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The Exeter Times-Advocate, 1977-11-10, Page 1Permits valued at $603,075 were issued by building inspector Doug Triebner during the past month, The two major projects in- cluded on the list were the office- bank building being erected at the corner of Main and Gidley St. by Gaiser-Kneale and the new building being erected on High- ray 83,East 121 Big,_!'00.' Drain 21.1e Co. Ltd. The new bank building, which has already created some con- troversy due to the fact several large trees were removed from the property, came in for some more comment at Monday's council meeting. Deputy-Reeve Don MacGregor questioned the location of the building on the lot, saying it was being built too close to the offices Morrison dam requires repair The Ausable-Bayfield Con- servation Authority advised this week that repairs are needed at the Morrison dam. The type of repairs required were not outlined in the letter received by Exeter council, However, the Authority did estimate that the cost would be around $20,000. Under the terms of assessing costs, Exeter would pay $3,500, Usborne would pay $1,000, the Authority would pay $500 and the balance would come from the provincial government. "We take the greatest beating on that dam," lamented Coun- cillor Ted Wright. It was suggested that the request could be turned down, and there was an indication that council might take that action until Reeve Si Simmons noted that the cost should be borne by the local PUC in view of the fact the dam was built for their water supply. So council decided to accept their share of the costs on the understanding that the bill would be passed along to the PUC. Claims cohorts money grabbers' Despite being termed "money grabbers" by Councillor Derry Boyle, Exeter council this week approved a motion setting a fee of $1,000 to be paid to the town by developer J. P, Ducharme in lieu of a donation of parkland on his townhouse development at the eastern end of Simcoe St. Developers are required to provide a minimum Of five percent of their property for park ptirposeS, although council may take cash in lieu of the land. The Exeter planning board had earlier advised council they should take land in such cases, but council decided this week that the land that would be provided for park purposes in the development would be toe small. OThe Money received must be used for park purposes, Developer Jack Taylor has also been assessed $120 in lieu Of parkland for his development on Huron St. East, A HAPPY YOUNGSTER — Jeff Walker takes a moment at Saturday's hobby and craft show in Aliso Craig to admire the display of 'stuffed toys. Photo by Scheifele New bank building still under attack GIVEN QUEEN'S MEDAL R.E. "Ted" Pooley was among the list of Canadians who received a special Queen's medal in recogliitioe of Her Majesty's silver jubilee visit to Candela. Pellow World War 1 veteran Norm Norry examines the medal while the two were on parade fat Exeter's Remembrance Day service, Sunday. T.A photo ...also airs complaint over plan One Hundred and Fifth Year EXETER, ONTARIO, NOVEMBER 10, 1977 Price Per Copy 25 Cents Serving South Huron, North Middlesex CAR DEMOLISHED — This car, driven by Carol Miners, RR 3 Exeter, was wrecked after being in collision with a truck at the intersection of Main and Sanders streets around 9:00 p.m., Thursday. The truck was own- ed by Tuckey Beverages and the driver was William Deters, Exeter. The driver of the car, along with passengers Laura MacDonald, Henson, and Connie Dietrich, RR 3 Dashwood, were taken to South Huron Hospital for treatment. T-A photo Plan study on matter May drop grade 13 The Huron County Board of Education supported a resolution Monday to research the elimination of Grade 13 from Huron County schooling but refused to support any move to eliminate a year of formal education in county schools without thoroughly researching the implications. Acting on a resolution sent to the board by the Peterborough County Board of Education the Huron board agreed to study the elimination of Grade 13 but refused to support such a move without researching the subject, The Peterborough resolution stated that "with the objective of reducing the number of years of formal education at the elementary and secondary level, be it resolved that the Peter- borough board of education ask the Ontario Public School Trustees' Association and the Ontario School Trustees' Council to co-operate with the Govern- ment of Ontario to research the educational Merits, problems and impact of telescoping courses of study to 12 grades above kindergarten instead of 13, the dogs savings involved in the above and the social impact of such a move", Director of Education John Cochrane told the board that he would recommend that the matter be researched but was leery Of the objective outlined in the Peterborough resolution. He said he would like to see the word objective taken out of the resolution and have the Huron board show support for a study of the matter, Cochrane said he felt the resolution was five years too late, pointing out that five years ago the board was trying to solve overcrowding problems using portable classrooms. Now, he said, the board is trying to find ways to fill schools due to declining enrolment, "I hope the board wouldn't Join battle to boost age Exeter council joined the Movement to have the drinking age increased in Ontario, Acting upon a request from the Ontario Women's Christian Temperance Union, council agreed to send a letter to the Ontario government suggesting that the age be increased to 19, "That would get it out of the high school," Mayor Bruce Shaw commented about the increase Of one year in the drinking age. "Are you kidding?" Councillor Ken Ottewell remarked. Shaw said it would at least eliminate It by law, support the resolution without researching it and having a look at the social implications of shipping youngsters off to university at 16 and 17 years of age," he said. Seaforth trustee John Hen- derson didn't agree with the director, pointing out that students in Grades 12 and 13 waste a lot of time in school and that their timetables almost make them half time students. He Said the students go to Grade 13 and don't need many credits for university entrance and the board is just prolonging the agony for a student who is anxious to go on to post secon- dary education, Goderich District Collegiate Institute Principal John Stringer, a guest at the board meeting, said he believed Grade 12 and 13 timetables were more than half time adding that Grade 13 was a very heavy year for a student, He Said he had to agree with the director that this was not a good titre to support elimination of Grade 13, adding that he hoped the board's decision was based on valid educational reasons rather than politicS. Clinton trustee Dorothy Williams said that by abolishing Grade 13 the board may be ad- ding to the provincial unem- ployment problem. She said that there was already an unetri- Please turn to page 3 Merchants' lawyer convinces council to put freeze on shopping centre. site ditions which must be met for off-site improvements." "Let's find out if there should be another food store in Exeter," he urged. Reeve Si Simmons, who op- posed council's motion to imple- ment the freeze, noted that coun- other," Plaxton warned. He added that that lesson had been learned by many com- munities "to their great detri- ment later on", Councillors were told that the result in some towns was a crippled core area where public funds had to be spent to regenerate those cores, often to some other use than commer- cial. "Attempt to develop so new development is an extension of the core area and there will be a benefit for each other," the Lon- don lawyer suggested. Plaxton said that people are basically great inventors and they will establish in the core area if the market justifies. "It is a matter of great urgen- cy and importance that you con- sider the consequences of of Dr. R. W. Read, and also too close to the street, However, Triebner said it was in a commercial area and could be built right on the lot line and there was nothing he could do about it. "It's a blooming eye-sore, " MacGregor charged, Mayor Bruce Shaw said that there was no .guesqe.n.about, the law being followed, but there was some question of the aesthetics. Other commercial permits issued during the past month included the following: Hopper- Hockey Furniture, store renovations; Exeter Furniture Ltd., new lumber storage building; C. Lewis, renovate store and apartment at 411-413 Main; Doug Parker, erect an. addition on the Canadian Tire Store; Exeter Pharmacy Ltd., re- roof store. Institutional renovations in- cluded re-roofing of the fire hall,' repairs to Exeter United Church and renovations to the Odd- fellow's garage at 255 Main. Carports and garages were approved for Garnet Hicks, 109 James St. and Michael Soldan, 159 Thomas. A tool shed was okayed for Harry Maas, 57 Andrew St, N. Residential renovations and additions were approved for the following: Roy Stover, re-roof at 188 Andrew; Doyle Talbot, renovate house at 189 Andrew; Nelson Stanlake Estate, instal aluminum on gable ends at 83 Sanders E. ;'Harvey Pfaff, install bathroom and addition at 376 Edward; Eric Carscadden, in- stall five windows at 73 Gidley W., Ron Helm, finish basement at 108 Carling. After hearing from a London lawyer representing a group of downtown merchants, Exeter council this week agreed to place a "freeze" on the development of the proposed new shopping cen- tre north-east of the Highway 4 and 83 intersection. Council will engage the Strat- ford law firm of Mountain, Hill, Monteith & Hastings to prepare the necessary bylaw, That bylaw is expected to be • passed as quickly as possible to prevent counter-actions by the shopping centre developer, Gerry Sprackman. "The race is to the swiftest," warned the businessmen's lawyer, George Plaxton. In addition, council approved a bylaw at their Monday meeting setting forth requirements that the developer pay for many of the costs involved in providing services to any development, That bylaw was prepared by the Stratford law firm at the request of the town's consulting engineer, B. M. Ross & Associates. In his presentation to council, Plaxton said that the proposed shopping centre would result in a "minor disaster" for the es- tablished businesses in Exeter. He explained that a recent planning study done by the local merchants indicated that even modest population growth, a complex the size of that being considered by Sprackman would not86.be needed in Exeter until 19 With over 20 merchants in the council chambers and others in the hall, Plaxton said that a com- mercial development of the size and type planned is premature, particularly for the location where it is intended to be es- tablished in as much as the said location separates the proposed commercial development from the core area and therefore detracts from the stated goal contained in Exeter's proposed new official plan that calls for retention and strengthening of the central' core area as the general commercial area for Ex- eter. Plaxton also advised council that a portion of the proposed development is located within an area designated within the ex- isting plan as industrial use. He suggested the committee of adjustment would lack jurisdic- 4ion in p,errnitting. any variance to the bylaw to give effect to the proposed development since what is involved is not a minor variance but a substantial change in land use. The London laWyer also noted that the existing plan is inade- quate to deal with the matter of the costs of development, such as storm sewers. He said these costs, at least in Plan to advertise for clerk's job Exeter council decided this week to advertise for a new clerk to replace Eric Carscadden, who will retire from that position at the end of January. Councillor Derry Boyle questioned the necessity of ad- vertising if council would be considering a promotion within their present staff to fill the vacancy. He suggested council may want to consider such a promotion (for deputy-clerk Liz Bell) and ad- vertise for a new deputy. Councillor-Ken Ottewell then suggested that council advertise both positions. It was also decided that the new clerk would be hired at the first of January to work with Car- scadden during his final month of employment with the town. part, would have to be paid from the general tax rate, The cost of the storm sewers alone has been, estimated a t $150,000, "If the development is the reason for the need (of storm sewers) the developer should be asked to pony up the cost and not the rest of the town, including his competitors in the existing business district." Plaxton suggested to council they should also consider the "attitude" of new businesses es- itablished in the community, noting that there was a con- siderable difference between (local owner-operated businesses 'and those which are controlled from outside head offices. "There's a value judgement to be taken," he said, advising council to consider the shopper convenience on one hand and the value related to the community as a whole." Plaxton recommended that council place the freeze on the land and prohibit any develop- ment until they studied the viability of such a development. "It's a dangerous and awkward position when you face bankruptcies downtown," he commented. Council was told that the developer should be expected to produce facts to back up the viability of the development and the local merchants should also Five persons were injured in a two car collision at noon Satur- day at the intersection of High- ways 4 and 83 in Exeter. Traffic lights have been ap- proved by the Ontario Ministry of Transportation and Com- munications for the intersection of Highways 4 and 83 and are expected to be installed in the near future, The vehicles involved were driven by Alan Donaldson, Sarnia and Timothy Murphy, London. Mark Baraniuk, a passenger in the Donaldson vehicle was the most seriously injured and was taken to South Huron Hospital and then transferred to St, Joseph's Hospital, London by Hoffman's Ambulance. Taketi to South Huron for treatment were the two drivers and passengers in the Murphy Pennies still do add up! Students from Exeter Public School collected $368.62 for UNICEF during their annual collection on Hallowe'en. Student council president Kevin Parsons said the collection included 8,500 pennies. He thanked local residents for their contributions to the annual canvass by the school students, be given an opportunity to pre- sent a feasibility study on the im- pact of such a shopping centre op the community. "Then you decide whether there is justification for the development," he told council, "and you also decide the con- In addition to representing Ex- eter's downtown merchants on the issue of a new shopping cen- tre, London lawyer George Plax- ton also presented a brief on their behalf on the proposed new official plan. In that brief, he aired objec- tions over the "very, very sizable" highway commercial zoning being considered for the Highway 4 and 83 area, He said it was up to four times the size of the present core com- mercial area and the merchants had legitimate concerns. He suggested that when com- mercial zones are separated, neither the downtown group or the highway commercial group benefits from it. "Commerce works by traffic patterns (vehicle or walking) and when they are separated, neither enjoys the benefit of each vehicle, Lee Ann Burr and Pa trick Murphy. A hydro pole on the northeast edener of the' intersection was knocked over in the mishap. Constable Jim Barnes and Chief Ted Day investigated and set damages at $4,000. Thursday at 7:40 p.m. three persons were taken to South Huron Hospital by Hoffman's Ambulance following an accident at the intersection of Main and Sanders Streets. Carol Miners, RR 3, Exeter and passengers in the vehicle she was driving Laura MacDonald, Hensall and Connie Dietrich, RR 3 Dashwood were treated at hospital. Driver of the second vehicle, a truck ov.ned by Tuckey Beverages was William Deters, 53 Andrew street, Exeter, Con- stables Jim Barnes and Brad Sadler investigated and listed damages at $4,500. Constable George Robertson listed damages at $500 Friday afternoon when vehicles driven by Henry Harvey, Exeter and Harold Woodburn, RR 2, Lucan collided on Highway 83. A vehicle owned by George Tryon, RR 3, Exeter suffered damages of $450 Friday when it was struck by an unknown vehiCle while parked at the South Huron Rec Centre. Constable Brad Sadler investigated. In a similar mishap Monday on the A & H store parking lot, a vehicle owned by Ruth Mair, 61 Anne Street, Exeter was damaged to the extent of $100. Constable Kevin Short was the investigating officer. One person was charged this week by local officers for possession of marijuana and will appear in court at a later date. Outlines cost for brochure Howie Wright of Agripress in Hensall appeared before Exeter council this week to outline the services that firm could provide in preparing a promotional brochure for the town, Wright Said the firm would write the necessary material for the brochure, take pictures and then produce the final product which could be directed to firms which may consider establishing in Exeter, "It is not cheap," he advised, noting that the cost Of producing 5,-000 eopieS of such a brochure could cast in the range of $10,000 to $12,000. There was no discussion on the presentation on Monday due to the full agenda. Mayor Shaw asked members to consider the matter and be prepared to discuss it at their first meeting iri December, cil had already spent $140,000 to provide services along the south side of Highway 8$ East and this had resulted in benefits for the community through the es- tablishment of several in- dustries. The Reeve questioned if it was massive square footage on the outskirts of the town," he added. It was also suggested that the thrust of the new plan appears to be to hem in the designated core area in such a way as to virtually eliminate any potential for its enlargement. He said council should con- template development of parking and other retail uses adjacent to the existing core area, "We ask your council to con- sider carefully the consequences of introducing a plan containing provisions which on the face of them appear to be in conflict with the ostensible goal of retain- ing a strong, viable core area." Plaxton noted that it would be difficult to police the criteria that highway sites be available to large space users who could not be accommodated in the core area, EIGHT ARE HURT IN TOWN CRASHES fair to treat the other side of the highway any differently, Councillor Ken Ottewell, who - also opposed the motion, noted that no building permit would be issued until a report had been submitted by the town's engineers. However, Councillor Derry Boyle said the proposed develop- ment could cost all ratepayers a lot of money and he went so far as to ask Plaxton if he would prepare the necessary bylaws for council to freeze the land. "I want to do this the fastest way possible," Boyle stated. Simmons suggested that coun- c il had listened to the businessmen's point of view and he would like to have an "un- biased legal opinion...before we get carried away", He suggested there was a con- flict of interest with three members of council-Councillors Ted Wright, Harold Patterson and H oBwo ey vl ee r. when Mayor Shaw asked if there was a conflict on anyone's part, they all answered in the negative and all three voted on the question, After the businessmen left the meeting, Mayor Shaw said that to protect the various interests of council, he would name Boyle and Simmons to meet with the Stratford law firm to draw up the bylaw requested by council,