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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes Advocate, 1991-10-30, Page 2Pape 2 Times -Advocate, October 30, 1991 rand Bend candidates present platforms to their public Three running for mayor vorlar WV« 1404 4101. Todd Desaulniers "Grand Bend council needs to re- united and quickly," Desaulniers told the crowd Friday evening, say- ing that council should be a unify- ing agent to mend the separation between residents and businesses. "Council must become one, one goal among many," said Desaul- niers, who also said the village's spending of property taxes was not properly directed. "The businesses are getting more taxes, they're getting charged and charged and charged," said Desaul- niers, who also insisted the resi- dents don't get much out of the sys- tem either, and most local money seems to all go to improving boat- ing tourism. Desaulniers said he has been a resident since 1962 and that the vil- lage has "been going downhill for the past 10-12 years." Bruce Woodley Spoke of his record on council and its committees and pointed to the agreement on operating Gibb's beach, the opening of the public li- brary, successful boundary negotia- tions, and introduction of permit parking regulations. "Much more has to be done," agreed Woodley, who is seeking re- election. He said council has to work on the improvement of the business area, the control of taxes and spending, and the careful planning of the village to prevent problems and make it prosper. Woodley also spoke of working, toward getting "neighbours not presently involved in boundary ne- gotiations" to eventually become part of the village. Eight running for councliiors Tom Lawson "I believe Grand Bend is at a crossroads, it may find its identity or lose it forever," said Lawson, who said he is committed to build- ing a future Grand Bend for the children of the area. "Planning with controls will elim- inate the blight we presently suf- fer," said Lawson, adding that co- operation with neighbours must be reaffirmed. "Let us remember one thing, Rome was not built in one day, but it burned down overnight," said Lawson, concluding his short intro- ductory message. No shortage of campaign issues Continued from front page transient traders taxes and whether they should they pay more. Woodley said $300 is all that is allowed under provincial regula- tions. He said he has spoke with the MPP to ask for more control over such transient seasonal busi- nesspeople. "I quite agree with you, it is not a fair system for the village. There are a fair number who came in here and derive a substantial profit with- out contributing to the village," agreed Woodley. 'Councillor candidate Gerd Bryan was asked for his thoughts on litter and garbage control. He replied he would like to see better - looking garbage containers, and said he and other business owners could be asked to keep control of such containers outside their opera- tions, even to the point of emptying and bagging the garbage them- selves. 'Councillor candidate Cam Ivey was asked for his vision of a future Grand Bend. "I don't come in here with any pre -conceived visions of where Grand Bend is going to go," said Ivey, but claimed with no other plans longer than a yearly budget, village council has missed out on potential grants, including one for the beautification of the waterfront. When asked if Ivey thought Grand Bend could become compar- able to Bayfield, Ivey said he wasn't sure that was possible. He did, however, give Dave Sheppard Ed Fluter "Yes Grand Bend does have one of the most beautiful sunsets in the world and yes, Grand Bend does have one of the most beautiful beaches in the world," said Fluter, who spoke of his contribution to village committees, but added that his work with the Grand Bend Resi- dents' Association would in no way hurt his judgement on council. He said he saw it as a positive experi- ence. "Public input is the essence of good government and I am pre- pared to listen to their concerns..." stated Fluter. John McDowell McDowell said it was his pleas- ure to have served for the past three years on council. "We need a change of leadership and the opportunity is here to make it happen," said MM"bowell, even though he is seeking re-election. McDowell claimed the death of deputy -reeve George Kadlecik and the resignation of reeve Bob Sharen harmed council's unity. He added that council should take steps to protect the village's proper- ty values, and should also pressure higher levels of govemment to ex- propriate the south beach which was awarded to Archie Gibbs in 1989. Bill Uniac Uniac said shortly after his ap- pointment to council last year, he became aware the crisis with park- ing problems in the village. He said he was instrumental in return of the parking committee, which has improved signage and intro - ducted peril* parking. "I feel that how the village presents itself has a lot to do with how people feel about it," said Uni- ac, who said more positive image organizations were needed. Uniac said his founding of a hor- ticultural society was one good ex- ample of his new ideas and initia- tive to help improve the village. Don Boyes Boyes said he wanted to deal with three main issues if elected to council: parking, the environment, and rowdyism. He said current parking needs better signage for visitors to find it, but those areas have to be. properly enforced to prevent eines and con- gestion. Boyes said recycling is just one issue of waste management and pointed out the Main Street and beach areas do not have Blue Box- es. He said a residential recycling program is not enough for a tour- ism-ariepted village. Cam Ivey Ivey said the seasonal changes in the village create "significant pres- sure on the community's resources, not to mention the population base." He offered "no quick fix" to the perennial problems, but called for adequate parking, upheld communi- ty standards and bylaw enforce- ment. "Let's move the community in the direction the residents wish, rather than setting fire to the same issues over and over again," said Ivey. Angelo Maruca Maruca claimed that some candi- dates were making excessive use of proxy votes to support their cam- paigns, and suggested that was not the fairest way to nm the election in the resort community which has few permanent residents. Keeping his message very short, Maruca said he was honest and would do the best for the communi- ty if elected. Gord Bryan Bryan, who operates Gordies res- taurant and is the vice chairman of the Grand Bend Residents' Associa- tion. Bryan said Grand Bend needs re- sonably-priced parking, even if the village has to purchase the land. He said council had to better pro- mote the village's assets, and yet of- fer harsher penalties for street campers and other violators of by- laws. "So that we may bring back 'Grand Bend of old and create a positive image for the Grand Bend of new," said Bryan. Phil Maguire Maguire spoke of his service on township councils before he moved to Grand Bend, and he said he saw ways in which the village should be looking at cutting its costs and making better use of tax dollars. "I believe 1992 should be a year of research and planning," said Ma- guire. Maguire said pride must be re- stored in the village and that "the effort is worthwhile when meas- ured against the fantastic results that are achievable." high marks for what he has done with the Winter Carnival. •A question to Lawson asked what he thought about the recent boundary agreement that calls for the annexation of Pinedale, but not the Bosanquet portion of Southoott Pines, in which Lawson lives. Lawson said he thought the boun- dary committee did well. "I think we all believe we are Grand Bend," said Lawson of the residents of the surrounding subdi- visions. 'Councillor Candidate Ed Fluter was asked if he favoured a Busi- ness Improvement Area in Grand Bend? "I'm strongly in favour," said Fluter, who said he plans to be ac- tive in business in Grand Bend in his retirement. Fluter, however, indicated he was unaware plans to establish a BIA had failed in past years because he said he was "not familiar with the agency". •A question about the limits of traffic allowed on the Ontario Street bridge, was passed to mayor candidate Todd Desaulniers, who was asked if it should be widened or a bypass road installed. "There's no way we want a by- pass of any kind here, if we put in a bypass the village will die," said Desaulniers. "My solution would be the bridge will take a widening." Woodley also said he was pp - posed to a bypass, in part because of the huge cost of such an under- taking. "The time used to be 'let the prov- ince pay for it'. Well, the province is us, it just comes out of the other pocket" Woodley referred to plans to create an access to the Legion area parking, thereby divert Highway 81 traffic from the intersection north of the bridge. Woodley said he was reluctant to see the road widened, and he didn't want to see trees or boulevard 164, onthe street. Lawson claimed Grand Bend al- ready had a bypass of sorts. "My posture at this point is that vehicles are bypassing Grand Bend at this time, because of image," he said, adding he would not commit to either a bypass or bridge widen- ing until a plan was drawn up for guidance. •Fluter was asked if the village's building code should be upgraded to prevent the Main Street from be- coming a collection of "tin -roof shacks" that were not good enough to support shopping by year-round residents. Fluter said he supported long- term planning to prevent any fur- ther "haphazard" Cots$c$ion, and tO provide incentives to upgrade ex- isting businesses. •Woodley was asked why council had not offered "one word" in de- fense of Grand Bend and why a positive image press conference idea had been killed by council. Woodley argued that after the beach was re -opened after pollution posting in July 1990, a press con- ference was held which included statements about the village's posi- tive assets. However, most media did not include this in their broad- casts or articles. Woodley said work with the me- dia has been "frustrating", and even though council members have giv- en positive interviews, most are ed- ited to focus on the few negative aspects of the` village. Overall, Woodley denied accusa- tions that council does not promote the village. «Councillor candidates were asked for ideas for policing the vil- lage that will not cost the village or province any more. Incumbent candidate John McDowell responded by saying by- law enforcement could be im- proved and paid for if higher fines were introduced. "I think it's better to have bigger fines," said McDowell. "When you get 20,000 people in on a weekend you're going to have some action, and how many people you need to enforce that, I don't know." •Incumbent councillor candidate Bill Uniac was asked why the OPP do not enforce village bylaws, he replied by pointing out that the po- lice operates in a different jurisdic- tion and will not . get involved in municipal bylaws. Uniac did, how- ever, say he believed there was room for better communication be- tween village and OPP to help en- forcement of all laws and bylaws. •McDowell was asked for an ex- planation of his stand that the beach should be expropriated from Archie Gibbs. "This town is sick to death hear- ing about the beach," said the ques- tioner from the audience. McDowell said that the beach case is still under appeal, but in the time it takes to come to court, the price of the land will go up. Since tourism is Canada's number two in- dustry, McDowell argued the high- er levels of governments could re- turn some of the taxes they get from the village by purchasing the beach from Gibbs. "Why should we not want to get it back?" asked McDowell. •Lawson was asked whether he thought businesses could pay a tax for bylaw "protection" in order to afford more bylaw officers. Lawson said while three bylaw officers may be needed on week- ends, they aren't all needed during the week. He said the possibility of bringing the Pinery OPP detach- ment to Grand Bend permanently I sllpuld be aggressively pursued by Council. •besaulniern' was—asked for his stand on rowdyism and whether too many people were being allowed to rent a single cottage on weekends. Desaulniers agreed and said the responsibility lies with "greedy" renters who do not carefully screen renters. "There's got to be some bylaws that apply to people who own these places," said Desaulniers. •Fluter was told bylaw enforce- ment personnel have not been taken seriously due to their age or uni- form, and was asked what could be done to make bylaw enforcement more effective. Fluter said bylaw officers should have identifiable uniforms and should travel in a marked car. Flut- er also said he was told by the OPP staff sergeant that they could even travel in the squad cars and help en- force bylaws over which the police have no jurisdiction. FOR REEVE VOTE IVAN NORRIS TOWNSHIP OF HIBBERT ELECT BOB BROADFOOT NOVEMBER 12 DEPUTY REEVE TUCKERSMITH TOWNSHIP