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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Huron Expositor, 1999-02-17, Page 1Your Community Newspaper Since 1860 — Seaforth, Ontario February 17, 1999 — $1.00 includes GST Decision will be made on arena's liquor licence Application ammended from large part of facility to one room BY SCOTT IULGENDORFF Expositor Editor By the end of a provincial Alcohol and Gaming Control Commission hearing, the Seaforth and District Community Centres (SDCC) amended its application for a liquor license that would see one area licenced as opposed to four throughout most of the facility. Graham Nesbitt, facilities manager said the amendment was made in response to suggestions at the hearing that the original application did not meet the requirements of the Liquor Licence Act. A hearing was held Feb. 11 based on the original application made in November. Several letters objecting to the application were received by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission which resulted in the hearing. Among areas that would be licenced in the original application were the ice surface, the main hall and the viewing room on the second floor. Karim Karsan, registrar's counsel for the Ontario Alcohol and Gaming Commission, expressed concerns at the hearing about those areas. He told. the board members, who conducted the hearing at Town Hall, that the Liquor Licence Act requires the premises to be licenced be primarily used for the sale and service of liquor and food. In that case, he had concerns the ice surface and other areas would not qualify since they are primarily used • for recreational activities. He, and board member Kirsti Hunt also had concerns with the SDCC's plans to limit the hours of operation to only those times when minors are not present. "There is no way to monitor it for a liquor licence inspector," said Hunt, one of two commission members Grade 8 student Mary Finlayson fills her plate while teacher Mary Katherine Stapleton carves the pork during a Medieval Feast last Friday at St. James school. The class was leaming about Medieval times, putting on plays and playing Medieval games such as Hoodman's Blind and bobbing for apples. HUNDERTMARK PHOTO who will decide whether or not the SDCC can have a licence. Because of the varied times that minors use the facility, she said police or inspectors would have no way of knowing . when alcohol is being served in order to check and make sure the Liquor Licence Act is being followed properly. "There's got to be a possibility of inspectors coming in," she said. Graham said he and Dennis O'Connor, chair of the SDCC management committee who represented the side of the application at the hearing, decided to make the amendment to the application. "We left it with them to keep it alive," Graham said. The SDCC management committee has not formally discussed the amendment and Graham said it could still decide to withdraw the application since it is different from the original application to which the committee agreed. The hearing lasted about nine hours last Thursday with cases being presented for and against the application. Each side was allowed to call witnesses and final submissions were to be made at the end of the hearing. However, after the application was amended, the board decided to give each side time to make final submissions in writing, based on the changes to the application. Once those submissions are made, the two board members who heard both cases, will weigh the testimony given and determine whether or not the licence will be granted. "That can take a varied length of time," said Karsan. The decision will be sent tto SDCC Management Committee Chair Dennis O'Connor, Mayor Dave Scott, Lions Club President. Paul Steven and Sizzlers owner, Gary Gagnier. All four were named "parties" in the hearitpgk, which entitles them to the information. Scott has been charged with the task of ensuring the public is notified of the hearing results. . Liquor sales at arena go against the public interest in Seaforth A liquor licence for the Scott was one of three Seaforth and District In OppoSltlori people "appointed as "parties" opposed to the licence that were a11oived to give evidence, call witnesses and cross examine other witnesses called by the licence applicants.The applicant, also named a "party" was represented by Seaforth and District Community Centres Management Committee Chair, Dennis O'Connor. In addition to witnesses called in the proceedings, the board allowed anyone to speak at the hearing. Scott pointed to criteria set out in the Liquor Licence Act that said a licence could not be given if the municipality felt it was not Community Centres (SDCC) is not in the public interest. That was the principle argument made by Mayor Dave Scott at a court -like public hearing held Feb. 11 at Town Hall by the Alcohol and Gaming Control Commission of Ontario. "That is what the town is claiming. The • licence is not in the public interest of the residents of this community," he said. The community centre had applied for a liquor licence last fall and objections from the public lead to a court -like hearing held to help the board determine whether or not a licence should be granted. Alcohol sales improve services as arena works to be the best CONTINUED on Page 2 Selling alcohol at the Seaforth and District Community Centres (SDCC) would fit its mandate to provide quality recreation facilities and new programs and services. That was the message SDCC Management Committee Chair Dennis O'Connor had at a Feb. 11 Ontario Alcohol and Gaming Commission hearing to help determine whether or not the centres should be granted a liquor licence. He said the committee had approved a five- year business plan to maximize the value of money invested in the centre. Five municipalities pick up the deficit for the facilities which currently has a return of 97 cents on every dollar spent to operate the facility. The goal is to break even by 2000. In support Reeve Carnochan, devoted family man, dies after active career and life in Tuckersmith BY SUSAN HUNDERTMARK Expositor$taff Tuckersmith Township Reeve Bill Carnochan, "a strong township leader," died Sunday at his residence. He was 48: "He was a very dedicated and devoted family person. His family always came first but township council came a close second." said Seaforth and Tuckersmith Township clerk Jack McLachlin, who gave the eulogy at Tuesday's funeral. Serving on Tuckersmith Township council for 13 years, Carnochan was elected deputy reeve in 1988 and reeve in 1991. "He always represented the township in a strong, efficient and capable manner and had the neat knack of being able to listen to everyone's views," he said. He served on most boards and committees within the township, was a member of Brucefield United Church, an appointee for the District Health Council and member of the trailer park committee for Huron's International Plowing Match in 1999. Also, he was an active member of minor sports, coaching hockey and ringette and playing hockey for many years and a former board member for Seaforth and District Community Centres. Carnochan enjoyed the outdoors, his dog and cat and his "big toys" such as his motorcycle, lawnmower and Suburban, added McLachlin. "He was a true friend and a true boss," he said. He is survived by his wife Sharon (Keys) Carnochan, children Robyn and friend Jason Dietz, Jill and friend Greg Fritz, Jared and Kate, mother Anne Mulholland, of Mitchell, and in-laws Jim and Kate Keys of RR 1 Varna. He was predeceased by his father John Carnochan and step -father Tom Mulholland. London man charged after Feb. 3 crime spree A 24 -year-old London kilometres north of London Community Centre parking man has been charged with which Left Dinah Gryszczuk, lot at about 4:30 p.m. on dangerous driving causing a 44 -year-old St. Marys Wednesday, Feb. 3. bodily harm and criminal woman..critically injured. About 15 minutes later, negligence causing bodily She remains in London two men entered the LCBO harm after the two-man Heath Centre, University in Seaforth and while one crime spree that camecampus. man distracted the clerk, the through Seaforth and left a He is also charged with other went into the rear London woman clinging for possession • of stolen storage room and started to life. vehicles and stolen liquor load cases of liquor into the The man was arrested last from Seaforth. The Ford truck. Thursday, a week after the Explorer he was driving was After being surprised by hit and run crash 12 stolen from the Clinton the clerk, the man got into the passenger side of the truck and was driven onto the road where it stopped to let him gat into a second vehicle, a 1995 Dodge pick- up truck that had been stolen earlier from the Chatham -Kent area. Both vehicles fled Seaforth, heading south. Police are itill investigating and expect to catch the second man soon. He said the amount of money each municipality has to pay to the facilities has been declining as expense controls and revenue generation have improved the 'efficiency of the facility. He said one of the main reasons for applying for the licence is to increase the convenience for renters of the facilities. People who use them for such activities as wedding receptions must apply for a special occasions permit in order to serve alcohol. If the community centres has its own licence, O'Connor said the insurance, liquor and bartender services would all be looked after by the centre, improving services and decreasing exposure to liability. Getting a licence would require all staff to take a "smart server" program, designed to CONTINUED on Page 2 Grade 1 student Danielle Kruse counts 100 popcorn kemels during 100 Day in her class at Seaforth Public School on Friday. HUNDERTMARK PHOTO