Loading...
Times-Advocate, 1980-05-07, Page 1Price Per Copy 35 Cents .One Hundred and Seventh Year EXETER, ONTARIO, MAY 7, 1980 .3" Mho VOC & North Lambton Since 1873 Serving South Huron, North Middlesex "'":"*7;w• wp-vr)•., Huron education taxes u "We do not earn and I would secretary to Much of the almost $2 million increase is blamed on inflation and declining enrolment which sub- sequently resulted in less provincial biggest gr ants. Theportion of the budget goes to teaching instruction where the board has set aside $18,637,191 an increase of 8.1 percent over the 1979 allocation. The budget tendered lengthy debate and much of it centered on the provision cutting the board members honorariums by $600 to $3,000 a year, Trustee Dave Gower suggested the move was' necessary in reducing costs. "We shouldn't get emotional about the cuts but we better start looking at long term ramifications," he said. "We haven't done any long range planning and political aspirations aside, the board has to look at school closings to reduce the budget, The honorariunls is just one step in cutting back," Trustee John Elliott argued that board members spend a good deal of time away from their jobs and added that he attended over 100 meetings a year as chairman of the board. . "Now the budget com- mittee says we are not worth the money and I think they are over-reacting," he said. "You've skrimped and embarassed the trustees and at the same time reduced supplies and services• that hurt the students. Elliott was concerned about a 14.5 percent reduction in the education services and supplies budget. He maintained that cuts in that area would only cripple the eduCation system. "We stress impact to the taxpayer and not the student," he claimed. John Henderson refuted Elliott's arguments about application for the minor variance and proposed construction over the OWRC easement for the sanitary sewer line on the property. The hearing will be held on Thursday, May 15 at 8:15 p.m. in the municipal building. Veri's firm presently owns all the buildings located The taxpayer of Huron County will face a 14,65. percent increase in public school education taxes this. year.- The Huron. Cotinty Board of Education approved its For the second time in a menth, Exeter is without the services of a building in- spector. Doug Triebner, who has resigned three times, quit 'the position on April 25 and the man who was named two weeks ago as his intended replacement resigned before Layoff hits 43 at, DIR, Dashwood Industries of Centralia have laid off 43 production workers. The layoffs which took place Friday, are a result of poor market conditions for the company's products, a spokesman said. The layoffs are expected to last until the end of the month. • In conjunction with the cut-backs the company has gone to a four day work week for the firm's remaining 234 production' employees. If the firm had not gone to the shortened work week week which could also end in a month's time another 60 workers ,would have been laid off, the spokesman said. Company officials were optimistic that the lowering of the interest rates would result in more housing starts and in turn, an improved market for the company's products. Exeter council will oppose a plan by developer Len Veri (Landrush Inc.) to build a mini-mall in the area behind the stores between Simp- son's Sears and Gerrard's on Main Street. The firm proposes to build a 6,600 square foot mall behind that area with a further 800 square feet he even started. Brian Johnston indicated that he would not accept the position at the approved starting salary of $10,500. Council decided to re- advertise the position this week, but at the suggestion of Mayor Derry Boyle, agreed to hold discussion of the matter in a closed session following Monday's regular meeting. He suggested members would have to decide what price range,. -theY. willing to pay and advertise that fact so there would be no further misunderstandings. Triebner gave no reasons for changing his mind again about the job. He had agreed to resume the position at an hourly rate of $7.50, but quit four days after agreeing to work with Johnston until he became familiar with the duties involved. Boyle indicated there was some urgency in • hiring a replacement because there were five or six building permit applications on hand and people were being held up on their projects because there was no one to approve permits. During April, permits valued at $264,000 were approved by Triebner, the major one being for $190,000 worth of renovations at South Huron Hospital. No new construction was in- cluded in the permits, an unusual situation for April. behind Livingstone's and Simpson's Sears. An application has been presented to the committee of adjustment for a minor variance to eliminate the rear-yard setback as required in the zoning bylaw. The roads and drains committee recommended that council object to the the honoriarium decrease claiming the board has to set examples. "If we aren't willing to take a cut then how can we talk about decreasing the budget," he said. "If you Exeter council moved into the realm of international politics this week by sup- porting a resolution presented by Councillor Jay Campbell which urges the federal government to ex- press their disgust to the Russian government over the atrocities taking place in Afghanistan. Campbell said he was almost physically sick after reading that Russian soldiers had killed 60 school girls in an Afghanistan town recently. He said the Soviets should be challenged to explain why their "brave soldiers" found it necessary to kill school children. The local council member said it was time other nations stood up to back After three years of trying, Police Chief Ted Day has finally convinced Exeter council of the need to add can't accept that, well, it's your decision," Elliott said his. complaint was that the hoard nickeled and Rimed the budget and services while greater. savings could be realized countries being victimized by the Russians rather than following the policy of merely saying, "That's their problem," as was done in the case of the Hungarians and Czechs. He expressed satisfaction at the fact Canada has decided to boycott the Moscow Olympics and that the National Hockey League players have refused to play "with: people who murder school children." While presenting the resolution, Campbell ad- mitted it probably wouldn't have any impact on the government in the U.S.S.R. However, Mayor Boyle said he had heard one com- mentator note that the Soviets were concerned with world opinion more than most .people would believe. opinion resulted in several voices of agreement from around the council table. Campbell explained that the early date for the public inspection had been set because people wanted to see the new facility due to its high profile. Mayor Boyle appeared a little miffed at ,the delay. "Do we even need an official opening?" he questioned. Later in the meeting, Reeve Don MacGregor said that Gregus Construction wanted to have the final inspection on the building this Thursday and Mayor Boyle indicated that former Rates boosted before turn tap While construction is now underway on the new water system for the police village of Dashwood, the rates to be paid by consumers have been increased, At a recent meeting of representatives of the townships of Stephen and Hay and the police village trustees, new rates were approved. In the original proposal, the residential flat rate was set at $92 per year. That has now risen to $101 per annum. The commercial rate will be $1.20 per 1,000 gallons with a minimum of $12 per month. All residents will be allowed until December 31, 1081 to hook-up to the new system. Stephen council will be passing a plumbing bylaw in the near future to cover the water system and Stephen will also be responsbile for all billing. "There is no comparison between this job and municipal one," Gower said, building inspector Doug Triebner had promised that he would conduct that in- spection. When MacGregor then indicated that the brick work at the police office would not be cleaned until Saturday, Boyle said there was no sense in holding the final inspection because Triebner would not give it the final okay if there was still work to be completed. There was a suggestion that the architect be asked to Please turn to page 2 Two vehicles roll same time A Crediton man suffered major injuries when his vehicle was one of two which rolled over in an unusual Ageident jus t,north-of .Huron Park on County Road 21, Thursday. John Ducharme and another driver, John Wilds, Huron Park, were both passing a third vehicle when their cars rolled over. Total damage was listed at $800 by Constable Jack Straughan. In another accident on Thursday, a vehicle driven by Howard Smale, Hensall, struck a fire hydrant on King Street in that community when a tire ' blew out. - Damage was estimated at $1,700 by Cpl. Dave Wood- ward. There was only, one other crash investigated by the Exeter OPP this week, it occurring on Tuesday when vehicles driven by Joan Cornish, Clinton and Douglas Dinsmore, RR 1 Zurich, collided on Highway 84 in Zurich. Constable Al Quinn investigated and set damage at $700. 1900 budget at a special meeting Thursday, en- dorsing expenditures of $25,452,768,, That represents an increase of 7,9 percent over the $23,503,850 spent by the board in 1979, COME TO THE CABARET — Kathy Giffin, David Sandilands and Marj Ritchie perform a scene from Cabaret in a dress rehearsal at South Huron Districh. High School. The students will be presenting the musical next week. T-A photo Town is without building inspector CONSERVATIVES NAME OFFICERS -- The executive of the Huron-Middlesex Progressive Conservative Asociation elected this year's slate of officers at the organization's annual dinner meeting held Friday in Exeter, Seated are secretary Doreen Strong of Seaforth; first vice president Gerry Ginn of Goderich township; president Bruce Shaw of Exeter; past president Bill Amos of Parkhill and treasurer Chris Little of Exeter. Standing are vice presidents Fred Dobbs of Biddulph township, Doug Murray of'Biddulph, Jim Hayter of Goderich, Ruth Hill of McGillivray township and Tom Jasper of Goderich.T-A photo No rear yard setback Council oppose development from Simpson's Sears through Gerrard's where the planned development 15 being considered. The notice of hearing in- formation also notes there is an overhead hydro line running approximately down the centre of the OWRC easement. Rattle sabres? another man to the police department. However, the reasons for adding an additional con- stable were apparently too delicate to be aired in public and the matter was discussed at a closed session prior to Monday's regular meeting. When the item appeared on the agenda later in the meeting, it was approved without comment. A third class constable will be hired, bringing the strength of the local department to six men. The addition was recommended by the police committee on a motion of Deputy-Reeve Harold Patterson and Councillor Jay Campbell. If the position proves as popular as that of the secretary which has also been added to the depart- ment, council may have a difficult task . picking the winning candidate. It was revealed this Week that 78 people have applied for the secretary's position. Mayor Derry Boyle. and Chief Day will screen the applicants and will interview their final selections some time this month. The new police office is nearing completion, but an official opening that had been set for May 21 was delayed on the request of Chief Day. He suggested the date be set for July so the landscaping could be completed and the office on Sanders St. completely operational before it is viewed by the public. Councillor Ted Wright backed the suggestion to delay the opening. "I said from the word go we were rushing this through too soon," he commented. 1E8 with co-operative busing. Henderson explained that there is the same amount of money allotted to each student in services but declining enrolment has forced the budgeted figure downward. Herb Turkheim claimed a cut in trustee pay was a bad move and suggested that trustees who only attend a few meetings could donate some of their money. He later added that trustees perhaps, should have $50 or $100 taken from their pay for missed meetings. Elliott said the reduction in honorariums was not important but that the principle was. "I am prepared for the reduction and further reductions of the money is used in supplies and ser- vices," he said. "Give the money back to the students." Elliott claimed that most municipal employees in the county have recieved in- creases this year and in- sisted the board's cut in pay was a move just to suit the taxpayer. Gower charged that board of education trustees don't do near the work of municipal councillors. ,6.4•4 RANKS DEPLETED — Only six veterans of World War 1 were able to attend the 50th anniversary banquet of the R. E. Pooley branch Wednesday. Several others who helped form the branch 50 years ago* are in hospital or confined to their homes due to illness. Provincial president Ric Collins, left, made a special presentation to the six, who are from the left: Reg Knight, N.orm Norry, George Inglis, Joe White and Ted Pooley. Seated is Sylvannus Cann. Staff photo Approve extra policeman the 83,690 like the prepare number (on the number Of meetings trustees attend)." Please ttirn to page ,3 Veterans receive plaques, plaudits In their 50-year history, the R.E. Pooley branch Legion have extended and renovated the hall on several occasions, but following their banquet to com- memorate their half century the members may have to consider • another addition. It may be necessary to find enough space to hang the various plaques and gifts received at the Wednesday night event which attracted over 325 to the South Huron rec centre. Plaques commending the Legion on their service to their members and com- munity were received from the federal, provincial and municipal governments as well as Provincial Com- mand, The Legion Auxiliary members presented them with a wall clock and two floral urns. While flowery praise for the branch members' work in the past 50 years con- stituted the main thrust of the various speakers, Provincial president Ric Collins did touch on a couple of contentious issues in his address. He expressed some chagrin that Huron-Bruce MP Murray Cardiff left the event early and couldn't hear his comments on the need for changes in veterans' pensions. While agreeing that Canadian veterans had the best pension plan in the world, he said they were not satisfied in the matter of those pensions not con- tinuing on for the benefit of the veterans' widows. He said members' wives should continue to derive benefits after the death of their husbands "and we re going to see that she gets it". Collins also remarked on the subject of national unity, saying that the Legion members wanted Canada to remain .one .country from coast to coast. "We're going to do our darndest to see that it does," he added, but made no further comments on the topic. After bringing greetings from the 170,000 members he represents, the Toronto man outlined some of the work of the Legion on a provincial Please turn to page 2 Want $10,000 for sidewalks An expenditure of $10,000 for sidewalk construction is being considered by Exeter council this year. Roads and drains com- mittee chairman Ted- Wright made the recommendation this week, noting that one possible area for new sidewalks is on the north side of Sanders between William and Carling. He said this walk serves the new apartments on Carling Street and is used by many senior citizens. The committee also succeeded in having council support a resolution from Ottawa-Carleton which calls on the provincial govern- ment to undertake an educational program to enlighten motorists on the new symbolic traffic signs now being used in Ontario. AT SENIOR ZONE MEETING — Charles Martene and Ross Love of Dashwood welcome Ted Chambers, secretary of the Exeter club to Wednesday's meeting of Zone 8 of the United Senior Citizens of Ontario. T-A photo LEGION AWARDS — The R. E. Pooley branch Legion received many special plaques com- memorating their 50th anniversary during a banquet at the rec centre, Wednesday. Presi- dent Lee Webber is shown looking over the plaques presented by Exeter Mayor Derry Boyle and Huron-Middlesex MPP Jack Riddell. Federal MP Murray Cardiff also made a presentation. Staff photo '1