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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Exeter Times-Advocate, 1974-11-21, Page 1•1 A .n tir Charges council morally wrong leasing town hall lot to Burkley Peter Warkentin, owner of Les Pines Motel, accused Exeter Council this week of deliberately circumventing their own bylaws. His comments came at Mon- day's council meeting when he appeared to ask for confirmation of the rumor that council would lease the town hall parking lot to the Burkley and thereby give the downtown restaurant the parking required to secure a liquor licence, w Mayor Jack Delbridge said that the rumor was correct and that council had decided to lease the parking lot to the Hurkley. The decision was made at a special meeting last Tuesday night. The press was not invited to that meeting, which was held with solicitor Robert Mountain of Stratford, and details of the lease arrangement were not made public, However, the T-A was advised that the price for the lease would probably be a nominal charge— such as $100 per year. The town hall parking lot has space for about 40 cars and Mayor Delbridge told Warkentin that the lease agreement would still give anyone the right to use the lot. "You implemented that lease to circumvent your existing bylaw," Warkentin charged, reiterating his stand of two weeks ago that council were not dealing fairly with him in that he had to adhere to the parking requirements for his establish- ment, while the Burkley owners FIREMAN RETIRES — A 28 year veteran of the Exeter fire department was honored Saturday night on his retirement. Above, Nelson "Punch" Wells receives a plaque from fire chief Gary Middleton. T-A photo discriminated against," Warkentin continued, and asked council how many mistakes they thought they could make over the situation. "It's an injustice that the bylaw can be changed to suit an in- dividual," he charged. At this point, Shaw asked Warkentin what they should do to correct the situation, if in fact he thought they were wrong. He said he would have to consider that before giving an answer, but did note that it was not tip to him to come up with a solution. "Keep things straight, honest and right," he urged. Shaw said that Warkentin could take legal action if he felt it necessary and Warkentin hinted that he was considering such action. be expanded under revisions to the zoning bylaws and it was only natural that parking could not be provided by everyone in the core area because land was more expensive and also not even available in many cases. However, Warkentin said that council had no right to change the Parking requirement until the bylaw was amended. He suggested someone on council would probably suggest soon that the Burkley be given a forgiveable loan as well and said that at least three people had spoken to him and asked if some type of payoff was involved in council's action to assist the Burkley, "I can assure you there is no payoff involved," Mayor Delbridge shot back. "All the way along I have been that the lot would not be for the exclusive use of the Burkley Restaurant, He admitted that council may be technically correct in suggesting they could do what they wanted with the parking area, but quickly added that "morally you're wrong". He said their action was a sneaky way to get around the bylaw and enable the Burkley to add to their parking and thereby meet their requirement for parking to obtain a liquor licence, The Les Pines owner reminded council they had forced him into meeting all the parking requirements of the bylaw and this was therefore unfair, "What am I, a second rate citizen?" he asked. Councillor Bruce Shaw ex- plained that the core area would were being given special con- siderations. "We were advised by our lawyer we could do it," Mayor Delbridge replied.Warkentin also complained about the fact he had not been notified of council's decision, despite the fact they had promised him two weeks ago they would make their decision known to him. Clerk Eric Carscadden ex- plained that the notification was to come from Mr. Mountain. Warkentin told council that the lease arrangement with the Burkley would add to the lack of parking in the downtown area and said there was no way council could assure ratepayers Zurich seeking new clerk treas The clerk-treasurer of the village of Zurich for a number of years has resigned to take a new position in Eastern Ontario. Doug Armstrong will be leaving Zurich December 10 to accept the post of clerk- administrator for the township of Smith in the Peterborough area. While in Zurich Armstrong was also manager of the hydro and water system for the village. One Hundred and Second Year EXETER, ONTARIO, NOVEMBER 21, 1974 Price Per Copy 25 Cents Cite concern over upkeep Grand Bend delays dock issue decision December 1 to December 31. Received a communique from the Ontario Ministry of Tran- sportation and Communications noting receipt of a petition from residents of Gibbs Park for the takeover by the village of park roads. Trio injured in roof falls A STRINGING WE WILL GO — Repairing and refinishing furniture is a popular hobby at current night school classes at South Huron District High School, Above Beth Attfield and Joan Kells string a chair. photo 4 First snowfall leads to expensive crashes NETHERLANDS DISPLAY — Mrs, Englelina Van Essen and her two daughters Miriam and Joan showed their authentic Dutch costumes and the display of Dutch arts and artifacts donated by several Dutch families from the district. The costumes are still worn in Holland today on Sundays and special occasions, The display was part of the European Craft festival sponsored by the Anglican Church women last Saturday. Option six acres There were three accidents, Saturday, the first at 2:43 a.m., when a car driven by Marvin Taylor, Brucefield, and a truck operated by Morley Bullock, Parkhill, collided on Highway 84 in Hensall. Damage was listed at $500 by Constable Don Mason. At 2:15 a.m., a car driven by Leroy Gowanlock, Dashwood, skidded out of control on the county road south of Dashwood and struck a hydro pole. Constable Mason estimated total damage at $1,000. The final crash occurred at 11:00 p.m. when cars driven by Kevin Lovell, Kippen, and Robert Ellis, Beachville, collided on Highway 4 north of Exeter. Ellis sustained minor injuries and damage was set at $1,700 by Constable Al Quinn. During the week, the Exeter OPP detachiment officers charged 16 people under the Highway Traffic Act and issued warnings to another 29. There were 11 charges under the Criminal Code and four under the Liquor Control Act. The condition of Gary Camp- bell who was injured November 8 in an accident at Owen Sound continues to improve. Campbell of Huron Park and an employee of Smith-Peat Roofing of Exeter fell 50 feet to the ground while*',reeiairint toot sat .the', " Black Clawson-Kennedy plant in Owen Sound. He suffered a broken hip, fractured ribs and a scraped shoulder and is presently in traction. He may be transferred to South Huron hospital in Exeter this week. Mr. Campbell fell when the sweeper he was using "got too close to the corner of the roof" according to his foreman Glen Stire. Witnesses near the scene of the accident said Campbell was still conscious after the fall. Two London men were injured this week when they fell from the roof of a cottage in Hay Township near Lake Huron. Ted Vanderloo, RR 44. Hyde Park, and Roy Rosso, London, both sustained concussions. They were taken to South Huron Hospital by Hoffman's Ambulance and then transferred to St. Joseph's Hospital. Both are in satisfactory condition. Grand Bend council has delayed action on issuing leases for dockage space along the banks as the result of a meeting with Environment Canada and Province of Ontario officials. As the result of a special closed meeting a week ago, a motion was introduced at Monday's regular meeting regarding the situation. The motion read as follows "the village of Grand Bend is interested in leasing controlling and managing all river frontage once clear title is established in accordance with general policies of Environment Canada," Apparently clear title has not yet been established by the two levels of government. Manore Marine has asked to have a five year option lease renewed and villageofficials haire .8.ealned"e grant. Same until receiving ap- proval from higher authorities. At Monday's meeting, operators of two Grand Bend fishing fleets for many years asked to have their leases transferred to new owners. Maurice Tiedeman who has been in business for more than 25 years has sold to Doug Goodison of Blenheim. In a similar move, the fishing business of Howard Green has been purchased by Clarence Copeland Fisheries of Wheatley. A building permit application from reeve Robert Sharen to make renovations for a recreation room valued at $2,400 was approved. In other business council: Authorized clerk Louise Clipperton to represent the village at the December meeting of the Grand Bend and area fire committee. Decided the Christmas street lights would be turned on from Plan picnic area in Crediton Councillor Ted Wright said this week he was concerned about, the fact the federal government was providing no maintenance at the old post office on Main St. He said during last week's icy conditions, the sidewalk in front of the structure was "a sheet of glass" and that older citizens had to step down onto the road to avoid using the sidewalk. Wright also noted that rubbish was allowed to accumulate and the property was at times an unsightly mess. Council decided to take the matter up with local post master Harvey Pfaff to see what action he would suggest. Reeve Derry Boyle had suggested airing the complaint in a letter to the department of public works, but Mayor Jack Delbridge suggested -council shouldn't become too can- tankerous. Council have made a bid for the former post office for municipal offices and the Mayor said their efforts in that regard could be harmed by being too vociferous in their complaint. At the same meeting, council decided to leave the matter of maintenance of the present town hall to next year's council, Reeve Derry Boyle who had questioned two weeks ago if council should take action to replace the missing eavestroughs, noted this week there was no money in the budget and it should be held in abeyance until next year. Learned that the new bridge on the sideroad in the vicinity of the former Haist property between Concessions 5-6 was not open for traffic, of Municipalities of Ontario $38.83 as the township's share of the recent hearing on a Bell Telephone rate increase ap- plication. Approved a catch basin near the property of Doug Lightfoot at Lot 6, Conn. 6 & 7. Learned from engineer B. M. Ross of Goderich that the bridge at Lot 22 Con. 4-5 was in poor condition and a load limit of five tons was recommended. Received approval from the Ontario Municipal Board to spend $5,000 for preliminary engineering work on proposed water systems for the police villages of Dashwood , Crediton and Centralia. The winter's first snowfall last Wednesday was a contributing factor in two accidents in which total property damage amounted to close to $8,500. The most serious occurred on Highway 4 south of Hensall when a transport truck driven by Earl McKechnie, Anglewood, was in collision with a car driven by Eilene Stewart, Hensall. Mrs. Stewart was injured in the collision. OPP Constable Bill Osterloo investigated and set damage at $6,700. On the same morning, a car driven by Dawson Woodburn, Parkhill, and a tractor driven by Laverne Gould, Exeter, collided on Highway 4 north of Exeter. Mr. Woodburn was injured in that collision and damage was set at $1,400 by Constable Bill Lewis. On Friday at 7:20 p.m., a car driven by Joseph Healey, Huron Park, collided with a sign post on Highway 4 south of Exeter with damage being set at $60 by Constable Jim Rogers. Teachers holding public office given break by county board Court inquiry denied, Riddell not satisfied teaching staff accepts nomination and election to public office he should not be penalized in public duties. Loss of full pay and benefits is a little harsh." D.J. Cochrane, Director of Education, spoke of provincial legislation being proposed which would permit teachers to take The Huron County board of education took steps this week to make it easier for its teachers to engage in municipal politics. The board voted to remove a restriction which stipulated that employees who required time off would be granted a leave of absence, but with loss of full pay and benefits. The new policy will provide special leave for up to three days without loss of pay and without loss of accumulated sick leave benefits, E. Caley Hill, Goderich, board chairman, stated: "If one of the Tillotson layoff termed normal Tillotson Plastics Industries Limited in Dashwood has been affected "a little bit" by the slow down;in production at Dashwood Industries Limited which resulted in the layoff of 99 em- ployees there last week. Herb Piper, manager of Tillotsons, which supplies some of the plastic components Used in production at DIL, said they were at 97 percent employment compared to last year, the same as DIL. He said that six of their 18 employees had been laid off but that it was normal for this time of the year. "We are running normally and don't expect any more ;layoffs" Piper said. Slow downsiinlproduction and a cutback in staff are normal for this time of the year he said. About 60 percent of their production goes to Dashwood Industries Limited, He cited the conflict between board policy and the salary agreement as the reason for clarifying the board's policy, Mr. Hill said the board will have to be more definitive on special leave when contract talks are next discussed. At the request of Trustee Herbert Turkheim of Zurich the proposal of Trustee John Hen- derson of Seaforth on October 18 to alter bus service for Seaforth area students will be re-opened at the next board meeting on December 16. Mr, Henderson's proposal called for a late bus at 4:15 p,m. for the 130 students who take options at the Clinton secondary ,school and are unable to par- ticipate in extra-curricular ac- tivities after school due to bus —please turn to page 3 time for politics. Mr, Hill spoke of the benefit to the community, "Some teachers can make a contribution beyond their professional duty." Trustee John Broadfoot of Brucefield who was chairman of the policy committee said the committee's concern was for the students as they outlined the policy covering political ac- tivities of teachers. "Our duty was that the student receive education, and if the teacher is absent from the classroom for any length of time then the classroom is disturbed," he said, "and the students will suffer. I am not questioning the value of teachers in politics, merely the effect on the students," Trustee Jack Alexander of Wingham told of a teacher who took time away from the classroom to sit on Huron County Council and lost not only his salary but his superannuation benefits as well. "I don't consider he should be paid Wide (salary plus money received for being member of council) but I don't feel he should lose his superan- nuation benefits." Mr. Cochrane replied that pension and Other benefits are paid directly to the days for which a teacher receives his salary and under government regulations these benefits are lost when the salary is not paid. Thieves hit district home Hurdn MPP Jack Riddell said this week he was "not satisfied" with the refusal of Ontario Attorney-General Robert Welch to order an inquiry into the ad- ministration of justice in Huron County. Me. Riddell and Murray Gaunt, Huron-Bruce MPP had called for an investigation into allegations of leniency, plea-bargaining and lengthy delays in county courts. They had requested action after at least three police chiefs in Huron had stated in October that their jobs were made more difficult by court leniency. The decision' by the Attorney- General apparently came after members Of his staff had talked only to Crown Attorney W. G. Cochrane and Judge Glean Hays. Mr,Welch cited those meetings as providing no reason to conduct an inquiry, Both were referred to as "able respected men" and it, was noted that Huron is not a high crime area and Mr.' Welch said he could see no reason for conducting the inquiry which the two Liberal MPPs had requested. Crewel. Attorney W. G. Through the combined efforts of the township of Stephen and the Ausable Hayfield Con- servation Authority a day use picnic area will be developed in the Crediton area. Stephen council has agreed to assume the Authority's share of the project which is 30 percent. The balance will be paid by the province of Ontario. Authority resources manager Roger Martin said this week the project has been adopted by the executive and an option to pur- chase six acres of land from Earl ' Heist has been obtained. The new park will be located on part of lot 10, Concession 5 at the easterly end of the police village of Crediton adjacent to the Ausable River. Martin added, "final provincial approval will be needed before we proceed with the actual purchase." Stephen township has agreed to assume maintenance costs once the park has been established and completed ready for use. It will be open on a daily basis for picnics, Overnight camping will not be allowed. In other recent business, Stephen council: Approved land severance applications from Cecil Desjardineat Lot 5, Con, B and Got 3, Con, 22 Marcel Hullebusch, part of Lot 10, Con,. 16 and Leonard Dietrich , part Lot 17 Con. 13. Agreed to pay the Association Work commences on storm drain Construction on the Anne St, storm drain commenced this week. The drain will parallel the existing storm drain from Edward to Carling St. and is being constructed in an effort to reduce the periodic flooding problems experienced in the core area. C. A,' McDowell Ltd, is the contractor. Council learned officially this week that $52,500 in funds would be provided by the two senior governments for the Winter Works project. Those funds are repayable over a period of 10 years. Clerk Eric Carscadden said he thought some of the funds were forgiveable, but there was some question in this regard. "It's not a grant and we're not gaining a great deal," Reeve Boyle suggested. When the announcement of the Winter Works Project was made, an official in Ottawa notified the T-A in a telephone conversation and in answer to a question said that none of the $52,500 was forgiveable, Cochrane was quoted this week as saying "I have always maintained that it wasn't the courts causing the trouble" and added that when he compared the records of treatment in Huron, prosecution and sentencing, to other areas in which he had experience, he found no dif- ference, Over $500 worth of items were stolen from the home of Dennis Romanson, RR 1, Centralia, Thursday The loot included a chest of silverware, collection of silver dollars, a tote bar and Some wine, The theft is being investigated by Exeter OPP Constable Al Quinn. interested in obtaining accommodation in the units must fill out application forms moile:11d et the town defies Office. 1-A photo. SENIORS HOUSING PROGRESSING — Construction of the 32 unit senior citizens apartment block on Sanders Street East is progressing favourably. It is -expected to be -completed -early in I 5475,Any residents .t 1,"2wt.t - 4.1