Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes Advocate, 1994-10-5, Page 12SOMETHING FOR EVERY POINT OF VIEW Page 12 Times -Advocate, October 5, 1994 Your Views Letters to the editor Mayor 'sets record straight' "...we really can feed both our body and our soul." Dear Editor: Before any further misconceptions are drawn, I would like to try to set the record straight regarding our infrastructure grant and the work proposed at the Main and Sanders corner. If your readers will follow this explanation to the end, there should be no further debate on what will happen, just on whether it should happen or not. Let's start with the comment that should inflame some, and it went like this as 1 recall, 1 say $2,000,000 because nobody knows how much it is going to cost'. Excellent, let's say, then 5 million dollars or 95e. Who knows? And that is the point. In fact, however, we do know! In the spring, Council decided to hold a public meeting to sample the community as to where indi- viduals thought Exeter should be headed and how, in effect, we could spend close to 3/4 of a million dollars in infrastructure grant. To be fair, however, we spent about 1/3 of it on public works projects (roads, sewers) that we believed were a high priori- ty, before we even went to the people. Although several councillors had strong feelings, as to where the balance (about $560,000) should be spent, 1 announced at the public meeting that our minds were not closed and we would listen to ideas and decide in the very near future. There were over one hundred and fifty people in attendance. They were divided into eight groups to discuss themes, priorities and the future. Five of the groups told us that we should he looking at 'the heart and soul' of our community and that the focus of attention should be where the Old Town Hall and the Library are located. Even though there were several other ideas raised as well, the message came through loud and clear, do something for Exeter that you can see and that will give us some focus. Council would be hypocrit- ical and foolish to ignore the message, especially when we asked for direction. But, being strong-willed characters, we debated, voted, debated and voted. In the end, it was decided that we would submit an application to spend up to $560,000 to restore and enlarge the Old Town Hall as a first phase in rehabilitating 'The Corner'. A re- corded vote was asked for, and the motion passed 5- 4. All of us voted as we are entitled to by law and must when a recorded vote is asked for. (As mayor, I believe, it would have been stupid and even arro- gant of me to vote against a proposal endorsed by a public meeting.) Council voted to submit the application, not indi- viduals, and when the appropriate bylaw was pre- pared, all councillors supported it. Alternatives are presently being examined as to what should be done about our library services, but we don't expect even to consider those possibilities until next year. • Another major question remains: why not stay in the building we are presently renting? Since I have been mayor, we have always practiced and demon- strated fiscal restraint and sound economic manage- ment - and the record is open for all to see - and there is no need to change that philosophy now. In the first place, neither the Old Town Hall nor the present municipal offices are handicap accessible, and they must be in the very near future. We would then have to spend in excess of $100,000 total on both buildings to comply. We would then be in the position of trying to find a tenant for the Old Town Hall, and the Town would become, in effect, a land- lord, something that makes no economic or philo- sophic sense whatsoever. We have been asked by the Heritage committee to return to our roots, and many visitors have called at the Old Town Hall be- lieving our municipal offices were there. When I think back over the years, I remember op- position to every 'worthy' project we've undertak- en, from the arena, the new fire hall, ball diamonds, to the parks. In the early years, we laid miles of new roads to eliminate the dust problems, miles of drains to reduce the number of flooded basements, miles of sidewalks to ease pedestrian traffic. We have spent many millions on the services of this town and we will spend hundreds of thousands of services again this year, but it is time to look at what makes Exeter what it is - its culture, its athletics and its 'heart and soul'. This issue should not divide us; we really can feed both our body and our soul. Bruce Shaw, Mayor of Exeter Bells on cats, please "Cat owners may think that they're doing their pets a favour by letting them roam but they really are not." Dear Editor: I am writing this for the attention of cat owners. Would you be kind to the wild birds and put a bell on your cat's collar. There is a brownish cat with a pink collar terrorizing my bird feeder. Last week it was busy eating a dove and didn't see my dog and almost didn't make it to the fence. if you want your pet to be ripped to shreds (as it did the dove) then continue to let it roam free. . I have a fenced yard for my dog, I walk her on a leash, clean up after her and buy a license for her. I also spend a lot of money to feed the birds. I think its terribly unfair that cat owners can let theii pets roam and deposit their mess in my flower beds and children's sandboxes. Cat owners may think that they're doing their pets a favour by letting them roam but they really are not. They face many dangers out there. Oh, yes. I do like cats. I had one for seventeen years. Fran Ritchie, Exeter, Ontario Steckle on right track We should think of the victims and stop molly coddling the no- good thugs Dear Editor: Paul Steckle's recent well written letter on corpo- ral punishment is excellent, and popular with any thinking person. It reflects the feelings of Mr. Steck- le's predecessor, MP Murray Cardiff, who also sup- ported such views. As a matter of fact, Mr. Steckle sounds remarka- Got a News Tip? Call the Times - Advocate 235-1331 Usborne & Hibbert Mutual Fire Insurance Company Exeter, Ontario NOM 181 (Established In 1876) Provides Full Insurance Coverage for Farm Properties New Applications are Welcomed DIRECTORS & ADJUSTERS Larry Gardiner, RR2, Stafta .346.2575 Lloyd Morrison, MNch*N 348-4410 Lome Feeney, Mitchell 3484869 Jack Hodgerl, RR 1, KIrkton 2294162 Joe Chante, RR5 Mitchell ...3489706 Michael O'Shea RR3 Grnllon .225-2600 AGENTS Wayne Mawr Exeter 236-1915 John Moore, Dublin 245-2512 Joseph Unlac, Mitchell 348.9012 Bryan Lavis, Clinton 4124310 Head Office, Exeter 238-0350 A refund from surplus was de- clared for ell policy holders who qualify, are ori record and In good standing as at Decem- ber 31, 1993. bly like a Conservative! Perhaps he has seen the light, and will become a real Tory. Although corporal punishment is advocated, it is not spelt out. The death penalty should be restored for brutal crimes and the lash for rapists and child molesters. It would certainly deter the perpetrators! We should think of the victims and retribution, and stop molly coddling vicious no-good thugs. Just stop and think of the horrible end the victims faced, their last view of life. Your truly J.M. Gibson (Gibby) Gibson Exeter f•„ L�.� V19 -1678 I an alIds`atping Soil Supply R.R. 2 Hensel!, Ontario ii LANDSCAPING Your key to year round beauty iTake advantage of our complete professional landscape design service. Phone and our landscape designer on you and produce a detailed dra • Interlocking Brick •• • Ground Work • • Spdding • • Cedar Lawn Furniture • Order your nursery stock can be done by our Ilandscaping specialists 1 will make an appointment 1, cal wing. Seeding Railway Ties Design Service Nursery stock planting now ... or the work r I All nursir `, .'-"•: '. stock guaranteed - Phone 235.1678 236-445 '''`,1'o'•s 8 Ilty Is first In our business v HunterOouglas Celebrity Custom Mini Blinds Ceiebration! PLUS Valid until Oct. 31/94 More In-store Specials on all Hunter Douglas Products • Lifetime Warranty • Designer Colours • Large Selection Verticals •c Mini Blinds •* Pleated Shades •c Silhouettes •C Roller Blinds •0 Shutters •o Wood Blinds •p Duettes •p Drapery Fabric it feels like acurb ir. 11 works like And you can't r"nlly call i1 c' sl.ndc. COUNTRR OO� FOR WARM DUETES THAT CAN BE RAISED OR LOWERED TO SUIT Y • UR PERSONAL NEEDS FREE_ I N S FA( LATION VISA Fine I't11 11if iii 1. rimming and \\ 1H( I()\\ fashions 167 Mail l Street, Exeter 2:35-01 73 • t