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The Citizen, 2014-12-25, Page 40PAGE 40. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2014. Continued from page 1 a layout that would better suit the building, both to continue existing services and enhance service levels. Knight says that while the building was built in the late 1960s, it has been kept up to very high standards. Brussels Councillor David Blaney agreed, saying that the building’s committee has done a great job of maintaining the building, but that the building’s bones are the bones of a building built in 1967. He says the committee has authorized a series of improvements over the years, but that the frame of the building was constructed 50 years ago and simply didn’t have today’s standards in mind during initial construction. There is $145,000 in the building’s reserve fund, Knight said, but there has been “some pushback” from the committee on suggested improvements. Knight said there is a definite opportunity for the municipality to enhance the services provided at the building, especially with the interest of another doctor practising part- time in the village. Blaney said that the building’s main purpose, both in Brussels, Huron East and beyond through serving Morris-Turnberry residents as well, needs to be the focus of these improvements. He suggested that the committee seems more interested in ensuring that the OPP drop-in office in the building is kept up, rather than the medical dental purposes for which the building was created. The OPP office, which is only used intermittently, could be relocated if necessary, Blaney suggested, to the Brussels Business and Cultural Centre (the former Brussels Public School) if it was going to interfere with potential improvements to the building for medical purposes. Blaney said it would be very disappointing if Brussels was to lose an opportunity for a second health care professional because of a committee of council “bucking” council on this issue. The concern in Brussels, Blaney says, is if Dr. Dan Rooyakkers were to retire, that the village would be left without a doctor. The centre needs to be brought up to accessibility standards to help attract more healthcare professionals. “We could lose the whole thing,” Blaney said of the building. Mayor Bernie MacLellan suggested that members of council have a meeting with members of the Brussels Medical Dental Building Committee and discuss the issues, explaining to committee members that improvements to the building need to be made. “If it’s good for the community,” MacLellan said, “it’s something we should be doing.” Blaney agreed, saying council should call a meeting with the committee in order to “explain life to the committee”. MacLellan suggested that Morris- Turnberry be brought in on any discussions pertaining to the building, since a number of Morris Township residents patronize its services. It was suggested, however, that council simply move ahead with plans for the renovations, as council members were in agreement that the building needs to be brought up to code. MacLellan said councillors can still have a meeting with the committee, but that the wheels on the renovation project can start turning before that. Councillor Larry McGrath agreed that the renovations had to go ahead in the future, but suggested that Hill’s plans were sufficient, that no other architects or experts needed to be brought in or consulted for the project. “If everybody agrees to the plan, there’s no need to bring someone else in,” McGrath said. MacLellan agreed, saying he felt Hill’s plans were sound. He said that further discussion with the committee should take place in the coming weeks and months, but that in the end, the committee is a committee under council and councillors have to remember who has the final say. “At the end of the day, we’re paying the bill,” MacLellan said. “We’ll decide what’s best for the municipality.” Continued from page 38 told her that if she returned to the apartment they shared, he would have her charged with trespassing. With all of her belongings at the apartment, she called police to find out how she could legally re-enter the home to gather her things. Once she began talking to Const. Jamie Leslie of the Wingham Police, conversation then turned to the alleged assaults that occurred earlier that day and charges were laid. Later, at the police station, McDonald made a statement in regards to the incident and police took pictures of her bruising. Grant also questioned McDonald on an alleged third assault that took place earlier in June. The circumstances were similar, McDonald said, when she confronted Veen about potentially not being faithful to her, blocked his exit from the apartment and he pushed her out of the way. Hunter, however, told Grant that Veen was not charged with that assault and that it was not pertinent to the case if he wasn’t charged with it. Deb Lyons, a lawyer appointed to the court to cross-examine McDonald, then asked McDonald several questions. She brought a picture to the court’s attention of bruising in McDonald’s armpit, which McDonald said was not related to the assault, but likely occurred when she jumped into Veen’s moving vehicle. Lyons suggested that it’s possible that all of the bruising on her arms and side could have happened during the jump, which greatly damaged the car’s dashboard and rearview mirror due to its force. McDonald disagreed, saying that it was clear that the bruising in her armpit was from the car, but the bruising on the lower part of her arms was from when he grabbed her. Lyons also found it suspicious that when McDonald called the police, she inquired about retrieving her belongings from the apartment and potential liability for the damage to Veen’s mother’s car, but didn’t mention the alleged assault initially. Grant then questioned Alex McDonald, Chloe’s brother. The 20- year-old was friends with Veen via Facebook during the years Veen was involved with McDonald’s sister and he said that after the altercation between Veen and Chloe, Veen contacted Alex in regards to some of his property, while also attempting to contact Chloe through a third party, knowing that he could no longer legally contact her. Veen then questioned Alex, stating that his reason for contacting him was the property he was trying to retrieve from Chloe. Lyons continued to act on Veen’s behalf, going on record as amicus curiae (a friend of the court), to cross-examine Leslie and deliver closing arguments. She said it was clear that Veen, on both occasions, was attempting to remove himself from the situation, but that McDonald wasn’t allowing him to do so. Grant countered by saying that the couple’s then-shared apartment had a second exit door at the back that Veen could have chosen to use. Hunter, however, said that Veen shouldn’t have to use a second exit. He agreed with the defense, saying that he wasn’t satisfied that the bruising didn’t come as a result of McDonald’s jump into the car and that there were other factors that exacerbated the situation as well. Hunter found Veen not guilty of the two counts of assault, but did find him guilty of failing to comply with the terms of his probation. For the one finding of guilt, Hunter imposed a conditional discharge on Veen and 12 months probation. Hunter told Veen that if he stays out of trouble, the conditional discharge becomes absolute and he won’t have a criminal record. Council will decide on building says MacLellan Wingham man found not guilty BLYTH PRINTING INC. BLYTH 519-523-9211 Wishing all our customers and friends a very Merry Christmas and a wonderful New Year! Wishing all our customers and friends a very Merry Christmas and a wonderful New Year! BLYTH 519-523-9211 S eas on’s G r eet i ngs ROBERT RADFORD FARM MACHINERY REPAIRS P.O. Box 144 Londesborough, Ontario N0M 2H0 519-523-4851 We wish all our customers and friends a very happy holiday season and all the very best in the coming year. 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