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The Goderich Signal-Star, 1978-05-18, Page 140 Council merry-go-round turns to one committee BY SHIRLEY J. KELLER "Are we going to end up going full circle .again?" asked Bill Clifford, Goderich reeve, just before he voted "no" for the record on a motion brought forward by Councillors Dave Gower and Stan Profit to make the two committee meetings in the second week into one committee meeting of the whole council. The vote was 6-3 in favor of scrapping,the two committees, begun for the first time this month, and moving back to a committee meeting of the full council on the second Monday of each month. Those opposed besides Reeve Clifford were Councillor Bob Allen and Deputy -reeve Eileen Palmer. Clifford admitted he was "betwixt and bet- ween" on this decision. As a member of the Organizational Review Committee, Clifford said he "went along" with the recommendation to try the two committee system. But he found the two committee system as it turned out in May to be "far from smooth". One of Clifford's main concerns was the problem of getting administrative staff, delegations .and department heads to both committee sessions without causing undue confusion for anyone, not to mention lost time. That same concern was echoed by practically everyone who spoke on the subject. It was, ac- cording to Dave Gower, the main reason for his motion to amalgamate the two committees into one. "We can meet with department heads at one time, with deputations at one time, with the administrative personnel at one time, and 'handle citizen participation at one time," said Gower. The councillor said it was not intended as criticism of the ORC recommendation for two committees but it was an effort to make the system "more beneficial and more efficient." Stan Profit agreed. "We might as well all sit at the table at one time." "It is n -title soon to make a change," said Councillor Bob Allen. "We've only tried the new system for one week." "It is unfair at this time to introduce a new procedure," argued Deputy -reeve Eileen Palmer, chairman of ORC. "We really haven't given it a chance." "I don't think we have given it a fair try," admitted Councillor John Doherty, "but my main concern is the efficiency of council. If it is in the best interest of council, I agree we should go back to the committee of council." Councillor Elsa Haydon, also a member of ORC, said she accepts a share of the respon- sibility for the decision to try the two -committee system, but added she sensed a "certain remoteness" which she felt would be removed if it was a committee of the entire council. Reeve Bill Clifford reminded council of other efforts to move to a two committee system, and recalled that when the two committees met together at one time, somebody on council at that time said, "Why rehash this at next week's council meeting? Why not just make this a council meeting, make the decision and get on with things." The committee of the whole council will simply be a session to make recommendations to the council meeting the following week. One of the main advantages to the taxpayers of Goderich will be that in some cases, ratepayers will be advised of the intention to make a decision one week before the decision is actually handed down. As Reeve Clifford put it, "It gives councillors a week to think about it." One of the disadvantages, as pointed out by Reeve Clifford, is the apparent unnecessary delay when if it was a council meeting proper, the matter before the group could be voted on and finished. The driver of this car made a right turn off the Square onto Hamilton Street on Sunday af- ternoon about 12:20 and shortly after ended up inside the former Pro Hardware store (presently being renovated for Baechler Kitchens and Interiors.) after mounting an eight -inch parking curb and going through the store window. There were no injuries either to the driver or the passenger. An estimated $350 damage was done to the car and $5,000 to the store. The driver's foot slipped off the brake and onto the gas in the process of angle parking. The driver's name -is being withheld and charges are pending. (Photo by Joanne Walters) Grandstand needs Wintario approval BY DAVE SYKES The Goderich Sports committee will proceed with the construction of a new grandstand and other sports field improvements at Agriculture Park at a cost of $310,000 as soon as commitment is received for Wintario grants. Goderich clerk -treasurer Larry McCabe, in a written summary of the grandstand proceedings, advised council to forward the necessary forms to Wintario but not to begin construction until written approval has been given for Wintario grants. McCabe said in the summary that if the project proceeds, Wintario funding could be in jeopardy adding that Wintario has refused funding to projects that commenced prior to Wintario approval. , The grandstand construction was originally scheduled to begin May 15 with a completion date of August 1. Council will now attempt to get a written or verbal commitment from Wintario within the next few days so that construction can commence immediately. Council did, however, agree to several motions proposed by the Sports Committee. Council approved a recommendation to proceed with the total grandstand and playing field improvement package at a total cost of $310,000. If council waits for written approval from Wintario, which may take as long as eight weeks„ then the five racing dates planned for Goderich in August would be lost. Council also agreed to provide interim financing for the .Sports Committee until the project is complete and all grants and donations have been received. The sports Committee has also pledged itself to raising any amounts of money needed to complete the project. The town has now been committed to provide interim financing for the project,' but like the Arena Roof Project no tax dollars are com- mitted. Council backing is only required by the Sports Committee to negotiate loans through a bank to proceed with the project until grants are forwarded. The cost of the total project is $310,000 and that includes a new grandstand, lights for the har- dball diamond and soccer field in Agriculture Park, improvements to the existing softball diamond and improvements to the race track hub rail. The project will be eligible for a Community, Recreation Centre grant of $65,000 and the Ontario Racing Commission will add another $31,250 to that amount for a total of $96,250. That leaves a balance of $213,750 and Wintario, if approved will chip in one-third of that balance or $71,243. That leaves the community a share at $142,507 to complete the funding for the project. If all the lottery tickets are sold it would provide $998,000 in revenue for the com.mittee. However, to date there were still a number of tickets unsold but committee members are confident they can be sold within the next few weeks. 'The Committee has received just over $10,000 in private donations and combined with a complete lottery revenue of $98,000 the com- mittee would still have to raise approximately $35,000. The wintario and " Community Recreation Centres grant application forms have been completed and are ready to be forwarded to the Regional Branch of the Ministry of Culture and Recreation in Hanover. thederich SIGNAL—STA 131 YEAR -20 THURSDAY, MAY 18, 1978 30 CENTS PER COPY Ready now to call tenders BY SHIRLEY J. FELLER Goderich Town Council is prepared now to call tenders for the work proposed by the Business Improvement Area (BIA) to beautify the downtown core area in the municipality. It took two recorded votes and Mayor Deb Shewfelt to break the tie in another show of hands . vote to do it, but council' ,is now in a position to call tenders for the first stage of the work on The Square and the radiating streets in the area bounded by Victoria Street, Elgin Avenue, Waterloo Street and Nelson Street. Council voted 6-3 against a motion, introduced by Councillor Don Wheeler and Stan Profit to table the project until more s'.udy could he given to the entire matter. Council also voted 5-4 to "receive and file". a letter from the PUC, and to send a letter thanking the Commission for its interest in the downtown project. And Mayor Shewfelt broke a 4-4 tie of council, resulting in approval of a motilin to "receive and file" a letter from "the Goderich Ratepayers' Association expressing strong opposition to the "needless replacement of the existing modern, energy efficient lighting on The Square" with decorative lighting that would be "a waste of taxpayers' money on installation, maintenance and energy consumption". The GRA will receive a letter thanking the group for its interest in municipal matters. PUC POSITION The letter from the PUC was signed by Don McMillan, PUC secretary. It pointed out that the official position of the PUC on the planned new street lighting system in The Square is that if there is a dissatisfactiion with the present lighting system, and the businessmen's. association wishes a change he made at their expense, the Com.mission has "no objection per se" The letter went on, however, to list the shor- tcomings of the lights proposed by BIA for The Square. PUC officials say the illumination standard fails to even approach the minimum set by modern lighting codes, being only about 19 per cent of the existing standard, with areas of almost no illumination. The PUC also pointed out that with only 19 per cent the efficiency of the present system, the proposed system will in fact cost the taxpayer approximately 45 per cent more in hydro costs. "The resulting wastage of energy resources is abhorent to any concerned citizens," the letter from PUC went on. At the conclusion of the letter, the Commission pledged the expertise of its manager, Al Lawson, and the PUC staff to plan and install "at an economical cost a lighting system which will meet acceptable standards of illumination, conservation of energy and aesthetic appeal WATERGATE AT PUC? Councillor Elsa Haydon moved that the letter from PUC be "received and filed" and that a letter be sent to the PUC thanking them for their assistance. Reeve Bill. Clifford then asked if a copy of the speech delivered by PUC manager Al It was all our fault The Dear Editor column last week in The Signal -Star came close to causing a municipal incident. A letter in last week's columns ap- peared without a signature. That letter, under the title Behind the vote, was, of course, written by Councillor Elsa Haydon. The unsigned letter came to the attention of Editor Shirley J. Keller early Thursday through a telephone call from Deputy -reeve Eileen Palmer who suggested that she understood it was Signal -Star policy not to print a letter without a signature of some kind. "It will be noticed," said the Deputy -reeve. The letter a§ it arrived in the Signal -Star office was properly signed. The signature was attached to the letter before it was cut and trimmed for paste-up. The signature must have -been lopped off Lawson in the council chambers May 1 could be sent to council. Mayor Deb Shewfelt said it was his un- derstanding that would. be impossible since the speech delivered by Lawson had been destroyed. Councillor Haydon retorted this was something like a "mini -Watergate" in that the PUC had first refused to give council a copy of Lawson's speech and subsequently destroyed the speech. Deputy -reeve Eileen Palmer said it was her intention to work to see that the PUC worked along with Crouse -Hinds to get ,the downtown core area the best lighting system possible, but in line with PUC "standards. "There is no plan yet from Crouse -Hinds," said the deputy -reeve,. "We've had good sound advice from Al Lawson and the PUC could present an alternative plan." Councillor Stan Profit. warned members of council that if it agreed to "receive and file" the PUC letter, it was. in fact "totally ignoring" the advice of PUC where the lighting project is concerned. The recorded vote showed Reeve Clifford, Mayor Deb Shewfelt and Councillors Bob Allen, Elsa-Haydon and Dave Gower in favor of receiving and filing the letter. Those opposed were Deputy -reeve Palmer, and Councillors Stan Profit, John Doherty and Don Wheeler. ASININE DECISION? Where the letter from the ratepayers was concerned, Palmer argued that a "large number of ratepayers are speaking to us, the elected members of council". She insisted that a motion to "receive and file" the' letter from the ratepayers was wrong. "In all conscience, I can't believe this council is going ahead with this," shouted Profit. "I simply can't believe this i:s happening. It is absolutely asinine." Councillor Don Wheeler said he "feels restricted" in this decision. "I personally cannot see the reason' to change horses in mid stream," said Wheeler. "It is very difficult to talk on a subject that is so extensive. We have not budgeted for it. I would have like to see a little more response to the ratepayers' letter. We shouldn't say thankyou very much and forget it." ' The vote was by show of hands, with Coun- cillors Haydon (the mover), Gower and Allen and Reeve Bill Clifford in. favor of "receiving and filing" the ratepayers' letter and sending a letter of commendation for their inte,est. Those opposed were Deputy -reeve Palmer, and Councillors Profit, Wheeler and Doherty. Mayor Deb Shewfelt broke the tie in favor of receiving and filing. "The majority has voted and it's over with," ruled the mayor, when discussion went on past the vote. TIT FOR TAT Two more related letters were on the agenda. One was a letter from J. G. Einstein of Crouse - Hinds " Canada, written to 'Elsa Haydon con- cerning the technical data involving the proposed lighting for The Square. "We feel that color rendition and long life are Turn to page 15• during the physical trimming by Editor Shirley Keller. It was unintentional and most un- fortunate. "1 certainly would not want anyone to think I would write things without my signature," said Councillor Haydon after being informed on Thursday morning that her letter had appeared in the paper without a signature. "I stand behind everything I write or say in public." The Signal -Star has not changed its policy -on its Dear Editor column. All letters received by the editor must be properly signed. A pen name will be permitted, but in the event that someone calls, wanting to know its origin, the editor will divulge the letter writer's name. Due to the extreme length of Mrs. Haydon's letter, it cannot be reprinted with her signature attached. Despite rainy weather, a last minute change in location and fewer bidders, the Kinsmen-Kinette auction sale held on Saturday afternoon at the arena realized .a profit of about 8800 for the J Kinsmen Centre. Harold Lamb ,(standing on chair) donated his services as auctioneer and sold everything from toys and appliances to Guy Lombardo and Bing Crosby records, a,