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The Huron Expositor, 1983-05-18, Page 1incorporating Brussels Post 50c per copy The Jura, (fxpositor $EAFORTH, ONTARIO, WEDNESbAY, MAY 18, 1983 —• 24 PAGES Council struggling with its '83 budget Seaforth taxpayers will have to wait another couple of weeks to see exactly what they'll pay in taxes for 1983. "It takes time because we don't want any surprises in 1984 and 85." mayor Alf Ross told the press at council's May 10 meeting. The town has a $49,000 deficit from 1982. Council had planned to release its budget May 10. Department heads and council committees are taking a careful look at expenses and forecasting several years ahead. Some agressive decisions have been taken. and council needs to take time with the budget- to make sure the public can afford them. he said. meet May 16 to o ov err the n tl will ng Cou F entire budget once more in private session and then it and 1983 tax rates, will be considered at a special open council meeting on Tuesday. May 24. • Dance for fire victims raises $1200 Close to $1200 was raised at a benefit dance for the Van Allen family of Hibbert township whose house was recently destroy- ed by fire. The dance. held at the-Hensall Community Centre, was attended by approximately 300 people. "W wer quite surprised at the turnout becaus a lot rmers are out in the fields says n right w -' Anne McGregor. one of the g organizers of the dance. Seaforth council ha's agreed to take part in an Ontario program designed to standard- ize accounting in municipalities. By signing an agreement with the ministry df housing and municipal affairs at its May 10 meeting, the town is eligible for a $5,000 grant,to set up a Basic Accounting Package I3ACPAC. Town auditors, Atkinson, Leach & Neill, say the program will benefit Seaforth .in several ways. Effective cash management procedures are stressed; capital forecasting, financing and control will. help with' Targe projects the town plans and monthly financial statements will relate actual expenditures to budget figures. Since the town's chief bookkeeper retires in July, her replacement can get involved with setting up BAC 'AC and thus "obtain an in depth overview of the job." Work on the BACPAC project, which will be supervised by the auditors, vyill start in August. and will be in place by Jan, 1. Costs are estimated at $5,000: a $4,500 fee to the accounting firm. $400 for materials and $100 for out of pocket expenses. Ruth Cluff PlicC agrees rees to study of water system ,` of the ' itgrown in the coil But,Seaforth has not and the since capacity, water mains.Y e town.town in the would lookat the system to accommodate growth r,�past. the new study It would also give the commission an insight with its present population. said Steve Burns. of how much to raise rates or target for engineer who presented his ideas to the reserves. fir; commission. PUC chairman. Gord Pullman said the r. "Growth is less of a concern in Seaforth, study may not tell the commission anything it +but your water tower is not going to last doesn't already know. The last study •,:.forever," he said. projected that Seaforth's present population a Mr. Burns has conducted similar studies in would be 6,000 and had listed recommenda- Clinton, Goderich and Mitchell. *inns nn that basis. he said. S • Meter collectionstays with police Collecting the money from Seaforth's Noting that people complain when they put parking meters will be the police depart- money in and nothing happens Mr. Bennett ment's responsibilj y for another mltnth at ... ftxiahemlic theks eomapioloyees "feel they can least. y g dg' An offer by public works to take on the job. Councillor Paul Ross argued against the because the machines can be repaired during change. "I have a gut feeling collection bi.weekly collections. vlasn't accepted at the should be kept separate from repair" and May 10 council meeting.The chief of police suggested the list of broken meters be turned favoured the idea too, public works t:ommit- over to public works faster. tee chairman, Bill Bennett said. because it's . Perhaps the police committee should more efficient. discuss the change before it's adthorized, Now a list of meters needing repairs is sent ' chairman Wayne Ellis said, and council to public works after money is collected. agreed. A detailed engineering st ud Y will be conducted on Seaforth's water system. including a structural analysis of the water tower. The Seaforth Public Utilities Commis- sion decided last week to spend a maximum of $8,500 on the study. The main concern of the commission was the condition of the water tower which was built in 1922. The commissioners decided that an overall study was also needed to determine what changes. if any, would be made to the tower. The study will arso be used as a guideline for the management of the commission over the next 10 years. Mayor Alf Ross said. -It will give the PUC manager an idea of improve- meats to make in the waterworks. Manager Tom Phillips said an engineering report will make it easier for the commission to get approval from town council and for any grants from the provincial government if a new tower is needed. The last study, completed in 1969. was used to determine where new wells would be located for the town. The new detailed study would look at such water consumption, tire protection. storage Ruth Cluff retires from t� post office after 45 years Sunimer is saferwhen you wear the proe sunglasses LIGHTSENSITI VE—People who purchase sunglasses should consider fit first and fashion second says David Longstaff, Seaforth optician. Trying on a pair for size Is Effie Nesbitt: (Photo by Wassink) Bathing suits, tennis rackets and sun- glasses are a sign 6f summer. All three give aches and pains to the user: sunburns from bathing, tennis elbow from tennis and headaches from wearing sunglasses. A recent news article reported three women complained of numbness in the nasal area and headaches after wearing sunglass- es. The heavy weight of the frames was given as reason for the problems. The combination of compression ou the nose and weight of glass is the most probable cause of headaches says David Longstaff, Seaforth optician. Improper fit causes most problems. "People generally disregard fit and go for fashion. They end up throwing their sunglasses and money away if fhe fit is poor." The eye has a natural filtration system to protect it from harmful sun rays. People generally wear sunglasses because they are light-sensitive. The more sensitive person wears sunglasses to be able to see comfortably in bright sunlight. The tint of sunglasses is matched to the light sensitivity of the wearer. There are three ways of combating the sun proolem, David says. 7'o combat brightness, sunglasses can be reflection, polarization, or derfsity Of tint type, which is most popular. The lens can be glass or plastic. Plastic is most popular because it is light. "Extremely dark sunglasses are only required for very bright days. In this area, we might only get one day per year in the winter due to snow reflection. Most people should choose a medium -tinted sunglass." Warped lens are a hazard to the wearer. Selecting a quality pair of sunglasses ensures the lens is thick enough to prevent warping. A poor quality lens can warp if left in the sun, perhaps on a car dash. "The lens will take on a prescription through warpage. A person does not ,require prescription glasses, will now be wearing it. "People should only wear sunglasses for the need they are meant • for." If worn constantly, a condition called photophobia can result. A person can become light-sensi- tive and will be forced to wear sunglasses whenever they go outdoors. To avoid problems such as poor fit, weight, and quality, people should consider fit first, then fashion second, says David. When Ruth Cluff, a young girl just out of high school, got her first job at the Seaforth Post Office, she thought it would be temporary. But, 45 years later. Miss Cluff is officially retiring frotp the Post Office this June. During those 45 years, Miss Cluff has seen many changes in both the town and Post Office, She first started working a supposedly 48 hour week, although she really worked day .and night. She now works a 40 hour week. "The mail used to come in on the train and we sometimes had to wait up all night for it," she says: Long hours were spent sorting the mail by hand, especially at Christmas time. - "Christmas was terrible. You didn't get ahead of the mail for days. People don't send half the mail at Christmas now that they used to." Postage has increased 1000 per cent since Miss Cluff started at the Post Office; 40c would cover the cost of mailing a one pound package. Now it takes $4.00 to mail the safne package. - 1'he years at the post office have allowed Miss Cluff to get to know everyone in town. "The one thing 1'11 miss most when 1 retire is meeting the public every day." She has also seen five postmasters come and go. Although she has taken charge of the post office once for eight months and again for nine months• between postmasters. she has never applied for the job. Stamp -collecting is a hobby that seemed to grow naturally out of working at the, post office. Miss Cluff started to collect Canadian stamps in the early 1940's and has accumulated all of the ordinary and special stamps of Canada since then. When stamps were only 4c each. she used to collect whole sheets of stamps but now the cost is too high to continue that practice. , "Putting them in an album is going to keep me busy for quite a few winters. Miss Cluff plans to keep busy at her cottage in Kincardine during the summer and at her family home in Seaforth in the winter. "There's too much to do to be bored. I won't be sitting around," Separate board pioneers bus safety The Huron -Perth Separate School Board has implement- ed., with co-operation from the Goderich and Sebringville detachments of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP), the first school bus safety pro- gram for pre-schoolers in the province. "We are the first school board in the province to initiate a program like this," transportation committee chairman Ray Van Vliet tojd the board at its May 9 meeting. From June 1 to 10, children registered for kindergarten ih September in all separate schools 'j Huron and Perth along with heir p•ren and school bus 've ,s i 1be- h jitore" f l P. Ot6C bus ,safety. The program isl-expected to provide the newly -registered pre-school children with' an opportunity to become famil- iar with the school bus and be more alert to signs of danger. School bus safety rules will also be stressed. OPP safety officers will be spending one half day in each school. The children, accompanied by mom or dad will also experience a school bus ride. An essential ingredient to the classes is the participa- tion in the program by at least one parent from each family. The responsibility/ for safety must be shared jointly by those involved," states a 'press release issued by the board. "Most important. the pro- gram will give parents the opportunity to provide their child with an experience from which they as parents can teach with greater meaning." adds the press release. Trustee- gave Durand questioned expanding the program into all grades at the schools. He wag told that during bus hey will ride the bus on a ltily basis or not will be ncluded in the school bus afety program. d •s &afe_tameols tOe fa1L� @ajgF�y �, • ruil'e_s .on _sc o04 bt1se - r6 highlighted. Also, superin- tendent of business and fi- nance Jack Lane noted that on the first day of school each year. a pamphlet on school bus safety is sent home with each child. "That happens every year, whether or not its eight years in a row," said Mr. Lane. Mr. Lane added that all pre-school children, whether "Because they do ride the school. bus at sometime or another." said Mr, Lane referring to school trips etc. The program is being im- plemented in response to recommendations made by a Coroner's Jury a year ago. Five recommendations came out of the inquest looking into the death of a kindergarten student at Kingsbridge school in Huron County in September of 1981. Four of the recommenda- tions involved changes by the f�,>S.ai�ljb� Yer�?ttlelji�t4.ta>�• j tutd "ff`t'ag ra}y tht federal .government to the manufacturing specifications of school buses. The fifth recommendation, aimed at school boards read, "upon registration for school. preschoolers be given in- struction'on bus safety". "The program will make all children aware of bus safety.. it's a start, a good start," commented Mr. Van Vliet. Seaforth will get Seaforth's planning hoard is going to draft a fence bylaw for the town, following a complaint at the April council meeting about an electric fence dangerous to children. Clerk Jim Crocker reported to council May 10 that only swimming pool fences are covered in a current bylaw. Dave DeVries, Dave Reid and John Sinnamon, the three applicants. will he appointed to Seaforth's new property standards committee in June. Seaforth's 19 assessment appeals, most of them related to urea formaldehyde foam insulation, will be heard by the assessment review board in Goderich May 19, In 1982 the town lost about $9000 in tax revenue as a result of appeals. but clerk Crocker noted a 75 per cent reduction was allowed then. Provincial policy now is to allow 35 per cent. Renovation plans for the new police office have been reviewed and regular thermo- pane windows will he used. If any problem with vandalism occurs. the police commit- tee agreed a screen mesh :ould be added. The rec director and the :Jerk will call for tenders to resurface the tennis courts at SDHS, with June 3 the deadline. Because Seaforth's budget -in -the -works will include a forecast of capital improve- ments for the next three to five years. the public works committee discussed the open ditch at Brantford and Isabella Sts. Residents in the area have complained that it's a hazard. The site will be inspected again and the clerk and public works superintendent John Forrest will work out detailed costs for closing it in. Council will sell the old public works building and shed, south of the railway tracks and zoned for light industry for light industry by tender, with a May 24 deadline. From PUC. Mayor Alf Ross said that a four inch water main has been installed to the new fire hall. the old Peerless pump removed and premises cleaned up at the former fire hall. The PUC manager and public works superintendent met and agreed the two departments will co-operate on projects whenever possible. Huron's 1983 road budget is $S million, reeve Bill Campbell reported from county Undd . j` cg[ a fence council. Councillors get regular year-to- date cost breakdowns from the road department. In reply to a question from deputy reeve Bill Bennett, he said the Kippen road is being widened and resur- faced this summer and the county road from the Red Tavern school to the Perth County road will be paved at the same time. Seaforth's downtown heritage district Dian is still being reviewed by LA'CAC. Tickets tor the June 4 arena- opening celebrations are still available; councillor Irwin Johnston reported from the arena board of management. The sound system is in place and tables and chairs should be on hand for the opening. After bartending for a .might in the hall, councillor Henry Mero had a couple of suggestions for the board. A phone you can call out on is needed, as is stage lighting independent of the whole hall's lights. Councillor Johnston said the board would discuss the suggestions. "Municipal realities....living within your means" was the topical theme of a Ontario Small Urban Municipalities seminar that mayor Ross attended in Simcoe early in bylaw May. Sessions were excellent, he said, strongly recommending that councillors plan' to attend 1984 sessions, to be held in Stratford. Exeter's resolution that school hoards be responsible for collecting their own taxes and arrears pot "good discus- sion. but was defeated.' Wingham has recently put parking meters back on that town's main street. councillor Wayne Ellis said, for some of the same reasons that some Seaforth people want to see ours remain. People who live above stores were parking on the street day and night and merchants and employees parked there all day. every day. Few parking spaces were available for shoppers. "They were not put back in lightly...mer- chants are happy to see them back." Council pay for April meeting attendance was passed in the following amounts: mayor Ross. 8495; reeve Campbell, $290; deputy reeve Bennett. $380; councillor Ellis, 8200: councillor Hazel Hildebrand, S335; council- lor Johnston, -$275; councilldr William Martin. $290; councillor Mero, $200 and councillor Paul Ross. $290. Arms race concerns Christians, two local ministers feel The potential for civil disobedience exists in Canada because there is still integrity here, says David McKnight, minister of the United Church in Egmond- ville. Canadians are still much more moral than Americans. In the United States so many people have lost their moral sensitivity, he says. Rev. James Vanslyke of Northside United Church in Seaforth agrees that the potential for civil disobedience exists here. Both ministers attended the United Church of Canada's London Conference in Woodstock on the weekend. "1 think that there are a lot of people in Canada right now who have some strong feelings and who wonder if the government is listening to them," Mr. Vanslyke says. A majority of the delegates who attended the conference agreed that Christians should be given the option of engaging in acts of non-violent civil disobedience, such as refusing to pay their taxes, rather than violate the gospel. The church's campaign against the nuclear arms race and the testing of the cruise missile in Alberta was seen to benefit from this decision. These acts would be a matter of one's own conscience, says Mr. Vanslyke. He says he would not be preaching civil disobedience to his congregation from the pulpit. Questions raised by Canadians demon- strating against the arms race are serious questions by concerned Christians, says Mr. Vanslyke "We need to find ways to make our feelings known to Russia as well. There must be a balance reduction of arms on both the western and communist sides," he says. The series of peace demonstrations in Ottawa left a great impression on Mr. McKnight. "i knew that these people would go to great lengths to protest something that they thought was morally wrong," he says. Both Mr. McKnight and his. wife have gone to great lengths themselves to follow their consciences. "We came to Canada because we wanted to leave the United States at a time when it seemed to be moving sharply to the right. We're both pacifists and Reagan - dodgers," he says. After spending several years with a growing uneasiness about paying their taxes and therefore contributing to the arms race, the McKnights left Virginia and came to Canada. An apple a day keeps the doctor away A/4 Ball hockey a new pastime A/11 The area's only fireworks display is at Londesboro on Monday night A/18 Hospital auxiliary celebrates 50th anniversary A/3 n d@n Births /146 Brussels news /A16, 17 Classified /A20, 21, 22 Dublin news /144, 5 Entertainment /A9 Family /148, 22 Farm /A15 Hensel, news /Al2 Obituaries /146 People /A9 Smiley /A2 Something to Say /142 Sports /A10, 11 Londesboro /1418 Walton /A18 The Junction /A13, 14 w 1