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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes-Advocate, 1979-10-03, Page 1Serving South Huron, North Middlesex One hundred and Seventh Year Price Per Copy 25 Cents EXETER, ONTARIO, OCTOBER 3, 1979 •Exeter town hall for police office? An architect's drawing of the proposed new police station greeted Exeter council when they arrived for their session, Monday, and most members expected the proposal would be ap- proved, especially after reading through their agenda package which contained recommendation from the building committee to prepare for rendering. However, after a lengthy Two refugee families being sponsored by the Christian Reformed Church of Exeter are expected to arrive in the area this week. Albert Vanderlaan advised the T-A on Monday that the two "Boat People" families should be in Montreal on Wednesday, but "from there on it's still up in the air". The families will have to undergo medical tests and government clearance and then will move on to Toronto where they will be met by officials from the local congregation. A reception committee will be on hand to meet them when they arrive in Exeter. Vanderlaan said the one family consists of a young married couple and their two children, aged two and five. There are also two older children aged 11 and 14 coming with them, but their relationship to the young couple is not known. A mother of one of the parents is also expected to arrive later. The other family is also a young couple in their early 20s and they have a six- month old child. A brother of the wife is also a member of the family unit. Immigration officials explained to the local church members that while the information on the families appears accurate, it could change as there is often considerable confusion between the information received and the people who actually show up. It is expected the two families will be placed in a The Exeter planning board tabled another draft of a property standards bylaw with council this week, and while it drew plaudits from most members. it appears to be a long way from final ratification. Reeve Si Simmons, who opposed the original draft some weeks ago on the basis it was much too stringent, maintained his opposition this week and threatened a laborious clause-by-clause reading of the bylaw in an ef- fort to slow down its progress. Clerk Liz Bell also cited several problems with the new regulations and the en- tire issue ended up on an un- settled note when members were unable to agree on a method of presenting the in- formation to the public. The presentation of the new property maintenance debate, council ended up sending the report back to the committee members who want to study yet another site for the police. The site? Would you believe the old town hall? It was perhaps ironical that the latest "monkey- wrench" thrown into the deliberations came from the Exeter and District Heritage Foundation, the organization a previous council deserted farm home located between Exeter and Hensall and one of the units may be moved later when work is com- pleted on a home that is being renovated in Exeter for their use. Vanderlaan said the in- formation on the families indicates one man is a radio repair technician and the other is a mechanic. However, he said no at- tempts will be made at finding work for the two men until it can be ascertained what their capabilities are and how much English they can understand. The third man involved apparently has no trade. The local congregation will sponsor the two families for a minimum of one year. and occupancy bylaw was given by planning board chairman Gerald Merner, who said the new document was toned down con- siderable from the first one presented to council. He said the bylaw was still sufficiently strong to enable the town to instruct people to follow it, but was suf- ficiently toned down to es- cape the charge made about The resignation of veteran member Harvey Pfaff from the local planning board was accepted "with regret" by Exeter council this week, Councillor Don Cameron said special note should be made of the fact the local postmaster served on the board since 1958. when they undertook to restore the town hall for the purpose of housing the police office. Former mayor Bruce Shaw now president of the Foundation, reminded council they had first priority to the use of the town hall and that facility would probably be turned back to them within the next few months. "Recently all of us have heard the dismay of many of our residents concerning the proposed $100,000 ex- penditure for the new police headquarters," Shaw read from a letter signed by himself and former Foun- dation president Doug Gould, which went on to say that "when we consider the cost of the building you have bought and the tens of thousands of dollars that you will have to spend, we as taxpayers and trustees must draw to your attention that you have a building, that you have the best possible site available and that you will spend just a fraction of the amount in renovating that building to meet your needs-- that building, of course, is the town hall". "What we are saying is, quite simply, we believe you are making a mistake!" Shaw charged. Shaw admitted that members of the Foundation had mixed feelings about Damage is high in factory fire A Thursday noon hour fire caused extensive damage to the Protective Plastics plant at Huron Park, Huron Park fire chief Norm Hyde said the fire caused damage mostly to the south wall of the building and materials stored out- side. Hyde said he believes the fire star ted from a chemical reaction and was confined to the walls and eaves. He continued, "an exhaust fan near a window could have forced the fire outside and caught into materials in- cluding a boat mould." The chief said hismen had the blaze controlled in the building within 25 minutes but were on hand until early evening. The alarm was sounded at 12:45 p.m. A sprinkler system was helpful in keeping the fire under control. The Protective Plastics firm is located in Hanger 3 formerly occupied by Hall Lamp. Chief Hyde said damage to the structure was about $50,- 000 and damage to the con- tents could reach as high as $100,000. the first draft that it was over-legislation. Merner said the planning board members' intention was to develop a bylaw that would adopt a procedure to maintain a high standard without alienating people. It was suggested that the intent was to enable people to meet the standards through cooperative action. "It's a good guideline to Fellow plan board member Jay Campbell said he had found Pfaff to be a valuable member of the board. Mayor Derry Boyle presented a name as a replacement, but members asked for some time in con- sidering the appointment. using the facility for the police in view of the fact it is now operating in the black with responsible tenants. "In short, if we were outsiders, we couldn't care less what happens now that the building is self- sufficient ; hut first as an organization with a philosophy and a sense of purpose, we believe that some town functions should be centred in the town hall; and secondly as taxpayers in Exeter, we object to such a large expenditure of funds for this end (police office) when certain basic services are not complete and when our recreation program needs an injection of capital funds," "We ask you, therefore, to devote more time and more energy in arriving at the best decision possible for PLASTICS Huron Park, The 1980 hydro budget for the Exeter Public Utilities Commission was approved at a meeting, Friday, showing an increase of about five percent for operating costs and a capital outlay of $215,735. Included in the capital budget is a total of $136,000 which includes $26,000 for the purchase of the existing sub- station behind the local library and another $110,000 for the new sub-station being planned for Rosemount Ave. just off Highway 83 East. The $136,000 will be debentured over a 10-year period and manager Hugh Davis estimated annual repayment costs at $25,063, Part of that cost would be offset by the fact the PUC now pay about $12,000 per year for the power from the Sanders St. sub-station which is owned by Ontario Hydro. maintain the town to the degree that we have the potential to fill," com- mented Councillor Jay Campbell, a member of the planning board. Marilyn Williamson described it as a "basic and simple" and said it should not be offensive to people in the town. However, clerk Bell said the preamble, which emphasized the desire to have properties brought up to the standards through "co-operative compliance" was not carried through in the description' of the duties of the bylaw enforcement of- ficer, which she described as "very rigid". She charged that there would be heavy costs in- volved in the program for the town or the property owners in that it could result in a property title search, as the residents of Exeter," the letter concluded. Mayor Derry Boyle quickly attempted to side- step the suggestion presented by the Foun- dation, advising Shaw that Jerry Finnen, president of Dashwood Industries Limited, announced his resignation this week. In a letter to company employees, Finnen said he was quitting the post "because of deep and irreconcilable business differences with the direc- tors of the company". The resignation was ef- fective on Monday. Don Gordon, one of the Davis indicated that the local budget would have a "negligible change" on the hydro rates for next year, although there are expected to be major increases due to an increased rate for the purchase of power from Ontario Hydro. Other items in the capital budget are replacement of bare secondary lines on Wellington, Carling and Simcoe Streets. Only a couple of items in the operating budget drew any debate from the Com- missioners. One was an expense of $1,200 for painting the office and warehouse and another expenditure for paving the parking lot. "It's a frill I think we can do without," chairman Chan Livingstone said about the paving. However, members agreed to leave the item in the budget and-will do the well as inspectations by hydro, plumbing, health and fire officials, all of whom she noted charged a fee for such inspections. The clerk also suggested that lawyers acting on property sales may require the existing owners to provide certificates of com- pliance under the new bylaw before real estate transac- tions could be completed. Campbell replied that the bylaw preamble indicated that there was an intent to work out any problems through mutual agreement before the full force of the bylaw was brought into effect against a delinquent property owner, but Mrs. Bell explained the enforce- ment officer has to work un- der the terms of the bylaw and not the preamble. She said anyone would Please turn to page 3 council would make a decision in the best interest of Exeter "as we see it". "It will pass tonight or be defeated," he said of the proposed new office in front of him. He also mentioned tirm s directors, has been named managing director on an interim basis. It has been indicated that the board of directors will be looking outside the company for a replacement for Fin- nen, who has held the post for the past four years. He succeeded his brother, Jim. In his letter to the DIL employees, Finnen ex- plained that he would miss the personal relationships he Plastics plant paving if other neignooring property owners decide to pave adjoining properties. There was some discussion about cleaning the bricks at the office, but Mayor Derry Boyle said he was afraid the mortar would deteriorate. The operating budget was set at $147,684, The current budget is $141,253. Please turn to page 3 the figure of $25,000 to renovate the town hall for the police. Jay Campbell wondered about the present town hall tenants and was advised their leases had expired. had established over the many years "but I shall always cherish them as perhaps my greatest asset". "I trust you will all offer as much to the new management, as it will be to your benefit and the benefit of this great company," he said in bidding farewell. Finnen let it be known he would offer any advice and counselling Gordon may wish. Councillor Ted Wright reminded his cohorts they moved out of the town hall strictly due to a lack of, space. "I don't think there's any more space there now," he said. Shaw replied that he thought they would find enough space and added that an addition could be put at the rear of the building if more room was required. Boyle said council had already spent a lot of money planning a new police office. "We're half way there now," he said. Members were critical of the Foundation for not presenting their ideas sooner. "Why didn't you come to us?" Councillor Lossy Fuller asked, adding that she understood the Foundation still had six or seven years on their lease reported that their money and wallets were taken from a truck while they were swimming. Judge Cochrane granted conditional discharges to Marion Darlene White, Exeter and Laura June Overall, Huron Park, after they pleaded guilty to theft charges arising from an incident when potted plants were taken from a porch at an Exeter home. The court learned the plants had been taken as a prank and they were later recovered. A conditional discharge was also granted to Christopher J. Groot, Zurich, for taking a motor vehicle without the owner's consent on June 12. It was stated the youth had been drinking and the actions were not in keeping with his character. An Exeter woman was also given a conditional WE'LL BE LATE Due to the Thanksgiving holiday, the Exeter Times Advocate will he published one day later than usual next week. It will be printed Wednesday night for Thursday morning delivery. Advertising deadlines will be extended to Tuesday. The display advertising deadline will be 2:00 p.m. and the deadline for classified ad- vertisements will be 4:00 p.m. with the town. Shaw replied that until council purchased a property on Sanders St. last month, the entire matter was in the discussion stages, Councillor Jay Campbell said he would like to explore the matter a little more, "I'm not sure I want to throw it out," he said, adding the cost of renovating the town hall and removing the present tenants would have to be considered. Mayor Boyle then said the matter would be dealt with when the police building committee report came up for discussion later in the meeting. When that time arrived, chairman Don MacGregor outlined the 2,000 square-foot building drawn by architect David Stevens and he neatly Please turn to page 3 discharge on a charge of false pretences involving a cheque issued for groceries. Barbara Jean Bowerbank said she thought the money had been placed in her ac- count by her husband. Four hurt in crashes Four people were injured in the two accidents in- vestigated by the Exeter OPP this week. Both collisions occurred on Saturday, the first involving vehicles driven by Ivan Coleman, Hensall, and Bryan Lightfoot, Dashwood. They collided on concession 2 of Hay, north of Highway 83. A passenger, Linda' Lightfoot, sustained minor injuries. Damage was set at $1,100 by Constable Frank Giffin. The other collision hap- pened on Highway 83 at the junction of Huron Road 11 and involved vehicles operated by John Downing, Woodstock, and Jeanette Duffy, RR 1 Dublin. Both drivers and a passenger, June Marie Downing, suffered minor injuries. Damage was estimated at $5,000 by Constable Bill Osterloo. LONG EARS — Dennis Meikle socks during Hat Wednesday. makes good use of a pair of Day at South Huron District High School, T-A photo. Refugee families coming this week CAMPAIGN AWARD — Carf Cann, chairman of the Exeter cancer campaign fund received a special award for the great contributions by the local unit, Making the presentation at the right during Monday's annual meeting of the Canadian Cancer Society is Bob Turnbull of London, T-A photo Veteran planner quits Capital costs are '215,735 Property standards law still draws opposition PLANT FIRE — Fire caused considerable damage to the Protective Thursday noon. PUC budget up slightly Jerry Finnen quits at DIL A London man was fined $500 by Judge W.G. Cochrane in Exeter court, Tuesday, after pleading guilty to unlawfully cultivating marijuana plants on an area farm, William Mark Irwin, 35, was charged after police found about 200 plants growing in a corn field on August 20. The eight-foot marijuana plants were well above the height of the corn and were readily seen, The court learned that the plants were worth several thousand dollars, although Irwin said he was growing them for his own use. He was given 15 days in which to pay the fine or an at alternative of 50 days in jail. A Zurich man, Frederick Maxime Denomme, was fined $200 or 20 days on a charge of obstructing a police officer on May 17. OPP Constable Jim Rogers was making a liquor seizure when Denomme came upon the scene and started to verbally abuse the officer. Charges of theft resulted in two fines of $200 each for David T. Allen, Mitchell. Paul William Woods, also of Mitchell, was fined a total of $300 on the same two charges and Donald R. Scott, RR 5 Stratford, was fined $250 on one theft charge. The charges were laid on July 22 after two men London man fined $500 for growing marijuana BEFORE AND AFTER — The coffers of the student council at S.H.D.S.H. are richer by $600 thanks to Wednesday's pledges and the co-operation of three teachers to have their beards removed. The barbers Mike Burke, Sue Anne Becker and Cary Unich did the jobs on vice-principal Herb Murphy and teachers Sherwood Eddy and Colin Lowndes. T-A photo