The Goderich Signal-Star, 1977-04-14, Page 161i
PAGE 16 GODERICH SIGNAL -STAR, THURSDAY, APRIL 19, 1977
Taxes up 29.14 mills in Goderich for 1977......
(Continued from page 1)
who also claimed the work was im-
perative.
Allen reminded council that work on
Bayfield Road would be subsidized up to
90 per cent by the provincial govern-
ment's MTC.
"Hydro services alone will cost us
more than, the whole project under the
connecting link agreement," said
Councillor Allen.
Councillor Stan Profit wondered why
the services neede.d to be replaced on
Bayfield Road at this time.
"Because they're done," explained
Allen,
"People are not going to suffer if we
don't do Highway 21," Councillor Elsa
Haydon argued. "And we shouldn't do it
if we can't afford our share."
However, the majority of council
conceded that the Highway 21 project
was a priority item, and budgeted
$75,000 for the work to begin later this
year if at all possible.
The paving of Suncoast Drive was
another hotly contested item. No
councillors felt the work shouldn't be
done but there was some dispute about
the timing on the project, the extent of
the work to be carried out this year and
the manner of funding the job.
The budget item was $144,500 for
curbs, gutters and paving on Suncoast
Drive from Eldon Street to Highway 21.
Suggestion was made to do only part of
the work on Suncoast this year but this
idea was eventually rejected by council
in favor of debenturing the costs. On
Monday evening this week, Councillor
Gower brought in a motion, which was
approyed, to debenture the work on
Suncoast Drive up to a limit of $150,000.
The town has applied for subisdy on
Suncoast Drive from the MTC. If the
Suncoast project was approved for
subsidy dollars, the MTC would pay at
the rate of 50 per cent, and the town
would debenture the remaining portion
of the costs.
However, council.hopes are not high
that subsidy dollars will be approved for
Suncoast, and Gower's motion to
debenture up to $150,000 for the project
was accepted in that Tight.
Town administrator Hal Walls
reminded council that if the whole
amount was debentured for Suncoast,
council would be able to secure roughly
about $800,000 more in debentures before
it would reach its maximum as allowed
by the Ontario Municipal Board,
MORE DEBATE ON ROADS
Another budget item of $214,000 for
road construction this year in Goderich
was left in the budget. Although some
councillors including John Doherty and
Stan Profit fought hard to have road
construction kept to a minimum in 1977,
Councillor Dave Gower won out in his
argument for the full program.
Profit and0Doherty were especially
anxious for work on Warren Street south
of Bennett Street and Blake Street
between South Street and Highway 21 to
be cut from the budget.
Doherty, a postman, says he walks
along Blake Street every day an(I he is
not ,convinced the project at a cost of
about $50,000 is necessary at this time.
Committee balks...
(continued from page 1)
pointing out that the province
looked at about five parcels of
land before making its
proposal.
"We may pay that much in
a situation where it is
unavoidable due to a very
limited supply of available
land but that isn't the case in.
Goderich," he said. "That'
price won't be paid when it is
possible to go elsewhere for
land."
The ministry represen-
tative added that it is very
rare that a municipality has
such 'a strong request for the
location of the units. He said
normally the municipality
turns the matter over to the
province with the attitude go
ahead your the experts.
"But that doesn't preclude
the fact that you people are
unusual," he added.
Mayor Deb Shewfelt said he
was having difficulty un-
derstanding the price of the
.2.5 acre site at Bennett and
Bayfield. He said he thought
the land was worth much
more than that and wondered
if the town shouldn't be wary
of the servicing proposal
made when the offer to sell
was made.
Kayes explained earlier
that the land was sold on the
basis that it be fully serviced.
He said the land the province
Was looking at would be
serviced along with a parcel
across the street and
assumed it would be done
under the town's developer
agreement.
He added that when the
province is told the land can
be fully serviced it believes
that fact, especially when the
comment was alleged to have
been made by the town
engineer, Burns Ross.
According to Kaye, Ross
advised someone thatthe
parcel can be serviced from
Bayfield Road.
Shewfelt said • the tgwn
normally splits the servicing
costs . in these situations,
owners on one side vying a '
third, the town paying a third
and owners on the other side
paying a third. He wondered
if possibly the -town May be
stuck with two thirds of these
costs since it was supporting
the senior citizens' units.
Kaye said that no option
had been given on the land
and the province was under
no obligation to anyone to buy
land. He said the town had the
ultimate decision on the
location of the units and if it
was firm on the location it
had the opportunity of picking
up the portion of the costs the
province won't pay.
Bob Allen suggested that
the committee iron out
problems amongst them-
selves and get a very quick
engineer's report from Ross
concerning the Bayfield Road
project. He said the work
should be on file and should
be at the engineer's finger-
tips.
Allen added that the
committee should meet again
within two weeks to either
decide on the properties
suggested or go after other
possibilities.
GARDENERS GET READY
Your lawn and gardens are beckoning and we
have the tools to speed your work.
WHEN YOU THINK OF GARDEN
TOOLS • • • Think of us
,WE CARRY THE BEST
SERVICE
IIOMINION HARDWARE
30 VICTORIA ST. NORTH • GODERICH
544-!581
"This road is in fair, reasonable shape,"
he told council.
Councillor Gower said that since Blake
Street is a collector street, it is highly
travelled. He claimed it was "only
"feasible" to continue the work begun on
Blake Street for which MTC subsidy
dollars are available at the rate of dollar
for dollar.
"This amount of subsidy dollars are
available," insisted Gower, pointing to
his road program. "If we don't make use
of them, we'll lose them. We won't get
them next year. We will jeopardize our
programs in the years to come."
Doherty argued that $50,000
represented five mills for the taxpayers.
"If we don't use the available subsidy
dollars," he told Doherty again, "we'll
lose them. With NIP (Neighborhood
Improvement Program) coming up,
we'll be taking more dollars out of the
municipal pocket. We can't afford not to
do the work the way I see it. We may
save five mills this year, but we'll spend
it next year to catch up."
SOME SUGGESTIONS
Throughout budget debates, Coun-
cillor Bob Allen suggested council cut
each budget by 10 per cent and let each
chairman or committee deal with the
results.
"Some budgets just can't be reduced
10 per cent," said finance chairman Bill
Clifford.
Allen, too, was reluctant to make too
many drastic cuts.
"We can't let the place fall down
around our ears," he mused aloud.
Reeve Clifford suggested at one point.
the town use all or part of its reserve
fund, about $100,000 in order to keep
costs dawn in 1977.
"But 1 really don't want to use it if we
can avoid it," Clifford admitted. Council
ultimately scrapped the idea.
Mayor Deb Shewfelt suggested last
Wednesday evening the budget be sent
hack to the finance committee for what
he termed "arbitrary cuts". He felt it
might even be necessary to eliminate
municipal staff and force increased
productivity from those left on the
payroll.
"Suppose we eliminate one from the
Parks crew," the mayor suggested. "So
the grass gets a little longer, is not cut as
often."
"We can get down and get some real
cuts," the mayor went on. "It would put
everybody on the spot but it's the only
way to go. A 30 mill increase is too
much."
However, the mayor's suggestion was
passed by. Councilpreferred to work
together to make "collective cuts"
rather than imposing "arbitrary cuts".
"We all have a responsibility to make
cuts," Gower told the mayor.
"Did the finance committee ever look
at the budget with reference to ways to
cut expenses?" asked Mayor Shewfelt,
showing some anger at this point. He
was told the finance committee simply
took the budgets as they were presented
and brought them to council, for cuts to
be made,
Mayor Shewfelt advised council that in
his opinion council was cutting "nickles
and dimes" and continuing to spend the
money anyway. In 1974, he said, the
surplus in the budget was $226,000; in
1975, $145,000; in 1976, $89,000; in 1977,
$34,000.
"If that continues we will hit 1978 with
a deficit," he warned. "Maybe we should
cut our capital expenditures -more. Our
tax base is not improving."
Councillor Profit said'Monday evening
he wanted still another crack at the
budget, to cut expenditures from it. But
when the finance committee motion was
read, it was approved by the majority of
council.
SPECTATOR REACTION
Throughout the budget debates, only a
handful of Goderich ratepayers took the
time to attend. But those who did attend
the sessions came early and stayed late.
Last Wednesday evening, six residents
remained in the council chambers until
well after 11 p.m.
On Monday evening, Rick Robertson
told council its members should be
commended for having the courage to
proceed with much needed work despite
an increase in taxes.
Another resident, Gus Chisholm, was
on hand to hear council's reaction to his
letter concerning the deplorable con-
dition of Suncoast Drive. Chisholm's
letter advised council he felt he'd been
"a victim of circumstances" and he was
"very, very disappointed" because of it.
He said when he'd moved to his home
at 4 Suncoast Drive in 1973, he'd been
promised by the developer that the road
would be paved by the summer of 1975 at
the very latest and that all
(sewers, etc.) were in and paid
"As council members, [ aroyl
have all had a chance to see
about South Street and Suncoast
he said in his letter. "Each sprie°
the risk of getting stuck on
aforementioned streets. That la
are not closed completely,
choke on dust during the
months."
"My share of taxes in thistoitq
substantial," he went on in his
"and I am a bit confused aboutut
the priorities of the adniinjstrat
the home -owner whose money
spending to just accept w
program you decide on, rega
whether or not it is any direct
that taxpayer?"
He asked councillors Monday`
how come the west end 011
Drive had been "paved andb
curbed".
"Hindsight is better than to
Gower told him. He said alit
dividers' agreements now a
that all roads and services he.
under the developer's costs.
"That wasn't the case in tlu
development on Suncoast,"Gow
He assured Chisholm thatthe'
Suncoast would be undertaken
provided the developers of
Estates got the necessary seri;
the south side of Suncoast Drive
the road.
"I'm told today that wort
completed not later than Ily
year," Gower told Chisholm.
SINKYOV1 TEETII 111101111ESC
...FOOD VALUES
MAPLE STARE CUT
LEAF MILD, MED. OLD
CHEESE
$1.69.
ST. WILLIAM'S
JAm
24 FL. OZ.
RASP.
OR
STRAW.
WITH PECTIN
9.4
viv^ PAPER
TOWELS
2 ROLLS
FOR
94
MAXWELL HOUSE 1 LB. BAG
ROASTED
COFFEE $3.19
GLAD
20's
GARBAGE BAGS
SPLENDOR 2 LB. BAG
MACARONI
MEAT SAVINGS
CUT FROM CANADA GRADE -A BEEF CHUCK4;Q
CHUCK STEAK i
SMALL LINK BREAKFAST FRESH PORK
LB.
CRISCO
SHORTENING
1 LB. PKG.
PURITAN 24 FL. OZ.
STEWS
SAUSAGE 4 ;tIVER 3 4
LB.� LB. WHITE SWAN ROLLS
BATHROOM
SHOULDER TISSUE
CUT FROM CANADA GRADE=A BEEF CHUCK 0
7
R
LB, GIANT SIZE 10 LB. BOX
TIDE
5'
7
E1.99
494
BEE MAID CREAMED 2 LB. JAR
WHITE HONEY $1 .69
STOKELY FANCY 14 FL. OZ.
GREEN BEANS 31.00
STOKELY FANCY 14 FL. OZ.
WAXI BEANS
T69'
PRIDE OF CANADA
WIENERS
79 LB.
LIBBY'S FANCY 14 FL. OZ.
TOMATO JUICE 694
HUMPTY DUMPTY 8.8 OZ. PKG.
POTATO CHIPS 69'
DEL MONTE FANCY 14 FL. OZ.
BARTLETT PEARS 2R$1.00
LIBBY'S PURE 48 FL. OZ.
ORANGE .
JUICE
694
CAMPFIRE RINDLESS
BACON
0
.1.9
LB.
FROZEN FOOD
OLD COUNTRY
FISH
N'
CHIPS
24 OZ. BOX
51.09
HIGHLINER FRIED IN BATTER
Boston
Bluefish
14 OZ, BOX
99°
$4.4
HICK'S 32 FL. OZ. A
*DILL PICKLES 6'
SPLENDOR 2 LB. BAG I
SPAGHETTI
CLARK'S 14 FL. OZ.
BEANS PWITH
ORK
SYRUP $1,
HABITANT
TABLE
BUDGET 15 OZ. TIN
DOGFOOD 6i$1.1
FRESH FRUIT AND VEGETABLES
PRODUCE OF USA NO. 1 GRADE
Head Lettuce
SUNKIST NAVEL LARGE' SIZE
Oranges
PRODUCE OF ONTARIO NO. 1 GRADE
Cooking Onions
PRODUCE OF CANADA FANCY GRADE
Delicious Apples
FLORIDA
Grapefruit
2,j9"
DOZ. $1 .2 9
3Ls.59C
3 BAG 994
8R994
J.M. CUTT FOODMASTER
91 VICTORIA STREET GODERICH
OPEN NITELY TILL 10 P.M.
PRICES IN EFFECT FROM THURS. APRIL 14th
TO. SAT. 16th
OR WHILE QUANTITIES LAST.
a,d
WE•RESERVE THE RIGHT TO LIMIT QUANTITIES ,
1111111111111111111111.11111111111___ _
AYLMER 10 FL. OZ.
TOMATOo $
S R 1.0 0
GRANULATED .
WHITE__SUGAR . KG
HOLLANDIA f ASST. COCIS PKG. 2'L R -
STOKELY 14 FL. OZ.
APPLE SAUCE
2A6;
NIBLETS FANCY 12 FL. OZ.
KERNEL 2011
CORN
DEL MONTE FANCY
PEACHES 29J
SQUIRREL 2 LB. JAR
14 FL. OZ.
SOUP
PEANUT g �q
BUTTER
4N!
LAURA SECORD-s 01.1111i
PUDDINGS 89