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Clinton News-Record, 1977-05-05, Page 1Council raises own pay up to 90% With almost no opposition or debate, to run the town's business, now over $1 Clinton council last Monday night million a year, it had to offer fair granted themselves pay raise ranging renumeration. from 45 to 90 per cent, their first raise irt,,ki^—,Ckruncil also received two petitions last three years. .The new pay scale, retroactive to January 1st of this year, will see the mayor's allowance raised to $75 from $40 for each full council, committee -of -the - .r et whole, and special council meetings, while he will get $50, -up from $30, for every sub -committee meeting he at- tends. A councillor, which includes the reeve and deputy -reeve, will now be paid $45 for a full meeting or committee -of -the - whole meeting-, an increase of $15 from $30, and they will receive $30 for a sub- committee meeting, up from $20. As well, public works chairman Ernie Brown will get an extra $250 per year to * cover the gas he uses in his truck while on town business. Brown was the only one on council against the raises. "I think it's too much. We're not supposed to get anything," Brown said. Clerk -treasurer Cam Proctor later pointed out that the Clinton council pay was below that received in many other area municipalities, and if the town hoped to continue to attract good peopje it 4 Monday night, one signed by 13 residents of Jaynes Street asking that their street between Maria and Station Streets be .paved, and the other signed by 21 people in the Rattenbury-North Street in- tersection area asking that a four-way stop be installed at the corner. A delegation was also present to back up the first petition, and were $old that their street would be considered on the List being made up for reconstruction next year. Council learned that they will be receiving only $49,500 subsidy from the provincial government on a proposed rcconstruc$tion total of $147,000. "We can't even complete what we wanted to do this year because of high costs," said councillor. Ron McKay about this year's proposal to reconstruct four streets. The other request for the four-way stop was referred to the public works and police committees, Council also raised their convention expenses to $45 per day pay, up from $25, while they will get $15 per day for meals, up from $12. The mileage rate will remain at 20 cents per mile. Council also raised the hourly rate for four crossing guards to *per hour from `x2.65, and will pay two summer students hired for town business $140 each. The two, Cathy Murphy, who will work in the clerk's office, and Maurice Dowhaniuk, who will work for the cemetery and planning boards, have RO per, cent of their salary paid by the provincial government. Grandstand going up, volunteers needed Twin Locks Iron Works began erection of the steel for Clinton's new $250,000 grandstand on Tuesday, and if con- struction continues without any hitches, the 1,200 seat structure will be ready for use by the opening of the Spring Fair on June 3. Because the structure will probably be ready for seats by May 14th, the Kin- smen Club and the Fair Board are holding work bees to paint- the seats before they are installed. Starting this Saturday at 9 a.m. in the horse barn area, volunteer work crews will begin painting the 770 12 -foot long boards and as many people are needed as possible. Paul Kerrigan, Kinsmen president, said that people can show up anytime during the day with rollers or paint brushes, as the seats require three coats of paint, starting with a preservative, followed by a primer coat, and finishing up with a gloss coat. Volunteer work bees are also planned for next Tuesday and Wednesday, May 10 and 11, to complete the painting, and Kinsmen are optimistic that installation can begin as early as next Saturday, May 14. An auction for all the building materials salvaged from the wrecked grandstand will be held on Saturday, May 21, at the arena, with auctioneer Richard Lobb of Clinton donating his services. Clinton, Ontario 25 cents Thursday, May 5, 1977 ll2th Year -No. 18 Weather 1977 1976 . HI APRIL 26 55 27 66 28 60 29 51 30 - 67 MAY 1 73 - 41 2 63 42 Rain ,36 1O HI LO 35 32 31 24 37 36 26 43 31 49 31 5228 62, 31 60 46 6.0 37 Snow r/2" .Vanastra firm plans X500,000 expansion By Jim Fitzgerald A Vanastra manufacturing firm is planning a major $500,000 rebuilding and renovation program, the News -Record has learned. Bayfield Boatyards of Vanastra, ti.,which builds and finishes sailing yachts at the former Arnie,: Forces base, plans 4, to tear down several of the existing buildings and rebuild them over the next three years, president Ted Gozzard told the News -Record this week. The Boat' t'"a'Fd,'whic'h riaw e'niploys'50" people, -is running at full capacity, and now has enough orders to keep it busy until the summer of 1978, more than a year away, says Mr. Gozzard. Tho firm, which had humble begin- pnings at Bayfield in 1970 when it. em- ployed two people, and made canoes moved to converted buildings at Vanastra in 1473 ard by 1974 was em- ploying 45 people, making large Fiberglas sailing boats. Mr. Gozzard said that the expansion program will only be carried out this summer "if the markets hold." "We've had three new dealers han- dling our boats in California," he said, and "business looks good." Mr. Gozzard 'said the company also hopes to diversity next year, arid not be so dependent on boat sales exclusively. "We hope to move into building solar collectors for the home heating market," Mr. Gozzard said. The solar collectors are like a billboard sign that collect and store heat from the s'un',' using that heat later .to' Honeymoon ends in tragedy for couple The honeymoon of an area couple ended in tragedy last Wednesday, only w five days after their wedding day, when Donald Alexander Dolmage, 23, of RR 1, ondesboro was electrocuted in an Alberta motel. Mr. Dolmage was killed in a freak accident at a cabin at Cosy Pine Motel in Red Deer, Alberta after he backed into the taps in a bathtub that, were elec- trified with 110 volts. Mr. Dolmage and his wife of only five flays were on their honeymoon when the accident occurred, and police officials in Red Deer say an inquest may be called. Sgt. Vic Petersen of the RCMP, Red Deer Detachment, said that Mr Dolmage was killed when he backed into Spending time in the polling booths is getting to be a regular habit in these parts, and particularly in Clinton, as the voters will mark ballots again on June 9, making it the 12th election in the last eight years. In 1970 we had a municipal election, while in 1971 there was a provincial. 1972 saw a federal election and two municipal elections; 1973 a provincial by-election; 1974 a federal and a municipal; 1975 a provincial; 1976 a municipal; and 1977, a rnuniciparand a provincial...so far. +++ Well, election or not, we're sure local people will stand up and be counted at the work bee planned this weekend to paint the new grandstand seats. Bees are also planned for next Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons 'as well. Bring your paint brush or roller. +++ A veteran gardener in these parts joked the other day that: "The trouble with seed packages and seed catalogues is they show color pictures of everything except the backache." -1-++ The local merchants will also be suffering from backache -as well, as they planned to paint their tree planters yesterday (Wednesday) if it didn't rain. They deserve a pat on the back.. .that is if it isn't too sore. '0 ++1- The ++The local fire brigade were busy too, last Saturday answering a call to the Hartley Managhan residence on Victoria Street south. The fire' was quickly ex-_ tinguished with little damage. +++ For those who asked: yes we do accept advertising for social events at which liquor is served under a banquet permit, but the onus is on the advertiser if the liquor board objects. taps that were "hot" and he was grounded on the bathtub. His wife of only five days, the former Patricia MacDonald of Clinton, tried to pull hint clear, but when she received a shock herself, stopped and ran for help. Sgt. Peterson said that on checking the holmage cabin, and two or three others, investigators _found that for some unexplained reason, the taps in the cabins were ' "live" and carried a current. The investigation is continuing. Rev. Stan McDonald of Londesboro, who performed the wedding ceremony on April .':', assisted Rev. Mervyn E. Keuher at the funeral service last Saturday April 30 from the R.S. Box Funeral Home in Seaforth.' Interment was in the Maitland Bank Cemetery in Sea forth. Besides his wife, Mr. Dolmage is survived by two step -daughters, Cheryl and Laura.: his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Roy Dolmage of RR 1, Londesboro: four brothers, Earl of Elora, Frank of RR 1, Seaforth, Dennis and Douglas at home: and three sisters, Mrs. Ray (Jean) Dill cif-.Sehringville, Mrs. James (Agnes) Scarrow of Seaforth, and Doris at home. Long record The Clinton Area office of Ontario Hydro continues to add every year to their enviable safety recprd, and last Friday night marked their 14th year in a row without a serious a eident. So far they have worked a total of 4,994 days or 1,0914000 manhours without an incident. Jim Mair, left, of Clinton received a safety award at the Hydro banquet on behalf.of the Cli ton office, from Grant Bainbridge of London, regional manager. (News -Record photo) heat-wimming pools, homes, and even hot water. The first stage of the three year building program will start this month when one of the old air force buildings is torn down. Steel up The first beam for Clinton's new gra-rid-Stand was put in place on Tuesday by Twin. Locks Iron Works of Niagara Falls, and by presstIme on Wednesday, the structure was taking shape. A volunteer work bee will be held this Saturday and next week, to paint the seats, which may be installed on May 14 if progress continues as well as it has. (News -Record photo) .Voters go to polls Ontario voters will be going to the polls again on June 9 only 18 months after the last provincial election. The election was called on April 29 by Premier Willaim Davis and he asked the voters for a mandate to provide a stable government to deal with the unemployment situation, inflation. and national unity. Davis feels that his minority gover- nment elected in 1975, has not had the parlimentary support to lead the province the way it would like. Standings in the house the Conservatives with 52 seats, the NDP with 38 and the Liberals with 35. Davis feels that the only opposition the Conservatives will face is from the NDP Tuckersmith - Vanastra party. He says that the Liberals have no clear policies or philosphies for the voter's. Locally, the Conservative and NDP parties are looking into Western Ontario .for candidates in the election. The Liberals hold 11 of the 20 ridings west of Kitchener and the other two parties see this as fertile ground for advancement. Opinion polls also suggest that the Liberals will have trouble holding their own in this region. In the Huron -Middlesex riding, Liberal MPP Jack Riddell is expected to seek re -nomination at the May 12 Liberal meeting in Hensall. The Conservatives have scheduled a une 9 nomination meeting for Huron - Middlesex on May 12 in Exeter and as of yet, the NDP has made no defin;te arrangements for their meeting. Neither party has filled their slate of 125 can-. didates. The Conservatives are hoping for potential changes in the London area, the Liberals have gained the support of Wardsville reeve, Donald Nisbet and t NDP are hoping for Gordon Hill, a Varig farmer and president of the Ontario Federation of Agriculture. The Conservatives and the NDP parties ftg�l that they are a much more credible force in Western Ontario than they were in the 1975 election. Town won't help day care centre After a lengthy debate and a recorded vote, Clinton council last Monday night turned down a request to help subsidize the Tuckersmith-Vanastra Day Care Centre. Council had heard an appeal for funds from Centre director Karen McEwing and Tuckersmith councillors Frank Falconer and Bob Fotheringham. Clinton had supported the Day Care Centre last year for a total of $440, but earlier this year had refused to carry on the agreement. Basically, the Centre charges each parent $6 for a full day at the centre,, with the town picking up 20 per cent of any deficit incurred only on the number of children attending from town. Miss McEwing said that 38 were enrolled at the Centre, with three coming from Clinton. "I thought it was a good thing, myself,""said-Mayor Harold Lobb. "We shouldn't have to pay for a babysitting service if both parents are working," said Councillor Ray Garon. "We only gave our nursery school (in town) $200' this year, and they can't collect any subsidy." "Why don't they (the day care centre) get out and raise money like the nursery school does," said Garon. "It's much more than a babysitting service," argued Councillor Ron McKay. "The children out of day care are much better students," said McKay, who is a public school principal, "We spend •more on sending dogs, to Goderich than we do on our own kids," Mcllay said. In the recorded vote, only Mayor Lobb, Reeve Royce Macaulay and Councillor McKay were in favor of helping Tuckersmith, while Deputy - Reeve Frank Cook, and Councillors Rosemary Armstrong; Ernie Brown, Ray Garon, Frank Van Altena and Roy Wheeler voted against paying the 75 cents per day per child charge. In other business, council turned down a buiidingd permit application from Huron Pines Construction for a house on Ransford Street because the town doesn't even own the street yet. Part of the street is still in Tucker - smith Township, and. final Ontario - Municipal Board approval has not been received vet. Other permits passed included: Huron Pines, th-ee houses at $28,000 each, and Only 2% difference one,at $32,000; Green and Parent car deaers, renovations, $2,000; Bill Cud - more, tool shed, $200; Frank Van Altena, sundeck, $200. Council also learned that their impost fee on new housing units isn't yet in effect because it also needs final OMB approval. Police talks deadlocked The five -man Clinton police force and town council have reached an impasse over contract negotiations for police salaries this year. The police are seeking an eight per- cent salary increase, while council is offering six percent over one year. Currently, a first class constable in Clinton makes $15,918 a year, not in- cluding overtime or fringe benefits, and council has offered them $16,873, while the police are asking for $17,191 yearly. "We've reached a stalemate," said Deputy -Reeve , Frank Cook at last Monday night's council meeting. Cook is 'head of the police committee. • "The police are playing games with us," said councillor Ray Garon, who said the police had hired a lawyer to argue their case. "They've threatened to take us to arbitration," Cook said. "But it's sure not our responsibility to pay their lawyer," Cook said when asked if the town would have to pay the lawyer's fees. Hospitai.court date delayed The Ontario Government hearing with the Supreme Court on Monday, to appeal the decision that squashed orders -in - council to close several hospitals, has been adjourned indefinitely. This means . that Clinton Public Hospital, Chesfey and District Memorial Hospital and Durham Memorial Hospital will be allowed to remain open. Julian Polika, a lawyer for the province, said that government lawyers asked for the adjournment in the Court of Appeals until the results of bed studies in the three hospitals have been received-, The hospital cases .can be reopened at any time on a month's notice. However Poi ika explainedl the government will continue its appeal depenui►rg on the results of the bed studies. The hospitals'potential closing came in 1~ ebrui y 1976 when former Health Minister Frank Miller -ordered nine hospital's to be shut down. Since then four of them went to court and won a decision last May that the closings, Which were drdered to save money, were illegal. Doctors Hospital in Toronto only last month had its case dropped and was allowed to remain open. The three other hospitals have been involved in bitter court battles and one ensured with the Divisional Court . of Ontario 'ruled last May, that the government could riot legally close the hospitals with orders in council.