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The Goderich Signal-Star, 1982-11-03, Page 1134 YEAR -44 erich SIGNALwwwww ST GODERICH, ONTARIO, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 1982 50 CENTS PER COPY Will fight Bluewater Centre closure Staff battles minister over centre - 'OUR FAMILY, �fA ��i' [ME ^'� IT as'viARE NOT A : Ho USE MST - ANYWHERE Staff from the Bluewater Centre for the Develop- mentally Handicapped staged a picket on the Square Tuesday protesting the closure of the centre. Staff, parents and interested citizens are launching a campaign to prevent the closure and their efforts have the backing of Goderich town council and Huron County Council. ( photo by Dave Sykes The Bluewater Centre for the Developmentally Handicapped will not be phased out without a fight. Huron County council„Goderich town council and Bluewater Centre staff have all. expressed displeasure at the prospect of the centre's closure and ' the groups will fight to retain the facility. At its regular meetiang Monday, Goderich council unanimously endorsed a motion requesting council to petition Premier William Davis, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, Claude Bennett, Minister of Community and Social Services, Frank Drea, Huron -Middlesex MPP, Jack Riddell, and Conservative MP Murray Cardiff, asking that the Bluewater Centre be allowed to continue in its present use. The motion also asked that the Minister meet with town council and that public hearings be held with respect to the closure, to seek local input. Last week, Drea confirmed that six institutions for the developmentally handicapped across the province, would be closed over the next five years. The phased closures were part of a government plan to reduce institution population and integrate the developmentally handicapped into the community by way of group homes. Others, requiring institutional care, would be placed m institutions in other areas of the province. The government was scheduled to close six of 17 . -owned-institutions-andSt..-lawrence Regional Centre in Brockville was listed as the first closure in 1983-84. Bluewater staff report that Brockville employees have already received their six-month notice. With Bluewater Centre second on the list, the employees are noticeably nervous, expecting ter- mination notice to come within days. Drea said the centre would close in the latter part of the 1983 fiscal year or in early 1984. In a release, Drea said the selection of institutions scheduled for closure was due to several factors. The proximity of other institutions for the develop- mentally handicapped was taken into consideration, as well as the effects of relocation on residents and staff, the economic impact on the local community and the operating costs and projected capital ex- penditures. The government expects to save $23 million with the closures and has promised to pump $33 million back into meeting the needs of the developmentally handicapped. Reeve Don Wheeler said the govern- ment's figures don't make sense. "They will save $23 million to close institutions and it will cost $33 million to relocate residents. Why would they spend more,” he asked. "They are spending $10 million to put 1,100 people out of work. There was absolutely no need for them to spend $5 million to tell people to vote. They did the same thing to the psychiatric hospital. Everyday in a Toronto paper . you read about problems with former psychiatric patients who are cheated and abused in the community." The closures will reduce ministry staff by 1,163 and 989 residents will have to be relocated. Drea has said efforts will be made to relocate surplus staff in other institutions, community-based alternatives or other areas within the public service, if they qualify. The residents whom the ministry intends to in- corporate. into the community will be drawn from all 17 institutions and those incapable of living in group home settings will be institutionalized elsewhere. "No resident will move into the community until we are assured that he or she has an appropriate place to go," Drea said. The minister has promised $33 million to be used for expansion of community services and programs to meet the needs of the developmentally han- dicapped. New services, Drea said, will include two types of supervised community living. Under the first type, the handicapped adult will live in an apartment, with supervision and support geared to needs. Under the second type, the family home program, the han- dicapped individual will be placed in a family home. Deputy minister Robert McDonald said the ministry's long-term plan would maximize alter- native employment opportunities and suggested the move was in the best interest of the residents. Over the next five years,in co-operation with the Ontario Association for the Mentally Retarded, McDonald saidthe ministry would develop 750 community living spaces, .1,000 - family support,._ places, 244 group homes places, 1,881 employment training places, 200 community beds for handicapped children and 250 beds for handicapped adults. Staff concerned about jobs.and resident care Staff and parents expressed genuine concerns for jobs and the future needs of handicapped residents of the Bluewater Centre at a special meeting Monday. Subsequent to the announcement by Community and Social Services Minister Frank Drea, that the Bluewater was one of six institutions to be closed, staff, parents and interested citizens have mounted an attack to save the facility for handicapped adults. With the threat of closure looming within the next year, Drea, the provincial governmentand newspapers will be bombarded with the concerns of staff and parents, who have legitimate fears about the placement and relocation of handicapped residents and job security. Mrs. D. Potter, president of the Local 122 of the Ontario Public Service Employees Union, said that group homes will be filled: with people, considered unsuitable for such projects in the past. "Government figures indicated that 1,000 retarded children are born each year and only the places vacated by death, about 50 a year, will be replaced," she said. "That' means that 950 come into the com- munity and the government has promised to; keep them at home and provide day care programs." "They are closing the small facilities that are doing an excellent job and group homes will be filled with people not considered suitable before. Many Bluewater residents have gone to homes and come back." ' Staff is concerned that residents placed in larger facilities will receive less care considering the ratio of residents to staff will increase. They also suggest that care in group homes is less professional. Sue Ottenheimer, a direct care counsellor in a low functioning house at Bluewater Centre, expressed concern for the residents and their future. "In the low functioning house the emphasis is on self-help skills such as face washing, proper eating, basic fundamentals and life skills. Few have'verbal speech andmost are severely retarded," .she said. .."They couldn't function in a group home setting because the same quality care, routine, staffing, and setting is not provided. It's too demanding for their level." "If they go to larger institutions, which will become monsters with all the relocations, they will always have a bed and meals but not the same quality care for their emotional needs. They have that at Bluewater." Ottenheimer explained the residents have come to call the Bluewater Centre their home and relocation would be a traumatic experience. "It's home to them and moving would just cause stress and anxiety and generally have a traumatic effect," she said. "They can't adjust that quickly. They are older people in their 50's and.60's and they need time to adjust. They aren't children, they're adults and it will take time to get them ready for the community." "I don't know where my residents will be going and what programs they will be involved in. It's a gamble but I've worked too hard with them to gamble. The level of care .will regress and they have no rights in the matter, no say where they're going. These are adults and we're uprooting them from their home and sticking them somewhere else without any say." With the announcement of the closure, staff morale has suffered greatly and Ottenheimer indicated it is impossible to motivate residents if the'staff is not motivated. Those same concerns about relocation and quality of carewere reflected by parents. Two parents ,suggested the closure of Bluewater Centre would be traumatic for their children, a devastating move. Mayoralty candidates speak on issues ERNIE FISHER Mayoral candidate Erne Fisher is making a bid to return to municipal politics following a 20 year ab- sence. Fisher was actively involved in municipal politics during the 1950s and 60s having served as councillor,. reeve and deputy -reeve and six years as mayor from 1958-63. A Goderich native, and former Champion Road Machinery employee, he seized the opportunity to work with the provincial government in 1963. He worked in several government rhinistries before retiring last year. During his 20 year career in Toronto he worked as the co-ordinator of volunteer services for the Department of Health, later moved to a post in the Department of Labour and in 1970 was appointed director of the Lotteries Branch. It is the combination of experience at the municipal, county and provincial level, which Fisher believes will prove invaluable as mayor in Goderich. "My work at the provincial level has broadened my experience and contact with municipal government and servicing.needs of people," be said "That type of experience°and autocratic management will come in handy." Leadership is the main issue in the mayoralty race, he contends,.. adding. that -.the -type of .management y term will affect Goderich"ftii`inaliy years. exercisedover the three-year "You must talk to people, listen and only get the whip out when necessary. Town decisions must be based on the knowledge and experience of an the people at the table," he said. "It will take that type of leadership. The mayor must harness all the energy, knowledge and experience of council and bring the ideas into focus. Leadership and management is important." „l The next term will be one of restraint for council Fisher says, a time to cut the frills and exercise discretion in spending. While essential goods, and services must be maintained, council will have to take a good look at spending he said. He suggested, however, that tourist promotion should be pursued considering that the tourist trade benefits everyone in town. "We have geographic advantages here and we must take advantage of them," he said. The new three-year municipal term is more ad- vantageous, to larger municipalities Fisher admitted, but added that it will work well for Goderich with the right blend of people on council. "All we need is a co=operative effort and even with a diversity of opinion the greater good for the greater number of people comes out," he said. Fisher said his retirement, knowledge of the workings of government ministries and contacts at those levels, would be an asset to the town. "I have time to put into the job and I have time to listen to people's problems. Considering the times, the best approach is one of common sense," he said. "To be effective in the job you have to' have con- fidence in yourself. I. like this town,,it's'a good place to work and live and my family is here. I know my way around the provincial government and I can help this town." _ _ __ EILEEN FALMER _ _ Mayoral candidate Eileen Palmer believes the neXt, term of council will be a eritica>;:.one that will require a strong council and strong leadership. First-:elected._to council in 1972, Palmer has since "served as deputy -reeve and reeve before losing the mayoralty election in i98OE. ' With roots firmly established in Goderich, she views the election as an opportunity to serve the electorate and feels qualified with her experience at the municipal and county level. The Mayor's job will be a demanding and critical one. "The job requires a degree of intelligence, ex- perience and dedication. It is time consuming and a candidate must have the time considering the mayor is an ex officio member of all committees," she said. "But the mayor must attend these meetings to get a better grasp of the issues and problems facing the town." Palmer is not supportive of the government's move to three year municipal terms but claims the extra Hob Allen Stan Profit year makes it a critical term for council, a term that will require a strong council and strong leadership. Restraint. will be the operative word for the in- coming_council and Palmer says the mill rate "will have to be stabilized or even decreaimeaning that some services .and progran s may ultimately be cut from the budget. "About one in five people in Goderich are on fixed incomes and council will have to estabilsh spending ;priorities," she said. -I would like to think council will feel the same way about the mill rate." industry will play an important role in the development of the town and while attracting new industry is no small task, Palmer said the issue must be explored with verve. "It is difficult to attract industry but we have a harbour that could be used to greater advantage and we have good land for small industry," she said. "We have to consider incentives to attract industry and broaden the tax base to alleviate the burden of property tax." To that end, Palmer recommends the amalgamation of tourism and industry under one committee of council and further suggested that town administrator, Larry McCabe, could ably represent • EDITORT = L Your vote is crucial to town Never has your choice for Goderich town council been more important, particularly your choice for the mayor who will lead that council. For the first time in history, you will be electing a slate of municipal officers for a three-year term. That means it will be a full year longer between elections - and a possible two years more after the next election to allow a new .-payor and council time to do what didn't get done in the previous three years. Or to undo those things that have been done poorlythroughout the old administration. Be clear about it. You are making a possible five-year choice at the polls on Monday. A mistake in voter judgment could become a five-year regret. One of the issues that will be of immediate concern to the people of Goderich and area will be the future of the Bluewater Centre for the Developmentally Handicapped." But there are other issues, each of them having its effect on your personal lifestyle and the economic future of this community., Your attendance at the polls is absolutely essential. A high voter turnout is the only way to insure that the voice of the majority of ratepayers in this municipality is heard. Voters who remain at home allow others to make the decisions for them and this year, with a three-year commitment in the offing, it is vital that each voter ex- press his or her opinion at the polls. Your choice should be made as you would make other hard-nosed business decisions. Take stock of the can- didates in the running by putting each one through your own question grid. Measure their merits as the future mayor of Goderich in the light of these considerations: What is the real reason each candidate is in the.race? Which candidate brings the most experience to the job? What kind of experience? Which candidate is the best leader? Which candidate is able to give the most time to the job? Could another equally qualified candidate give more time? Which candidate will exert the most influence at all levels of government? Which candidate can speak authoritatively and con- fidently about the needs of Goderich and the problems of this municipality's citizens? Which candidate will be the least intimidated when the going gets tough? If you have never before bothered to vote in the town elections, get involved this year for your own sake. It's a three-year term with a five-year impact. There are some issues upcoming that require dynamic . leadership, political know-how and some plain common sense. Whoever is chosen should be the pick of a majority of all the voters. ' This is no popularity contest. It's an election in which your own personal goals and objectives are at stake. Vote - and vote wisely. -R.G.Shrier, Publisher, The G,oderichSignalStar Candidates meet .Wednesday night Town of Goderich taxpayers will have an op- portunity to meet and question candidates running for office in the November 8 municipal election. A candidates meeting has been set up for Wed- nesday, November 3 in the gymnasium at Robertson Memorial Public School. The meeting will begin at 7.30 p.m. The format of the candidates meeting is quite simple, All candidates running for mayor, council, the PUC and both boards of education will be given two to three minutes speaking time. Following the candidates' presentations, taxpayers will have an • opportunity • to question candidates and offer suggestions and opinions. • INSIDE THE SIGNAL -STAR Eileen Palmer 1?rhie.Fisher the town in the capacity of industrial commissioner on occasion. The three-year term will also call for a united c91n1 it audPalll_1er has.definite ideas On. that ._ I feel strong about a -united council and would like to closet council for a day or two .for a think tank. I .want a council that thinks together and works together," she said. "This is also the time for a mini review of the committee structure finances, projects and staff." The town will have to take a hard-line approach -to spending in 1983 and that approach will necessitate clear and distinct spending pol'icie's and priorities. Palmer said the town has unfairly taken criticism for education spending claiming the electorate should pose questions to the board concerning the cost of education. " STAN PROFIT A 12 -year veteran of council, Stan Profft believes it is time to put that municipal experience to work in the mayor's chair First elected to council in 1970, Profit has also • r Turn to page 2 • Football finals j-union-und--senior-V-ikings-footbakl--tearns have advanced to the Huron -Perth finals to be held • both • ... .,,.... , _ _:..... ,� juniors' , .., play here in Goderich on Saturday. Tire junior`s will play the Listowel Lords at 12:30 p.m. and the seniors will 'meet the Stratford Northwestern Huskies. about -2 ,p.m. See the Recreation section of this newspaper for details, Comedy review Aoderich Little Theatre, has opened its 1982-83 • season with a comedy entitled Cactus Flower. See Joanne Buchanan's review and pictures on. page 6A. Now that's scary Another Halloween has come and gone. Despite the controversy here about. which day to mark the oc- casion, kids had their usual fun dressing up. See pictures and stories on the different Halloween events throughout the paper.