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Zoning Change Is Shot Down By Committee Focal Properties has escaped redeslgnatlon of lands south Silver Creek which would have effectively halted proposed housing development Georgetown Planning Board attempted to have the land Sped agricultural a move would have put an end to any housing development The board wanted to put the brakes f development there and population growth in other areas Georgetown council before its demise refused to act on this amendment to the zoning bylaw This week administration committee of Hills council also stated that it will not consider the amendment number 16 In any form Coun Dick blasted the proposed amendment It smacks of the Parkway Belt where the provincial govern Three Persons Injured n TwoCar Mishap mitted to hospital Buffering cuts and bruises A hospital spokesman reported both were in good condition and under observation Damage to the Thompson Frozen hydrants that ham pered firefighters attempting to light a fire Jan have been thawed The problem occurred on Sinclair Avenue after an ex plosion ripped through a con dominium that was under construction Mayor Tom Hill said today the problem has solved I believe the problem was nydrant and was caused by drainage dif ficulties However it has been solved he said Firefighters trying to ex tinguish a small blaze caused by The explosion had to find an Region Rapped Again For Salary Increase regional council has come under fire again for the size and speed of the pay raise councillors gave to themselves at the first council meeting held last September John Sommerville the president of the East Ratepayers Group accused the council of insensltivlty and a lack of appreciation for what he called the gut feelings of taxpayers towards all levels of government Mr said his argument was not made specifically against the proposed size of the new regional salaries He even suggested the amount might not be enough to cover the work put in by some councillors but he did criticize the council for ignoring the storm of public protest aroused by the raise His protest was the second made to council within he past month At a meeting of the elect In December a ratepayers association criticized the amount of the increase and accused council of premature haste in the setting the amount NO REPLY The council made no formal reply that either that group or to Mr Sommervlllcs presentation yesterday Mr described the public response to questions asked by ratepayers at separate meetings held In Oak Coburg and the Niagara region He noted attendance at this Mr ex- how many present ad any degree of faith or trust in any level of big govern man tendance of only five people indicated hey did trust goverment The ratepayer accused council here of aggravating he mistrust by Its pay raise and Its to public protest How can society function at all let alone well without some minimal degree of faith or trust in he decisions or our representatives Mr questioned We are talking about the basics the glue that holds our society together he went on to say IF you wish us to believe you arrived at your decision thoughtfully deliberately after some reasonable and respon slble evaluation of the time required and I he tasks to be performed then give us some visible sign that such an exercise did in fact take place NO TRUTH Mr Sommerville attacked the argument thai higher wages attract coun cillors and suggested he could find no Irulh In the statement in the private sector I suspect the reverse is true he noted We were of those who would serve their community with no reward except for the knowledge that he serves his neighbor No one is forced to run for the position of councillor he observed No discussion look place regarding the pay increase by councillors at the meeting yesterday but the issue may come to life at the next council meeting of Jan At hat meeting it Is expected council will pass into law he recommendations and resolutions that were made in the last months of 1973 during meetings held while the council was not yet officially in office The Herald Home Newspaper 0 Hills ment undertook down zoning arbitrarily he said It amounts to expropriation wlthourcompensatlon Focal Properties protested the planning board Intent at a public hearing last November R of and McLaughlin told the hearing that he considered the boards action arbitrary He said the Silver Creek land could be developed in step with enlargement of sewage treatment facilities Sewage treatment problems are seen as one reason for population controls Council inaction on both fronts presumably clears the way for development to proceed at some time on the project The project has been envisioned since at least 1965 when the then council of Georgetown entered into an agreement with contractu obligations to let the plan proceed Second Clou Mall Number THE D WEDNESDAY JANUARY Return Postage Guaranteed IT So per year Single Copy Price- Fifteen PAL STILL MAY HAVE RABIES DISEASE HAS FARMERS WORRIED twocar collision at the Two people suffered cuts and comer of Main Street South and bruises in a twocar collision Maple Avenue Monday sent Saturday at the intersection of three persons to Georgetown St and Sinclair Ave and District Memorial Hospital Holly Carol Parkinson Streetsville a passenger in a John Scott Thompson 62 vehicle driven by Murry A Crescent Georgetown of Streetsville and was treated For minor injuries David Turner or Erin Town and released The driver of the passenger in the second second vehicle Marie Delna vehicle operated by Joanne Clendening of RR Turner Erin Township Georgetown and one four l0 hospital by a passengers in the Clendening passing motorist vehicle was estimated at Damage to the car was Police are Investigating A twocar mishap on St Wednesday resulted In minor cuts and bruises to the vehicle was estimated at two drivers Idolno Pedro or and damage to the Clendening Brampton and William Elliot vehicle at Si also of Brampton Hydrants Thawed Out alternate hydrant when the closest one was found to be frozen solid The blast itself is still under investigation by the Ontario Fire Marshals Office from Toronto Georgetown Chief Ken Buikema said he has not received any results from this investigation I heard anything but they are still In vestigating It Is believed that a propane heater used in the new building may have been responsible for the blast which blew nearly every window out of the structure BY GORDON GREEN Mac Hyatt and his family of have been told to stay away from their pet dog until next June named Pal has been a member the family For six years but last week It killed a Fox and the family learned Monday the Fox had rabies We were eating supper when a neighbor phoned and said there had been a fox sighted in the area said Mr Hyatt I went out to find Pal and I saw blood on his fur and knew what had happened The fox was found about ten yards from the back door with a broken neck Pat had done the job well The head was cut off the fox and tests proved It rabid so Pal faces quarantine in a barn stall for the next six months during which time he cannot be touched by the family The Hyatt family is only one of several families in Ibis region to be hit by Foxes Reports are pouring in and several Foxes nave been found lying on the roadside dead presumably from the disease SEVERAL REPORTS George Herring ton Hills Animal Control Officer said he has received several reports of rabid foxes I lent my gun to a farmer last week who was having a problem with one fox said Mr I told him to blast It the next time he saw It but so for he hasnt had a chance to shoot it I hope he gets it though because they are getting to be a real problem out here Weve even nod one fox reported in the Acton area and from the description I believe he too hod Ihe disease Foxes arc normally timid and shy animals and wont venture near humans or even houses However when they are stricken with rabies they become quite bold and sometimes attack livestock or even people One farmer Spencer Wilson of found a dead fox in a shed behind his house Three weeks later he discovered rabies In one of his cows My husband was just going to the shed to find something and found the fox just inside the door It was dead said Mrs Wilson COW HAD RABIF9 Two weeks ago when one of our cows started bawling we knew it had rabies and my husband had to drag it out and shoot it A bulldozer was brought in to dig a hole big enough to bury stricken animal The rest of his cows have been lined Several farmers in the area have reported seeing foxes and another chased one using his snowmobile in an attempt to shoot it but he animal escaped into hick underbrush Last week Mrs Murray Laird had a close brush with one of Ihe foxes after It wan onto her back porch I was working In the kitchen when 1 heard the dog barking at the back door I looked out the window and saw the fox sitting there chewing on an old coat I screamed and yelled at it but it didnt leave until it felt like it SERIOUS Mr says the problem is becoming quite serious and warns everyone to be cautious of cats raccoons and foxes He says cats particularly are dangerous because they arc so friendly and noted that two cola are presently suspected of having the disease We received a call last week from Farrell Steel Limited in Georgetown saying employees had sighted two cats acting peculiar By the time I got there they had died We havent yet received results from he lest I m prelty sure had rabies Several employees steel foundry had come in contact with the cats and if the tests prove positive they will have to undergo rabies in noculations These cats are the first domestic animals to turn up with ihe disease in town this year but we also picked one up this week We have it under observation but I dont think It is rabid EPIDEMIC Edward Earl of the Brampton department for the health of animals said he has not seen such a high number of rabid foxes in this area in about 10 years I dont know whether I would say it Is an epidemic or not but there certainly are more of them that have seen In quite a while We have positively proven being tested I think these too will prove positive to Dr Earl the biggest threat to farmers Is the loss of livestock which are susceptible to fox attacks while grazing This seems to be the greatest worry to farmers in the area who are quickly having their cows However Ihe innoculations wont be effective for three weeks If someone sees a fox they should shoot it says Earl If they dont hove a gun they should Just stay away from it but under no circumstances should they try to frighten it A rabid fox will attack a human OUT OF HAND There Is a bounty on Foxes in this area and Mac Hyatt thinks it would be a good Idea to reinstate It It Is getting out of hand and frankly Im quile worried said Mr Hyatt What we should do is reinstate the hunting them I dont like to shoot animals but when they are rabid they are a great hazard for livestock If we could wipe them out we wouldnt have to worry about them Up until this problem became noticeable In early December there had been only two reported cases of rabies in Hal on County during 1973 However Mr now feels the problem will manifest Itself and probably get worse before it gets better Regional Solicitor Selected Salary Set At Robert Noel Bates Barrle who has specialized In municipal law has been ap pointed solicitor for region by the regional Botes a former reporter with the Toronto Star and CBC has been practising law in Barrio and is solicitor for Georgian Bay Township and counsel for Township He is a former member of the Georgian Bay Township council and planning board Bates has specialized in municipal law including planning procedures sub division development and expropriation As regional solicitor he will receive a salary of PAL RAISES his paw for his usual friendly handshake but Mac Hyatt and daughter Sandra 10 know they cannot go near him for six months Pal may still have rabies Herald Photo Letter From Morrow Committee Established To Meet With Firemen Mr Hyde I Hope You Remember NEWS IN BRIEF DR of has been reelected to his fourth term as chairman of the Separate School Board Elected vicechairman also for a fourth term was of Milton who defeated Hills trustee Hartley Sherk The word County was drooped from the boards name in recognition of the beginning of regional government A WEEKLONG curling feat got underway last weekend and will wind up this Saturday at the Club in Halton Hills About 100 rinks are taking part in games in the double knockout competition Eleven rinks will take part from North Halton BRIAN BEST who wound up his as Milton mayor has been selected Citizen of the Year by the Milton Chamber of Commerce Beat will be honored at a dinner to be held at the Roma Social Club January Halton Coun Ric Morrow has replied publicly to persons who nave called or written letters about an area council decision for a fire The councillor made his position known in a letter to the editor text or which is carried here I wish to take this opportunity to thank the many citizens who have called and written letters expressing concern about Councils premature decision on the fire chief Some time ago council ad vertised for a fire chief and received four applications Land Bank Late Says Allan Masson regional chairman says the provincial land bank program for residential use by municipalities may have come too late Mr said the new legislation giving municipalities the right to acquire land for residential building purposes comes at a time of rising labor and material costs Homes will continue to remain out of the reach of many he said Faced he present costs of construction Mr Masson said the only alternative Is to find cheaper ways of building homes The Halton regional chair man was responding at a meeting in Niagara Falls to the announcement by Robert Welch of the Ontario cabinet Mr Welch announced the scheme to permit municipalities to acquire land for housing The minister said it Is up to each region to decide if it participate in land bank program Mr Masson said action should have been taken years ago when the cost of land was cheaper These applications were narrowed to choice between Mr Holmes and Mr Buikema Mr Holmes had been a volunteer member of the Acton Fire Brigade for years and a volunteer chief for the last 13 years Ills application listed no formal courses In He was at the time employed In a full time Job unrelated to Mr had been a full time firefighter for over ten years and nad been full time Chief of Georgetown for two years His list of qualifications Included over 20 courses in the field and related fields as well as attendance at the Ontario Fire College In addition Mr Buikema had scored very high on examination when applying for the position of Georgetown chief Based on these ap plications and knowing that Mr had done an excellent job for Georgetown I felt then as I do now that he deserves the top job OPINION I have never made any negative statement of Mr Holmes but at all times have stated that I feel Mr is more qualified The facts I believe support my opinion From the beginning it was my hope hoi Mr Holmes would fill Ihe position of deputy chief as his Intimate knowledge of the Acton area would compliment Mr Buikema technical know how and knowledge of the Georgetown area Councils decision on Monday night to appoint two district chiefs is certainly a poor compromise which will lead to budget and command dif ficulties not to mention a waste This Interim solution is about as ridiculous as having wo mayors or two clerk administrators Eventually here will be three full time chiefs under council s present guideline and this is most assuredly a ridiculous waste or tax dollars Council decided on the spur of the moment to new District Chief of Acton the same as he Chief of Georgetown Council completely disregarded personnel policy the fact Mr had worked for the municipality for wo years to reach his present solar and fact hat Mr would be responsible for a fire area with the population When the vote taken most members did not even know the salary amount in question This flagrant disregard for personnel policy years of service and job responsibility will result in increased salary demands from present staff 1 hope Mr Hyde and others remember this when the ax rate Is set Finally I wish lo congratulate sincerely he members of the Georgetown Volunteer Brigade Thev have acted in a mature and responsible manner throughout this episode Even when it hat their full lime chief was about to be replaced by a volunteer from Acton they showed their dissiailsfactlon in a responsible Fashion and not by threatened or actual resignations They have demonstrated their sincere interest in the lire protection area they serve Outers Collect Trash For Money A small group of Acton students have ecology on their minds but don mind making a little money while thev re at it The Outers Club which was first organized by Rowley and Paul in 1972 has been holding glass and paper drives all year ana will continue to do so until at least the end of his school year The glass and paper collected is recycled on a monthly basis and it Is estimated that more than 10 tons of glass have un Ihe process since their program first began It is also estimated that 12 to 14 tons of newspapers have been collected Although the group is in to res led In preserving their environment it finds good use The present fund raising drives are aimed towards the purchase of six white canoes and if possible some rock climbing equipment When the group was first organized ft held various including Bruce Trail Hike and cleanup canoeing and team Initiative tests To climax the first a seven day wilderness trip was held Before It could hold canoe trip however It raised more than in order to purchase accessories and equipment needed lo sustain people In Hie Wilderness This group has had a Bruce Trail hike and gone rock climbing Itatllesnakc Point For a change the group went made possible he purchase of pairs this fall At present members are planning winter camping workshop in a wilderness area north of Kingston It will in elude cross country skiing survival ex cert I be initiative tests All work Is done by volunteer labor some teachers and some dents The group from Acton District High School feci the people of Acton are also becoming ecology minded us always leave paper and mil for their A special committee of Council will meet with the volunteer firefighters from Acton and Georgetown The committee established at a special meeting of Hills counci last Thursday will relay a vote of confidence passed at the same meeting Ihe move came following a letter received by council from the Acton Firefighters Association stating that members of the association were disturbed by recent statements made by certain councillors WILL RESIGN The letter stated that unless resign They said they would like to meet with a committee cither to receive a note of confidence or to arrange a phasing out of their operation In particular the Acton firemen were Upset because felt their chief Mick Holmes had been maligned during the recent controversy regarding Hills fire chief The letter stated We are quite disturbed with the way our chief has been maligned He applied for the job In good It Is this faith was violated The letter continued to say that members or the brigade have faith in their chief and states proof of his high qualifications can be statistically proven by looking through post files According to heir letter he Acton Firefighters also felt they had lost the confidence of the Hills Council and said they could not function without his confidence The confidence vote taken by council was passed unanimously and voted the same tribute to the Georgetown Volunteer Fire Department as well MEET FIREMEN The committee established by he same resolution will consist of councillors Coxe Mike Armstrong tykes Garnet McKeniie and mayor Tom Hill Mayor Hill said the com will meet with the Acton firefighters and the Georgetown firefighters to relay vote of confidence personally and lo determine if here are any other difficulties This is what Ihey wanted and this is what we are going to do If there are any other problems uncovered then we will bring back to coun cil A tentative dale has been set it was confirmed Former Acton mayor Duby now a member of the Hills fire committee says he couldnt agree more with the sen men la expressed by the Acton firemen in their letter The council as a whole definitely supports the firefighters said Mr Duby also noting he fully supports the actions of the force Further support came from councillor Garnet McKenzie who said I dont blame them a bit especially when they got all that nonsense from MUST ANSWER Mr blamed the results contained in the letter on councillor Morrow Morrow must answer for what he has been saying Mr McKenzie Insisted The Firefighters dont have to take the insinuations that have been made against them The special meeting called on Thursday was held behind closed doors and press representatives were old to leave shortly after it began INSIDE THIS MAN cheeks chickens over before they come to your dinner table To find what else happens see new weekly fealureonPg of the first section A If ALTON Hills man likes birds but his are a little larger than the common canary His favorite is an eagle bee front page of second section FIRST SECTION Acton Sports Classified SECOND SECTION Feature Editorials