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Clinton News-Record, 1983-02-16, Page 1T BAYF BUGLE sl1COrp!Irting BLYT s 50 cents -N W:gid sdc y, February 16, 1983 118th year er By Shelley McPhee Clinton may get its own theatre com- pany when town hall renovations are completed. MayorChester Archibald told members of Clinton council at their Feb. 7 meeting that a group of London people are looking at establishing a summer theatre program in the upstairs auditorium of the town hall. He explained that Brian Longstaff, an acting instructor from London, formerly with the Sanctuary Theatre, has shown some interest in renting the town hall auditorium, to present a summer program of plays. Mr. I,ongstaff has studied the plans for the renovation of the auditorium and has proposed some minor changes in the drawings to better accommodate theatre productions. Mayor Archibald told council, "If we could rent the auditorium for the summer season it would be a real drawing card. The town can't lose on this." His comments of support for the proposal came after some council members questioned whether the town would be obliged to financially back the theatre. Councillor Charlie Burgess noted, "We can't subsidize them like London sub- si.!ized +;eatre." Mayor Archibald stressed that the town would not do t .;s, but could offer a reduced rental rate for the first year. He said that the aim of the theatre would be to bring people and revenue to the town. He added, "All these things attract people to the town, but we can't subsidize the project." Councillor John Deeves asked whether the proposed theatre would reduce at- e'tie tendance at the Blyth Sununer Festival, the Huron Country Playhouse, and would hurt theatre plans for The livery in Goderich. Councillor Jim Hunter replied, "It's well known that you make a profit and attract people by putting like things together." As an example he noted that boutiques and fast food businesses are usually situated together, each drawing on the other's business. "The Blyth Theatre is always sold out and attended by people from throughout southwestern Ontario," Councillor Rosemary Armstrong added. She also suggested that more grants to help finance the renovations would be available if a theatre was established in the town hall auditorium. The mayor said that Mr. Longstaff would not imitate or conflict with other local theatres. The Summer Festival focuses on Canadian plays, the Country Playhouse specializes in musical productions, and Mr. Longstaff is looking at "world comedy." He hopes to use local talents, provide teaching workshops for adults and children and has suggested a winter film program, with travelogues and movies. The town hall auditorium will have a seating capacity of over 200. In other town hall -library renovation progress reports, Clerk Cam Proctor said that the town had applied for the Off -Oil insulation grant for the library and an energy upgrading grant on both buildings. This may give financing an extra $50,000 to $90,000. AEiljitional soil testing at the buildings ayc metot has found that there is a solid clay base at the 40 foot level. Mayor Archibald said that the extra testing, estimated to cost a maximum of $2,500, was done because, "no one ever knew what was below the 20 foot level. The architect C.A.IVenton) wasn't satisfied with past soil testing." The building conunittee and Mr. Venton have agreed to omit plans to put in an elevator at the library. It was decided that since the upstairs portion of the library will be used for a children's section, the elevator wasn't necessary. An agreement has been made between Clinton and the Ontario Heritage Foun- dation, stating that if the Foundation gives finacial support to the renovations, the town must agree not to make exterior changes to the buildings without the Foundation's approval. Mayor Archibald said he understood the Foundation's concerns. He said, "the old town hall was once a beautiful building but alterations made it look like hell." Opposition to the agreement was strongly voiced by Councillor Burgess. He stressed, "You've just const. +.:ed this town to be stuck with these two buildings for time eternal." Clerk Proctor noted that any project that has received money from the Heritage Foundation for similar work has made this agreement. However Councillor Burgess noted that he owns a Heritage designated building, the Clinton Victoria Block, and said, "If anyone chooses to tear it down, it will be me. 1 own that building." The need for fix re care and upkeep of the tow*P:d ...rary were stressed by the mayor when he said, "I hope that more councils will put money into the buildings' maintenance. More than 30 years ago people knew and town hall badly needed repairs, and that's why we're in the situation we're in today." He noted that in the event the buildings face further deterioration and structural problems once renovations are completed, "we can go back on the contractor, the engineers and all those involved." Council agreed to have the library foundation and the remainder of the town hall walls underpinned, and interior walls braced. Mayor Archibald said a "reliable firm" had been hired to do the work and materials would be purchased locally. He said that by doing the work in this manner, it will be less costly than calling tenders. Clerk Proctor added that billing for labor and materials would come directly to the rnunicipality, giving the town more control and a better estimate on the costs. Claim for damages A damages claim from Maple Leaf Mills has been sent on to the town insurance company and an adjuster for study. On December 23 a highway accident, taking the life of a local man, occurred on 'Vittoria Street. Clinton police blocked off the main travel route, detouring traffic onto Maria Street. A Dempster transport truck took the detour, but failed to turn onto King Street to return to the open portion of Victoria Street. Instead the truck went out the Bayfield Road and too late discovered the trailer was higher than the railway overpass. ,Separate school trustees roll back 11% honorarium By Step _:, aa Levesque Trustees of e Huron -Perth Separate School Board have rolled back their honorarium from an 11 per cent increase to a five per cent increase. The subject r:l rolling back the honorarium has been raised at almost every board meeting since the 1983-85 rd took over in December. The decision was approv rl at the board's Jan. 24 meeting. Last fall, I e 19 g, 41.a rd had approved an 11 per cent increase for the trustees' sti- pend. At that time it was raised from $1:1 per month to;O I per month effective Dec. 1, 1'' :, $225 per month effective Dec. 1, if V 19 (= and $250 per month effective Dec. 1, 193 +. For the provincial control year of 4" the trustees will receive $11:'^ per month. Chairman Ron Murray of ;', R. 1 Dublin said trustees had not received an increase since 1""':u and an increase of $9 over three years isn't high. "Sure It's not very much. In our case it is a six per cent decrease which Ls a matter of $11 per month, but it's such a thorny issue that I though I'd bring it before the board," said Mr. Murray. "I thought we had decided to wait un i the (provincial) government sent us the in- formation we needed?" asked Trustee Vin - y s riously injured while crossing to bus stop A young Varna boy is in serious con- dition in Victoria Hospital, London, after being struck by a car at 8:25 a.m. last Thursday. Brian Hill, age 7, of RR 1, Varna suffered serious head injuries after he was struck by an eastbound vehicle on County Road 3, while crossing the road. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. ev Hill. According to a spokesman for the Goderich OPP, Brian crossed the road to reach a bus stop, when he was struck by a car driven by Mary Rathwell off Bayfield. The youth was taken to Clinton Public Hospital where he was treated before being transferred to London. No charges have been laid in connection with the incident. The Goderich OPP also reported that on Feb. 11 an accident occurred just north of Bayfield, resulting in $1,450 in damages to two cars. ('ars driven by Marie Voisin, 51, of RR 1, Varna and Roger Parent, 20, of Kincarr ne collided, with no injuries occurring. Damage to the Voisin vehicle was estimated at $250 and $1,200 to the Parent vehicle. It's a real pleasure to report that once again Clinton area students have shown their excellent literary skills in the Royal Canadian Legion's Remem- brance Day prose and poetry com- petition. Winners from the Clinton Legion contest went on to zone finals and Darryl Ilemmingway, a Holmesville Public School student took first place for his entry Why A Child Should Remember. Barry Turner, a Grade 12 student at ('HSS finished in second place. Darryl's composition now goes on to provincial finals. it was just two years ago that another local study, Rachel Battye of Rlyth brought honor to this area with her award winning entry. + + + We had some more good news this week from the Huron Junior Farmer Association Plans are in the works to form a Clinton area branch. if you are between the ages of 16 and 30, are interested in making new friends, travel, sports. drama, leadership training, music, community betterment projects and social recreation, then Junior Farmers is the . ub for you .Junior Farmers is for rural and uI/Jill i peopic diiu du uIgdaIILdelonal meeting has been scheduled for Feb. 23, 8 p.m., at the Central Huron Secondary School. if you are a little curious or seriously interested, please plan to attend and bring a friend. + + + Ilensall people are preparing to start another very successful community group. An organizational meeting for the Hensall Horticultural Society will be held Feb. 18, 8 p.m. at the United Church. With Hensall's new downtown look, local gardeners' efforts could make Hensall even lovelier. + + + Marion Carter of Clinton has just returned after two -weeks of relaxing and visiting in Zephyrn Hills, Florida. Mrs. Chambers and her daughter Ruth ('hampers of London went down to Florida to visit Ben and Thelma Moore of London. Thelma is Mrs. Carter's daughter and she and her husband spend the winter months, taking in the warrn Florida sunshine. However Mrs Carter reported that during her visit, continual rain and storms hit Florida. Still the family had a good visit and Mrs. Carter said it was good to see flower and fruit trees in bloom 1 cent Mci es of R1t2'''Ingham. He said he isn't opposed to taking the decrease, but tho., _.I,t that a decision had already been made. Trustee Lo>1is M.loney comrnented that governiient regulations I ,. d already been made. Director of education William Eckert (althoa •.h recuperating from a heart at- :+ck suffered %.st fall, was in attendance at the meeting) Id trustees that while the provincial legislation is in place, the guidelines on how to implement the legislation has not yet been received by ad- ministration. "I am most willing to accept exactly what the government says," s ted Mr. Mclnn^ "Why does somebody else have to tell us what to do?" asked Trustee Louis Maloney Dublin. He suggested the boaird show leadership by accepting the five per cent increase limit. "I am on both, t'r e personnel and teacher negotiat'. corianittees and if we don't roll back, we don't have the right to negotiate with other people," commented Mr. Maloney. Chairman Murray agreed stating, "If we don't take less how can we expect anybody else to take less." Trustee Ernie Vanderschot of RR 7 St. Marys said that for the $11 less a month, the trustees' honorarium should remain at the levels set by the previous board. "It's percen;::•ges, they (people) look at the percentage," commented Mr. Maloney. All trustees voted in favor of the roll back. f Rosemary Armstrong of the Huron Day Care Centre has a big job on her hands. The Centre has been collecting grocery tapes to raise money. Every $1,1'61 worth of tapes is valued at $3...'i and to date more than $50,000 in IGA tapes and $35,11 I: in Zehrs tapes have been collected. (Shelley McPhee photo Lapel pins are suggested Clinton may have souvenirs By Shelley McPhee The Town of Clinton may be displayed on .•jaekets if council agrees to purchase lapel pins. At their Feb. 7 meeting, council looked at an offer from Riehl Advertising Ltd., Clinton to buy lapel pins bearing the town crest, Bill Riehl said cost of the pins could range from $1.25 each for an order of 500; 96 cents each for 1,000 or 82 cents apiece for an order of 2,500 pins. Mr. Riehl said that he had just delivered an order for the County of Huron, and noted that over the years he's been ap- proached many times by people looking for some type of souvenir to take on trips or give to visitors. Deputy Reeve Frank Van Altena suggested that the pins could be sold to Klornpen Feest visitors and Councillor Rosemary Armstrong said the Legion Pipe Band could present the pins as small gifts Skiers and skaters, hockey players, broomball players, euchre players and ringette players all took part in the Clinton Optimist Winter Carnival over the weekend. Organizers report that the weekend events were the success. ( Shelley McPhee photo) Conservation authorities get lion For water projects .:;°rid recreation developments More than $1 million has been granted to the Maitland Valley Conservation Authority (MVCA) and the Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority (ARCA) through the ministry of natural resourses. The MVCA will received $566,900 and the ARCA will be given $517,158 to undertake various water management, conservation and recreation projects this year The money was given as part of a total $36 million in provincial grants earmarked by the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources to help finance projects being undertaken by the province's 39 con- servation authorities this year "Of the total amount, 81.5 million is proposed for a federal -provincial program to identify areas of potential flood damage throughout the province," Natural Resources Minister Alan Pope said. The grants, representing about 10 per cent of the ministry's total budget, were based on proposals submitted by the authorities last year. They represent about the same level of funding as the govern- ment provided in 1982. Mr. Pope noted that spending must be carefully watched since the province, like everyone else, is suffereing as a result of the recession - its major tax -based revenue resources are declining and the federal government is reducing its transfer payments. when they are on tour. Council agreed to give the offer serious consideratibn and will make a recom- mendation at their Feb. 21 meeting. Approve communication costs Clinton will pay $21,369.12 towards the countywide police communications system this year. The amount represents 16 per cent of the total budget of $133,557. Council learned that the portion of payment is based on the population. Goderich pays 33 per cent; Exeter, 19.3 per cent; Wingham, 11.3 per cent and Seaforth 11.2 per cent. Last year the cornmunciations system cost the county towns $120,072.56, however additional costs were picked up by the town of Goderich. Clinton Mayor Chester Archibald commented that the system is an essential service and Councillor Jim Hunter com- mended the committee on keeping the costs low. He said that Clinton couldn't finance an individual service for less money, noting that $21,000 would pay one telephone dispatcher's salary for a year. Application turned down Council has denied a re -zoning ap- plication for 169 Ontario Street. Presently in a residential zone, the application asked for a change to accommodate a retail craft shop. The request was studied by the town planning board. They said that downtown property is available to establish a business, and recommended the ap- plication be turned down. Councillor Ross Carter said, "It is a dangerous precedent to allow private homes to become retail outlets. Certainly it is less expensive, but not the type of business Clinton wants to promote." The planning board will be studying a second re -zoning application, for 139 Ontario Street. The request is also asking for a spot zone change to allow for the finishing and retail sale of antique fur- niture. in reference to the other zoning change that was turned down, Mayor Archibald noted, "It's plain and simply the same thing " Councillor Hunter suggested that the application was "slightly different." He said it involved a home occupation, with the owner first preparing the furniture for sale Day Care financing in 1982 the Tuckersmith Day ('are (entre finished the year with a 444,176 loss Turn to page 3 Veath,, r 1983 1982 HI LO February 8 -3 10 9 -4 -15 10 -8 -21 11 -7 -14 12 -3 -20 13 0 14 14 4 HI 144 -5 -16 -7 -14 -11 -22 -10 -21 -5 -22 -5 -16 9 2 -10 Snow 5 cm