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The Goderich Signal-Star, 1986-02-19, Page 1Storm sewers wens cause beach derch ALS 138 YEAR -07 contamination -1C GODERICH, ONTARIO, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY4211-1986 60 CENTS PER COPY A proposal by the Ministry of the En- vironment to correct sources of bacterial contamination in Goderich storm sewers will be referred to the works committee. Storm sewers on North Harbor Road on the south side of the golf course, on Waterloo Street at the golf course, on Elgin Street at the base of the beach bluff and upstream from the pipe that the treatment plant discharges sewage into have been identified as sources of contamination to the beach. The ministry proposes in conjunction with the municipal engineer to take samples from the sewers during dry condi- tions and wet weather storm water runoff conditions to correct the situation. $1500 for Bay City weekend The town of Goderich will once again be participating in the St.. Patrick's Day weekend in Bay City, Michigan. At its Feb. 17 meeting, Goderich council approved $1500 be allocated to cover the expenses of the Goderich Legion Branch 109 color party and the Clinton Pipe Band who will attend this year. Councillors who attend will have their expenses covered under the travel schedule by-law. Town leases lot for parking The parking lot on South Street owned by Goderich Little Theatre has been leased by the town of Goderich for public parking. An agreement between the two parties passed by by-law at council's Feb. '17 meeting makes the town responsible for maintenance, snow removal,erecting and maintaining parking signs and con- structing the parking lot including paving, curbs, landscaping and lines. Tourist committee Winter carnival There's nothing like a bright, sunny day to injectagood measure of enthusiasm into winter carnival activities and the students of GDCI were in a playfull mood Wednesday as they engaged in a myriad of winter antics. From balloon tossing to teacher on a sled races to broumball games, both students,,and teachers participated in the one -day, event. Above, Ray Bedard grimaces as he4.lcad*his. team in. the..tug:of-war-competition'-with help.�from, Christine Stapleton (background). In the other photo, Christina Crowley grimaces as a team-mate rolls over top in a bizarre but friendly competition. (photos by Dave Sykes) appointed After receiving applications from eight interested people, Goderich'' administra- tion and personnel committee chose four members of the public to sit on the tourist committee . which will work with Industrial -Tourism Promoter Robin Stuart. While applicants included J.M. Crawford, Richard and Sharon Wendler, Donelda Brindley, Cindy Bazinet, Dave Harrison, Don Hasson and Bob Cornish, the committee will consist of Judy Crawford, Richard Wendler, Donelda Brindley and Bob Cornish along. with Coun. Bill Cliffordand Mayor Eileen Palmer. The naekBbprk appointed.bY bY,- , ? at council's Feb. 17 meeting. INSIDE THE SIGNAL -STAR Council agrees to dissolve Library Board saY•.. BY HENRY HESS By an overwhelming margin of 25-6, Huron County Council has decided to pro- ceed with plans to dissolve the Huron Coun- ty Library Board and replace it with a com- mittee of council. The change, which is scheduled to take ef- fect next January, will still require a private member's bill to be passed by the Ontario Legislature. This would allow the council as. a whole to act as the library board, with the present board becoming a committee which would report to council. The library board issue proved to be the hottest topic handled by council at its Feb. 6 meeting in Goderich, sparking considerable discussion and some vigorous questions, especially from Exeter Reeve Bill Mickle. However it became clear most council members agreed with the plan to bring the library board more firmly under the control of county council, which provides the ma- jority of its funding. 'Hulled Reeve Tom Cunningham, who chairs the library board, strongly supported ted the proposed change, he said will make absolutely no difference in the day-to- day operation of the library. "The only dif- ference is we at this table would have some :say." • He noted that a committee would have to come to council for approval ofjts decisions, rather than reporting after the fact. In a prepared statement which he had read to council earlier in tt�e, day, Cunn- ingham assured members. that committee meetings would continue to be open "in ac- cordance with county policy", and the com- position of the committee would remain the same, with three non-members of council. He also reminded council that prior to 1984 the library board had functioned as a com- mittee of council, with all matters being brought to council for discussion and ap- proval. This changed when, "as a result of pressures by certain individuals," the board decided to conduct itself strictly in accor- d dance with the Act, which permits library boards to act autonomously, he said. "It is now our intention to legalize the system which had been in place since the in- ception of the Huron County Library until 1984." Colborne Reeve James R. Kernighan was even more blunt, telling council that unless the concerns about tfie library board were settled there could bea fight over the • budget. He said when he first 14came to county derstood the roads committee council he un was the "plum" and the library and other committees were not as important. Con- sequently he was surprised to find it was the library board which dominated discussion in the corridors and back rooms. "I have seen the frustration and exaspera- tion building up," said Mr. Kernighan, ex • plaining part.of the cause was "being told it was an autonomous' board and we didn't have any input except through the coun- cillors (who sit on the board) and at budget time." "I felt this matter would be resolved today or at the time of setting the library fun- ding," he added. "If that's the only control we have, we will use it." He urged councillors to "be very, very careful", saying he is afraid that if coun- cillors continue to feel they do not have enough opportunity for input, "they will be looking at' the budget in a negative man- ner:" "I haven't made, up my mind (how to vote)," Kernighan concluded, but he said he wanted to see the matter settled and the library board and council restored to a more harmonious relationship. Just prior to this, Mickle had told his fellow reeves that the Exeter council was concerned about the proposed change and would like answers to some questions. Why is the change required at this par- ticular time, he asked, noting that county council already held, a Majority on the library board and also controlled the purse strings. He also asked about the costs in- volved in changing the legislation and how it might affect the funding of the county library. He got no answer on the question of cost, but was assured there would be no change in the eligibility for provincial funding: Mickle was supported by Goderich Reeve Harry Worsell, who said the library is runn- ing well and he could not see the need for a change, as well as by East Wawanosh Reeve Ernest Snell, Exeter Deputy Reeve Lossy Fuller and Goderich Deputy Reeve John Doherty. Both Snell and Doherty said they . had received many telephone calls on the issue. Those five councillors were also the only ones to vote against the motion dissolving the"library board (the Goderich reeve has two votes) in the recorded vote which followed the discussion. A number of other local reeves, many of whom are in their first term on county coup- Turn to page 3 • Waterworks budget increases 2.3 per cent. BY SHARON DIETZ The 1986 operating budget for the Goderich Water Works was approved at the Public Utilities Commission meeting Feb. 13. The budget shows an increase of 2.3 per cent with the overall total increas- ing from $262,700 to $268,900. It was pointed out that the debenture on the capital cost of the pumping and filtra- tion plant has been retired five years before the original date of maturity. Staff salary increases were five per cent last year and a three per cent increase has been included in this year's budget. The budget was presented by Maurice Wilkinson of the Ministry of the Environ- ment and Mark Bell, superintendent of the filtration plait. Wilkinson told the. com- mission members, the tenders for the con- struction struction ofthe plant expansion wil in April. He said the amount budgeted for electricity is high because disruptions are anticipated during the construction period. , Willkinson said he expects the expansion will make the plant fairly well automated and while the plant requires four fulltime and two'parttime staff now, only four part- time staff will be (necessary after the ex- pansion is completed. Wilkinson told the commission the in- take structure which actually draws in water from the lake requires repair and in his opinion, construction of a new intake - structure could be included in the plant ex- pansion, to perthit the work to be covered by the grant money to be made available for the expansion project. The commission decided to refer the matter to B.M. Ross and Associates, engineers for the commission, to prepare plans for the new intake structure. Wilkinson also suggested that in .light of the situation along the St. Clair River, where trace. contaminants have been detected in the drinking water of some municipalities in the area, the commission purchase temporary equipment to flush , the town's drinking water with activiated. carbon. Wilkinson said the situation changes from day to day and shouldthere ever be an accident upstream on the Maitland River and contaminants are flushed downstream into the lake, the town should be prepared to flush the drinking water immediately if tests showed evidence of trace contaminants. Wilkinson said space to store this equip- ment is included in the plans for the plant expansion because space was allocated for carbon flushing equipment when the plans were prepared. • Wilkinson was quick to point out there is no documentation to say there is a problem with Goderlch's drinking water., "This is just insurance. We're being over- cautious." he said. In other business, the specifications for a new pickup truck, a backhoe loader and a chassis and digger derrick were reviewed. All three items are included in this year's budget, said PUC manager Evert Middel. Mayor Eileen Palmer suggested a five year forecast for replacement and an in- ventory of equipment would avoid such a huge capital expenditure in one year. A five year forecast and inventory d make it so much easier to budget for these things, said the mayor. go ou Councii1OrSr?'fUSe to support absenteeism guideline A motion to review the procedural by- law to address the concern of absenteeism at meetings died at the council table when no one would move or second the motion. Coming from the administration and , personnel committee, the, motion was recommended by Mayor Eileen Palmer because "Continued absence weakens the Whole structure" of council, she said. "Absenteeism isn't a big problem but there is nothing in the procedural by-law to cover it and I thought we should have a look at it. The Municipal Act addresses the subject but maybe we could penalize absent members monetarily," she said. Palmer said that council could adopt a policysimilar to the one used by the Goderich PUC which deducts from the monthly salary of absent members. Of course; she said, members who are absent because of illness, an unexpected event or vacations would be exempt. Her concern arose from a- committee meeting recently where neither member showed up (though one had phoned with his regrets) even though there were deputations and serious • matters to deal with. "'That's just not acceptable," she said. � She said she's not concerned thatthe mo- tion died since it "did make the point that absenteeism is being noticed." Neither Coun. Bill Clifford, the ad, rninistratioit and personnel committee •chairman nor Coun. John Stringer, an ad- Ministration committee 'neither virould: Junior C hockey Goderich'' Junior C hbckey team, the Goderich Sailors had their moments dur- ing their first season, but they salvaged their pride with a fine team effort, before losing to Port Elgin in double overtime in their best of five quarter final OHA series. See the final Sailors report of the season on page 6A of today's sports section. comment on why nonsupport was given to the motion. Coun. Peter McCauley,, another member said he w the 't suppotration rt the motion oun- ,woiildn'tsuppo about til 'dtles . not have any - say absenteeism tinder the.Municipal Act. The Municipal Mt• says a council member can be absent from meetings for three consecutive months without any repercussions. Finest country inn The Benmiller Inn has long been renowned as one of the finest country inns anywhere. Recently the inn was distinguished in the prestigious Andrew Harpers Hideaway Report as the Cana- dian Country Inn of the year for 1985. See i today's commiinity section front page for. the story on the critic's choice. Overtime goal Ron Miller's overtime goal gave the host team a victory in their Bedford Division Chainpionship game with Forest at the Goderich Old Deckhands Tournament, Sunday. See details in today's sports sec- tion, page 6A.