Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutLakeshore Advance, 2013-02-13, Page 3Wednesday, February 13, 2013 • Lakeshore Advance 3 Thedford Seniors say hall was not built for council chambers Lynda Hillman-Rapley Lakeshore Advance The seniors in 'Thedford are not impressed that 1 ambton Shores council are slaking changes to what has tradition- ally been their hall. After an article came out detailing a Jan. 10th budget sleeting where councilor Doug Bo0esteel asked for an addi- tional $15,000 to tae capital budget to be used for painting the interior of the 'Thedford Vil- lage Complex, and purchasing like permanent furniture for liFncil meeting, bringing the total budget for work at the Vil- lage Complex to $25,000 for 2013, long time Thedford resi- dent voiced his concerns. Garry Glenn, a 64 -year resi- dent of Thedford responded to the Sarnia newspaper article explaining, "'Thedford volun- teers spent 5253 hours con- structing the Thedford Village Complex. An additional 133 hours of equipment usage was donated. 'she total estimate cost of these donations was $112,000. The complex hall was dedicated to my father, Norman Glenn, for his contributions. As you enter the complex hall, you will note names of donators, people of the community of Thedford, on the bricks. '('hese people also donated money to this building fun((, so everyone in the community could use it," he said adding, "It was not built to be a council chambers." Glenn told the Lakeshore Advance the building was started in June 1997 and was finished in March 19911. Welling- ton Brothers of Forest built the t n structure, while volunteers 1 all of the interior includ- i , plumbing, electrical, brick laying, carpentry work, paint- ing and sheet metal work. Mate- rial was bought by the Village of Thedford and installed by the volunteers. The hall has been used by the seniors every since It was built, he said. "With the amalgamation of Thedford, Arkona, Forest, Grand Bend and I3osanquet, it appears that the past and present coun- cils have lost track as to why the 'Thedford Village Complex Hall was built," he said adding, "It was built as a Seniors Recrea- tion Hall, a Rental Hall for the people of the Village of Thed- ford and a Fire Department meeting and training facility for the 'Thedford Fire Department." In his response back to Glenn, ward councilor John Russell said in an e-mail, "I think two things collided, A news story that was inaccurate at best and as with most things cooling out of our meetings a little toward creating sensation where there wasn't :illy..." In his correspondence to Rus- sell Glenn asked "Why is coun- cil buying a sound system for the 1lall? There is already a sound system in the hall that was purchased and installed by the seniors. Maybe they could use it. Wily are the 'Thedford Seniors and the 'Thedford Fire Department been forced to remove their pool tables from the 'Thedford Village Com- plex'? By moving to the old library, it creates it safety issue for the seniors. 'l here' is 00 place to park except on the main street and there is no handicap parking. Can you just imagine seeing my 89 -year-old mother and 50 other senior citi- zens try to parallel park on the plain street. 'she property across the road is private property, not a parking lot. I don't think that the present council members, especially Doug Ilones- teel, know what they are asking of the seniors. Why do you expect the seniors to move to the old library? 'There are no kitchen facilities there for the seniors. they presently own the dishes that are in the cup - hoard at the Complex 1 tall. They also own tables and chairs. What (10 you think it is going to cost to move the seniors to the library? It teas going to cost $70,000 to move council. Sen- iors would need Commercial approved kitchen facili- ties; Refrigerator, stove and tri- ple sink for doing dishes, exhaust fan, etc. It will also cost extra money to move the pool tables. 'These are slate tables that required professional setup. If the Complex Hall is changed to a council chamber, will it still be rented out to the public and will it still be availa- ble to Service Clubs, such as the Spirit Club? If not where do we go? It doesn't make sense to use the large Legacy centre for small functions. 1 personally plan on renting the Complex I hill for my birthday. 'Ihe Spirit Club uses 1t for monthly meetings. Some people use it for Christmas and other family functions. Where do we go? Last but not lease, why do they not consider mov- ing to the Legacy Centre? The Legacy Centre has a large dou- ble hall with a portable wall that can he extended to divide the room into two. One side could be set aside for Council cham- bers, when needed for rental, the Lambton Shore Staff could take it down. I believe that the council tables and chairs could then he put into the storage room when the regular table and chairs are removed. The Legacy (tall is not used very often, so there would be fewer tear down required. 'There is also much more parking at the Legacy (:entre than at the Vil- lage Complex. 1 have talked to several people on this subject and most of the people in the Village are against the use of the Thedford Village Complex for council meetings and 1(1(11101 believe that any of the seniors are in favor of mov- ing to the old Library. " Janet Ferguson, Acting (:AO said to date the only modifica- tions to the building have been the installation of the new sound system, and an overhead pro- jector will he installed in the near future. "Both of these changes serve as improvements to the building that will benefit more than just Council meet- ings. For example, these changes improve the room's function as a training centre and the munic- ipality's Emergency Operations (:entre." A report carte hack to coun- cil Monday to provide an addi- tional opportunity to discuss the future use of the Village Complex before staff moves for- ward with the changes that have been requested by council. CURRENT USE: 01: THE TIIE:DI:ORD VII.I.A(:F. COMPLEX Ferguson said staff consulted with the 'Thedford Seniors and the Thedford Dire Department regarding their usage of the Vil- lage Complex. Presently the Thedford Sen- iors use the Village Complex to meet and play cards on Wednes- days and Saturdays. One of the pool tables is owned by the sen- iors, and while in the past, the pool tables were used by seniors on weekdays from 9:00 ant to 10:00 am and on 'Thursday eve- nings from 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm during the winter months, we have received feedback that it is no longer used regularly. As the pool tables are rarely used, staff has asked if the sen- iors would be agreeable to hav- ing their pool table relocated to the old Thedford Library loca- tion on a temporary basis to allow more room to accommo- date the influx in attendance at recent Council meetings. After reading the report lin the Sarnia paper the seniors have responded that they are not supportive of this change. Ferguson reported that the Fire Department uses the com- munity roots as tt training cen- tre and for their annual stag. As noted above, the improvements to the roost made to elate serve to improve the room as it training centre. In dis- cussion with the Fire Department, staff has learned that one of the pool table is owned by the Department's "Club 21" and is typically used once or twice per year. 'Ihe Dire Department has sub- mitted it letter of concern respecting any plans to slake the Village Complex a formal chambers, and their concerns relate to building occupancy and their ability to access the building in the event that a fire call occurs (luring a Council meeting, Blue to parking congestion. "'Ihe Fire Department slakes a valid point respecting occupancy of the roost. 'I he listed occupancy for meet- ings (with chairs and table) is 115 per- sons, and at recent Council meetings this threshold is being approached," said the CAO The Village Complex is also rented for private functions such as family gatherings, meetings, birthday parties etc.'1he feedback that staff has received is that the Village Complex is the pre- ferred location for these shall gather- ings as users find 'Phomas Hall at the Legacy Centre to be too large. "As noted previously, staff has received feedback from a few members of the public that citizens donated their time and money to the construction of the Village Complex so that it could he used as a community sleeting place and not as permanent Council chanl- hers;" she said. MOVING FORWARD Due to the concerns that have been raised by the public, staff presented a report Monday as an opportunity to Lynda Hillman-Rapley Lakeshore Advance Council member John Russell discuss the (modification of the build- ing for a formal Council Chambers, and to review alternative In October 2012 staff presented a report regarding the proposed plan to renovate the old '1hedford Library loca- tion to a formal Council Chambers. .that report was deferred to budget dis- cussion i11 December, at which time; the capital project was deferred to 2017 with a budget of 873,000. Council was scheduled to discuss other options at Monday's sleeting. HAY MUTUAL COMPANY Nil1('1• OI. ANN( Al. MIiF'fIN(i Notice is hereby given that the Annual Meeting of the Policyholders of flay N1utuul Insurance (.'oinpaty ss ill he held of 11ay Mutual In.orance Company, .78(,S /urieh• lesson Road, Zurich, Ontario on •rhur.tlu), the 7th day of March, 201 .3 at 2.00 I' 111.. for the following purpou.• 1. ro receive and consider the annual statements for the year ended December 31. 201 2 ; 2. 1'o appoint an Auditor for 2013; 1. to elect thrice Directors for n three year term. Directors whose terms esprre are .tohn Dow son. Vnrnu, Robert I'crlschy, Crediton and John Voni.00, Clinton, all of whom are eligible litr re-election. Any person wishing to seek election or re-election as a Director must file their intention to stand for election in writing ssith the President of the Corporation at least thirty days prior to the Annual Meeting; 4. 1'o pithy and confirm all resolutions, contract.. acts and proceedings of the hoard of Directors of the Company enacted, made, done or taken since the Inst Annual Meeting of the members; 5. To conrider and if Thought lit, to confirm with or without such variation and amendments as nifty be notule ret the meeting, amendment to by -haws. passed by the Directors on Fchniary 61h, 2013. A copy of the proposed amendments to the by-laws can he requested by any Policyholder of the Corporation from the 1lead Office during regular office hours from 8:.10 a.m. to 4:30 p.In. Monday to Friday. Dated the 16th day of January 2013 ity the order of the hoard John Ikowson, ('hainnun Shawn 1)urnin. ('resident The financial statements for the year ended 1)eccniher .t 1, 2012 are now available 01 trtc,v.huvmutuul.u,r.cu. Should you wish to receive this document by mail, please contact the office,