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Times-Advocate, 1983-10-19, Page 1QUALITY CIIR"`TURE `x "1 X m :j rp F .8,41 sits L43-1964 May Instltute user f.. systeni unless neighbors up res grnts Exeter council agreed this week to start working out ar- rangements with the South Huron rec centre board of management to initiate a user .fee system in view of the lack ,pf response from area municipalities to assume a more equitable share of the rec boards' deficit. ► The motion adopting a recommendation from the ex- ecutive committee appears to leave the door open for area municipalities to come up with increased grants before a user fee system is adopted. }Studies undertaken of the participants in local recrea- tion programs have shown that Exeter pays a dispropor- tionate share of the deficit, DONOR SIGNS UP — Azmina Merani registers with volunteer helper Pat O'Connor of the Nomads at Wednesday's blood donor clinic at South Huron District High School. T -A photo Some apprehension over loitering bylaw Steps were taken this week by Exeter council to pass a bylaw to prohibit loitering in town, but even the member presenting the bylaw is un- sure that it should be passed in its present form. Police committee chairman Gaylan Josephson said he "had a great deal of trepida- tion" over such a bylaw after it was given two readings, Monday. Noting that the bylaw would make it illegal for two or three people to stop and talk on the sidewalk, Josephson ,,aid that was • situation that prompted h. a to suggest the b� law not be given a third and final reading until it is con- sidered further by council members. The bylaw was presented in response to a suggestion from the Business Improvement Area, whose members have expressed concern over the amount of vandalism evident in the town. The bylaw would prohibit a person or persons to loiter or loaf on the streets, public foot- paths, highways, sidewalks, or parking lots of the community. The bylaw would provide Try again for grants The Huron -Perth Separate School Board will submit its $1.5 million building proposal to the Canada Works program. While the board approved applying for $700,000 in grants for additions to five schools within the system• at its Oc- tober 11 meeing, trustees agreed they would accept ap- proval of less than the full five projects. The projects involve the ad- dition of small- gymnasiums at Precious Blood School in Exeter, St. Joseph's School in Clinton. St. Boniface School in Zurich, Sacred Iieart School, - Wingham and St. Ambrose in Stratford. The board will be submit- ting the proposal to the new- ly established Canada Works program sponsored by the Employment Development Branch of the federal Ministry of Employment and immigration. in other business. the board: Officially approved the use of the logo which has ben unofficially used by the system for a number of years: Awarded the fuel contract to Sun Oil for the period from October 1 to September 30, 1984. The furnace oil for all schools in the system will be supplied at 25.05 cents per litre and , the gasoline for school buses at St. Marys School in Hesson will be sup- plied at 41.2 cents per Titre. for fines of up to $200 for peo- ple convicted of crowding or jostling other foot -passengers on the streets as well as for congregating or standing in a group or near to each other. No person would be allow- ed to loiter. or prowl in any town park after 10:00 p.m. Councillor Bill Rose wondered if such a bylaw would contravene the right to free assembly under Canada's new charter of rights, and he was told by Mayor Bruce Shaw that the bylaw appeared to be in order in that regard. Josephson said the bylaw enforcement would be at the discr, tion of those who have to enforce it. Reeve Bill Mickle claimed the local police officers would have to show themselves more visibly on Main St. than presently to catch loiterers and added that if the police were more visible there at present such a bylaw would not have been required. Council will consider the final reading at a future tneeting. - but efforts to have area municipalities increase their assistance have proven futile in most instances. "One way or the other, the other municipalities will in- crease their share," Mayor Bruce Shaw commented at Monday's session of council when the plan to consider a Rec centre's revenue dips Revenue from the arena portion of the South Huron rec centre is a concern for members of the board of management. Meeting this week, the members learned that ice rental is well below budget and attendance at roller skating this season was also below expectations. Revenue to date for ice ren- tal has been $20,305, com- pared to a budget estimate of $42,000. The roller skating revenue this year hit only $5,155 for a profit of $3,512, compared to last year's revenue of $7,769 and profit of $5,069. Ideal summer weather con- ditions probably hurt the roller skating program as area skaters moved to the outdoor rink at Grand Bend with few inclement nights to keep them indoors at the rec centre. The report on the swimm- ing pool indicated figures similar to last year. Revenue was $13,760.07 and the operating loss was $1,866.95. Revenue in 1982 was $13,130 and the loss was 81,972.34. The sports and play program this summer was self-sustaining with a profit of $472.48. Rec director Lynne Far- quhar reported she "couldn't be more pleased" with the staff for the sports and play program and also indicated that the swimming pool staff members "did a good respon- sible and conscientious job." There were 493 youngsters enrolled in the swimming pro- gram and 360 completed their tests successfully for a pass- ing rate of 73 percent. The rec director suggested the fee schedule far swimming lessons be held at the same for next year with a possible increase in public swimming fees. In other business, the board: Received a letter from MF Builders regarding the pro- posed double entrance at the rec centre and decided to research the project further before making a decision. Learned from member John Pym that there was con- cern over the manner in which vehicles were being parked in the parking lot and asked facilities manager Cam Stewardson to look into the cost of painting lines to direct vehicles in a more orderly fashion. Agreed to hire former board member Anne Prout to fill in as temporary secretary during the maternity leave of Jo -Anne Fields. Mrs. Prout will be paid at the rate of $5 per hour. user fee was approved. which show participation . In answer to a question from residents of the resort in from Councillor Gaylen several local programs. Josephson, the Mayor said Grand Bend has indicated council would meet with the no intention of providing any board in the near future to grant, while Stephen and Hay discuss the matter and plan a have not increased their con- course of action. tribution. Stephen has provid- After the meeting, Shaw ed a grant of $1,200, while said that when the rec centre Hay's contribution has been was built, Exeter assumed $440. the major share of the deficit Usborne increased in the hope that an amiable assistance to 88,724 this year agreement could be reached and Shaw said "not a lot with the neighbouring more" is expected from the municipalities regarding latter. t operating costs. Figur-Zs suggested that However, he said that the Stephen should be con - municipalities have not come tributing about 10 to 12 per - to such an agreement and "a cent of the deficit, he said, six-year trial period is long which would be about double enough." the present contribution. Shaw said increases are be- While admitting that a user ing sought from Usborne, fee- system is "the worst Stephen and Hay, while means" of trying to equalize Grand Bend has been ap- the fairness of paying for proached to make some con- recreation costs, Shaw said it tribution in light of the figures appeared to be the only alter- native. He acknowledged that there would be considerable difficulty for the rec centre administrative staff to put such a system into practice. He claimed the neighboring municipalities have been "getting off pretty light" and added that "fair is far" The Mayor hopes that if the user fee has to be adopted that residents of the neighbor- ing municipalities will voice their complaints to their coun- cils and prompt the latter to take a second look at their contribution. "The more they complain, the better I'll feel," he com- mented, noting that several years ago when user fees were adopted for the swimm- ing pool program, it resulted in complaints from residents of neighboring municipalities and the latter increased their support in the face of the complaints. GIVING LIFE — Red Cross nurse Antoninette at Wednesday's blood donor Serving South Huron, North Middlesex Delucia assists donor Brenda McDonald clinic at SHDHS sponsored by the Ausoble River Nomads. fBf dvocate & North Lambton Since 1873 Fx� One Hundred and Eleventh Year EXETER, ONTARIO, October 19, 1983 Price Per Copy 30 Cents Provincial proposal could cost 5150,110 Will fight grant reduction Exeter council will leave few stones unturned in an -ef- fort to get the provincial government to reconsider change in the unconditional grant structure that could end up costing local home owners about $100 more in property taxes. The government is propos- ing to change the system to provide unconditional grants on a per household basis rather than the present for- mula and calculations done by local officials indicate that would result in the town receiving 8150,119 less than at present. Charging that the govern- ment is changing the rules in the middle of the game, the protest suggests that is unfair as c.xeter and other com- munities have established policies, programs and long range planning based on the assumption that grants would continue at the same level with appropriate increase to keep pace with inflation. Several other municipalities have indicated they too will fight the change due to the drastic reduction in grants that 'J"- would be receiving. Oshu,wtt, for in- stance, has calculated the change will result in that city receiving $1.3 to 81.8 million Huge jump in building The value of building per- mits in Exeter this year has increased by 260 percent over the corresponding nine-month period for 1982. With September's building permits of 8211,580. the 1983 total now stands at 82,021,951.50. Last year the total at the end of September was only $766,470.74. Oddly enough, the number of permits this year is actual- ly down. Building inspector Brian Johnston has issued 177 permits to date and there were 204 up to the end of September last year. During the past month there were 20 permits issued for residential renovations and additions valued at $61,610. seven for commercial projects at $75.850 and one in- stitutional at 860,000. The balance was for six tool sheds, carports, sundecks and garages at $11,620. Four permanent signs were approved last month to bring the 1983 total to 15 and there were 11 temporary sign ap- provals for a total of 109. , . • STRIKE CONTINUES — Employees of Protective Plastics at Huron Park are shown with their picket signs, Mon- day morning. Negotiations on the two week strike resumed this week. T • A photo Negotiations are in progress Seek end to Huron Park strike Negotiations resumed this week in an effort to end the 18 -day strike at the Protective Plastics Ltd. plant at Iluron Park, but at press time yesterdayno agreements had been reached. Jim Conium, plant chair- man for the United Auto Workers local 1620 told the T- A after Monday's delibera- tions that the company has not yet offered any monetary increases for the 67 workers beyond that which had been presented prior to the start of the strike on October 1. . However, company division manager Bela Molnar had been quoted on the weekend as saying the offer of 44 cents an hour in the first year and 31 cents in the second was not the company's final offer. The UAW had asked for a 20 -month contract with an 85 -cent -an -hour wage in- crease in the first year and 65 cents over the remainder of the pact. Conium indicated this week that the workers were prepared to take something less than that, although he didn't specify how much less. However, with both sides indicating some willingness to bend, there is hope that the issue can be settled in the cur- rent negotiations taking place at the Holiday inn in London. The present average wage at the plant has been stated as $7.42 an hour by company of- ficials and something less than that by workers. Protective Plastics, which was hit by a short strike last September before workers received increases of between 62 and 68 cents an hour, pro- duces • fibreglass -reinforced plywood core panels for the tractor trailer manufacturing industry. Molnar has indicated that a lengthy strike could result in layoffs due to lost orders. less from the provincial coffers. While the government has not yet adopted the change, Reeve Bill Mickle said Mon- day that council would have to stay alert to the possibility. "With smoke in the air, there must be fire behind it," he said. The finance committee chairman said the change would create "a tremendous amount of strain on the com- munity" to continue to func- tion as it does presently. Council approved register- ing an objection with the government and added a re- quest "that before introduc- tion of this new formula the government come up with a proposal to offest the increas- ed taxation to property owners and businesses that will be experienced in Exeter." After approving the objec- tion to be sent to the govern- ment,councilmoved to make GET MONCUR AWARDS -- Huron Board of Education director Bob Allan presents the Moncur scholarships at SHDHS Commencement Fridoy night to Susan Deichert and Rob Grafton. T -A photo More frequent samples suggested for GB water Grand Bend council has received a report on the 1983 recreational water sampling program from Dr. Lucy Pun can of the Lambton Health Unit along with recommenda- tions for next year. Signs warning swimmers of polluted waters were posted at Grand Bend on August 12 of this year and were in ex- istence for about two weeks until the problem abated somewhat. Two injured in collision Two men sustained minor injuries in one of the two col- lisions investigated this week by the Exeter OPP. it occurred on Friday on Highway 81, north ' of the Crediton Road, and involved vehicles driven by Dennis Ansems, Grand Bend, and Phillip Jarrett, Dunnville. • Ansems was passing a truck on file highway when the Dunnville man pulled from a private road. Both vehicles ended up in the ditch and damage was listed at 86,000. The two men were treated at South Huron Hospital. The other crash happened on Tuesday on Highway 4 north of Exeter. Drivers in- volved in that one were Erston Coulter, Oshawa, and Bovavone Ounshamone, Exeter. Neither was injured and damage was estimated at 83,000. Dr. Duncan said possible factors in causing an increase in bacteria were a warmer summer, absence of rain in July and the lack of move- ment of very shallow waters at Port Franks and Ipper- wash within sandbars. Dr. Duncan's report includ- . ed the following recornme.,- dations: "For next summer i recommend that we hire two students to carry out the recreational water sampling program. Our health inspec- tors experience in the sum- mer an increase in other in- spection work, complaints regarding garbage and extra food premise inspections keep them very busy. This summer we had to assign one of our regular inspectors to assist the st'ident inspector with water samplings. The frequency of sampling. should be once a week in June, then twice weekly dur- ing July and August. Beach water samples should be taken in two feet deep water, about six inches below the surface. This recommendation is made because children play in shallow water. Water further nut contains fewer bacteria and may be safe for adult swimmers. I would suggest that water samples collected on Mon- days be tested at the Sarnia General Hospital laboratory and Tuesday samples be sent to the London Regional Public }lealth Laboratory. Public washrooms should be provided and kept open throughout the summer at public beaches. The problem of animal soil- ing of public beaches needs to be addressed. Beach litter Please turn to page 3 a personal approach to the minister of municipal affairs and to advise the Association of Municipalites of Ontario (AMO) that they also disagree with their position in the matter. That was at the suggestion of Councillor Dorothy Chapman. Mickle suggested the two Opposition parties in the Legislature also be advised of Exeter's concern and that too was approved. At Monday's meeting, council received a letter from L.J. Ctose, director of the municipal finance branch of the ministry of municipal af- fairs and housing in which he said that while Exeter would lose some grant funding "it is important to note that the level of funds received by your town does exceed that being paid to other com- munities." Thus, he added, it could be argued that these other municipalities are not currently receiving a fair share of the unconditional grants. Countering that, Mickle said his argument is that the town didn't make the previous calculation and the government had given what they felt the town needed. The town's figures suggest there would be a decrease of $137,716 in grants directly and a further reduction of 813,403 in Exeter's portion of the un- conditional grants to the County of Huron. Exeter received $383,209 in unconditional grants this year and the formula in the discus- sion paper would reduce that amount to 8238,977. Under an alternative sug- gested by AMO, the amount would be reduced to oily $276,353. Huron's grant this year is $851,873 and the government proposal would see that decline to $724,036, while the AMO alternative would see it dip to $646,404. WINS OVER 36 Wayne Chappel, who work- ed part-time for the town's public works department this summer, has been hired on a full-time basis. Chappet was among the 57 who applied for the position of "1'•' operator. Ile will start at a salary of 814.450 and be on a three-month probationary period. He worked under the COED program this summer. TRUSTEE AND VALEDICTORIANS - Huron Board of Education trustee Dr. John God- dard jokes with valedictorians Mike Fleming and Melanie Lovell during Friday's Com- mencement exercises at South Huron District High School. T -A photo