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Times Advocate, 1994-02-16, Page 1SEIP'S valu-mart 4 & 83 Exeter 235-0262 Check our Wholesale Club Pack Section Large sizes - Large uvings Set ing South Huron North Middlesex tip L:unhton Since 1873 Wetin<•',tl:+, February 16. 1994 rsss sly s� ss s� s� s� ▪ SUBSCRIBE! ▪ It you aren't subscribing to The II 1 Times -Advocate, you're missing out. Use the coupon below and ' subscribe today! 1 Name: 1 Address City 1 Prov. 1 1 1 1 Postal Code SUBSCRIPTION RATES: Canada 1 Within 40 miles - (65 km) addressed to non letter carrier addresses $30.00 plus $2.10 G.S.T. ▪ Outside 40 miles - (65 km) or any letter I carrier address $60.00 + $4.20 G.S.T. Outside Canada -$99.00 tm ses w waive) 1 USE YOUR CREDIT CARD 1 00000000 1 00000000 Card No. 1 Expiry Date 1 U Visa 0 Master Card 1 1 1 0 Cheque enclosed Return to; TIMES ADVOCATE ` 24 Main St. Exeter, Ont. NOM 1S6, sats ass NM IMO INN ars 1 Inside Air Show Sponsorship a hard sell page 5 Green team McGillivray students focus on environment page 10 Winter blahs? K -W fights back page 11 Carnival Grand Bend wraps up festival page 17 BB gun vandal damages $400 in arena lights EXETER - Once again a vandal with a BB or pellet gun struck in Zurich, report the Exeter OPP. On February 7, an employee of the Zurich PUC reported to police that several lights at the village are- na had been shot out with some kind of air gun. Also damaged was a hydro meter. Total damage is es- timated at about $400. The OPP are also investigating damage to a 1984 Oldsmobile that was parked in the laneway of a Hu- ron St. home in Exeter. The car's paint was scratched with a sharp ob- ject, causing considerable damage the night of February 9. Another vehicle, a black 1983 Chevrolet Camaro belonging to an Exeter man was parked at the South Huron Recreation Centre between 6 and 7:30 p.m. Friday. When the owner returned he found collision damage to the left rear corner and side panel. Anyone with information about the above incidents is asked to con- tact the OPP at 235-1300 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-265-1777. Enjoying the activities at the Hensall Public School Winter Camival Friday were Jenna Dayman (front), Miranda Knight, and Kari Reid. More photos from the school's events are on page 8. County council price tag over $220,000 in `93 GODERICH - Huron County Council paid itself $220,392 in 1993 in stipends and expenses for councillors, appointees, and the warden. Total remuneration, including ex- penses for conventions and other costs, ranged between $2,423.60 and 512,702.47 for the 31 county councillors, depending on the num- ber of committee meetings they at- tended and travel. Local representatives at the county level include Exeter's Bill Mickle and Lossy Fuller, who re- ceived $4,931.04 and 58,200.46 re- spectively in total remuneration. From Usborne Township, Pat Down was paid 55,473.02 for her duties as a county councillor. Other councillors include Stephen Town- ship's Bill Weber (55,164.36), Hay Township's Lionel Wilder ($2,423.60, the lowest) and Murray Keys (55,001.70), Tuckersmith Township's Bill Carnochan (53,362.35), and Stanley Town- ship's Howard Armstrong (53,666.00) and Jack Coleman ($4,301.56). The representatives from the Vil- lage of Zurich is Bob Fisher (57,714.40), and from the Village of Hensall is Cecil Pepper (52,558.22). Stephen Township reeve Tom Tomes served full-time as Huron County warden in 1993, and was paid a total of $43,825.94 for his services, including 55,803.22 in expenses. SEIP'$' 1 valu-ma4 1 & 83 Exeter 235-0261f SAVE 50¢ on any 1 P.C. or No Name Club 1 1 Pack item 1 ell sle2t_--'3 H t. + 6( G 5.r , 90 cents 44 union employees await contract Not much room to give on Community Living contract, agree both negotiators By Adrian Harte T -A Editor PASHWOOD - Contract negoti- at4ons between Community Living South Huron and unionized em- ployees have reached an impasse, add it is not clear if there is enough room to make a deal in coming weeks. "We kind of hit a roadblock," said executive director John Gray, referring to a January 26 memoran- dum of agreement that was rejected by the majority of the 44 employ- ees represented by CUPE local 2597. Cord Allan, national representa- tive of the Canadian Union for Public Employees admitted the main obstacle in the agreement for the workers who care for many of the area's mentally handicapped was wages. With a freeze on salaries still in effect "financially there wasn't a great deal being offered," agreed Gray. Both sides recognize that there isn't much leeway in the budgets of Ontario's Community 'Living or- ganizations, all of which are hard hit by provincial restraint programs. Allan said he is hoping another meeting can be arranged with CLSH management to try and ham- mer out a more agreeable contract. "What will happen at that meet- ing, I don't know," he said. "I don't know if there's room to move." Gray echoed those sentiments, and re- ferred to a decline of $66,000 in govern- ment funding of the agency by 1995 on a budget of $1.7 million. He also referred to in- creasing costs such as Workers Compensa- tion premiums slated to rise from $5,000 to $22,000 a year. "It's tough on both sides," said Gray. "The legislation allows them to come and bargain, but they're coming to bargain with an employer who has less money than last year. There's nothing there to really of- fer." Allan said that while the Social Contract does affect the Community Living sector, most employees at the Dashwood agency earn Tess than the $30,000 "low-income" target es- tablished by the province, "so at least there's an opportunity for these people to advance on their salaries." Allan said a pay freeze at CLSH for the past two years has left them with wages below those of their counter- parts at other agen- cies. "They're just really frustrated," said Allan. Still, he acknowl- edges the Social Con- tract's goal to hold, or cut public sector sala- ries is not helping his negotiations. While he used to support the NDP's political campaigns, last year's Social Contract changed all that. "I don't support them any more...I'm actively working against them," he said. New technology centre set for fall 1994 CLINTON - After much discussion, the Huron County Board of Education has agreed to set up a new technology centre at Central Huron Secondary School in Clinton. The centre will house revamped design and technolo- gy courses for Grade 7 and 8 students across the county. Dubbed the Technology 21 centre, it will take the place of the four centres in Huron County presently of- fering family studigikrie igt d tecknoIogy programs. Superintendent Arnold Mathers said it costs the board 5432,000 for the eight teachers to administer the programs and 565,000 in bussing at the present time. The new centre is expected to cost the board less as it saves on bussing expenses and reduces the number of teachers required for the courses. But Trustee Allan Carter felt the decision to central- ize the program was irresponsible. "The students at the southern tip of the county would be spending up to four hours on the bus, including the time from home to school, then to the design centre," he said. Other trustees felt the restructured program and new location would be a breath of life into what was be- coming a stale program. "It's a ghat way to get the kids excited about design and technology," said trustee !simian Pickell of the changes. "It is by far the best way to continue to make the pro- gram available to all students, co_ nsidering the finan- cial restraints," Pickell said. Sponsors for most gardens expected by April Lions claim MacNaughton gardens can start this year EXETER - Plans to beautify the southwest corner of MacNaughton Park are progressing well. John Stephens, a member of the Exeter Lions Club and a proponent of the project, told council last week that three out of the nine separate gardens have received financial commitments, and two more have interested buyers. Stephens said the Lioness Club are purchasing one garden for $4,350, Gary Bean is purchasing an- other for $5,460, and the Business Association has agreed to support the garden closest to Main Street for 59,900. "There is progress being made. We will have the money by March 31," said Stephens. "So do you have one reserved for council?" asked mayor Bruce Shaw. "That's why I'm here tonight," said Stephens, but countered by saying he would like to see the two plaques presently in the park moved into the gar- dens, beside the BIA plot. One plaque commemorates the founding of Exet- er, and the other is in memory of Charlie Mac - Naughton. "It's going to cost money to get them there, we see them as town property," said Stephens. Stephens presented three proposals, but said his preference is to see each plaque raised on a stone plinth, costing 51,800 for one, and 51,500 for the other. "We would like to see those two plaques in a very prominent place," said Stephens, adding that the metal posts presently supporting the plaques "would not fit in at all with the rest of the park". "I think it's a reasonable thing to say is that town council will be looking after the two plaques," Shaw promised Stephens, and said the project would be incorporated in the town's budget plans. Stephens told council that he has potential buyers in mind for most of the park's gardens, including the central garden that will require installing several tonnes of huge boulders. While estimated costs are high, he said, the buyers of the gardens may be able to realize savings through donated labour, materials, or even by combing their individual projects for ten- der. Grand Bend backing Economic Development Officer idea By Fred Groves T -A staff GRAND BEND - Anyone looking for fireworks Monday night had to settle for a low -burning flame. While information encouraging local business people to say no to a pro- posed Economic Development Officer was plastered all over the \village during the weekend, it seems the business community is in favour of an EDO. About 25 people attended a public meeting in the Grand Bend Council chambers on Monday and once they left, most seemed willing to listen about more information. "The volume of people in town during the summer months has gone down. You need someone to promote the town and get the people back," said Kyle Harrison of the Barefoot Pedlar. The idea of an EDO originally started with the Grand Bend and Area Chamber of Commerce about two years ago and since then, the Chamber, along with village council, has worked on a plan which would see the EDO work on a three-year contract basis. While the village Is a very popular community during the months of July and August, it's a full-time attraction that businesses are looking for. "We can do better. We can do more if we promote ourselves," said coun- cillor Cam Ivey. "If we (council) try to promote on your behalf we don't do a very good job," he admitted. Randi Ivey, past president of the Chamber, is one of the people who drafted the EDO job description and she said wages for the newly -created position would come partially through the 5125 chamber membership as well as 550 per business the first year. "It's to promote and advertise Grand Bend," she said. "We need someone on a pan -time basis but full-time during the key times." The Chamber recently sent out 170 questionnaires asking local business- es for their input. However, according to president Kevin Poole, only 11 were returned. There were also two turned into the municipal office. But as pointed out by Susan Roche of Finnegans, those questionnaires arrived just before the start of the very busy Winter Carnival. Grand Bend council and the Chamber have already been in contact with the provincial government and they are hoping for a Jobs Ontario grant which will provide 75 percent of the funding for the EDO the first year, followed by 50 and 25 the next two years. Negative attitudes: An unknown person or persons in the village calling itself HAT (Hold all Taxes Coalition), put up flyers all over the communi- ty on the weekend. The flyers took a negative approach towards the EDO and suggested that in'the past, council has harassed anyone has tried to better Grand Bend. Although council does not know who Put the flyers up on poles, vacant store fronts and private businesses, they do have a pretty good idea who it was. No one came forward Monday to admit to distributing the flyers. in the fall, council got a business licensing bylaw to a second reading but after it was squashed, the proposed 550 fee per business which would go towards the EDO has taken its place. "The proposed business license is dead. Fees collected will be for pro- moting Grand Bend only," said mayor Tom Lawson. Councillor Bill Uniac said an EDO would be able to free council up from having to promote the village. Councillor Phil Maguire suggested that all groups, such as the Winter Carnival and the Fish Derby become in- volved. "If we did get an Economic Development Officer, all the businesses would benefit," said Maguire. "This is our town, we have to make it work but first we have to have commitment," he added. Maguire used the local theatre to show that businesses in Grand Bend are capable of growing. "The Huron Country Playhouse is expanding their season and so should we. They're looking into the future." The Chamber of Commerce is having a meeiing on March 8 and that's when Poole says business people can come and discuss the proposal. He said he would be contacting other communities such as Stratford and Niagara -on -the -Lake to see how beneficial their EDOs' are.