Loading...
Lens Coles Scrapbook 1987';4.v-. 4�rJF rife v'��a•Fs i,a�. . se�'4s;y iW+'fx1 tryiq�ti'!A inn Len Coles Fonds Len Coles' Scrapbook Index 1987 Page 1 Newspaper articles re. effects the planned General Motors -Suzuki Cami plant may have on the County (includes photograph of Doug Harris), proposed provincial government policy statement on flood plain planning (includes photograph of Ken Whiteford), and planned Woodstock apartment buildings on abandoned industrial sites receives approval by County Council Page 2 Newspaper articles re. proposal to upgrade Woodingford Lodge, issue of charging tipping fees at the Salford Landfill, municipalities looking forward to accessing the County's land related information computer system and Joe Pember feels police shouldn't have the right to randomly stop motorists (includes photograph of Joe Pember) Page 3 Newspaper articles re. Jim Batten feels partisan political considerations cost him his reappointment the County Board of Health (includes photograph of Jim Batten), proposed study on the social impact the planned GM/Suzuki CAM plant would have on Ingersoll and the County, Administration and Finance Committee wants ex -Councillors to pay for their own copies of the 1986 Minute Book (includes photograph of Marg Munnoch), and whether the Courts or County Administration should move out of the Court House Page 4 Newspaper articles re. Alexandra Hospital financial request to Council, prospect of a water shortage, and role of public institutions inspection panels come under Council fire (includes photograph of Jim Gibb) OXFORD COUNTY ARCHIVES Bos 4. Shelf COAL Leonard K. Coles fonds Scrapbook —1987 OXFORD COUNTY ARCHIVES COAL Leonard K. Coles fonds Scrapbook —1987 Box 43, Shelf Specifically its impact on Oxford County Harris downplays effect of GM -Suzuki M ►INON OOWNIE -- of The SaW"l-Revew Ingersoll Mayor Doug Harris has varned,Oxford County administration staff not to jump to cuftelusions about he effects the planned General Motors- ;uzuki CAMD plant will have on the mike some of other areas in province where Ingersoll has many large centres in close proximity. The town's popula- tion may not see a drastic hike,1. although the plant will eventually employ 2,500 peo- c-.... pie, Harris said Wednesday at a Harris county council meeting. He was responding to a suggestion that Oxford "undertake a social impact study regarding the major economic development." The study would i. establish some agreed upon social im- pact factors, population projections and j implications, said Boss Dawson, ex- ecutive director of Family and Children' Services of Oxford County. LJ ,In a letter to county Warden Helen Smith, Dawson said a study would put the FCS in an positive position to begin discussions or negotiations with provin- cial authorities for additional funds and resources to meet projected needs. Because theplant won't be opera- tional until 1989 it will give the FCS lead time to carry out the study and have manpower in place before demand ex- ceeds service capacity. says county Flood plain "policy awash in red tape While the large scale development is an obvious plus from an economic point of view, the board is worried it could in- crease the demand on social services FCS fears an influx of additional families to Oxford which could result in requests for assistance exceeding his agency's staff capacity. Dawson said quality of service could suffer and there is a possibility some specialized pro- grams would have to be cut in order to By AIISON DOWNIE — ,d The SeioMel-Review _ Oxford County will likely raise some concerns about a proposed j provincial government policy state - merit on flood plain planning. The county's planning committee has recommended_ a formal response be sent to the ministries of natural resources and municipal af- fairs, as well as Oxford MPP Dick Treleaven, local municipalities and area conservation authorities. Municipal governments have been j asked to comment on the Flood Plain Planning Policy Statement proposed by the natural resources and municipal affairs ministries. The policy recognizes that the pro- vince has legislation which gives power to municipalities, conserva- tion authorities and provincial n ministries. to prohibit or regulate development in areas which would be vulnerable to Hood damage. The statement sets out basic policies with the intent of ensuring that. buildings are located outside of flood risk areas through orderly land use -. planning. The proposed !' policesy statement donot differ' ?' significantly from s past provincial, policies, said Ox- ford planning com- missioner Ken Whiteford Whiteford. The county's biggest concern with 1 the new policy is that it increases the amount of red tape a person who wants to develop on the fringe of flood plain lands has to go through. i requiring an Official Plan amend- ment. in Oxford, county planners have good relationships with local conservation authorities, deputy planning commissioner Elizabeth Ottaway said. "We don't want people to get wrapped up in the planning process for nothing," she said. The county agrees with the I, policy's intent to protect persons on flood plains lands, but planners say that can be done without puttiog developers through the Official Plan ameadment process. But, Ottaway concedes that might not be true in other areas of,the province. That part of the policy would of - feel oxford when modification are made to the County's Official Plan. "they won't force us to change I policies now," Ottaway said. ,But, if it becomes provincial policy, when we review our Official Plan we'll have to change our flood pinin regulations." then its (posed Policy Statematement entd(V` ford is also encouraging that more Irmphasia be place on Increasing public awareness about flood plain tondo. Ottaway said some loco downers don't even know their pru- perlien ore in the flood phibt. meet the needs. He estimated that art proximately 5W new families would re. quire the addition of at least two new staff members. Harris spoke strongly against the study suggested by FCS saying: "Uq be careful. Let's notstart jumping to conclusions." Dawson's letter has been referred to the county's administration and finance committee for discussion. Woodstock apartments get county approval WOODSTOCK (Bureau)— An of- ficial plan amendment clearing way for construction of two apart- ment buildings on an abandoned industrial site was approved by Ox- I. ford County council Wednesday, despite last-minute opposition. Council voted 12-8 in favor of changing the designation on the former Truck Engineering plant `t site at Wellington and Henry streets to residential from industri- al. County Councillor Ken Bullen of Woodstock said the vacant factory j is "structurally sound" and should be kept available for future indus- trial ventures. Bullen noted the plan had caused division in Woodstock council where it was opposed by the city's development commissioner who argued the loss of the Truck Engi- neering industrial site would ham- per efforts to attract new manufac- turers. Woodstock development commis- �ioner Paul Plant felt existing plants are attractive to outside in- dustries. k co uncil voted 5-3 in Favor of the same development ap- plication Dec. 4 after lengthy de- bate. Bullen wanted Oxford politicians to be aware of the split among aldermen before they voted on Amending the official plan, a coun- ty document. "That building could be put back into industrial use," said Bullen, who supported the development commissioner's stance at the city level where he sits as an alderman Mayor Joe Pember — absent when the issue surfaced at the city level — told county council the fac- tory still had potential as an Indus- trial facility. Councillor Phil Poole of Wood- stock said the factory is surround- ed on three sides by residential growth. "in the end, it's a factory in the wrong place.' Councillor Les Cook of Wood- stock viewed the residential pro- posal as a way to enhance a particu- lar area while increasing the cit 's limited rental stock. Planning commissioner Ken Whiteford said any rejection of the plan by the county would have prompted the developer to launch an appeal with the Ontario Municl- ji pal Board, Each apartment building is to have 45 Units with construction to begin in the spring. In other -business, four Wood ,fork subdivision plans in draft R"rni won support from county „un„t enabling the prdposals to pw, cad toward rogfstration if fully developed,. the -O,J„ I t,un hh di priiv'ide(572how,i;:z uinl.. Iplxrs on Dow -vac ant I)ur- ,, i- i,i ;.,tlhnlist and south%v st Woodingford plans get a fearful look By ALMN DOWNIE --- — of TM snttinei-Rwliiw A proposal to upgrade Woodingford Lodge Home For the Aged to the tune of $1.3 million could have Oxford County councillors singing the blues. Although no official financial request has yet been made to county council there could be one shortly. Council is already fac- ing a decision on whether to give Ingersoll's Alexandra Hospital $750,000 towards a major redevelopment project. And the board of trust of Woodstock General Hospital has made it known they might be asking the county for money towards a large project sometime this year. Alexandra's call remains on hold By ALISON DOWNIE ai no seneieal-Rahn Ingersoll's Aleeandra Hospital has been put on hold by Oxford County. The hospital board had asked for $ao,000 from the county to help pay for a major redevelopment project and it looked promising the request would be granted without a hitch. But that was not the case when a recommenation from the county's administration and finance committee went before county council Wednesday. ' The majority of councillors refused to st[pport the recommendation to support the hospital's request and make two -equal payments of $N5.000 in 19aa and L%9. Instead councillors elected to refer the grant request to 1987 budget deliberations. co,,,. Don McKay said it would be premature to commit funds before set- ting the f987 budget. He suggested the amount requested could be reduced and council's contribution paid over more than two years. '-When you mention hospitals it gets to your heart, but you shouldn't let it get to your head as well," McKay stated. Ingersoll Mayor Doug Harris argued ,that the county has already set a prece- dent giving Stratford General Hospital $,600 WOO towards a redevelopment pro- ject there. Information about the proposal for w'oodingford Lodge was distributed to county councillors at their meeting Wednesday and following the meeting councillors toured the facility. Lodge administrator Brian McReynolds said his facility is in need of an addition and renovations in service areas to make things better for residents. Preliminary drawings have been prepared by the firm of Kyles, Garrott and Marklevitz of Stratford which came up with the $1.3 million estimate. Of that amount, the province will be ap- proached for 50 per cent funding. Plans for the Lodge, home to about 24o residents, include constructing a new dining room and multi -purpose room for extended care residents on the second floor; an addition on the second floor to relocate the special care unit and provide more storage; installation of a service elevator; two new dining rooms for extended and chronic care patients; improve the dining facilities for staff; and expand the general office areas by relocating the board room and library. The cost breakdown of the $1.3 million includes $100,000 for consulting fees and $50,000 for new furnishings and equipment. McReynolds hopes the project can get underway this year and said the work could be done in phases over a couple of years. He will be making a presentation on the work required at the lodge to county council Jan. 28, but said he is uncertain whether a financial request will be made then. "We are the only ones allowed by .legislation to contribute funds with a precedent set already I don't know how SET PRIORITIES Speaking about the other funding re - you couldn't give support," he said. quests for health related facilities coun- other councillors raised the concern ty council may be faced with this year McReynolds said it will be up to coun- that funding requests will be coming in cillors to set prlorities. the near future to help with projects at Woodstock General Has Pital and Obfouslylwanttoseeourbudgetgo ahead," he noted. If county council Woodingford Lodge. Warden Helen Smith said the motion to -defer the re- doesn'tseefittoapprovei[we'ilhave[o quest was not being negative, but in- live with it. stead would give council an opportunit7 —� to look at the budget as a whole. She - pointed out that neither Perth or Iamb - ton counties support hospitals. I By deferring the grant request Harris accused council of prolonging the fun- ding argument saying, "We might as well hammer it out today." By a vote of 11.9 councillors deferred the funding request to budget negotiations. Tatham's tipping tries `i some tough to translate By ALISON 00WNIf coon. Phil Poole. said he couldn't Sap - of The SonNooLikVin If at first he doesn't succeed, Oxford County Coun. Charlie Tatham is the type to try and try again. At county council's meeting Wednes- day, Tatham again brought up the issue of charging tipping fees at the Oxford central landfill site. Not exactly anew issue for county councillors. Tatham is in favor of charging tipp- ing fees at the landfill to try to en- courage more municipalities to get in - in recycling programs, but despite his arguments a motion calling i for tipping fees to be instituted at the landfill was defeated by a 7-13 vote, port the shotgun motion whirh gave no information about how a tipping fee system would be Implemented, the equipment and staff it would take and the costs involved. "I agree it's not very concrete. Warden Helen Smith addef. Diversion credits or tipping fcm would encourage more recycling, Coun. Ernie Hardeman maintained, Poole argued that point saying recyclable household waste Is only a. small portion of the actual volume of garbage that goes to the landfill. Worried about the impact tipping fees could have on in- dustries, councillors ,lean Ferrie and Joe Pember both refused to support Tatham's motion. Six of eight centres favor computer access 1 bef By ALISON OOWNII of Tao SeMlmt-Roview Six of the eight municipalities in Ox- ford are looking forward to accessing the county's land related information computer system this year. The six municipalities which have ap- proved a connection to the system in- clude the townships of Blandford- Blenheim, Norwich and South-West Ox- ford, as well as the urban centres of Woodstock, Tillsonburg and Ingersoll. The Township of East Zorra-Tavistock has approved participation in a grant request for funds towards equipment (telephone lines and computer ter- minals) required for on-line access although council is taking a wait -and - see attitude. East Zorra-Tavistock would probably have been one of the last to be hooked up to the system anyways. Township council decided to check out the benefits other 'rural municipalities derive with the system m p ace ore going ahead with installation of equipment. Zorra Township Council has a similar attitude. Members did not support the participation in the grant request although the township has appointed a representative to sit on the county's steering committee overseeing the im- plementation of the system. By next week a line will be hooked up to Queen's Park connecting the county system with the local land registry office. A phone line to Tillsonburg will be connected in February sometime, followed by hookups to South-West Ox- ford and Norwich. The cost of hooking all the municipalities up to the system will be about $60,000, Ottaway said. Most municipalities will pay between $5.,000 and $10,000. Because of sewer and water system data, urban areas require more equipment. Joe's shot down Police should not have the right to randomly stop motorists, says Woodstock Mayor Joe Pember. At Oxford County's administra- tion and finance committee meeting Tuesday, he spoke out against pro- grams that allow police to stop drivers without reason and ask them to submit to a breathalyzer test. But he didn't get much support. The commit- tee has recom- mended Oxford support a resolution From The Ontario ;gr: Traffic Con- ference en- couraging both the provincial and federal governments to continue breath testing on roads Pember year-round. I can't support this," Pember said. "I know I m speaking against motherhood. I've seen what drink- ing and driving does more than anyone else here, but I'm a right enough thinker that 1 don't want police to be able to just randomly pull you over just for the sake of checking on you, That goes against my rights and freedoms." Ile said police should have a reason before they can stop a motorist, Warden Helen Smith disagreed. She said, "I have no problem with it, if they want to putt me over. I'm 'never on the road when I shouldn't be " Corot. pat McKay, sitting with the warden, said Canadian society is hung up on rfghta and freedoms. He said it Is everyone's responsibility it) ensure they are sober when they're hohind the wheel of 41 car 0 0 0 0 Party ties cost health board seat — Battin By ►AUL MILTON of The SonNnol-Rwioa Tillsonbtlrg lawyer Jim Bat - tin says partisan political con- siderations cost him his reap- pointment to the Oxford County Board of Health this year. Battin, who served as chairman last year, completed a three-year term as provincial government appointee to the board. He and Robert Mann of Woodstock were both eligible for reappointment. Mann was reappointed but Battin was not. The third provincial appointee, Mary Jull of Norwich, had completed her second three-year term and was not eligible for reappointment. Maureen Loewith of Woodstock and Caroline Orth of Burgessville were ap- pointed to the two vacant positions. Battin and Mann were both appointed to the board in 1984 by the Progressive Conservative Cabinet of Bill Davis. Battin says he lost his position "essentially because of the change of government in Toronto. "They appointed supporters of the Liberal Party to the positions." Maureen Loewith, one of the two new appointees, says she has been a Liberal party worker but feels she received the appointment. because of her background in public health as a nurse. "I think they're trying to get somebody in who's actually got the training and background. I think that's what the premier's office is trying to do, rather than reward the party faithful. If I was appointed to the police com- mission, I'd have to wonder why that happened." Loewith describes herself as a known activist in public health areaswith a particular interest in home care and nursing. Caroline Orth is also a member of the Liberal Party and a volunteer with a number of organizations including the Canadian Cancer Society. At least one county councillor believes Battin did a good job and should still be on the board. Doug Harris, Mayor of Ingersoll, sup- ported the reappointment of both Mann and Battin and informed cabinet with a letter before the appointments were made. "When you've ' got goon members re on a board and they're eligible for reappointment and you can use them. - why not reappoint them? For the life of me,.1 can't see why one them ,. should be %p pointed and the Battin other one not. "1 understand why Bob Mann was reappointed. He did a good job." as did Battin, said Harris. Harris wonders now about a motion made by Conn Ken Bullen t Woodstock t last year to take the public health func- tion away from the board and return it to the county council. The motion was soundly defeated in council but Harris points out thatsince he voted againstthe motion, he could reintroduce it. -As a person who voted against that, in retrospect I wonder maybe if I should have supported Ken's motion, If you have valuable members and they're not reornted, you begin to wonder." The boarti is composed of six ,,1+111bers of county council and (fire(, tn,wir+riot appointees, ature, word used to negate study call By SENTINEL -REVIEW STAFF WRITERS _ Premature was the word used to describe a proposal for a study to determine the social impact the planned CM/Suzuki CAMI plant will have on Ingersoll and the rest of Oxford County. The county's administration and finance committee was asked to look at the study request by county council after a warning from Inger- soll Mayor Doug Harris that no one should jump to conclusions about what impact the plant will have on - the surrounding area. The request was made by Ross Dawson, ex- ecutive director of Family and Services Oxford Coun- _>•i $,, or Children's of a " ty, who said the development could O v v 9 increase the demand on social ser- cy 8 -'o vices. Lead time would be needed to in to L z o have the necessary staff place r u meet the increase, Dawson said in a O "- ' letter. The majority of committee members said while a study may be E £ w -- warranted closer to when the plant is scheduled to open, it would be premature now. O c a E �• "They're only moving dirt there E m ,, = ou tat the CAMI site) now," Joe Pember said. The committee has recommended E.m A e a Dawson's request for a study be _ w y c S 2..'., m 01'L noted and filed. £o wLVLUi * * * Chintzy or responsible? Admitting to being "chintzy" members of Oxford County's ad- ministration and finance. committee want ex -councillors to pay for. copies of the 1986 minute book. In past years, former county politicians and staff have been given free copies of minute books, printed annually, which cost about $15 each. After discussing four quotes rang- ing from $3.35 per page to $4.50 per page, members of the administra- tion and finance committee decided to charge a $10 fee to any group or .individual, not directly involved in jcounty business, requesting a copy of the 1986 minute book. The total cost of having 125 books printed will be about $2,000. The hooks will be distributed to the 20 members of county council, each county department, local municipalities, area counties and the 21 libraries in Oxford. Some committee members said anyone who is no longer involved with the county shouldn't expect. anything free because they were paid a good salary while involved with the county. Committee chairman Marg Munnoch said "we are pro- ��d"sn" - bably hevng chintzy, but it's the principle of the thing." Coun. Joe P e in b e i disagreed sav- ing, no, it's llunnoch called fiscal responsibhty." County council will make the final decision on whether ex -councillors ,md ex -staff members will have to pay for minute hooks at its next meeting. O vV E nco W i 07 O OS N m • oEa:S.2 �- yvE4 �L yud.�V 3v'i v', n u Eoom''S `om�o m O'EcW your SEE©a c- 0y�` vW, ami 37. m 4: m.t6 5- en m d ENmSE 3u m. o�01v wsm2 —:5 �`� W `edsnG 9oE I`oa >,3 Sot =o Fu�o�i4o m$ you y u3 �Zw ma°ai os 5c=0, c E8-3 t$, omrtn `�cmc �cE mz u C CL" aW�cV �rt@ tWE o-3z -•oc-•�o= y d� wC EW SE' >'C U aiaMm a, rj¢ 0 3cr,3 mt GGp WLC msA E0''A m a3murb� �sEi=oc=maH Fm' 3 £"c a',S 33o1v 3coiE _W ��N OCcEY �mquc .D EWY yge�a m ��E iie�Q �.o cols c`y9.�'F » c s�.w ua�cEcwc m � m 000 � E � N C �jFy NL"u V E `oET E3 os3E q2•c A7w UU u''T�C.LN,. 9.:� Est.E8 Z. �mL Oxford resists push to handle hospital request before budget WOODSTOCK (Staff, — Alexan- grant request during upcoming dra Hospital in Ingersoll will have 1987 budget talks. to wait to learn if Oxford County Harris wanted council to reconsi- will make a $7,90,000 contribution der its deferral of the. matter, but to its building campaign. didn't receive any support and Ingersoll Mayor Doug Harris rules of order prevented him from tried to get county council to deal introducing a new motion on the with the request without delay topic. Wednesday but acknowledged The, hospital has said it is con - there wasn't anything he could do cerned any delay might throw off to force the issue, the timing of other components of lie was stymied because council its $4-million expansion and ren- voted last month to consider the ovation project Oxford told to study now for future water shortages WOODSTOCK (Staff) - Oxford County must be prepared to con- front the prospect of a water short- age beginning this year, its director of engineering said Wednesday. Don Pratt told county council that although his department will ask the environment ministry for a grant, a study shouldn't hinge on provincial financing. "If we want it done, we'll end up paying for it ourselves," said Pratt, who is in favor of including $20,000 in the 1987 public works budget to get a study started. He said the environment minis- try generally responds slowly to such requests for money, if at all. Pratt was responding to ques- tions arisingfrom minutes of a pub - lie works committee meeting last month. It was the consensus of the committee that water supply prob- lems will be among the top issues facing the county in the next dec- ade if action is not taken. Councillor Ken Sullen of Wood- stock, chairman of the public works committee, said Wednesday a pro- posal and recommended course of action will be brought before coun- cil soon. Pratt said any such study should be fairly broad and include an as- sessment on the possibility of pip- ing water from the Great Lakes in addition to water management techniques and conservation meth- ods. The issue was raised by area pub- lic utility commissions last year when they passed a motion urging Oxford to ask the province for a feasibility study on a pipeline. There isn't any immediate con- cern about a widespread water shortage, but there is general agreement among utilities in the county that new sources must be developed. Meanwhile, council decided to find out what it would cost to launch a limited search for water in the Brownsville area. Council learned that new sources must be found to bolster its newly acquired water system in Brownsville, which serves about 150 households. Resi- dents there don't have enough wa- ter to meet daily demand. Council also authorized its staff to submit an application to the en- vironment ministry for a grant to help upgrade the tiny water system in Brownsville. Public inspection panels: System takes a shellacking from county council committee commenting on the prices of medical sup- police stations, the three hespitats, the Woodstock b uttpl ooMrM[ plies at the Oxford Regional Centre. and Oxford libraries, the county* board of health of - Emphasizing his earlier point, Pember said the (ices, the county courthouse and the Oxford Regional The role of public institutions inspection panels concept of inspection panels is 'just another layer of Centre. Their recommendations have been forwarded I, came under fire at Oxford County council's meeting silliness on top of all the bureaucracy we already to the provincial attorney general, the minister Wednesday. have." responsible for the facility and management of the in - Several councillors took shots Twice a year inspection panels, appointed by a pro- dividual facilities. at the panel system during a vincial court judge, tour facilities that are supported Coun. Doug Harris, a law teacher, was the only discussion of a report ona fall in- , )':� by public monies such as libraries, police stations and county council member to speak in support of public % spection tour. hospitals. Under the Public Inspections Panels Act, inspections panels. He said the panels replaced the Conn. Jim Gibb said the $10 a the seven members of the committee have the power grand juries which used to do inspections. Past day, plus mileage, panel _ to comment on anything they want, said Oxford members of panels he has spoken to seemed to enjoy members receive is inadequate County's deputy sherriff David Milne. the job, Harris said. i although you have serve when 'CARTE BLANCHE' � Some. county councillors said that with the number . called. The system for selecting ` ,v! " "They really have carte blanche," he said. "Panels of professional agencies available it was redundant to panel members is the same as - are made up of people who really have no vested in- have lay persons doing twice -annual inspections. the one for juries.1005� terests. They take a fresh look at things. They questioned how much weight the panel's recom "If you take a person away "Public inspections panels .speak for people who mendations have and some even went as for as to sav from their work they should be Gibb really don't have any clout or recourse. They act for they are more often than not ignored. compensated," Gibb stated. individuals who otherwise wouldn't gel a voice," The deputy sherriff doesn't agree. In an interview Fellow councillor, Joe Pember said he has never Panels may enter any public institution and inspect following county council's meeting he said the pro - been clear what the mandate for public inspections all areas, documents, records, files and accounts in vince wouldn't pay between si,000 and s2,0W for each panels was. "They look at everything from the custody of the institution. They can also "inter- panel just to ignore member's comments, Panels look washrooms to the morale at an institution," he sai& rogate any employees." A constable from the sher- at things from a different point of view than a profes- Coun. Jack Whitmore said he understood the inspec- riff's office accompanies every panel. sional would, Milne said, and can assist experts, tion panels were only supposed to look at the physical In November, a panel spent a week touring "1 know the attorney general does read them i panel asp" of buildings. He took exception to the latest facilities throughout the county including all the reports,." Milne stated, 0