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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes-Advocate, 1979-10-03, Page 1 (2)*Exeter town hall for police office? s • • 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 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 LONG EARS — Dennis Meikle makes good use of a pair of socks during Hat Day at South Huron District High School, Wednesday. T -A photo. Refugee families coming this week Two refugee tamilies 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 he 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 he on hand to meet them when they arrive in Exeter. Vanderlaan said the one family consist s 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 famjly 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 : aeritratereit•conkfr rhange as there is often considerable confusion _between the information received and the people who actually show up. It is expected the two families will he placed in a • 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 he 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. 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 lo 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 minute; 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 5100.000. CAMPAIGN AWARD — Carf Conn, 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 Conodton Cancer Society is Bob Turnbull of London. T -A photo 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; but 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 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 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 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 Jerry Finnen quits at DIL 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 firm 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 Ames Serving South Huron, North Middlesex One hundred and Seventh Year had established over the many years "but 1 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 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 dvocate & North Lambton Since 1873 EXETER, ONTARIO, OCTOBER 3, 1979 Price Per Copy 25 Cents - PLASTICS PLANT FIRE — Fire Huron Pork. Thursday noon. London man fined $500 for growing marijuana A London man was fined :,nu by Judge W (; Crx•hrane rn i':xe,er court. Tuesday. after plead: ng guilty to Lniawfully cutin ating marijuana plants 00 an area taut; thilliarn \lark Irwin. 35. was charged after police found about Zoo plan's growing in a corn field on August "o The eight -loot marijuana plants were well alio\ t' the ht'igli: of 'he corn and were reacfil see! The coo;-' o-arr,ta !hat the plants w'j'e •,c„r'h several thousand d'•! ars although Irwin said he was growing them for his own use. lit• • ori /5 dills ha) ,,;,• caused considerable damage to the Protective Plastics plant at ''lt'-'r'''.'. .\ %ur., • Maximi . lined char_ pohcc .. , (IPL' Capital costs are 5215,735 PUC budget up slightly 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 S215.735. Included in the capital budge( is a total of S136.000 which includes S26.000 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 l0 -year period and manager Hugh Davis estimate annual Part of that cost _would be offset by the fact the PUC now pay about 512.000 per year for the power from the Sanders SI. sub -station which is owned by Ontario Hydro. Davis indicated that the local budget would have a "negligible change” on the hydro rates tor next year, although there are expected to be major increases due to an increased rate for the purchase of power from Oplario Hydra Other items in the capital budget are replacement of bare secondary lines on Wellington. Carling and Simcoe Street'- Only a couple of items in the operating budget drew any debate from the Com- missioners t ►ne was an expense of 51.200 for painting the office and warehouse and another exland itu pav1 ,r<� 1i;t' "it's a frill i think we can do without." chairman,Chan Livingstone said about the paving. However. members agreed to leas a item in the budget alit ill 4o the Property standards law still draws opposition The Exeter planning -bonsai 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 ratificat ion. Reeve Si Simmons. who opposed the original draft some weeks ago on the basis it Wai mUcti Mb' stringent. maintained his opposition this week and threatened a laborious clause -by -clause reading of the bylaw in an ef- fort..U. slow (town .its progress Clerk Liz Bell also cited Safes( -Y obleRts with the new regulations and the en- tire issue ended up on an un- settled note when members were unabte to agree on a methpe "I -presenting the in- formation to' the public. The presentation of the new property maintenance -and_ occupancy -.bylaw was the first draft That it was maintain the town to the given by -plant tg ;Wart over -legislation degree that we have the chairman Gerald Merrier. 'Writer said the planning potential to fill cum - who said the new document board members' intention mented Councillor .lay was toned down cion- was to develop a bylaw. that Campbell. a member of the siderable from the first one would adopt a procedure to planning board presented to council. maintain a high standard Marilyn Ni111amson He said the bylaw was still without alienating people described it as a basic and sufficiently strong to enable it was suggested that the simple.' and said it should the town to instruct people intent 'was to enable people not be offensive to people in to follow it. but was suf- to meet the standards the town ficiently -toned doww to es-. through cooperative melon however. clerk Hell said d'�e cape the charge made about "It's a gooi e to' t4T, 'pLe-447401 e. which emptaaited the desire to 4yage properties- brought up to the standards through "co-operative compliance.. Veteran planner -quits was not called through in 'The resignation of veteran , Fellow pla n-..o0a rd the ftfrief ifi i 111(4tlti,'s- fttriember"*z yey Pfaff -that+? ' rtittiber Jay Ct4r. •:-::r`srtittJQ ±"-Iby1 w -,en arcement of - the local planning board wcs he had found Pfaff to be a ficer. which sliedescriboil•as. accepted. "wkt$r"fegret" by valuable member of the,- "very rigid'' - • - Exeter couneil.this-rweek. - board. She cl&Vril ;hat there . Councillor _pop .Cameron Mayer Derra''ftr7v're would H eavy costs in - said special note should be presented a name as a volved in the program for made of the fact the local replacement. but members (he town or the property. postmaster served on the asked for some time in con- owners in that it could -result board since 1958. sidering the appointment.- in a property title search. as • well as msl'eetatrons by hydro. plumping. health and fire officials all of wham 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 coni- pliance under the new bylaw before real estate transac- tions could he completed. Campbell replied that the bylaw preamble indicated that there was an intent to work out ally problems - through rputual agreement • before the full forirfiR of _the__ bylaw was brought"i'hi•, Azifec•t- against' a•xylinquent property owner. but Mrs Bell explainelt thio enforce- ment officer has to work -un- der the terms tit the bylaw and not the preamble. She said anyone would Pkase turn to page s paying it other nergnoonng 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 S141.253 Please turn to nage Rogers was n.." ,;:F.: a liquor set zure w her. De nom me came °Pur. 'ht• scene and started to sc (:,lily abuse the nit icer Charites'4 'r.eft resulted id tun lints of j2'11' each for • I►as id 1 VL'en Mitchell Paul lCrllutn. Woods also of Mitchell. was fined a total of $3011 in the same two charges and 1)onaid R Scott. FIR 5 Stratford -was fined $250 on one theft charge The charges were laid on 22 atter tw July 0 men reported that their money and wallets were taken from a truck while they were swinitnrng .Judge Cochrane granted conditional discharges to ,Marion Darlene White. Exeter 'and Laura June 4)verall. Huron Park. after they pleaded guilty to theft charges arising from an uu ule•nt when potted plants 'ere taken from a porch at an Exeter home. The court learned the plants had been !aken as a prank and they ere later recovered :\ conditional discharge was also granted to Christopher J. Groot. Zurich. !or taking. a motor vehicle how the cm 71er s consent on .lune 12 1; was stated the south had been drinking and the actions were not in keeping with hbs character An Exeter - also i1;\ -en a woman w as conditional WE'LL BE LATE Duce to t • Thanksgiving holiday. t e -xeter Times Ads ovate silt he published one day later than usual next week It will be printed Wednesday night for Thursday morning delivery Advertising deadlines will he extended to Tuesday. The display advertising deadline will he 2 -(iii p.m and the deadline for classified ad• vertisements will he 4:00 p.m discharge un 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 wcri 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 confided on concession 2 of Hay. north of Higbrway 83. A passenger. Linda Lightfoot. sustained minor injuries Damage was set at 51.1(40 by Contstable Frank Giffin. The other - collision hap- pened on Highway 83 at the junction of Huron Road 11 and involved vehicles operated by' John Downing. 1loodstock. 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. BEFORE co AND AFTER — The coffers of the st'rdent council at S.H.D.S.H. ore richer by 5600 thanks to Wednesday's pledges d the operation of three teachers to hove their -beards removed. The barbers Mike Burke. Sue Anne Becker and Cory Unich did the jobs on vice-principal Herb Murphy and teachers Sherwood Eddy and Colin Lowndes T -A photo z •