea for action to end the sanitary sewer backups which filled basements in Many. homes sou th of the tracks with raw seWage over the weekend. • Claiming the'sewer system was shoddily constructed, residents of 1Vfill,Brantford, Jarvis and Louisa Streets asked Council to arrange a meeting with James F. M c'Laren Ltd.' engineers on last summers sewer project and the .Ministiy-of the ' Environment immediately. The residentS told Council they will take he _matter to court if they don't get answers from McLaren engineer Peter Sawyer and Environment Ministry official Mark Bell. Sewers- ..in the area began backing up Saturday . night. Several en embers of the citizens', delegation told Ceuncil raw sewageflooded their basements. One woman said she had taken more, than 40 buckets of sewage out of her basement. A-man said the concrete floor of his new home was ruined by the backup. Others said sewage damaged furniture and appliances. - , "We're dealing with a new system" Mayor Cardno said. "We have, a year fir -rectify problems, and we are , having problems". She told the residents the town does not own the sewers yet. "They 'are owned by the `Ministry of the Environment. We did' not have a say in the engineering." • • Reeve John Flannery; who spent much of the weekend answering phone calls from angry homeowners, said "I'm certainly not satisfied witli41:1eLS.eWer project, with the engineering, so you have my sympathy." ' Right to Complain "'You have a perfect right to be complaining" Mayor Cardno told the citizens, , The residents -"felt the contractors did not follow the engineering plans as they should have. "Did y ou see a transit level used at all on our:street?" one - person asked. "I 'didn't". A check "valve ,to control overflow-runoff to the river was never installed, it was 1..arned "at the meeting. The opening tothe river is cemented shut. Wh ile this means that river water cannot flow back into the Sanitary sewer system, it also means that excess volumes of water ,cannot Scape from the sewers as they should, a citizen pointed out. - Reeve Flannery said the town, had received a call February 28 ' from Peter .Sawyer saying the valve would be installed . the following We dneSday, but no one showed up to install it. Made Errors "Time after tine they've' made errors" a homeowner said.' He claimed that the lines were not laid properly, and that letters were sent to Council last ,fall complaining ' `. about the. contractors. Mayor Cardno told the delegation that council would, try to get the engineers and the Ministry at a meeting, but that it would be difficult to get represen- tat ives of the groups there on short notice. • "You tell • them that if. they don't get off'their ,butts they're • going'to face a class'action. That's the levereage to get the ni.: here" a citizen;- said. "I'm interested in the town b'aeNing us. as rate payers" he added. Meanwhile, we have damages", the delegation.said. "What are we supposed to do?" Insurance • Mayor C ardno told the citizens that the Town has insurance, and that they could claim against it for damages. She said the contractor, must • fix difficiencies in the system before the. Town takes'it' over.- "Are we going to get a guarantee that we are not going to get this .problem again?" the citizens asked. "I'm not hooking. up until it works" one woman told' cotiecil. "You can . sue me" 'she said.' .•. •The delegation left with assurances from Mayor Cardno that a meeting would, be held Wednesday night in the Town Hall and citizens could air •they grievances again in the presence of the eegineert anAl the Ministry. Councillor Wayne Ellis told the meeting• that the contract was awarded to a company whose bid was $50,000 less than the next highest bid. "I think we should -hire an attorney, if we don't get , anywhere in the first meeting" he said. The citizens delegation at . Monday's meeting included Christine Gooss-ens, Mrs. Carl. Feeney, Henry Ziler, Mr. and Mrs. Paul Matthews, Mr. and Mrs. James Gould, Ph it Evers, Ida Diehl,' Mrs. Murray Despite a request from a lawyer- representing ex-pelice constable Ronald Lauzon, who resigned in November Seaforth council decided M onday night not_to request • a bearing • with the Ontario Police CoinmissiOn for Mr. Lauzon. After meeting for/45 minutes with the press and clerk excluded,, council..., reported out from committee of the whole that they had.Voted to.take no action on the request from London lawyer Don Kilpatrick of the law firm of Lamon, • McGrath and MacDonald. Mr. Kilpatrick told the F.xpositor Tuesday morning that he'd talk to Mr, Lauzon and then decide whether to ask the Ontario Police Commission fora.hearing. He said he understood that the .0PC would entertain a request for a hearing. At Monday night's council meeting the lawyer said that •Mr. Lauzon 'was "willing to take steps to reinstate himself as a police constable." "You-take the initiative or we intend to do --SO," he added. Meanwhile, an OPC rePresen- tataive , W. Schimmin, was in. Seaforth Tuesday doing semi-annual inspection and Chief 'of Police John Cairns said he was advising him on the Lauzon " resignation. "They are my: advisors and I acted On their ' advice right through the case. 'Prior to ever asking Mr. Lauzon to ---,resign I called them for advice and called on several occasions since." .. or et a n Henderson, 'Dave Mclnally ay y _ o con rme and 7 Johil"E'rice. that Mr„Schimmin pet late Tuesday with her and with Memorial Scholarship has served presented in 1934 the SCI Alumni as a recognition of those graduates of the Seaforth Collegiate Institute who gave Each year since it first was awarded each year to a be avilabl e, arrangements have will continue even though association officers may no longer graduating student of S.D.H.S. „ To ensure that the scholarship been made with Victoria and Grey their:Jives in• the Great War of Trust, Company to accept and 1914-18. administrate the fund now While the S.C.I. Alumni -Asso- amounting to $847.95. From the ciation has been inactive since the proceeds it will pay in perpetuity fat war, officers 'of the Associatkin have continued to the • annual scholarship. :The ensure the $23 scholarship was recipient will continue- to be activities- community - members would like to see take place in the' school. 'Already planned are three days " oractivitieS- for children during the spring break.', , All area ,children may participate. • A -leadership 'program to teach young teenagers to work in summer recreation . programs is also Planned. The' course will _begin early in April. -A summer recreation program at the school will , also be organized. Council felt there was a real need for this kind, of program in the Dublin area. Miss Sitweller said she. wpuld appreciate hearing from anyone with ideas. She can be contacted at the school. (31.39) 34.39; Brussels (33.54) 36.54; Hensall (31.80) 34.80;, Htillett (30.43) 33.43; McKillop ( 31.57) 34.57; • TikkerStaith (35.00) "38.00; Mitchell (28.00 ) 31,00; Hibbert (30.73) 33.73;' Logan (33.20) 36.20., As the board" meeting • was rep. chided the members for • holding all discussion on the budget in committee of the wh ole and not making , any public comments for their ratepayers to ' know how they felt about .the budget. A -number of trustees gathered around 'the pil-ess table as Ted ' Geoffrey said he welcomed the opportunity to speak up. "Unfortunately 'I am the only, trustee affected by a sizable mill , rate increase," ,he said, "This is the yeason I am opposed to French in Grades 5 and 6 -- the cost factor, and this is why I could not support the honorarium increase to_ the _trustees here tonight." had no cGeoffrey x ps ae indd, t rWe e in ti va ye ' Township or Bayfield (the two municipalities . he represents) since Nye formed this bond (in 1969) and we have always been aced with a maximum increase, due to the equalization factor being used. In future I feel there mu* be some different factor used." • - - • - Michael Connolly, said, "As finance ,,committee chairman, 'I wish to say that the rising costs it energy -- heat and hydro -- are fixed' costs that we cannot alter, Also 'there are increased snow removal costs which are a must for the safety of our children. These are costs we must meet. The Anti-inflation board has been '*a benefit to our systehl to stabilize our costs," he stated. Board chairman Mickey Vere of Stratford marks, "The budget has been (Conatpinpueeadreod to make npage.24 remarks, some ' • .41 which started receding shortly after noon didn't cause any serious damage as everyone had poWer and water. About one third of the park was affected - by the rising water. -'More. photos. inside the Expositor.• • (Photo by Dillon) asements, ratepayers complain The . facilities of St. Patricks School, Dublin, will be made available to individuals and` groups through a $9,080 Community -Schools Grant frem the Ministry of Education. Mary Sitweller, a graduate - of , Conestoga College in Recreation Leadership has been hired by the council of St. Patrick's School to head the community school program. Community Schools are a new concept, Miss Sitweller told a meeting of the council in Dublin Thursday night. It will be the first ..:time that an, area- school has • organized such a program. The • grant is for a one year period, ending in December, but if the program is a success, further fending may be available,, the council hopes. • 'Miss Sitweller will co-ordinate "the program under the direction of the council:which is 'made up of representatives from various school and community groups. On. the council are chairman Roe Ferguson, a representative of the HPRCSSB, Joe Shea, senior citizens; Luke' 'Schoonderwoerd, parent-teacher -organizatioe; Dorothy Delaney, Parish council; Teresa, Murrgy: CWL; Jim Paratchek and Hank Cramer, Lions Club; Sister Florence, principal of the School; Herb Brown, Hibbert Township Council; Jerry Bruxer, recreation committee; and Ann Burchill, Women's ' Institute. Council will conduct a needs . siirvey to determine what Without comment or discussion the Huron-Perth County Roman Catholic 'Separate School Board approved a 1977 budget of $4,287,512 Monday night -- an increase of $299,718 or 7.5• per , _ cent more •than last year. The vote Met Tuesday '— • • Kinahan, Lucknow; 'Ronald Community council starts • selected by the staff of the school. • Terms of the trust agreement with Victoria , and Grey• incorporate the tering ofreference established when the scholarship - was, first introduced and provide (a) an award for a graduating student of the Seaforth District High School who qualifies (i) The scholarship ,is to be awarded annualy to a graduating• (Continued on Page 14), camera, prior to the' general adjourned at 11;20 p.m. the press 4 Savin fqrm land 'BS' dub tells MP's Seaforth's water supply and distribution system is inadequate, , and the PUC Must seek:''new sources of water this year or face the possibility of serious , • disruptions in service. That what Peter SaWytr of James F. McLaren Limited, consulting -engineering firm from tAndon, fold meeting 4 of. the •Plie-last WedneSday. 4k•• sturdy, done • in 069 - by McLaren Wilted :tithe request of thePUC recommended that a new veil be (16/eloped On the Ites' 'Werth Street property; Instead the. PUC drilled it ivell'ilear land, we feel it should be sold too the bidder:" Frarr Falconer, Of the club said. "I feel myself there is toa much land," he told Bob. ;McKinley, Hureln M.P., Murray Gaurit, Brantford Street in 1974. So far this well has Cost $1,7,000 according to figures.presented at the Wednesday meeting; hut its limited capacity falls short of the) Town'S fiittire needs. The Erantford Street well is „rapped,and no equipment is' currently available to bring it into operation,-' When the • well was ubjected 4to a tea pumping at SOO gallons`a minute, wells in 'neighbouring. Harpurhey were Oreille& and took as long as `three weeka ,reoffet" The belieVeSqthat the well 'Might handle a %NV gallon a 'Mime 444 Huron-Bruce MPP and' Jack Riddell, Huron-Middlesex MPP. The Shorthorn club's presenta- don was part of an afternoon of briefs by the '.. Huron . County Federation of Agriculture and - affiliated commodity groups to •• local m,ertibers of parliament at Ciintiv:t vn "people simply 7don't care for Us," he said. ,"They :won't ever; slow dovin to Jet us cross the road," • • ..iajPP Ja:Ck. Riddell disagreedp saying it was impOriatit 'to keep 'a viable farm industry in Canada. He said* if farm land wasn't protected,. Canada could find herself dependent on other countries for food imports. • "."Surely We do net-want to find ourselves" '-'at the mercy of of Our lai0, 'add would soon be *Ontittles that can product food cheaper than we Can now. We • Could soon find ourselves• paying a let more." Bert Elliot of the Huron Catinty Cream Producers Said "latid should be 6ited• for editcation,, but peoble ahnuld pay, Y, for' services to peoplee' "If lite goVerinnent paid all latidtateS; We would lose COMM „ .(0.10ued On Fait 16) Water not adequat -,pumping rate without affecting other nearby wells, but a test • puMping at this rate has not been carried out, "Decisions have .to be made, and yOu can't make them jusFerT rsiErmlit" 'Mr. Sawyer -told the eorriiiiissioners, • "What we are discussing here are prohlemsthat you've-had for a .nttiber of years,, end that have to ,be rek3Iveti,",t "The PUC int& look• into other areas within the town where the. possibility of at iticre4dd'§OPPISr Will be better!' Mr. Sawyer " 'said/ • he toki, the commission that if (Cotitinue4; hige-'14 = HALF A CENTURY Julia . AttleSbn-boinPleted 50 • • yearS ,at the: deit‘68d0 Shoe' factory last Week. Here She holds flowers presented on behalf of the staff by„, , from L., Flora Ann McAllister,,!BOb Walters, Plant ManageG dill WIlbee, and Donna Clark.,. (ExposItiireffiAti)