Clinton News-Record, 1983-06-29, Page 1S..0
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50 cents — No -26
ay, June 29, 1983
But 1984 (could] be a red year
OS
ital year ends 1 the Mac
By Shelley McPhee
The Clinton Public Hospital has finished
the 1983 fiscal year in the black, but the
board of governors has been warned that
they will have to enforce good operating
management to maintain a profit level in
the upcoming year.
Nancy Excel -McDonald, from
MacGillivray and Co. Chartered
Accountants presented the hospital's
financial statement at the annual meeting
on June 27.
She noted that while the hospital finished
the year with a small surplus, the financial
statement showed that the hospital spent
$1,023,413 in 1983 compared to $111,016 in
1982. The extra funds, used to help finance
the new hospital addition, drained the
working capital fund. At the beginning of
the year the working capital amounted to
$553,895. The the end of the year, March 31,
1983, the funds stood at $218,357.
This is $335,538 less than the final
working capital from the end of 1982 and
Mrs. Excel -McDonald warned, "It's going
to make it fairly tight next year?"
She emphasized that the hospital had
suffered a substantial cash drop frornethe
beginning of the year and noted, "your
position is not strong compared to past
years. Next year you're going to have to
work very hard."
While the hospital finished the fiscal
year with an operating surplus of $57,385,
Mrs. Excel -McDonald noted that this was
primarily due to the extra $40,000 granted
by the ministry of health and the high
interest income. Without these, she
stressed, the hospital would have beep in a
deficit position. ry
Despite the serious warning from the
Goderich accounting firm, the mood of the
annual meeting was generally optimistic
and reports centered around the ac-
complishments made in the hospitamr
the past year.
Hospital administrator Doug Coventry
noted, "Inspite of increased costs of all
supplies we have been able to complete the
year with an operating surplus, partly due
to the provincial constraint program
which made it possible to contain wage
increases within the budget."
Hospital Board Treasurer Dawna
Westlake noted that $2,000,685 was paid out
in wages in the last year, 74 per cent of the
total budget of $2,708,955. Operating ex-
penses amounted to $953,763 for supplies,
medical staff remuneration, drugs,
medical and surgical supplies.
Capital equipment purchases over the
past year cost $148,029. New equipment
included: ECG, $8,300; obstetrical table,
$12,300; X-ray generator and tube hanger,
$24,000; defibrillator monitor,),500;
security cameras, $3,000; autoclave,
$5,300.
Mrs. Westlake noted that the town
council would be approached each year for
a donation to the capital equipment fund.
Fund raising efforts helped to raise
$354,378 for the new hospital addition and
$10,391 is still owing on the project.
Along with generous public support, the
Ontario government gave the hospital a
$331,333 grant, up considerably from the
$15,621 grant given in 1982. The County of
Huron also supported the building fund
with a $100,954 grant. Public Relations
director Fay Fear was instrumental in
obtaining the county grant. Mrs. Fear
serves as the county representative on the
hospital board.
The Clinton Hospital Auxiliary was also
a major contributor to the building fund,
donating $5,000 to the project. Money was
raised from the annual penny sale, $3,800;
hospital gift shop sales, $1,500; card
parties and miscellaneous fund raising
events, $1,608. Funds also came from the
656 auxiliary members who paid yearly
fees totalling $714.50.
With this year's fund raising efforts, the
Auxiliary was also able to purchase a new
clock for the second floor sunroom.
Mrs. Westlake reported that in order to
raise money, the auxiliary volunteers
donated more than 2,204 hours of their
time.
The Candy Striper program contributed
3,500 hours to hospital work.
Rates to rise
Mrs. Westlake anticipates that the
hospital will raise an extra $7,000 this year
with a room rate increase. The rates for
'Irivate rooms will increase from $40 to $43
and semi -private room rates will go up
from $20 to $23.
The new rates will go into effect on
August 1, 1983 and the most money will be
generated from the increase to the semi-
private rates. Private rooms, she ex-
plained, are few and are seldom used.
The new prices will fall in line with other
rates being charged at area hospitals. The
Wingham and District Hospital has the
highest semi -private rate in the county, at
$26. Private rates are $48 and according to
Clinton administrator Doug Coventry the
Wingham hospital accepts both Visa and
Mastercharge.
Stratford General Hospital rates are:
semi -private, $25; private, $50. Exeter
hospital rates are: semi -private, $22;
private, $44. Seaforth hospital charges:
semi -private, $21; private $42 and the
Goderich hospital rates are: semi -private,
$20; private, $40.
Mr. Coventry noted, "The majority off
patients who ask for private and semi-
private rooms have insurance coverage."
Board of Governors
There were few surprises in the ap-
pointment of the hospital board of
govenors. Leen Rehorst will return as the
board chairman tor another one year
term. Bill Hearn will serve as vice
chairman, Dawna Westlake will continue
as treasurer and Doug Coventry is the
secretary.
Re -appointed to the board were Bob
Campbell, Bill Counter and Marney
Walden. Barb Howson was appointed to
replace Mason Bailey. Mr. Bailey stepped
down from the board due to other com-
mitments.
Dr. Frank Newland Ls the new chief of
staff. Dr. Art Steed in the vice chief and
Dr. Salsbury is the secretary for the
medical staff.
By Shelley McPhee
It may be will into the future before
work is completed, but architects Kyle,
Kyle and Garrett of Stratford have drawn
up preliminary plans for the re -design of
the Clinton Hospital chronic and intensive
care area, otetrical unit and laboratory.
Presently the laboratory is operating in
small quarters in an older section of the
hospital. The chronic, intensive care and
obstetrics units are all located in one area
of the hospital and are not compatible.
At the hospital's annual meeting, ad-
ministrator Doug Coventry noted that
plac.s are underway to see the renovation
of the lab quarters and the second floor
special care areas.
He said, "With support from the com-
munity, careful planning, and a belief in
our future as an active care community
hospital, I am convinced that this can be
accomplished within the next two years."
"My one regret," he added, "is that I
won't be here as administrator to see this
accomplished, but I would like to see it get
started."
After 43 years in the health business,
seven of those at the Clinton hospital, Mr.
Coventry will be retiring in 1984.
The board will be advertising for a new
administrator and will be studying ap-
plications this fall.
Mr. Coventry was instrumental is seeing
the completion of the new emergency wing
and is now concentrating his efforts on the
special unit renovations.
With the much needed changes to the
departments, the Clinton hospital will
come closer to receiving top -rating ac-
creditation from the Canadian Council on
Hospital Accreditation.
The council took a pre -accreditation
survey of the hospital on May 18 and
results of the report are due back by mid-
July.
Marney Walden noted that the council
was particularly interested in the quality
care at the Clinton hospital. The council
also indicated that the hospital was 95 per
cent in good order.
Town hall work progress
By Shelley McPhee
Gilvesy Construction is completing
underpinning work on the Clinton town hall
and library.
Clean-up work is also underway in
Snow in Bayfield? No, Bayfield's beauties were keeping cool on
Saturday by simply turning the hose on. The girls were trying their
luck at the second annual firemen's games. Members of a ladies'
ball team, the Beauty Den Squad met rivals the Bayfield Babes in
the contest. ( Shelley McPhee photo)
Blyth selvage treatment plant dedicated
Decade of planning completed at opening
By Rod Hilts
In 1973, Blyth council discussed the
possiblity of building a sewage treatment
plant. There was considerable concern
about sewage disposal in the core of the
village.
Eleven years later, through a deter-
mined effort by council and aid from the
federal and provincial governments, the
plant is a reality. On June 23, 1983 an of-
ficial dedication ceremony was held at the
plant, commemorating the completion of
the project.
Approximately 55 people attended the
ceremony, including MPP for Huron -
Bruce Murray Elston, former MPP
Murray Gaunt and Doug McTavish, the
regional director for the Ministry of the
Environment.
The overall project, which included the
construction of both the treatment plant, a
large network of sanitary sewers and
service connections and a pumping
station, cost $3.3 million.
Fifty-seven per cent of the cost was
provided by a grant from the provincial
government and 39 per cent by a federal
grant. The remaining cost was covered by
the municipality.
Village Councillor William Howson,
spoke to the crowd on behalf of Reeve Tom
Cronin. Reeve Cronin was unable to attend
as he was attending a conference in
Barrie.
Councillor Howson reflected on how
proud the village was to have such a fine
facility. He also praised the work of Clerk
Larry Walsh, village secretary Ann Nesbit
and town foreman Mery Ritchie and his
crew for their help with the project.
In 1973, Reeve Robin Lawrie, Coun-
cillors John Manning, Bill Howson, Mac
On June 23, an official dedication ceremony took place at the Blyth
Water Pollution Control Plant. Pictured from left to right : Murray
Gaunt, MPP Mu7ay Elston, Blvth councillor William Howson and
Doug McTavish, the regional director from the Ministry of the
Environment (Rod Hilts photo)
Brooks and Rudy Leibold formulated the
idea to build the sewage treatment plant.
Ironically, Councillor Howson is the only
member from the 1973 group that is still
active in municipal politics.
The sewage plant was designed for a
population of 1,300 people and currently
services a population of roughly 950
villagers. The system of sanitary sewers,
on which construction started in June of
1980 and was completed in November of
that year, contains 8,760 meters of 200 mm
to 400 mm sewers. These sewers collect
waste from the 4,480 metres of service
connections.
Construction of the sewage treatment
plant and the network of sewers and
service connections was on a multiple
contract basis. The consulting engineer
was B.M. Ross and Associates Ltd. The
general contractor for the plant was Maple
Engineering of Brampton. The two con-
tracts for si'wers and connections was
handled by Omega Contractors of London
and Haggerty Brothers of Brantford.
Following the ceremony, guests and the
general public were invited to tour the
facility under the guidance off Plant
Superintendent Wayne Rouse.
A reception was held after the tour at the
Blyth Legion Hall.
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preparation for the extensive interior
restoration work. When this preliminary
work is completed, Gilvesy will call ten-
ders for the first phase of renovation. The
electrical, mechanical, plumbing and
heating systems will be installed in the
library in the first phase.
In discussing the town hall work, Clinton
council members became interior
decorators at their June 20 meeting.
Some councillors voiced their concern
over plans to fashion the downstairs
section of the town hall in Danish Modern
style.
Danish Modern is a favorite style of
architect Carlos Vinten, building com-
mittee members noted. They said that this
style has been included in other Vinten
projects and they would prefer a different
decorating style for the Clinton town hall.
Councillor Charlies Burgess noted that
he understood the idea was to maintain the
original style of the buildings. Mayor
Chester Archibald noted that the exterior
will be renovated to its original state, but
the inside of the town hall will be com-
pletely remodelled, with the exception off
outstanding architectural features, like
the open stairway to the second floor, and
the second floor auditorium.
"The town hall will have modern, fun-
ctioning offices in an old facade," Coun-
cillor Jim Hunter added.
Councillor Ross Carter noted, 'The
upstairs will be the real showplace."
iI'eweuer completion 'of the second floor
auditorium is not included in the
restoration plans. While new walls, wiring
and windows will be built, the town will
have to finish the decorating.
Council received good news from the
Ontario Heritage Foundation, in a letter
approving an additional $75,000 grant to
the town hall project. The extra funding is
in addition -to the $125,000 that has already
been approved.
Stanley complex gets
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ID
296,000 COEDgrant
"it's a dream come true", was clerk -
treasurer Mel Graham's reaction to the
news Stanley township's application for a
Canada Ontario Employment Develop-
ment) COED) grant had been successful.
The COED grant will cover $296,000 in
labor costs for the new municipal complex,
which is estimated to cost a total of
$601,820 for labor and materials to erect a
55 by 100 foot community centre, a 55 by
110 foot maintenance garage, a 65 by 65
foot municipal office and a paved parking
area.
The project will employ 35 people shar-
ing 740 work weeks. Hiring through Man-
power offices will begin in two weeks, and
construction will start the first of August.
Clerk Graham said the township will do
its own ordering and contracting. Stanley
council will hire two key people to coor-
dinate the program, and intends to pur-
chase as much material locally as passi-
ble.
Now that the new municipal complex is a
reality, Graham is busy filling out more
applications. The maintenance garage is
eligible for an additional $40,000 I for
materials only), from the ministry of
transportation and cornmunirat ion.
Clerk Graham will apply to Wintario's
capital program for $90,000 to cover one-
third of the cost of materials for the com-
munity centre, and a further 50 per cent of
the balance ) another $.30,000) through the
ministry of tourism and recreation's com-
munity recreation centres act. He also
hopes for a New Horizons grant to pur-
chase some of the furnishings.
The Sarnia consulting engineers
Letham, Jarvela and Robertson Ltd. will
draw up the plans and specifications.
Day Care fee withdrawal
concerns Tuckersmith
By Wilma Oke
Tuckersmith Township Council is con-
cerned over the provincial government's
decision to withdraw funding of day care
centres by January 1, 1986.
Only families who can prove a financial
need ) having income of $5,500 or Tess per
year) will continue to be subsidized by the
federal government. Families in a better
financial situation will have to nay the full
fee themselves.
Presently the indirect subsidy is 80 per
cent, with the federal government paying
50 per rent and the provincial government
paying 30 per cent, and the rennaining 20
per cent is paid by the working mother and
the local municipality.
The ministry wants municipalities to in-
crease day care fees for non -subsidized
parents to reflect actual costs of providing
day care by 1986. Currently. day rare rates
charged to parents reflect less than half
the actual cost of providing day care
( Most municipalities have decided to wait
awhile before raising day, care fees but a
number have including the City of Strat-
ford and the Town of St. Marys.)
Tuckersmith Township Council has writ-
ten a letter of protest for the subsidy
withdrawal to the Honorable Frank Drea
of the Ministry of Community and Family
Affairs. In it council listed a number of
reasons why the subsidy should not be
withdrawn including the fact that the
government gave large grants to provide
day care centres for working mothers and
now with the state of the economy as it is
grants are needed more than ever.
Archibald Drain
Court of Revision was held on the Ar-
chibald Drain with Engineer Henry ('enten
attending as well as three interested
ratepayers Robert McNaughton, Laird
Finlayson and William Charters, There
were no appeals. Tenders were opened for
the work on the drain and for the closed
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