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Times-Advocate, 1985-01-16, Page 3YOUNG SLIDERS Trying their hand at sliding down the hills at Morrison Dam Sunday afternoon were Scott Bart and Todd Adair. Employment terms set for secondary teachers The Huron County Board of Educ- tion has set the terms of employment for its secondary school teachers. The terms for the over 200 teachers were approved at the board's January meeting and presented to the teachers on January 11. Although no collective agreement has been reached, the terms of employment set down the teachers working conditions until a collective agreement is negotiated. "The terms are consistent with items agreed to in negotiations plus the major recommendations in the fact-finding report. These recommen- dations included a monetary increase of four percent on the salary grid plus increment. This increase is identical to agreements negotiated with other teacher groupsuand alt other employee groups, states a memo from school board chairman Eugene Frayne. The other major change in the pro- vision of an additional halftime special education teacher at Seaforth District Itigh School. 'There have [wen teaching positions for special education in Huron's high schools. and now the number will increase to five. "This commitment is an increase and replaces the existing special education complement. The terms of employment have also clarified ex- isting roles and workable procedures for the anocaraoworsrazr ana tin mer+ improvement plan," states the chair- man's memo. Teacher negotiator Shirley Weary of Goderich said the teachers are go- ing through the terms of employment document i it's 40 -pages in length before they make any decisions on how they'll react. "We do not negotiate in the press." said Mrs. Weary. "Negotiations take place across the table. not in the media. Mayix! the board wants to work that way but we don't work that way.,. Mrs. Weary said the teachers were instructed by the high school prin- cipals to be at the January 11 meeting. At least one representative from each school as well as some trustees were in attendance at the meeting. Besides the memo and a copy of the terms of employment document. the teachers also received a cheque •'which reflects the increase in salary from September to December minus the required deductions." The teachers' negotiator said as far as she knows the teachers are cashing the cheques and no collective action is being taken in regards to the terns of employment. "This has antagonized the teachers unnecessarily," said Mrs. Weary. however she was optimistic that even- tually a collective agreement will he signed. This isn't the first time the board has set down the terms of employ- ment for its secondary school teachers. Three years ago. in January of 1982 the hoard set down the terms of employment for the 1981-82 school year. Later that year. a hyo -year col- lective agreement was signed effec- tive September 1981 to Aug. 198:3. The 1983-84 collective agreement fell under the provincial control year and teachers automatically had a five percentincrease. The terms of employment come after the fact finder's report has been public for 60 days. The secondary also had mediation. The total secondary school teachers compensation package in the terms of employment will cost $10.5 million in- cluding salaries and benefits. On the salary grid. the lowest salary is $19.860 and the highest salary is $44.120. The average teacher's salary is $41.3011. Responsibility allowances range from $1.5:,0 to $4.440 and extra degree allowances range from $550 for a BA to $1.100 for a doctoral degree. Vice -principals' salaries range from $48,010 to $52,000 and principals' salaries range from $55.000 to $59.000. Timbrell is favoured by district delegates While Frank Miller is the apparent leader in the race to replace Ontario Premier William Davis. he's not gel ting much support yet from Pro- gressive Conservative delegates in Iluron and Perth. Agriculture Minister Dennis Tim - brell enjoys the most support from this area. getting the nod from eight of the 20 delegates in the two ridings A survey conducted this week by the Bluewaler Regional Newspaper Network. of which this newpaper is a member. indicates That nut of 211 delegates. seven are uncommitted or wouldn't say for whom they are voting. The Ontario Tories will be electing a replacement for Premier Davis at a leadership convention .tan. 24. 25 and 26 in Toronto Premier Davis announced in Oc- tober that his is resigning as head of the Ontario Progressive ('onsei't'at 1 ves. Seeking to replace the premier are Larry Grossman. Roy Mceurtry. Frank Miller and Timbrell. The only other candidate who runs close to Timbrell in the I3KNN poll is Grossman with four committed delegates. Miller is only supported by one of the 20 delegates and McCurtry received no support from committed delegates. The delegates polled represent the f'rogressive Conservatives in the pro- vincial ridings of Perth and Ituron- Middlesex. Individually the ridings show dif- ferent results. in Perth. lour delegates indicated Ihey will support Grossman while Timbrell got commitments from three delegates. In I luron-Middlesex. five delegates supported Timbrell with the only other committed delegate for Miller. At Rec Centre January 31 Times -Advocate. January 16, 1985 Page 3 Citizens get chanes to discuss zoning Increased commercial and in- dustrial zoning are two of the major proposals to be discussed at a public meeting concerning changes to Ex- eter's official. plan and zoning bylaws on January 31. Many other amendments will be presented for discussion although the expansion of the commercial and in- dustrial zoning will have ramifica- tions for the largest number of local citizens. The meeting will to held at the South Huron Recreation Centre, on Victoria Street, at 7:30 p.m. it will be :i chance for Exeter residents to discuss the direction future town development should take, and hear the results of the planning board's research and their recommendations. Brian Johnston, Exeter zoning ad- ministrator, says that so far reaction to the changes has all been favorable. "I've had many people come in and complement us on what we're doing," Johnston says. The changes ijrere advertised in the Times -Advocate recently. marked on town maps. The new zoning calls for William and Andrew Streets to be commer- cially zoned. and commercial zoning will also expand along Main Street. French Immersion may become available French Immersion for Grade 7 and McQuail said French immersion in 8 students may be available in Huron Grade 7 and 8 builds on the skills County schools. already being used by Huron county After months of study the Iluron students in Grade 3 to 6 in Core County Board of Education's ad hoc French. committee on French Immersion "It builds on what the system has made its recommendations at the already invested," he said. The school board's January meeting. No trustee also said t 'le -c is have - decision on commendations will—beer-81 entifield, late immersion could made until the board's Feb. 4 provide access to the French Immer- meeting. sion concept in the most cost effective Committee chairman Tonythe manner. McQuail. KK 1 Lucknow, said Another issue considered by the committee is proposing the board committee is the "universal ac,, cessibitity" across the county. In- stead of just having a French Immer- sion class in Goderich. because that is where the request for such a project has come from, classes could be in other Huron towns. Goderich trustee Dorothy Wallace poked holes in the committee report noting that the board's gross cost on- ly was included with no consideration of what the board's real cost would be after grant money. "R looks like the worst possible pic- ture was presented, said Mrs. Wallace. McQuail agreed that the report does make French Immersion, in any option, look like an "add-on" subject. It is anticipated though. he said, that late immersion will not have net costs to the board. Mrs. Wallace also criticised the report for making universal availability a prime concern. "Education across the province is not equal." she said. The trustee said there is interest for an early French Immersion program in Goderich and just.because that in- terest isn't in other towns doesn't mean Goderich shouldn't have the program: • While Mrs. Wallace did say that French Immersion in Grade 7 and 8 is better than no French Immersion. aloud if students at that age would take suc a program. "I wonder if the committee took in- to consideration that at that age students are subject to peer pressure," she said anticipating that "anti -French" sentiment might lead to low enrolment. McQuail said that would put the debate in the home instead of having the school board deciding. The other options considered by the .committee include early French Im- mersion as a three-year pilot project with the Huron -Perth Roman Catholic Separate School Board, a "Goderich only" Kindergarten immersion pro- gram and a Kindergarten to Grade 2 program in the county towns. The school hoard will debate and decide tha issue on Monday. February 4. establish criteria for a late i Grade 7 . and 8► French Immersion program. The recommendation was one of six options considered by the committee. McQuail .admitted that while the recommendations would not satisfy everyone, 70 percent -of the commit- tee supported them. Trustees as well as five members of the community are on the committee. The option calls for setting up a late French inunersion program in Goderich. Exeter. Clinton and Wingharrr. Estimated costs include $12,000 for textbooks, $4,800 for library material and $80,000 for two teaching positions. No consideration was given for the amount of provincial grant available which would offset these costs. Building down in Stanley area New building and renovation of ex- isting structures took a drop in Stanley Township in 1984. Council learned at their January 7 meeting that only 50.building permits were,issued in 1984. amounting to a dollar value of $636,000. Of those, six were for new homes, 16 were for commercial garages and 28 permits were for addition or repair wok The 1984 figures marked a decrease in building in the township since 1983. In that year 38 building permits were ' issued at a total dollar value of $1,551.000. Clerk Mel Graham pointed out that, the 1983 figures also included the $600,000 value for the new township complex. Explaining the decline in permits. Clerk (raham sairl that in past years many farm implement sheds were built. These being completed in recent years, building permits have lowered. In other business. council learned that tax arrears amount to $44,000. Clerk Graham noted, "That's as good or better than last year." A bylaw was passed to borrow up to $700,000 to pay for ongoing ex- penses until taxes are collected. An interim tax collection of 134 milts was approved by council. Taxes will be due. March 15. Council agreed to have engineering reports done on two municipal drains. George Troyer requested repairs on the Stanley -Bigg Drain and Baskin and Hodgins were named as engineers. Councillor Howard Arm- strong was named commissioner. to act as a liaison between the engineers, Mr. Troyer and council. James Wright requested clean out and repair of the !food Drain. Dawson and Johnston were appointed engineers and Councillor Jack Col- eman was named commissioner. ('ouncil also approved two tile drainage loans. amounting to $17.300. Three donations were made at the January meeting to: Children's Hospital, London. $125: Salvation Ar- my. $125: Bayfield Agricultural Socie- ty, $100. Membership to the Associa- tion of Municipalities of Ontario. of $322, was also paid. Up four percent Four percent will be the 1985 budget increases guide for the Huron Coun- ty Board of Education. At its first meeting of the new year. the school board set the guidelines so work can ,get started on the 1985 budget. r The board noted that if there are proposals calling for more than a four percent increase, there has to he a corresponding cutback elsewhere in the budget. Similar action was taken last year to limit spending. Some of the projects to be con- sidered in budget deliberations in- clude French immersion. computers. the implementation of further technical education, extending rnusic instruction at both elementary dn) secondary schools and extending family studies and industrial art to all elementary schools. "This will give the commercial area room to grow," explained Dorothy Chapman. a member of the Plaoning Advisory Committee. The industrial zone expansion is part of a plan to attract new industry to the area. Having a plan means that when servicing is done. it can be put in industrial grade at the correct locations. With the recent expansion of the sewer lagoons, the town is ready tor more development. "We see this town potentially expanding from 3.800 up to 6,000 people.' says Johnston. "Of course we're looking ahead a long way," Chapman added. "We don't ex- pect that Main Street will suddenly burst full of stores." Other changes to be discussed at the meeting are mostly "a matter of rounding off the edges we've found over the past five years," according to Johnston. Each municipality is obligated by the province to review its official plan and zoning bylaws every five years. to keep it current. Here are some of the most noteworthy ones: - -Group homes ave been officially defined and provided for. Exeter cur- rently has three group homes. all facilities for adults with mental handicaps. There -will be rules. esta blished. f or businesses that do equipment rentals and sales. An example would he a video movie store. Mixed commercial and industrial outlets will be regulated. An example would be a store where furniture was refinished at the back and sold at the front. Home occupations will be more closely monitored From now on, owners o[ home businesses will have ' to fill out an application form. A planting strip or a fence will be required as a divider by businesses opening in areas that were previous- ly residential, or at zone boundaries. There will be an expiry date for a discontinued non-contortning use of 24 months. If a business has been clos- ed for more than two years. and that business is in an area that is now zon- ed residential. there can no longer be a business in that location. Or if a home located in a commercial area is vacant for hyo years. the site will become commercial only_ The group commercial mall i where Zehrs is located P will he allowed to contain several additional types of businesses. F:xarnples are a fast food outlet. a travel agency. a photography •studio. or a book and record shop. }tome owners can now enclose their porches if they so desire under less stringent setback requirenien Johnston says these proposed changes are an attempt to decrease the atnount of minor variance ap- plications his (Alice has to deal with. More detailed information on these and the other zoning bylaw changes can be had at the municipal office. Johnston and Chapman would both like to see a good turnout at the meeting. 11 will be very informal. and coffee and donuts will be served. OFF TO ORILLiA - Jim Gage and Lorry Smith will be representing the Lucan Bowling Lanes in the Walker's Special Old high -low regional doubles tournament in Orillia on February 2. They won a zone event Sunday by bowling 21 over their averages. T -A photo es REACHES CANADIAN FINALS Tom Dobinson of the Birr area and ❑ representative of the Luton Bowling Lanes won the Seagram's league executive provincial bowling championship in London Satur- day and will represent Ontario in the Ontario finals in Vancouver on March 2. Above, he is being congratulated by Lucan Lanes owner Don Watt. T -A photo Lucan bowlers cash in Five pin bowlers from the Lucan Lanes are enjoying excellent success in regional and provincial competitions. A few weeks ago. Tom Robinson won a local tournament and qualified to take part in a provincial competition. Saturday. he won the Seagram's league executive provincial cham- pionship and will he flying to Van couver to represent Ontario in the Na tional finals on March 2 The wanner of the nationals will win a trip for Iwo to any place that ('1' Au-. flies. For winning the provincials in London Tom and his wife Rose will be enjoying a flight and holiday- lo Florida next November In zone tinaIS Sunday in Lucan. ,fun Gage and Larry Smith won the Walker's Special Old high -low doubles tournament They will he travelling lo Orillia ori February 2 to cnngx'te in the regional finals TRANSFORMATION -- The two-storey portion of Darling's IGA building was quickly turned into o parking lot on the weekend. Heavy machinery attacked the structure late Saturday night and by mid-ofternoon on Sunday the lot vipos levelled and ready for Parking beside the store which has been expanded through an addition on the north side.