HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2005-01-13, Page 18PAGE 18. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JANUARY 13, 2005.
Moncrieff issue on Huron East agenda again
By Ronda Wicks
Special to The Citizen
Citizens of the community Tom
Winger, John Peeler and Gord Adams
attended the Jan. 4 meeting to ask
Huron East council some questions
that they had regarding the issue of
council using the taxpayers' money
on court fees over establishing own
ership of the walkway at the
Moncrieff Community Hall.
In the public session of the meeting
Winger wanted to know what was so
special about the property that it war
ranted the cost of paying lawyers to
settle the dispute.
Council pointed out that while the
land is being encroached upon it was
still not their choice to have to follow
legal actions. To begin with, the
Moyers claimed legal ownership of
the property (filing paperwork);
which forced council’s hand, leaving
them no choice. The principle is they
said if one citizen is allowed to claim
ownership of land they have left
property on, then it gives way to oth
ers believing they can do the same as
well. Furthermore, council had
offered them a one-year encroach
ment agreement but they had refused
it.
Adams, who outlined his position
as a personal friend of the Moyers,
addressed a rumour that council had
gone to one lawyer, not liked the
opinion they received on whether the
case could be settled in their favour,
so turned to another.
Council explained that the initial
lawyer of consultation was their reg
ular lawyer who handles property
transactions however, under the
advice of this lawyer, they were redi
rected to a litigation lawyer trained to
handle cases such as this, where own
ership on the grounds of encroach
ment might come into question.
They did not, however, go to a sec
ond lawyer because they disliked the
first one’s opinion. It was the first
lawyer who referred them to the sec
ond one.
Peeler wanted to know why only a
one-year agreement was offered
instead of the usual 99-year agree
ment. Council explained that it would
be ludicrous to sign a 99-year agree
ment when they have given the new
board of directors a year to see what
they can do with the hall. To do so
would forfeit their right to make any
decision about the walkway in a
year’s time when they review the
progress of the new board.
Should the new board succeed in
revitalizing the hall there might come
a time in the future that the ballpark,
currently being
will also be in use as a ballpark again.
The walkway lies between them.
Mayor Joe Seili pointed out that
Huron East also has additional fac
tors to consider: under government
and municipal planning acts the area
in question is also under-forested. If
these municipal lands fail to serve
their current purpose, council might
look at it for forestration to fulfill that
responsibility. Alternately, it may
simply be sold.
Nevertheless, whether these specif
ic considerations were settled or not
(which they are not, at this point in
time) there is a precedent here that
municipal council feels they cannot
allow. To encroach on municipal
property is issue enough, but to claim
ownership is even more severe.
Additional questions were asked of
council that they could not answer
because of the legalities of the
case.
Couple becomes engaged
leased to a farmer,
Congratulations to Lyn Housser
and Brandon Noble on their engage
ment. Lyn is presently in her second
year studying developmental servic
es in Belleville. This will enable her
to work with special needs people.
Darts have started again in the
Cranbrook Community Centre for
the winter. It is not too late to come
out on Wednesday evenings at 8
p.m. to join your neighbours in this
sport. Last week’s winners were
Gayle Speiran with 95 points and
Dave Joslin with 123.
Congratulations to Sharon and
Dave Strickler whose son was born
in Listowel Hospital on Dec. 22.
Spoiling privileges go to grandpar
ents Lome Strickler and Arlene and
Brian and Kate Tormey.
Eleanor Stevenson and some
members of her family holidayed on
St. Lucia before Christmas as a spe-
cial celebration for Eleanor’s birth
day.
Rev. Theresa McDonald-Lee con
ducted communion in Cranbrook
Presbyterian Church on Sunday.
Eleanor Stevenson and Yvonne
Knight attended the Huron-Perth
Presbyterial Executive meeting
Mitchell on Monday afternoon.
We wish Linda Minielly well
the coming weeks.
On Saturday Mary McTaggart,
Leslie and Yvonne Knight were at
Jeff and Nancy Knight’s to celebrate
Kaitlyn’s second birthday. They
were at Kortright Presbyterian
Church in Guelph on Sunday to cel
ebrate the baptism of Katie Moyer,
daughter of Andrea and Rick and
granddaughter of Geraldine Siemon.
Birthday wishes go to Gordon
Mitchell, Jan. 14; Brett Fischer, Jan.
15 and Marnie Dingman, Jan.
NEWS
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It was a large group of new members for the Belgrave Brownies as they welcomed nine new
members at the recent enrollment night. Back row, from left: Kaitlyn Michie, Emily Meier,
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Stacey Hallahan and Andrea Shiell. (Vicky Bremner photo)
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