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Clinton News-Record, 1984-10-17, Page 1Y WEATHER 1984 1983 19 15 12 2 eL 1,-J LJ s OE c.:3 iunciing WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 17, 19 CLINTON - Clinton is one of the five Huron County municipalities that will receive Ontario Neighborhood Improve- ment Plan (ONIP) grants, Municipal Affair and Housing Minister Claude Bennett an- nounced this week. The other municipalities who received funding approval included: Tuckersmith Township, $175,000; Wingham, $125,000; Brussels, $150,000; Howick Township, - $150,000. Clinton will receive $175,000 from the ministry. This is the second year that Clin- ton has applied for ONIP funding. Council originally hoped that the grant money could help finance the Town Hall -Library restora- tion project. However, Mayor Chester Ar- chibald noted at council's October 15 meeting, "It's too late for the town hall, but it can be used on other large expenditures in 1985." With the application the municipality had to submit a series of proposals for town im- provement. Before funding , is made available a detailed `'plan must be com- ' pleted, outlining how the money will be spent. The Community Improvement Program will take six to eight •months to complete. Clerk Cam Proctor noted that some municipalities have hiredr, consultants to draw up the detailed proposal. He also noted, "Funding must be split between hard and soft services." Two groups have approached Clinton council in the past year, seeking possible financial assistance and were considered in the original ONIP application. In. March, representatives from the Clin- Over l75peopie seek information on ton Public Hospital Board of Directors met with Clinton Council to discuss plans for a proposed medical centre. Costs for a one - storey, 6,000 square foot building were estimated at $300,000. The centre would replace the former Nurses' Residence facility, and provide of- fices for doctors, dentists and visiting con- sultants, a labratory, X-ray facilities and pharmacy. A second group, members of the Clinton Lawn Bowling Club have been asking coun- cil for more than two years for financial assistance to help build a rjew clubhouse at their Mary and Issac Streets location. Members believe that new facility would not only improve the look of the club, but also the appearance of Clinton's core area. These two requests were brought up by Councillor Bee Cooke at council's October. meeting. She asked, "Will we have to share it (ONIP. funding) with the hospital and bowling greens?" Clerk Proctor noted that the money has not been promised; but these two proposals are under consideration for funding. Regarding the medical centre proposal, Mayor Archibald countered, "I can't see the town getting into that at all. The people who benefit• from than are the highest income earners in the country." Clerk Proctor noted, "The ONIP applica- tion did include consideration for th'e medical centre funding." He said that only one municipality in Ontario has ever used ONIP. funds for a medical centre and ONIP wouldn't say if such a project would be ap- provedagain. Over the next six months the details of the ONIP funding will be categorized and detail- ed in the Community Improvement Pro- gram. Payments, Clerk Proctor noted, won't be available before 1985 and funding will be spread over a three to four year basis. Coun- cil supported the long term financing since municipalities who receive ONIP assistance must match the funding on a dollar -to -dollar basis. • Tuckersmith Clerk Jack McLachlan said he will suggest to his council that a specialist be hired to draw up the Communi- ty Irnprovement Program for the township. These programs must be incorporated in muncipal official plans before funding is made available. The ONIP program began in 1981 and has since provided more'than $43 -million to 141 Ontario municipalities for neighborhood projects including roads, sidewalks, parks, community centres and recreational facilities. ONIP is one of the renewal initiative pro- jects developed by the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing. The program, along with two others, the Commercial Area Im- provement Program and the Business Im- provement Area concept assist municipalities and the private sector in community renewal activities. Under ONIP, the province provides fun- ding to help improve conditions in older, deteriorating predominantly residential areas, occupied by low and moderate in- come households. The province contributes 50 per. cent toward the cost of ONIP work. Clinton, Tuckersmith, Wingham, Brussels and Howick Are among that 42 Ontario municipalities who will receive $7.3 million in ONIP funding. • " BY PATRICK R A recent public informati n' ;;i neet{ the conversion of the Blue ;s r ReJ: al Centre for the.Developmenta y Handicap- ped, to a detention facilitynngif- fenders, drew a large crowd and a mixed bag of comments rangingfrom supportive, taopenly hostile. The meeting, held October 9, at the Goderich •Township Community Centre, attracted an estimated 170-180 in- terested people: Mostly residents of Goderich and the surrounding area. Local residents were able to express their concerns and question two Ministry of Cor- rectional Services representatives, on the matter. Victor J. Crew, regional director for the ministry's western region and Carl tendon centre for youth • • DeGrandis co-ordinator of implimentation pointed but that the courts have the option of of the new Young Offenders Act, as well as Manfred Gitt, of the Ministry of Govern- ment Services, responded to questions and commented on the centre's upcoming cora version. HEART OF MATTER Once the floor was thrown open, ques- tioners wasted no time getting to the heart of the matter and pulled no punches. The very first questioner, Goderich Township Councillor Pat Osborn wanted to know if the future "inmates" of the centre would include "murderers and rapists". DeGrandis responded that offenders con- victed of any offence coveted by the act could wind up at the centre. But he also trying any individual accused of "heinous crimes", Such as rape, murder or armed robbery, in adult criminal court. In those 'caste; he'' said, the"'coiin4i ted offenders would be Sent to an adult institution. Osborn also ask If .any of the future Bluewater residents would be attending local'schools. He.was told that the institution would have 119TH YEAR ® No0 42 Dan Kennaley, Communications Relations in Watership Planning Co-ordinator with the Ausable-Bayfield Conservation Authority, was one of the leaders who took hikers along the trails at Bannockburp Wildlife Area. Approximately 50. people of all ages turned out to enjoy the autumn weather and the exercise. Anne Nare•jko photo ) its own schools, workshops , and training facilities and the majority of young of- fenders will attend school within the facility. However, in certain circumstances, some "selected residents" would be allowed to at- tend local schools.. Tann to page 2. a.y Huron's. longest bridge opened COLBORNE TWP. - The October 12 ceremony to open the largest bridge in Huron County was attended by represen- tatives of both the county and province, in- cluding Transport and Communication Minister James Snow, and a crowd of about 50 people. Mr. Snow cut the red ribbon to declare the bridge officially completed after approx- imately one hour's delay due to weather conditions. Fog in .Toronto kept the minister from arriving at the scheduled time of 10 a.m. Huron County Warden Tom Cunningham listed and congratulated the many people in- volved in initiating, funding and building the -`485 foot, five span bridge, among them Huron -Bruce MPP Murray Elston and Huron -Middlesex MPP Jack Riddell. The warden also had some good news for those funding the project. County Engineer Robert Dempsey had estimated the bridge to cost about $1.4 million, . and although all the costs have not yet been calculated, No Snow in leader's race COLBORNE TWP. - While it is estimated that between 10 and as many as 16 can- didates may contest the Ontario Pro- gressive Conservative leadership following Premier Bill Davis' retirement, at least one cabinet minister has stated he will not be a candidate at the provincial leadership con- vention. Transport and Communication Minister James Snow said, while opening a bridge in Colborne Township near Holmesville, he is not planning to get into the race. "There will be quite a number of my col- leagues as candidates, but.I am not planning to run," he said following the ceremonies. He refused to speculate which of the rumored candidates, anliong them Treasurer Larry Grossman and Agriculture Minister Dennis Timbrell, is the one to beat. Mr. Snow also said he didn't favor any of these potential candidates at this time but repeated "quite a number will be running." "I will be waiting for a while until they (the candidates) campaign in earnest. Then I will support the candidate I feel is most capable." During his speech to the crowd assembled for the bridge opening ceremony, the minister indicated he was surprised by Mr. Davis' retirement. "I thought we'd be put- ting signs up this week." Warden. Cunningham said the structure should cost about $1:15 million. Mr. Snow congratulated the county on the bridge and said that Huron County may be the last county to have the capacity to undertake such a large project. He said these projects are usually tendered to con- tractors. Transportation and Communication Minister Janies Snow cut the ribbon on October 12 to officially open the largest bridge in Huron County. Assisting in the Ceremony to open die Colborne Township bridge were left, Huron County Warden Tom Cunningham and right, Turnberry Reeve and Roads Committee Chairman Brian McBurney. unk no problem here The "Punk" look. is not a problem in Huron County secondary schools says one of the schools' principals. Joe Wooden, principal of Central Huron Secondary School in Clinton, told the Huron County Board of Education trustees at their October meeting that that look isn't a pro- blem. He said the punk look can be a problem in urban areas. Mr. Wooden was representing the prin- cipals from the county's five secondary schools presenting the schools' guidelines for school conduct. The general view taken on dress is that it be clean and acceptable in the school. Trustee Joan Van den Broeck questioned the principals on the dress code' noting they are open to an individual's point of view. As an example she said earrings on a young man may be offensive to some. Mr. Wooden said the committee setting up the guidelines spent more time than he thought necessary on the dress code. He said it is tough for schools to come up with dress codes, because society in general doesn't have any codes for dress. "You can wear almost anything anywhere," said Mr. Wooden. Both he and Goderich District Collegiate Institute principal Herb Murphy com- mented that the only situation where a dress code has to be enforced is when a student wears a T-shirt with an offensive slogan on it. Mr. Murphy said he has never had any dif- ficulty or has been challenged by a parent when a child has been sent home for wear- ing an offensive T-shirt. F.E. Madill Secondary School in Wingham is the only one 'which clearly defines the school's dress code. ' "Students are expected to avoid extreme forms of dress and grooming which the Ad - 'ministration deems to be in poor taste. Shorts and T -Shirts with obscenities or slogans which are offensive or in poor taste are not permitted. Shoes must be worn. In shops students must wear shoes which af- ford some protection from sharp objects. Students with long hair may be required to wear hats in areas involving machines." The Goderich secondary school principal said there is difficulty ery year with students wearing short . However h did add that he can live 'th patche leans, recognizing the fact that n f es can afford designer jeans. No to death sentence says county council BY STEPHANIE LEVESQUE An "ambivalent" resolution favoring the return of capital punishment was turned down by Huron County Council in a 23 - 5 recorded vote. At its October meeting, many reeves said a resolution from the United Counties of Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry was too broad, particularly in the statement that "the Government of Canada be requested to re -introduce and apply capital punishment, through the judicial system, for the wrongful and/or intentional killing of human beings". "Killing is wrong - of any nature," said Stanley Township Reeve Paul Steckle. Bayfield Reeve Dave Johnston, a former police officer, said while the threat of capital punishment may act as a deterrent he too felt the motion was too broad. He re- quested a recorded vote be taken. Hay Deputy Reeve Tony Bedard disagreed. "I concur with this. Maybe it is a little broad, but it is broad the other way," said the deputy reeve. The discussion was taking place because the county's executive committee recom- mended that council agree with the resolu- tion. Reeve Steckle, Johnston and Deputy Reeve Bedard all serve on the executive committee. Another executive committee member, Colborne Township Reeve Russel Ker- nighan, said while he came fully prepared to support the motion, he too would not support it because the resolution was making too broad a statement. He personally does not support capital punishment, said Reeve Kernighan. "I wonder if the executive committee thought of having a resolution that could be supported. I believe there is a place for capital punishrnent, but I can't support this either," said Morris Township Reeve Bill Elston. No rewording of the resolution was con- sidered by the executive committee: Reeve Steckle suggestedcorporal punish- ment be implemented, noting there is no recourse if a person is wrongfully hanged, but "you can always say you're sorry to a man whipped wrongfully". Those voting in favor of the motion were Deputy Reeve Bedard, Warden Tom Cunn- ingham, Turnberry Reeve Brian McBurney, Usborne Reeve Gerry Prout and Hay Reeve Lionel Wilder. The rest of county council voted against the motion except for the absent Howick Township Reeve Jack Stafford, Goderich Township Reeve Grant Stirling and East Wawanosh Reeve Neil Vincent. 04