The Goderich Signal-Star, 1978-05-11, Page 6PAGE 6--GODERICH SIGNAL -STAR, THURSDAY, MAY 11, 1978
Dear Editor.....
• from page 4
Committee meeting,,, in order
to inform the public of their
position.
The need to close 16 acute
care beds in this hospital
thereby reducing our. acute
medical and surgical bed
capacity by 20 per cent was
again, questioned by many
members present. In the late
spring of 1977, the Ministry
warned hospitals that a
ceiling of 6.5 per cent in-
crease would apply to their
1978-79 budgets. Our actual
increase in this hospital was
noted to be 3.5 per cent or
approximately $123,000.
The Administrator in-
formed the M.A.C. that
salaries were expected to rise
by an average of 5.5 per cent
over next year and that the
increase in. costs of the
supplies to this hospital would
increase by 10 per cent.
,Considering that 75 per'cent
of the hospital budget is
diverted to salaries and 25 per
cent to supplies, the average
increase in costs for the 1978-
79 year, is an average of 6.6
per cent.
This projected increase in
cost of 6:6 per cent is offset to
a certain extent by the
Ministry's increase of our
budget by 3.5 per cent. Thee
estimated per centage
shortfall in our budget is
therefore approximately... 3
per cent. It was difficult for
the M.A.C. to reconcile that a
3.5 per cent anticipated
budgetary deficit had to be
interpreted as a 20 per cent
cut in our active bed
capacity.
The Committee was con-
cerned if the proposed bed cut
takes place that occasions
would frequently arise,
particularly in the hectic
Months of July and August
when the duty emergency
room physician wanted to
admit a patient to this
hospital and no bed would be
available for that patient.
It was generally realized
that it was the hospital's duty
to provide a bed for any
patient who had to be ad-
mitted on an emergency
basis. The possibility of
creating a holding area in the
emergency room was con-
sidered. It was noted by all
members that if such a room
had to be provided, the
general quality of care in the
hospital would inevitably
deteriorate.
Regret was expressed that
no other means of covering
this projected budgetary
deficit had been accepted as
feasible by the ad-
ministration or management
of this hospital. As far as the
members present at the
meeting, there was no news
that other hospitals within the
county were considering bed
closures.
Signed: The Medical Staff
of the Alexandra Marine &
General Hospital.
Footnote: The Medical
Advisory Committee consists
of the whole of the Medical
Staff and the Administrator
of the hospital:
Behind the vote
Dear Editor:
The vehemence of the few
"against" ' people who have
opposed the Square area
revitalization and
beautificatjon project in the
Council Chambers appears to
be working itself into a
somewhat passionate ob-
session in some cases. I find it
quite extraordinary.
Different opinions ex-
pressed in opposing votes are
frequent at any council table,
forming an honourable and
natural political process and
reality.
• However, judging by some
recent comments on the
subject of the Square, one
could almost conclude that
there is a calculated attempt
to call this particular division
under two altogether in-
terestinglabels: the
irresponsible and uncaring
"villains" (i.e. those of us
who support the Square
improvement) and the "true
guardians of the public good"
(i.e. those who oppose the
improvements).
This by itself could be
easily ignored, but it leads to
the question whether the
minds of all the speakers are
really on the subject or do
some use it as a means of
furthering other con-
siderations. And does this
hurt the matter itself in some
way?
I like to come to conclusions
by reasoning with the benefit
of as many facts as I can find
and recognize. Here are some
I can identify.
Whenever we speak of
"taxpayers' money" and
"ratepayers' interests" let us
not divorce the phrases of
speech from reality. Let us be
clear that the Square area
businessmen, among other
groups and individuals,
belong to the same category -
the taxpayers. So do the
Council members. Whatever
is a bad proposition for the
pocketbooks of the other
taxpayers is also bad for the
Council members. It is foolish
and politically pompous to
speak as if "the taxpayers"
were something apart and
altogether special when we
are all in the same boat.
The core area im-
provement projects have
been completed or are going
on successfully in many
municipalities, big and small,
un -der a,variety• of
designations such as
Downtown, Revitalization,
'Downtown Improvement,
Core Area Beautification,
Business Improvement Area
etc. The provisions are in the
Municipal Act and the
principle recognizes the
general conclusions that the
progress, success and vitality
of a community goes hand in
hand with a healthy and at-
tractive core area.
The Provincial Govern-
ment is promoting downtown
improvement projects in
many ways through the
Ministry of Housing.
Excellent workshops have
gathered large numbers of
participants, to share ex-
periences, concerns and
plans.
The Organization of Small
Urban Municipalities held a
conference in Stratford last
week. Provincial -plans for a
new program were an-
nounced, designed to help
small municipalities with
Under 30,000 populations by
providing extremely low
interest (1 percent per an-
num) loans for 'core area
improvements under the BIA
programs.
At previous workshops I
have seen slides and films of
main street strip im-
provements and beauty spots
'presented with great pride. I
find it quite remarkable that
of all the places it is our town
with its unique and widely
known Square where there is
some vicious opposition to
anything and everything
related to improvement in
that area.
From some remarks I am
left with the impression that
some people are still fighting
the "battle of the Mall". That
battle is dead. Let us bury it
before it starts to smell badly.
As a Council member I
voted in favour of the Sun -
coast Mall, for reasons I
made known. At no time was
there any question in my
mind about the focal part the
Square would continue to play
in the life of our community,
about the support and at-
tention it deserves and must
have when its turn comes.
That turn is now.
Our downtown Business
Improvement Area ,(BIA)
was, created by a Town
Council's By-law in 1977,
under the Municipal Act, No
opposition was made known.
The initiative was expected
to come and did come from
the buHncss community who
subsequently followed it up
with efficient organizational
activities. And it occurs to me
now that if the businessmen
were not working on im-
provements, the same
negative people who are now
trying to pull it apart, would
be the ones likely to complain
how the businessmen do
nothing and expect
everything handed to them.
' The Square area
businessni n pay a total of
approx. $350,000 a year in
taxes into the coffers of the
municipality. Like you and I,
they also pay taxes on their
homes. On top of that they
now pay a special levy
amounting to $25,000 - a year
for the BIA improvement
project.
During my eight years on
the Town Council for the first
time some work is con-
templated and partially
scheduled on the Square.
After much kicking by two or
three Council members the
grand figure of $15,000 - was
left in the Town's 1978 budget
for replacing part of the
sidewalks on the Square. And
that was done with the
"guidance" of some im-
passioned speeches warning
how the taxpayers' money is
irresponsibly spent for the
benefit of the businessmen
and how the rest of us has no
concern for `.`public good".
There ought to be minimum
requirements for politicians'
speeches to bear more
resemblance to reality, logic
and honesty.
Several valid comparisons
come to mind. Here is one.
The homeowners of a new
subdivision have taken the
initiative to work closely with
the Town in effectively
creating a neighbourhood
park to suit their
requirements. It is a pleasure
to work with these positive
and constructive people and
there is complete agreement
that this is a good way of
getting things done.
• 75'YEARS AGO
Mayor Lewis has closed the
deal �w•ith S. Furse for the
purchase of., a garbage
dumping ground for the town.
The place is at the gully at the
sewer outlet on the lakes shore
below the town, the entrance
being from Furse road. It was
purchased for $50.
At the meeting of Collegiate
trustees on Thursday, it was
decided to ask the council. to
lay a granolithic crossing on
the north side of Britannia
Road across Waterloo Street.
This would give connection
with the sidewalk on the west
side of Waterloo Street.
The old G.T.R. station
building has been cut in two
and one half is on its way to
Lewis Park, where a .couple
of summer cottages will be
the next form in which the old
building will appear.
W.C. Brough has .prepared
plans for a club .house -;for the
golf club and Buchanans and
Lawson will erect it shortly
on the golf links on the river
flats.
St. David's Street is now
open to the station and the
town road machine is at work
grading the new portion.
LOOKING BACK
25 YEARS AGO
An agreement was reached
Tuesday afternoon for the
corning to Goderich of a
million dollar. industry -- W.A.
Sheaffer Pen Company of
Canada Limited. Con-
struction of a 50,000 square
foot one -storey ultra modern
plant will start in about six
weeks time and it is expected
to he completed,early in 1954.
Production in the" plant will
start shortly after that. The
site will be the Nelson Crich
farm at the outskirts of the
town. The building itself will
cost over half a million
dollars while plant equip-
ment, etc. will make up the
balance of about a million
dollars investment. There
will he about 130 employees to
start, including key per-
sonnel. About 65 percent will
he female.
Hundreds flocked to the
beach and the dock in
Goderich last Sunday, moat of
them with fishing rods to
angle for .elusive perch but
there were some who braved
the still cold'lake for a dip.
With the opening of the
summer harness racing
season less than a week off,
This is your opportunity to
SAVE
on
Mother's Day Gifts
during our
STORE -WIDE
INVENTORY
SALE
Blackstone
Furniture
WEST STREET, JUST OFF THE SQUARE
things are bustling at the
Goderich racing oval these
days. No fewer than 20
trotters and pacers are being
worked out as the owners
anticipate a busy season
ahead.
Pleading a case brought
forward by the Canadian
Legion, Elston Cardiff,
Conservative MP for Huron
North, submitted Saturday
night in the House of Com-
mons that Canada's First
World War. veterans should
be permitted to receive
Federal old age pensions as
well as their war veterans'
allowances.
5 YEARS AGO
One hundred and ten of the
180 members of Local 682,
International Chemical
Workers met on Sunday and
voted unanimously to take
strike action against DOM -
TAR Chemicals' Sifto Salt
mine at Goderich. No work
stoppage is expected however
before May 22.
The Goderich Municipal
Police Force has now two new
Sergeants, one of them being
Sergeant George Bacon.
Sergeant Bacon joins Mery
Witter who was also
promoted _ to the rank of
Sergeant. Bacon has been
with the local police force for
over 12 years. Sergeant
Witter hasTbeen with the force
for the past six weeks.
A.J. (Bert) Alexander of
Suncoast Estates Limited has
advised Goderich Tow„
Council the firm is anxious`l.
get on with the South Storm
Sewer. In fact, the company
is so anxious‘, it has made an
offer to the town -- a cash
settlement of $25,320 far the
4,220 feet of storm sewer
which is required in the
development land area owned
by Suncoast Estates Limited.
Four hospitals in Huron
County will be among the
institutions this month which
Will be presented with
finished pieces of art
depicting various scenes of
local interest. The project,
run by Jim Marlatt and Ernie
Niblock under the L.I.P. Art
Program, began in January
and is now in its final month'
HOFFMEYER PLUMBING & HEATING LTD.
20th ANNIVERSARY
DRAW WINNERS
Eileen Palmer is shown above with owner Jack Hoffmeyer
making the draw for the Inglis Dishwasher, first prize In Hof-
fineyer Plumbing & Heating Ltd.'s 20th Anniversary
Celebration.
Shown above aro the prize winners in Hoffineyor Plumbing &
Heating Ltd.'s 20th Anniversary celebration. Mr. & Mrs. Ken
Allis - set of basin taps, Harry Chisholm vanity top, Ben
Freiman - massage telephone shower head & Stan Jones -
Ingli. dishwasher. ,
f
Is that not what the
businessmen are doing? Wh`y
treat the Square area efforts
with lack of tolerance and
with considerably less
respect for the truth of its
finances?
I am at a loss to understand
whey there seems to be a
degree of hostility directed at
the "business community in
general. We are not speaking
of powerful tycoons presiding
over international empires.
We are speaking of small
town businessmen who face
the same struggles as the rest
of u, ;..who give employment,
who are doing - individually
and collectively - their part in
our community efforts and
projects; in other words - who
are an equally essential piece
of the foundation on which our
Town's stability and progress
are built.
At times of general
financial restraint it may
seem like a safe bet to talk
about saving money,
whatever the subject and
whatever the facts, perhaps
in the hope that not many
people may take the trouble
of looking behind the front of
popular catchphrases.
The fact is that the Council
has already set the Town's
budget and those of us who
support the Square area
improvement to it within the
budget and within the means
of the BIA administration,
prudently looking at
realistically acceptable ways
of solving some additional
problems at no extra cost.
Speaking of that budget,
perhaps it may be pointed out
that with the help of effective
administration the Council
has been able to set a very
responsible and reasonable
budget, with a small increase
solely for the purpose of
setting up a capital reserve
fund. In my memory it is the
first time that an outgoing
council provides the usual
services and has taken steps
to leave .a "nest egg" for the
next council.
Looking at every one of my
colleagues at the Council
table I am convinced that
there is not one member who
is rearing to spend any part of
our . collective money
irresponsibly and without
Turn to page 18 •
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