The Huron Expositor, 1978-12-14, Page 1•
THE ARTIST AT WORK — Pedra Jandrisevets of Walton, a Grade 10
art student at Seaforth District High School, was one of the students who
volunteered to help' brighten up the halls of Seaforth Community Hospital
'forttib-ChrWmas season. Here. Pedra puts the finidhing touches on her
(Expositor Photo)
LCit. day on the job for Mills
painting at the emergency desk.
Whole No. 5779
119th Year
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 14, 1978 FIRST SECTION PAGES 1 —18 SEAFORTH, ONTARIO,
$12.00 year in advance
Single Copy 25 cents
ectforth dys FAB share
BY ALICE GIBES
By. mid-afternoon on. Friday, Joseph
Mills, Superintendent of Education with the
Huron-Perth Roman Catholic Separate
School. Board, was sitting in an almost empty
office. • • After spending-;two and-a.-half years with
th- local board, Mr. Mills recently, resigned
to 'accept the position of education' officer
with the Ministry. of Education in Toronto.
On Friday, he boxed' up books and papers
in his Dublin office, for the last time, before
making the drive back to his home in
Burlington.
Although Mr. Mills admits his new job
means. "I'll be one step more, removed from
the children", he also views 'it as "an
opportunity to see, another side of educa-
tion."
Inequalities within classes in Seaforth's
assessment can be remedied but the town's
overall total tax assessment would change
very little, council heard Monday night.
Jack Lettner of the district assessement
office explained that council can request a
survey and assessment officials' will compare,.
market value and present assessment of
each property in town. Relating`die 'two will
point ,up inequalities.
After seeing survey results, council can
ask the Ministry of Revenue to reasses the
whole town, Mr. Lettner said.
"Every property has been re-inspected in
the last 20 months", said assessment
Mr. Mills abandoned, a' business career
with Sudbury Steelwares 20 years ago
because he wanted to teach. During his
years as an educator he worked for six
Ontario separate school boards, and was
principal with' the Dufferin-Peel Separ te
School board for some years before coming
to work as superintendent of special services
with the local board.
The superintendent's new role as
education officer will include "a myriad of
jobS" from acting as a liaison between the,
ministry and separate school boards in the
Toronto area to acting as a kind of
ombudsman between parents, who contact
the ministry with problems, and their local
school boards.
However, Mr. Mills won't be a complete
(Continued on Page 4)
'commissioner Floyd Jenking.
Councillor Henry Mero asked if reassess-
ment. ould, in effect. up taxes on Older
homes. "I don't know", replied Mr. Lettner,
"It will increase taxes on those who have not
been paying their share and decrease taxes
on those who have been paying more 'than
their share." ,
An assessment survey in Hamilton
pointed our taxes from $600 to $1.600 in
similar houses in different areas, Mr. Letter
said.
• Council referred the matter to its Finance
and General government committee for a
recommendation on a survey.
Following a visit from Seaforth Fire Area
Board Chairman, Hibbert deputy reeve Roy
Swart, Seaforth council voted Monday night
to pay the rest of its 1978 levy to the board
and try to get fire hyrant payments to the
town included in the FAB's 1979 budget.
Mr. Swart told counicl he didn't want to
argue legalities (Seaforth has a legal opinion
that ,the FAB should pay rental for all
hydrants: the FAB is awaiting its own legal
opinion) but the FAB had to meet its
financial ohlipatibns this year and cduld not
Jack Tinney
Hay
John Tinney, 60, Hay Township Reeve,
was acclaimed warden of Huron County at
council 's inaugural session on Tuesday.
Howiek Township Reeve Harold Robinson
was also nominated for the• Warden's
position but decided not to challenge Mr.
Tinney. John Tinney ran second to Goderich
Township Reeve Gerry Ginn in last year's
election for the.wfirden's position.
Seaforth's arena manager, Jack Price has
resigned, effective January 5 after almost
two years on the job. Mr. Price declined to
discuss why he is leaving. "it's just a
personal thing", he, told the Expositor
Wednesday morning.
Council accepted the resignation Monday
Henson sewer
rates same
"Good news.' ' -was the way Hensall ReeVe:
Harold Knight described the letter from the
ministry of the environment which stated the
rates for the sanitary, sewers would remain
constant for the next three years.
The village will continued to 'be charged
61.8c per 1,000 gallon flow.
• Knight attributed the lack of an increase
to the number of people who have hooked up
to the village sanitary sewer system.
The disucssion then turned to, the low
rates which the village arges for services
ith, Hensall having, the lowest hydro rate
n Ontario.
eaall's broad industrial base is the
main ctor in the low hydro rates , Knight
stated.
Referring to the storm sewers which are
being installed, Knight said taxpayers could
expect an increase of around 535 to pay for
the sewers. •
In other business, council:
. Will 'arrange a meeting between Willard
Buchanan, Hensall Motors, the Ontario
Provincial Police and council. to' resolve the
parking and snow removal problem in front
:of Buchanan's property.
Authorized arena manager Roily
Vanstone, .clerk-treasurer Betty Oke and
Reeve Harold Knight to attend , • „
with officials of the Liquor Control Board of
Ontario with regards to advertisement', for
functions with special occasion permits.
Will allow Russell Goldstein to remove a
tree adjacent to the right of way of his
business. Council will ask Goldstein to
replace the tree with a barrier to prevent
traffic from traversing on the lawn of
property owned by Mrs. Sharon Fink.
Passed a bylaw to allow for the erection of
a stop sign at the corner of Richmond and
Brock streets.
Learned that bitilding inspector Herman
Van Wieren had issued building permits
totalling $13,100
do s9 without Seaforth's payment of over
$4V000.
"Seaforth shouldn't have approved our
1978 budget. There was nothing in if for fire
hydrants,". ,Mr. Swart said. Clerk Jim
Crocker commented that Seaforth had asked
that hydrants be included in A February,
.1978 letter.
Mayor John Sinnamon told Mr. Swart
Seaforth had been writing to the FAB since
May 1977 on the hydrants and hadn't gotten
reeve is
Mr. Tinney, a 16 year veteran of municipal
politics, has been township reeve for the
past four years.
Mr. Tinney and his wife Peggy reside at
R.R.1, Exeter. The warden is the father of
nine children.
In his acceptance speech as warden. Mr.
Tinney said, "I do not plan any major
changes as chairman of county council."
Retiring Warden Gerry Ginn asked council
night with regret, and decided the arena
committee,,,,wonift,hpid,„ a„,special meeting
Wednesday night to draw up a job
description and advertising and set a salary
range.
"Ask applicants to say what they want.
Don't put the salary range in the paper",
suggested councillor Bob Dinsmore. Salary
range was $10,000 to $14,000, depending on
experience, when Mr. Price was hired, clerk
Jim Crocker. said.
Rec. Director Clive Buist, asked by the
clerk for a report, recommended advertising
for an experienced arena manager with Dec.
21 the closing date for applications, so that
•
answers or action.
Deputy reeve Swart explained there are
always some members absent from FAB
meetings and the hydrant rental, was left to
be discussed when a full board was present :
Councillors pressed for a definite answer
from the FAB's Dec. 18 meeting and the
FAB chairman said he'd do his best,
Councillor Harry Mero cautioned that by
paying its share Seaforth was losing any
bargaining power. "If we pay we're asking
warden
to seek ways of correcting inequities in the'
proper tax assessment system. He also
rep ed his stand that the 45-member
rity council is too-large and-needs-to'-be
streamlined.
Mr. Tinney said in an interview following
the meeting that he didn't think council
would consider structural revamping in the
coming year.
Local politicians who have been appointed
to special committees of county council are
Reeve John Flannery of Seaforth, appointed
to the development committee and
W.J.Dale, deputy-reeve of Seaforth,
appointed to the roads committee.
Allan Campbell,, McKillop Township
reeve will serve on the Huronview
committee and Harvey Craig, deputy reeve
of the township, will serve on the property,
committee.
Ervin Sillery, Tuckersmith Township
reeve, will be a member of county council's
development committee and Robert Bell,
deputy-reeve of Tuckersmith, was named to
the .executive committee.
Tom Consitt, reeve of Stanley Township,
was named to the planning committee,
deputy reeve Paul Steckle was named to the
health committee and. Reeve Harold Knight
of Hensall will serve on the planning
committee.
for another year of stall, stall," commented
Seaforth's deputy reeve, Bill Dale.
Councillor Gerald Groothuis, a FAB
member said he was concerned that by not
paying, Seaforth would break its contract
with the FAB.
AND NOW WE GO TO CREEPY
CASTLE — Garry Glanville has eyes
only for the witch of Creepy Castle,
as Tracy Gowan holds him up for a
better view at the library puppet
show on Saturday afternoon. The
theme of the show was Christmas in.
Creepy Castle and involved the tale
of a witch who was persuaded there
really- is a Santa Claus.
(Expositor Photo)
that week's
Unequal taxes?
Seaforth may get
assessment survey-
Arena manager resigns
for 3 years interviews could be held and someone hired
before Ja 5.
1 , • , • •
6,000 in damages as
car smashes window
New Seaforth councillor Henry Mero said public's convenience. It .would be almoit night council meeting into
Monday- night that he'd like to see minutes impossible to get minutes from a Monday paper, he commented.
of regular council meetings printed in the
local paper because of "misrepresentation"
in the past.
Sometimes things are 'reported as having
been passed by council when not all of
council voted for them, councillor Mero said.
Mayor John Sinnamon pointed out that only
when there's a recorded vote is it publicized
who voted how. Even -Minutes don't have
that information.
Mr. Mero' said he' realized that but still
wants the minutes publicized.
Mr.. Mero told the Expositor Wednesday
that he's trying to stir up. interest in what
council is doing and that tie hears a loof
complaints on the street, "Some towns do
print minutes and I'm looking into it
further", the councillor said. "It's a way to
get council feelings across to the public."
• He said in answer to cou,ncillOr Bruce
Hoelscher that although taxpayers can' see
council minutes in the .clerk's office. any
time, few people bother,'
Press coverage of council meetings was
defended by Mayor Sinnamon who said, he
hoped the fairly extensive coverage would
continue, "I personally don't feel' the
minutes should be published." It's not likely
the press would print council minutes for
free, the mayor commented. "They don't
have the time or the space."
"At whose expense?" asked councillor
Jim Sills. "The paper does a point by point
reference to most items and the important
business gets headlines. I feel we have good
coverage."
Clerk Jim Crocker said he has been
getting prices on having council mi
bound into a book for each mei ibcr, for tH,‘
press and for the Seaforth for
SURVEYING THE DAMAGE — A corner of the Hessen Haus restaurara
and the I.G.A. store window were both damaged in a one car accident
early Saturday morning. (Expositor Photo)
There's still room for your family photos of
Christmases past, your children's drawings
of "Christmas at my house", and your own
Sqnta's
coming!
Santa is coming to Seaforth on Saturday
and he'll be parading down Main Street.
Following the parade, which • leaves the
arena at 2 ,p.m.„ Santa• will set 'up
temporary headquarters in the town hall
Where hell dispense goodies• and hear
Christmas wishes from 2:30 to 4:30. His visit
is sponsored by Seaforth lions,•the Chamber
of Cornmerce And the town. ••• •
Children of all ages are welcome.
Christmas stories in the Expositor's annual
Christmas issue, to be published next
Thursday. •
A number of readers' photos, drawings
and stories have begen collected but we'd
like mere. Just drop them off at our office.
All photos can be picked up here after
Christmas.
We hope that the most suitable
"Christmas at my house" drawing can be
used on the front cover bf the Expositor's
Christmas edition.
So get out your photo albums, your
crayons and your pens. Help Seaforth
celebrate Christmas in the Expositor.
Deadline for our Christmas issue Jas
Monday, Deco tuber 18.
While you're'aMt, do' you have a New
Year's prediction ,for Seaforth and area in
19797 If'so send it in for the Expositor's New
Year's issue. Deadline is Friday, December
22.
A Walton area resident has been charged
with careless driving following an accident
which smashed the front wintiew of the
Seaforth IGA store,
Early Saturday morning, Ronald G. Smith,
of R.R. #1. Walton, was driving south 'on
Main Street when he lost control of his car.
The vehicle collided with the corner of
Hessen Haus Restaurant, damaging a corner
of the building, and then hit 'a parking
meter, before spinning around and smash-
ing the large plate glass window in the IGA
store.
Damage to Mr. Smith's 1978 Pontiac
Trans Am is estimated at $3,000.
Seaforth Police Chief Jobn Cairns said
there was approximately $6,000 damage to
the two properties and the town parking
meter. The accident occurred at 2:15 a.m.
Mr. Smith was charged with careless
driving following the collision.
The owner of the Hessen Haus Restlii „nt
was working in the kitchen •at the time If
accident and callled Brace Hoelscher, owner
of the IGA store at home, to let Hoelscher
know a out the damage.
Mr. oelscher contacted Ron Driscoll, a
Seafo-r carpenter, and the two men worked'
until aftilost 5 a.m. boarding up the front of
the It tore.
Mrs, Hoelscher said her husbaml is
hoping to replace the large plate ,s
window this week.
Police are still somewhat baffled by a
second, accident which occurred on Main
Street South on Thursday.
Samuel Fehr, of Lot 16. Con.17, McKillop
TownsirffiNas dri ving past the Optimist
park when a large St. Bernard dog ran in
front of his vehicle.
Mr. Fehr tried to stop his car but still
struck the animal. Damage to the Fehr
vehicle is estimated at close to $400.
Seaforth police tried to find the dog both
Thursday evening at the time of the accident
and again on Friday morning. However, the
search failed to turn up any sign of the dog,
which police assumed was injured in the
accident, •
.14
Celebrate Christmas with us
ghe liuron 94kfmosittor
Inside this week
Walton library may close P. 9
Santa I tried to be good P.la
Huron road opening P.6a
Turkeys year round P 9a
Bank of Commerce 100 years ' P.11a