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The Goderich Signal-Star, 1986-12-17, Page 5Library B ard bill is re Dear Editor: Earlier this year the Huron County Coun- cil made an application to the Ontario Legislative Assembly to dissolve its Library Board on Jan. 1, 1987 and to deem the coun- cil as the County Library Board. The ap- plication in the form of a Private Member's Bili was put forward on, behalf of Huron .F, _ representing Middlesex. The bill known as the County of Huron Act Pr 7 has had first reading in the Legislature and two hearings (22 and 29 October 1986) before the Standing Committee on Regula- tions and Private Bills. By a narrow margin of five to four, with the Chairman casting the deciding vote, the Standing Committee voted for the passage of the bill which is now awaiting second reading. Huron County Council's reasons for re- questing the dissolution of its Library Board are to give Council greater direct control over library affairs and to reduce the number of special purpose bodies like library and health boards. Furthermore, it is Counnil's perception that the Library Board has not been financially accountable. For the past five years I have served as a citizen appointee on the Huron County Library Board and as Huron's represen- tative on the Saugeen Regional Library Board. Consequently, I feel that I have a • modest understanding of the system and of this issue. The Library Bbard has been func- tioning as a semi autonomous body in the county for the past two years. Prior to this time it worked as a committee of County Council with recommendations going for- ward to the Council for ratification. The Council's view that it lacks meaningful in- put into the decision making on the Library Board is not entirely correct. The legislation (Public Libraries Act 1984) which put so called autonomous library boards in place provided for careful checks and balances. ml .. .............. �.r ¢h: hn.,<rF is e+eeit ¢%+at foils members of Council are placed on the board as well as three citizen appointees, these ap- pointments being ,made annually. Clearly it is the County Council which has the power to assess and to put in place the kind of people they deem suitable for the board. A precen- dent was set early that the chairman of this body be a councillor; since inception the two chairmen have been former wardens. It is apparent that -the voting structure precludes the passing of library policy which is alien to the interests of County Council. Moreover, the Board is financially accountable in that it is Council which approves the Library Board's yearly budgets on a line to line basis. These limitations notwithstanding, I believe that there has been a good working relationship between council placements and citizen appointees; the Board appears to be more homogeneous than it was under the former committee structure. The County Council, however, is now seek- ing legislation to dissolve this board struc- ture. D.J. Murphy, solicitor for the County at the hearings conducted by the Standing Committee stated that the passage of the bill would result in only "cosmetic changes". He added, "I would say in conclu- ressive sion that the overwhelming majority of the people in Huron County who are represented by the people on County Council wish that the library board become a committee of County Council, and that is why we are here." Hopefully this perception is wrong. The people of Huron County will not be well served by the dissolution of the board and the return to the former committee t dow J! access to information and censorship are best dealt with at arms length from the County political process. The potential for productive change in the library system can best be realized through the retention and refinement of the existing board structure. On Dee. 17, 1986, Huron County Act Pr 7 is being returned to the Standing Committee for further input and study, an action which the clerk of the assembly termed un- precedented. This action presents the last opportunity for the concerned citizens of Huron County to register their objections. Objections should be directed in writing to the clerk, Standing Committee on Regula- tions & Private Bills, Queens Park, Toronto, M7A 1A2. Objections in writing or by telephone should also be directed to the mayors, reeves and to The Honourable Jack Riddell. The passage of bill Pr 7, which will significantly diminish a democratic pro- cess, is regressive, out of step with the times and unworthy of a government which prides itself in being forward looking.. R.P. Ritter, Wingham Children deserve day care reader says Dear Editor: Last Monday evening, the Parents Daycare Committee approached Goderich Town Council to request a joint parent - council committee be formed, to pursue the new Provincial ministry policy on daycare to: "a) Make recommendations to council on income restraints for means testing. b) Inform the public of income restraints and eligibility requirements for subsidy, in- cluding what liquid assets actually refers to. c)Pursue means of decreasing the pro- jected per diem rate. .d) Explore alternatives to a municipal centre." This request was a direct result of coun- cil's questions two weeks ago as to how the parents felt the new • policy would affect them. According to Mr. McCabe's report to council at that time, the cost per child to at- tend a municipal centre would be between $18 and $21 per day, in order to cover the operating costs of the facility. $360 $420/month for full-time care is just not feasible. In order to , qualify for government kassiktaii `c at prise* it is. necessary to colic- plete'a needs asse'ssmen't: fol cid to determine eligibility. There are no guidelines provided by the government on income restraints HARBOR REPORT necessary to assess eligibility ie. the amount jointly earned by parents per year. This figure has to be set up by the Town Council before parents even know if they qualify to fill the form. There is an added stipulation by the policy which does not allow subsidy if parent( s) have liquid assets in excess of $5,000. Many are unaware of what the term "liquid assets" refers to. Councillors Stringer, McCauley and Carey voted in favor of the joint committee, as part of the administration - personnel committee already existing on council. The remainder of the councillors voted against it. - The parents have worked long and hard over the past seven months to pursue daycare for their children. We have tried to be polite, to work together with council, to provide all information requested by coun- cil. Members have made written and oral presentations to the four surrounding townships at their council meetings, local community groups, Farm Safety Associa- tion, and of course, to Goderich Town Coun- cil. Letters of support from many groups have been sent to council as well as private ct 'ens. The' go t ek,�j allOble $o5;000 towafds tie itiki pos- ed for the Day Nursery School, to add on a Daycare Centre. Representatives of COM - SOC gave fully of their time and expertise to The Canadian Coast Guard boat Cape Hurd left the Goderich Harbour to return to its home port of Prescott for the winter on Dec. 1. The Canadian Ambassador arrived at the Goderich Harbour from Hamilton, light for salt on Dec. 2 and cleared for Thunder Bay on Dec. 3. The Algorail arived from Sarnia, light for salt on Dec. 5 and cleared for Bay City on Dec. 6. The Agawa Canyon arrived from Cleveland, light for salt on Dec. 10 and cleared for Manistee, Cheboygan and Millwaukee on Dec. 12. The Antadoc arrived from Thunder Bay with grain on Dec. 4 and cleared for Thunder Bay light on Dec. 5. The Kingdoc arrived from Thunder Bay with grain on Dec. 5 and cleared for Thunder Bay light on Dec. 8. The Beechglen arrived from Thunder Bay with grain on Dec. 12 and cleared for Thunder Bay light on Dec. 15. The Sunny South! FLORIDA 18 Days Feb. 23 to March 12 early booking discount until Dec. 31 C ATS BY POPULAR DEMAND • Wed., Jan. 28 • Toronto PIHL HOCKEY ACTION t • Boxing Day (Dee. 26) a DETROIT VS. TORONTO - `t Robin,Hood Tours • ° 524 4540 Goderich, Ontario Date changed for Tiger Dunlop Days Dear Editor: The Goderich Tourist Committee would like to advise that the combined Tiger Dunlop Days '87/Goderich 160th Anniver- sary Celebration will be held on the August Civic Holiday Weekend. This involves a date change for Tiger Dunlop Days -which were held later in August last year. Volunteers are needed in order to help organize this special celebration. Anyone in- terested in joinit4g the organizing commit- tee, providing event ideas or running events should telephone 524-6600 or write to the ad- dress listed below. Assistance of this nature would be greatly appreciated. Thank you. Yours truly, Robin Stuart Tourism Promoter Town of Goderich 57 West Street Goderich, Ontario N7A 2K5 GQDERICH SIGNAL -STAR, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 17, 1986 PAGE 5 Smooth Saili gHa py oli ys 07‘.4,09, �[ ¢ugpo+t :.e 86. inform council of present daycare policies and procedures. Despite parents and the community's best efforts, four council members have made a municipal centre an impossibility at this time. They continue to decry the cost to the public, despite parental willingness to pay increased fees. There remains an underly- ing concern on the part of some that both parents should not be out working, despite today's economic reality. None of the four ever visited the present private daycare centre in Goderich, to see for, themselves the quality service we would like to see con- tinued in our community. These are the people you elected to run your town. We urge you to think long and hard before voting in the next civic election. Daycare is only one issue, but council's response to it reflects a pervasive attitude in this county. Our children deserve better. Yours sincerely, Debbie Selkirk m. STOP BEDWETTING Start the New Year right. Give your child the gift of a lifetime. Get him dry, once and forever. United enuretic has solved this problem in over 20,000 adults and .children. Does your child suffer the problem of bedwetting? Does it affect him emotion- ally or psychologically? Does; it weaken his educational ability or maturity? Are there other damaging effects? Can you or your child handle this problem without embarrassment or is the youngster denied camping trips or sleepovers with friends? How many different methods have you used to try to correct this habit? :How many defeats or failures can a child accept? DRY YOUR CHILD THE QUICK, EASY, SIMPLE WAY WITHOUT TEARS, DRUGS, SHOCKS OR DISCOMFORT. For confidential information write to: U.E.S.C.. Box 3311, Cambridge, Ont. N3 4T3. 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